Laba Festival arrived, and households were filled with the fragrance of Laba porridge. Following the ancient tradition passed down by our ancestors, which emphasizes the sentiment over the value of the gift, each family cooked Laba porridge and shared bowls with neighbors to strengthen their bonds.
Cheng Su distributed quite a few bowls of Laba porridge and received just as many in return. At the Joy Soon Loy Restaurant, she also had a full bucket of Laba porridge prepared, which was given as a complimentary bowl to each customer. It wasn’t expensive, but it earned her a good reputation.
After Laba Festival, it also marked the start of the New Year preparations. Cheng Su began to get ready for the New Year goods at home. Although they planned to return to the countryside of Flower County for the celebration and didn’t need to prepare too much food, as both the owner of the restaurant and a partner at the Jam Company, she needed to prepare some New Year goods for both places.
Ning Ge was quite obedient this time and spent a considerable amount of time at the company. After discussing with Cheng Su, they decided to paste a new couplet at the factory gate, arrange several pots of festive New Year flowers, and hang a few red lanterns.
Cheng Su thought of the New Year items she had seen in her past life and simply had the words "Celebrating the Spring Festival" pasted on the lanterns, making them suitable for the season.
All the items she ordered were in pairs, and the restaurant was no exception.
"Zhang Xiaoya has done the accounting; in these three months, our company has just started making a profit. I’ll not take my share for now. You should take some to have a good New Year," Cheng Su said to Ning Ge.
"If you’re not taking your share, how can I?" Ning Ge declined upon hearing this.
"You invested more at the beginning, so you should take some back to give an account to the Chief. Otherwise, they might complain that after investing much money, they have not seen any return yet. As for me, my investment was smaller from the start, and I’m just making up for it now," Cheng Su explained.
After thinking it over, Ning Ge said, "Well, we should toss them some bait to win more support."
Cheng Su rolled her eyes and asked him when he planned to go back for the New Year.
"There’s no rush. I’ll go back on the twentieth. You’ve just taken over a shop; with me here, you can be free to manage it. I wouldn’t want Big Brother Qi to say I only take money without doing any work!" Ning Ge sighed with a smack of his lips.
Hearing his words, Cheng Su narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Are you trying to give me a warning in advance that you’re going to shirk your responsibilities again?"
Ning Ge laughed awkwardly, "How could that be!"
Cheng Su hummed with doubt.
Ning Ge touched his nose and asked jokingly, "What would you do if one day I really up and leave everything behind, and stop working?"
"Want to withdraw your shares?" Cheng Su looked at him, "Fine. When I have the money, I’ll take over all your shares, no matter whether you abandon your responsibilities or not."
Ning Ge was taken aback, "You won’t even try to keep me?"
Cheng Su laughed heartily, "Fourth Young Master Ning, every feast must come to an end, whether it’s among family or friends. The day will come when they part ways, so why not partners?"
"Are we just partners?" Ning Ge asked, stunned.
Cheng Su, seated in her chair, replied, "Of course we’re partners. What else?"
Ning Ge curled the corner of his lips, his voice tinged with self-mockery, "I thought at the very least we were friends."
Cheng Su gave him a sidelong glance, slightly puzzled, "What’s with you today, acting all strange? Whether we are partners or friends, does it really matter?"
Ning Ge said nothing.
Cheng Su then said, "At work, we’re partners, with a clear distinction between public and private matters. In life, we’re friends, familiar with each other, trusting each other, helping each other. Does this need someone else’s confirmation?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Ge’s furrowed brows relaxed, his face brightening with a genuine smile, which left Cheng Su utterly baffled.
What’s with this kid today, acting so inexplicably?