Lin Ruixue nodded, "The most important thing is that the two children can be looked after while studying in the county town. Also, selling kimchi requires running around outside, but opening a noodle shop means you won't be exposed to the wind and rain."
Zhang Erniu came in carrying three crucian carp tied with straw ropes. "I'll go buy some tofu later. Shall we have crucian carp and tofu soup for lunch? This crucian carp was given by Boss Du next door. His younger brother caught it by breaking the ice early this morning. It's very fresh."
Although crucian carp has many bones, its soup is delicious, especially when cooked with tofu.
Qi Zhenzhen glanced meaningfully at Zhang Erniu. Catching crucian carp in winter is difficult. Was it really given by the neighbor? It was probably prepared specifically for Lin Ruixue to recuperate.
While Zhang Erniu was preparing the fish, Qi Zhenzhen probed him a few times. As she expected, he had prospects.
After lunch, Qi Zhenzhen gave Zhang Erniu a list of items. Everything needed to be prepared before the official opening.
Zhang Erniu carefully went over the list again before tucking it away and leaving.
Not long after Zhang Erniu left, Yingzi rushed over, her little face red from the cold. "Auntie, where is Uncle Erniu?"
"He went out to buy things. What's wrong, Yingzi? Is something the matter?" Lin Ruixue called Yingzi in and handed her a bowl of hot water.
Yingzi held the bowl, her small hands trembling. "The people where we rent our house are no longer allowing us to stay. We have to move our things out. Grandma asked me to find Uncle Erniu to help."
Moving things was indeed something Zhang Erniu should handle.
"Does your Uncle Erniu know where your house is?" Qi Zhenzhen asked Yingzi.
Yingzi nodded. "Yes, Uncle Erniu helped us deliver things back a few times with a cart."
"Alright, I'll go with you first to help. Let your Auntie stay at the shop. When your Uncle Erniu comes back, we can ask him to come over," Qi Zhenzhen said after thinking.
There was no better solution. Yingzi led the way, and Qi Zhenzhen followed behind, heading towards Yingzi's home.
Their home was in Mao'er Hutong, two streets away, not too far. A brisk fifteen-minute walk would get them there.
As soon as they entered the hutong, they heard a commotion. Grandma Lu was moving things out, and a few other women were helping.
The cart had already been pushed out, and large and small bags were piled up beside it.
A sharp voice kept urging, "Hurry up, hurry up! What are you dawdling for? Don't let this old man die in my place; it's too inauspicious. Madam Lu, you're really inconsiderate. Your old man is so sick, and you're still hiding him. If people die in my place, who would want to live here? Do you know how much loss I'd incur?"
Yingzi's little face was filled with anger. She rushed in, and Qi Zhenzhen quickened her pace to follow her into the courtyard.
It was a siheyuan, a courtyard house, with a large yard. There were about seven or eight people standing there. The speaker was a woman in her thirties, her face frighteningly pale, as if she had applied a lot of powder.
Grandma Lu was apologizing in a low, submissive voice. Yingzi stood in front of Grandma Lu and said indignantly, "When we came to live here, you already knew my grandfather was sick. The doctor said he would be fine with proper care. How can you keep talking about death?"
"The doctor did say that, but people need good food and drink, and tonics. With your family's situation, can you afford good food and drink, or tonics? If you can't do any of that, then what are you talking about? Listen everyone, Yingzi's grandfather coughs so badly. If the house is a bit old, wouldn't it collapse from the shaking? Moreover, ever since I came, your grandfather's coughing hasn't stopped. With so many people living here, doesn't that disrupt their rest? You can't be so selfish!" the woman said with disgust.
Yingzi's face turned red. "We paid a year's rent when we moved in."
"You've lived here for half a year. I'll refund you the remaining half year, but don't say I'm bullying your elderly, weak, and young. However, your grandparents' room needs to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. This cost should be borne by you. For half a year's rent, two taels of silver, it's not unreasonable for me to deduct one tael, right?" the woman said, counting on her fingers.
"Our room is kept clean, and my grandfather's illness is not contagious. Why do you need to disinfect it? Besides, what medicine is so precious that it costs one tael of silver?" Yingzi argued loudly. "Are you trying to swindle us out of our money?"
The woman's eyes flickered. "You little brat don't know anything. If I say so, then it is so. If you talk any more nonsense, I won't give you back even one tael."
Grandma Lu pulled Yingzi. "Fine, one tael it is."
The little girl stamped her feet in anger. Grandma Lu said helplessly, "Yingzi, when you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. It's okay to get one tael of silver back. Don't say any more. Hurry and help me move things out."
Qi Zhenzhen also entered the house. The belongings were already packed. They just needed to carry them out.
"Yingzi, you go to the door and keep an eye on the things. Your Grandma and I will carry them out," Qi Zhenzhen said, sending the little girl out. "Those are your family's possessions. Watch them carefully."
Yingzi ran out and stood guard over the pile of things.
When Qi Zhenzhen and Grandma Lu had moved most of the things, Zhang Erniu arrived. The tall and strong man stood there with a stern face, exuding an aura of pressure. The whispering crowd immediately fell silent.
"Grandma Lu, you can rest for a while. I'll move the remaining things. I've brought a horse-drawn cart, and we'll load everything onto it later." Zhang Erniu glanced at the woman who had been so aggressive moments ago and strode into the house.
"Madam Lu, this is unfair. Your relative even has a horse-drawn cart. Do you still need to live in this place?" the woman muttered softly.
Grandma Lu looked helpless. What could she say? Could she tell everyone that Erniu was just a regular customer at the wonton stall? Even if she did, no one would believe her.
"Auntie, there's no need to explain anything to people like this. Once everything is sorted, we'll go back. No matter what happens, don't rush. We'll take our time," Qi Zhenzhen comforted her.
The belongings were moved out quickly. Zhang Erniu wiped the sweat from his forehead, went into the house, and carried Grandpa Lu on his back.
Grandpa Lu, leaning on Zhang Erniu's back, could be seen trying his best to suppress his cough, his face turning red.
"Money, give us back the one tael of silver. You said it in front of everyone just now, so you can't go back on your word," Yingzi said loudly.
The woman snorted coldly, took out a piece of broken silver from her sleeve, and threw it on the ground with a haughty expression. "Take the money and leave quickly. We have no further dealings."
Yingzi picked up the silver. "Who do you think wants to have dealings with you?"
When Qi Zhenzhen and Yingzi walked out, Zhang Erniu had already arranged Grandpa Lu in the horse-drawn cart and was now moving things onto the cart back and forth. After loading everything, Qi Zhenzhen drove the cart, while Zhang Erniu pushed the cart, and they headed towards the shop.