Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife-Chapter 385: Pulled Out from the Abyss

They planned to eat pork and cabbage dumplings for lunch.

Qin Yang was playing with Ningning and Yuan Bao in the yard, while Lin Chuxia and Qin Juan were making dumplings in the kitchen.

Their casual conversation inevitably led to the topic of the Bun Shop.

Qin Juan asked about Feng Zhong. She had heard that he had been with the Bun Shop from the early days alongside Jia Liang, and she thought he was dispatched from An City together with Lin Chuxia.

"That’s not the case."

Lin Chuxia knew Qin Juan’s temperament—she was a woman of few words and did not pry into others’ business.

However, since the question had been raised, Lin Chuxia was willing to share a bit more.

She explained Feng Zhong’s relationship with Jia Liang to Qin Juan, as well as the matter concerning Tian Jinzhu.

Qin Juan looked at Lin Chuxia in shock, "You mean Jia Liang and his group initially..."

Lin Chuxia smiled, "Yes, Houzi from An City Xiyang Food Factory was one of them too. Back then, that monkey robbed me twice."

Recalling the circumstances when they first met, Lin Chuxia found it quite amusing.

"Now they have turned over a new leaf. Houzi is doing well over in An City, and Jia Liang is decent in his dealings. That’s why I’m at ease handing over the Bun Shop to him."

Qin Juan nodded, "With better prospects ahead, who would want to engage in stealing and thievery?"

It’s no wonder Jia Liang was so loyal to his younger siblings; the kids were the ones who pulled them out from the abyss.

Qin Juan glanced at Lin Chuxia and silently added, ’And who pulled me out from the abyss as well.’

"That’s not entirely true," said Lin Chuxia with a light snort, "Tian Jinzhu is an example. When Jia Liang and his group decided to follow me, they wanted to bring Tian Jinzhu along, but he wasn’t appreciative. Now when he comes asking for help, he ends up betraying Jia Liang. Some people are just rotten to the core."

Qin Juan nodded in agreement and then remembered Feng Zhong. After pondering, she decided to tell Lin Chuxia about discovering the frozen pork that day.

"It was just that once, afterwards everything was fine. I don’t know if it’s because I’m unaware."

Lin Chuxia thought to herself that it wasn’t necessarily Qin Juan’s lack of awareness; most likely, Feng Zhong realized he had been exposed and only stopped because he feared things would escalate.

"Next time something like this happens, just speak to Jia Liang. Don’t mind their relationship. Although he values brotherhood, when it comes to business, Jia Liang is serious and meticulous."

Since she had entrusted the store to Jia Liang’s management, as long as no principled issues were involved, Lin Chuxia would not interfere arbitrarily.

"Alright," Qin Juan acknowledged.

............

As per the tradition of Qin’s Buns Shop, on Laba festival, the shop would offer Laba Porridge at a fair price.

They had advertised the day before, so on the day, the shop was packed with guests; every seat in the hall was taken.

Even the entrance was bustling with people coming and going, and those without seats stood in corners to eat.

The wait staff in the shop were also incredibly busy.

Qin Juan came early to the shop to make steamed buns and, when the customers were plenty, she joined Gao Lele in handling the money and calculating the bills.

Fortunately, the rush only lasted a few hours, and by 9 o’clock, the crowd had started to dwindle.

Qin Juan counted the cash and tickets in hand and handed them to Gao Lele, "Lele, check the count."

Gao Lele took it and said, "No need Sister Juan, I trust you."

"Lele, it’s not about trust, we both are handling the shop’s money, we can’t be careless. Please count it."

Qin Juan said this, and Lele didn’t insist anymore, first counting the change and then checking the bills.

"Exactly right, Sister Juan."

"Okay then, you get busy, I’m going to check the back."

"Sure!"

Gao Lele watched Qin Juan leave, carefully putting away the tickets and money.

Feng Zhong, finding a moment’s rest amid his busyness, leaned on the counter and slightly lifted his chin, "Our little Lele seems so happy today, and the Bun Shop is so busy. The money must have stuffed it full, right?"

Gao Lele, blessed with a cheerful appearance and dimples on both cheeks, always had a sweet look even without a smile, which made everyone in the shop like talking to her.

Hearing the tease, Gao Lele replied without lifting her head, "When am I not happy?"

"True, no wonder our manager knows how to pick people, Lele, you’re truly the face of our shop."

"If you’re envious, go talk to the manager someday, let him make you the live mascot of our shop too."

"Don’t joke, if I became the mascot, I’d probably smash the shop’s sign." freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Gao Lele laughed heartily at the banter. Just then someone called Feng Zhong, he responded with a laugh, and threw out another couple of teasing remarks to Gao Lele as he walked away.

Jia Liang was drawing up lists in the kitchen and saw Feng Zhong with a frown and warned, "Don’t always joke with the young lady when you’re free. You’re old enough to be her father, don’t bring those old habits into the shop."

Feng Zhong was not happy, "Brother Liang, I’m only a few months older than you, how could I be old enough to be her father?"

He looked around and leaned in to speak in a lower voice, "I’ve heard that Xiao Liu is about the same age as Gao Lele, and that young girl is quite attentive to you. So, it’s fine for you to receive her attentions, but I can’t banter with other young ladies?"

"Shut your mouth," Jia Liang hissed softly, "I have nothing to do with Xiao Liu, and I don’t want to hear such talk again. A young girl’s reputation is very important. If there’s a next time, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

"Alright, alright, my bad," Feng Zhong knew Jia Liang’s temper and quickly apologized.

Jia Liang didn’t dwell on the topic, handing over the list he wrote, "We’re running short on meat today, go get some more, and load up on scallions, too. The price is rising continuously, and it will be even more expensive after the holidays."

"Okay, I’ll go now."

It was another busy noon period, and in the afternoon, the whole shop gradually quieted down.

These days, people lived healthily, rarely going out to eat at night.

After tidying up the affairs on the 2nd floor, Qin Juan saw it was almost time, 5:00 Ningning would finish school, and she had to pick her up.

After picking up Ningning, she would be able to finish work and go home, which was also a backdoor favor from her younger siblings.

Downstairs, she saw Gao Lele counting the money at the counter, her abacus clacking methalically, her brows knit tightly.

Scanning around and not seeing Jia Liang, she planned to give the money and accounts to Gao Lele first, who would hand them over to Jia Liang - a common practice when Jia Liang was occasionally not in the shop.

But before she spoke up, Jia Liang came out of the kitchen, a bag in his hand.

Seeing Qin Juan, he walked straight up to her, "Just in time, take home some of this Laba Porridge left from this morning for the kids."

Qin Juan glanced at the lunchbox in the bag and shook her head, "Thank you, Manager, but that’s against the rules. I’ve already bought rice, I’ll just cook it at home."

She handed the accounts she was holding to Jia Liang.

After she left, Feng Zhong approached, reaching for Jia Liang’s lunchbox, "Brother Liang, I happen to have no dinner for tonight, give me the porridge."

Jia Liang dodged him, "You want to eat, go cook it yourself."

Feng Zhong was dumbfounded, "It’s just leftovers from the shop, what’s the big deal giving it to me?"

"How thick is your face? Even the boss pays for his food in the shop. Did you see any porridge left over this morning? I bought this."