Four steaming hot meat dishes, fragrant and alluring, drew the attention of many passersby. Some even involuntarily swallowed their saliva.
Li Fulin was stunned. How could this be? Just moments ago, the couple was haggling over buying a single basket of steamed buns. How could people who couldn't even afford a basket of buns suddenly order a grand feast of meat and fish?! These were dishes that even he, the workshop director, begrudged himself.
Xiao Qingzhu's mouth hung open, speechless with shock. Didn't he say he had no money? Didn't he say he was going to borrow money? How did he actually manage to order a full feast? Looking at the four plates of aromatic dishes, her stomach rumbled loudly.
The steamed bun vendor, who had just brought over a basket of buns, was also astonished by the sight. He had actually thought Lu Changqing was bluffing. It seemed he had misjudged.
Lu Changqing pointed to the table. "Put them there for us. I'll let you know when we're finished so you can clean up."
The server smiled. "All right, enjoy your meal." She placed the four dishes on the table, then carried the empty tray away.
Lu Changqing turned to the steamed bun vendor. "Someone said I couldn't afford another basket of buns, so bring me another one."
The vendor acknowledged him and once again approached with a basket of buns. Lu Changqing pointed at the freshly arrived basket of buns and walked towards Li Fulin. "You lost! Acknowledge your defeat!"
Li Fulin stumbled backward in fear. "Don't come near me! If you touch even one finger, I'll make sure you can't eat your fill and carry away your troubles!"
Lu Changqing suddenly lunged forward, raising his arm and slapping him hard.
*Pa!* A crisp slap rang out. Li Fulin, his mouth bleeding and stars in his eyes from the blow, staggered backward.
Lu Changqing pressed closer. "Three years ago, you and Zhang Hongxia framed me. Today, I'm settling that score with you!"
Seeing Lu Changqing about to strike again, Li Fulin panicked and turned to run. He fled so quickly that he slipped in the snow, struggled to his feet, and disappeared into the crowd.
Lu Changqing tried to chase him, but Xiao Qingzhu grabbed him. "Don't go! Calm down! You can't get into trouble again!" Lu Changqing watched in the direction where Li Fulin had vanished, took a deep breath, and calmed himself. He had been truly furious today; a moment ago, he had genuinely wanted to beat Li Fulin to death. It was because of his and Zhang Hongxia's frame-up that their home had become so miserable.
New Year's Eve. The house was cold as an ice cellar. So poor they couldn't even afford to eat. A little girl tied up like a dog, trembling from the cold, crying from hunger. Today, he had only slapped him once, considering it a small interest payment. He would make him regret it bitterly in the future.
Xiao Qingzhu, seeing Lu Changqing silent, pulled him to their seat and pressed him onto the stool. Tongtong, clutching a half-eaten bun, timidly said, "Daddy, don't fight. I don't want Daddy to fight."
Lu Changqing forced a smile, but it was hollow, without a trace of genuine amusement. "Daddy will listen to Tongtong and not fight. Tongtong should also listen to Daddy and eat her bun properly. We'll both be obedient."
The onlookers, seeing the matter resolved, reluctantly walked away, turning back every few steps, seemingly unsatisfied.
Tongtong nodded her small head. "Mm, Tongtong is eating her bun. Daddy's bun is really delicious."
Xiao Qingzhu felt her husband was different from before. He used to love their daughter, but never had he coaxed her with such tenderness. Looking at the four plates of food, a hint of worry lingered in her heart.
Lu Changqing picked up a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Xiao Qingzhu. "Why are you just standing there? Eat!"
Xiao Qingzhu took the chopsticks, picked up a bun and ate it. She hesitated, then leaned in and whispered to Lu Changqing, "Do you have money with you?" She dared not eat the meat, afraid they wouldn't be able to pay later.
Lu Changqing's face was calm and unperturbed. "Eat. Just eat. A few small coins are nothing. From now on, we'll eat like this every day. These past three years have been hard on you two, but I'll make it up to you."
He spoke with grand words, but his heart was filled with worry. Where was the money to pay the bill? When he came out, he hadn't even been given money for a train ticket. He was truly penniless. Never mind the restaurant bill, even for these two baskets of buns, he had no money.
