Chapter 141: The Thief

Chapter 141: Chapter 141: The Thief

Mother Su’s words put Eldest Sister-in-law Su’s mind at ease.

So, the next time she ran into Aunt Zhang, she handled the encounter with ease and even managed to casually let it slip that her third brother-in-law, Su Jue, had a knack for business.

「Capital.」

When Mother Su got home, Second Sister-in-law Su had just lulled Nuannuan to sleep. Seeing her mother-in-law, she quickly came out.

"Mom, was that Eldest Sister-in-law on the phone? Is everything okay back home?"

"Everything’s fine. She was just calling to check on us. You just focus on taking care of the kids at home." Mother Su hadn’t asked Second Sister-in-law Su to join them in the business.

The current arrangement was for Second Brother Su to sell tea eggs and soy milk at the alley entrance, while she and her old man would sell breakfast at the school gate.

That way, both businesses could thrive.

"Mom, you should eat. I’ll go pack Dad’s lunchbox first."

Second Sister-in-law Su wasn’t idle, either. She did whatever chores she could around the house. After all, the thought that her husband was now earning several yuan a day, amounting to over a hundred a month, filled her with energy.

The cost of living in the Capital was high, but their family was earning a lot, too.

Mother Su nodded and finished her lunch in just fifteen minutes. After cleaning up, she grabbed the lunchbox and headed back to the school gate.

When she arrived, Father Su was in the middle of a bustling trade, selling savory pancakes.

They had only realized after setting up their business at the university gate that they could do good business for all three meals of the day.

In the morning, they could sell tea eggs and soy milk.

At noon, they could sell savory pancakes.

And in the evening, they could even sell noodles.

All these foods were simple to make and not too tiring to sell.

Since they could earn three streams of income, Mother Su and Father Su, both being driven individuals, couldn’t bear to miss the opportunity. With Su Wan and Su Jue rarely coming home, they just went for it.

As for Second Brother Su, he was even more determined. The old couple used to only sell in the mornings.

But Second Brother Su couldn’t stand the thought of just lying around at home in the afternoon and evening. He started selling all day long.

When business was slow for his main items in the afternoon and evening, he would just sell hot tea and hot soup.

He was willing to try selling any food that could make money and wasn’t too complicated.

And since the Su Family were all decent cooks, Second Brother Su actually managed to sustain the business. His stall became a famous spot for hot soup at the alley entrance. Even the neighbors in the alley would occasionally stop by to buy a bowl of hot soup, which they could take home and add some vegetables to for an extra dish.

"Old Su, let’s go. We’ve sold out for the day. Time to go home."

It was a little after six in the evening, and most of the students had returned to the university for their classes.

Mother Su packed up their things, ready to leave.

Just then, a customer suddenly appeared.

"Hello, do you have any noodles left?" The person who spoke was a nondescript young man.

Mother Su looked up. "Sorry, we’re sold out of noodles for today. Please come back another time."

"No, you can’t be! My wife is pregnant, and the one time she ate your noodles, she didn’t have any morning sickness. I rushed all the way here from East City. You have to sell me a bowl. Otherwise, my wife will definitely go hungry tonight and refuse to eat anything else."

Hearing the word "pregnant," Mother Su thought of Su Wan and found a bit more patience.

"A pregnant woman definitely shouldn’t go hungry. But you came from so far away. Even if I went home now and made a fresh batch of noodles for you, they would get clumpy and unappetizing by the time you got back. I’m afraid your wife wouldn’t feel well after eating them."

The man, however, was pleasantly surprised to hear this. "Ma’am, you’re willing to go home and make a special portion just for my wife?"

"I knew you were good people."

"I don’t need them cooked. I just need to take the soup base, seasoning, and fresh noodles home to cook myself. That was my plan all along; otherwise, they’d be ruined by the time I got back anyway."

The man’s words made Mother Su and Father Su exchange a look of surprise. They’d never met such a forward customer.

Mother Su was still cautious. "Do you have a letter of introduction, or some form of identification?"

The man wasn’t offended by the question. He quickly took out his credentials and showed them to the couple.

"I don’t have my ID card on me, but I have my work permit. I’m an employee at the Capital Paper Factory. See? This can’t be faked. It’s got an official stamp, and I’ve been using this permit for years."

Mother Su checked it and saw that he was indeed an employee of the paper factory, and even a team leader.

’Someone with such a good job couldn’t possibly be a terrible criminal,’ she thought. ’After all, a secure job like that is hard to come by.’

Mother Su’s suspicions were allayed. Thinking it would bring good fortune for Wanwan and her two unborn children, she agreed to the man’s request.

The three of them rode home together in a three-wheeled cart.

"Dad, Mom, you’re back?"

Second Sister-in-law Su heard them and came to open the door. "Second Brother just got back too," she said with a smile. "I was just about to start making dinner."

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed the man following behind them.

Mother Su explained, "This is a customer who came to buy noodles for his pregnant wife, but we had just run out."

"Old Su, why don’t you entertain Brother Zhao?" Since she had agreed, Mother Su gave the instruction and went straight into the kitchen to make the noodles.

The man beamed. "Sir, you’re too kind. I can just wait here in the courtyard. I’m already so grateful that you’re willing to make a special portion of noodles for me."

Father Su thought the man seemed quite polite.

"It’s nothing. We’d do anything for family."

"Sigh, that’s right. Pregnancy is so hard on a woman. Sometimes I wish I could go through it for her. It’s just too tough," the man lamented.

Father Su was moved by his sentiment and nodded in agreement. "Isn’t that the truth? My daughter is pregnant too. Every time I see how much she, who has always been so healthy, is struggling, my old heart aches for her. But there’s nothing I can do."

"Oh? Sir, is your daughter also suffering from morning sickness? How many months along is she?"

"My daughter is due soon. She’s having twins, so this difficult time will be over for her before long," Father Su said, unable to hold back a smile.

He was only talking about things the neighbors already knew. After all, when Su Wan was pregnant, her belly was so big that it was impossible for the neighbors not to see, and they had naturally asked about her out of concern.

"Twins! Wow, that must be even tougher than what my wife is going through. But my wife’s aunt is a well-known delivery nurse at Capital Hospital. If you’re worried at all, you could ask my aunt to help with the delivery," the man recommended enthusiastically.

"Really? What’s your aunt’s name? I can ask around."

"Her name is Wang Ju. Just ask for her at Capital Hospital; anyone will know who she is."

"Oh, okay. I’ll look into it if we need to." ’My daughter is giving birth at the military hospital,’ Father Su thought. ’We probably won’t need another delivery nurse.’

The man nodded. "Sure, no problem. Just mention my name, and my aunt will definitely help you out."

"Ouch, my stomach is starting to hurt. Sir... where’s your restroom? May I use it?"

Father Su quickly stood up and led him to the restroom.

After the man went inside, he closed the door behind him. Then, he pulled a small telescope out from his coat. Through a crack between the mud bricks near the top of the wall, he meticulously observed every part of the Su family’s courtyard, both inside and out.

Only when he heard Mother Su call out from outside that the noodles were ready did he hastily emerge.