EBE Chapter 320 Ziheng
Chapter 320 Ziheng
Shui Sheng smiled and didn't refute.
Everyone wanted to bring the two of them together, so no one egged them on to make them quarrel.
Lin Qingchuan also thought that the name Su had chosen was excellent. He happily said, "Alright, we'll listen to Su and name her Ziheng, Lin Ziheng. It's a pity that Tang'er and Yu'er were born too early, so we couldn't get Su to help us name them. Sigh!"
Lin Xiaotang was deeply moved. Sure enough, her father was not a sexist. He asked Manager Su to help name his son, and even regretted that he couldn't get Manager Su to name his daughter.
She said, "Dad, Xiaoyu and I have very good names, and we've gotten used to calling us that over the years. But the name that Second Uncle gave my brother is really nice, and it has a deep meaning."
Lin Qingchuan wasn't very educated, so he couldn't understand the meaning behind the name. He just intuitively felt that the name Su had chosen must be excellent and sounded very nice. He liked the name very much.
"Okay, it has a good meaning, so we'll go with this name."
Manager Su secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that the name he had chosen would be looked down upon by everyone, but he did not expect that everyone would support the name he had chosen so much, which made him feel very accomplished.
After everyone chatted for a while, Manager Su handed over the gifts he had brought to Lin Qingchuan.
"Qingchuan, these are gifts for Ziheng. Please accept them on his behalf."
Lin Qingchuan looked at the gifts brought by Manager Su. The packaging alone was exquisite and luxurious, so one could imagine how valuable the contents must be. He quickly waved his hand and refused.
"Manager Su, we are all rough men and don't usually exchange gifts. These gifts are too valuable, we cannot accept them."
Shopkeeper Su smiled and said, "Well, I've already bought it, and it's not a very expensive gift. Do you expect me to take it back? This is just a small token of my appreciation, so please accept it."
I didn't put in much effort at this pig's trotter shop, only contributing half the capital. It's all been your doing running it. In the end, I've benefited from your profits, so I really feel bad if you don't accept this gift. We'll be working together to grow medicinal herbs in the future, so how can I continue to take advantage of you?"
Manager Su saw everyone's efforts. Although everyone was running the pig's trotter shop, they were paid separately and the costs were deducted. The profits were split 50/50, but Manager Su still felt he was getting a good deal. This shows that Manager Su is an upright person!
Lin Xiaotang also persuaded her father to accept the gift, saying that since Manager Su came from a wealthy family, this small gift was nothing to him.
If we really don't accept it, it will only make Manager Su lose face.
There will be many more opportunities for cooperation in the future, and we will need to maintain these relationships.
Now that they have money, if you ask her why she still wants to cooperate with Manager Su instead of going it alone, the truth is she has her own selfish motives.
None of them were well-educated and had any connections in Dushui County. They relied on her to give them advice, and the business could indeed grow bigger and stronger. However, if they encountered a tough opponent, they would have no one to back them up. If someone deliberately targeted them, the business might not be able to continue normally.
However, their cooperation with Manager Su is different. Manager Su comes from a prestigious family, and it's easy to imagine how powerful he is.
Wanhe Restaurant has been operating in Dushui County for many years and now dominates the market. Other restaurants dare not use open or covert means against Wanhe Restaurant. She knew that cooperating with Manager Su would seem like Manager Su only contributed money and did not contribute any effort, and that he would benefit from the profits. In reality, they were being protected without anyone noticing.
Lin Qingchuan, unable to refuse such hospitality, had no choice but to accept the gift.
When he opened it, he was stunned to see not only a jade pendant but also a pure gold longevity lock.
Having been in business for so long, they had made money, but their most valuable possessions were still silver. This jade pendant and gold were truly something they had never seen before.
It's really... too valuable!
He was about to say no when Manager Su raised her hand to stop him.
"We'll be working together for a long time to come. You've helped me earn much more money than this. Don't refuse, just accept it."
Lin Qingchuan nodded, closed the box, and felt even more respect for Manager Su.
Aunt Xiangqin, standing to the side, was extremely envious. She hadn't expected Manager Su to be so generous; it was truly something to be jealous of.
I wonder if Manager Su will give such an expensive gift when Shuisheng and his daughter-in-law have a child in the future.
Ugh!
It's definitely not going to be given away. After all, Manager Su has a relationship with the Lin family, not with Shuisheng. The pig's trotter shop is jointly owned by Qingchuan and Manager Su, and they will also cooperate in planting medicinal herbs in the future. Shuisheng is just a worker who gets paid.
