Feng Man had traversed to this era, loved watching TV and reading newspapers, and under conditions without the internet where information spread slowly, she naturally heard more news than others.
The owners of the other stalls paid no attention to matters outside their own stalls and focused solely on their business, so hardly anyone had heard about the plan to build commercial shops.
Feng Man’s stall had expanded in scale and attracted many customers who headed straight for it, drawing away nearly half the foot traffic from the clustered deli area on the other side.
The owners of the noodle stall and rice noodle stall watched enviously but felt helpless.
At first, they had thought to crowd out newcomers so fewer stalls would share the profits and their own business could hold steady. They never imagined that now many people rushed straight to Feng’s stall and had no time to come their way.
Liu Cuihua, the noodle stall owner, grew increasingly upset as her business worsened day by day.
Liu Cuihua had initially used Feng’s sesame flatbread as a front to scam and deceive customers into buying her flatbreads until trouble arose. She compensated the customers who got sick with medical fees and then gave up those schemes, settling down to sell noodles honestly.
But as Feng’s grew bigger and more famous, customers flocked nonstop from the Mine District area to buy her sesame flatbreads, braised pork, and stir-fried noodles. Naturally, far fewer came to the other deli area.
With business declining and daily earnings much lower, Liu Cuihua worried sleeplessly. For several days, she consulted with the similarly troubled noodle and rice noodle stall owners. In the end, the seven of them decided that things couldn’t go on like this, so they might as well invite her over!
“Comrade Xiao Feng, Sister Xiaojuan, business is booming here.” It was dinnertime. Liu Cuihua brought over two bowls of lamb noodle soup with a beaming smile, unusually amiable.
No favors without an ulterior motive.
Dong Xiaojuan looked wary. “Liu Cuihua, this is peak business time. Why’d you come over? Not selling noodles anymore?”
“No rush. I brought some noodles. You’ve been busy all day and must be tired and hungry. Try my lamb noodle soup.”
Feng Man knew Liu Cuihua’s character well and had a clear sense of who was worth associating with and who wasn’t. She rejected her outright. “We’ve already eaten. We’re not hungry. Take the noodles back.”
Liu Cuihua’s face stiffened, a flash of impatience in her eyes, but she held it in. “Alright then, come try some another day. Comrade Xiao Feng, isn’t your stall a bit cramped here? Next to clothing and bag sellers, spice and snack vendors—why not come to our side? We’re all selling food and can look out for each other.”
So that was her scheme. Feng Man and Dong Xiaojuan exchanged a glance and both refused. “It’s plenty lively and spacious here. No need to bother moving and disrupting you all.”
They had huddled together before, unwilling to let newcomers sell food nearby, but now they were changing their tune.
Fang Hong, the soda stall owner nearby, chimed in. “Yeah, saves us from getting bullied by your clique. Unlike here, where we sell odds and ends and everyone gets along.”
“You—” Liu Cuihua had lowered her head and acted meek for the first time, only to get shut down. Furious, she carried the noodle bowls back to her stall, her breathing heavier.
Yuan Qiumei saw this and whispered to Feng Man, “That Liu Cuihua always has her nose in the air. She’s probably going to play dirty tricks.”
Feng Man smiled. “Let her do as she pleases.”
If she even tolerated someone like Liu Cuihua, anyone could bully her when setting up stalls in the future.
Today was delayed a bit, and quitting time came slightly later than usual. Yuan Qiumei packed up and left. Before going home, she bought a jin of pork belly and half a jin of garlic chives at the market, planning to stir-fry twice-cooked pork.
But as soon as she got home, she saw her husband Zhou Yuejin already back, staring at her with a displeased expression.
“You’re home early today?” Yuan Qiumei washed her hands and took the vegetables and meat to the kitchen to get busy.
“This is my normal quitting time. You’re the one who’s never home now that you’re busy.” Zhou Yuejin had deliberately finished early today without much delay, yet his wife came back even later.
The cleaver thumped rhythmically on the cutting board as Yuan Qiumei’s voice came from the kitchen. “I was just held up a little today, not too long. I’ll stir-fry the twice-cooked pork right away. Oh, right, we saved a few portions of today’s stir-fried noodles to share. I brought one back—it’s delicious. Try it.”
Working at Feng’s was great; she often got to eat and take extras home.
Zhou Yuejin grew angrier the more he heard. “I don’t want any stir-fried noodles. I see you’ve lost your mind to greed. You don’t care about home anymore, dawdle on dinner, and only think about that side job of yours.”
Yuan Qiumei knew her husband was nitpicking this again. She didn’t stop chopping and said leisurely, “How haven’t I taken care of home? I’m cooking right now, aren’t I? I washed the clothes last night, swept the floor…”
“I don’t see you putting your heart into it like before.” Zhou Yuejin snorted.
Yuan Qiumei found her husband’s nagging voice grating and blurted out, thinking of the boss couple, “Why don’t you learn from Mine Chief Cheng? He’s contracted the entire Mine District and still helps his wife with housework—washing dishes, laundry, sweeping. He does it all.”
