Chapter 375: "Miss Sang, Do You Have Enough Money?

Wang Daguo was more cautious. He reminded Shen Lu that if word got out, many people would start bringing materials over.

Shu Meng and Xin Yu nodded, agreeing with Wang Daguo.

"It’s fine. As long as the things they bring are up to standard."

The metal materials that could be found in the junkyard were mostly cheap. You’d only find expensive ones with a rare stroke of luck. Given Shen Lu’s current financial situation, she could afford to openly buy materials for two or three years without issue.

Seeing Shen Lu’s resolve, the employees didn’t press the matter. Those who didn’t live in the dorms went home after their shifts, while those who did went to the kitchen to help with dinner.

Sang Yue was in a particularly good mood, humming a tune as she worked.

Shen Lu had taken her advice. The feeling was wonderful.

Dinner was simple: fried egg and shredded radish soup, hot and sour winter melon, stir-fried dried tofu with pork, and a cold cucumber salad.

After this meal, Xue Can had maxed out his month of free dinners.

Fu Cheng was quite pleased about this. The man who was eyeing his prize and trying to steal her away would finally be gone from the dinner table.

Xue Can was a bit busy. After eating, he chatted briefly with Shen Lu for a moment before a phone call summoned him away.

Xiao Lang pulled Shen Lu along to run wild in the shop, and the entire first floor filled with their clear, bright laughter.

Liu Qiang pushed open the back door, his face dark.

"Shen Lu, I need to talk to you about something."

Shen Lu’s smile vanished. "What is it? Go ahead."

Liu Qiang pointed to the empty booth area. "Let’s talk over there."

But Shen Lu refused. "We can talk right here."

"Fine. Don’t blame me for not saving you face," Liu Qiang snorted. "I clearly worked yesterday, so why didn’t I get lunch today? And I don’t see you making it up for me tonight!"

"Do you really want me to say why? You don’t know the reason yourself?"

Liu Qiang glanced toward the employee dorms. "All I know is that I did my work properly, but I didn’t receive the corresponding compensation."

"Alright then. Let me show you something."

Shen Lu pulled up the surveillance footage from the greenhouse and made it public for everyone to see.

The camera covered the entire greenhouse. On the screen, Liu Qiang and Yang Jing were working at opposite ends.

Suddenly, Liu Qiang threw down his hoe and ordered Yang Jing over like he was some big shot.

Yang Jing was busy planting the new sunflower seeds Shen Lu had given her. She was working diligently, head down, and simply pretended not to hear Liu Qiang.

Being ignored, Liu Qiang became extremely displeased. He walked over and kicked the small basin holding the seeds, sending sunflower seeds scattering all over the ground.

"Are you deaf? Why didn’t you answer when I called you?!"

Yang Jing panicked for a moment, then stood up and shoved Liu Qiang hard.

"Are you crazy?! Those are the seeds Little Deer got for us!"

"You dare yell at me? Yang Jing, are you fucking tired of living?!" Liu Qiang roared, looking like he was about to hit her.

Yang Jing was faster. She kicked him in his recently healed thigh. Liu Qiang cried out in pain, clutching the wound and freezing in place.

"This is my final warning. We’re not married anymore. I’ll talk to you if I feel like it, and I won’t if I don’t. Don’t you dare pull that old crap with me. I can live just fine without you!"

"You!"

"Keep yelling and see what happens. When Little Deer comes over, do you think she’ll help you or me?!"

Shen Lu turned off the video, raising an eyebrow at Liu Qiang. "Do you have an explanation?"

Liu Qiang’s lips trembled. He didn’t know what to say.

Without the surveillance footage, he could have slung mud at Yang Jing. But now, there was no way to make it stick.

"She’s a shrew! Look, look what she did to me." Liu Qiang immediately played the sympathy card. "Little Deer, this injury on my thigh... I got it for you."

"Yes, and that’s why you’re still allowed to be in the shop. Otherwise, I would have thrown you out long ago."

"But she kicked me!"

"Would she have kicked you for no reason if you hadn’t provoked her?" Shen Lu waved a dismissive hand. "Mom didn’t even come complaining to me afterward. She’s already shown you more than enough mercy."

"Little Deer, we haven’t eaten all day. Yaozu and I are hungry and have no energy. We won’t be able to work tomorrow."

"Then you can eat Insect Cakes. The wind isn’t strong right now, and it’s not dark yet. Dad, you should hurry and buy some. Get extra, just in case you don’t do a good job tomorrow either."

Shen Lu offered this suggestion sincerely.

Liu Qiang froze. He had expected Shen Lu wouldn’t give in, but he never thought her words would be so cutting.

"Little Deer, you..."

"Dad, I’ve given you permission to leave. Hurry up and go." Shen Lu’s smile was completely innocent. "You’d better be quick. If you go too late, the Insect Cakes might be sold out, and then you’ll just have to go hungry."

Liu Qiang ground his back teeth and had no choice but to leave.

Shen Lu was right. If he went too late, the Insect Cakes would be sold out. Besides, the wind was stronger at night than during the day; he might not even be able to make it back.

Xiao Lang pouted. "That uncle is so annoying."

He looked annoying, and the way he talked was annoying too.

Shen Lu patted his little head. "I think so too. Why don’t Xiao Lang and I dislike him together, okay?"

"Boss Shen, there’s something I’d like you to take a look at for me," Sang Yue said, walking over.

"What is it?"

"I’ve found two storefronts I like, but I don’t know which one to choose."

Sang Yue had been running around looking at storefronts for the past two days.

When opening a shop, the location is crucial.

Sang Yue had seen a perfect example of this with Shen Lu.

If Shen Lu’s shop were in a better location, her business would be even more explosive.

Furthermore, the social class of the customers was also very important. Sang Yue had been living in the Otherworld for some time now and knew that many people here couldn’t afford to eat.

If they couldn’t even fill their stomachs, they certainly wouldn’t have money for expensive little cakes and pastries that weren’t very filling.

Therefore, her shop had to be in an area with a higher income level, or her business would be disastrously slow in the beginning.

In the end, she had asked Jiang Gong for help. Since it was inconvenient for Jiang Gong to come to the Lower City District, he had someone show her several storefronts.

Sang Yue had her eye on two of them.

One was in the Upper City District. It was small, about ten square meters, and near two office buildings. The downsides were the high rent and the fact that, as a resident of the Lower City District, she would have the extra expense of a travel permit.

The other was in the Lower City District. It was over fifty square meters, located near a wealthy residential community in the Lower City District. There was a shopping center and an office building within three kilometers, so the customers’ spending power wasn’t an issue. The rent was less than half that of the Upper City District location, making it extremely cost-effective.

In fact, with the conditions of both shops laid out, any clear-eyed person would know which one to choose.

The point Sang Yue was struggling with was that she wanted to be in the Upper City District.

’Only people in the Upper City District would understand the value of her pastries. Besides, opening a shop in the Upper City District was more prestigious.’ Having been a rich young lady for over a decade, it was difficult for her to completely shed the refined pride that was ingrained in her bones in such a short time.

Even if she had to open a shop to do business, she wanted it to be one that matched her former status.

After listening, Shen Lu thought for a moment and then posed a practical question: "Miss Sang, do you have enough money?"