Xiao Qingzhu felt a warmth in her heart. Tears fell again. She had endured for three years, suffered countless cold words, and now, finally, the hardship was over. "You have a conscience. I don't ask for a grand feast. As long as we have food and our family is safe and sound, I'll be content."
She was truly a good woman. Content with just enough to eat. If this were a later era, women would demand much more—cars, houses, designer bags and clothes. Never mind someone who had been to prison, even a normal person with slightly less income might face divorce. This woman deserved his kindness.
He picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of chicken in Xiao Qingzhu's bowl. "Eat some meat. If you don't eat it, it'll just be thrown away." Xiao Qingzhu was happy in her heart. In these times, who would throw away uneaten chicken? Some people didn't even have enough to eat. Clearly, her husband just wanted her to eat more.
Lu Changqing picked up a piece of fish, carefully removed the bones, and fed it to Tongtong's mouth. "Tongtong, eat fish, and in the future, your skin will be beautiful, and you'll become a pretty little princess."
Xiao Qingzhu glanced around, gently chiding, "Who praises their child as a little princess? People will laugh." Lu Changqing paused. In this era, ordinary people wouldn't praise their children's beauty, nor their own; that was just the social custom. This was probably humility. If it were a later era, every woman would call herself a queen, and children would be even more confident, constantly clamoring for birthdays, wearing crowns, and being little princesses.
Lu Changqing smiled, then stood up. "You two eat. I'm going to settle the bill at Happiness Restaurant."
Xiao Qingzhu advised, "Settle the bill after you eat. What's the hurry? The food will get cold."
How could Lu Changqing be in the mood to eat? He still had no way to pay for the meal. He told the steamed bun vendor, "My wife and daughter are eating here. I'll pay you when I get back." The vendor generously said, "No hurry, no hurry. Settle up after you eat."
Lu Changqing left the steamed bun stall, his heart anxious, looking around for a way to make money. The immediate problem was: no capital! His wife and daughter would finish eating soon. How could he earn the meal money within half an hour, without a single cent of capital?
The market was bustling with people, and the shouts of various vendors rose and fell. There were old farmers selling large roosters, people selling wild rabbits, fish, and fewer selling vegetables, mostly radishes, cabbages, celery, and scallions. Vegetable greenhouses probably weren't widespread in this era. This was also a business opportunity. Unfortunately, it didn't fit his goal of making money without capital within thirty minutes.
He walked out of People's Market and arrived at the entrance of People's Department Store. The music from the loudspeaker had changed; a light, gentle male voice drifted through the air: "Tomorrow, will you remember the diary you wrote yesterday? Tomorrow, will you still miss the crybaby you once were? The teachers can no longer recall, cannot guess who you are. Only by chance, flipping through old photos, do I remember you, my deskmate..." More people stood there listening to the song now. Lu Changqing was familiar with this song too, but the current problem was earning money; he wasn't in the mood to listen.
Not far from the department store entrance, a large truck was parked, covered with a canvas, loaded with goods. Two people were arguing. One was Director Zhao of People's Department Store. "Old Liu, it's not that I'm chasing you away, but it's New Year's, and I need to do business. You can't park your truck here."
Old Liu's face was bitter. "Director, I can't help it. The snow has closed the mountain roads; I can't go to Lingcheng. Why don't you store the rest of the goods in your warehouse? Then I wouldn't have to freeze here like a statue."
Director Zhao got angry. "I don't even sell a full truck in a year. Don't argue with me. Get out of here. I'm telling you, even if you stay until the fifteenth day of next year, I won't be able to solve it."
Lu Changqing became interested. He walked up. "How much for this truckload? I'll take it."
Old Liu, seeing Lu Changqing, acted as if he had grasped a lifeline. He stepped forward and enthusiastically shook Lu Changqing's hand. "You really want it? That's great! Thank you, thank you so much!"
Director Zhao scrutinized Lu Changqing. "Which unit are you from?" he asked cautiously. "This truckload has ten thousand thermal flasks. Seven yuan each, that's seventy thousand yuan for the whole truck. Our People's Department Store is the biggest client in all of Dongling City, and we only order 500 at most at a time. I'd like to see which unit you're from!"