Reborn as a Tough Army Wife

After finishing lunch, the shop was ready, and Fang Pingying gave the final payment to the decorators, even treating them to a meal before they all left.

Fang Pingying, together with Luo Honglan, cleaned the shop thoroughly and opened the doors to let it air out, planning to do so for about ten days. Once everything was ready on Zeng Weiguo's end, the shop could open.

The newly renovated shop – with its pristine white walls, bright windows, and those pale-yellow wooden cabinets arranged around and in the center for displaying goods – looked completely refreshed.

Because Fang Pingying designed the renovation based on shops decades later, it naturally appeared very fashionable at the time.

Fang Pingying herself took a look and was very satisfied. Although the shop was just temporarily rented from Zeng Weiguo, it was nonetheless a business she had started with her own two hands, and she could not help but feel a sense of pride.

She firmly believed that life would only get better from here on out and that she would never repeat the tragedies of her previous life.

Luo Honglan had never dreamed of working in such a nice place and excitedly said to Fang Pingying, "Sister-in-law, this shop looks so beautiful. I've never seen anything like it before. Our business will surely keep getting better, right?"

Fang Xiu, who had been sitting and sighing at the entrance, glanced at Luo Honglan and muttered, "What's the use of good business if we still only make the same amount each month, and don't get a higher salary."

Speaking of salaries, Fang Pingying called them over and said, "About that, Uncle Zeng and I have discussed it and decided to adjust your salaries."

"How will they be adjusted?" Fang Xiu's interest peaked once she heard talk of salary changes and immediately came over.

"From now on, the base salary each month will be raised to thirty yuan, and there will be additional bonuses," Fang Pingying explained. "For instance, if you don't take any days off except for the two days off each month, you'll get an extra five yuan. If both of you perform well, there will be a special bonus at the end of the year – how much depends on your attitude at work. It could be as much as ten yuan or even thirty yuan."

Luo Honglan quietly went over Fang Pingying's words and excitedly asked, "So sister-in-law, does that mean if I don't take any leave in a month, I'll get a salary of thirty-five yuan?"

"That's right. That's what it means."

Upon hearing this, Luo Honglan immediately became happy, "That's no problem for me. I don't have anything else to do anyway. Not just a month, I wouldn't need to take leave for a whole year."

Fang Pingying was very satisfied with Luo Honglan. Though not the smartest, she was steadfast, had a good temperament, and was very patient with customers. Over the past month, many regular customers who shopped at the store had praised her several times to Fang Pingying.

Fang Pingying smiled and patted her shoulder, "Well, keep up the good work, and in a few years, you'll have saved up some money."

Thinking about her own savings, Luo Honglan immediately brightened up, "Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiu suddenly became interested and leaned in to ask Luo Honglan, "Hong Lan, how much have you saved? Do you have two hundred yuan?"

Luo Honglan had become shrewder regarding money matters and did not reveal anything, no matter how much Fang Xiu interrogated her.

Hearing Fang Xiu inquiring about her wages, she just shook her head without speaking.

Seeing Fang Xiu still wanting to ask, Fang Pingying pulled Luo Honglan aside and cut off Fang Xiu's intentions, "Fang Xiu, let me tell you, don't think about getting your hands on Hong Lan's money. She saved it all up through hard work bit by bit."

"I…" Fang Xiu fell silent.

Fang Pingying and Luo Honglan ignored her and continued to clean the shop.

On the train, Fang Xiu saw Luo Zhiming sitting beside her and felt extremely distressed.

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She had originally thought it would just be her and Luo Zhiyong making the trip. It was only after getting home and speaking with Duan Fenghua that she learned Luo Zhiming, the third wheel, would also be joining; at that moment, she felt all sorts of emotions.

But Duan Fenghua advised her, "My girl, why are you in such a hurry? Right now, you just need to get to know Zhiyong better, everything else can come slowly; after all, this is still an opportunity." C@on&t%e*n+t so$u.rce^d. from MV4.LE#MP*Y$R$ – My Vi%r$tu&a+l- Li+b#r+ary* Emp&i&re.

Upon hearing this, Xu He agreed and nodded immediately.

On the train, because it was crowded, the three of them ended up sitting close together. Originally Xu He was seated in the middle, with Luo Zhiyong to her right.

Smelling the faint scent of soap from Luo Zhiyong's body, Xu He's heart fluttered. She had never been so close to Luo Zhiyong; hiding behind him, she greedily inhaled the masculine scent unique to him.

Perhaps she felt too at ease, or maybe it was the swaying of the train, but Xu He ended up leaning on Luo Zhiyong and fell asleep.

The train was packed anyway, so Luo Zhiyong didn't mind her leaning on him, but later, seeing Xu He's head resting fully on his shoulder, he felt a bit uncomfortable, so he swapped places with Luo Zhiming and took a seat by the window.

Luo Zhiming had always lusted after Xu He when they were in the countryside, but Xu He never gave him a chance; she simply wasn't interested in him.

Now, seeing Xu He leaning towards him, Luo Zhiming was more than willing - his head sticking closely to hers, and from time to time, he would rub his lips against Xu He's forehead, both deliberately and accidentally.

In her dream, Xu He thought Luo Zhiyong was bending down to kiss her, so she enjoyed it very much.

Upon waking up, seeing that Luo Zhiyong had moved to the window seat and that it was Luo Zhiming who had been leaning against her all along, she was extremely repulsed and immediately sat up straight, startling Luo Zhiming.

Xu He glanced at Luo Zhiyong, now sitting by the window, and her eyes were filled with sorrow. Unfortunately, Luo Zhiyong was resting with his eyes closed, pretending to sleep, and paid no attention to them.

Xu He bit her lip, resigned to sitting properly for the rest of the journey.

In the afternoon, Fang Pingying thought that Luo Zhiyong and the others should be back by now, so the three of them opened a small door to their shop and chatted casually.

While chatting, they suddenly heard Luo Zhiyong's voice at the door, "Pingying."

"You're back..." Fang Pingying began to say, but then her words came to an abrupt halt when she saw Xu He's head pop out from behind Luo Zhiyong, freezing her smile.

Because of the angle, Xu He poking her head out from behind Luo Zhiyong made the two look especially close.

Xu He greeted Fang Pingying with a smile, "Sister Pingying."

Whether Fang Pingying was overthinking it, or what, she felt that Xu He had deliberately made that move; her expression carried a hint of provocation, as if to say that no matter how much Fang Pingying guarded against her, it was useless - here she was, and she had come with Luo Zhiyong.

Seeing this, Fang Pingying's expression immediately turned cold and she stopped speaking to Luo Zhiyong.

But clearly, that wasn't the only surprise. After Xu He and Luo Zhiyong entered the shop, Fang Pingying saw Zhou Yunmei and Li Yuchun walking towards them with bags in hand.

Fang Pingying's mind exploded, and she had no desire to speak; she just looked coldly at Luo Zhiyong, wanting to know what he was really up to.

He said he was going back to deal with Luo Zhiming's matter, but ended up bringing back so many troubles.

Luo Zhiyong, however, wasn't paying much attention to Xu He, but was in a hurry to explain the situation with Zhou Yunmei and Li Yuchun, "Your mother and my mother didn't come with me; they secretly followed us all the way to the provincial city, and only when we got off the train did I realize."

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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