Chapter 23

Chapter 23 At Least This Time Yu Jianghai looked up at her, his gaze somewhat obscure and complex, before finally settling into stillness. "Get up and walk around." His voice was cold and stern, betraying no emotion. Lin Meiyan hummed in acknowledgment. She wore a size thirty-six shoe, but Yu Jianghai's were size forty-three. At first glance, it looked as if she had two black boats strapped to her feet. As she walked, the heels slipped slightly off the back of her feet—they didn't quite fit. "Wait." Yu Jianghai crouched down again, bending over to remove the laces from the leather shoes. He wound them gently around her slender, fair ankle. Only then did he tie a loose knot. His hands were somewhat hot, and where his fingertips inadvertently brushed against her skin, a trace of warmth shot up from her ankle. Lin Meiyan instinctively tensed her body. Yu Jianghai noticed. He slowed the pace of tying the laces, taking his time with deliberate leisure. Lin Meiyan grew a little impatient. She lowered her gaze to look at him. As he bent over, his white shirt pulled into a taut crease, and the lines of his shoulders and back pressed down heavily. She didn't know why. Lin Meiyan softly called out again, "Yu Jianghai." The moment those three words fell, the narrow stairwell fell silent. So quiet that even the sound of each other's breathing became distinct. Lin Meiyan's hand still hovered in midair, barely a finger's width from the top of Yu Jianghai's head. She didn't know what had come over her just now. It was only that when she saw Yu Jianghai kneeling half before her, head bowed as he put on her shoes— In that instant, a scene flashed abruptly through her mind. Yu Jianghai had done this before. Only then, he wasn't wearing a white shirt and black trousers, nor was he this clean and polished. Back then, he wore a tattered short jacket patched with mends, crouching before her, silently and clumsily helping her put on her shoes by the beach. She remembered the shoes were caked with sand and mud. He lowered his eyes and wiped them with his sleeve, wiping for a long, long time. So long that Lin Meiyan had nearly forgotten the whole thing. But in that moment just now, the image suddenly became clear. So clear it felt as if it had happened only yesterday. Lin Meiyan snapped back to reality, as if scalded. She quickly withdrew her foot and said softly, "Yu Jianghai, the shoes are on." "Let's go." Her final syllable trembled slightly. As if she had been pulled back from the past into reality, once again becoming that distant, courteous Lin Meiyan. Yu Jianghai didn't move. He remained kneeling on the step, looking up at her. The lighting in the stairwell wasn't good. Above them hung only a dim yellow lamp, its shade coated in a thin layer of dust. But Lin Meiyan felt that Yu Jianghai's eyes were startlingly bright. Dark, calm. And yet as if they were holding back a storm. "Lin Meiyan." He called her name. Not Youth Lin, not Boss Lin, and not the polite, distant Comrade Lin. It was Lin Meiyan. Those three words, spoken from his mouth, seemed to carry an old, inexplicable weight. As if the names Yu Jianghai and Lin Meiyan had, in an instant, been drawn together. It made Lin Meiyan's heart tighten slightly. She lowered her eyes and softly corrected him, "President Yu." Yu Jianghai's expression cooled by several degrees in that instant. He suddenly let out a faint laugh. The smile was shallow, vanishing before it even reached his eyes. "That's not what you called me just now." Lin Meiyan was left speechless by his words, silent for a long moment. She rarely found herself in such an awkward position. She had always been gentle and composed—no matter how chaotic she felt inside, she could maintain a measure of poise on the surface. But with Yu Jianghai, it seemed all her composure was diminished. She pressed her lips together and softened her voice. "I misspoke just now." Misspoke? Yu Jianghai savored those two words, his gaze deepening further. He said nothing, only slowly releasing his grip on her ankle. Lin Meiyan's ankle was finally free, and she instinctively drew it back. Yu Jianghai saw it. A faint trace of self-mockery rose in his eyes. Of course. She was afraid of him now. Or rather, she had always wanted to keep her distance from him. From the island to Jiangcheng, from the past to the present, she always seemed to find a way to keep an invisible, intangible—yet insurmountable—line between them. Yu Jianghai slowly rose to his feet. He wasn't wearing shoes, standing on the cold concrete steps in only a pair of black socks. The sight was rather strange. He was the president of Jianghai Dicai, after all—his posture straight, his brow cold and sharp, his shirt and trousers immaculate. Yet his feet were bare. And his leather shoes were currently on Lin Meiyan's feet. Lin Meiyan glanced down, and the more she looked, the more inappropriate it felt. It wasn't just the shoes that didn't fit. The situation at hand didn't fit either. She had been too impulsive before, and that was what had led to this current state of