Chapter 237: Chapter 234: License

Lin Lan pulled her cart to the courtyard gate, took a deep breath, and walked in with a big smile. “I’m home!”

“Yay! Yay!” Little Douzi cheered as he ran out. “Mommy’s home! We can have a barbecue now!”

Lin Lan smiled and nodded. “Okay, we’ll have a barbecue.”

Little Douzi ran to the gate to take a look, then pattered back and asked, “Mommy, why didn’t Uncle Xiangyang come back?”

“Uncle Xiangyang had something to take care of, so he can’t join us for the barbecue. We’ll eat with him next time.”

“Oh!” Little Douzi looked at Lin Lan. “Mommy, can I invite Brother Kai to the barbecue?”

Lin Lan smiled and ruffled his hair. “Of course you can! Ask Little Yun to come too, and then go to your Third Aunt’s house and get Little Li and Xiaoyun.”

“Okay! I’ll go get Brother Kai and we’ll go together.” Little Douzi cheered and ran off.

Qiaohui followed him out, helping to tidy up the pastry baskets. She said with a smile, “Cousin, Sister Li from the station brought a message from our eldest cousin. He said they’re busy and will come to East Market in a few days. Also, Brother Yong took Cousin Yuezhen to his place to look at the house. The baskets from yesterday are on the oven, and they’re already dry.”

Lin Lan nodded. “After you scrub the white cloth liners inside, scald them with boiling water and then put them on the oven.”

In winter, the sky was often overcast, and the sun rarely came out. The bamboo baskets for the pastries were all lined with white cloth, which took two days to air-dry after being washed.

So, Lin Lan had prepared three sets of bamboo baskets to use in rotation. She later discovered they would dry in a single day if placed on the oven.

“Cousin, the small intestines, pork belly, and lamb are all marinated. We’ve washed the potatoes, radishes, chives, and romaine lettuce,” Qiaohui said.

“Good!” Lin Lan put the cart away and carried her cloth bag to the kitchen. She looked at the washed vegetables in the bamboo strainer and felt it wasn’t enough.

She set down her bag, grabbed a sickle and a strainer, and went out to the vegetable patch. There, she cut a few more heads of romaine lettuce and a large bunch of chives.

The romaine leaves didn’t taste as good as regular lettuce and had a faint bitterness, but they could still be used to wrap the grilled meat.

By the time Little Douzi returned with the four other children, Lin Lan and Qiaohui had already prepared the small intestines, pork belly, and everything else. The barbecue table was also ready.

…

When Li Jing got home, Chen Jingsheng took one look at her and asked with concern, “What’s wrong? You look awful.”

“I have a bit of a headache.” Li Jing sat down beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Jingsheng, I miss the children.”

Chen Jingsheng held her hand and said gently, “You can go to the provincial capital to see them during the holidays.”

“Mm,” Li Jing said, looking up at him. “Are you finished with work?”

Chen Jingsheng frowned. “No. A lot of things are different now. Everyone is acting according to the official documents from the higher-ups. Some advocate for opening up the economy, like the coastal regions, while others are reluctant. Everyone is just looking out for their own interests.”

Li Jing hesitated for a moment before asking, “Jingsheng, do you think it’s better for Xiangyang to continue with his business, or should he join the army for a while to toughen up, then come back and find a job in a township or some other work unit?”

Chen Jingsheng looked at Li Jing. “I remember Xiangyang didn’t even finish junior high, is that right?”

Li Jing nodded. “He was in the eighth grade, with one year left…”

Chen Jingsheng looked at her. “His education level is a bit low. Even if he gets assigned to a work unit after his military service, there won’t be much room for advancement. Besides, the regulations are stricter than before. It’ll definitely be difficult for someone Xiangyang’s age to enlist. Why don’t you just ask him what he wants?”

’Have Xiangyang and my father-in-law forgiven her already? Just a while ago, I heard from the driver that Xiangyang shouted at her until she cried, didn’t I?’

Li Jing glanced at him and gave a bitter smile. “I’m just asking. You know that Xiangyang and Dad still refuse to forgive me. I just want to help them so I can feel a little better.”

