RGL – Chapter 58

Sun Qiufang glanced sideways at Su Changrong. “If he really has any skills, then from now on, I’ll listen to him for everything—both inside and outside the house.”

“Really?” Su Changrong perked up. “You said it! Just because of those words, I’m going to make sure our shop opens in the city someday. After that, whatever I say goes!”

“Heh, I’ll be waiting to see it,” Sun Qiufang replied, clearly skeptical.

The weather was getting colder. In December, after Sanye’s first batch of winter clothing was released, it became a best-seller. Especially in the provincial capital, they had already restocked several times.

By the end of December, Su Min also received the final batch of payments for the year.

On New Year’s Day, the Rongfang Supermarket located in the county center officially opened.

The supermarket hired eight staff members, all wearing custom red uniforms ordered from Sanye. They were assigned to different areas, and on opening day, each person stood at their designated spot.

Since it had just opened, Su Changrong didn’t hire a store manager but managed things personally. As for the two previous stores, they were handed over to workers for management. Sun Qiufang was in charge of collecting money and checking inventory daily.

On opening day, the supermarket launched various promotions—buy a certain amount and get a free gift. Every customer who made a purchase could also enter a lucky draw.

This was the first supermarket in the county. When people heard that they could carry a basket around and pick out their own goods, then pay at the end—and that all prices were clearly marked and even cheaper than negotiated market prices—they were curious and came to check it out.

After walking around, they found many products they hadn’t seen before and couldn’t resist trying them. The variety was vast, and almost everything one needed could be bought in one place—no need to run around. The prices were fair, especially convenient for those who weren’t good at bargaining.

So, on the first day, the income from the supermarket exceeded the combined weekly revenue of the previous two shops.

That evening, when Su Changrong balanced the books, he was nearly stunned by the amount.

“Our Minzi really is clever! Now that we’ve opened such a big store, it’s not even hard to manage. Those workers are even more worried about theft than we are—they’re super vigilant.”

That night, while having dinner with Sun Hai’s family to celebrate, Su Changrong was still talking about the supermarket.

Sun Hai had also gone to see it earlier in the day and had seen how busy it was.

“If this store keeps developing like this, it’ll be incredible in the future.”

Su Changrong smiled modestly. “I’m already satisfied with how things are going.”

Grandma Sun moved her lips, wanting to speak several times but unable to find the right moment. Seeing this, Sun Qiufang asked curiously, “Mom, what’s going on with you?”

Grandma Sun finally said, “Qiufang, are you still hiring at your store? I want Yanyan to go work there.”

Sun Qiufang frowned. “Yanyan should be in school. Why would she come work at my place?”

Grandma Sun sighed. “I went to see Bingzi and his wife a few days ago. They’re so busy they’re barely home. Yanyan works at a restaurant now, and I don’t know what’s gotten into her. Her face is all painted up with makeup every day—she doesn’t look like a good girl anymore. I’m worried she’s picking up bad habits.”

Sun Qiufang fell silent for a moment after hearing this. “I don’t agree with Yanyan working—at her age, she should be in school. But if Big Brother and Sister-in-law won’t take responsibility and won’t send her to school, I can give her a job. Still, I doubt they’ll agree.”

Her sister-in-law was a stubborn one. Last time she said they wouldn’t rely on anyone. If they now asked for their daughter to work for her, they likely wouldn’t be happy.

Grandma Sun understood her daughter-in-law well. But seeing her granddaughter go down this path made her worried. Yanyan and Qiangzi had both been raised by her. They were fine back in the village. Why had they changed so much after coming to the city? Qiangzi was a boy, so he could handle himself, but Yanyan was a young girl. In a few years, she’d be ready to marry. What if she really did go astray?

“I’ll talk to Guihua again. If she works with you, at least I’ll feel more at ease.”

Even though Sun Qiufang didn’t get along with Zhang Guihua, she didn’t bear a grudge against the younger ones from her maternal family. Since the old lady was so insistent, she nodded. “If she agrees, then let Yanyan come over. But Mom, I’ll say this upfront: she’ll be treated like everyone else—no special treatment. Otherwise, Changrong won’t be able to manage things.”

Grandma Sun quickly said, “Of course, I understand. If she messes up, you and Changrong can scold her however you want.”

Su Min thought back. In her previous life, Sun Yan had stayed in the village and lived a safe and decent life. If she hadn’t left, she’d probably still be in school. A few years later, even if she didn’t go to high school, she would have married someone from the village and lived a stable life. Unlike this lifetime, where she started working so young and now seemed to be headed down the wrong path.

It seemed her rebirth hadn’t only brought good changes for some—it had also worsened the lives of others.

Like Sun Yan. Like Su Wenwen.

The next evening, Sun Hai took Grandma Sun to visit Sun Bing’s family.

When they arrived, Sun Bing and Zhang Guihua were in the hallway preparing meat dishes.

