Rebirth: I Am Not the Movie Queen This Time-Chapter 45 Moving 2
Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Moving 2
An Lian stared dumbfounded at the cheerful Wan Chu’er, astonished by her unusually agreeable demeanor.
Bai Zhixi felt that her daughter was even better at business than herself.
After sending away the driver, the three of them closed the courtyard gate and started packing up.
Wan Chu’er sorted out the belongings of the mother and daughter in the room, Bai Zhixi arranged the jars for pickles, and An Lian helped find a corner in the yard to build a clay stove, convenient for cooking and making pickles.
By noon, Bai Zhixi wanted to cook, but seeing the messy yard and the still-wet stove that couldn’t light a fire, Wan Chu’er simply suggested they eat out.
Bai Zhixi looked at An Lian, who was covered in mud from working, and also felt they should take him out for a meal.
An Lian, afraid of burdening Bai Zhixi and her daughter, didn’t even wash his hands and said he would head back.
Wan Chu’er’s words dispelled his thoughts of leaving: "Teacher An, if you do this, don’t come to our house anymore. It saves my mom and me from being criticized for just making people work. I’d also feel embarrassed to learn Martial Arts from you."
It seemed like she was ready to sever ties, which frightened An Lian into silence, not daring to step towards the door, merely looking at Bai Zhixi.
Bai Zhixi smiled and said, "Don’t be polite with us."
Luckily, their new home was very close to Wu Family Noodle House. The three of them tidied up a bit, locked the courtyard gate, and headed to Wu Family Noodle House.
The business at Wu Family Noodle House was booming, and when the three entered, there was no vacant spot for three people. The proprietress, recognizing them as regulars, asked others to make room, finally freeing up three seats together.
The proprietress cheerfully asked, "What would you like to eat?"
An Lian looked at Bai Zhixi, Bai Zhixi looked at Wan Chu’er, and Wan Chu’er, seeing they were relying on her, smiled and said to the proprietress: "Please serve us three bowls of your signature noodles and one order of your pickled cucumbers that go so well with the noodles."
Hearing this, the proprietress laughed heartily and raised her voice, saying: "Coming here for noodles and not having pickles is like eating in vain."
An Lian cleverly added: "Not reaching the Great Wall is not a true man; not eating pickles with noodles is a waste!"
Boss Wu, who was serving noodles to customers, came out and heard this, quickly joining in: "Not eating pickles with noodles, that’s a good point, we people from Wutong County can’t have a meal without our salty vegetables, and Bai’s Pickles are truly exceptional."
Their interaction drew the attention of other customers in the restaurant, some of whom didn’t know what Bai’s Pickles were, quietly asking each other. Once they understood, they too ordered pickles, just a little one or two cents extra.
Bai Zhixi couldn’t suppress the smile on her face.
Soon all three of them were enjoying their noodles. Wan Chu’er, eating with her own family’s pickles, felt a special flavor in this setting, which whetted her appetite so much she quickly finished a whole bowl. Looking up, she saw Bai Zhixi also eating delightfully.
When the proprietress came to collect the money, she curiously asked, "What made you suddenly decide to come to the restaurant for noodles today?"
Bai Zhixi smiled and replied, "We’ve moved nearby. Just moved in today, and it’s inconvenient to cook, so thinking we were close to your place, we came over. Your noodles are really delicious, as always."
Being praised for their own noodles, the proprietress was very pleased, "Welcome to come and eat noodles often."
Wan Chu’er said: "That’s inevitable, our home is just diagonally across from Dajiang Market, there’s an elm money tree at the doorstep, very easy to find, in the future if the proprietress can’t wait to send over pickles, you can directly come and take them."
It would be even better to save Bai Zhixi some traveling.
The proprietress laughed: "Oh, that courtyard, I know it, alright, I’ll come and visit your home when I have the time."
Bai Zhixi quickly responded warmly: "You’re welcome to visit."
After leaving Wu Family Restaurant, Bai Zhixi wanted An Lian to go back and rest, "There’s not much work left, Chuchu and I will clean up a little, you hurry back home to rest, you did so much heavy work this morning, you must be exhausted."
Oh, her mom’s heart is really kind, she’s already worried. Wan Chu’er was kicking pebbles with her head down.
An Lian thought about it, indeed there was no heavy work left, staying around might make it inconvenient for the mother and daughter, so she nodded and agreed.
When they got back home, upon the insistent request of Wan Chu’er, they rested for half an hour in the afternoon before continuing to work.
The three main rooms, Wan Chu’er and Bai Zhixi each took one on the east and the west, using the one in the middle as the living room.
All the pickles were put into a small room on the south side, crammed full.
By five or six in the afternoon, the house was nearly tidied up, and Wan Chu’er told Bai Zhixi that she was going out.
Bai Zhixi asked with concern: "It’s so late, where are you going? You’ve been busy all day, it must be tiring."
Wan Chu’er blinked her eyes, her destination wasn’t unspeakable, plus the one asking was her own mom, so she honestly said: "I’m going to see Xiao Bai."
Hearing it was to see Xiao Bai, Bai Zhixi thought of the previous issue about the photo Xiao Bai asked for, her heart skipped a beat and she blurted out: "Did you and Xiao Bai have something to discuss?"
Wan Chu’er didn’t expect her mom to be so nervous about her going to see Xiao Bai, she felt a bit strange, but after a little thought, it became clear. She and Xiao Bai were, after all, strangers, perhaps Bai Zhixi was worried about something happening between them.
Although she felt Bai Zhixi was overthinking, Wan Chu’er patiently explained:
"We received so much care from Xiao Bai before, I thought I need to repay this kindness, so I’m planning to visit his shop to offer some suggestions."
Bai Zhixi breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, not really believing her daughter could offer any serious suggestions, and said with a smile:
"You are just a sixteen-year-old high school sophomore, what can you use to repay him? Xiao Bai’s family is wealthy, I don’t think they lack anything. I don’t believe Xiao Bai helped us expecting something in return; at this stage, we’re not really capable of truly helping him. I think Xiao Bai enjoys our pickled cucumbers, why not focus on making some good pickles for him.
Moreover, we can keep this kindness in our hearts, and once we have the ability to do something for him, we can quietly do it without waving any banner of repayment. Or if Xiao Bai faces any difficulties and we can lend a hand, we should help him wholeheartedly. Do you think what mom says is right?"
Bai Zhixi watched her daughter’s expression and continued:
"Actually, there are a few words I’ve wanted to say to you for a long time, I see you always glowering at Xiao Bai. Although Xiao Bai is easy-going, he has helped us so much, we still ought to show him the respect he deserves; that’s the basic decency of being a human."