Chapter 18

Ding Sha happily took the small account book to find him, and even put the opened book in front of him and pointed to that number and said, "A Jun! Look! We earned a lot of money!"

"More than we originally estimated!"

When Xiao Jun took a look at the net profit, and then looked at her flushed little face because of excitement, the depressed feeling that had been pent up in his heart suddenly dissipated.

No matter how much he disliked it, as long as she was happy it was fine.

At worst... he would try harder to treat her even better, so that no one else could compare.

Xiao Jun supported her, "Sha Sha is really amazing! We earned so much!"

Ding Sha clipped the book under her arm, and started counting off on her fingers.

"Hmm, actually it's not really that much, we still have to buy you a car, and buy you some clothes, the house also needs some furniture and appliances..."

"It will be autumn and winter soon, then there will be a lot of thick quilts, thick clothes and so on that we'll need to buy..."

As Ding Sha spoke, she sighed, "Money really doesn't go far, does it..."

Xiao Jun pursed his lips, "I'll earn it."

Seeing his expression, Ding Sha knew he was feeling down, so she stroked his face, "I know, I believe in you." We're much better off now than before, and we can save money too."

Xiao Jun murmured in agreement, but he was thinking about how to earn more money.

Ding Sha was getting heavier, and she was also starting to get sleepy, often not waking up until nearly noon.

Sister-in-law Zhuang took on the job of server in the lobby, and would wash dishes occasionally when not busy. She was used to this kind of work and was very neat and efficient.

Auntie Zhuang helped prep food in the kitchen earlier, then went to the front cash register to settle accounts. Xiao Jun observed that she calculated the bills very quickly and almost never made mistakes.

"Boss, there's something I want to talk to you about," Sister-in-law Zhuang said hesitantly while washing vegetables.

Xiao Jun glanced at her while slicing potatoes next to her, "Go ahead."

"It will be autumn soon, and the boss's belly has gotten bigger too. It's time to buy her some warmer clothes to change into," Auntie Zhuang had wanted to say this for a while but hadn't dared.

"Also, pregnant women become more and more uncomfortable in late pregnancy. There are a lot of things that need to be prepared in advance, those pads and pillows and the like, they all need to be ready."

Xiao Jun listened carefully when he heard it was about Ding Sha's needs. "Why don't you make me a list of what needs to be bought, and I'll go shopping this afternoon when I have time." Only then did Auntie Zhuang sigh in relief with a smile, "Good good, I'll write it for you after I finish up here."

Seeing that Xiao Jun didn't seem as stern as he looked, she also dared to chat with him casually, "I reckon the boss is about five or six months pregnant now?"

"Almost six months," Xiao Jun's expression softened involuntarily. He and Ding Sha didn't have experienced older female relatives around them, so he had been a little worried in his heart all this time.

Now someone was willing to talk to him more about it, and he was also willing to listen.

"The boss is too thin," Auntie Zhuang frowned. "Is the morning sickness bad?"

"She threw up whatever she ate in the early days. She only liked eating sour plums," Xiao Jun was also troubled.

Later he didn't dare let Ding Sha sit in the shop to smell the oily fumes, and moved the reclining chair outside for her to rest on. "It's better now, but she still doesn't eat much, saying she's full after a few bites."

"Craving sour food? It's likely a boy." Auntie Zhuang said. "But there's no help for the pregnancy nausea. You should try different ways to make more food for her, get her to eat as much as possible, it's good for her body and the baby."

Xiao Jun murmured in agreement, thinking about what to make.

Auntie Zhuang added, "Oh right, yesterday I heard someone delivering milk outside. Boss, have you ordered milk for the boss lady?"

Xiao Jun shook his head. "I've always bought her boxed cow's milk."

Auntie Zhuang immediately shook her head at this. "That won't work. She has to drink the kind of fresh milk that the dairy farmers milk daily. It's delicious when boiled too, with a layer of creamy milk skin on top, smelling and tasting sweet."

Xiao Jun made a note. "I'll go ask about it right after this and order some for Sha Sha."

Only then did Auntie Zhuang flick her vegetable-coated hands happily. "That's right, drinking more milk will help the baby grow up fair, beautiful and tall!"

Xiao Jun couldn't help imagining what the little one would look like. A faint smile appeared as he thought of something.

Auntie Zhuang added, "And you two are both so good looking, this baby will definitely be even more handsome."

