Chapter 344: Chapter 341: Put Your Mind on the Right Path

"Sis, have you thought about it?" Yang Liying asked. "Lirong’s family is so proud, so why would they suddenly want Qiaohui to marry Jianjun? It’s obviously because they’re after her skills."

Yang Liqun stared at her in surprise. "That can’t be right! Qiaohui learned her skills from Lin Lan. If Lirong has Jianjun marry Qiaohui, wouldn’t she just be stealing Lin Lan’s business?"

"You know what our sister Lirong is like," Yang Liying said with a laugh. "Nothing is as dear to her as money! But I don’t think Lin Lan is worried. East Market is a big place, and there are only three or four pastry shops anyway."

Yang Liqun processed what Yang Liying said and nodded. "That’s true. Even a few more shops wouldn’t really affect Lin Lan. But I still don’t think what Lirong is doing is right. It’s like she’s selling her own son just to make money."

Yang Liying said with a look of disgust, "Sis, have you forgotten about her Jianjun? They’ve spoiled him so rotten. Whoever marries him is going to be miserable."

Hearing this, Yang Liqun was at a loss for words. She decided she would have a serious talk with Yang Lirong the next time she saw her and urge her not to ruin the young people’s lives.

Meanwhile, Yang Lirong was nursing a headache of her own. Her son was older than Zhilin, yet Zhilin had been earning his own money for ages. When she let Jianjun watch the stall, he would either give the wrong change or completely ignore the customers, driving them all away.

’If I can just find him a wife with a marketable skill,’ she thought, ’then even if he’s a little lazy, they won’t have to worry about putting food on the table.’

She sighed, left her stall in Yu Hui’s care, and decided to head to the pastry shop to speak with Lin Lan again.

Yang Lirong left the market, walked to the bus stop, and boarded a bus heading to the south side of town.

When she arrived at Lin Lan’s pastry shop, she saw Tong Xinglan boxing up some pastries for a customer. ’She’s definitely prettier than Qiaohui,’ Yang Lirong thought.

After she finished packing the pumpkin cakes, Tong Xinglan felt someone staring at her. She turned and saw Yang Lirong standing in the doorway. She paused for a moment, then smiled. "Aunt Lirong, my cousin is in the back courtyard making pastries."

Yang Lirong nodded quickly. "Alright, I’ll go to the back and find her."

Tong Xinglan glanced at Yang Lirong as she hurried toward the back courtyard. ’The way she was looking at me was kind of creepy, like the big bad wolf.’

Yang Lirong went into the courtyard and saw Lin Lan, Qiaohui, and Lin Yuezhen. She gave Lin Lan an awkward smile and a wave. "Lin Lan, I have something I need to talk to you about!"

"Just a moment, I’ll be right with you," Lin Lan said. She finished slicing the last of the bean paste rolls, trimmed the edges, and arranged the pieces on a plate for Qiaohui. "Take this out to the customer."

"Okay!" Qiaohui replied, picking up the plate and leaving.

Lin Lan turned to Yang Lirong, whose eyes were darting all over the place. "Lirong, let’s talk in the break room."

"Okay." Yang Lirong followed Lin Lan into the break room and looked at her sheepishly. "Lin Lan, about what I said this morning... about Qiaohui... well, Jianjun isn’t interested. He’s actually taken a liking to—"

Lin Lan cut her off, her expression cold. "Lirong, you don’t have to say it. I know exactly what you’re trying to do. Don’t you think you’re being ridiculous?

My cousins aren’t dishes on a menu for you to pick and choose from! I’m honestly amazed. Where do you get the nerve? And don’t treat people like they’re idiots. You know exactly what you’re really after."

Yang Lirong was stunned. She never expected Lin Lan to be so direct, offering her no way to save face. Her own face flushed with a mixture of colors, and it took her a long moment to find her voice. "Aren’t you being a little sensitive? I just think your two cousins are lovely and hardworking..."

Lin Lan held up a hand to stop her. "Lirong, as the saying goes, you reap what you sow. You treat people with respect, and they’ll treat you with respect.

