"Today we’re actually kind of lucky, that kid Tong Li is hurt even worse than Mom, I heard he has a severe spinal dislocation and might need surgery," Aunt Wang is still trembling at the thought of the chaotic situation today.
"Serves him right. Not long ago he got married and brought his young bride to the stall. Our takeout prices are all about the same, a few cents difference is no big deal. But they went ahead and offered their food ten cents cheaper than others, and even gave two quail eggs as a bonus every day. He’s clever, almost stole all the hospital business, no wonder the hospital’s not happy. Oh well, it doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong, it’s only a matter of time before the hospital gets dissatisfied. They are public, we’re private, without connections and power, there’s no way to compete with them. Mom thinks we should switch to regular takeout. If we’re earning less, then we’re earning less." Last year, my daughter already talked about how outside takeout from the hospital isn’t a long-term solution. To be able to last this long is already quite good.
Back in Huai Town, they had gone through a shop smashing incident, which scared Liang Hongmei, who knew they had no background. And what’s more, they’re in the big city now, plenty of people here have connections, they can’t compete. And they were borrowing someone else’s place for their business in the first place.
"Well, if we don’t do it, we don’t do it." Without the takeout business, the profit from the casserole shop certainly won’t be as good as before. fre(e)webnove.l.c.om
"Are you hurt? They didn’t hit you, did they?" She’s seen the thugs before, domineering and unreasonable, relying on their backing, regardless of consequences, Lin Wan looked at Zhang Shuhua and Aunt Wang.
Liang Hongmei meant for Lin Wan to go to the casserole shop, but Lin Wan wasn’t in the mood to go, directly telling Zhang Shuhua and Aunt Wang to go home and rest.
"Mom, let’s not go today. Missing one day of work, let’s just take it as a rest day. You sleep for a while, I’ll cook some congee for you. Don’t think about anything these days, just focus on recovering."
In the evening, when Lin Yinghui came back and saw Mom had sprained her ankle, he asked and learned what had happened. "Mom, if takeout isn’t allowed, then we won’t do it. Our family doesn’t lack that bit of money right now. If someone causes trouble in the future, make sure you stay far away. If we lose stuff, let it be lost. Health is more important. We can’t have days like today anymore, it’s fortunate Aunt Wang and Shuhua were there. What would you do if you were alone?"
"I know." Her son and daughter caring for her made Liang Hongmei warm and grateful inside.
The next morning, Lin Wan rode her bike back home early to tell Grandma what happened, assuring her not to worry. She packed a few clothes too since she wouldn’t be back for the next few days because she had to take care of her mom.
Grandma gave Lin Wan all the leftover eggs at home to take and nourish her mom.
Lin Wan tried to refuse for a while but couldn’t, so she accepted them, thinking she would buy more when coming back.
Lin Wan boiled a thermos of water for Mom, placed it by her hand, found a chamber pot for the house, locked the door, and went to the casserole shop.
Without takeout, there was more leisure after preparing the shop’s ingredients. Summer meant not many people ate outside, and today was pathetically few. Lin Wan guessed the hospital cafeteria might be having a promotion, otherwise business wouldn’t be this bad.
A little after ten, after Lin Wan finished preparing the shop, she thought of visiting Tong Li at the hospital. But who knew that his new wife would bring two people and come to her store.
"It’s this shop, they’re the ones who pushed Tong Li," Tong Li’s wife said to an old woman beside her, then rolled up her sleeves like a bandit and started smashing things in the shop.
"You sons of bitches harmed my Tong Li, making him hospitalized for surgery, and you have the nerve to continue business? I’ll let you do business; I’ll let you do business!"
"What are you doing, stop it!" Lin Wan and Zhang Shuhua stepped up, trying to stop the old woman.
Beside them, Tong Li’s wife and the other middle-aged woman naturally wouldn’t let them get close.
One of them started grappling with Lin Wan and Zhang Shuhua.
Zhang Shuhua was strong, facing the middle-aged woman without any fear, taking her down with a few moves. Lin Wan was even tougher, working daily, naturally not having issues with a spoiled city girl. She precisely pinched the places on her that hurt the most, without hitting her face.
Of course, while pinching her, Lin Wan also guarded against getting hit herself, but couldn’t completely avoid it. She ended up with a few red scratch marks on her face.