Lin Yongnian: “How can we compensate this much?”

Lin Jianshe counted on his fingers and explained, “Just for the things we broke, plus medical expenses and emotional distress fees, it’s already six hundred and ninety-five.”

“What’s the other three hundred for?” Zhang Jiao asked hurriedly.

At this moment, Lin Guodong walked out from the bedroom.

“Lost work wages.”

Lin Yongnian: “Lost work wages? Your mom doesn’t even have a job, where would these lost work wages come from?”

“Mom’s a street vendor,” Zhang Jiao reminded him.

“Hmph, street vending doesn’t count as a job.” Lin Yongnian sneered.

Lin Jianshe: “Dad, do you know how much Mom can earn from selling dumplings on the street?”

“How much?” Lin Yongnian asked.

“Ten bucks(10 taels/10 yuan). The pure profit in a day is ten bucks!”

“Lying, you must be lying.” Lin Guodong didn’t believe it. “How can that be? Running a street stall can earn more than a regular job?”

Zhang Jiao: “I pass by the alley after work every day. Mom’s stall has good business, with people even lining up. She sells a bowl of dumplings for thirty cents, and she should be able to sell fifty bowls a day.”

She had always thought that her mother-in-law’s business was good, but she hadn’t realized it was this profitable.

The pure profit of ten bucks a day, that would be three hundred a month, and over a year, that adds up to more than three thousand.

Zhang Jiao felt a pang in her heart, regretting deeply.

If she had known how much her mother-in-law was making, she would never have let Guodong sign that separation agreement.

But now that the stall had been smashed, it might not continue in business.

With that thought, Zhang Jiao felt a little better.

Lin Guodong also regretted it.

For an outsider, he had offended his mother, who was making so much money, and even severed ties with her. It felt like a huge loss.

It was also Zhang Jiao’s fault for persuading him. If she hadn’t pushed him to sign, he wouldn’t have done it.

Lin Yongnian frowned. “Even if she makes money from her street stall, it’s still not respectable.”

Zhang Jiao muttered quietly, “If she makes so much money, who cares about respectability?”

If she could make three hundred a month, she would also be willing to run a street stall.

Lin Yongnian glared at her, and she immediately closed her mouth.

Lin Jianshe: “The doctor said Mom’s injury needs a month of rest. The lost work wages are ten bucks a day, so for thirty days, it’s three hundred.”

Lin Yongnian snorted. “Li Shuping is really a swindler. With her minor injuries, she doesn’t need thirty days to recover. How much is your mother-in-law’s family going to compensate her?”

“Liu Yong is the main culprit, so his share is bigger, one hundred and five. The remaining five hundred and ninety is split between the other five families.”

“Smashing her stall, and now she’s making a profit,” Lin Yongnian said bitterly.

Not only was he bitter, but Lin Jianshe and Lin Guodong were bitter too.

If they had known Mom could make so much money, they wouldn’t have signed that ridiculous separation agreement.

They should have been more conciliatory with her.

If they had been nicer, she would have been happy, and no matter how much money she made, it would have been left to them, her two sons.

But hindsight is always 20/20.

Within two days, news spread throughout Pear Blossom Alley that Lin Jianshe and Lin Guodong had signed a separation agreement with Li Shuping, severing their mother-son relationship.

Some said that Lin Jianshe and Lin Guodong were heartless, abandoning their own mother for an outsider.

Others said that Li Shuping was too cruel, sending her in-laws’ child to prison and severing ties with her two sons just to avoid dropping the case.

They also said that she would surely regret it later.

With two sons, how could she not take care of them?

When she got old and had no sons to take care of her, she would cry.

On the third day, Officer Zhao from the police station delivered the compensation money to the families.

Nine hundred and ninety-five yuan, not a penny more, not a penny less.

With this, Li Shuping now had over sixteen hundred yuan.

As soon as Officer Zhao left, Director Zhao from the street office arrived.

“Oh, Director Zhao’s here. Please sit down. Let me make you a cup of milk tea,” Li Shuping greeted her, gesturing for her to sit, then turning to the kitchen to make the drink.

“No need to trouble yourself,” Zhao Yiqin said, looking at her back. When Li Shuping didn’t seem to hear, she shook her head and smiled.

She looked around the small house, which was divided into a bedroom and living room with curtains. It was clean and tidy, and you could tell the mistress of the house was capable and organized.

Li Shuping returned from the kitchen with a clean cup, took some milk tea powder from the cupboard, poured it into the cup, and added hot water from a thermos. After stirring it with a clean chopstick, she brought it to Zhao Yiqin.

“Director Zhao, here’s your drink.”

“Thank you.” Zhao Yiqin took the cup, blew on it, took a couple of sips, then put it back on the table.

“I heard your stall was smashed. I had wanted to come see you earlier, but the street office has so many trivial matters, I just couldn’t get away. Sorry it’s taken this long.”

Li Shuping smiled and sat down next to her.

“Is your health alright?”

Li Shuping nodded. “I’m fine, nothing serious, just need to rest for a while.”

Zhao Yiqin: “That’s good.”

“Actually, the real reason I’m here today is to talk about something.”

“What is it, Director Zhao?”

“Do you still plan to continue your dumpling stall business?” Zhao Yiqin asked.

Li Shuping: “Once my injury heals, I definitely plan to continue.”

Zhao Yiqin smiled. “People outside are saying you won’t set up your stall again after this, but I knew it. You’re not someone who can be easily knocked down.”

A woman who could divorce so decisively could never be defeated by such a small setback.

“Hehe…” Li Shuping smiled, pleasantly surprised that Director Zhao understood her so well.

Zhao Yiqin continued, “There’s a new policy now. An old retired master can have two apprentices working in production.”

It’s basically a way for someone to hire two helpers under the guise of apprentices and open a small shop or workshop.

“Have you thought about turning your dumpling stall into a dumpling shop? With a shop, you can apply for a business license as an individual, and you can get special permits from the industry and commerce bureau to buy meat and flour from the factory without receipts.”

“Of course I’ve thought about it!” Li Shuping clapped her hands. “I want to start small, then rent a shop to open a dumpling store, slowly growing it bigger and stronger.”

“Haha.” Zhao Yiqin slapped the table. “I knew I didn’t misjudge you. From the first time I saw you, I knew you were someone with ideas and ambitions.”

“I have a relative who has a returned private property shop, and there’s also a small yard behind it, with two rooms for living.”

“Their family moved abroad, and originally they planned to sell it. But the elders didn’t want to, so they gave me the key and asked me to help rent it out.”

“It’s about one hundred and fifty square meters. If you’re interested, I can rent it to you for a lower price. You only need to pay a rent of one hundred yuan a month.”

Her relative’s shop wasn’t in a prime location, just at the head of Changning Street, about twenty minutes’ walk away.

If it were in a core area, a space like this would cost at least a hundred or two hundred in rent.

Li Shuping’s heart stirred. “I’ll have to take a look at the shop first.”

“Do you want to go see it now? I have the key with me.”

“Let’s go.”

Though her feet still hurt a bit, this small pain couldn’t stop Li Shuping from wanting to go check out the shop.