RYEY -Chapter 438 Cheng Li’s First Pot of Gold

However, Cheng Qiao didn’t make a fuss about it at all. For someone with special abilities, having a big appetite was perfectly normal, wasn’t it? She quietly took out more than thirty yuan and pressed it under the rice bowl—today’s meal money.

After the two of them finished all the food, they left. The proprietress came over sighing to clear the table. Business had been good today, but she wondered whether she could make back the loss of those thirty-plus yuan.

When she picked up the rice bowls, she was surprised to find money pressed underneath them. What delighted her even more was that under the bowl of that girl with the huge appetite, there was also meal money. The two amounts together totaled a full seventy yuan.

“Old Deng, Old Deng! Those two girls paid too much today.”

The proprietress couldn’t even be bothered to clear the table. She ran over to her husband with the money in hand and waved it at him. Old Deng frowned slightly—what was this supposed to mean?

“This money has to be returned.”

“Why?”

“If we don’t return it, your husband here will end up like this.”

The boss’s hand turned into a turtle-crawling gesture again. The proprietress shot him an angry glare. Was he cursing himself, or cursing her?

“Wife, I was wrong. I originally thought—”

“Don’t explain. You originally wanted to take advantage, but ended up losing out instead, right? You’re always like this. If you make that gesture again, I’ll chop your claws off.”

Old Deng hurriedly stuffed his hand back into his pants pocket. Seeing his wife go back to clearing the table, he quickly tucked the money into his pocket as well. Once the lunchtime rush was over, he would go to the school to return the money.

The two of them returned to the garrison. Mu Hantong personally watched Cheng Qiao enter the military zone, then turned and left. Cheng Qiao turned her head to look back, only to see that the person who had been right before her eyes just moments ago had already become a tiny dot in the distance.

Cheng Qiao’s pupils suddenly constricted. While eating earlier, she had actually forgotten that Mu Hantong was also a person with special abilities. A beautiful woman—aside from having a big appetite, who would have thought she was an ability user?

Cheng Qiao glanced at the soldier standing guard at the gate, feeling the urge to ask him what he had seen. In the end, she said nothing and went inside.

She didn’t return directly to the dormitory, but instead went to the training grounds in the military area. There were plenty of exercise facilities there, and Cheng Qiao planned to seriously work on her physical fitness.

A figure stood quietly off to the side, watching Cheng Qiao. Sweat soaked through her clothes, darkening the fabric, yet the person merely waited silently.

Cheng Qiao had already sensed the arrival. She casually took out a towel, wiped the sweat from her face, and then slowly walked over.

“Sister-in-law, why are you here?”

“Cheng Qiao, I’ve wanted to come for a long time, but yesterday this place wasn’t open to outsiders. Today it finally is.”

Cheng Qiao nodded. Today, with Mu Hantong’s arrival, the alert had been lifted, and family members were allowed into the military zone. But Li Bing wasn’t here right now—so what was Meili here for?

“Cheng Qiao, my mom, she…”

“What happened to your mom?”

“Her belly is too big, and she doesn’t have maternity leave, so she quit her job. Now my dad is the only one supporting the family. But my mom is greedy with food, so…”

“You want to borrow money? How much do you need?”

Cheng Qiao had plenty of money. Especially during the time the dormitory building was being constructed, she had sold countless items from her space. What she lacked least now was money.

“I’m not here to borrow money. Li Bing’s salary card is with me, and I have a job too. I only have one child—our money is more than enough, and we can even help my mom a bit.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I think my mom’s belly is just too big. Doctor Zhu has already refused to see her. He said she’s a disobedient pregnant woman—he doesn’t have the ability, nor the time, to keep a constant eye on someone who won’t listen.”

“What do you mean?”

“Doctor Zhu told my mom to eat less and move more. Even if the baby is a boy, she shouldn’t obsess over it too much. Eating too much and not moving is bad for both the baby and the mother.”

“That’s right. Doctor Zhu is absolutely correct.”

“But when my mom heard him say not to focus so much on the baby, she got upset. She keeps picking fights. Now Doctor Zhu can’t even be bothered to see her anymore—he hides whenever he sees her.”

“So you want me to step in and tell your mom to eat less and move more?”

Jiang Meili nodded. She really had no other option—she could only beg Cheng Qiao. Cheng Qiao decisively shook her head. She still had to keep an eye on Li Huan, and in a couple of days her father and son would be arriving, so she needed to prepare lots of good food. Who had the leisure to meddle in someone else’s affairs?

“Cheng Qiao, I’m begging you.”

Seeing Cheng Qiao shake her head without hesitation, Jiang Meili panicked and actually tried to kneel. Cheng Qiao quickly pulled her up. Looking at her swollen, reddened eyes, Cheng Qiao finally relented.

“Your mom is eight or nine months pregnant already, right? It’s too late now—the baby is already fully formed. How about this: when your mom is about to give birth, if she needs me, I’ll come take a look.”

Although Jiang Meili was disappointed, getting such a promise from Cheng Qiao meant that no matter what, her mother’s life would be saved. She only hoped her mother wouldn’t do something foolish at that time—otherwise, no one could save her.

Cheng Liguo and Cheng Li finally arrived at the garrison. As soon as Cheng Li saw Cheng Qiao, he ran over happily and told her that he could skip a grade this year.

Cheng Qiao shook her head, telling Cheng Li not to skip grades. If time allowed, he could choose some extracurricular interests instead. Cheng Li’s horizons suddenly widened, and with bright eyes he told Cheng Qiao that he wanted to open a general store.

“Do you have a supply channel?”

“I do. Uncle Shouhou wrote to me. Whatever I want, he’ll sell it to me at the lowest price.”

“Then what are you going to sell?”

“Vegetables, meat, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and cigarettes. I can also sell exercise books, pencils, schoolbags—things students need.”

Li Huan shook her head with a smile. This must be genetics—such a young child, only ten years old, already thinking about opening a shop. What must those people over fifty think?

“How much capital do you need?”

“Mom, let me tell you some good news. I’ve already saved enough capital. Grandpa has bought a piece of land near my school. When summer vacation comes, we can hire people to help.”

Cheng Qiao widened her eyes in shock. Her son had actually bought land. Even though land in Minqin wasn’t worth much now, it was in a developing area. With time, land prices would eventually soar.

“How much did it cost, and what are your plans for summer?”

“Three hundred yuan for three mu of land. During summer vacation, we’ll build houses—just like the general store in Spring City. Grandpa and I will focus on a few key products, and rent out stalls for the rest.”

“Haha, worthy of being my son. Can Dad invest too?”

“No. This is Grandpa’s and my shop. We’re not taking anyone else’s money.”

“Little miser. Mom won’t invest, but can Mom support you a bit? For example, give you your first startup fund. You don’t have to use it, but if you ever need it, it’ll give you confidence, right?”