She paused for a moment. “Jingsheng, could you help me find out what the requirements are for running a business now that the economy is opening up? That way, I can give Xiangyang a heads-up and hopefully keep him from making a mistake and getting into trouble.”

“You don’t need me to look into that; I can tell you right now,” Chen Jingsheng said slowly. “There are no restrictions on running a small street stall, but to open a proper shop, you first have to go to the Industrial and Commercial Administration Bureau to get a business license. Operating without one…”

Li Jing nodded. “Oh, I see. I made some small wontons. Do you want any?”

“I already ate at the office,” Chen Jingsheng said, glancing at her. “Does your head still hurt? Should I have the driver take you to see a doctor and get some medicine?”

Li Jing shook her head. “I’ll feel better after a hot bath.”

“Go on, then.” Chen Jingsheng picked up the newspaper from the coffee table and began to read.

Li Jing went into the bedroom and sat dazedly on the round stool in front of her vanity. She sat there thinking for a while before finally getting up and heading to the bathroom.

…

Lin Lan held Little Douzi’s hand as she walked the other children home. Afterward, the mother and son ambled slowly back to their own house.

After Little Douzi washed up and went to bed, Lin Lan and the others finished making the pastries for the next morning’s delivery, then washed up and went to their rooms.

Lin Lan took out her notebook, jotted down her ideas, and organized her thoughts before finally getting into bed.

Early the next morning, after finishing her pastry deliveries, Lin Lan took some pastries and roasted pumpkin seeds and rode her bike to Li Xiangyang’s house. When she arrived, the courtyard gate was open, and she saw Old Li sitting in a chair, listening to the radio.

Lin Lan got off her bike, pushed it into the courtyard, and Old Li looked up and saw her. He stood up with a cheerful grin. “Little Lin, come in and have a seat.”

“Uncle Li, I roasted some pumpkin seeds and brought you some kidney bean rolls,” Lin Lan said with a smile, handing him a net bag.

Old Li took it with a smile. “Xiangyang went to the black market to deliver some meat. He’ll be back in a bit. Have a seat and wait for him.”

“I can’t stay,” Lin Lan said, pointing to Xu Dong’s house across the way. “I’m going over to Xiuyun’s place to ask Dongzi where the Industrial and Commercial Administration Bureau is.”

Old Li nodded. “Go ahead. Dongzi shouldn’t have left for work yet.”

Lin Lan left Li Xiangyang’s house and went straight to Xu Dong’s. Arriving at their gate, she saw Yao Xiuyun hanging laundry in the courtyard and called out with a laugh, “And whose hardworking young wife might this be?”

“Well now! Look what the cat dragged in! Come on in.” Yao Xiuyun abandoned her laundry, hurried over, and pulled Lin Lan into the main room. “What brings you here so early?”

“I came to ask Dongzi…” Lin Lan began.

Yao Xiuyun cut in, “I know what you’re here for. The Administration Bureau is on the same street as the Housing Management Office. You’re trying to get a sole proprietorship license. Before you can get one, you first have to go to the brigade office for a certificate, then go to the local police station for a letter of introduction. Only then can you apply for the license.”

“Oh! I see. I’ll head to the brigade office for the certificate and letter of introduction right now.” It was only then that Lin Lan remembered—this wasn’t thirty or forty years in the future. In this era, you needed official certificates and letters of introduction for practically everything.

“Don’t be in such a rush!” Yao Xiuyun laughed, pulling her back into her seat. “Dongzi just took Little Hai and the others to school. You should let him explain it all to you himself. Actually, how about this? You go get the letter and the certificate, give them to Xiangyang, and we’ll have Dongzi take care of the application for you. He’s being transferred to the Industrial and Commercial Administration Bureau next month anyway.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Lin Lan pointed at her with a grin. “So Dongzi’s getting a promotion! When are you going to treat us all to a celebratory dinner?”

’I remember the joint defense teams were eventually disbanded sometime after the year 2000,’ she thought. ’A job at the Industrial and Commercial Administration Bureau is a much better prospect.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep