Chapter 359 - 358: All the Good Men Are Married

When He Lang learned that He Nan and Xiao Nian had come to Beijing City, he gathered the He family for a meal to celebrate Xiao Nian getting into university.

Qi Mingyang and He Ziqing couldn’t make it. He Ziqing was tied up at work. Even though she was pregnant, she was still involved in a research project and was always busy. Everyone had heard about her job, so they understood.

Little Chen slung an arm around Xiao Nian’s shoulders and teased, "A college student, huh? Not bad. You’ll be a doctor when you graduate. Your big bro is a little envious."

Xiao Nian chuckled. "Go ahead and be envious then. The next time you have a headache or a fever, just come find me. I’ll give you a shot, and you’ll be all better."

Little Chen wrapped his arm around Xiao Nian’s neck in a playful headlock. "Listen to you, getting all puffed up. Do you even know what you’ll be looking at? Just one shot? Don’t go crippling your big bro. I’ve seen patients, you know, and I don’t see them just getting shots for everything."

Xiao Nian burst out laughing. "Bro, my dearest bro, that hurts! What I meant was, I’ll treat you for free when I’m a doctor."

He Nan said to Xiao Nian, annoyed, "You haven’t even started your studies yet, so stop making empty boasts. Is treating sickness something to be wished for? Why do you keep bringing it up?"

Xiao Nian quickly spat, "Ptooey, ptooey! My dad’s right. You guys should try your best *not* to need me."

The group laughed, amused by the two cousins.

It was funny how some things worked out. Both of He Nan’s children were good students, while none of He Ze’s three sons liked school. People said Little Chen had been a decent student, but he’d quit after elementary school. That wouldn’t matter if he were back in the village farming, but to survive in a place like Beijing City, an education was still very important.

"Little Chen, have you thought about furthering your education?" He Lang asked.

At his words, everyone looked over at He Lang. Little Chen hesitated. "Third Uncle, do you think my education level is too low?"

He Lang nodded. "Both of ours are. But I’m too old now and don’t have the energy for it. You’re different. You’re still young. You can work on it."

Little Chen met He Lang’s gaze. After a few seconds, he nodded. "Okay."

He Lang smiled. "You’ll still be in charge of the front desk, but stop working the register yourself. I’m going to sign you up for night school. Go and study hard. Once you’ve finished, I’ll have an important task for you."

This was exactly what Little Chen had been waiting to hear from his third uncle. He immediately smiled and nodded. "I’ll definitely study hard."

The others might not have understood, but Xue Yue did. She knew He Lang was planning something new.

He Lang looked at Xiao Nian and asked, "School doesn’t start for another half a month or so, right? Did you have any plans, coming so early? A couple of days is plenty to see the sights in Beijing City."

Xiao Nian shook his head. "I didn’t really have any plans. I just wanted to come early to see everyone."

He Lang nodded. "Your sister and brother-in-law are both busy, so they probably won’t have time to look after you. Just stay with us. If you want to go out, have Little Chen take you. If you want to go to the supermarket, ask Little Chen. Just one thing: don’t wander off by yourself. Beijing City is a whole lot bigger than our little county town. Even adults get lost here sometimes, and we don’t want to have to go looking for you."

Xiao Nian nodded. "Then I’ll just stick to Brother Xiao Chen."

Little Chen smiled at him.

He Nan was relieved to see this. He couldn’t stay in Beijing City for long since he had to get back to work, and he felt completely at ease leaving Xiao Nian in He Lang’s care.

After He Nan left, Xiao Nian started tagging along with Little Chen every day. He spent most of his time helping out at the supermarket, and he also hit it off with Xue Xingjun. The group of them started acting like sworn brothers, which He Lang found rather amusing.

「In September」, Xiao Nian was also off to school. Like He Ziqing, he was living in the dorms, so he didn’t get out much. Besides, studying medicine was truly demanding; he spent his Sundays immersed in the library.

Another quarter passed, and Guan Wenwen came by to go over the accounts with He Lang.

He Lang took her directly to see Daya. "Daya is our accountant. From now on, you’ll coordinate with her for the store’s books. She’ll also be the one to pay your salaries on time."

Guan Wenwen knew Daya. Her eyes flickered, and a smile touched her lips as she looked at He Lang. "So, Boss, you mean I should go to her for everything from now on?"

He Lang nodded. "Unless it’s an operational issue, yes. Everything else goes through her."

Guan Wenwen understood. She nodded, and after He Lang left, she sat down across from Daya, handing her the clothing store’s ledgers for the quarter.

Daya took them and began to look through them carefully.

Guan Wenwen stared at Daya for a few seconds before smiling. "Daya, I haven’t seen you in two years. You’re so different now. You’ve gotten so pretty."

Daya’s eyes remained fixed on the ledger, but the corner of her mouth twitched into a small smile. "Is that so? You look even more radiant yourself, Sister Guan."

Guan Wenwen wore exquisite makeup, her long hair draped over her shoulders. She was dressed in a white blouse, black trousers, and a pair of black stilettos, looking every bit the part of a powerful career woman.

Guan Wenwen gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I’m about to hit thirty, and you’re just eighteen or nineteen. There’s no comparison. Time flies. I’m becoming an old maid."

Daya smiled. "You’re so beautiful, Sister Guan. I don’t see anything old about you."

Guan Wenwen forced a smile and sighed. "No matter how well I take care of myself, I’m still almost thirty. I’m only two or three years younger than your aunt, and look at her—she already has two kids, while I’m not even married yet."

"With all you have going for you, Sister Guan, I’m sure there’s no shortage of admirers. It can’t be that hard for you to get married, can it?"

Guan Wenwen leaned back in her chair. She casually scanned the office before saying to Daya, "All the good men are already married. The ones left around my age are all duds."

Daya paused for a moment before smiling. "You’re going to offend a lot of people by saying that, Sister Guan. Not all married men are necessarily good, and unmarried people might just have high standards. Just like you, right?"

Guan Wenwen pursed her lips and nodded.

"You have a point. Maybe I just haven’t met the right person yet. Daya, I heard you’ve been in school these past two years?"

Daya nodded. "That’s right. Studying accounting."

Guan Wenwen raised an eyebrow. "Oh. No wonder."

Daya looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

Guan Wenwen smiled. "I just mean, no wonder the boss has you handling the accounts. You’re a professional, after all."

For a while after that, Guan Wenwen didn’t say anything more to Daya. She just sat there, picking at her fingers. Daya glanced over and saw she was lost in thought, though she couldn’t guess what was on her mind.

"The books are in order. I’ll come by in a few days to distribute your pay."

Guan Wenwen nodded. "Alright, I’m off then. Bye-bye, little lady."

That evening at dinner, He Lang asked Daya about the clothing store.

"The books are correct, but profits have dropped sharply over the last few months."

Xue Yue said, "That’s to be expected. Two new clothing stores opened up on that street."

He Lang wasn’t surprised. "A new supermarket is about to open in the North District, too."

That was just how the market worked. Competition was fierce, so it was no surprise to see profits fluctuate.

Xue Yue said, "That one is far from our location, so it probably won’t affect our business."

He Lang nodded. It wouldn’t affect them for now.