Chapter 189: "It Is, Your, Credit.
Chapter 189: Chapter 189: "It Is, Your, Credit.
Wang Xiaoci scuffed her toes on the ground. "If we ask for steamed buns, Boss Shen will have to make extra."
In truth, she was really craving the fragrant, soft steamed buns, but she was a good kid and had to listen to her elders.
"That’s no trouble."
’Your brother is the one who kneads the dough anyway,’ she thought. ’Before, I had to shape the buns myself, but now I don’t even have to do that. Little Mantis does the work of two.’
Wang Xiaohui suddenly gulped and tugged on Wang Xiaoci’s sleeve.
The two sisters were twins and shared a special connection. The moment Wang Xiaohui made a move, Wang Xiaoci knew what she was thinking.
She said tentatively, "How about... we trade for steamed buns today? Boss Shen, do you have to make them now? If you do, then never mind."
"No need. I’ll go get you a lunchbox. Just have your brother bring it back tomorrow."
Shen Lu was a woman of action. Before she even finished speaking, she was already off to get an aluminum lunchbox.
The scrap metal the two sisters brought in was enough to trade for three large steamed buns, which filled the lunchbox to the brim.
The four new probationary employees were getting more and more skilled at their jobs in the shop. Everyone was, consciously or not, competing to do more work, hoping to be one of the two who would get to stay.
As a result, Wang Daguo had found himself with some free time lately. Every day, all his tasks were finished before five o’clock.
Wang Daguo was an honest man. He felt he was doing less work, so he felt bad about eating all three of his meals at the shop.
So, today he told Shen Lu that he wouldn’t be eating dinner at the shop anymore and would clock out in the afternoon with the other four probationary employees.
He had just walked to the main entrance when he happened to see his two younger sisters taking the lunchbox from Shen Lu.
He didn’t need to guess—he knew it had to be filled with steamed buns.
Wang Daguo instinctively wanted to scold his sisters. But on second thought, ’Didn’t Boss Shen steam all those buns this morning specifically for them?’
’If I lecture them, wouldn’t that be wasting the boss’s kind intentions?’
’Forget it. I’ll let it slide for today. But I’ll need to have a serious talk with my sisters later, and I have to sincerely apologize to the boss.’
Wang Xiaoci and Wang Xiaohui had just gotten the lunchbox and hadn’t even had a chance to celebrate when they were startled by the sudden appearance of Wang Daguo.
Wang Xiaoci immediately hid the lunchbox behind her back, looking as guilty as could be.
Wang Xiaohui, on the other hand, timidly peeked at her brother. ’Oh no, he looks a little angry.’
Wang Daguo said a quick goodbye to Shen Lu, then took the handle of his sisters’ little cart and left for the day. Wang Xiaoci and Wang Xiaohui exchanged a look, quickly said their goodbyes to Shen Lu, and hurried to catch up with their brother.
The aluminum lunchbox was warm in their hands. Although the lid was on tight, the fragrance of wheat stubbornly escaped, wafting into the sisters’ noses.
As if she had made up her mind, Wang Xiaoci shoved the lunchbox into Wang Xiaohui’s hands and scurried up to her brother’s side.
"Bro, we didn’t ask for them! Boss Shen was the one who asked why we never wanted the steamed buns, and that’s why I said yes. I even asked if she had to make them fresh, and she said she already had some ready. That’s the only reason we took them!"
Wang Daguo gave his sister a sidelong glance. "I know."
"Then later, when Grandma and Mom start scolding us, you have to back us up, okay?"
This was Wang Xiaoci’s real goal. The steamed buns were delicious, but the nagging from their grandma and mom was not.
Wang Daguo was both exasperated and amused. He flicked his sister on the forehead. "Alright, you little glutton. You’re brave enough to eat them but not brave enough to face a lecture?"
Wang Xiaoci rubbed her forehead and pouted. "When Grandma and Mom start one of their long lectures, even the steamed buns don’t taste good anymore."
