The snack business that Zhang Cui and Xia Changzheng ran from home was now legitimate.

Xia Dajun couldn’t escape blame. Since he didn’t dare go to Qijing Village to ask his ex-wife and daughter for grain, Mother Xia told him to find odd jobs to earn money and help save for Xia Ziyu’s living expenses. Xia Dajun didn’t object at all – while he had no other skills, he at least had strength. Among her grandchildren, Mother Xia loved Xia Ziyu the most, and among her three sons, she favored her third son, Xia Hongbing.

Before Xia Dajun left, he heard his mother say:

“Hongbing doesn’t need to go out. Your eldest and second brothers are gone, and we need someone for the fieldwork.”

Xia Hongbing agreed readily.

It wasn’t even harvest season, and there wasn’t much heavy work in the fields. The weather was neither hot nor cold – it was the most comfortable time of the year. Mother Xia was clearly showing favoritism, just wanting to let Xia Hongbing enjoy a few easy days.

Why did Zhang Cui kindly help Xia Dajun out of his predicament?

A telegram had arrived from Xia Ziyu, telling Zhang Cui and Xia Changzheng to temporarily not worry about Xia Xiaolan’s situation. Zhang Cui didn’t want the family to pay too much attention to Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen. The mother and daughter had finally been pushed away – what if Xia Dajun had more contact with them and Liu Fen brought Xia Xiaolan back to the Xia family?

A divorced middle-aged woman living in her parent’s home with a grown daughter in tow – and Xia Xiaolan was lazy and competitive. How difficult must life be for the mother and daughter!

The Xia family didn’t need other granddaughters. In grandmother’s eyes, she should only see Ziyu. The whole family supported Xia Ziyu’s education – that was Zhang Cui’s goal.

With such thoughts, even Xia Hongxia seemed like an eyesore.

A girl in her teens was ready for marriage talks. Before going to the county town, Zhang Cui had mentioned this to Mother Xia.

Xia Hongxia was the least outstanding granddaughter in the family. Xia Ziyu was good at studies, Xia Xiaolan was truly beautiful, while Xia Hongxia had neither quality. Yet both Wang Jingui and Xia Hongxia wanted to find someone with good conditions. Mother Xia was fine not bringing up this matter, but once Xia Hongxia’s marriage was mentioned, Wang Jingui found her excuse:

“Ziyu is already a university student, we can’t just let Hongxia marry some peasant in the countryside! Sister-in-law, let Hongxia help at the shop. The wages don’t matter much – mainly it’s close to the school. Who knows, our Hongxia might find her fortune…”

Zhang Cui could barely maintain her smile.

How many people did a snack shop need?

Asking her brother and sister-in-law to help was Zhang Cui’s way of supporting her natal family.

Xia Hongxia’s looks were far inferior to Xia Xiaolan’s, but when it came to being lazy and picky, the sisters were equally matched. Even if the shop needed to hire someone, they wouldn’t hire Xia Hongxia!

But Mother Xia was somewhat tempted.

The better her granddaughter married, the better for the family. Though she favored Xia Ziyu, Xia Hongxia also benefited from being Xia Hongbing’s daughter, holding some place in Mother Xia’s heart.

“Your eldest brother and his wife are just helping out, why should Hongxia need wages? Sister-in-law, take Hongxia to look around. If your brother is willing to use her, let her stay and help at the shop. Just providing her meals will do!”

Xia Hongxia pouted – working without pay?

She tried to act coy while holding Mother Xia’s arm. Mother Xia thought to herself, you silly girl, if you really stay at the shop, everyone’s family – how could Ziyu’s uncle not give you wages?

“If you don’t want to go, then stay at home and wait to meet potential matches.”

Xia Hongxia opened her mouth, but Wang Jingui pushed her: “Listen to your grandmother! Sister-in-law, I leave my Hongxia in your care. If she doesn’t behave, you and brother shouldn’t hold back – give her a good beating!”

Zhang Cui felt a tightness in her chest.

The Xia family was still under Mother Xia’s control. With her mother-in-law’s word given, Zhang Cui could only reluctantly take Xia Hongxia with her to the county town.

Zhang Cui’s snack shop was in an excellent location.

Anqing County had two main consumer groups: workers from the Agricultural Machinery Factory and Meat Processing Plant, and students.

County No. 1 Middle School was Anqing County’s best high school.

Xia Ziyu’s middle school grades weren’t particularly good. After graduating middle school, he had to repeat a year before getting into County No. 1. He was already older than usual for a student, and now entering university at 20… If even a “study god” like Xia Ziyu needed to repeat a year to get into County No. 1, while this high school might be looked down upon by provincial city folks, it was still considered a very good school in Anqing County and the surrounding counties.

