Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 358: Preparing the Stall

Chapter 358: Chapter 358: Preparing the Stall

Apart from those pests, life in Yan City was improving day by day, and Shen Wenchen found his days becoming uncannily peaceful.

Shen Wenchen found out who was running the underground gambling house, but he didn’t bother to investigate further.

After all, gamblers were pitiful, yet also despicable.

The current gambling house was a monopoly, if it were upturned, the one replacing might be even worse.

Shen Wenchen might have been able to relax, but Nanzhi was busier than ever.

She had initially thought of spending more time with Zhiyu, but instead she pulled a few kids along to help at the restaurant.

Shen Zhiyu was just five and a half years old, and though he was well-maintained for his age, he was still rather small.

When lined up, as the four children got taller step by step, people couldn’t help but laugh.

"Mom, why did you call us here?" Little Zhiyu blushed as Nanzhi tied a red ribbon in his hair.

"Of course, it’s for you to learn the virtues of hard work and thriftiness," Nanzhi said, squeezing the tiny bun on the boy’s head and smiling satisfiedly.

The young serving girls she had hired for the restaurant were doing well, but today a banquet had been booked, which meant the restaurant was busier than usual and she needed the extra help these kids provided.

Xiaomi, having endured plenty of hardship during her time as a beggar, was still somewhat thin even after having stayed with the Lin Family for so long. She looked only a little taller than Zhiyu, very much like Lin Jian in fact.

"Auntie, will you pay us?" Lin Jian, a clever child, twisted his head as he asked Nanzhi this.

His mother hadn’t given him any pocket money for a few days!

"Of course, I will," Nanzhi affirmed, tapping her nephew’s head.

"Could Auntie possibly be a wicked boss?"

"So, Auntie, how much are you going to pay us?" Lin Jian asked with a grin, revealing two dimples in his chubby cheeks.

"The business today is good, and I need you guys to help out with serving the pastries and fruit platters for about two hours. How does 20 wen each sound?"

Nanzhi knew her little nephew was shrewd and showed him the money with a smile.

Both of her sisters-in-law fervently agreed about having the children help out.

Despite improving living conditions, they didn’t want their children to develop the habit of being excessive spenders.

At the academy, a child’s annual incidental expenses amount to three taels of silver. Adding the cost of stationary, each child costs about five taels annually.

Even though they had the ability to earn, which was even more than some families running businesses, it was still hard-earned money.

Just a few days ago, when they had set up stalls, they encountered a thirteen-year-old scholar and his classmates at the stall, eating.

The scholar proclaimed the paper pieces priced at one wen each as subpar and even used the three-wen paper to clean the benches.

Just watching him, they felt a chill in their hearts.

For the past few days, they kept a close eye on the children’s expenditure. When they heard that Nanzhi was offering them work, they all heaved a sigh of relief.

The snack stall hadn’t opened for two days as they have been looking for a good location for their new shop. The break from the academy for their children was a good opportunity to have them help out at the restaurant.

Every day, the children had two wen for spending money. Outside the academy, people sold children’s toys and snacks, all priced between one and two wen. Boys always found it insufficient. When they heard Nanzhi say they could earn twenty wen, both Lin Zihan and Lin Jian had joy written on their faces.

"Good!"

Xiaomi, fortunate if she could make five copper plates a day when she was begging, only earned more during holidays. Though life in the Lin Family was better, she still felt insecure, even saving the pocket money given by Nanzhi without spending it recklessly.

Now that she could earn money herself, she was quite excited.

The customers of the women’s building were mostly wealthy ladies and daughters. Today’s banquet was a gathering of ladies from a wealthy family in town.

Nanzhi had specially asked the hostess the day before if she didn’t mind having kids serve, and then led the four festively dressed kids upstairs.

It was hot, and there were six areas in the restaurant with ice on display.

Between courses, young women moved gracefully, bringing joy to the customers. The endearing, well-behaved children who served pastries and fruit platters further pleased them.

The hostess, already thirty, and her friends were of similar ages with children of their own. Seeing Zhiyu and the others being well-mannered and understanding, they couldn’t help but feel cheerful.

After a day of hard work, the children’s cheeks were flushed, and they all sat around a table, gulping down shaved ice.

"Eat slowly. Don’t catch a cold." Nanzhi found their urgent dining amusing and gently fanned them.

"Mom, is it like this every day?" Little Zhiyu asked, his cheeks still red from being pinched so much by the customers. Now flushed with embarrassment, he didn’t resist at all.

"Not exactly," Nanzhi shook her head, sitting with a smile.

"Why, Auntie?" Lin Jian asked, his mouth full of shaved ice, puzzled.

They had all been tired today, simply watching those girls running up and down exhausted him!

"Because your auntie is the owner, she doesn’t need to run up and down the floors with trays."

Nanzhi replied honestly.

"Then I’ll be an owner in the future!" Lin Jian decided instantly after some thought.

Being an owner was great — no hard work and free ice to enjoy!

"So, what business do you want to do? Do you have the money and skills to run a business?" Nanzhi shook her head, amused at her nephew.

Among her nephews, Maomao was the naughtier one, who took after their elder brother while Duoduo was more understanding than he used to be.

Lin Jian’s smile stiffened, and then he lowered his head, feeling a bit defeated.

He wasn’t the best scholar. The teacher had said he was smart but not in learning. As for wealth, his aunt and uncle were rich, but he only had todays’ twenty wen, including one wen to buy candy.

"So, Auntie, I only have nineteen wen, what business can I do?"

The dejected boy mumbled his query, looking quite dispirited.

"That’s for you to figure out. We have a small open space outside my house. Combined, you four will earn eighty wen. What business you do is up to you," Nanzhi replied with a bright smile.

They had a small open space outside her yard.

These past few days, many had requested to set up stalls there — she had yet to agree. The children were on vacation; it was a good time for them to learn the ropes of business, get some experience and also give the aunts and sisters-in-law some peace of mind in setting up the new shop.

"Alright!" Shen Zhiyu, with stars in his eyes, was the first to agree, giving Nanzhi some pause. She pulled him aside and talked to him.

"Zhiyu. You have to promise Mom, you won’t use that."

Nanzhi said with a serious face. She found that the little boy was relying too much on his "luck".

It might not be a good thing if it continued.

The little boy only nodded in agreement.

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