Yue Xiaofang and Grandma Zhou settled the matters completely.
That included what compensation to give Grandma Zhou for every suitable person she managed to recruit.
Both were sincere about getting things done and didn’t quibble over minor details, so their discussion went very smoothly.
By the time they finished the negotiations and left the courtyard, they saw the sun was about to set.
The women outside lit up with anticipation, straining their ears.
Grandma Zhou and Yue Xiaofang hadn’t been particularly quiet during their conversation, so those outside had picked up a few snippets.
Knewing that Yue Xiaofang was hiring, everyone was excited.
Yet Yue Xiaofang didn’t say much to them, leaving the professional matters to the professionals.
"Grandma Zhou, I’ll leave it in your hands then," Yue Xiaofang said.
Grandma Zhou took a seat back in her rocking chair and began to sway.
"Don’t worry," she replied.
Amidst the onlookers’ gaze, Yue Xiaofang returned home.
Having accomplished everything she set out to do that day, she was in high spirits.
She kept adding dishes to the children’s plates at the dinner table.
After dinner, she still wanted to take the kids to stargaze.
Yue Xingxing, not interested in these activities, held her books and prepared to go upstairs.
Yue Xiaohu, having learned something new from Yue Qingqing in the afternoon, was just waiting to practice after dinner and stealthily headed to the backyard.
Only Yue Qingqing, dragging a small stool, looked up at the night sky with Yue Xiaofang.
Yue Xiaofang couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but she always thought that the night sky in Daye Village was much prettier than in the city, brimming with stars.
"Qingqing, everything is getting better and better," Yue Xiaofang said, stroking Yue Qingqing’s head, feeling exceedingly happy.
Yue Qingqing hummed in response, looking at the various constellations in the sky, her mind wandering carelessly.
Where were the remaining senior brothers?
Suddenly, she looked toward the gate, "Auntie, someone’s coming."
Who could it be this late?
Yue Xiaofang, thinking of the Qiu Maode she had met during the day, immediately went on guard and began searching for a stick in the corner of the wall.
After some searching, her hand found an iron shovel.
"Don’t be scared, Qingqing, stand behind me," she instructed.
Yue Xiaofang, with Qingqing following quietly, stood at the entrance of the yard, raising the iron shovel high, ready to strike if the situation turned south.
"Xiaofang, Xiaofang, are you there?" a voice called into the yard, and Yue Xiaofang exchanged a glance with Yue Qingqing.
With a clang, the iron shovel was thrown back to the ground, and Yue Qingqing opened the yard door.
"Xiaoxue, how come you’re here?" Xiaofang asked.
Guo Xue’s hair was a mess, and she wore her shirt inside out, as if she had thrown on whatever she could find and ran over.
"I heard in the afternoon that you were back and came straight here searching for you," Guo Xue said, head down, her hands gripping Yue Xiaofang’s.
A visit at this time surely meant trouble.
Yue Xiaofang hurriedly welcomed her in and poured a cup of water for Guo Xue.
Sitting in the spacious and bright living room of the villa, Guo Xue didn’t even know where to put her hands and fidgeted, saying, "The Yue Family’s house has really become more and more impressive."
Yue Xiaofang placed the half-full glass of water on the table, "Xiaoxue, why did you come over so late?"
Guo Xue raised her head, and that’s when Yue Xiaofang and Yue Qingqing noticed a dark bruise in the corner of her eye.
It had been invisible under the moonlight, but now, under the electric lights, it stood out sharply.
Yue Xiaofang’s eyes widened in shock, "Did your husband hit you?"
Guo Xue awkwardly scratched her head, using her hair to cover her face and muttered vaguely, "He didn’t really hit me, just pushed me a bit, and I bumped into something myself."
How just so happened that she bumped right into her eye?
Yue Xiaofang frowned but chose not to call out her long-unseen friend, "It doesn’t matter the reason, you should stay here tonight for peace of mind. If your husband comes looking, I’ll handle him."
She surmised that Guo Xue must have been unable to endure her husband’s abuse and not known where else to go; knowing Xiaofang was back in the village, she sought her out.
But Guo Xue shook her head, after a moment’s hesitation whispered timidly, "Xiaofang, I heard you’re doing really well in business now, could you lend me some people?"