Chapter 101: Chapter 101: The Groom Ran Away on the Wedding Night (Part 12)

Xie Yan paused and looked back again, saying, “I can make money; I don’t need anyone’s help,” while his gaze swept over Liao Qian, “For example, with her, I didn’t help her find a job for free—I took a commission.”

It was true he helped Liao Qian, considering their time as classmates and how she had lent him books and practice tests to copy. It was also true that he took a commission, after all, he needed to find ways to make and save money.

Liao Qian was really pitiable, and yet he took a commission. Anyone who heard about this would probably shake their head at his actions.

Liao Qian didn’t actually feel it was bad; she felt more at ease giving him a commission.

Ah Chen didn’t think anything of it either; isn’t it common to take a commission when helping someone find a job?

“How much did you take?” she asked, still curious.

Xie Yan lifted his chin slightly, “Twenty bucks.”

That’s quite a bit.

“Is that it?” Ah Chen chuckled, “It’s not a big deal. Being kind can be without return, but it’s also fine to gain something from it. If you hadn’t helped her, she wouldn’t even have this job.”

Xie Yan fell silent.

Is that it? Isn’t that bad enough? With a salary of just two hundred bucks, he took twenty. Given how pitiful Liao Qian’s situation was, how could he still take twenty from her, right?

“Thanks, I’ll soon have enough saved up for my high school tuition and living expenses. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll be able to register for the third year of junior high, and I can quickly move on to high school.”

Ah Chen nodded without pressing further.

“You’re welcome to work at Ding’s Chicken Farm during the holidays. The pay is higher than outside, and it includes meals and accommodation.”

Xie Yan quickly left; the temptation she offered was too great, afraid he wouldn’t be able to resist agreeing.

He was a simple person; right now he could only see money!

He walked a long way but couldn’t help turning back. She was still in the small noodle shop, eating noodles slowly, at her pace she might not finish it.

Who was that tall guy sitting across from her?

He lowered his head; Ding’s Chicken Farm, he seemed to have heard people mention it before.

On the way home, Lv Ling finally asked Ah Chen about sponsoring people to go to school. Xiao Chen was decisive and hadn’t said a word just then.

“Suddenly wanted to do something good,” Ah Chen said, “Not only for Liao Qian; if I come across others by fate, I’ll sponsor them too. I earn so much money and don’t spend much.”

Lv Ling didn’t ask more—it was good anyway. They earned money, so it was fine to do some good.

Liao Qian’s situation was indeed quite miserable.

But that kid Xie Yan’s situation seemed even worse.

After Xie Yan left earlier, Ah Chen asked Liao Qian about Xie Yan and learned about his background. As a child, he was abandoned by the roadside and almost didn’t survive. He was first taken home by an old man who raised him until he was three, then the old man died.

Then a childless middle-aged couple wanted to raise him. They took him back, and within a month, the couple had three car accidents. Luckily, no major injuries happened. They suspected the child jinxed them, so they had to send him back to the small room where the old man lived and left him there.

Later, he met another kind old man who collected scrap. Life was difficult, but he managed to raise him until the first year of junior high.

The old man who adopted him got sick and died, and he had to drop out of school to make a living in town.

Because he had good grades, a kind teacher wanted to fund his education. However, this teacher started experiencing some minor accidents—still alive but injured.

This teacher wasn’t superstitious and didn’t relate it to Xie Yan.

But Xie Yan feared problems for the teacher, proactively suggesting he no longer needed to fund him and shared his experiences. The teacher fell silent—it did seem a bit mysterious.

Up until today, Xie Yan lived by his own efforts.

In the commissioner’s memory, there was Xie Yan; by then, he was already a successful person. They had met by chance, and the impression was of a gloomy face with a long scar on his neck, completely uncovered, seemingly dangerous.

“Xie Yan is not simple; he’ll definitely achieve something in the future,” Lv Ling said, “If he didn’t have to study, I’d invite him to work at the chicken farm right away.”

Ah Chen smiled, “Aren’t you afraid he’ll jinx the chicken farm?”

Lv Ling weakly said, “He seems to jinx close relatives and direct helpers. We haven’t seen any issues with the bosses whose work he does.”

“Also, you’d better not fund him. Just let him work at the chicken farm; what if he jinxes you.” He wasn’t really that superstitious, but what happened to Xie Yan was indeed strange.

“Okay,” Ah Chen agreed.

Xie Yan saved enough for tuition on his own, so there was no need for her to do more.

As the New Year approached, the chicken farm’s business was even better.

Ah Chen had been visiting the Lv Family more recently. Whenever she returned to the Shen Family, she could see Jiang Hongying craning her neck, wanting to find something she brought back from her maiden home.

But there was nothing.

She was hoping too much; how could Ah Chen bring things back from the Lv Family?

On New Year’s Day, Ah Chen got up early because she wanted to return to her maiden home for the celebrations. What excitement or joy could there be staying here?

As for the Shen Family’s unhappiness, what did it have to do with her? Their unhappiness was caused by Shen Chi.

Jiang Hongying and Wei Menglan were busy in the kitchen, while almost five-year-old Shen Tong was already helping to take care of his younger brother, sitting nearby and playing with him, showing a lot of maturity.

