“That day I went back and discussed with Brother Liang for a long time. We decided to quit crime and start anew. Since we didn’t want to do it anymore, we wanted to say farewell to our past. One of our close brothers had been imprisoned and was now in the Northwest Farm for reform, and we came here specifically to visit him and give him a message.”
“Wow, I didn’t see that coming, you’re really loyal and faithful!”
Houzi spoke earnestly, “We’re not inherently bad, it’s just that circumstances forced us…”
“Stop,” Lin Chuxia interrupted him, “Being forced by circumstances isn’t used that way. There are many oppressed by life, but you don’t see many of them taking the crooked path. Is it really that hard to admit your wrongs?”
Houzi shook his head hastily, “Not hard, not hard, it’s not life’s compulsion. It was our own crooked thoughts, our fault.”
“That’s right, a fault is a fault. Turning from bad to good is commendable, isn’t there a saying? ’A prodigal who returns is more precious than gold.’ You and…”
Lin Chuxia turned to Bald, who immediately nodded slightly, “Jia Liang, my name is Jia Liang.”
Lin Chuxia couldn’t help but almost burst out laughing, looking meaningfully at his bald head, “I do think you are truly ’Liang’ (bright).”
This eased the atmosphere among them a bit.
For the rest of the journey, Lin Chuxia didn’t interact much with the two, returning to her own seat.
When night fell, there was a disturbance in the train car. Police reportedly caught two pickpockets, one of whom was the person who stole from a woman earlier. The man caught earlier indeed turned out to be their accomplice.
People sighed over how quickly the thieves’ gang operated. The woman responded quickly enough, identifying the criminal, yet he still managed to transfer the stolen money.
Everyone clutched their wallets tighter, fearing there might be other gangs on the train.
Sitting in her seat, Lin Chuxia, with nothing better to do, took out a notebook to write and draw, not minding other matters. By the time she got off, a full management plan for a store had formed in her notebook.
The train station was close to the Bun Shop, so Lin Chuxia went there first.
Sun Lanlan saw Lin Chuxia from afar, carrying her suitcase, and hastened to welcome her, “Chuxia, you’re back,” she approached and whispered, “So, did you get so happy with your little lover that you forgot about home? Did you not want to come back?”
Lin Chuxia lifted her chin proudly, “What about it? Jealous? If you’re jealous, hurry up and find someone. When the Bun Shop hires more staff, I’ll let you handle it. We’ll recruit according to your taste in aesthetics, interests, family background—must meet your criteria. Then you’ll have a whole bunch of male staff under you, and you can pick whichever one you fancy…”
Sun Lanlan turned beet red from her teasing, “Are you trying to kill me?” What she suggested was not just hiring male staff, but practically finding a husband.
Lin Chuxia laughed heartily, “I think it’s a great idea, Lanlan, think about it, we have this privilege.”
“I’m not listening to you anymore,” Sun Lanlan chided with a laugh and ran back to the shop.
Lin Chuxia followed her in, laughing, and felt an inexplicable sense of peace upon seeing the familiar Bun Shop.
The next instant, through the glass window of the Bun Shop, she saw the old man sitting inside.
Lin Chuxia casually placed her suitcase aside and sat smilingly opposite the old man.
“Master, did you miss me during these few days when I was away? Did you miss me so much that you had to come and wait at the Bun Shop every day? How else could I see you as soon as I returned?”
Old Master He grunted without looking at her, “Who missed you? You have no idea how peaceful it’s been these days without you. Your return has disrupted all my peace, you’re such an eyesore.”
“Really? Then maybe I should just leave,” Lin Chuxia pretended to stand up to leave.
Sun Lanlan brought out several steamers of buns from the kitchen, ruthlessly revealing the truth.
“Chuxia, you might not believe it, but Grandpa He came to the Bun Shop every day while you were gone. He always chose a seat by the window, sitting there for a long time, looking in the direction of the train station, probably hoping for your return.”
Her siblings at home had always been partial, and she never received much affection from the elders since she was young.
Now, having an old master so concerned about her, Sun Lanlan also understood why Lin Chuxia insisted on acknowledging this lonely old man as her master.
Every relationship is mutual.
Upon hearing Sun Lanlan’s words, Lin Chuxia’s eyes became slightly moist.
She probably knew what Old Master He was thinking; his son had left by train and never returned. He feared she might not return either.
Suppressing her emotions, she teased the old master, “I knew it, I’m like a little padded jacket to Master, without me, you must be uncomfortable. That’s why I only stayed in the Northwest for three days before rushing back. Master, I’m filial, right?”
Old Master He, unable to bear looking at her acting like this, but also worried by her words.
“Why did you come back after just three days? Did that Qin boy bully you?”
He knew about Lin Chuxia’s marriage to Qin Yang arranged by the elders. They’d only been together for a few days before living separately.
Normally, a young couple reunited should be inseparable, loath to leave each other.
Three days were barely enough for anything.
He couldn’t even imagine having a grandchild in his arms.
If Lin Chuxia knew what Old Master He was thinking, she might have doused him with cold water.
“There was nothing fun there, so I came back. I was also missing Master, you see.”
She bent down to open her suitcase, “Look what I’ve brought you? The local specialty, sorghum liquor. How’s that? Didn’t I keep you waiting in vain?”
“You do have a conscience.”
Old Master He took the bottle, opened the cap, and immediately couldn’t help but indulge.
“Get me a cup, let me have a taste.”
“Right away.”
Lin Chuxia got a liquor cup for the old man and also prepared two dishes to accompany the drink, and the two of them chatted leisurely face to face.
After a while, Su Wensong also came over, pleased to see Lin Chuxia, “Boss, you’re back.”
Lin Chuxia nodded and pointed to a spot beside her, “If you’re free, tell me about the shop these past few days.”
Sun Lanlan briefly summarized the Bun Shop’s situation, overall, there wasn’t much to report.
Su Wensong not only managed the cooked food section but also kept an eye on the overall affairs of the Bun Shop, having a more comprehensive view than Sun Lanlan, who was only stationed at the shop.
Sure enough, Su Wensong not only talked about the small courtyard but also mentioned that with the weather getting cooler, the poultry farm was thinking of culling some of the egg-laying hens and offered them to him.
Everyone knows that hens that lay eggs aren’t as tender as younger chickens, so Su Wensong didn’t agree immediately, only asking them to stay tuned.
There was also news from the vegetable depot where Li Jian said they planned to purchase a large quantity of cabbages for winter storage. This might lead to higher vegetable prices in the market, and he asked if she wanted to stock up a little.
Lastly, he also looked at several storefronts as per Lin Chuxia’s instructions, all of which were in good locations.