Chapter 94: Here We Go Again

Cao Xinyi’s eyes were practically sparkling with excitement.

The two of them were deep in conversation when Xie Aiguo walked in from the outer courtyard. Seeing the two young women sitting on the steps, happily chatting, he quickly walked over.

“Xiao Cao! You’re finally here! You two are already talking—do you still need me to introduce you?”

Cao Xinyi waved her hand. “No need, Village Chief Xie! We’ve already become friends! And also, I don’t need to think about it anymore—I’m taking this job!”

Xie Aiguo looked a little surprised. “Young people really are easy to communicate with. Alright then, you two keep talking. Come over in a bit to finalize the paperwork.”

“Got it.”

After Xie Aiguo left, Jing Xi gave Cao Xinyi a quick tour around the village office.

“This is all there is—just these few rooms. There’s a small kitchen in the back, so if you bring your own food, you can heat it up there. If your house is nearby, you can just go home to eat. Honestly, there isn’t much to do here. As long as the work gets done, your schedule is pretty flexible—no one will be breathing down your neck.”

Cao Xinyi nodded enthusiastically.

“This is great! The more I think about it, the more I regret not coming earlier. I could’ve earned a few extra days’ wages!”

Jing Xi chuckled. “It’s not too late—starting today, you’ll be getting paid. Here, go find the village chief and get your paperwork sorted. Once that’s done, I’ll show you the ropes.”

“Alright!”

There wasn’t much for Jing Xi to teach, anyway. There really wasn’t much going on in the village.

The paperwork was quick—just signing a hiring agreement, stamping it, and keeping a copy for both parties.

The village accountant was considered a minor government position, so not just anyone could take the job.

At the very least, they needed some level of education.

In this era, vocational school graduates were highly sought after—many were assigned to work as teachers in public schools.

So it was no surprise that Cao Xinyi’s family had been exasperated when she gave up a teaching job.

Jing Xi could understand their disappointment.

But taking the accountant job in the village had its advantages, too.

At the very least, she wouldn’t have to worry as much as a teacher would.

If anything, she’d just be bored out of her mind every day.

---

Xie Aiguo called Jing Xi into his office.

“Xiao Jing, I’d still prefer if you handled the village’s finances.”

Jing Xi: “……”

She had no choice but to manage the Long family’s money, but was it really necessary for her to handle the village accounts too?

“Village Chief, do you not trust Cao Xinyi?”

Xie Aiguo shook his head. “No, I know her parents. I trust her completely. It’s just… she’s new here, and she’s not fully part of our village yet. I’m worried that what happened to you before might happen again.”

Jing Xi saw the concern in his furrowed brow and immediately understood.

He was afraid of another incident like the one with Zhou Wenwu.

Now that the Zhou family had suffered the consequences of their actions, no one dared to mess with Jing Xi anymore.

Over time, the events of the past few weeks had solidified her standing in the village.

But if they suddenly put a newcomer in charge, what if someone tried to bully Cao Xinyi or force her to collect rent on disputed land?

“She’s new, and she doesn’t fully know the people or the affairs of the village. It’s best if you manage things for now. Once she’s completely familiar with everything, you can hand it over to her.”

There was a hopeful look in Xie Aiguo’s eyes—he was hoping Jing Xi would agree without hesitation.

He knew that she still had some resentment toward him, especially regarding the Zhang family incident. Back then, he hadn’t stood up for her, and the land that was supposed to be hers ended up going to Wu Jun instead.

Although he had tried to make up for it later, he wasn’t sure how Jing Xi really felt about it.

So he waited.

Jing Xi thought for a moment, then nodded.

Xie Aiguo finally relaxed.

---

After briefly explaining the daily tasks to Cao Xinyi, Jing Xi got ready to head to the bun shop.

By now, she was fully accustomed to the routine.

When she arrived, she automatically changed into her work clothes, switched her shoes, and put on gloves and a mask.

She didn’t even wait for Zhao Shunli or Tian Jun to tell her what to do—she just grabbed a broom and swept the kitchen floor, then neatly arranged the pots, pans, and bowls, preparing everything for the afternoon shift.

Inside the house, Tian Jun was eating while whispering to Zhao Shunli.