Outside, a temporary stove was set up, and Shen Mingqiang was there slaughtering chickens and ducks and plucking feathers.

Shen Xun was putting up couplets, with an old-fashioned speaker next to him playing cheerful songs, making the atmosphere lively.

Now the Shen Family had tacitly accepted supporting Ah Chen, and no one dared to wake her up; after all, she would wake up on her own, and to wake her would be asking for trouble.

Looking at the scene before her, Ah Chen couldn’t help but recall the memories of the Commissioner’s experiences.

Whether it was New Year or not, she was always the busiest, like on this New Year’s Day, most of the work was done by her and Wei Menglan.

Slaughtering chickens and ducks, busy in the kitchen, putting up couplets, the two of them were spinning around busily.

As for Shen Xun, he just fiddled with his speaker, TV, motorcycle inside the house, occasionally sneaking into the kitchen for a bite.

Shen Mingqiang just sat aside waiting for food, and was dozing off holding a heater.

Jiang Hongying was indeed in the kitchen, but she was basically directing the two daughters-in-law to work, occasionally lending a hand.

Ah Chen returned to her senses, with a smile on her face, thinking, “Look at this family, how harmonious they are, thanks to me.”

“If I weren’t so lazy, could this family work together so harmoniously?”

They really owe it to her.

Jiang Hongying was not happy at heart, she couldn’t stand anyone being idle, so Shen Mingqiang and Shen Xun couldn’t slack off either and were assigned various tasks by her.

Shen Xun was about to get off the stool when he saw Ah Chen coming out, wanting to say something, but suddenly remembered how frightening she could be, and greeted earnestly, “Sister-in-law, you’re up early today.”

“Mm, going back to my parents’ home, if I don’t get up early, I won’t make it back by lunch.”

Shen Xun nearly fell, and the stool wobbled.

Ah Chen watched silently, unmoved, but Shen Xun steadied himself against the wall and raised his voice, “You’re leaving today?”

“Mm, since Shen Chi isn’t back, it’s meaningless for me to spend the New Year here, seeing you all bustling makes me uncomfortable.”

Shen Xun fell silent, suddenly understanding.

His voice was so loud that it drew the attention of the others, and they overheard the conversation. Even if Jiang Hongying was angry, she dared not say much—it’s New Year’s, best to avoid trouble.

“If she’s leaving, let her leave, it’s one less mouth to feed, who cares if she stays here for New Year?”

“When the third one comes back, if she doesn’t behave well, I won’t accept this daughter-in-law.”

“Hmph, unless the Lv Family helps us out, Ding’s Chicken Farm is getting bigger, I heard they’re even opening a feed factory and hiring right after New Year’s. It’s growing so large but they don’t even think about us as in-laws, the Lv Family really doesn’t know how to conduct themselves, no wonder they raised a daughter like Lv Chen.”

“It’s New Year’s, and the third hasn’t sent word, don’t know how he’s faring out there, if he’s gone hungry or cold, the rascal, could at least send a letter home.”

After Ah Chen left, Jiang Hongying vented a lot.

This New Year’s lunch was not happily eaten by the Shen Family.

Meanwhile, at the Lv Family, it was all joy, with relatives visiting from the second day of New Year.

Ding Haiying and Ah Chen joked, “I never knew we had so many relatives, so many I don’t recognize.”

“Mom needs to learn to get used to it, just be polite and say it’s for their good but give no benefits. Once you start, it’s endless. If they are diligent and willing to work hard, they won’t miss a meal.”

Ding Haiying nodded, “Mom knows, don’t worry, I’m reading those books you bought me, and as for those past matters, I’ve seen through them. That employee brainwashing literature, I’m seriously studying it, I promise to handle them well.”

Previously, two familiar faces at the chicken farm were not only lazy but stole chickens and eggs and almost botched things, really angering her for a while.

Thankfully, Ah Chen had gone over and used them as an example to set things right.

Ding Haiying could tolerate someone taking a couple of eggs, since Xiao Chen said clear water has no fish, but disrupting the chicken farm’s operations was unacceptable. Due to their negligence, they nearly failed to fulfill an order, which could not be tolerated. Taking a bit of advantage is okay, but the work needs to be done well.

When school started, Ah Chen went to the school to help Liao Qian pay tuition and accommodation fees, and also gave a week’s living expenses based on the school’s standard for ordinary students. On weekends, Liao Qian was supposed to work at the chicken farm, although she didn’t want a salary, she just wanted to help, but Ding Haiying was sure to give her one.

After buying supplies for Liao Qian, Ah Chen left the school.

She was riding her bicycle through a narrow alley when she heard a commotion up ahead, and an old man’s cries of pain.

“My old back must be broken, I need to go to the hospital, young man, you hit me, you can’t deny it, can you?”

“Sir, let go first, I’ll take you to the hospital,” it was Xie Yan’s voice.

“I’m afraid you’ll run if I let go, you young guys run fast, if you leave, where will I find you?”

Ah Chen squeezed through the crowd and saw the scene inside.

An old man was lying on the ground, clinging to Xie Yan, his grip strong with his nails dug deep into Xie Yan’s wrist.

A dilapidated bicycle was also on the ground.

Xie Yan’s eyes were gloomy; it seemed he wouldn’t be able to make it to school today.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep