Chapter 58: Helping Out

Jiang Lihai’s house construction was something Jiang Liyun didn’t pay much attention to after giving some initial directions. However, family members occasionally mentioned it, so she knew about the progress.

Currently, the two single-story houses behind the two-story small building were completed, but the houses weren’t painted yet, and doors and windows were yet to be installed.

Due to their recent busy schedule, they hadn’t had time to deal with these details.

For this reason, Jiang Lihai continued to live in the firewood room at Jiang Youwen’s house with Feng Yi.

Jiang Lihai helped Feng Yi get the books, and they arrived at Jiang Youwen’s house, opening the door to find a bed covered with thick straw.

The straw used to cover the bed could still be used as firewood after, so they could freely use the straw in Jiang Youwen’s firewood room.

During hot weather, they only thinly covered the floor, but now it was thickly layered. With a quilt on top, it was quite warm to sleep on.

“Feng Yi, Liyun is hiring three people at once. It will cost a lot of money this month, plus renting a house. Can she earn back that money?” Jiang Lihai worriedly asked Feng Yi.

Feng Yi said, “Of course, she can.”

Feng Yi knew best how much money they could earn by selling pan-fried dumplings and fried chicken. Jiang Liyun wouldn’t hide anything from him and would occasionally update him with the accounts.

“Liyun is really amazing,” Jiang Lihai said admiringly.

Feng Yi nodded.

He also thought Jiang Liyun was particularly impressive.

Jiang Liyun had talked to Sun Jinshan about starting a company, and he didn’t understand much. At that time, he felt that he needed to read some books and learn about this field; otherwise, he wouldn’t understand when Jiang Liyun talked to him in the future!

As soon as he had this thought, Jiang Liyun told him about studying…

Jiang Lihai hadn’t finished junior high school, and his textbook progress only reached the first year. He could start with what he had and learn the rest later.

Thinking like this, Feng Yi flipped through the books in his hands.

He had learned, along with Jiang Liyun, from the textbooks of the first to third grades. He understood the knowledge in those books. As for the knowledge afterward… He had picked up some new characters while working at the brick kiln. In any case, primary school knowledge shouldn’t be difficult to learn.

“Lihai, can I ask you if there’s anything I don’t understand?” Feng Yi asked Jiang Lihai.

Jiang Lihai didn’t hesitate: “Of course, feel free to ask. I used to have excellent grades.”

“Thanks, Lihai,” Feng Yi said.

“No need to thank me, Feng Yi. You’ve worked hard,” Jiang Lihai said.

Feng Yi was puzzled. What was hard about learning to read and gaining knowledge? Wasn’t it a form of relaxation? After all, learning doesn’t require physical effort.

The next morning, Jiang Liyun got up early and, upon opening the door, was surprised to see Gu Dafa squatting outside.

“Uncle-in-law?” Jiang Liyun was somewhat astonished.

Gu Dafa stood up and smiled at Jiang Liyun. “Liyun, your aunt asked me to come and help you. I know your shop hasn’t opened yet, so I came to assist. You don’t need to pay me a salary.”

“Uncle-in-law, it’s great that you can come to help.” Jiang Liyun smiled. “You’ll definitely get a salary, and we’ll settle it at the end of the year.”

“No, really, there’s no need. I haven’t learned how to make pan-fried dumplings yet.”

“Making pan-fried dumplings is quick. Uncle-in-law, just learn with us. It won’t take long.” Jiang Liyun glanced at Gu Dafa’s hands.

Gu Dafa was used to rough work, and his hands were particularly rough with deep cracks.

In this era, many older people had hands like this. Some had such large cracks on their hands that they had to use rubber bands to wrap them up.

With hands like these, he couldn’t wrap dumplings, but making pan-fried dumplings was no problem. When she opened the shop in the future—steaming buns, chopping wood, cutting meat—Gu Dafa could handle all these tasks.

With Gu Dafa coming early to help, Jiang Liyun could use these few days to decorate the shop.

Jiang Liyun, up early, was currently only making dumplings. Gu Dafa couldn’t help with this task, so he stood awkwardly on the side.

After standing for a while, Gu Dafa felt a bit embarrassed. He went to fetch water and watered the vegetable plot in front of Jiang’s house.

Old man Feng, up early as well, saw someone else watering next door and felt a bit annoyed.

This little rascal, Feng Yi, only knew how to help others!

Even though Jiang Lihai had contacted Shanghai and sold the chickens that they couldn’t sell, Old Man Feng didn’t have much gratitude towards the Jiang family.

Did others not know? Didn’t he know? The Jiang family made money with this—probably quite a bit! Jiang Lihai even took his sweetheart to buy new clothes!

Although Jiang Lihai and Sun Jinshan offered a good purchase price, they still lost money, while the Jiang family made a profit. They were unscrupulous merchants!

Wait a minute, the person watering the plants—wasn’t that Feng Yi?

Could it be that Jiang Liyun had hooked up with someone else again?

Thinking about his second son going over to help Jiang Liyun… Old Man Feng hurriedly approached, only to see Gu Dafa.

Without saying a word, Old Man Feng hopped on his bicycle and left.

Gu Dafa was easy to bully, but his wife wasn’t.

Jiang Xiaogu was known for her sharp tongue, and no one in the village dared to provoke her.

Many years ago, when their family accidentally cultivated Jiang Lame’s land while farming, before Jiang Lame could say anything, Jiang Xiaogu went to their doorstep and scolded them for two days, accusing them of stealing Jiang’s land.

The corn they planted was all pulled out by Jiang Xiaogu!

After watering the land, Gu Dafa joined Jiang Lame and his wife in walking to the town. When they arrived in town, he stood besides Feng Yi, watching him make pan-fried dumplings.

