Chapter 1289
1289 Eating Popsicles in Winter
“Sister Liang, I will never forget your share no matter what! Take these home to eat. I specially made them for you with less oil and salt. It’s much healthier this way. My daughter says that at our age, we should eat less salt. It’s better for our health,” Li Gui said thoughtfully.
“I just know that you’re nicest to me!” Old Madam Liang quickly took out five dollars from her pocket and stuffed it into Li Gui’s hand. “You have prepared such good things for me, so you must take payment from me! Take it! Otherwise, I won’t come to buy your braised meat next time!”
Seeing how determined Old Madam Liang was, Li Gui had no choice but to accept the money. It was through reciprocity that a business would be able to continue for a long period of time.
After packing up, she went home with Qian’e. She felt unusually relaxed on the journey home. They sold more today than yesterday! They had made more than 200 dollars!
...What surprised Li Gui even more was how good Qian’e was at doing sales. She did not expect Qian’e to be so capable and constantly help out with helping the customers. Even when she encountered difficult customers, she did not get angry. She even explained to everyone the differences between each type of meat and which one she thought was the most delicious.
When they neared the convenience store, Qian’e saw a person selling popsicles. She stopped and stared fixedly at the box. At this time, popsicles were very expensive. Even though the popsicles were just frozen sugared water, they cost 20 cents a piece. The flavored ones were even more expensive. Most people could not bear to buy such expensive stuff.
If one had to choose between paying 20 cents for a pound of meat or a popsicle, one would most likely choose the former under current circumstances.
“Do you want one? If you do, Auntie will buy it for you,” Li Gui said generously.
“Forget it, Auntie. This thing is quite expensive. Let’s go home,” Qian’e said sensibly.
Without another word, Li Gui immediately parked the vehicle and went forward to buy a small popsicle for Qian’e. She was not in good health and could not eat too much of such cold things.
“Here! Let’s eat it together. Let’s just do it because we’re too tired today and need to relax!” Li Gui said.
“Thank you, Auntie.” Qian’e smiled happily like a little kid. It turned out that one popsicle was enough to bring her happiness.
The two of them sat by the roadside and ate the popsicle happily. Many passers-by were very envious of them, but it was still winter! It was a strange sight to see people eating popsicles outdoors on such a cold day.
“Xiao’e, are you happy today?” Li Gui asked, looking Qian’e in the eyes.
“I’m so happy! Auntie, this is the happiest day I’ve had since all those things I experienced,” Qian’e said melancholically.
“It’s good as long as you’re happy. I’m just worried that you are still dwelling on the unhappy things!” Li Gui finally felt relieved.
Qian’e looked at Li Gui curiously and asked, “Auntie, why did you get a divorce? You’re such a nice woman, yet the man still wants to divorce you.”
“For me, I actually did not dare to get a divorce. In the past, I was beaten up by my ex-husband every day and my two younger daughters also got beaten up together with me. Later on, it was Qiao Mei who helped me and my children despite what she went through in her past. If not for Qiao Mei, I would still be living in that hellhole!” Li Gui said.
Li Gui told Qian’e about everything that happened in the village. Qian’e never knew that Qiao Mei had experienced so much. She always thought that Qiao Mei was the kind of person who had a smooth sailing life and that everything she did would go well and be very successful. She did not expect Qiao Mei to have almost died when she was young. In comparison, she seemed to be the lucky one.
“Qiao Mei is a very nice person,” Qian’e said.
Li Gui was so amused by what Qian’e said that she laughed out loudly. Qian’e looked at Li Gui in confusion. She did not understand why Li Gui was laughing so happily. Did she say something wrong?
“Am… am I wrong?” Qian’e asked.
“Actually, Qiao Mei is a little money-grubber. She’s not nice to everyone. She’s only nice to those people she likes. She considers you a very good friend, so of course she’ll help you!” Li Gui said.
Li Gui had seen Qiao Mei breaking Zhang Cong’s bones with her own eyes. With just a gentle touch, Zhang Cong let out wild sobs that echoed throughout the entire village.
It had been a long time since Li Gui had seen Qiao Mei behaving like that. After coming to the capital, she no longer took revenge openly. Instead, she was full of schemes and plots that were impossible to guard against.
In life, it was easy to dodge an open attack but difficult to escape from a clandestine one. She wished that Qiao Mei would be able to go to another city where she did not know anyone and live out the rest of her life safely.