Among County No. 1’s students, some were from poorer backgrounds while others were better off. While they might not have big money, they could afford to spend on snacks.

Following Xia Ziyu’s suggestion, Zhang Cui’s snack shop was located near County No. 1’s gate. Though it was about thirty meters from the school entrance, it was convenient for workers commuting. The Meat Processing Plant was to the left, the Agricultural Machinery Factory to the right – this was a confluence of human traffic, a golden location for business. How could business not be good?

Xia Hongxia, wearing her best clothes, followed Zhang Cui to the county town.

The “Zhang’s Snacks” sign could be seen from far away. Compared to other snack stalls, Zhang’s Snacks with its two storefronts looked quite impressive.

It hadn’t always been so impressive. Initially, Zhang Cui and Xia Changzheng had little capital. When Xia Ziyu was studying at school, he didn’t need Zhang Cui’s care at all, so she just set up a stall outside. After three years of development, Zhang’s had grown to its current scale. From an initial small stall to a proper storefront, from Zhang Cui rushing about alone to having Xia Ziyu’s uncle and aunt helping… Looking at the “Zhang’s Snacks” shop, Zhang Cui felt truly content.

“Sister-in-law, you’re back! These past two weeks-“

Zhang Cui’s sister-in-law ran out, wanting to show her competence and report on recent business.

Seeing Xia Hongxia, she shut her mouth.

“This is Hongxia, Third Brother’s daughter. You haven’t seen her in years, right?”

“Aunt, I’m Hongxia!”

Zhang Cui’s sister-in-law swallowed her unspoken words. They had agreed earlier not to mention Zhang Cui was the boss in front of outsiders.

Xia Hongxia was an outsider.

“Hongxia has grown so big? Haven’t eaten yet, right? Come in and sit, I’ll get you some buns.”

While pulling Xia Hongxia into the shop, she looked at Zhang Cui.

Zhang Cui sighed, “Ziyu’s grandmother says Hongxia is getting older and wants her to help in the shop. I don’t know if you’re still hiring, so I brought her to take a look.”

Xia Hongxia looked down at her feet while secretly observing the shop’s condition.

The two storefronts held seven or eight long tables, with various price lists posted on the walls. The morning rush had passed, and used bowls and chopsticks were piled on the tables.

“Aunt, please keep me on, I promise to work hard.”

Xia Hongxia showed some cleverness – when Zhang Cui’s sister-in-law offered her buns, she didn’t listen but instead rolled up her sleeves and started working.

Zhang Cui’s sister-in-law couldn’t just drive her away.

Zhang Cui’s sister-in-law also harbored suspicions – could it be that her sister-in-law didn’t trust her and her husband to watch the shop, deliberately bringing someone from the Xia family as a spy?

Zhang Cui’s sister-in-law’s name was Jiang Lianxiang.

The snack shop’s business was good, with cash passing through Jiang Lianxiang and her husband’s hands daily. Especially during the half month when Zhang Cui returned to Dahe Village, Jiang Lianxiang and her husband Zhang Manfu had skimmed some money. Jiang Lianxiang wished her sister-in-law would stay in the countryside forever and never return, as having control of Zhang’s Snack Shop was like having a golden goose.

With such suspicions, Jiang Lianxiang couldn’t bring herself to drive Xia Hongxia away.

Zhang Cui thought her sister-in-law was truly not clever – if she couldn’t be the bad guy and reject Xia Hongxia, couldn’t Jiang Lianxiang just make some excuses? If it weren’t for her brother Zhang Manfu’s sake, why would she ask Jiang Lianxiang to help?

Xia Changzheng had arrived a day before Zhang Cui. Early in the morning, he had gone to purchase ingredients for the snack shop. Returning to find Xia Hongxia there, he thought for a moment and decided to keep her on.

Though Xia Hongxia was lazy and greedy, she was a Xia.

The shop’s sign read “Zhang’s,” and while Xia Changzheng knew the reason, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable. His brother-in-law Zhang Manfu was taking advantage, so keeping Xia Hongxia on would give Zhang Manfu and Jiang Lianxiang something to consider. By coincidence, Xia Hongxia stayed on to help at the snack shop, though Xia Changzheng, despite keeping his niece on, was stingy – no one ever mentioned paying Xia Hongxia wages.

Xia Hongxia’s true nature was revealed after just one day – she was lazy in her work, but her mouth was sweet, especially with the male students from No. 1 Middle School. She was incredibly enthusiastic with them!