Chapter 628: Everyone Supports Her Opening a Shop

Chapter 628: Everyone Supports Her Opening a Shop

On Monday noon, Bai Zhi had just stepped out when she ran into Zhou Jianmin, who was being discharged from the hospital.

He couldn't walk yet, so he used crutches, with Wang Yumei carrying things behind him.

Political Commissar Zhang also followed behind and returned.

Upon seeing Bai Zhi, Zhou Jianmin was unusually polite, stopping in his tracks to greet her.

Bai Zhi said, "Company Commander Zhou has been discharged from the hospital. You should take good care of yourself."

"Okay, thank you, Dr. Xiaobai."

Bai Zhi was about to go downstairs when Zhou Jianmin asked her, "I heard from Yu Mei that you're going to open a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. When will it open?"

Bai Zhi replied, "We'll open for business once the attending physician arrives."

Zhou Jianmin was delighted to hear the news. Bai Zhi had opened a clinic and had a doctor on duty. He could easily guess that the doctor on duty was Bai Zhi's maternal grandfather.

Once their clinic officially opens, he can go there for treatment.

When he goes to see a doctor as an ordinary patient, no one knows him and there will be no gossip, so he will have much less pressure.

Political Commissar Zhang kindly offered, "Since Xiaobai is home, let her take your pulse in a bit. See if there's anything else that needs to be taken care of. Your leg has lost blood, so maybe you should get some nourishment."

Upon hearing Political Commissar Zhang's words, Zhou Jianmin refused without hesitation, saying, "No need. This is just an external injury. I'm perfectly healthy and don't need any treatment. Political Commissar, you don't need to worry about it."

Zhou Jianmin's refusal was so decisive that Political Commissar Zhang's expression became subtle.

"Why are you reacting so strongly? It's just taking your pulse. If you're not sick, that's even better. If there's a problem, get it treated promptly."

Wang Yumei also politely declined, saying, "Political Commissar Zhang, there's no need for that. My husband, Lao Zhou, is in very good health. This injury will heal after resting at home for a while. He dislikes drinking Chinese medicine the most. Even if you let Dr. Xiao Bai take his pulse, it won't help because he can't drink the medicine."

Her husband, Lao Zhou, has health problems, and this absolutely cannot be known to anyone in the family compound.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have the face to stay here.

Political Commissar Zhang could only wave his hand and say, "Alright, alright, then he should rest well at home. Xiao Wang, make him some good food and make sure he gets enough nutrition. Don't let him ruin his health by lying down for too long."

Wang Yumei nodded, "Political Commissar, I understand. I'll stew an old hen for him to nourish him later."

...

Liu Guifang gets up early and works late every day to sell noodles. She has become visibly thinner, but she looks more energetic.

Upon hearing that Zhou Jianmin had been discharged from the hospital, she and Instructor Yang came to visit him that evening, bringing two bowls of glutinous rice noodles and two roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers).

After going upstairs, she also called Bai Zhi and Lu Ye, asking them to come and sit at Zhou Jianmin's house. Liu Guifang's thinking was simple: since Zhou Jianmin was injured, Bai Zhi and the others should come and visit him.

Otherwise, people will criticize you for being too cold-hearted.

They might normally feel awkward coming over, after all, their two families aren't very close. But since she and Lao Yang are here right now, it won't feel so awkward if everyone goes in to visit together.

Bai Zhi also felt that it was indeed necessary to visit the neighbors.

After all, Zhou Jianmin worked with Lu Ye, and his injury was also for the sake of protecting his country.

She and Lu Ye grabbed a case of milk from home and went with them to Zhou Jianmin's house.

Seeing Lu Ye and Bai Zhi enter carrying milk, Wang Yumei greeted them warmly, "Deputy Battalion Commander Lu and Dr. Bai are here too, please have a seat."

As soon as Liu Guifang entered, she greeted everyone warmly.

"Company Commander Zhou, you haven't tried my 'Nianpi' yet. I deliberately didn't put in much chili. Try it. There's also a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) in it."

Instructor Yang felt it was inappropriate for Liu Guifang to insist on bringing food she had made herself to visit the wounded. He suggested at home that she not bring these things, and that it would be fine for them to go empty-handed, or at least bring some gifts.

Liu Guifang, however, did not listen to him and insisted on taking the food she had at home. She felt that there was no need to be so polite between neighbors. Besides, Zhou Jianmin had never tasted her roufenpi before, and she wanted him to try it.

Moreover, she didn't feel there was anything shameful about bringing food she had made herself to visit the wounded.

She always felt that her husband, Lao Yang, still had some vanity.

They seemed to look down on people like her who ran a stall business.

Even if he told Lao Yang that she had already made a net profit of two hundred yuan in less than ten days.

Regardless of what her husband, Lao Yang, thinks, she earns money through her own labor and doesn't feel ashamed at all.

Zhou Jianmin said with a smile, "Thank you, sister-in-law. I haven't had dinner yet, so I'll try it."

Wang Yumei mixed the noodles that Liu Guifang had brought over for Zhou Jianmin, and also cooked some porridge for herself. Zhou Jianmin ate the noodles and roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and praised it repeatedly.

"Sister-in-law, we've known each other for so many years, and I never knew you had this skill."

Zhou Jianmin gave her a thumbs up. "This is so delicious!"

Wang Yumei said, "That's right, my sister-in-law sets up a stall outside. If the food isn't good, will anyone buy it?"

"This skill should be displayed at a street stall so that more people can taste this authentic roujiamo (Chinese hamburger)."

Zhou Jianmin and Wang Yumei both grew up in the city, unlike Instructor Yang who came from the countryside. They were very particular about their food and clothing, especially Wang Yumei, who had very high standards.

Unexpectedly, they praised Liu Guifang's skills so highly, which made Instructor Yang feel less awkward and embarrassed.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Jianmin said to Liu Guifang, "Sister-in-law, with your skills, you should open a shop. It's too hard for you to just hawk your food outside."

Liu Guifang glanced cautiously at Instructor Yang and said, "I don't dare to think about it too much for now. As for opening a shop, I'll just sell like this for now and save up some costs. It would be better if I could open a shop later."

Without money, she couldn't open a shop even if she wanted to.

Instructor Yang's expression was very serious. "What kind of shop are you opening? The little business you get now is just from people trying something new. What if there's no business? Wouldn't you lose money?"

Zhou Jianmin, unusually supportive of Liu Guifang, said, "Instructor, don't you support my sister-in-law? Look how capable she is, I think opening a shop is no problem at all."

To be precise, he supports every hardworking person. His wife has also not worked for several years, saying that she needs to prepare her body for having a baby.

He did hope that Wang Yumei could find a job or something she liked to do.

Staying at home all day doing nothing will only lead to overthinking and causing trouble for him.

Bai Zhi also said, "Roushua roujiamo (meat sandwich) is just like saozi noodles and beef noodles. It's a staple food that can fill your stomach. We women love it. If we really opened a shop, it would definitely be a good business."

Liu Guifang smiled and said, "I'll just wander around and sell them for now. I'll open a shop once I've saved up enough money."

Hearing everyone's support for her opening a shop, Liu Guifang was also eager to try. The key issue was that the small kitchen in her house made steaming and rolling dough very inconvenient. Her business had been quite good these past few days, and she had been washing a lot of dough.

Because the pot is small, it steams slowly. He has to get up early.

If he could open a shop with a spacious kitchen, it would save him time and he wouldn't be so tired.

Otherwise, her body really can't take it if this continues.

She hasn't saved enough money yet. And her husband, Lao Yang, doesn't understand or support her.

The shop definitely can't be opened yet; we can only work hard for a while first.