Seeing them, Zhang Guihua’s face immediately turned sour.

Sun Bing, on the other hand, was cheerful. “Mom, Xiaohai, you’re here. Come inside.”

Grandma Sun and Sun Hai entered the house.

Seeing no one inside, Grandma Sun asked, “Yanyan and the boy aren’t home?”

Sun Bing moved stools over and replied with a smile, “Yanyan’s working the late shift and isn’t back yet. Qiangzi is playing outside—probably will be home later.”

“Sigh. Both kids out so late—you’re not worried? It’s one thing for Yanyan to be working, but Qiangzi is just playing around. Don’t you care where he’s gone?”

Sun Bing looked confused. “What’s there to worry about? In the village, kids take care of themselves. We’re in the city now, but Guihua and I don’t have time either.”

They had to leave early for work and came home when it was dark. The kids weren’t toddlers anymore.

“But the city isn’t the same as the village,” Grandma Sun said, frustrated. Her son was too careless—how could a father be so negligent?

Just then, Zhang Guihua came in with dishes, slamming them on the table. “What now? Every time you come, you’re picking at us. We don’t rely on you—why do you care what we do?”

“Guihua, I’m just thinking about Yanyan and Qiangzi. Yanyan’s so young, yet she’s working at a restaurant and painting her face like that every day. Aren’t you, as her mother, worried?”

“What good would worrying do? She’s a grown girl—I can’t do anything about it.” Honestly, she still hadn’t settled accounts with her daughter. Yanyan had stopped handing over her salary and was out all the time. She didn’t know how to control her anymore.

Seeing her like this, Grandma Sun sighed. “Forget it, I won’t say more. I came today to ask you to let Yanyan quit her restaurant job and go work at Qiufang’s supermarket. It just opened and needs staff. The work is easier than the hotel.”

Zhang Guihua, already in a foul mood, exploded when she heard this. She sneered, “So what if Sun Qiufang opened a supermarket? Why are you always bragging about her? Want our Yanyan to work for her? No matter how poor we are, we won’t let her work for Sun Qiufang. Who does she think she is? She didn’t help us before, and now she wants in on our business?”

“Big Sister-in-law, don’t say that. Second Sister just cares about Yanyan. The work at the supermarket is better than at the restaurant, and Second Sister-in-law can keep an eye on her, so Yanyan won’t go astray.”

Zhang Guihua tilted her head and said, “What do you mean by ‘led astray’? If anyone’s gone astray, it’s Su Min from their family. Our Yanyan is doing just fine. Let me tell you, Sun Bing and I are doing great now. The whole family is earning money—we don’t rely on you for food.”

Even with Sun Hai’s good temper, he couldn’t take Zhang Guihua’s tone anymore. He pulled at Grandma Sun and said, “Mom, let’s go back. No need to take this attitude.”

Some people just don’t appreciate good intentions. Ever since his sister-in-law came to the city, her attitude had worsened dramatically.

Grandma Sun looked at Sun Bing. “Bingzi, aren’t you going to say something?”

Sun Bing looked troubled. With the way his wife was acting, what could he say to change her mind? Besides, having his daughter work for her aunt wasn’t exactly something to be proud of.

He said, “You’d better just leave it. Yanyan’s working at the restaurant now and doing quite well. She’s gained some weight and looks healthy.”

Looking at her son acting like such a hands-off father, Grandma Sun thumped her chest in frustration. “How can you be like this as parents?”

She shook her head. “Forget it, forget it. I won’t meddle in your affairs anymore.”

After leaving Su Changrong’s place, Grandma Sun still couldn’t rest easy about Sun Yan, so she and Sun Hai made a trip to the restaurant where Sun Yan worked.

Sun Hai brought Grandma Sun into the restaurant, ordered two dishes, and sat inside waiting.

After a while, the supervisor called Sun Yan over.

Seeing her, Sun Hai almost didn’t recognize her.

With her face painted pale, brows thinly drawn, and lips bright red—was this really his niece?

Turns out what Xiang’s mother said was true. Yanyan didn’t look right at all.

When she saw that it was Grandma Sun and Sun Hai, Sun Yan’s face remained calm—neither happy nor angry.

After Grandma Sun suggested she go work with Sun Qiufang, Sun Yan shook her head. “I’m not going.”

“Child, why not?” Grandma Sun said, nearly beside herself with anger.

Sun Yan turned her head to the side. “I’m doing just fine here. My mom found this job for me. I’ll never leave. I want her to see just how good the path she chose for me really is. Whatever happens to me in the future, good or bad—it’s all on her.”

Sun Yan’s temper was just like Zhang Guihua’s—stubborn as a mule. In her heart, she believed her mother didn’t care about her future and only cared about money. Since her mom loved money so much, then as her daughter, she might as well focus on earning it. No matter how things turned out in the future, it wouldn’t be her mother’s concern.