affairs. Lin Meiyan hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, "Why don't you take the shoes back? I can walk slowly." Yu Jianghai didn't respond. He merely bent down and picked up her small leather shoe with the broken heel, holding it in his hand. He glanced at the break and said in a calm voice, "Can't be worn anymore." Lin Meiyan knew perfectly well it couldn't be worn. But she also couldn't let him walk around barefoot like that. She hesitated for a moment. "There should be a shoe store nearby. I'll go out and buy a pair later." Yu Jianghai raised his eyes. "For me?" Lin Meiyan paused. She had only been thinking of buying an ordinary pair of cloth shoes for him to wear as a temporary measure. But when those words came out of Yu Jianghai's mouth, they somehow took on a different meaning. Her ears grew slightly warm, and she explained softly, "No, it's just that you're not in a convenient state right now." "Convenient." Yu Jianghai said flatly, "Let's go." With that, he turned and headed straight up the stairs. Lin Meiyan: "..." She watched his retreating figure and, for a moment, didn't know what to say. Yu Jianghai was tall with long legs. Even walking up the concrete steps in just his socks, he still carried an air of unhurried composure. Lin Meiyan had no choice but to wear those men's leather shoes that were clearly a size too big, trudging slowly behind him. The shoes really were too big. With every step she took, she was a little unsteady. But Yu Jianghai seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. When he reached the corner, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at her. "Hold the railing." Lin Meiyan was about to say she didn't need to. Yu Jianghai turned back. "Twisting your ankle once isn't enough?" Lin Meiyan muttered and grumbled under her breath. But in the end, she still held onto the railing. Yet the moment her fingers touched it, she couldn't help but remember—just earlier, right here, he had held her ankle and put the shoe on for her. Lin Meiyan closed her eyes. She felt she couldn't think about it anymore. If she kept thinking, she probably wouldn't even be able to walk these few steps of stairs steadily. Fourteenth floor, Finance Department. Secretary Shen had already been waiting at the finance office door, his eyes straining with anticipation. He looked left and right, wondering to himself. Were those two settling accounts in the stairwell, or were they spending a lifetime together in there? Why had they been gone so long without coming back? He was just considering whether to risk being killed by the boss's glare and go down to take a look. Suddenly, the stairwell door was pushed open. Secretary Shen immediately stood up straight. "Boss—" Before he could even finish the word "boss," Secretary Shen froze. It wasn't just him. The two accountants inside the finance office, who had been clicking their abacuses, froze as well. Yu Jianghai walked in front, in a white shirt and black trousers, broad-shouldered and long-legged, with cold, indifferent eyes. He still looked like the undisputed boss of Jianghai Dicai. Except— He wasn't wearing shoes. And behind him, Lin Meiyan was wearing a pair of men's leather shoes that clearly didn't fit her. The shoes were very large, making her ankles look slender and her whole figure appear even more delicate and gentle. Secretary Shen's gaze moved from Yu Jianghai's black socks to the leather shoes on Lin Meiyan's feet, then from the shoes back to Yu Jianghai's face. He opened his mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again. Finally, he forced out a single sentence, "Boss, you... you're going for a new style?" Yu Jianghai gave him a cold look. Secretary Shen immediately shut up. He shut up very quickly, but his mind didn't shut up. The boss was impressive. How long had it been? He'd already put shoes on her. If this continued for a few more days, would he hand over Jianghai Dicai to Youth Lin as a betrothal gift? The two accountants in the finance office didn't dare ask either. They only dared to lower their heads and pretend they hadn't seen anything. But the beads on their abacuses clicked wrong several times. Lin Meiyan felt a little uncomfortable under all the stares. She gently pressed her lips together and shifted the cloth bag in her hand forward. "Secretary Shen, didn't you say we were here to settle the renovation payment?" Secretary Shen snapped back to attention. "Right, right, right. Settling the renovation payment." He quickly entered the finance office and picked up the prepared documents from the desk. "Youth Lin, Linji's renovation this time went through three separate accounts." "The first is labor, the second is materials, and the third is design and post-production promotion." At this point, Secretary Shen glanced guiltily at his boss. Actually, by Jianghai Dicai's standards, Linji's renovation payment didn't even amount to a fraction of a fraction. If it were up to the boss, he'd probably wish he could charge nothing at all. But Youth Lin was different. If they truly charged nothing, she'd probably sever all ties with Jianghai Dicai the moment she turned around. Secretary Shen had become quite adept at reading his boss's mind by now. The boss wasn't afraid of spending money. The boss was afraid of Youth Lin ignoring him. So the bill had to be collected. But it also couldn't be too much. Holding the documents, he cleared his throat. "The original price is three thousand eight hundred and seventy-six yuan." Lin Meiyan had a rough idea. But when she heard the number, she still felt her heart tighten. Over three thousand eight hundred. In this day and age, an ordinary worker's monthly salary was only a few dozen yuan. This was no small sum. If it had been before Linji was returned to her, she wouldn't have dared to even think about it. But now that Linji was back in her hands and about to reopen, this money had to be spent. She lowered her head and opened her cloth bag, taking out a wallet wrapped layer by layer in a handkerchief. Inside was money she had saved up bit by bit over the past few years. Some had been earned from running a small restaurant. Some had been saved from daily frugality. And some had been secretly slipped to her by her uncle and aunt, which she hadn't had the heart to spend. Lin Meiyan hadn't even started counting the money yet. Secretary Shen quickly added, "But as stated in our previous contract, Linji will provide sample displays for the decoration department of Jianghai Dicai, so the advertising cooperation price is at a fifty percent discount." "After the discount, it comes to one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight yuan." At these words, Lin Meiyan paused in her counting. She looked up at Yu Jianghai. He was looking at her too. His expression was calm, as if this were just the most ordinary business transaction. Lin Meiyan said softly, "The contract does indeed state a fifty percent discount." Secretary Shen nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, it's written clearly in black and white. Youth Lin, rest assured, Jianghai Dicai always conducts business by the rules." The two accountants in the finance department, "..." By the rules? Jianghai Dicai's rules were the only rules that mattered. Since when had they become this kind of charitable rule? They secretly glanced at their barefoot boss standing nearby. Then quickly lowered their heads. See no evil, see no evil. If they looked any longer, they'd get styes. Jianghai Dicai did indeed follow the rules. It's just that sometimes, those rules seemed to listen to Boss Lin. Lin Meiyan lowered her eyes and counted out the money from her wallet. One by one, she neatly arranged the Da Tuanjie notes. She counted carefully, her fair, slender fingers pressing down the corners of the bills, smoothing them out gently. Yu Jianghai stood nearby, watching. Watching her lower her brows and eyes, watching her serious expression, watching her count every single cent clearly. Yu Jianghai watched her smooth out the last Da Tuanjie note, even pressing down the curled edges until they lay flat, and suddenly he no longer wanted to persuade her. She had always been like this, stubborn and unyielding. Lin Meiyan finished counting the money and handed it to Secretary Shen, saying softly, "Secretary Shen, please count it." Secretary Shen didn't dare keep her waiting. He quickly took it and handed it to the finance department. The accountant counted quickly. "Exactly one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight yuan." Lin Meiyan let out a breath of relief. She carefully put away her wallet, now more than half empty, and placed it back into her cloth bag. The movement was light. But Yu Jianghai saw it clearly. She didn't have much money left. Yu Jianghai frowned slightly and suddenly spoke up. "When Linji opens, you'll still need to stock up on ingredients." The implication was clear to Lin Meiyan. She looked up and said softly, "I've already prepared for that." Yu Jianghai said casually, "If it's not enough, you can owe it for now." Lin Meiyan shook her head. "No need." Her voice was gentle, but there was no hesitation in it. "President Yu, Linji is a small business, but even a small business has its rules." "The renovation costs should be paid, and the ingredient money should be prepared." "If I start off owing from the very beginning, it won't bode well before the business even gets off the ground." Yu Jianghai looked at her and suddenly said nothing more. Secretary Shen silently gave a thumbs up in his heart. Youth Lin, well done. Of course, Secretary Shen only dared to think this in his heart. If he dared to say it out loud, he'd probably be sent to the Jianghai Dicai Phase Two construction site that very day, to keep company with cement and sand. After paying, Lin Meiyan received the receipt from the finance department. She carefully put it away, then looked down at Yu Jianghai's feet. "President Yu, let me return your shoes." Yu Jianghai's expression didn't change. "You plan to walk back barefoot?" Lin Meiyan was a bit embarrassed. She said quietly, "I can buy a pair downstairs." "There's no shoe