"Then why did you still trade for them?"
’Aren’t you just asking for a lecture?’
"Bro, haven’t you noticed something?" Wang Xiaoci said matter-of-factly. "A while ago, during the constant heavy rain, the shop was closed, and you were at home eating Insect Cakes with us every day. You used to be able to eat four or five in one sitting. Now, you can barely force down two!"
For a moment, Wang Daguo had no rebuttal.
It was true. After getting used to the food at the shop, he found that no matter how hungry he was, he just couldn’t eat as many Insect Cakes as he used to.
Thinking about it carefully, although he brought back side dishes every day, his family ultimately only got to enjoy them for one meal at night, alongside their Insect Cakes.
Wang Daguo pressed his lips together. An idea suddenly struck him.
"From now on, you two should trade for the steamed buns."
Wang Xiaohui and Wang Xiaoci froze at the same time, their heads snapping towards their brother in unison.
"You can trade for money if you want, too. When I get paid, I’ll take you, Grandma, and Mom out to eat at a restaurant."
Wang Xiaoci tilted her head. "Bro, why did you suddenly..."
’...change your mind?’
Wang Xiaoci didn’t understand, and Wang Xiaohui understood even less.
"What, you don’t want to?" Wang Daguo teased his sisters.
"No, I do! I really, really do!"
Children don’t think that far ahead. At the thought of eating fragrant, delicious food, the two sisters’ mouths were already watering.
Back at home, Wang Daguo took all the blame. Seeing this, Grandma Wang couldn’t bring herself to say much more.
Mrs. Wang patted Grandma Wang’s back to soothe her. She had a gentle temperament and doted on her children, so she couldn’t help but speak up for the three of them.
"Mom, it’s just the children’s way of showing they care."
Grandma Wang sighed and suddenly asked Wang Daguo why he was back so early.
Usually, Wang Daguo didn’t get home until around seven or eight, but it wasn’t even six o’clock, and he was already here.
Wang Daguo explained why, and Grandma Wang’s brows furrowed with worry.
"Grandma, Boss Shen is a very good employer. She won’t just fire me for no reason," Wang Daguo quickly explained.
"Even so, you can’t just take advantage of her kindness and start slacking off. Daguo, you need to find ways to do more for Boss Shen."
"Yes, I know."
Wang Daguo readily agreed, but in truth, he didn’t know what else he could do for Shen Lu.
He really had no talent for cooking. At most, he could knead dough and wash vegetables. The rest were just odd jobs like cleaning or occasionally playing the part of a security guard.
He had the lightest workload of anyone in the shop.
...
Since Wang Daguo was no longer eating dinner at the shop, the task of delivering dinner to Granny Jin fell to Cai Su.
There was no helping it. Shen Lu herself still had Fu Cheng to feed, and she really couldn’t be in two places at once.
To ensure her safety, Shen Lu lent Cai Su her stun gun. She told her that if she sensed anyone with ill intentions getting too close, she shouldn’t hesitate—just use it.
"Okay, I get it. I’ll be quick." With the lunchbox in one hand and the stun gun clenched tightly in the other, Cai Su hurriedly left the shop.
Shen Lu carried a meal for two upstairs. Fu Cheng turned his head, his left hand slowly reaching for the controller on the side of the bed. He adjusted the head of the bed to a ninety-degree angle all by himself.
Shen Lu stared, her eyes wide in astonishment.
’Fu Cheng’s left hand can already move that much?’
’But on second thought, it makes sense. After all, he can already feed himself.’
"You seem to be recovering very quickly lately?"
’First, he started talking. Now, his arm can move not just up and down, but side to side as well.’
’In another ten days or so, will he be able to get out of bed?’
The corners of Fu Cheng’s mouth turned up. "Seem to be?"
After a moment’s thought, he added, "Yes. It’s... your... credit."