“Uncle-in-law, why don’t you try making some?” Feng Yi looked at Gu Dafa and then glanced at Jiang Lame’s couple. He felt a bit nervous and uneasy.

Sneaking around and calling Gu Dafa “uncle-in-law” along with Jiang Liyun, he didn’t know if they would get angry.

However, others didn’t pay attention to this detail at all, and Gu Dafa was even more nervous than Feng Yi. “I’m afraid I won’t do it well.”

“No problem, Uncle-in-law. Let’s fry a bit longer, add a bit more water, and they’ll surely cook. At most, they’ll be a little crispy,” encouraged Feng Yi.

Gu Dafa put on gloves, took the pan, and began trying to fry. Feng Yi stood by, giving instructions: “Uncle-in-law, you can tilt the iron pan a bit.”

“Uncle-in-law, no need to move it now; let it heat up.”

“Uncle-in-law, you can lift the lid and take a look.”

…

Feng Yi kept saying “uncle-in-law,” and Jiang Liyun couldn’t help but glance back at him.

Feng Yi smiled innocently at Jiang Liyun.

What was wrong with Feng Yi? He just wanted a proper acknowledgement! Thinking of this, Jiang Liyun couldn’t help but smile, looking forward even more to the upcoming engagement.

People like Gu Dafa needed encouragement; otherwise, he would remain nervous and hesitant, not daring to make pan-fried dumplings on his own after Feng Yi’s guidance.

So, after Gu Dafa finished a batch of pan-fried dumplings, Jiang Liyun shovelled a few out. She tasted one herself, then let Feng Yi and Gu Dafa try. While they were tasting, she praised, “Uncle-in-law, you did great, even better than Feng Yi at the beginning.”

Saying this, Jiang Liyun winked at Feng Yi and, while handing the plate to him, used her little finger to scratch Feng Yi’s palm as a reassurance.

In her heart, Feng Yi was the best.

Feeling his palm tingling, Feng Yi, who understood Jiang Liyun very well, also said, “Uncle-in-law, you make these pan-fried dumplings so quickly and well!”

Gu Dafa, surprised and delighted, asked, “Should I continue making?”

“Sure, today we’ll rely on you, Uncle-in-law,” Jiang Liyun smiled.

Gu Dafa was determined: “I’ll do my best!”

Having had pickled meat and vegetable pies made by Wu Xiaochun in the morning and now tasting his own dumplings, Gu Dafa felt an inexhaustible energy!

Seeing this, Feng Yi continued to guide him.

Although Gu Dafa was slower at making pan-fried dumplings, he still managed to keep up with demand.

People who came to buy pan-fried dumplings were a bit curious when they saw someone new helping. They asked about it.

“He’s my uncle-in-law. I’m planning to open a shop, and I’m worried about being too busy, so I asked him to help make pan-fried dumplings.” Jiang Liyun smiled.

The director of the chemical fibre factory, Liu Chang, said, “You should have opened a shop long ago. Eating outside in the cold wind during winter is really hard to bear; the dumplings get cold so quickly.”

Another customer added, “Indeed, with a shop, you can sell soy milk too. These pan-fried dumplings paired with warm soy milk are truly delicious.”

“When I open the shop, there will be soy milk and other food as well. Everyone, don’t forget to come to my shop for breakfast,” Jiang Liyun said.

The customers expressed their intention to visit her shop for breakfast.

In the blink of an eye, it was already past seven.

Due to continuous praise from Jiang Liyun and Feng Yi, Gu Dafa wasn’t as nervous as in the beginning. When turning the iron pan, it became much smoother.

Around this time, Jiang Liyun saw Jiang Honghai’s wife.

She looked completely out of place in the town, wearing old padded clothes and pants, two braids, and carrying a large bundle. She seemed a bit anxious, looking around.

Seeing Jiang Liyun’s group, she sighed in relief. “I’ve been here for a while; I just couldn’t find…”

“Little Aunt, come inside and sit; warm yourself by the fire.” Jiang Liyun invited her to sit inside, then shovelled five pan-fried dumplings for her, saying, “Have some food.”

“I already had breakfast.” Little Aunt hurriedly declined.

“Only five pan-fried dumplings, but you can manage to eat them all,” Jiang Liyun laughed. “If you work for me, you have to listen to me.”

Little Aunt took the plate, picked up one carefully, and only then did Jiang Liyun notice that she was missing several teeth.

It’s hard to say whether she lost them from being beaten or regular wear and tear due to fatigue and a lack of dental care. Dental health in rural areas was generally not good, as evident from Gu Dafa, who was missing several teeth as well.

However, Gu Dafa was at least ten years older than Little Aunt.

As Jiang Liyun sold pan-fried dumplings, she chatted with Little Aunt. That’s when she learned her name was Feng Qiufeng.

Judging by her name, she was probably born in the autumn. Jiang Liyun remarked, “Aunt Qiufeng, you share a surname with Feng from our family. What a coincidence.”

Feng Qiufeng smiled and said, “I’m distantly related to the Feng family.”

In rural areas, it was common for people to have some distant connections.

As Jiang Liyun saw it was already eight o’clock, she said to Gu Dafa and Feng Qiufeng, “Uncle-in-law, Aunt Qiufeng, let’s go to the shop. Today, you’ll help me clean up the shop.”

She led the two to the shop and saw the carpenter working diligently on making tables.

Usually, carpenters start working around eight or nine, but this one was here quite early.

Most importantly, four tables were already completed, and he was working on the fifth!

Considering he only started working yesterday afternoon, piecework pay indeed motivates workers.