RYEY -Chapter 444 Fifty Yuan for One Meal—Ridiculously Expensive

After everything had been arranged, Cheng Qiao carried Li Chen and walked outside. Hantong didn’t want to bother with this kind of thing—wasn’t it just a child? Could he possibly eat more than she did?

“Ah yo, my two girls, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you every day,” Boss Deng said when he saw Cheng Qiao and the others, his eyes lighting up.

These two could eat in one meal what others ate in three or five, and their demands weren’t high either—far too easy to serve.

“Huh, why did you bring a little kid today?”

“This is my elder brother’s child. Chengcheng, say hello to Uncle.”

“Hello, Uncle.”

Li Chen was very obedient to Cheng Qiao. This aunt’s family had lots of children, plenty to eat, drink, and wear, and more importantly, the whole family lived in harmony—unlike his own home, where Grandma scolded them every day.

“What would you like to eat? You order, and Uncle will cook it for you.”

“Me… can I?”

Li Chen was both surprised and delighted. It had been a long time since they’d eaten out, let alone letting him order food. Hearing that he could, he immediately said he wanted soda.

“Bring three bottles of soda. Oh right, didn’t you get a freezer? Get the kid an ice cream too—cream-flavored.”

Li Huan used to love ice cream, but after being poisoned, even room-temperature food felt cold to her. Cheng Qiao herself hadn’t eaten anything cold in a long time either.

“Bring four ice creams—one for each of you, two for me.”

Hantong pulled fifty yuan out of her pocket. That was more than enough for them to eat and drink their fill.

Boss Deng took the money with a broad grin. Fifty yuan—most families of more than a dozen people would feel heartache spending even ten or twenty yuan. This girl handed over fifty in one go—outrageously expensive.

“Girl, this money…”

As long as it wasn’t stolen or robbed, he dared to take it. Otherwise, his conscience wouldn’t be at ease.

“Don’t worry, boss. Her family has money—they don’t care about fifty or a hundred yuan.”

Her monthly salary alone was five hundred. Now she was protecting herself while coming to Hexi, which counted as a business trip, with generous allowances—so generous she couldn’t even spend it all.

Hearing that her parents were wealthy, Boss Deng felt both envious and happy. Why hadn’t he met parents like that? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have to work from dawn to dusk running this small restaurant.

“Hantong, Lele is graduating next month. There’s really nowhere good for her to work here. I’m thinking of opening a small convenience shop—at least that would be a livelihood.”

“Do you mean she opens it herself, or you open it and pay her a salary?”

“She’ll open it herself. Anyway, my uncle’s transport business has already started, and we have a wholesale market in Xiangyang County. Lele is familiar with it too.”

“That’s great. If I want to drink soda or eat some snacks, I won’t have to run all the way to the supply and marketing cooperative on the street anymore—too much trouble.”

Cheng Qiao didn’t hide anything from Hantong, nor was there any need to. Her situation was special, and the leaders of the special department basically all knew—there was no way to hide it anyway.

“Oh right, didn’t you say last time that Xiao Dan was getting married? Is it still happening?”

“Of course. Haven’t you seen how that guy runs home every weekend now, busy renovating his new house?”

“Then I have to chip in. Otherwise, with how much I eat, I’ll bankrupt him.”

Li Chen ate his ice cream while listening to the two aunts talk, his little mind already buzzing with thoughts. Auntie was coming and would open a convenience shop—he’d have a new place to play.

Uncle Xiao Dan was getting married—that meant candy! Just thinking about it made him happy. He’d go home and tell Mom. As for what “chipping in” meant, he didn’t know—should Mom chip in too?

Boss Deng served Cheng Qiao and the others personally the entire time. The three of them sat at a huge round table—the dishes were simply too many for a small table.

When Jiang Meili arrived, this was the scene she saw: a table full of dishes, more than half already eaten, and her son with rice grains and soy sauce all over his face, his hands sticky as well.

“Cheng Qiao, you guys…”

“You’re here—sit down and eat. Boss Deng, bring another bowl of rice. We’ve got company.”

“Alright, coming right up.”

When Jiang Meili saw a large plate piled high with rice, her eyes widened. That plate must have been meant for the three of them, right?

“Boss, bring a small rice bowl.”

Cheng Qiao couldn’t help laughing. The boss was just too adorable—he really thought they were all big eaters. Only then did Jiang Meili relax. No matter how precious white rice was, you couldn’t eat it like that.

She filled her own small bowl of rice. She was truly starving. Seeing her drenched in sweat, Cheng Qiao couldn’t help asking:

“You resigned?”

“Yes. I resigned. The leadership knew about my family’s situation and even approved an extra month’s salary for me. It helped in an emergency—at least my younger brother’s medical bills are covered.”

“If the money’s not enough, I have some here. We’re sisters-in-law—no need to be so distant.”

“No. I can’t trouble you anymore. My mom’s mind isn’t quite right right now. Let’s talk after she improves. I’m starving—I’ll eat first.”

Jiang Meili wolfed down her food. From last night until now, she hadn’t had a sip of water or a bite of food. Even Li Chen had only bought a flatbread outside. What kind of life was this?

And her job—it belonged to the military region. She could only resign, not sell or transfer it. Otherwise, she’d have had more money to rely on. Now everything required money, and she was truly strapped for cash.

After finishing her meal, Jiang Meili immediately took Li Chen and left. She couldn’t trouble Cheng Qiao any further. If her mother found out, she’d definitely go crazy again.

Watching the whirlwind Jiang Meili leave with the reluctant Li Chen, Cheng Qiao lost her appetite. The two of them hurriedly finished the rest of the food, wiped their mouths, and left.

Early the next morning, Cheng Qiao had already packed everything. She took Li Huan and Hantong with her, preparing to make a trip to the Qilian Mountains. She always felt that this trip would bring unexpected benefits.

Besides, her falcon still hadn’t returned. Who knew what it was doing in the Qilian Mountains? She had to go check. Xiao Dan stood by the van, grinning happily as he waited for them.

“Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Sister Hantong—hello! Let’s get going.”

“Xiao Dan, when are you setting off?”

“In another week. Once everything on Guoqing’s side is settled, we’ll head to Xiangyang Village.”

Qin Guoqing was going to wholesale vegetables, fruits, and meat, and bring Li Le back with him. Xiao Dan was going to pick up his bride. Both of them were counting the days on their fingers.

“That’s great. We’ll be gone at most three days—won’t delay you going back to get married.”

Xiao Dan blushed. His second sister-in-law spoke far too directly—it left him too embarrassed to respond.

“Oh right, Second Sister-in-law,” he added, “I heard from Brother Guoqing that once Lele comes back, she’s going to be a teacher. But we don’t have a school here—where will she teach?”

Cheng Qiao: “…”

She had forgotten that Lele graduated from a teachers’ college. She just didn’t know where the school would assign her. If Lele couldn’t get an assignment, or if Hexi didn’t have a quota, then she’d have no choice but to give it up.