So, forget about this gift!
The mere mention of her daughter-in-law gave her a headache. Although she couldn't go against her son's wishes and had to accept Liu Cai'er, she was still very bothered by Liu Cai'er's past.
She just hoped that those two boys would never come looking for them again and bother everyone.
Manager Su chatted with everyone for a while longer before taking his leave.
Everyone got busy, with Shui Sheng and Wu Yu, two big men, cleaning pig trotters by the well.
Two female workers also came to help. Liu Cai'er was watching over the pig's trotter shop, and Aunt Xiangqin also wanted to help clean the pig's trotters, but everyone refused.
"Auntie, you're getting old, you should rest well. It would be good if you could help Cai'er with cooking when you have time. You can't do any more heavy work. Just take good care of your health and enjoy a good life with everyone."
"Now that Auntie is feeling better, you are all so busy, but Auntie is just sitting idly in the yard. How can Auntie sit still like that?"
"If Auntie really can't sit still, why don't you make us two more pairs of shoes? We're all big men with heavy feet, and our shoes wear out quickly."
Aunt Xiangqin's eyes lit up as soon as she heard there was work to be done. "That's great! I make the sturdiest shoes. When I was young, everyone came to me to learn how to make shoes. But I haven't done much of it these past few years because I've been bedridden. Now that I'm healthy, I can do it!"
Since arriving in the county, Feng'er had given her a lot of cloth so that she could make her own sewing when needed, and now it came in handy.
So, Aunt Xiangqin quickly found the fabric and sat down in the yard to start cutting.
Lin Qingchuan took the gift that Manager Su had given his son back to his room and told his wife the name that Manager Su had given their son.
"This jade pendant and gold lock were gifts from Manager Su. I asked him to name the child. What do you think?"
Liu Feng'er was stunned. She opened the two gift boxes and stared in shock at the pure white jade pendant and the small gold lock the size of a jujube.
"My goodness, this gift is too expensive! How much did it cost? We haven't even been able to bring ourselves to buy a silver lock for the child, and Manager Su has given us a gold one. How are we going to reciprocate with such an expensive gift?"
Lin Qingchuan sighed, "Manager Su is an upright person. We'll be cooperating for a long time to come. It's hard to refuse his kindness. We'll make more money and pay him back slowly."
"That's the only way. So what name did he choose for the child? Manager Su is very knowledgeable, so the name he chooses must be the best."
She felt it was an honor to have Manager Su help name her child. Manager Su was a man of such high status; it would be a great honor to have him in the family.
Seeing his wife beaming with joy, Lin Qingchuan was also very happy. He said, "Manager Su named the child Ziheng. Manager Su said something that sounded very cultured, but unfortunately I don't remember what he said."
He scratched his head, chuckled, and revealed two rows of big white teeth.
Her husband could at least read a few words, but Liu Feng'er only recognized the name of her own shop. She carefully considered the name of her child, but couldn't discern any meaning from it. She just kept praising Manager Su for choosing such a good name.
A few days later, Aunt Xiangqin saw that her son was always chasing after Liu Cai'er, but it was like offering a warm face to a cold backside. She finally couldn't stand it anymore.
So, she hesitated and awkwardly approached Liu Cai'er, blushing as she apologized.
"Cai'er, it was all my fault these past few days. I only cared about my own preferences and contradicted your marriage with Shuisheng in front of everyone. I didn't think things through for a moment and hurt you. But I've figured it out these past few days. Shuisheng likes you, and you're a good girl. I shouldn't mind your past. We're both women, why should women make things difficult for each other? As long as you and Shuisheng are happy, I'll close my eyes immediately. My life will have been worthwhile."
Liu Cai'er was surprised that Aunt Xiangqin would take the initiative to come to her. She was slightly taken aback and her expression became somewhat unnatural.
Although Aunt Xiangqin rejected her marriage proposal to Shuisheng in front of everyone, she didn't blame Aunt Xiangqin. After all, she also had a son and was a mother herself, so she could understand Aunt Xiangqin's feelings.
Getting married is a major event in a person's life. Tell me, which mother can accept her son marrying a woman who has been married before?
Marrying a woman who has been married before is bad enough, but you also have to worry about whether her ex-husband's family will cause trouble.
She bit her lip and said, "Auntie, Shuisheng and I are not suitable. Please don't let this affect your mood. As for your objection to my marriage with Shuisheng, I didn't take it to heart. We are not suitable, and Shuisheng is in the mood. I'm so glad you objected, otherwise I really wouldn't know how to refuse."