store downstairs." "Then I can ask Secretary Shen to buy a pair for me." Secretary Shen was just about to nod. Yu Jianghai's gaze swept over. Secretary Shen immediately lowered his head. He hadn't heard anything. He was just an ordinary secretary. Buying shoes—how could that possibly be his job? Lin Meiyan looked at Secretary Shen, who had suddenly gone silent, and didn't know what to say for a moment. Yu Jianghai said casually, "Wear them back." Lin Meiyan instinctively refused. "That's not right." "What's not right about it?" Yu Jianghai looked at her. "The shoes are for you to wear, not for you to keep." Lin Meiyan, "..." She actually felt there was some logic to that. Seeing that she wasn't speaking, Yu Jianghai softened his tone slightly. "We'll talk about it after Secretary Shen takes you back to Linji." Secretary Shen immediately looked up. He'd been called out by name. That meant there was no room for negotiation. He quickly said, "Youth Lin, don't worry, I'll definitely get the job done." Only then did Lin Meiyan nod. "Then I'll trouble Secretary Shen." "No trouble at all, no trouble at all." Secretary Shen smiled so hard his face nearly froze. He thought to himself, what trouble? He was just a brick that could run errands between the boss and Youth Lin. Wherever they needed him, he'd be moved. When they came out of Jianghai Dicai, the sun outside had already drifted toward the west. In Jiangcheng's August weather, the morning was still sweltering, but in the afternoon a breeze had picked up. Lin Meiyan sat in the back seat of the car, still not quite used to the men's leather shoes on her feet. She placed her hands on her cloth bag, the receipt inside. The money was paid in full. And Linji was truly about to reopen. She didn't know why, but even though this was something to be happy about, her heart was in a terrible mess. One moment she was thinking about Linji. The next, about Qiaoqiao. Then, her mind drifted to the stairwell, where Yu Jianghai had knelt before her to put on her shoes. She shouldn't be thinking about these things. Lin Meiyan gently closed her eyes. But the harder she tried to push the thoughts away, the clearer those memories became. Up front, Secretary Shen stole a glance through the rearview mirror. He saw Lin Meiyan sitting in the back, brows lowered, her profile soft and serene. When she wasn't speaking, there was a gentle aloofness about her. Not the kind that kept people at arm's length. More like she was hiding herself away. Like a pearl nestled inside an oyster shell—only when opened could one see the radiance and softness it held. Secretary Shen suddenly understood a little why his boss had never been able to forget her all these years. While Secretary Shen was lost in his thoughts, the car quickly arrived at Simenkou Hengjie. At the entrance of Linji, Qiaoqiao was sitting on a small stool, chin propped in both hands, staring expectantly at the intersection. Beside her sat Gu Kaihua. One big, one small—one propping her chin, the other holding a enamel mug and drinking water. Their postures were even somewhat alike. When she saw the Jianghai Dicai car approaching, Qiaoqiao's eyes lit up instantly. "Mommy!" She jumped off the stool and charged over like a little cannonball. Lin Meiyan had just stepped out of the car when Qiaoqiao threw herself into her arms. "Mommy, why were you gone so long?" Lin Meiyan patted her little head. "I went to pay for the renovations." Qiaoqiao immediately tensed up. "Was it expensive?" Lin Meiyan was amused by her little-adult manner. "Not too expensive." Qiaoqiao didn't believe her. She furrowed her little brows and said in a small voice, "Mommy, don't lie to me." Lin Meiyan's heart softened into a puddle. "I'm not lying to you. Jianghai Dicai gave us an advertising partnership rate." Only then did Qiaoqiao relax. Then, she looked down at Lin Meiyan's feet. Looked once. Looked again. Qiaoqiao's round, big eyes slowly widened. "Mommy, why are you wearing Uncle Yu's shoes?" She recognized them because she'd seen Uncle Yu wear them before—those shoes looked expensive just by looking at them. They were so memorable that she recognized them at a single glance. The moment Qiaoqiao said this— The smile on Lin Meiyan's face froze. Gu Kaihua nearly spat out his mouthful of water. Secretary Shen, who had just stepped out of the car, stumbled at the words. Good heavens. Was this child's eyes made of rulers? Recognizing them at one glance? Lin Meiyan was a little embarrassed and a little flustered. "Mommy's shoe heel broke. Uncle Yu just lent me his temporarily." "Oh." Qiaoqiao dragged the word out. She glanced at Lin Meiyan, then at Secretary Shen. "Then what is Uncle Yu wearing now?" Secretary Shen: "..." That was a good question. So good that he wished he could play dead. Lin Meiyan also couldn't answer for a moment. Qiaoqiao blinked, then suddenly covered her mouth, as if she'd discovered something earth-shattering. "Does Uncle Yu not have shoes to wear?" Gu Kaihua listened from the side, utterly confused. He looked at Lin Meiyan, then at Secretary Shen. "What