Chapter 266 - 263: Miss Me?
Duan Hongjun was the fastest eater. After he finished, he even drank all the soup, then leaned back in his chair and sighed contentedly. "Nothing beats a home-cooked meal."
Qiaohui said to Wu Shufen, "Auntie, the food on the road must be terrible. My cousin drank all her noodle soup the day she got back, too."
Wu Shufen nodded. "When you’re traveling, you never know when you’ll get your next meal, or if it’ll be hot or cold. How can that compare to the comfort of a hot meal at home!"
Lin Lan noticed the dark circles under Li Xiangyang’s eyes. ’There are no highways yet,’ she thought. ’He must have had a rough time driving all the way back from so far away.’
Li Xiangyang and Liu Biao finished their meal, wiped their mouths, and said to Lin Lan and Wu Shufen, "We’re heading back for now. We’ll be over again tomorrow morning."
Lin Lan looked at him and said, "Don’t come over so early. Get some good rest."
Liu Biao pulled up Duan Hongjun, who was sprawled out on his chair. Lin Lan held Little Douzi’s hand and saw the three men out the courtyard gate. She watched them get in the car and start the engine before she turned, closed the gate, and went back inside.
Wu Shufen stared at the sacks and boxes piled high in the main room and said worriedly, "Little Lan, how could you two be so bold? This is your first time, and you’ve brought in so much inventory. How long is it going to take to sell all this?"
Lin Lan linked her arm through Wu Shufen’s and smiled. "Don’t worry, Mom. I guarantee we’ll sell out before the New Year."
Seeing Lin Lan’s confidence lessened Wu Shufen’s worries somewhat, but she still secretly prayed to the God of Wealth to help Lin Lan sell all her merchandise.
Only after they finished baking the next day’s wholesale order of pastries did Lin Lan, Wu Shufen, and the others go to their rooms to sleep.
Early the next morning, after the Wang Zhixue brothers picked up their pastries, Lin Lan rode her bike to take Little Douzi, Little Yun, and Little Kai to school.
Li Xiangyang slept until broad daylight. When he got up and went outside, he found that Old Li had already left. There was a meal warming in the pot, so he brought it out, ate his fill, and washed up.
He remembered Liu Da telling him yesterday afternoon that the oven and mixer he’d asked him to buy would arrive today, so he rode his bike over to Liu Da’s house.
When he arrived at Liu Da’s, Duan Hongjun and the others were there too. Liu Da led Li Xiangyang to the warehouse in the backyard, pointed to a large wooden crate and a smaller one next to it, and said, "Both of these are a bit heavy. Where do you need them delivered?"
Li Xiangyang thought for a moment. "To the shop on Vegetable Market Street in the south of the city. I’ll come pick them up this afternoon."
"Sounds good!" Liu Da patted Li Xiangyang’s shoulder in relief. "I heard you ran into several surprise checkpoints this time. Good thing you got your goods from Zhang Zemin, or it would’ve been trouble."
"Uncle Da, you were the lucky one. If you’d been carrying private goods, that whole truckload would’ve been confiscated." Li Xiangyang looked at him with a smile. "I never expected the motorcycles to be the best-sellers. Such expensive items, and they were all claimed the moment they arrived."
"Let me tell you, as long as it’s good stuff, the price doesn’t matter. The more expensive, the easier it sells, because those people aren’t short on cash. I’m planning to make another run before the New Year, focusing on sourcing vehicles. After that, I won’t go again until after the holiday. If you want in, speak up early."
"If business is good, I’ll join you for another run before the New Year. If not, I’ll have to wait until after the holiday."
"I think Lin Lan has a good eye. She’s not like other women from the countryside who only know how to buy the cheapest things. Look at the goods she picked out—the styles are new, the quality is good. I think business will be booming when the shop opens."
He originally thought Li Xiangyang was just taken with Lin Lan’s looks, but after spending a few days with her, he discovered she was quite a seasoned operator. He got the feeling this wasn’t her first time doing business; she was like a veteran.
