Chapter 270: Mom, Happy Women's Day

Coming out of the jade carving shop, Li Luo walked out of the Yintai Department Store building and arrived at a breakfast shop downstairs.

Ying Chanxi, sitting by the window, spotted him entering and immediately waved at him.

Li Luo came to the table and sat down.

On the table were steaming wontons, tossed noodles, soup dumplings, and pan-fried dumplings.

Ying Chanxi had ordered an extra plate, divided the tossed noodles into two portions, and took a smaller one for herself.

The wontons were placed right in the middle, with one spoon each for them to share.

Seeing Li Luo sit down, Ying Chanxi asked, "Where's the bracelet?"

"Here." Li Luo handed over the box he had just received, opened it for Ying Chanxi to take a look, and asked, "How is it?"

"It's quite pretty," Ying Chanxi exclaimed. "The characters engraved on it are also very nice."

"As long as it looks good," Li Luo said, smiling as he saw she liked it.

"Hey, Li Luo." After returning the box to Li Luo, Ying Chanxi suddenly kicked him.

Li Luo, who had just taken a bite of the tossed noodles, looked at her in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"I was thinking... in your novel, could you write a bit more about the daily interactions between Shen Dongdong and Li Yang?"

"Like what?"

"Like... this." Ying Chanxi picked up the spoon she had used, scooped up a wonton, and held it to Li Luo's mouth. "Ah~ take a bite."

Li Luo looked at the scene before him and felt it all seemed strangely familiar...

Nevertheless, he opened his mouth and ate the wonton in one bite.

Watching him eat the wonton, Ying Chanxi immediately laughed happily: "See, just like that. And for example..."

While speaking, she picked up a napkin, stood up, leaned over, gently wiped the corner of Li Luo's mouth with her hand, then sat back down and looked at him expectantly: "W-what do you think? Is this kind okay?"

"Mm... it's okay."

Li Luo savored the feeling from just now, then watched as Ying Chanxi picked up the very spoon he had just used, took a wonton for herself without the slightest hesitation, and ate it.

Looking at the plump, red, dewy lips of his childhood friend across from him, Li Luo was truly stunned for a moment.

After finishing breakfast, the two of them walked home together.

During this period, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong had met with several real estate agents, met with landlords on Xijie a few times, and even visited actual storefronts.

They still hadn't completely decided which one to buy.

So the family's breakfast shop had not yet opened for business.

By the time they finished breakfast with Ying Chanxi and returned home with the bracelet, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong had only just gotten out of bed.

It was already nearly eight in the morning.

Looking at the couple's current complexion and appearance, they were clearly much better than the state of getting up early to work before the New Year; they looked energetic all over.

"Eh? You two went out for breakfast?"

Lin Xiuhong asked as she saw them returning from outside.

Li Luo nodded: "Went for an early morning run, and had breakfast along the way."

Ying Chanxi placed the plastic bag in her hand on the table and greeted Lin Yi and Li Shu: "Lin Yi, Li Shu, we bought some breakfast back. You two eat while it's hot."

"Oh, coming right up. I'll go wash my face first." Li Guohong walked toward the bathroom, glanced at the breakfast on the table as he passed, and felt a bit dazed.

Before, he had been wondering when he would be able to stop running the breakfast shop and return to such a normal, ordinary life.

Now looking back, it seemed that goal might already be achievable.

Although their son was only sixteen and the couple was about to live off their son's blessings, which would sound a bit awkward to others, thinking from another angle, it was also quite proud.

However, compared to the money they had earned through their own hard work, when Li Guohong held money earned by his son to invest in storefronts, items often costing hundreds of thousands, his mind became even more cautious.

Although they had spotted several storefronts, they were all a bit hesitant, not wanting to make a decision too rashly.

Li Luo probably guessed what they were thinking, so while his parents sat down to eat breakfast, he took out his phone from his pocket and opened his author backend.

"Guess how much my royalties were last month?"

"How much?"

"Here."

Li Luo held the phone out. Lin Xiuhong, who was close by, leaned in for a look, and immediately froze: "Ah?!"

"Don't just say 'ah'!" Li Guohong, who was further away, got anxious, quickly stood up from his seat, walked around to Li Luo's side to take a look, and then also froze completely, "Ah?!"

It was no wonder they showed such expressions.

Because the royalty data on the author backend clearly displayed a figure of a full 460,000.

