Chapter 121 - Keep Your Enemies Close (2)

Back in her shop, Shu Yan was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Naturally, she wouldn’t have the time to think about someone she had barely just met not too long ago. All the merchandise that she had brought back needed to be mixed and matched.

Business was slower today compared to the last few days. Granted, the promotional activities had already been running for days ,so this was only normal that business would start to slow a little. It wasn’t doing bad by any stretch of imagination, but they had, after all, been spoiled by how well it did the last couple of days.

Another person won the first prize in the afternoon, so there was a spike in business. But then it started sprinkling around 4 o’clock and the traffic on the road thinning, so there was no more business.

“Why don’t you go organize the stockroom a bit and then head out?” Shu Yan paid the temporary workers as well. As there was no overtime today, she paid them each 10 yuan. The few temporary workers didn’t say much. Work ended a few hours early today so, all in all, they came out ahead.

Zhang Huaxiu and Yingying weren’t able to leave so early, naturally. “I need to go pick the kids up. Keep an eye out in the shop. If it is still raining by 7 o’clock, then just wrap up and take off.”

***

Tianbo’s eyes sparkled when he saw his mother. He ran over to his mother and asked happily, “Mom, are you done being busy?”

“Just a couple more days. Did you listen to your teachers at school today? Did you behave yourself?” asked Shu Yan as she picked him up.

“I have been a good boy. This is the little red flower that I got today. I have received little red flowers five days in a row already!” said Tianbo as he looked up with pride.

“Is that so? Tianbo is so good,” said Shu Yan as she patted him on his head. “Let’s go pick up big sister too. Mommy will make some good food for you two tonight.”

They ran into Wu Xiuyue who was here to pick up Tianbo on their way. “You are done being busy with your shop?”

“It started sprinkling and business has slowed, so I figured I can come and pick up the kids myself. I was going to let you know firs,t but I figured you had already left so I didn’t swing by your place.” Shu Yan explained herself; she didn’t want Wu Xiuyue to misunderstand.

“I went over to a friend’s earlier. You went to get merchandise at City Hang last night, so you must have been up all night and you’ve worked all day today. Don’t worry about cooking. Just come over to my place for dinner.” Wu Xiuyue looked at Shu Yan. Shu Yan had lost a lot of weight since they first met, but her spirit seemed to be higher.

“It’s alright. It was only 10 o’clock when I got to City Hang yesterday so I took a nap. And I slept some more on my way back. I felt alright right now.”

The two of them walked and chatted at the same time and got back to their little district in no time. Shu Yan hadn’t cooked in days, so there was no food at home. She went to the market for some groceries with her two children in tow. She saw a man standing by her front door when they went home. She looked at him when they got closer. It was the landlord.

“Is something wrong?” They hadn’t been renting this place for too long and had paid both rent and deposit. There was nothing wrong with the place so far, so why was the landlord here?

“Um…” The man seemed to have a difficult time stating his purpose. Finally, feeling a bit awkward, he said, “I don’t even know where to start. Well, what happened was, my brother-in-law came from their hometown. If it was him by himself, we’d have him stay with us. Except that he brought his whole family with him and our place isn’t big enough. So my wife and I thought we’d have him stay over here. Don’t worry, I will refund both your rent and your deposit.”

Shu Yan frowned and said, “We’ve signed a three-months’ contract. Per our contract, you can’t just ask me to move without a legitimate reason during this time or you will have to compensate me for my loss.”

“This is a legitimate reason. My family came and there is nothing I can do about it. I want to rent this place out too; that way I will have income. Not only can I not collect rent from my brother-in-law, I will probably have to spend more money. As for compensation, I am refunding you both your rent and deposit, so you’d have stayed here for free for over half a month.”

Shu Yan took a deep breath and suppressed her irritation. “When is your brother-in-law arriving?”

“They will be here tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? That’s kind of abrupt. You need to give me a heads up. Where am I going to find a new place right now?” Shu Yan hadn’t expected this to happen so abruptly.

“I was surprised too. But he had already bought his train tickets, so…”

“I can’t do it tomorrow. You need to give me at least three days to look for a new place. That’s not asking for a lot, is it?” Shu Yan opened up the door and let the two children go inside first.