Chapter 110: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 110

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Li Xiulan walked into the shop carefully.

The strange woman greeted her with a smile:

"Auntie, what would you like to buy?"

Li Xiulan hurriedly asked:

"Little sister, where is Niu Chunsheng? Why isn't he in this shop?"

The strange woman replied with a smile:

"You're looking for my brother-in-law, right? He and my sister are at the restaurant over there; this place has been left to me to watch."

Only then did Li Xiulan recall that Zhang Zhongtian had mentioned to her before that Niu Chunsheng had newly opened a restaurant.

"Auntie, what are you looking for my brother-in-law for?"

Li Xiulan gave a bitter smile:

"Nothing major, just a small matter... Where is his restaurant? I'll go find him there..."

The strange woman said:

"Right across from the town government gate, not far away. It's called New Era Restaurant. Head toward the town government and you'll find it easily!"

"Alright, thank you, little sister!"

Li Xiulan turned and left.

Before long, she arrived outside the town government gate and found that New Era Restaurant.

This restaurant was quite grand, even grander than the Street-corner Restaurant where Niu Chunsheng and Lin Xiaofang had held their wedding.

Li Xiulan couldn't help but sigh inwardly; Niu Chunsheng really knew how to make money. In just this short time, he could actually afford to open such a grand restaurant.

As for her, Li Xiulan, ever since leaving Niu Chunsheng, not only had she failed to make money, but she had ended up scraping by, struggling on the edge of the poverty line.

If she had been able to stick with Niu Chunsheng and open a shop to do business back then, would her life now be different?

Thinking of this, Li Xiulan felt a pang of heartache.

At the same time, she couldn't help but resent Wang Zhanggen; if it hadn't been for Wang Zhanggen's obstruction back then, she would definitely have continued partnering with Niu Chunsheng in business!

One can only say, fate — choice is always greater than effort.

In a person's life, the chances to change fate may be only once or twice. If you seize them, you can live well for a lifetime; if you don't, you can only keep spinning in your original circle, perhaps never escaping it your whole life.

Li Xiulan failed to seize the chance to open a shop with Niu Chunsheng; one can only say it's all fate, things predestined in the dark, which cannot be forced.

Walking into New Era Restaurant, Li Xiulan saw the place was bustling with noise and excitement.

Many customers were dining inside, and most of them were dressed better than ordinary rural folk — they were likely the wealthier families from town.

Niu Chunsheng and Lin Xiaofang were enthusiastically greeting the restaurant's customers.

Lin Xiaofang's belly was already quite large, yet she still busied herself happily, without the slightest affectation.

As soon as Li Xiulan entered, a waiter came over to greet her:

"Hello, are you here to eat? Our place isn't cheap."

The waiter's gaze toward Li Xiulan carried a hint of disdain.

Because Li Xiulan's clothes were shabby and her face wore a look of hardship, she looked at a glance like a poor person who couldn't afford to spend here — that's why the waiter opened with "this place isn't cheap."

Li Xiulan's heart shrank slightly; her sensitive self-esteem made her sense the waiter's odd look, which made her feel even more inferior, even ashamed of her own wretchedness.

"I'm here to find someone. I'm looking for Niu Chunsheng. I know him. I have something to tell him..."

Li Xiulan hurriedly explained her purpose, afraid that if she spoke too late she'd be driven out by the waiter.

"Then wait here. I'll go tell our boss. What's your name?"

The waiter didn't let Li Xiulan go in, clearly afraid she'd affect the business inside.

Li Xiulan hurriedly said: "My name is Li Xiulan, from Shangou Village. I used to be good friends with your boss..."

The waiter turned and went to relay the message to Niu Chunsheng.

Li Xiulan stared eagerly into the restaurant; Niu Chunsheng was at the government officials' dining table, chatting and laughing and toasting with those people.

When the waiter spoke to him, he looked up and glanced toward Li Xiulan, then lowered his head and said a couple of words to the waiter, then continued chatting and laughing with those people.

The waiter walked back alone.

She said to Li Xiulan:

"The boss said to wait here a bit. He's busy right now."

Li Xiulan felt a trace of disappointment and asked weakly:

"How long do I have to wait?"

