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

Chapter 66 Tonight Will Be Unsettling
Han Hui woke up promptly at 6:30 AM. As soon as she reached out from under the covers, a bone-chilling chill hit her. With a start, she instinctively tucked herself back under the covers, clinging to their warmth. But because she had to go to work, Han Hui braved the chill, lifted the covers, and climbed out.

For breakfast, Han Hui had her favorite preserved vegetable and pork buns, accompanied by a few side dishes.

After finishing six palm-sized buns in one go, Han Hui asked Huang Shufen, "Where's Big Brother? Hasn't he gotten up yet?"

Huang Shufen shook her head and said, "Your eldest brother left at dawn. His leg had just healed, and the doctor specifically told him he needed to rest for a while, but he went out every day. If he suffers from any sequelae, he'll suffer greatly in his old age."

Han Hui didn't care about these things: "Mom, my brother is so old now, don't worry about his affairs."

Huang Shufen became anxious upon hearing this: "Your eldest brother will be 24 next year. If he still hasn't found a wife at such an old age, no one will want him."

Han Hui thought to herself that Han Mengyang wasn't suitable for marriage, given what he'd done. But the siblings had a common goal: to keep it a secret from Huang Shufen. They were doing something that could cost them their lives, and if Huang Shufen knew, she wouldn't be able to do anything but worry.

"No, I'm going to find a matchmaker and ask her to introduce your brother."

Han Hui didn't want her to waste her time: "Mom, my eldest brother is a college student. He won't be interested in you if you marry someone who can't even read a few words."

"So what kind of wife do you think he wants to marry?"

"At least a junior high school education! Otherwise, we won't be able to communicate. Mom, I don't have a house or a job right now, and even decent girls won't be interested in me! Let's wait until next year, when my brother and I open our trading company and make some money. Then you won't have to come knocking on our door, and matchmakers will be knocking on our doorstep."

"Are you telling the truth?"

Han Hui swallowed the bun in her mouth: "Of course it's true, when have I ever lied to you?"

Huang Shufen thought that she had waited for so many years, so half a year wouldn't be a big deal: "Okay, then I'll listen to you."

After breakfast, Han Hui told Huang Shufen that she wanted to stay in the dormitory. As for the reason, it was naturally because it was too cold and she didn't want to be exposed to the cold wind on her commute to get off work.

Huang Shufen didn't object, mainly because it was too cold. Xiaocao had even gotten frostbite from using hot water to wash vegetables. "Later, I'll ask your eldest brother to bring you a quilt and thick clothes. If you can't get used to living here, you can come back."

Han Hui didn't want to trouble Han Mengyang, so she called two rickshaws and took all her luggage.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Li Jingang took Han Hui to the operations department to see Deputy Section Chief Lou Zijian. "This girl is very skilled and intelligent, and she learns things very quickly. If there's anything I can do, she'll be the right person."

Han Hui immediately said, "Section Chief Lou, I'm young and inexperienced. If I don't do well, I hope you can give me some guidance."

Section Chief Lou didn't hesitate to be polite with Han Hui. He took her to her workstation and handed her a stack of documents. "Sort these documents into categories and show them to me when you're done."

Making tables was Han Hui's specialty. She started out fast, but when sorting through the documents, she noticed that everyone else in the office was taking a bit longer, so she slowed down, too. She didn't want to draw too much attention; she just wanted to be about the same as everyone else.

Blue Chimney Wharf has very good benefits. In addition to high wages, lunch is also provided, and dinner is also provided if you work night shifts.

Lunch consists of one meat dish and one vegetable dish, weighing three taels of rice per person, and is served at noon every day.

At twelve o'clock, Dong Xiaomei, a female office worker, came to her with a lunch box and said, "Xiao Han, it's time to eat. If you go too late, you won't be able to get good food."

Food is very expensive in Shanghai now. Eating in the cafeteria at noon can save food for the family.

"it is good."

During the meal, Dong Xiaomei chatted with Han Hui, trying to find out about her family situation.

Han Hui wasn't really 15 years old, so she naturally wouldn't let anyone trick her into believing anything. She just said that her brother was injured and recuperating at home, and that the family mainly relied on her mother selling braised dishes to make a living.

Dong Xiaomei smiled and said, "How can you say you only rely on your mother? Don't you work and earn money?" Han Hui had already finished three taels of rice. She stood up and bought two kilograms of rice and a serving of stir-fried tofu and meat. After sitting down again, she said, "I have a big appetite, so the money I earn is enough for food."

Dong Xiaomei watched her finish both meals and was so shocked that she couldn't speak.

When they returned to the office, Dong Xiaomei couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Han, why do you eat so much?"

Han Hui said vaguely, "Ever since I started learning boxing from my master, my appetite has become really big."

Dong Xiaomei shook her head and said, "You have to control your food intake. If you eat so much, it will be difficult for you to get married in the future."

Food is so precious nowadays. Who would dare to marry a wife who eats so much? She will eat the whole family into poverty.

Han Hui didn't even bother to argue; the limitations of the times couldn't be changed. In this era, not only men but many women as well believed that the purpose of being a woman was to get married and have children.

Time flies when people are busy, and it's time to get off work in the blink of an eye. Dong Xiaomei invited Han Hui to go home with her, but she politely declined.

Han Hui said, "I had a fight with my brother, so I'm staying in the dormitory for the next two days."

Dong Xiaomei was filled with envy. Her family was short of housing, and she had applied for a dormitory before, but unfortunately was rejected twice.

Han Hui also went to the cafeteria for dinner. Those working the night shift were free, but people like Han Hui had to pay.

On the way back to the dormitory after dinner, Han Hui ran into Zhang Ziqiang. She smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, I was just about to leave my lunch box in the dormitory and come find you!"

Zhang Ziqiang asked with concern, "Xiao Han, why are you still living in the dormitory after get off work? Could it be that the people in the operations department are trying to make things difficult for you and make you work overtime?"

Han Hui nodded. "My brother has a friend who injured his leg and needs to be brought home to recuperate. I don't like strangers in my house, so I had an argument with him. I didn't win the argument, so I moved to the dormitory. Out of sight, out of mind."

Seeing that it was a conflict between siblings, Zhang Ziqiang did not ask any more questions. As the old saying goes, even an honest official cannot judge family affairs, so it is better for outsiders not to interfere.

Zhang Ziqiang said, "I've already found someone to take care of the job you asked me to do. But he's not in Shanghai right now and won't be back until after the Chinese New Year."

"Zhao Anna's injury will take more than a month to fully heal, so it's just right for her to come back after the New Year."

Zhang Ziqiang whispered, "Xiao Han, the other party has never failed in this line of work. Asking him to do this might cost a lot."

Han Hui said that as long as the conditions are within a reasonable range, she will agree, and if the price is too high, she will find someone else.

"it is good."

At around eight o'clock in the evening, Zhang Ziqiang came to find Han Hui again and took her to a corner where no one could see her.

After making sure there was no one around, Zhang Ziqiang said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Xiao Han, things might not be peaceful tonight. No matter what you hear, don't come out, understand?"

This statement contained too much information. However, Han Hui knew that Zhang Ziqiang said this to her only because she saved the dog.

Afraid that Han Hui wouldn't take his words seriously, Zhang Ziqiang said, "My right eyelid was twitching just now. Xiao Han, don't think I'm superstitious. Every time something bad happens over the years, my right eyelid will twitch non-stop."

Han Hui said solemnly, "Brother Zhang, I know that it's better to believe something like this than not. Don't worry, I'll stay in the dormitory tonight and won't go anywhere."

"That's good."

(End of this chapter)