radicalducati Chapter 200, Head of the Household
Chapter 200, Head of the Household
"Captain Qin... Captain Qin, are you kidding me?" Section Chief Liu chuckled awkwardly, his eyes darting over Li Xianglian.
This young wife is beautiful, like a star in a magazine, but she looks delicate and doesn't dare to speak loudly. How can she manage to run a business that has to deal with industry and commerce and tax authorities?
Do I look like I'm joking?
Qin Rushan's face darkened, and his menacing aura emanated from him. "What? Does national policy prohibit women from obtaining licenses? Or does Section Chief Liu think my wife isn't good enough?"
"No, no, no! How could that be!"
Section Chief Liu was startled. Wei Donghai had specifically warned him that this man was not to be trifled with. "It's just... it's just rare. I was just asking casually."
Li Xianglian felt her face burning hot under the gaze of so many people.
Qin Rushan's large hand covered the back of her hand, and with a little force, he stuffed the pen into her hand.
"Ah Lian, write."
Qin Rushan's voice was right next to her ear, deep and powerful, like a shot of adrenaline, "This is our family's property, and it's also your source of confidence. Put your name on it, and if anyone dares to say you're a freeloader, just throw this license in their face."
Li Xianglian's heart was pounding.
She gripped the slightly heavy fountain pen tightly.
Back in Old Zhao's house, she didn't even have the right to speak loudly, let alone sign a piece of paper representing the "head of the household".
But now, this man has entrusted his entire life and fortune to her.
She took a deep breath, recalling Niu Guihua's greedy face and Wang Chunyan's disdainful gaze.
If we don't stand up for ourselves, we'll only hold Brother Shan back in the future.
Li Xianglian steadied herself; although her wrist was still trembling slightly, she was exceptionally firm when the pen tip fell.
"Li, Xiang, Lian".
The three words were neatly and carefully placed in the "Operator's Name" column.
"That's right." Qin Rushan looked at the three words and smiled with satisfaction, as if he were even happier than if he had signed a big deal himself.
Section Chief Liu didn't dare to say anything more and quickly checked the information and stamped the document.
"Bang! Bang!"
Two crisp sounds of stamping followed, and the bright red official seal was imprinted on the copy of the license.
"alright!"
Section Chief Liu handed over the red booklet, which still smelled of ink. "From today onwards, you are legal. Your business scope is retail of daily necessities. Just pay the management fees on time from now on."
Li Xianglian took the red booklet with both hands, feeling its weight as if she were holding a mountain of gold.
This is her talisman, her proof that she can stand tall and be a person of integrity.
Stepping out of the Industry and Commerce Bureau, the sun outside was still scorching.
"Brother Shan, is that all?"
She repeatedly stroked the red stamp on the license, somewhat incredulous, "From now on, no one will arrest us for setting up stalls or opening shops?"
"As long as you don't deal in arms, no one will dare to arrest you."
Qin Rushan pulled a match from his pocket, lit his cigarette with a "sizzle," took a deep drag, and said, "Why were your hands shaking when you were signing? Were you afraid I'd sell you out?"
"No, that's not true!"
Li Xianglian carefully tucked the license into her small cloth bag and patted it. "I'm so excited. I never dared to dream that I could be the boss of a 'self-employed' business."
"You're getting excited already?"
Qin Rushan straddled the old-fashioned bicycle, bracing himself on one foot, and turned to give her a raised eyebrow. "Such a pathetic sight. Wait a couple of days, and once we've taken over the shop and hung up that big sign, won't you be ecstatic?"
"Get on the bus! Let's go home!"
Li Xianglian jumped onto the back seat, skillfully wrapped her arms around Qin Rushan's strong waist, and pressed her face against his broad back: "Brother Shan, you're so good to me."
"Stop trying to sweet-talk me." The man's smile was practically reaching the sun.
Still stubbornly refusing to admit it, he stomped his feet rapidly, saying, "Just don't complain about being tired on the kang (heated brick bed) when we get back tonight!"
**
Aunt Hua rushed back as fast as she could, her heart filled with urgency.
It was early afternoon, just as people were starting work. The sun was blazing down, making the asphalt road surface gleam with an oily sheen.
Aunt Hua's flesh trembled with every step, and sweat dripped down her neck folds, soaking through her cotton and linen short-sleeved shirt, which clung uncomfortably to her back.
But she didn't have time to wipe her sweat; her mind was filled with what Sister Liu had just said.
The large iron gate of the machine factory was wide open, and the rumbling sound of machines running could be heard from inside.
That was the most profitable factory in the county. Working there made you stand out from the crowd.
"Hey! Whose family member is that? What are they doing?"
The old man guarding the gate was listening to a story on his radio when he saw Aunt Hua rushing in like a cannonball. He quickly pushed up his reading glasses and shouted loudly.
"Brother Li! It's me, from Wang Dajun's family!"
Aunt Hua, panting, leaned against the doorframe. "I urgently need to speak to my Chunyan! It's extremely urgent! Please, could you please call her?"
Old Li, the gatekeeper, recognized Aunt Hua. Seeing her looking like her house was on fire, he didn't dare to delay and grabbed the internal phone on the table to dial the office.
Less than five minutes later, a figure in a floral dress reluctantly emerged from the office building.
Wang Chunyan was holding an enamel mug in her hand, her lips pursed so much they could hang an oil bottle on them.
She wore a shiny lipstick today and had her hair permed into a trendy little curl. She walked with a graceful sway, standing out from the female workers around her who were wearing gray-blue overalls.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Wang Chunyan walked to the front door and frowned from a distance, looking impatient. "It's still working hours, and you already have someone call me. There are several people in the office watching, how embarrassing! Can't you wait until I get off work and go home to talk about it?"
"Disgraceful? You know what disgraceful is?" Aunt Hua was furious when she saw her daughter acting like she was going to put on airs at the factory.
Without saying a word, she reached out and grabbed Wang Chunyan's arm; her hands were incredibly strong from years of hard work.
"Ouch! Mom, you're hurting me! What's wrong with you?"
Wang Chunyan screamed, nearly dropping the enamel mug in her hand. "Let go! What will people think if they see this?!"
"Are you afraid of being seen too?"
Aunt Hua snorted coldly, not letting go at all, but instead pulling even tighter, dragging her daughter to the back of the big locust tree at the factory gate, avoiding Old Li's view from the gatekeeper.
This place is secluded, with only cicadas chirping endlessly in the treetops.
Aunt Hua pushed the person against the tree trunk, put her hands on the waist of the thick tree trunk, and stared intently at Wang Chunyan with her beady green eyes, as if she wanted to poke a hole through her.
"I'm asking you, so tell me the truth!"
Aunt Hua lowered her voice, "You said you were working overtime these past few days, but what have you actually been doing?"
-
small theater:
Back home, Li Xianglian clutched the red marriage certificate tightly, refusing to let go.
Qin Rushan leaned closer and asked: "Wife, now that you're the boss, shouldn't I be under your control?"
Li Xianglian nodded, her face flushed.
Qin Rushan chuckled and carried the man into the house: "Boss, can you give the employees some perks tonight?"
Li Xianglian exclaimed: What are you doing?
Qin Rushan stated confidently: "Employees applied to work overtime on the kang (heated brick bed)."