shoes? What do you mean, no shoes to wear?" Lin Meiyan really didn't know how to explain. Secretary Shen immediately stepped forward. "Comrade Gu, here's what happened: Youth Lin accidentally twisted her ankle at Jianghai Dicai, so the boss lent her his shoes." "Twisted ankle?" Gu Kaihua immediately forgot about the shoes, his face full of concern. "Yanyan, you hurt your foot?" Lin Meiyan quickly said, "No, it's just that the heel broke and I slipped a little." Gu Kaihua frowned. "You should still get it checked. Don't end up with a real injury to your bones or tendons." Qiaoqiao immediately crouched down and carefully examined Lin Meiyan's foot. "Does it hurt, Mommy?" "It doesn't hurt." Lin Meiyan patted her head. "It really doesn't hurt." Qiaoqiao still wasn't quite reassured. Her little face was taut as she said seriously, "Then Mommy can't do any heavy work today." Lin Meiyan laughed. "Mommy won't do heavy work. Mommy's just preparing things for the opening." "Preparing things is tiring too." Qiaoqiao pressed her lips together. "I'll help Mommy." Gu Kaihua chimed in as well. "And me too." Secretary Shen was about to leave when Lin Meiyan looked down at her feet and softly called out to stop him. "Secretary Shen, after I change into another pair of shoes, could you help me take your boss's shoes back?" The shrewd Secretary Shen heard this and immediately refused with a smile. "Youth Lin, I wouldn't dare take those shoes. My boss said your foot hasn't healed yet, so keep wearing them. When it's convenient one day, you can return them to him in person." Lin Meiyan knew at once that this was Yu Jianghai's intention. Thinking of his temperament, she didn't push it further and could only keep them for now, planning to clean them thoroughly before returning them. After Secretary Shen left. Gu Kaihua and Qiaoqiao looked at each other. The exchange in their eyes was a little off. "Mommy?" "Uncle Yu is pretty nice, huh—lending you his own shoes to wear." Shoes weren't like other items; they carried a certain intimacy. Lin Meiyan looked down at the leather shoes on her feet—wide and long, gleaming with a polished shine, clearly very expensive. Her expression turned slightly embarrassed as she explained softly, "Uncle Yu is a very kind man, skilled at helping others, which is why he helped me." Secretary Shen, who had already taken two steps, couldn't help but stumble. When had his boss ever been skilled at helping others? He thought to himself, it wasn't his boss who was helping others for the joy of it. It was more like his boss took pleasure in helping Youth Lin. But that wasn't something he could say out loud. With that thought, Secretary Shen couldn't help but glance back at Lin Meiyan one more time. She stood at the entrance of Linji, her figure slender, gently explaining something to the child. Behind her were the brand-new storefront, spotless glass windows, and neatly arranged tables and chairs. Looking in from the outside, Linji already had a hint of old meeting new. It wasn't a bright, Western-style restaurant like Xiangjiang. Nor was it a greasy, cluttered little eatery. Instead, it retained the steady confidence of an old Jiangcheng establishment, with an added touch of cleanliness and freshness. It caught the eye and made one want to step inside and experience it. Secretary Shen suddenly felt that his boss's use of public resources for private gain might not be entirely without merit. If this truly became an advertising showcase, the decoration department of Jianghai Dicai might just become a hit. After Secretary Shen left, Qiaoqiao immediately pulled Lin Meiyan inside. "Mommy, come quick, look at the menu Uncle Grandfather and I made." Lin Meiyan's slightly unsettled thoughts were instantly pulled back at the mention of the menu. She stepped into Linji. The renovated Linji was already completely different from before. The previously dim walls had been repainted, the windows fitted with new glass, and a half-height wooden partition now separated the kitchen from the front hall. It allowed a view of the steaming, bustling kitchen without looking messy. The most eye-catching feature was the menu board beside the cash register. Rows of dish names were written on it in chalk. Some characters were large, some small. The large ones were clearly written by Gu Kaihua—neat and forceful. The small ones were crooked and childlike. Clearly added by Qiaoqiao. Lin Meiyan looked up. The small blackboard was divided into four sections: cold dishes, stir-fried dishes, soups, and staples. Under each section were several dish names lined up in a row—large and small, there must have been over twenty in total. Lin Meiyan was silent for a long moment. Qiaoqiao tilted her little face up, eyes sparkling as she looked at her. "Mommy, how is it?" "You did very well." Lin Meiyan's expression showed approval. "But there are too many dishes." "It is a bit much." Gu Kaihua rubbed his nose. "I said the same, but Qiaoqiao said this way customers have more choices." Qiaoqiao immediately nodded. "That's right." She clasped her little hands