The waiter said:

"I'm not sure either. He's entertaining important guests from the town government; it'll probably be at least half an hour. He also said you can go shop at the market first, then come back here to find him when you're done."

Li Xiulan's face showed a bitter smile. How did she feel that Niu Chunsheng was afraid she'd affect the restaurant's image and was making an excuse to send her away?

Perhaps she was just too sensitive inside.

Perhaps Niu Chunsheng didn't have that thought at all; she was just overthinking.

"Alright then. I'll go walk around and come back..."

Li Xiulan turned and went out.

She walked around the market once, holding only that bag of fruit she'd bought earlier; she bought nothing else. She had hardly any money left; she could barely make ends meet, so how could she bear to spend money on things?

After strolling around the Market once and feeling the time might still be too early, Li Xiulan strolled around again.

Only then did she return inside the New Era Restaurant to look for Niu Chunsheng.

Returning to the New Era Restaurant.

But Li Xiulan discovered that Niu Chunsheng was no longer in the shop.

She asked a Waiter and only then learned that Niu Chunsheng had seen off that table of Town Government people just now and would not be back for a while.

Lin Xiaofang was not there either; she was pregnant and could not exert herself for too long, so she had gone home to rest.

Li Xiulan simply waited patiently at the shop Door.

After waiting about half an hour, Niu Chunsheng finally returned.

"Sister-in-law Xiulan, truly embarrassed — the shop's been a bit busy... Xiao Mei, why not brew some tea to receive Sister-in-law Xiulan?"

As soon as Niu Chunsheng returned, he apologized to Li Xiulan and urged the Waiter Xiao Mei to brew tea for Li Xiulan.

Li Xiulan hurriedly said:

"No need, no need, I'm not thirsty..."

But Niu Chunsheng enthusiastically said:

"Must, must — since you've come you definitely have to drink a cup of tea! Xiao Mei, go brew tea quick!"

Li Xiulan declined no further, only remarking with a sigh:

"Chunsheng, your business is getting bigger and bigger, you're truly impressive..."

Niu Chunsheng laughed humbly:

"No, no — don't look at my surface glory; actually I'm also working for someone else. The little money I earn from the Convenience Store could never open a big restaurant like this. Those Town Government people just now — did you see? Several of them are hidden Shareholders of this restaurant; every month I have to split quite a lot of money with them. But then again, without their backing I couldn't open this restaurant either; even if I could afford to open a restaurant, it would be impossible to open it right in front of the Town Government Building!"

Li Xiulan's face was full of envy:

"I don't understand these things, but whatever way you put it, you're far more impressive than me."

Then she hurriedly handed over the Fruit she had bought: "Chunsheng, this is for you!"

Niu Chunsheng hurriedly declined: "No need to specially buy fruit for me; the shop gets lots of fruit every day, more than we can eat — you keep it for yourself!"

Just then the tea Xiao Mei had brewed was brought up.

Niu Chunsheng handed the Tea Water to Li Xiulan and asked: "Sister-in-law Xiulan, what business do you have with me?"

Li Xiulan hesitated, stammered, too embarrassed to speak, lowered her head and sipped some tea, then said haltingly:

"It's actually not a big thing — it's just... how to put it... my mother had Surgery before Spring Festival and it wiped out all my savings; now the house at Home hasn't been built up, the children need Tuition for school, I really have no money left — so, Chunsheng, could you lend me One Thousand Yuan..."

Li Xiulan's tone was utterly humble.

Hearing this, Niu Chunsheng couldn't help a moment's Stunned pause, but in the end he generously said: "One Thousand Yuan, right? Small Matter! I'll give it to you right now; I understand your hardship — we're friends, if I can help I will! When you have money later, just remember to pay me back!"

Niu Chunsheng immediately went to the cash register, took out One Thousand Yuan, and handed it to Li Xiulan right there.

One Thousand Yuan to him now did not count as a large sum.

He's just that kind of person — generous and heroic, and very savvy with Human Relations.

This is also why he no longer works at the Town Government yet still has so many Town Government friends.

But this One Thousand Yuan to Li Xiulan was a life-saving fortune delivered in the snow!

Li Xiulan took the money, her hands trembling involuntarily, and immediately wiped away tears, moved:

"Chunsheng, you're too good a person, thank you, thank you so much..."