80s Transmigration: The Young Widow's Hustle to Riches

Chapter 342 - 339: They’re from Different Generations

’Pervert. His eyes are practically glued to the girl.’ Wang Zhilin shot him a glare, taking the baking sheet from Tong Xinglan. "I’ll pack them."

"Okay, you pack better than I do," Tong Xinglan said with a giggle, handing the baking sheet to him.

Yang Lirong handed a basket to Lin Lan. "I was just saying, why are you so late today?"

"I made a trip to my parents’ restaurant." Lin Lan saw Qiaohui packing a large number of small honey buns for Wang Zhixue. "Zhixue, still taking this many buns today?"

"Yeah!" Wang Zhixue nodded. "The small honey buns have been selling really well at my stall these past few days."

Lin Lan smiled. "You should probably take fewer today. Customers have been eating them for a few days straight; they’re probably looking for a change of pace."

"Oh!" Wang Zhixue slapped his forehead. "Then I’ll take fewer of these and more pumpkin cakes."

Qiaohui took some of the small honey buns out of his basket and put them back on the baking sheet, adding some pumpkin cakes instead.

On the other side, Tong Xinglan and Wang Zhilin had finished packing the pastries.

Wang Zhilin nudged Tong Xinglan and whispered, "Stay away from that guy. The lecherous way he stares is disgusting."

Tong Xinglan looked at him in surprise, then glanced over at Yu Jianjun. She pressed her lips together and gave a slight nod.

A pleased Wang Zhilin took the basket and said to Wang Zhixue, "Brother, are you ready?"

Wang Zhixue put the lid on and nodded. "Ready. Let’s go."

The two brothers said goodbye to Lin Lan and Yang Lirong, then left, carrying their baskets on shoulder poles.

After the Wang brothers left, Yang Lirong glanced at Qiaohui and tugged Lin Lan aside. "I want to ask you something."

Lin Lan looked at her and nodded. "Let’s go inside to talk."

The two went inside. Yang Lirong looked at Lin Lan with a wide grin. "I wanted to ask you, is Qiaohui seeing anyone?"

Lin Lan shook her head and smiled at her. "Second Sister, are you thinking of setting Qiaohui up with someone?"

Yang Lirong glanced at the busy Qiaohui outside. "My Jianjun and Qiaohui are about the same age. What do you think about setting them up as a couple?"

She had only been selling pastries for a few days, and her family alone was already taking over thirty yuan worth of stock from Lin Lan. The Wang brothers sold even more than she did.

If a few of them could sell so much just from their stalls, one could only imagine how much money such a big shop made in a single day!

Lin Lan watched her eyes dart around, her face a mask of calculation, and chuckled to herself.

’A leopard never changes its spots,’ she thought. ’Yang Lirong truly was the type to never make a move unless she saw a clear advantage.’

"Second Sister, Qiaohui is my cousin. She and Jianjun are from different generations, isn’t that a bit inappropriate?"

"Oh, come on," Yang Lirong said, chiding Lin Lan. "This is the new era; we should do things the new way! Besides, Qiaohui is a relative from your side of the family. It’s not a problem."

’A country girl like her... if it weren’t for her baking skills, I wouldn’t take her even if she paid us to.’

Lin Lan just smiled. "Second Sister, Qiaohui hasn’t even finished elementary school. I seem to recall you once said you wanted a daughter-in-law who at least graduated from junior high?"

Yang Lirong looked at her sheepishly. "What’s the use of having a lot of education? I’ve been watching Qiaohui for a few days. She’s hardworking and efficient. You know my Jianjun, he’s a bit lazy. Qiaohui would be a perfect match for him."

Lin Lan gave a faint smile. "I’m just her cousin. I have no right to make decisions about something as important as her marriage. How about I ask Qiaohui what she thinks first?"

Yang Lirong felt this was practically a sure thing and nodded readily. "Alright. If Qiaohui agrees, you let me know, and I’ll immediately hire a matchmaker to go to her family’s home with a proposal."

Lin Lan smiled and nodded. "Okay, I’ll find some time to ask her."