Li Xiangyang shot him a smug glance. "Of course. You’re forgetting whose wife she is."
"HAHAHA..." Liu Da laughed heartily and pointed at him. "You’ve got that right, kid. You have to praise your own wife. If you look down on her yourself, outsiders will think even less of her!"
Li Xiangyang nodded. He went with Liu Da to inspect the televisions, bicycles, sewing machines, and watches he had brought back, nodding in satisfaction. "Uncle Da, let me borrow a handcart to pull this stuff back. I’ll bring you the money when I have a chance."
"Sure," Liu Da said, pulling an invoice from his pocket. "Just pay according to this."
Li Xiangyang glanced at it and stuffed it in his own pocket. "Thanks, Uncle Da."
Liu Da put an arm around Li Xiangyang’s shoulder as they walked out. "Our families are close, no need for such pleasantries. Tell your dad to come hang out when you get back."
Li Xiangyang smiled and nodded. "I’ll tell the old man when I see him. You wouldn’t believe it, he’s gotten hooked on fishing lately. You don’t see him until it’s dark."
"Fishing’s great!" Liu Da rubbed his hands together. "I know where he fishes. I’ll go find him in a bit."
The two of them went to the front yard, where Duan Hongjun and the others helped load the goods onto the handcart. They smiled at Li Xiangyang and said, "Once you’ve set a date for the grand opening, remember to call us over to light some firecrackers and liven things up."
"You got it!" Li Xiangyang started pulling the handcart back home. When he reached the street with the vehicle factory, he saw Lin Lan approaching on her bike in the distance.
Li Xiangyang quickened his pace, and Lin Lan got off her bike, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she looked at him. "What are you hauling?"
"Your betrothal gifts!" Li Xiangyang grinned at her. "Were you going to my place to find me? Did you miss me?"
"You sweet-talker!" Lin Lan shot him a look, then started walking back with him. "My mom said you and Uncle Li should come over for steamed buns at lunch."
Li Xiangyang felt a warmth spread through his chest as he looked at Lin Lan. "The old man went fishing; he won’t be back until this afternoon. How’s the shop renovation coming along? I haven’t seen it yet."
The corners of Lin Lan’s lips turned up. "The clothing store is finished, and they’ve started installing the glass for the department store. We can go take a look this afternoon."
Li Xiangyang nodded. "I’ll make a trip to the market later. I’ll have Brother Shuiqing send his daughters, Little Xue and Little Mei, over so you can train them. This afternoon, I’ll have Zhigang go to the pig farm and pick up He Li."
"How old are they?" Lin Lan asked.
"I haven’t asked," Li Xiangyang said after a moment’s thought. "Brother Shuiqing’s Little Xue and Little Mei are probably around sixteen or seventeen? And Uncle He’s daughter, He Li, looks to be about the same age as Qiaohui."
Chatting as they went, they soon entered the alley. Li Xiangyang set down the handcart and opened the courtyard gate. Lin Lan helped him push the cart in, then turned to wheel her own bicycle into the yard.
Li Xiangyang carried a television set and walked toward the main room.
Seeing him carrying the TV, Lin Lan was suddenly reminded of something. "Xiangyang, I saw two TVs and sewing machines among the goods you brought home yesterday. Why are there more here?"
Li Xiangyang put the TV down and came back out, pointing to the items on the cart. "This television is for our engagement. Of the other two TVs, one is for Ding Bang. One of the sewing machines is for Brother Yong. The remaining sewing machine and TV are for your parents."
"Xiangyang..." Lin Lan looked at him, at a loss for words. It hadn’t even occurred to her to buy these things for her parents, but Li Xiangyang had thought of everything.
"You silly girl," Li Xiangyang said with a smile, stepping forward to pull her into his arms. He looked at his own reflection in her eyes and said softly, "Did you miss me? I’ve been thinking about you every day."
Lin Lan nodded honestly, looking at him. "Xiangyang, you bought such expensive things. Mom and Dad will..."
"Honey..." Li Xiangyang lowered his head and gave her a deep kiss.