Chapter 489 - 174: Teacher Lin Is Pregnant (Part 2)
Jie Jingchen revised the plans before giving them to Jie Jingjue. While Jie Jingjue couldn’t make sense of them, the specialists in the field could. They were all shocked, but the pay was high, so they didn’t ask questions and just did as they were told.
Occasionally, Qin Mei would go take a look, not to check on the progress, but to see how the renovation was turning out and if any changes were needed.
First, she would finish renovating the storefront. Then, once the Reform and Opening-Up policy was implemented, she would open for business.
The days were busy, yet fulfilling.
In the blink of an eye, July arrived. The temperature soared, and the sun blazed down relentlessly each day.
"Fourth Wife of Jing," Granny Yu called out.
Qin Mei sat under an electric fan. The temperature was so high she felt even the breeze from the fan was warm. ’I miss air conditioning so much!’
Hearing Granny Yu’s voice, Qin Mei felt a sense of dread.
Granny Yu was already on familiar terms with Qin Mei. When she didn’t see her in the courtyard, she went right into her room. Seeing Qin Mei sitting with the fan blowing directly on her, Granny Yu hurried inside and pushed it aside. "Fourth Wife of Jing, you can’t sit so close and let the fan blow right on you! You’ll give yourself a headache."
"Granny Yu, it’s too hot. I’ll die from the heat without the fan," Qin Mei said, pulling the fan back toward herself. Even with the breeze, she still felt hot.
"Spit, spit, spit! Watch your mouth. Don’t go around saying things like ’die.’ It’s unlucky to have it on the tip of your tongue." Granny Yu pushed the electric fan aside again and began fanning Qin Mei with the palm-leaf fan she was holding.
Qin Mei looked at Granny Yu, finding her behavior completely incomprehensible. They had an electric fan, yet she insisted on using a hand fan. "Granny Yu, was there something you needed me for?"
Granny Yu tapped Qin Mei’s shoulder lightly with the fan and said with a broad smile, "You silly girl, playing dumb. You know exactly why I’m here, don’t you? The daughter-in-law of the Sun Family from the cotton mill gave birth. It’s been two days, and she hasn’t produced a drop of milk, so they came looking for me. Come on, Fourth Wife of Jing, let’s get going. This weather is too hot; we should go and come back quickly."
Qin Mei glanced out the window. The sun was scorching, and she recoiled at the thought of going out. "Granny Yu, it’s too hot outside. I don’t want to go."
Granny Yu had lived through hard times. As long as there was money to be earned, what was a little heat to be afraid of? "Fourth Wife of Jing, it is hot out, but making money is more important."
"I’ll get heatstroke if I go out in this." ’Making money is important, but my life is more so.’ Qin Mei wasn’t the kind of person to risk her health for a profit; she wasn’t that desperate.
"The Sun Family is worried sick, especially about the newborn. Fourth Wife of Jing, please, take pity on that little baby," Granny Yu coaxed.
"It’s only been two days since the birth; it’s normal for the milk not to have come in yet," Qin Mei explained. "Granny Yu, go back and tell the Sun Family to let the baby nurse more. The more the baby sucks, the more milk will be produced."
"That... Will that really work?" Granny Yu asked doubtfully.
"It definitely will," Qin Mei guaranteed.
Granny Yu didn’t press the matter. A small plan began to form in her mind. At first, Qin Mei used to perform her massages in private, but later she had intentionally let Granny Yu observe, clearly wanting to pass the technique on to her.
Although she hadn’t mastered the core of the technique, she had learned the basics. She wanted to try it out herself. Her family was on good terms with the Sun Family, making this a perfect opportunity to practice.
Granny Yu was an upright person, not the sort of treacherous character who would learn a skill only to kick her teacher to the curb and strike out on her own.
"Fourth Wife of Jing, how about I go back and give it a try?" Granny Yu suggested tentatively, her eyes cautiously fixed on Qin Mei, watching for any change in her expression. If Qin Mei seemed the least bit unhappy, she would instantly abandon the thought.
Qin Mei had been genuinely afraid Granny Yu was going to drag her to the cotton mill by force. Hearing the older woman’s suggestion, she breathed a sigh of relief. As for the old saying about an apprentice learning a trade only to put their master out of business, she wasn’t worried about that in the slightest.
"That works," Qin Mei said.
Granny Yu was surprised. She had agreed just like that? And there wasn’t a trace of displeasure on Qin Mei’s face. ’This girl is really generous.’
"Fourth Wife of Jing, aren’t you worried?" Granny Yu asked.
"Worried about what? That you’ll steal my business?" Qin Mei asked bluntly. Granny Yu was struck speechless. Qin Mei continued, "If my business can be stolen by you, it just proves that my skills have fallen behind."
Granny Yu was at a loss for words. What Qin Mei said really hit a nerve. She had only scratched the surface, while Qin Mei’s skills were top-notch.
She might be able to snatch away one job, but could she take over the entire enterprise?
’One has to have foresight and not be blinded by immediate benefits.’ Granny Yu actually had a rather broad perspective.
"Granny Yu, I trust my judgment of character. You’re not the type of person to be swayed by petty gains," Qin Mei said with complete confidence.
Granny Yu instantly felt ten feet tall. She held her head high and puffed out her chest. "But of course."