It's good that this matter has been discussed openly, so that we can avoid awkward interactions when living under the same roof in the future.
She was unlucky; she married the wrong person and now lives alone in her sister's and brother-in-law's house. All she wants is to work hard in the business, earn a good wage, and be able to settle down in Dushui County. She doesn't ask for anything else.
Aunt Xiangqin had already compromised with her son and agreed to let him marry Liu Cai'er, but unexpectedly Liu Cai'er refused. Her enthusiasm was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on her.
Her forced smile froze on her face, and she said with dissatisfaction, "What's wrong? We've known each other for so long, and we've cooked three meals a day together. Just because your aunt is a little selfish for her son, you're getting angry with her?"
Seeing the unhappiness written all over Aunt Xiangqin's face, Liu Cai'er quickly waved her hand to deny it, "No, no, no, Aunt, you misunderstood me. Shuisheng is very good, and you are very good too. I'm not angry with anyone. I just feel that I've been married and had children, and I'm not good enough for Shuisheng. Shuisheng is in the throes of passion right now, but who knows if he'll look down on me after the novelty wears off? I can't and dare not gamble, so we can't be together."
Aunt Xiangqin pursed her lips, thinking to herself, "At least Liu Cai'er has some self-awareness. However, she doesn't agree to marry her son, but her son is blinded by greed and wants to marry Liu Cai'er. What should we do?"
If her son were willing to meet potential partners, she could immediately find a matchmaker with the money. The problem is that her son is unwilling to marry anyone except Liu Cai'er.
This is really a headache!
She continued, “I raised Shuisheng myself, and I know his temperament best. I have been bedridden for many years and have been a burden to him for many years, causing our family to be destitute and delaying his marriage. He has never complained or looked down on me, his sick mother. Even if you are remarried, he will never look down on you or let you down in the future.”
A mother is a mother, and a wife is a wife; they are not the same!
Liu Cai'er understood this principle deeply, because Xie Laifu, that beast, would beat and scold her, but he was completely obedient to his sharp-tongued mother.
Therefore, she should just listen to what Aunt Xiangqin said and not be foolish enough to believe it.
Liu Cai'er continued to refuse, "Auntie, after spending these days together, I have come to understand your temperament. You have a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and you care a lot about us younger generation. You are old and frail, but you are still hardworking and capable. I know you are good to me and agreed to let me marry Shuisheng, but I... do not want to get married right now, and I do not want to hold Shuisheng back."
Aunt Xiangqin looked puzzled and said, "You can't go back to the Xie family anymore, and you don't have your children with you. You're not young anymore. Are you going to live alone for the rest of your life if you don't get married?"
Liu Cai'er remained silent and did not answer.
Aunt Xiangqin grabbed Liu Cai'er's hand and led her to her room to continue their conversation.
"I'm not trying to be mean, but how can we women live without getting married? You and Shuisheng are both doing business with Qingchuan's family now, but what will you do when you get older and can't work anymore?"
Without your own house and without any children, when you're both lying in bed, do you expect Qingchuan and Feng'er's child to take care of you?
Are we going to let Qingchuan's children take care of us in our old age and see us off when we die? And when we close our eyes one day, will we still trouble them to wear mourning clothes for us?
You're so shameless, daring to trouble people, you should at least see if they're willing to accept it!
Liu Cai'er was slightly taken aback; she hadn't really considered this question before.
Yes!
Aunt Xiangqin is right. Shuisheng is unmarried, has no wife or children. After he sees Aunt Xiangqin off, he will have no one to care for him in his old age.
She has two sons, but neither of them is obedient or filial, and she can't count on either of them when the time comes.
She no longer has a husband's family, and she can't go back to her parents' home. When she dies, there won't even be a place to be buried. Just like Aunt Xiangqin said, is she supposed to live with her sister and brother-in-law for the rest of her life, and have her nephew take care of her in her old age and send her off in mourning?
A sudden wave of sadness washed over her.
After a long silence, she replied, "Auntie, please let me think about it, okay?"
When Aunt Xiangqin heard that Liu Cai'er was willing to consider it, she immediately beamed with joy and said happily, "Okay, think it over carefully. Once you've made up your mind, tell me as soon as possible so I can make preparations."
Before talking to Liu Cai'er, Aunt Xiangqin was concerned that Liu Cai'er had two sons. Unexpectedly, Liu Cai'er refused, and her attitude changed drastically. Now she is anxious to get Liu Cai'er to agree as soon as possible.