Chapter 261 - 100: Trouble at Home
Qin Mei, who was washing an enamel cup, paused. She wasn’t particularly excited as she asked calmly, "I’ll accept a hundred."
"Accept, accept, accept," Granny Yu repeated, overjoyed. "A hundred is too expensive for ordinary folks, but it’s nothing to the rich, especially when it concerns a baby’s milk."
Qin Mei didn’t argue with that. It was true.
"Who is it?" Qin Mei asked casually. It didn’t matter who it was; as long as they paid, she’d take the job.
Granny Yu said, "It’s the daughter-in-law of our cotton mill’s vice-director. Her confinement month is over, but her milk supply is low, and the baby refuses to drink formula. With not enough milk from his mother, the baby is always trying to eat but never gets full, just WAILING from hunger. They’ve tried everything—special remedies, soups to boost her milk supply—but nothing has worked at all."
"Somehow, he heard yesterday that my granddaughter-in-law had the same problem. He also heard that I’d found someone to come and give her a massage, and that the baby had milk afterward. So, first thing this morning, the vice-director himself came to my house to ask about it. I told him the truth, and he insisted that I bring you to his house today to give his daughter-in-law a massage."
Qin Mei was a little annoyed. She had to go to the cotton mill and take the bus again. She had just eaten some porridge. ’If only Granny Yu had come earlier,’ she thought, ’I wouldn’t have eaten.’
"Fourth Wife of Jing." Seeing Qin Mei’s silence, Granny Yu couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. She asked tentatively, "Fourth Wife of Jing, you don’t want to go to the cotton mill and give the vice-director’s daughter-in-law a massage?"
"I’m going. Why wouldn’t I? Only a fool turns down money. Granny Yu, wait just a moment while I lock the door," Qin Mei said.
Granny Yu breathed a sigh of relief. She had been genuinely afraid Qin Mei would refuse. Her son had taken over her job at the cotton mill and was working diligently, earning the vice-director’s high regard. If this incident offended the vice-director, it would be a huge problem if he started making things difficult for her son.
After locking the door, Qin Mei pushed Jing Qi’s wheelchair as she and Granny Yu headed for the bus stop.
"Fourth Sister-in-law." While they waited for the bus, Jie Jingshan looked at Qin Mei with concern. ’A hundred is a lot for most people, but not for me. I’d willingly pay a thousand, never mind a hundred.’
"Don’t worry, I’m fine." Qin Mei offered a gentle smile and ruffled Jing Qi’s hair. ’I just spent five hundred yesterday, so I should earn this hundred today. I can’t refuse just because I get carsick; it would affect future business.’
’The vice-director knows a different class of people than Granny Yu. If word gets out through him, it’ll spread like wildfire. Business would definitely boom.’
Jie Jingshan was still worried. "But..."
"The bus is here!" Granny Yu exclaimed. Jie Jingshan glared at her, leaving Granny Yu stunned and completely baffled. Jing Qi was being particularly hostile toward her. "Jing Qi, are you okay?"
’My sister told me that ever since Jie Jingshan became disabled, she’s had a foul temper and is incredibly moody.’
"Jing Qi," Qin Mei said with a helpless sigh. Jing Qi had been unhappy that Granny Yu drank her milk, and now that they had to take a bus with Granny Yu to the vice-director’s house for another massage, she was even more displeased.
Jie Jingshan pouted, her dislike for Granny Yu obvious.
"The bus is here. Fourth Wife of Jing, let’s lift Jing Qi on together," Granny Yu said.
Qin Mei nodded and began to lift the wheelchair with Granny Yu. Just then, a handsome man who was also boarding the bus ran over. He glanced at Jie Jingshan in her wheelchair, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Here, let me."
Granny Yu didn’t hesitate, immediately letting go of the wheelchair. Seeing this, Qin Mei had to let go as well—if Granny Yu let go while she was still lifting, the chair would tip over.
Jie Jingshan watched the man, an unusual light flickering in her eyes.
The man lifted the wheelchair, straining a bit as he hoisted both Jie Jingshan and the chair onto the bus.
"Thank you," Qin Mei said. As soon as she boarded, she bought the tickets, paying for the man’s as well.
"Young folks are so strong, getting that on the bus was nothing for you! Thanks, young man." Before Granny Yu could finish speaking, she saw Qin Mei buying the tickets. She was about to object when she saw Qin Mei pay for the man’s ticket too. Granny Yu felt a pang of regret. ’He just helped out for a second, and Fourth Wife of Jing bought his ticket. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let him help.’
When the man saw that Qin Mei had bought his ticket, he didn’t say anything, but he did give her a second glance before finding an empty seat.
Seeing more people get on the bus and noticing only two empty seats remained, Granny Yu nudged Qin Mei toward one of them. "Fourth Wife of Jing, hurry and sit down," she whispered. "There won’t be any seats left in a moment."
Qin Mei felt a little embarrassed. ’At my age, I should be the one giving up my seat, not taking one.’ Luckily, she had to hold onto the wheelchair, which gave her a perfectly good reason to remain seated without feeling guilty.