"Boss, you know the situation at home. My dad passed away early, and it hasn't been easy for my mom to raise all of us. If I want to get married, I'll have to struggle and save money myself."
Tang Mingli spoke very clearly without beating around the bush, "I've always wanted to do something on my own. A few days ago, I tried setting up a stall. Although I didn't make much, at least it's..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the boss understood what he meant. He sighed and said, "Mingli, with your abilities, starting your own business will surely be tough at first, but I believe you'll definitely do well."
The boss looked at him sympathetically and didn't say much else, only asking, "So, when do you plan to leave?"
"As soon as you've found a replacement, I'll leave." Tang Mingli said that one should see things through from beginning to end.
"Alright." The boss immediately smiled and said, "I'll recruit someone these few days. It won't delay you. If you don't have a place to stay, you can stay here for a few more days, if you don't mind."
"Thank you, boss." Tang Mingli beamed with joy. After finishing his tasks, he started looking for people to help him with his stall. He had already inquired before and quickly secured a spot after paying the money promptly.
Tang Mingli also encountered people who had not managed to buy clothes the previous day coming to make their selections. He took the opportunity to tell them that he would be setting up his stall here from now on, and only then did they leave reluctantly.
Tang Yue spent the entire day immersed in the library, only to realize after dinner when she returned to the dormitory that Zou Xia had come to look for her several times.
"Zou Xia, thank you, I'm sorry, I was reading and didn't come back to the dorm." Tang Yue said remorsefully, she had been so engrossed in her books that she completely forgot about Zou Xia's matter.
"No problem," Zou Xia said with a smile, handing over the money that Zhang Hualian had given her, "Tang Yue, Aunt Tang asked me to tell you that you must come back next week."
"I will," Tang Yue smiled and continued the conversation. She took the container filled with food, this time it was pickled vegetable steamed with pork. Although there wasn't much meat, the flavor imbued in the vegetables was her favorite when mixed with rice.
Mom must always be thinking of her, perhaps worried about not seeing her for two weeks?
Xiao Jun was at home, hopefully studying hard.
After placing the vegetables in the dormitory, Tang Yue heard Yang Qingqing asking as she got out of bed, "Tang Yue, did you bring your English book? I forgot to take mine to the classroom."
"Yes." Tang Yue took the book from her bed and handed it over.
In the dormitory, she wasn't particularly close to anyone, but apart from her initial conflicts with Zhang Minmin, they now just did not talk.
"Thank you." Yang Qingqing expressed her gratitude and lay on her bed to work on her English homework.
In the dormitory, only Xu Zhenzhen and Tian Tian were left chatting; Zhang Minmin and a few others hadn't returned to the dorm yet.
After thorough reviews, Tang Yue found her high school courses somewhat easier, especially since her memory had improved, making challenging subjects like math and physics noticeably easier for her.
In the blink of an eye, another few days passed.
On Thursday, Tang Mingli visited Tang Yue at school. His stall was all set up, and even the last few pieces of clothes, including the odd sizes, had sold out. He came to tell Tang Yue about going to restock on Friday.
"Uncle, my mom said I haven't been home for two weeks, if I don't go back this time, she'll..." Tang Yue was in a bit of a quandary and said, "I was thinking of coming out on Saturday, but now it seems, there's no point in me coming on Saturday."
"Xiao Yue, the business is so good on the weekend, there won't be much to sell by Sunday." Seeing her hesitation, Tang Mingli said, "Xiao Yue, if you're worried, I'm free tomorrow. I can go back to the village and speak with your second sister-in-law. What do you think?"
"Sure." Tang Yue nodded. Having money was the only way to change their family's life.
Tang Mingli hadn't been home for a long time. As soon as he arrived, Granny Tang began talking nonstop, doting on her youngest son. She said, "Mingli, look, your brothers' kids are already in high school. When are you bringing a wife home?"
"Mom, it's because I'm broke. I'll get married when I have money," Tang Mingli replied, feeling a headache coming on as soon as the topic came up. Did they expect him to marry any woman that came along?
"Don't give me that." Granny Tang glared at him and said, "You still haven't saved up enough for your wife's dowry? You, you just don't want to marry."
"Mom, what's the point of marrying someone I don't like?" Tang Mingli couldn't help but dig at his ears as he said, "By the way, Mom, I'm planning to set up a stall in the county."
"Can you make money doing that?" Granny Tang looked at Tang Mingli skeptically.
Tang Mingli said with certainty: "Definitely more than I make at the restaurant. Mom, I won't talk about this now; I have something to discuss with my second brother."
Tang Mingli made his escape, darting next door. Tang Zhengde had just gotten home, and Zhang Hualian had just finished cooking. Seeing Tang Mingli, she warmly invited him to join them for dinner.
But looking at the bitter melon and cucumber on the table, Tang Mingli lost all appetite and said, "Second brother, I set up a stall in the county recently. Last weekend, Xiao Yue helped out, so she didn't come back. This weekend, I plan to ask Xiao Yue for help again."
"Mingli, weren't you working in a restaurant? Why did you set up a stall now?" Tang Zhengde glanced at him. Since graduating from high school, Mingli had undertaken a variety of tiring jobs, but it was true that he earned a bit more money than them.
"Of course setting up a stall makes more money than working in a restaurant," Tang Mingli said as he naturally would. He added, "Second brother, don't worry. Xiao Yue won't be working for me for free. I'll make sure she earns enough for her living expenses at school."
This was what Tang Yue had requested, knowing her parents might think the frequent trips to the Provincial City for money-making would interfere with her studies.
"Mingli, I don't object to helping, but Xiao Yue is already studying hard enough. I hear she gets up at six in the morning and doesn't sleep until eleven or twelve at night. She has weekends to rest, and now you want her to help out too. Can she handle it?" Zhang Hualian, as a mother, was worried whether Tang Yue could endure it.
Tang Yue was already thin from her strenuous studies, and now she was helping Tang Mingli with his work too. Could she really manage it?
"Second sister-in-law, I just need Xiao Yue to help me sell clothes. It won't interfere with her studies, and she'll manage," Tang Mingli said, feeling a bit... guilty.
The trip to the Provincial City required spending a night at the bus station, then rushing back to sell clothes. It was non-stop without any rest.
Saying it wasn't tiring would be a lie.
In the end, Tang Mingli said all the right things, and finally convinced Zhang Hualian and her husband to agree.
Wangjiang County First Middle School.
After dinner, Tang Yue habitually went to the sports field to read. But suddenly struck with inspiration, she hurried back to the classroom to grab some paper to sketch out some design drafts.
But as soon as she entered the classroom, she saw Zhang Lei putting an envelope-like item into her desk drawer.