Yang Lirong smiled. "Don’t forget!"

"Mhm." Lin Lan walked her out to the courtyard. She watched as Yang Lirong lifted the baskets onto her shoulder pole. The tall, lanky Yu Jianjun followed behind her, swinging his arms empty-handed as they headed out.

After the mother and son had left the shop and walked about ten meters, Yang Lirong looked back at Yu Jianjun. "Not bad, right? She’s quite pretty and doesn’t look like a girl from the mountains at all."

Yu Jianjun frowned. "I don’t like that country girl. I think the one named Xinglan is better looking."

Yang Lirong set down her baskets and looked at him. "Mom knows Xinglan is prettier, but that girl looks feisty. You’re too mild-mannered; you wouldn’t be able to handle her."

Yu Jianjun’s face darkened instantly. "I already told you, I don’t like that country girl. I’ve got my eye on Tong Xinglan. If you don’t agree, then I’ll just stop looking altogether."

Seeing his expression and thinking of the Wang brothers, Yang Lirong suddenly felt irritated. She snapped, "You little troublemaker! You go on home first. I’ll ask your aunt about it tomorrow."

"Fine." Yu Jianjun nodded and turned to leave.

Back in the pastry shop, Tong Xinglan and Qiaohui were also talking about Yang Lirong and her son. "Cousin," Xinglan said to Lin Lan, "look at Second Sister Yang. She’s like an old servant, and her son is like the young master of some rich landlord’s house."

Lin Lan shook her head. "As the old saying goes: a mother will laugh if her three-year-old hits her, but she’ll hang herself if her thirty-year-old son does the same. If you spoil a child, you’ll raise a monster."

The two of them nodded repeatedly after hearing this. Tong Xinglan said, "Just like Xu Xiaobo."

The three of them began stocking the storefront. Qiaohui, holding a tray of sachima, asked, "Xinglan, what happened with Littlebo after he went back?"

Tong Xinglan curled her lip. "The usual. I heard that when my aunt and him were getting off the boat, they got pushed into the river by Boss Jiang and his men. When they got back, she still hid what Littlebo did from my uncle."

"My mom said my uncle heard some gossip from people on the team and came to our house to ask her why Littlebo wasn’t learning a trade in Lexing. My mom told him she hadn’t gone to Lexing, so he was better off asking my aunt."

"Sigh." Qiaohui let out a breath. "Cousin Xu is a lost cause."

Once the goods were all displayed, Lin Lan had Tong Xinglan and Qiaohui take down the door panels to open for business.

Tong Xinglan minded the shop out front while the other two baked honey bread in the workroom.

Lin Lan told Qiaohui what Yang Lirong had said, asking with a smile, "What are your thoughts?"

Qiaohui looked at Lin Lan in astonishment. "Cousin, Second Sister Yang must have it wrong, right? I’m from the same generation as her. If I married her son, what would I call you in the future? Aunt, or still Cousin?"

Lin Lan burst out laughing. "You silly girl, your priorities are all wrong! Shouldn’t you be asking me if Second Sister Yang is easy to get along with? Or what that young man Yu Jianjun is like?"

Qiaohui spread her hands and pouted. "Didn’t we just see? He’s been spoiled rotten by his mother. He’s cut from the same cloth as Cousin Xu."

Lin Lan grinned at her. "Not bad, a girl who knows her own mind. So tell me, what kind of family are you looking to marry into?"

Qiaohui smiled and shook her head. "I haven’t thought about it. I just want to master this trade. Once I get shares in the business like Cousin Yuezhen, I want to bring my nieces and nephews out here for school and help my parents live a comfortable life."

Lin Lan had originally thought Qiaohui was interested in Zhijun, but she was surprised to hear she had such plans. She nodded. "That’s good too. Study hard, and you’ll pretty much have completed your apprenticeship by the second half of the year."

"When the time comes, I’ll open up the shop on Limin Street and let you manage it. You’re still young. Waiting another two years to think about marriage isn’t too late."

Qiaohui nodded happily. "Cousin, don’t you worry. I’ll work hard!"