behind her back, looking very reasonable. "Mommy, look, the clay pot soup can be simmered in advance, and when customers come, we just serve it." "The braised dishes can also be prepared ahead of time—whatever customers want, we just slice it." "Cold dishes are even faster, just mix them up." "Reganmian, rice, and tofu skin can be sold morning, noon, and night." "That way people come in the morning, people come at noon, and people come at night too." She finished in one breath, her face clearly saying, "Aren't I amazing?" Lin Meiyan looked at her, her heart both aching and softening. Her Qiaoqiao was only four years old. But sometimes the things she said didn't sound like a four-year-old at all. Lin Meiyan had noticed, but Qiaoqiao was her daughter. She didn't want to doubt her own child. She simply felt that perhaps Qiaoqiao, having grown up in Linji all these years, had absorbed things through daily exposure, and that was why she understood more than other children. Lin Meiyan crouched down and gently touched Qiaoqiao's little face. "Qiaoqiao is really amazing." Qiaoqiao's eyes curved into a happy smile. But the next moment, Lin Meiyan's tone shifted. "But we still need to cut down the menu." Qiaoqiao's smile froze. "Huh?" "Why?" Lin Meiyan explained patiently, "Linji just opened, and we don't have enough hands. Mommy can't manage everything alone." "If there are too many dishes and the food comes out slowly, customers will wait too long and think Linji isn't good." "It's better to perfect a few reliable dishes first." Qiaoqiao frowned, thinking hard. Lin Meiyan picked up the chalk and lightly crossed out a few items on the menu board. "On the first day, we'll sell clay pot soup, braised dishes, cold dishes, Reganmian, and rice, plus a mung bean soup." "Once we have more hands later, we can slowly add more." Qiaoqiao thought about it and felt her mother had a point. She nodded. "But we have to keep the braised duck necks." Lin Meiyan smiled. "Why?" Qiaoqiao said in a small voice, "Because duck necks are cheap, and if they taste good, everyone will love nibbling on them." "And braised lotus root." "Lotus root is cheap too." "And edamame as well." "Mommy, we can't just sell expensive things. We also need to sell things people can buy with just a little money." "Like duck necks—they're cheap, so people don't have to spend much to try some." "If it tastes good, they'll come back next time." The moment she finished, the room fell silent. Gu Kaihua stared at Qiaoqiao in astonishment. "Our Qiaoqiao is going to become a little shopkeeper." Qiaoqiao felt a bit shy and hid against Lin Meiyan's chest. Lin Meiyan gently held her. "Alright, we'll listen to our little shopkeeper." Qiaoqiao immediately perked up. "Then I want to help Mommy wash the edamame." "Okay." "I also want to help Mommy peel garlic." "Okay." "I also want to help Mommy count money." Lin Meiyan tapped her little nose. "That one's not allowed." Qiaoqiao puffed out her little cheeks. "Why not?" "Because you'd count the money right into your own pocket." Qiaoqiao's eyes went wide. "I would never!" Gu Kaihua burst out laughing. "You little rascal. Only your mother can keep you in line." After Lin Meiyan paid the remaining balance, she felt much more settled, and she gave Linji a quick tidy-up. That evening, nearly everyone in the Gu family turned out to help. Ye Qiuju came home from work and, upon hearing that Linji would open in three days, immediately tied on an apron. "What are we waiting for? Let's make a list first." She had always been a whirlwind of action. She grabbed a pen and paper and started firing off questions. "How much meat do we need?" "How much duck?" "Lotus root, edamame, cucumber, scallions, ginger, garlic—all of that needs to be bought in advance." "And bowls and chopsticks, tablecloths, rags, honeycomb briquettes, coal stoves, gas burners—all of that needs to be prepared." "You men are useless. All you think about is the food. Who's thinking about all the little odds and ends?" Gu Kaihua shrank back a little at the scolding. He was about to say that he had thought about it too, but Ye Qiuju shot him a sharp glare. "What did you think about? You thought about eating." Gu Kaihua: "..." Qiaoqiao was covering her mouth, stifling a laugh. Gu Kaihua immediately pointed at her. "Qiaoqiao, you're laughing at your great-uncle." Qiaoqiao shook her head. "No, I'm not." Still covering her mouth, she said, "I'm happy for great-auntie." Ye Qiuju beamed. "Now that's what I call a sweet tongue. Our Qiaoqiao knows how to talk." Gu Kaihua refused to back down. "I know how to talk too." Ye Qiuju said, "You know how to talk nonsense." Gu Kaihua: "..." Watching them bicker back and forth, Lin Meiyan stood to the side, her heart warm beyond words. When she had come back from the island, she had been pregnant and had nothing. Back then, she had thought this was just how her life would be. But somewhere along the way, she had somehow gathered all these people around her. Her uncle. Her aunt. The Gu children. Teacher Chen. And the old neighbors at Simenkou. She