Sister-in-law Zhuang lifted the door curtain. "One fish-flavored pork shreds, and a bowl of rice."

"Got it." Xiao Jun skillfully picked out the ingredients he needed from the tray - pork shreds, wood ear fungus shreds, green bell pepper shreds and carrot shreds, adding some bamboo shoot shreds as well.

He marinated the pork shreds briefly with salt, cornstarch, light soy sauce and rice wine, then made the fish-flavored sauce without actual fish.

He stir-fried the pork shreds in hot oil until the color turned white, then scooped them out. Using the remaining oil, he stir-fried minced scallions, ginger and garlic till fragrant, then added broad bean paste to get the red oil. After stir-frying the vegetables till they softened, he returned the pork shreds to the wok, poured in the fish-flavored sauce and gave it a few more stirs.

The sweet, spicy fish-flavored pork shreds were ready.

Auntie Zhuang served a bowl of rice. Carrying the dish, she came out to where there was only one customer in the shop, looking like a teenager with clothes washed to fading whiteness.

He sat at the table rather apprehensively. The fish-flavored pork shreds were the cheapest item on the menu.

He had heard Wang Dong rave repeatedly about how delicious the food here was, and he also wanted to eat here once.

Auntie Zhuang placed the rice and dish before him. "Food's ready."

He was so startled he blurted out, "Tha...thank you!"

Auntie Zhuang liked children. At his response, she ruffled his head, "Hurry eat while it's hot. There's free egg soup in the shop, just help yourself if your mouth gets dry."

She pointed to the metal bucket at the side. The boy's eyes lit up. The portions were big, he would definitely eat his fill, and there was free soup too...

He quickly thanked her before excitedly picking up his chopsticks and heartily tucking in.

The sweet, spicy flavors were so tasty with rice. The boy stuffed his cheeks ful as he ate, feeling his mouth continue secreting saliva madly.

Afraid he would choke, Auntie Zhuang brought him a cup of warm water and a bowl of soup.

"Poor child," Auntie Zhuang clucked her tongue and didn't return to the kitchen, just stood at the doorway chatting softly with Sister-in-law Zhuang. "See how hungry he is. Who knows what his elders at home are up to!"

Sister-in-law Zhuang also shook her head sympathetically.

Finally the boy cleaned his plate and bowls spotless, even scraping them with his rice. After drinking three or four bowls of soup, he sheepishly wiped his mouth.

Auntie Zhuang smiled kindly when he came over to settle the bill. "Eat your fill?"

"I'm full, thanks." The boy nodded awkwardly. "How much in total?"

"Sixteen total." Auntie Zhuang said.

"I ate two bowls of rice." The boy took out two crumpled 10 yuan notes from his pocket. "It should be eighteen dollars."

Auntie Zhuang gave him four dollars change. "Rice here is priced per person, not per bowl. Two dollars per person."

Only then did the boy take the money.

From then on, the boy came every three days. Auntie Zhuang got to know him - his name was Si Le, a middle school student.

Si Le was good friends with Wang Dong. Wang Dong often found ways to feed him, because Si Le's family circumstances were poor.

His mother gave birth to him out of wedlock. After having him, she drank every day. At home, Si Le often saw his dead drunk mother sprawled like mud.

Not only did he have to care for his mother, he had to shoulder the costs of their living too.

At such a young age, he had to balance studies and work odd jobs to earn money for himself and his mother.

He knew education could change fates, so he always studied very hard and diligently.

But growing boys get hungry fast. His planned daily food budget was never enough, and he often endured the burning hunger pains in his stomach.

Wang Dong told him this shop had great affordable food. Si Le endured for several days but could hold out no longer - no matter how it tasted, as long as it was affordable and gave big portions he was sold.

After listening, Auntie Zhuang even cried and tried to give him her own private savings, but Si Le didn't accept it.

Auntie Zhuang couldn't help telling Ding Sha and Xiao Jun about it. From that day onwards, Si Le's portions became even bigger, sometimes with extras to take away.

Si Le was deeply grateful that the boss was looking out for him, and swore to repay their kindness someday.

The autumn wind swirled and brought down the withered yellow leaves. The weather seemed to suddenly turn cold overnight. Ding Sha put on thick wool pants and a thick maternity skirt, dressed warmly and thickly.

After going over the accounts with Zhuang Auntie in the evening and about to close the shop, Ding Sha saw a black lump lying in the corner of the door.

Ding Sha took a closer look and found it was a fainted child!