I’ve always treated you as my sister-in-law, but how have you treated me? You don’t need to come here for pastries anymore. I can’t afford to be associated with a relative like you."

"Fine, I won’t! See if I care!" Yang Lirong shoved Lin Lan aside and stormed next door to Yang Liqun’s shop, where she plopped down with a dark look on her face.

"What’s wrong? Did you and Yu Hui have a fight?" Yang Liqun asked, ladling a bowl of soy milk and handing it to her. "I was actually about to come looking for you. There’s something I need to discuss."

Yang Lirong took the soy milk and drank a few gulps, then looked at her sister with a wronged expression. "You have no idea how Lin Lan just treated me."

"What happened?" Yang Liqun suddenly recalled their earlier conversation and pointed at her sister. "Don’t tell me you went to see Lin Lan about Qiaohui again."

Yang Lirong nodded, then shook her head. "I asked Liying to mention it, but she wouldn’t help. So I had to go myself. But it turns out Jianjun isn’t interested in—"

"Who do you think your Jianjun is, some kind of king?" Yang Liqun said, looking at her sister in exasperation. "Lin Lan’s cousins are both girls from good families. They’re smart, attractive, and have valuable skills. What on earth gives you the right to just pick one?"

"Besides, the family relations are all wrong! If they actually got married, how would their children address Lin Lan? Would she be a grand-aunt or a cousin? And as for your scheme to get Qiaohui as a daughter-in-law, Lin Lan saw right through it."

"She’s about to marry into the Li family anyway," Yang Lirong said defiantly, looking up at Yang Liqun. "When she does, the only one connecting her to us will be Little Douzi. And don’t forget, our old family house is now filled with people named Lin."

Yang Liqun looked at her evenly. "So what? Lin Lan is still Little Douzi’s mother. Little Douzi is still Old Yang’s grandson. And the Lin family are still his maternal relatives.

And don’t you forget, Lin Lan was the one who helped you rent that stall on the west side from Xiangyang. She didn’t make a single cent from the deal."

Yang Lirong felt a flicker of panic at that, but she remained stubborn. "Big deal. I’ll just give the stall back. If I set up on the street, I won’t have to pay rent anyway."

Yang Liqun shot her a look. "Suit yourself. I’m sure he’d be thrilled to have it back."

Seeing that her sister was washing her hands of the matter, Yang Lirong grabbed her arm. "Sis, what should I do? Lin Lan says she won’t supply me with any more pastries."

"After all the trouble you’ve caused? If I were her, I wouldn’t sell to you either."

Yang Liqun glared at her, then advised her earnestly, "You need to focus your energy on the right path. Even if you just had Jianjun help you make a little extra tofu to sell at the production brigades each day, you could still make ten yuan or so."

Yang Lirong’s face fell. "If my Jianjun were half as sensible as Zhilin or Zhixue, I wouldn’t have to be racking my brains trying to plan his future."

Yang Liqun called her out without a shred of pity. "You brought this on yourself! If you keep spoiling Jianjun like this, he’s going to be completely useless."

Yang Lirong thought about it. ’I really did bring this on myself.’ She looked at Yang Liqun and pleaded, "I’ve really offended Lin Lan this time. I don’t think she’ll ever sell me pastries wholesale again. Sis, please, can you put in a good word for me?"

Seeing her sister’s pitiful expression, Yang Liqun sighed. "Alright. You head back for now. I’ll find a chance to talk to Lin Lan. If she agrees to start supplying you again, I’ll send Zhilin to let you know."

Yang Lirong nodded. "Okay, I’ll head back then."

Yang Liqun walked her to the door. After watching her leave, she exchanged a few words with Wang Zeming before heading over to Lin Lan’s shop to apologize on Yang Lirong’s behalf.

Lin Lan just smiled, unbothered. "Sister Liqun, don’t worry, I’m not taking it to heart. And you certainly don’t need to feel bad. I just don’t want to supply her with pastries anymore. As for the stall rental, that can stay as it is."