suddenly felt that the reopening of Linji wasn't just her own endeavor. It was everyone pushing her forward. She couldn't back down. And she didn't want to. On the morning of August 7th, Gu Kaihua went to the meat processing plant. After all, he had worked at the biscuit factory for years and knew plenty of people. Even though the meat plant and the biscuit factory weren't in the same place, he could always find an acquaintance through a chain of connections. By noon, he had brought back two sets of pork offal and a fine cut of pork belly. Plus some unwanted duck parts, like duck necks and duck heads. He had gone to the slaughterhouse to ask for them, and they had charged him a token amount. Since nobody ate those parts, they would have ended up in the trash anyway. It was rare for a sucker like Gu Kaihua to come along, so they naturally weren't going to pass up the opportunity. In the end, both sides felt they had gotten the better deal. Seeing Gu Kaihua come back loaded down with bags and bundles, Ye Qiuju's eyes nearly popped out. "Gu Kaihua, did you bring the whole meat plant back with you?" Gu Kaihua said smugly, "Of course. Who do you think I am?" "When I, Gu Kaihua, set out, one man counts for two." Ye Qiuju let out a cold laugh. "How much?" Gu Kaihua's smugness dimmed a few notches. He rubbed his nose. "Not expensive." Ye Qiuju said, "How much?" Gu Kaihua: "..." He looked at Lin Meiyan, trying to signal for help. Lin Meiyan suppressed a smile. "Uncle, how much?" Gu Kaihua was completely deflated. "A bit cheaper than market price." Ye Qiuju heard this and didn't scold him further. She just took the meat and inspected it as she spoke. "Cheap is cheap, but we still need to pay them properly. Don't owe anyone favors." Lin Meiyan nodded. "Auntie, I know." She took money out of her cloth bag. Gu Kaihua refused to take it. "No rush." But Lin Meiyan insisted. "Uncle, Linji is a business. The accounts need to be clear." That phrase again. Gu Kaihua looked at her and felt a wave of emotion. This niece of his. She looked soft and gentle on the outside, but deep down, she was just like her father. The Lin family never took advantage of anyone in business. How had Linji managed to stand firm in Jiangcheng back in the day? It wasn't just skill. It was also principles. Gu Kaihua took the money. "Alright, I'll listen to you." From that day on, the kitchen at Linji barely ever went cold. The first pot of braising liquid was personally prepared by Lin Meiyan. The big iron pot sat on the coal stove. Rock sugar went into the bottom of the pot first, the caramel slowly shifting from pale yellow to scorched red, with fine bubbles rising to the surface. Lin Meiyan flipped her wrist and tipped the blanched duck parts in. With a sizzle, steam billowed up. Scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon bark, bay leaves, dried chilies—each went in one by one, and soy sauce was poured along the edge of the pot. The aroma exploded instantly. Qiaoqiao stood at the doorway, sniffing her little nose, her eyes lighting up. "Mommy, it smells so good." Lin Meiyan turned with a smile. "Getting hungry?" Qiaoqiao nodded vigorously. "Hungry." Ye Qiuju was washing lotus root nearby and laughed, scolding, "You little foodie. You just ate and you're hungry again." Qiaoqiao said with complete seriousness, "It's not me who's hungry. It's my nose that's hungry." Gu Kaihua was wiping tables outside and laughed so hard he nearly dropped his rag. "Oh my, with a mouth like that, our Qiaoqiao is going to be something special." Qiaoqiao looked rather pleased with the praise. She sat on a small stool by the door, carefully peeling garlic. Peel one, set one aside. By the time she reached the end, her little fingers were coated with the smell of garlic. She brought them to her nose and sniffed, her small face scrunching up. "Stinky." Qiaoqiao didn't even realize it herself—only in front of Lin Meiyan did she act like a four-year-old child. Lin Meiyan smiled and took a towel to wipe her hands, her gaze tender, her voice soft. "Still want to peel?" "Peel." Qiaoqiao puffed out her little chest. "I want to help Mama make money." Lin Meiyan's heart softened unbearably. She lowered her head and kissed Qiaoqiao's forehead. "Mama thanks Qiaoqiao." Qiaoqiao's ears turned red. She whispered, "You're welcome." —Mama, the reason I came back is to guard you and Linji. Over at Linji, they were preparing for the opening on the eighth. Over at Jianghai Dicai, they weren't idle either. After Secretary Shen returned, he hadn't been idle these past few days either. Once Zhou Ran's photos were all developed, he took them and spent an entire afternoon in a meeting with the publicity department. The photos were exceptionally good—the old Linji storefront, the renovated Linji storefront. The dim, mottled walls before renovation, the clean, bright front hall after. There was also one of Lin Meiyan standing at the entrance of Linji, slightly turned to the side, looking into the shop. She wore a plain-colored blouse, her long hair swept back, her features gentle. Behind her was