Starting from 40, holding the Star Mall to lead the motherland

Chapter 50 Blue Chimney Pier (1)

Huang Shufen had another reason to come this time: she wanted to open a braised food shop with He Sanmei. Although her daughter was capable of making money and her son was a college graduate and would definitely find a job after his injury healed, she also wanted to have something to do.

He Sanmei was a little surprised: "If you don't have enough money to open a shop, I can lend it to you."

She didn't dare say this before, but after arriving in Shanghai, Chen Wenpeng gave her a lot of money.

Seeing Huang Shufen's embarrassment, Han Hui smiled and said, "Aunt He, we have the capital, but opening a shop isn't just about having the capital and the recipe. We need someone to back us up. Otherwise, if hooligans come and cause trouble, the shop won't be able to continue."

He Sanmei expressed her willingness to provide them with shelter, but Huang Shufen was unwilling. After some discussion, He Sanmei finally agreed to partner with Huang Shufen in the braised food business, but she would only provide 30% of the capital and hold 30% of the shares.

After the matter was settled, He Sanmei asked Han Hui, "Xiao Hui, now that your brother has been discharged from the hospital, what are your plans?"

Han Hui didn't hide her plan and told him, "Aunt He, I want to open my own trading company. But I don't know anything right now. I want to work at the docks first, and then work at a trading company to gain experience."

He Sanmei thought she had a lot of ideas and said with a smile, "That's easy. I'll tell your Uncle Chen later and let him arrange it for you."

Chen Wenpeng is the chief of the customs tax department. All goods entering the port must pay customs duties. This business falls under his jurisdiction, which is why He Sanmei dared to make a guarantee.

Han Hui was overjoyed and stood up to express her gratitude.

After chatting for a while, Xiaoxue came over after class.

After not seeing her for ten days or so, the girl's skin has become much whiter than when we first met, and her clothes are also different. The first time we met, she was wearing coarse cloth clothes, the second time, she was wearing blue cloth clothes, and today she is wearing a pink bud long-sleeved dress and a pearl headband.

Han Hui praised her as soon as she saw her: "Xiaoxue, you are so beautiful, I almost didn't recognize you."

Xiaoxue was a little shy, but her eyes were sparkling: "If you like it, I'll ask the tailor to make one for you."

Han Hui quickly refused, saying that wearing a skirt was beautiful, but it would be inconvenient to move around.

Chatting with Xiaoxue, Han Hui heard that she had memorized all the twenty or so characters she had learned in the past two days. She praised her highly, saying, "Xiaoxue, you're so smart. When I first started school, I would forget everything I learned the minute it hit me. My teacher would get so angry that he'd call me stupid."

"Really?"

Han Hui said cheerfully, "If you don't believe me, you can ask my mother to see if what I said is true."

Huang Shufen naturally agreed with her: "Yes, she was a mess in the first month, and the teacher didn't want to accept her. Fortunately, this girl can endure hardships, so the teacher didn't fire her."

She was looking sad when she came out, but when she returned to class, Xiaoxue had a smile on her face.

Han Hui and He Sanmei said, "Aunt He, everything is difficult at the beginning, but it will be easy once you get through the initial period."

That night, Chen Wenpeng came over and He Sanmei told her these three things.

Chen Wenpeng supports He Sanmei's study and business, but he disagrees with Han Hui working at the docks: "The docks are full of men, and they are all very fierce. Although Han Hui knows martial arts, it's not good for her reputation to be among men."

He Sanmei asked unkindly, "What do you mean by that? Are you still planning to let Xiaoman carry the heavy load? Chen Wenshu, Xiaoman is our daughter's savior, and this is how you repay her?" Chen Wenpeng said helplessly, "I would like to arrange an easier job for her, but isn't she illiterate? She can't do an easy job!"

He Sanmei said angrily, "Don't judge people by their appearance. Xiaoman started attending a private school at the age of six and studied there for five years."

Chen Wenpeng thought carefully and realized that no one had told him that Han Hui couldn't read. He had just assumed it. "Okay, I'll ask someone tomorrow and let her go if there's a job suitable for her."

The next day at noon, Huang Shufen brought over five dishes including braised pig's trotters, snails, eggs, etc.

He Sanmei's stomach growled at the aroma of the stewed food. After eating a conch, she praised, "It's delicious, Sister Shufen. Your cooking skills are amazing."

Just because of her skills, the braised food shop will not lose money. However, she invested money because she believed in Huang Shufen's character. If she was not sure, she would not think of opening a shop.

Xiaoxue ate so much that she couldn't even lift her head.

Han Hui acted quickly, buying a shop that same day in the street market between Jing'an Villa and Zhang Family Garden. It was on a corner, only a little over five square meters. The owner was reluctant to sell it because of its poor location and small size, making it difficult to rent. However, they were selling braised dishes, so they could prepare them at home and sell them in the shop.

Running a food business requires hygiene. Both walls of the shop were a bit dirty, so Han Hui hired a craftsman to repaint the shop white the next day. This was a good opportunity for Huang Shufen to practice her hand at home.

The walls were painted white and the door panels were given a new coat of paint. Han Hui watched the two craftsmen finish their work before going home.

As soon as she got home, Huang Shufen told her something: "I brought your Aunt He some braised food at noon. She told me there's a vacancy in the safety department of Lanyan Lu Wharf. Would you like to go?"

"Mom, what does this security department do?"

Huang Shufen also asked He Sanmei this question: "It's to keep an eye on the dock workers, prevent them from fighting or causing trouble, and prevent the goods from being stolen or robbed, to ensure normal order at the dock. Xiaoman, this job is dangerous. Why don't we quit? You can come with mom and sell braised dishes!"

Han Hui shook her head and said, "Mom, the braised food business is just you and Xiaocao. I'm still young and want to learn more and gain more experience."

Huang Shufen stopped trying to persuade him. She touched her face and said, "Xiaoman, give me the medicine you prescribed. I'll wash it off my face later."

As soon as they arrived in Shanghai, Han Hui wanted to wash the stain off Huang Shufen's face. Huang Shufen, seeing so many Japanese soldiers on the street, was afraid and refused to wash it off. But now she had to run a business, and if she continued to have a sallow face, people would think she was ill. She was selling food, and if customers knew she was sick, no one would buy.

Han Hui went upstairs to take the prepared medicine powder and poured it into warm water. After stirring it evenly, she asked Huang Shufen to wash her face.

After washing her face, Huang Shufen looked in the mirror and became worried again. She was too pale. She touched her face and said, "Xiaoman, do you have any plaster that can make people darker? If so, please prescribe me one."

This morning, while buying groceries, she saw a shifty-looking man, Er Gou, flirting with the vegetable vendor. The vendor was in her thirties, plain-looking but with a nice figure. If she were to run a stall with that face, she'd probably run into something similar.

Han Hui knew she was afraid: "Mom, the journey was long and there were many bandits. I asked you to apply the ointment to avoid trouble. We are in the concession now, no one dares to act recklessly."

"Let me think about it again."

(End of this chapter)