The next day, Qi Taiguo took Cheng Su to the train station on his bicycle to look at a house. The couple went out the door laughing and talking joyfully, a scene that many people witnessed, including Chiang Qing.
As she watched the two of them disappear into the distance, Chiang Qing almost snapped her well-maintained fingernails in the palm of her hand.
After inspecting the house, a square single-story with two rooms, including a bathroom and kitchen, they found that the monthly rent was ten yuan.
It was a bit more expensive than other houses, but considering the prime location and how new and tidy it was, not to mention roomy enough for a couple and even children, it seemed perfectly suitable.
Cheng Su and Qi Taiguo were both very satisfied and, after discussing, decided to sign the lease so that Elder Sister and her family could settle in when they arrived.
Once the matter of the house was settled, Qi Taiguo went back to the military base, and Cheng Su went to the master who had performed the ritual for the new shop to choose an auspicious day. They set the grand opening for the twenty-second day of the first lunar month.
With these details arranged, she then checked the shop’s facilities to ensure everything was ready, just waiting for the staff to arrive.
Without pausing, Cheng Su took the promotional fliers she had prepared earlier to the printing factory. She returned with a large stack of handouts detailing the fast-food shop’s location and opening specials.
Of course, she also made sure to include the main shop’s location on the handouts, indicating that this one was a branch.
With the promotional materials ready, they went out with the staff of the branch location to buy firecrackers and other items for the opening, bustling with activity.
As the opening preparations needed attention and Ning Ge was in Beijing for business recruitment, the company could only be left in the hands of Ying Xiaoya for the time being. Regarding the Joy Soon Loy Restaurant’s main location, the business model was becoming more mature.
Especially now that they had hired Li Dan as a cashier, Qiulan and the others finally had room to breathe, focusing on their respective roles without looking busy.
It was clear that sufficient staffing was essential for maintaining the rhythm of the shop’s operations.
With people in place for both ventures, Cheng Su could concentrate on the various details of preparing for the opening.
On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, Cheng Su finally welcomed the arrival of Elder Sister and her husband.
Cheng Su and Qi Taiguo personally went to pick them up. Both guests looked travel-weary. Elder Sister’s husband, Zhang Jisheng, appeared somewhat bitter, while Elder Sister, though tired, had excitement in her eyes.
"Elder Sister, we’ve already rented a house for you. Since you have to move anyway, would you like to go straight there, or do you prefer to rest at our place for a couple of days first?" asked Cheng Su.
"You’ve already rented it? Let’s move in then, to avoid moving again," Qi Fenglian replied right away.
Zhang Jisheng just frowned slightly but didn’t say anything.
The group arrived at the new house. Seeing how square and bright the place was, and quite clean, Qi Fenglian liked it immediately. After asking about the price and hearing it was eight yuan, she was momentarily taken aback but then agreed, biting the bullet.
A decent home was worth striving for. The most important thing was that it was their own place, to do with as they wished.
"I’ve done a simple cleanup. Elder Sister, if you see anything else you need, we can buy it. I’ve asked around, and the farmers’ market isn’t far from here, just a ten-minute walk, which is very convenient," said Cheng Su.
Qi Fenglian kept expressing her approval. Noticing her husband surveying the house nearby, she quickly pulled Cheng Su aside and asked eagerly with rubbing hands, "Taiguo’s wife, about my husband’s job...?"
Cheng Su glanced at her brother-in-law, who hung his head low, and laughed, "Don’t worry, once you’ve settled in, I’ll take him to see about a job."
Relieved, Qi Fenglian’s face lit up with a truly joyful smile.