The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead-Chapter 323 - 313: There’s News From Husband

It was just past eleven o’clock when several of them went to the shop together. Xiao Hua and Yiyi were still handing out flyers outside, but the buy one get one free deal was no longer on today.

As mealtime approached, quite a few customers came into the shop.

Xue Jianian went to the front desk and got a few bowls of soup for everyone, even paying for them, because she worried if she didn’t, the staff might start bringing their families when she wasn’t around and get soup for free. While not a big deal for one bowl, it could add up over time.

However, she did offer employee benefits, allowing family members to eat for just forty cents a bowl.

Of course, there was a limit of five bowls per month.

Lu Jingqiu and the others sat down at a round table at the front, each with a bowl of beef soup. Lu Jingqiu’s choice was a beef offal soup; she thought it tasted the best.

After making a round in the kitchen, Xue Jianian sat down and said, "The guys in the kitchen said that there was still a good crowd this morning."

Lu Jingqiu replied, "You still need to come and check the accounts with them every day."

"Yeah, that’s necessary."

Everyone leisurely sipped their soup while observing the customers around them.

Lu Jingqiu suddenly noticed a lady taking away a serving of beef soup in a milk powder tin and her eyes lit up, "Xinyue, Niannian, what do you think about us collecting milk powder tins, or sweetened condensed milk tins? They could be used as lunch boxes. People who travel by train and don’t have lunch boxes could use them to carry their beef soup, and they can hold a good amount."

Luo Xinyue said, "Ah, but wouldn’t those tins be dirty?"

"We’ll collect the clean ones and then wash and disinfect them with hot water."

Xue Jianian added, "Right, at home, these tin cans are just used to store things, but here we could offer twenty or thirty cents for them depending on the condition. They’re not expensive, and if the customers are fine with it, they can use those twenty or thirty cents too."

Lu Jingqiu said, "We can sell a tin box for fifty cents. Besides, we could also place an order with a factory for some aluminum lunch boxes and the special kind used by train employees. Some customers care about quality and are willing to pay a higher price, which we are happy to accommodate."

Xue Jianian nodded, "Okay, that sounds great. I’ll write down a notice to collect tin boxes later this evening and post it up. I’ll make sure to inform the staff about it."

He Yu, who was listening to their conversation during the meal, couldn’t help but admire their business savvy; it was impressive how they could come up with such money-making ideas while dining.

Truly made for business, she admired them immensely.

After eating, they got to work. Luo Xinyue and Xue Jianian went to buy paper and pens and wrote a collection notice.

They informed the shop staff and agreed on the price, insisting on good quality.

They stayed in the shop until after one o’clock before heading back.

Enjoying the rare downtime, Luo Xinyue went back to her parents’ house, while Xue Jianian planned to check out the grain and oil store and took Xiao Hua and Yiyi with her.

The promotional leaflets were nearly all distributed, so there wasn’t much need for further promotion.

Lu Jingqiu and He Yu went home and rested for a while.

Around three o’clock, they got up to start making dumplings.

Lu Jingqiu had recently developed a particular liking for stuffed foods, such as stuffed buns, dumplings, and steamed buns.

In the evening, the two of them enjoyed their dumplings, chatting and laughing, and the day just passed by.

School reopening day came around in no time.

Lu Jingqiu thought about her husband, who should have arrived at his family’s home as school started.

She called her grandfather’s place from the school.

After a long wait, the call was picked up, and the voice on the other end was indeed her husband, "Hello, are you looking for..."

"Husband, it’s me."

"Qiuqiu, I’m at home now. How have you been these past few days? Any discomfort?"

"No, I’m doing well. I’m just very sleepy these days. The shop just opened, and Niannian didn’t let us do any work. Shen Mu even came over to help us. I’ve started school now; Shang Ze drove me this morning."

"Good, take extra care. It might get colder in a few days, remember to dress warmly. And eat whatever you want; don’t skimp on food."

"Yeah, I know. Aunt Wei reminded me to go make a record next week. She told me to go to our team’s hospital where it can be done for free."

"Qiuqiu, you decide where you want to make the record. If you trust Aunt Wei, you can do it at her place."

"I’m good with that. This week I’ll go check out the hospital at the base. It’s a pity that Comrade Li isn’t here anymore."

Jiang Nanzhou laughed, "He’s quite popular over here now. Jingqiu, during this time that I’m not by your side, you have to take good care of yourself and wait for me to come back."

"Okay, when do you start the competition?"

"Tomorrow. I went to Gao Qing’s wedding today."

"How was it? Lively?"

"Very lively. Uncle Gao was there too. I sat with him. His house is not far from the one Mom prepared for us."

"Really?"

"Yeah, come and see it during the New Year. I have to report tomorrow, and I might not be able to contact you for a week or two."

"It’s okay, don’t worry about me. I have a lot of people looking after me here. Husband, do your best."

"Sure, I definitely won’t disappoint my wife."

"My husband is always the best, no matter what. Is Grandpa with you?"

"He just had lunch and is taking a nap. Should I go call him?"

"No need to. Let Grandpa rest. I’ll call him some other time."

"Okay, take good care of yourself, Jingqiu. You are the best."

"Of course, I am. I’m a military spouse, ’I’m there for everyone; everyone’s there for me’."

"Yeah." Jiang Nanzhou, hearing his wife’s optimistic tone, felt relieved and hung up the phone reluctantly.

Lu Jingqiu felt that getting a phone installed was urgently needed.

Luo Xinyue, seeing that Lu Jingqiu was distracted after the call, carefully asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Ah, nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking about asking the post office this week. I want to get a telephone."

"A telephone? I want one too. My parents’ house and my in-laws’ both have a phone. Only our place doesn’t have one, but getting a telephone is too expensive. We can’t afford it."

"How much does it cost?"

"Personal installation is estimated to be around five thousand."

"Ah, five thousand."

Indeed expensive.

While Lu Jingqiu was pondering over this, she returned home in the evening and, to her surprise, found Shen Manman waiting at her doorstep.

Carrying a small bag, she had no idea how long Shen Manman had been waiting there. "Manman?"

"Sister Lu, sorry for the intrusion. I was supposed to come back a few days ago, but I thought the Housing Management Office would be closed for the holiday, so I waited until now to return."

Shen Manman didn’t say anything, and Lu Jingqiu almost forgot about the agreement they had for transferring the house ownership after the 11th.

She quickly opened the door, "Come in, come in. Just like you said, many places are closed for the holiday."

Shen Manman smiled, "Seems like I came back at just the right time. I can go with Sister Lu to transfer the house ownership tomorrow, but..."

Shen Manman hesitated at the end, seeming a bit embarrassed.

"What is it? You can tell me."

"Well, Sister Lu, could you let me stay for one day? I have nowhere else to go here."

Lu Jingqiu thought it was something serious and said with a smile, "No problem at all. I’m the only one at home right now, so you don’t have to feel constrained."

"Ah, where’s Brother-in-law Jiang?"

"He’s on a business trip. Come, have a seat. Have you eaten?"

"I had dinner. I ate at a nearby restaurant."