the brand-new Linji, and the image had an indescribable beauty. The publicity staff stared for a long while, then couldn't help saying, "Secretary Shen, this photo is wonderful." "Blow this one up as large as possible—the effect will be great." Secretary Shen immediately coughed. "No." The publicity staff was puzzled. "Why?" Secretary Shen said sternly, "We're promoting Jianghai Dicai's renovation department, not holding a beauty contest for Youth Lin." The publicity staff: "..." After saying it, Secretary Shen himself felt a bit guilty. He took the photo and went to Yu Jianghai's office. Yu Jianghai was reviewing the phase two planning drawings for Jianghai Dicai. Once the drawings came out and were reviewed, this version would basically be finalized. There were still some details being supplemented, and once everything was confirmed, phase two of Jianghai Dicai could break ground. Secretary Shen knocked. Yu Jianghai heard the sound but didn't look up. "What is it?" Secretary Shen placed the promotional materials on the desk. "Boss, the promotional draft for Linji is ready." The pen in Yu Jianghai's hand paused. He looked up. Secretary Shen immediately spread out the photos. "This is before renovation, this is after renovation, this is the storefront, this is the interior, this is the menu board." When he reached the last one, his voice unconsciously softened a few notches. Yu Jianghai's gaze landed on that photo. In it, Lin Meiyan stood at the entrance of Linji, her profile gentle. She didn't know someone was photographing her, so her expression was very natural. Not like when she faced him, always carrying a hint of caution and distance. Yu Jianghai looked for a long time—so long that Secretary Shen began to sweat on behalf of the publicity staff. "Boss, should this photo be included?" Yu Jianghai didn't answer. He only asked, "Does she know this one was taken?" Secretary Shen shook his head. "This one was a candid shot by Engineer Zhou. Youth Lin probably doesn't know." Yu Jianghai's fingers paused at the edge of the photo. In it, Lin Meiyan stood slightly turned at the entrance of Linji, her lashes lowered, as if looking at the newly arranged tables and chairs inside. She wasn't looking at the camera. And precisely because she wasn't looking at the camera, it was more beautiful than any formally posed photo. Gentle, quiet. And carrying a faint, indescribable distance. Yu Jianghai looked for a long time—so long that Secretary Shen couldn't help holding his breath. "This one won't be published." Secretary Shen was startled. "Boss?" Yu Jianghai withdrew his gaze, his tone flat. "If she doesn't know, it can't be published." Only then did Secretary Shen understand. He'd originally thought the boss wanted to feature that one alone, but unexpectedly, he wouldn't allow it. Secretary Shen clicked his tongue inwardly. Yu Jianghai flipped the photo over and pressed it beside his hand. "The before-and-after renovation photos can be used, the storefront can be used, and the menu board can be used." "Make the two characters 'Linji' larger." Secretary Shen: "..." He knew it. The boss talked about Jianghai Dicai's renovation department, but what he was really looking at was Linji. Secretary Shen lowered his head and noted it down. "And what about the words 'Jianghai Dicai Renovation Department'?" Yu Jianghai looked up at him. Secretary Shen immediately changed his tune. "Also bigger, also bigger—both sides bigger." Yu Jianghai ignored him. Secretary Shen gathered the promotional materials and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. "Boss, there's also your shoes." Yu Jianghai's motion of flipping through documents paused. Secretary Shen chose his words carefully. "Youth Lin originally wanted me to bring them back, but I didn't accept them per your instructions." Yu Jianghai hummed in acknowledgment. Secretary Shen waited, but no further instruction came. He could only steel himself and ask, "Then... should I go pick them up tomorrow?" "No need." Yu Jianghai answered quickly. So quickly that Secretary Shen almost couldn't hold back a laugh. He lowered his head. "Then I understand." Yu Jianghai glanced at him coolly. "What do you understand?" Secretary Shen immediately straightened up. "I don't understand anything." Yu Jianghai withdrew his gaze. "Take the promotional draft to Linji this afternoon and have her take a look at it herself." Secretary Shen nodded. "Yes." "If she finds anything unsatisfactory, make the changes." "Yes." "Make sure the opening date is clearly written." Yu Jianghai paused. "August eighth." Secretary Shen nodded again. "Got it, August eighth." With that, he picked up the promotional draft and left the office. The moment the door closed, Yu Jianghai picked up the photograph again. In it, Lin Meiyan stood at the entrance of Linji. And his shoes—they were still with her. Yu Jianghai lowered his gaze to the photograph, his thumb lightly brushing across its edge. He suddenly felt that a pair of shoes wasn't so bad after all. At least this time, she would have to come and return them in person.