Chapter 78: 78: How about Renting a Place?

Dong Wenzhong was still hesitating, but Chen Yanran couldn’t wait to deal with Xu Ying any longer. In her view, Xu Ying’s older brother’s teaching job, which should have been hers, had been snatched away by Xu Shengcai, and now all she could think about was revenge.

“I’ll lure the person in and lead them into the woods.”

Upon hearing this, Dong Wenqiang was somewhat surprised; he couldn’t believe this woman was actually prepared to lure someone in.

But he agreed willingly to avoid arguing about it, “Alright, when do we take action? We need to move quickly; we’ve rested for several days now, and if we don’t go back to work soon, the team leader will start complaining.”

Dong Wenzhong looked toward Chen Yanran, letting her decide the timing.

Chen Yanran said outright, “Wait a few days until Xu Ying has a day off.”

“Wait for her day off? When will that be, in the Year of the Monkey? Otherwise, let’s just go directly to the county.”

When Chen Yanran heard this, it seemed like a good plan, much more concealed than doing something in the village.

Her eyes sparkling, she said, “Then it’s tomorrow; I’ll arrange to meet with Xu Ying. You guys go now and scout for some remote places in the county.”

The two brothers Dong Wenqiang and Wenzhong heard this; their faces lit up with excitement as they rubbed their hands together. They had heard that the team leader’s daughter was not only beautiful but also fair-skinned and clean, indistinguishable from a city girl.

Whichever of them married Xu Ying would be hitting the jackpot; they wouldn’t have to suffer in the countryside anymore.

“Okay, remember you and Wen Zhong to ask for a day off tomorrow. We’re heading off now.”

“Xu Ying, what happened to you?” Sun Lifang was shocked to see the injuries on her arm as she rolled up her sleeve one morning at work.

Thinking about how some rural families favored sons over daughters, Sun Lifang immediately became angry and pulled Xu Ying aside to ask, “Xu Ying, your parents didn’t do this to you, did they?”

Xu Ying smiled helplessly; why would this girl think like that? “I fell down yesterday.”

Thinking of Huo Chen, who acted like an innocently smitten big dog, Xu Ying couldn’t help but want to laugh. This man seemed cold and distant, but unbeknownst to others, he had such an adorable side.

“What happened, you fell off your bike? You need to be more careful,” Sun Lifang said, both distressed and disapproving.

Chef Ge came over, also expressing disapproval, “So clumsy, you can injure your arm riding a bike? Don’t you know a chef’s most important tools are their hands and arms? If something serious happens, you can forget about cooking altogether.”

Zhang Youquan’s eyes flickered when he heard this, and he quickly left the kitchen.

Xu Ying knew they cared about her and stuck out her tongue, saying, “Oh, it was getting dark, I couldn’t see the road clearly, and then there was this rock, and I ran right into it.”

Upon hearing this, Chef Ge frowned, “You’re a young lady, and your home is so far from here. You might as well rent a place in the county. Otherwise, with the days getting shorter, it’ll be too risky to go back after work.”

Xu Ying wasn’t scared of danger, but Chef Ge was right about the shorter days. With winter approaching, the weather would get colder, and the thought of riding back and forth in the chilling winter made her involuntarily rub her hands together. Her hands would freeze.

“Mhm, in a few days, I’ll speak to my parents about renting a place.”

Chef Ge thought she was waiting to get paid before she could afford to rent and immediately fished out ten yuan from his pocket to give to Xu Ying, “Take this money for the rent.”

Xu Ying felt a sudden warmth in her heart. Ten yuan might only buy a cup of bubble tea in the future, but for now, it could be a rural family’s annual expenses.

Chef Ge’s gesture was sincerely kind to her. Xu Ying smiled and declined, “Chef Ge, I have money. I want to spend more time with my parents before renting a place. Now, by the time I get home from work, it’s just getting dark.” What happened yesterday coming home so late was purely an accident.

“Xu Ying, if you’re looking for a place to rent, you can ask me, and I’ll have my mom inquire if there’s anyone renting out houses.”

“Then thank you in advance, Lifang.” Xu Ying said, blinking her eyes.

Working a typical morning, she began with buns and porridge as usual.

This time, Xu Ying brought out some new tricks: yesterday, with Huo Chen around, her goodwill value soared, he alone contributed almost a hundred points.

As the goodwill value goes up with each unlock, more points are needed, and naturally, more items are unlocked.@@novelbin@@

Now, Xu Ying’s space was crammed with things, just waiting for a chance to sort them out.

“Are you trying out new recipes again today?” Gao Guihua entered the kitchen with a rag, bent over to wash it in the sink, and curiously asked Xu Ying as she chopped fillings.

Uncle Ge had become numb. He was too embarrassed to offer to take Xu Ying as an apprentice anymore.

It mainly seemed that he knew less than Xu Ying already.

“Yeah, Sister Gao, I’m planning to try out some new bun fillings, and since we have the ingredients here, I thought I’d give it a shot.” Xu Ying spoke without stopping her chopping hand.

Today’s selection included three types of fillings: mushroom and cabbage, spicy tofu, and mushroom with vermicelli.

They had received some fatty pork yesterday, and Xu Ying had fried out a lot of oil from it, which added to today’s fillings made the buns particularly fragrant.

Sun Lifang and Gao Xianghong were wrapping buns and salivating. They had never realized buns could taste this good.

Now, both just wanted to hurry up and get the buns wrapped so they could steam them and try one.

Zhang Youquan was absolutely sour on the side, thinking how unfair the heavens were. Look at Xu Ying, young and already a skilled cook, making everything delicious.

He, on the other hand, had been working hard for over four years and his cooking was still bland and flavorless.

Gao Guihua was still nearby, not minding stirring the pot, and teased Zhang Youquan: “Youquan, one has to acknowledge some people are just born for this line of work. Without even trying hard, they’re more successful than others.

Look at you, after four years of learning, how come your cooking’s still so inedible?”

Zhang Youquan turned red with anger, glaring at Gao Guihua, and retorted without hesitation: “I might be no match for Xu Ying, but I’m still better than your brother from your mother’s side.

He’s good for nothing, wasting everything and he doesn’t even qualify to be an apprentice in the kitchen.

Then look at Xianghong, since she came she’s been working so well, I heard that Director Hong wants to select a manager for the front hall.

Who knows who’ll end up as the manager.” Who didn’t know how to throw a wrench in the works? Zhang Youquan’s words directly left Gao Guihua feeling unsettled inside.

The position of front hall manager had been vacant for several months, and no one had heard about Director Hong looking to fill the position.

Now that her husband’s sister had been here for only a month, and Director Hong was about to choose a front hall manager—it couldn’t really be that he had taken a shine to Xianghong!

Speaking of Gao Xianghong, apart from having a sharp tongue like Gao Guihua, she was genuinely industrious and as capable as Chen Chunfeng who came from the countryside.

Gao Xianghong, seeing her sister-in-law’s scrutinizing gaze, became anxious and quickly spoke out: “Zhang Youquan, don’t stir up trouble here.

I’m still a temp worker, not even a regular employee. If Director Hong is to promote a manager, it should be based on seniority. My sister-in-law has been working in this restaurant nearly ten years.

Always diligent and dedicated, if anyone deserves to be the manager, I think it’s my sister-in-law, right?” Gao Xianghong finished speaking and looked to the other restaurant staff for support.

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