130,000 in royalties from the main site, and channel royalties totaling a full 330,000!

Not only did it not decrease, but it was much higher than last month.

Previously, Li Luo had scraped together nearly 500,000 in savings just from writing songs and novel royalties.

Adding the previous 370,000, there was over 800,000 in cash flow lying in the bank card.

Now adding the 460,000 in royalties, wouldn't that make it over 1.2 million?!

How long has it been?

Their son had already earned a million!

Although they had known this day would come sooner or later, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong were still a bit dazed, staring blankly at the royalty figures displayed on the phone.

This happiness came so fast that it made them a bit apprehensive with joy.

But just this wasn't the end.

Li Luo took two contracts out of his schoolbag and briefly said: "The two new songs agreed upon with Aunt Yuan before."

"One, 'Under the Flying Clouds', is 150,000."

"'The Sky Has No Limits' is 200,000."

"And they aren't simple buyouts; we can participate in the subsequent revenue split, though the proportion is relatively small."

Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong looked at the two contracts before them, then at this fellow Li Luo, not knowing what to say.

Adding up all these miscellaneous items... wouldn't that be 1.5 million?

"With this calculation..." Lin Xiuhong looked at her husband and couldn't help but say in a low voice, "That 30-square-meter shop we saw earlier seems... not that expensive, huh."

"Isn't there also a 70-square-meter one and a 100-plus square-meter one? They feel quite good too." Li Guohong coughed twice and said with a stern face.

After all, housing prices on the north side of Ningshan aren't high to begin with, just a bit over 10,000.

Commercial housing prices would be slightly higher, but considering the location of Xijie and the surrounding business environment, one could only say they aren't that high, roughly around 1.5 times.

Like that 30-square-meter small shop the couple saw, because it was right next to the west gate of Qianjiang University, the price was pushed up to be a bit high, saying they would only consider selling it for 500,000 to 600,000.

Then there was a 60 to 70-square-meter shop, and a 100-plus square-meter one, with asking prices around 15,000 per square meter.

If this were placed on the south side of Ningshan, for some shops with superior locations, being two or three times more expensive than surrounding housing prices would be normal.

For locations that are particularly good, it could even be exaggerated to four or five times.

From this, it can also be seen that Xijie has indeed fallen on hard times a bit.

Although there have been recent rumors that the Yinjiang District plans to open new subway lines, or continue extending the line from the South Station.

But in the end, it's all hearsay, with no solid proof.

Plus, a few landlords of the shop spaces are in a hurry to sell, so the prices won't be high to begin with.

And now, with the confidence Li Luo provided, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong were no longer as hesitant as before, having already made a decision in their hearts.

However, Li Luo didn't forget to remind them: "We don't need to press the price too hard; anyway, once the subway opens up later, it will definitely rise quite a bit, so no need to be penny-pinching on this."

"Also, don't limit ourselves to buying just one shop; we can buy a few more. My manuscript fees will continue to arrive over the next few months; by then, there will definitely be two or three million."

"If we act in advance, even if funds on hand are insufficient, we can take out a loan first."

Speaking of which, Li Luo paused, then continued: "Isn't Sister Lulu working at the Construction Bank? If we deposit money with her, does that count as performance?"

"We can have her introduce us to the bank's manager and the like, to see if we can arrange some loan business."

"If the performance looks good in the future, maybe Sister Lulu can even get a promotion?"

Li Luo just said this offhandedly, but Li Guohong actually took it to heart.

After all, his two younger sisters, Li Xuefeng and Li Xuemei, had lived hard lives before; if he could help them out a little, that would be a very good thing.

The fact that Li Luo could think of this made Li Guohong feel quite gratified.

"Alright, then let's settle on this for now. I and your mother will look into the situation over this period and strive to get it done early." After Li Guohong made the final call, that was that.

So Li Luo pressed his advantage while it was hot, smiling and saying: "By the way, since our family is so rich now, how about you stop running that breakfast shop?"

"When we buy three or four shops on Xijie later, I have to go to school every day, so I can't be the one watching them."

"Later, the two of you will have to be responsible. Even if we rent them out, we still have to collect rent every month and occasionally go check on things."

"If we open a breakfast shop again and work so hard every day like this, wouldn't it kill someone? Then I feel like the money I earned was earned in vain."

Hearing him say this, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong immediately exchanged a glance.