“Hey!” Zhou Yuejin had never heard his wife talk like this; it stung. He exploded. “Learn from him? Cheng Lang’s got no real skills at work, and at home he’s spineless too. What a disgrace to us men!”
With that, he slammed the door and stormed out.
Yuan Qiumei sighed quietly in the kitchen and continued slicing the cooked pork belly.
On the last day of the month, Yuan Qiumei collected her full month’s wages from Feng Man: 160 yuan plus a 10-yuan bonus.
A crisp 100-yuan bill, plus 50- and 20-yuan notes.
The four neat, brand-new bills even carried the scent of fresh ink—Feng Man had specially exchanged them for her.
Getting new bills for wages or bonuses doubled the joy.
Even the hardest work turned into fond memories at that moment. With such generous pay, everything was wonderful!
Beaming, Yuan Qiumei pocketed the 170 yuan and went to a nearby clothing shop. She bought herself a floral blouse and a dress, and a blue shirt for Zhou Yuejin.
Carrying the new clothes, her mouth wouldn’t stop grinning as she headed to the market for a fish and two jin of pork belly. She steamed yellow croaker, braised Potato Braised Pork, stir-fried lotus root cabbage, and set out a bottle of beer and orange soda.
By the time Zhou Yuejin returned from overtime, Yuan Qiumei had changed into her new outfit and greeted him joyfully. “Old Zhou, you’re back! Come eat!”
“What’s the occasion today?” Zhou Yuejin noticed the unfamiliar clothes on his wife at a glance. The table was laden with a feast, even including beer and soda—not a holiday, yet they were celebrating?
“I got paid today.” Yuan Qiumei’s mouth curved up; she tried to suppress her smile but couldn’t hide it. “A full 170 yuan!”
Her cheerful tone trilled like a bird’s song, light and joyful.
But when it reached Zhou Yuejin’s ears, it didn’t sound pleasing at all.
The man set his own freshly collected wages on the table with a condescending air. “170 yuan and you’re this thrilled? Here, my 250-yuan salary plus 40-yuan bonus makes 290 yuan total this month.”
Zhou Yuejin didn’t hide his disdain for the 170 yuan on the table, dousing Yuan Qiumei’s joy like a bucket of cold water.
Pouting, she pocketed her 170 yuan. Feeling stifled, Yuan Qiumei could only pick up her chopsticks and eat.
Seeing his wife’s smile vanish, Zhou Yuejin smugly took a sip of beer and advised, “Qiumei, you’ve seen it. I can support the family just fine with good wages. Cheng Lang said the Mine District will expand and give raises later. Don’t do those odd jobs for 170 yuan—it’s peanuts to me. Just stay home, cook properly, wash clothes, clean everywhere…”
Yuan Qiumei slammed down her chopsticks. She wanted to deliver a fierce retort, but ultimately lacked the confidence and could only mutter weakly, “Maybe someday my wages will be more than yours.”
Zhou Yuejin scoffed. “The Mine District is going big. Wages will only rise. You think you can earn more than me? Do you even believe that yourself?”
Yuan Qiumei guiltily lowered her head…
The next day, Feng Man heard Yuan Qiumei recount the previous night’s argument with Zhou Yuejin. Seeing her dejected, she encouraged her. “What’re you afraid of him for? Who says his wages are higher now, so they’ll always be? We’ll open shops, go big. Soon we’ll crush the Red Star Mine District, beat them till they scatter like fallen petals in a stream. Then you’ll be the big earner, giving him pocket money each month while he does the housework and waits on you hand and foot.”
Yuan Qiumei thought it sounded like a fairy tale, but upon reflection, it seemed intriguing. She couldn’t help laughing out loud.
Putting it out of her mind, Yuan Qiumei continued kneading dough with renewed vigor and strength!
……
That evening after work, Cheng Lang left the Mine District and returned home. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw his nephew Fan You Shan rolling a hoop.
Ruffling the boy’s head, Cheng Lang scanned around but didn’t see Feng Man. He asked, “Xiaoshan, where’s your Aunt?”
That afternoon, Cheng Lang had received the latest news from Chongling Town. After he arranged for Yang Jun to guide Zheng Er to some suspicious evidence, Zheng Er finally confirmed that Zhao Gang had plotted against him three years ago to step over him and rise. For revenge, Zheng Er had lain in wait and recently struck at Zhao Gang.
This good news needed to reach Feng Man immediately—her ID card was in sight!
Fan You Shan was playing enthusiastically and replied to his uncle without looking up. “Aunt’s outside talking with my mom and Auntie Qiumei. They chattered on and on.”
Cheng Lang strode out to find his wife and casually asked, “Chattered on and on? About what?”
This time, Fan You Shan looked up with sparkling eyes, excited. “Aunt said she’s gonna beat you flat, crush you till you scatter like fallen petals in a stream.”
Cheng Lang: QAQ？