“I kind of regret it now.”

“Regret what?”

“I regret saying we wouldn’t pay her. Feels like we’re getting a really good deal.”

Zhao Shunli chuckled. “That’s not a big deal. When she leaves, you can give her something extra.”

Tian Jun pouted. “She’s such a good girl—so hardworking and efficient. Just thinking about the day she might leave makes me feel a little sad.”

Zhao Shunli finished his last bite of food. “It’s normal, but there’s nothing we can do about it! Just cherish this fate—at least you get to enjoy an easy day while it lasts.”

Tian Jun sighed helplessly and focused on eating.

When the two of them went into the kitchen, they saw that Jing Xi was already preparing to mix the dough.

Seeing them come in, Jing Xi quickly asked, “Are we still making twenty trays this afternoon?”

Tian Jun replied, “There’s less pork today, so we’ll be steaming fewer trays. Use less dough as well.”

Jing Xi asked, “If people can’t buy buns or steamed bread, what else will they eat?”

Tian Jun thought for a moment. “Rice or noodles?”

Jing Xi glanced at the refrigerator. “I see we have some chicken in there.”

Tian Jun nodded. “Yeah, we bought it to make stew.”

Jing Xi suddenly thought of something. “Have you ever tried chicken-flavored stuffed buns?”

“Chicken buns? They’re not very fragrant. We did try making them once, but they didn’t sell well.”

Jing Xi said, “You can mix some pork fat into the chicken—thigh meat works best. I’ve heard of a type of Orleans-style chicken bun that’s really delicious. And coincidentally, I know how to make it!”

“Orleans? What kind of flavor is that?”

Jing Xi smiled. “I have the seasoning at home. I’ll steam a batch tonight and bring them over tomorrow for you to try. If they turn out well, we can sell chicken buns when there’s no pork!”

Tian Jun was still a bit skeptical, but since Jing Xi would be making them at home, it wouldn’t affect their business. Even if they didn’t taste good, there was nothing to lose.

So he agreed, though he kept wondering—what exactly was this Orleans flavor? He had never heard of it before.

As he pondered, he continued working.

Jing Xi hadn’t expected Zhou Jiwen to come buy buns again today.

However, he arrived right at mealtime, and all the pork buns were already sold out. Only chive and egg buns, along with cabbage buns, were left.

In the end, Zhou Jiwen bought four chive and egg buns to take away.

“Are you eating alone?”

Zhou Jiwen nodded. “Yes.”

“Then yesterday, when you bought forty, were they for the officers at the station?”

Zhou Jiwen nodded again. “Yes! We got back late last night, and there wasn’t much to eat at the station, so we decided to order buns in the afternoon. We eat here often—if we don’t, we start craving them!”

Jing Xi chuckled. “You can eat with peace of mind. I swear on my reputation, all the ingredients here are fresh and good. There’s no bad meat, no spoiled meat, and definitely no human meat!”

Zhou Jiwen raised an eyebrow. “Did you hear about that human meat bun case too?”

Jing Xi was actually clueless. “Huh? Human meat buns?”

“Yeah, it happened a few years ago in Beijing.”

Jing Xi vaguely recalled hearing something about it. “Don’t worry, we only use pork and vegetables here—no human meat! And all our pork is high-quality—no lymph nodes or scraps!”

Zhou Jiwen laughed. “You’re pretty dedicated, and it’s only your second day on the job.”

Jing Xi nodded, about to say something else, but the older man standing behind Zhou Jiwen in line grew impatient.

“Officer, can you speed it up a bit? I need to pick up my grandson from school after buying these buns!”

Zhou Jiwen quickly turned around and apologized. “Sorry, sir!” Then he stepped aside to let the man order.

Jing Xi stifled a laugh as she noticed a slight blush on Zhou Jiwen’s face. He waved at her before hopping on his bicycle and riding away.

Meanwhile, across the street—

A black sedan was parked by the roadside, its occupants watching Jing Xi at the Lao Zhao Bun Shop’s window.

Inside the car, a woman in a simple yet elegant qipao smirked coldly.

“This little town has certainly given me quite a few ‘surprises’ already.”