After chatting for a while, Shen Mianmian took them to the shop and then treated them to shredded pork noodles, taking the opportunity to discuss the opening of the business the day after next.
After seeing Lu Siyuan off, Shen Mianmian didn’t rush back but took Xiaocui for a stroll around the vegetable market to familiarize herself with the surroundings.
It was Xiaocui’s first time browsing the city; aside from the crowds, there were many more vendors. She was particularly nervous, clutching Shen Mianmian’s hand like a little child, terrified of getting lost.
Unknowingly, the two wandered to the stall belonging to Gu Jianbin’s family. The stall still had someone selling goods, but it was now manned by a young wife in her twenties.
Shen Mianmian pretended to shop and casually struck up a conversation with the stallkeeper, "Boss, I remember the person who used to set up a stall here was an older lady, wasn’t it? Why has there been a change?"
"Are you talking about Xu Erfeng?" the stallkeeper didn’t shy away from the topic and said with a smile, "She doesn’t have a good reputation. She was complained about by many customers and other stallkeepers, so after her contract expired, the street office didn’t allow her to sell here anymore. She made a fuss for several days before she left."
Just as in her previous life, Xu Erfeng couldn’t sustain her business in the city after a while.
Feeling good, and seeing a short-sleeve shirt that was rather nice and reasonably priced, Shen Mianmian bought it as a gift for Xiaocui.
Xiaocui never expected Shen Mianmian to buy her clothes, and after freezing for a moment, she began to wave her hands in refusal, "Mianmian, it’s not easy for you to make money, how can I accept the clothes you bought? You should keep them for yourself to wear!"
The shirt cost six yuan, and she had seen Mianmian pay for it. She thought to herself that the shirt was nice indeed but a bit expensive; in the countryside tailor shop, with the same amount of money, she could have made two pieces.
"Take it! This shirt was specifically bought for you to wear. You only brought one set of clothes with you, and that’s not enough to change into when it’s rainy and wet." In the future, Xiaocui would be helping out in the city, and some things couldn’t be kept secret, so Shen Mianmian decided not to keep hiding it and spoke up directly, "Xiaocui, actually, that shop, I opened it together with Lu Siyuan. I didn’t tell you before because I was afraid it might reach my parent’s ears. With their temperament, they would definitely come and cause trouble, and then we’d have no peace."
Xiaocui, although she had suspected that Shen Mianmian’s role was more than just working for the Lu Family, was still surprised to hear that Shen Mianmian was one of the shop’s owners, but she was quick to accept the news.
She immediately made a promise, "Mianmian, you asking me to work here shows your trust in me; I won’t let you down, rest assured! I won’t spread the word about this, but really, I can’t accept this dress, it’s too valuable."
Xiaocui thought the dress was intended as a bribe to keep her silence when in fact, even if Shen Mianmian gave her nothing, she wouldn’t have divulged it.
Shen Mianmian had been so kind to her; she couldn’t be so heartless.
Realizing the misunderstanding, Shen Mianmian explained with a smile, "Xiaocui, of course I trust you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought you to the city. And as for the dress, it’s not a bribe; I genuinely wanted to give it to you. If you keep refusing, I’ll be upset!" ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⚫𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⚫𝔫𝔢𝔱
With Xiaocui’s help managing the shop, Shen Mianmian would be saving a lot of worry. The value Xiaocui created for her was definitely worth more than just six yuan.
"Then... I’ll happily accept it!" Xiaocui hesitated before agreeing to take the dress and couldn’t help but start to laugh, "I’ve never worn such a pretty dress before."
She usually wore hand-me-downs from her sister, which was the norm in the countryside, and she had gotten used to it. She never imagined that the first new dress she would wear, as an adult, would be one bought for her by Shen Mianmian.