Grandma Sun tried to persuade her for a long time, but Sun Yan refused to change her mind. Then the supervisor came to call her back to work, and there was no more chance to talk.

“This child is so stubborn. Even if she’s angry at her mother, she shouldn’t ruin her own future,” Grandma Sun felt heartbroken. She had raised this granddaughter herself, always hoping she’d live well. She didn’t expect her to be as successful as Minzi, but at the very least, she wanted her to live a decent, upright life.

Only fifteen years old, yet dressing herself up like that every day—what was she turning herself into?

Sun Hai felt very uneasy. He had watched this niece grow up. She used to be such an obedient child, never unruly. When his sister-in-law made her quit school to work, he already felt it was wrong. Now it had come true—she had started to resent the adults in her family.

That evening, Sun Qiufang came to ask about the situation.

Grandma Sun, afraid her daughter would get angry, didn’t dare mention what Zhang Guihua had said. She only said that the child was currently working at the restaurant and didn’t want to leave.

Sun Qiufang didn’t press her mother but waited until the old lady went to her room before asking Sun Hai. When she heard how Zhang Guihua had lost her temper and showed attitude, she ground her teeth in anger.

“She just doesn’t know how to appreciate kindness. If she insists on running headfirst into a dead end, I won’t stop her. Her daughter obviously resents her, but all she thinks about is her own petty nonsense. If Yanyan really ends up in a bad place in the future, she’ll be the one to blame. Forget it, I’m not meddling anymore. If her own mother doesn’t care, why should I as her aunt?”

Li Meng also added, “We need to advise Mom not to stress about this anymore. Sister-in-law doesn’t appreciate it anyway and ends up giving Mom attitude.”

Frankly, she had no intention of getting involved. With a sister-in-law like that, even when her family offered help, they got nothing but a cold face in return. Only Sun Hai and her mother-in-law had the patience to deal with her. She certainly didn’t.

Sun Hai rubbed his face in frustration. “We can let it go, but Mom is definitely upset. She raised both those kids herself for so many years. Her feelings for them might be even deeper than ours. How could she not worry about Yanyan and Qiangzi?”

“But she has to be able to do something about it. If even their own parents don’t care, what’s the use of her getting involved? The kid doesn’t understand things yet. What else can she do?” Sun Qiufang fumed at the mention of Zhang Guihua. After pouring her heart into helping, she got scolded instead. She had no desire to curry favor with someone like that—especially not Zhang Guihua.

The more she talked, the angrier she got. Sun Qiufang stopped herself, stood up, and waved her hand. “I’m done with this. I’m going back to rest. Tomorrow I’ll tell Mom—there are no job openings at my place.”

Then she walked straight to the door.

Li Meng quickly followed to see her off and turned back to look at the helpless expression on Sun Hai’s face.

“If you ask me, Second Sister is right. You guys can’t do anything about it either. Now that she’s not helping, even if you do, how are you going to arrange things? Our restaurant is busier than that big one she’s working at now. She might not even want to come.”

Sun Hai shook his head. “Forget it, let’s just get some rest.”

Seeing his expression, Li Meng couldn’t tell if he was convinced but didn’t dare say more.

The next morning at breakfast, Sun Qiufang was still complaining about Zhang Guihua to Su Changrong.

“I’m definitely not getting involved anymore. I must have been out of my mind last night to listen to Mom and agree to let Yanyan work at the supermarket. That Zhang Guihua probably thinks I’m trying to suck up to her or something.”

“Alright,” Su Changrong said, handing her a fried dumpling. “Mom’s not feeling good about it either. Don’t complain in front of her.”

“I’m not complaining—I’m just talking to you guys.”

Su Min said, “Yanyan’s actually quite pitiful. She originally wanted to come to the city to study. Who knew that after arriving, she wouldn’t even get the chance to go to school? She had to start working at such a young age—she’s probably suffered a lot. Big Aunt and Uncle don’t care about her at all. How can she not feel upset?”

In her past life, Su Min also started working at a young age, so she understood the hardship. From what she remembered, Yanyan was a bit stubborn but kind-hearted. If it weren’t for her own rebirth changing so many things, maybe her aunt wouldn’t have moved to the city, and Yanyan would’ve been able to continue studying.

She sighed to herself. Although she was happy that her rebirth allowed her loved ones to live better lives, altering others’ fates made her feel uneasy.

“How about I let Yanyan work at the garment factory instead? No contract—just as an apprentice. She can follow a master to learn the trade, and eventually, she’ll have a skill of her own.”

Sun Qiufang was mad at Zhang Guihua but didn’t blame Yanyan. Hearing her daughter’s suggestion, she said, “If you’ve got a way, go talk to her. Just don’t bother with your aunt again—you’ll only get another dose of bad attitude.”

“I know. Yanyan has to agree to it herself anyway. I’ll only talk to her once. If she’s not willing, I won’t push.”

After breakfast, Su Min hurried off to school.