If this were said before the New Year, or during the New Year in the countryside, the couple might have politely refused.

After all, in their view, no matter how much money Li Luo earned, as parents, they still had to work hard to provide an extra layer of security for the family.

But look at now.

Li Luo had a month's manuscript fees released, an income of nearly 500,000, effortlessly!

How long would they have to run the breakfast shop to earn that?

Not to mention this kid wrote two songs and easily obtained a return of over 300,000.

In the past, where would they have dared to imagine such a thing?

They wouldn't even dare to dream it.

But now, especially since the two of them haven't opened the breakfast shop for almost a month.

Now they sleep early and rise early, their schedule is normal, and their energy and spirit have improved a lot; they both have a genuine feeling of it.

So hearing Li Luo's suggestion at this moment, the couple was clearly somewhat inclined.

It's just that, probably still wanting to save face, Li Guohong didn't agree outright; he just weighed his words and said: "Hmm... this can be considered, but we have to wait until the matter of the shop spaces over there is handled first."

Li Luo nodded without objection; seeing his parents' attitude had already softened, he knew there was hope.

But there was no rush; just take it slow.

This kind of thing is just like him writing web novels; if his peers wrote 10,000 words every day, after forming a long-term habit, keeping that string taut, they might just persist.

But if he were made to rest for a few days, wanting him to return to that previous state of writing 10,000 words a day would be even more painful than killing him.

What Li Luo wanted now was exactly this effect.

At present, everything seems to be going smoothly.

If there were a better choice, who would be willing to work the breakfast shop business, getting up early and staying up late every day?

Listening to Li Luo and his family discussing matters, Ying Chanxi sitting nearby had been sitting obediently the whole time, not interrupting.

Only after they finally finished talking did Ying Chanxi take out the clothes and scarf she bought yesterday, hand them to Lin Xiuhong, and say sweetly: "Lin Yi, Happy Women's Day."

Lin Xiuhong had just finished breakfast; looking down at the gift in the bag, she immediately smiled with emotion: "Oh my, Xixi, you really are something, buying me things for a holiday."

"It's what should be done." Ying Chanxi helped Lin Xiuhong take out the clothes and scarf, saying with a grin: "Lin Yi, why don't you try it on? I think this outfit suits you very well."

"Especially with this scarf; since you and Uncle Li are going out to discuss business recently, you have to wear this."

"It instantly gives you a lot of taste~"

Lin Xiuhong took the clothes into the room to change, and after coming out, with Ying Chanxi's help, put on the scarf; standing in front of the mirror, looking left and right, she was very satisfied.

However, immediately after, she glanced at Li Luo watching the fun nearby and couldn't help but say: "Look at Xixi; she even knows to buy me a gift for Women's Day. Why is your own son so unrefined?"

"I gave a gift too."

"What did you give?"

"You're wearing it, aren't you?" Li Luo said with an innocent expression. "I bought it together with Xixi; what she gave is what I gave."

"You really have the nerve," Lin Yi scolded with a laugh. "Aren't you ashamed?"

"Lin Yi~" Ying Chanxi, also beside them, found it both funny and exasperating and quickly said, "Li Luo, didn't you buy a gift? Stop talking nonsense."

"I know." Li Luo smiled helplessly, shook his head, took out the small box he had retrieved from the jade carving shop that morning, and handed it to his mother. "Here, Happy Women's Day."

"You rascal..." Seeing that his son had truly brought a gift, Lin Yi was deeply moved. After taking it, she curiously opened it for a glance. "It's even a bracelet?"

"There's an inscription on it," Ying Chanxi reminded softly.

"Is there?" Lin Yi picked up the bracelet and looked at the thumb-sized jade piece on it. "Oh my, it really is. 'Growing old together until our hair turns white'... Your father got off easy."

"What do you mean I got off easy?" Li Guohong leaned over for a look, then complained, "What do you mean I got off easy? This is written just fine. If you don't want it, give it to me."

"Why are you butting in?" Lin Yi rolled her eyes at him, quickly put the bracelet on her own wrist, raised her hand to look at it, and nodded in satisfaction. "You both have thoughtfulness; it's truly beautiful."

"As long as you like it, Lin Yi."

"Mm." Lin Yi smiled happily, then took Ying Chanxi's hand and walked toward the door. "Xixi, let's go. We'll buy some vegetables at the market; we'll have a good meal at home today at noon."

"Okay~"