CHAPTER 424: CHAPTER 419: BIG TROUBLE

Fang Pingying took the opportunity to go out shopping, inviting Luo Honglan to join her.

On the way, she helplessly poked Luo Honglan’s forehead and said, "Honglan, I think you’ve gotten yourself into trouble again. Your eldest sister has always been eyeing the money you saved. We finally got rid of your elder sister, and yet you took Zhang Jianguo to the city."

Luo Honglan touched her forehead and smiled at Fang Pingying, whispering, "I didn’t want to, but my elder sister called saying he couldn’t find the place, so I had to take him with me."

Fang Pingying pouted, "It’s not like he had to walk to the provincial city by himself. Taking the train, anyone could find the place."

Luo Honglan had no comeback, eventually just saying, "Well, it’s just five yuan. It’s spent now. Once we get to the city, I’ll drop him off at my sister’s place."

Fang Pingying shook her head, not knowing how many times she had lectured her, "You silly girl, why can’t you ever learn? No matter how many times you’re taken advantage of, you never guard yourself. You just go along with whatever anyone says. If you keep this up, your in-laws will probably be displeased when you get married."

"Sister-in-law, I understand," Luo Honglan said, linking arms with Fang Pingying and smiling, "I just don’t want the family to always be arguing over money. If it’s a small amount I can cover, I will. If I really can’t, then there’s nothing I can do."

This girl was also very stubborn about certain things. Fang Pingying, tired of arguing, said, "Forget it, it’s useless to say more to you, I’ve been saving the bulk of your money anyway, just manage the small amount you have yourself."

"That’s what I thought too," Luo Honglan actually had her own plans; the bulk of her money was kept with Fang Pingying, and she was okay with giving away the little she had.

The two walked a bit and bought some food for the train ride since they had to eat aboard at midday.

After the purchase, the two of them walked back. Noticing Luo Honglan kept dozing off, Fang Pingying asked, "Didn’t sleep well last night?"

Luo Honglan nodded, "Yeah, my mom and my second sister-in-law were quarreling over the betrothal gifts almost all night. Eventually, my mom didn’t get the money and cried for over an hour in the room. I hardly slept last night, only dozing off at dawn for a bit."

Fang Pingying had anticipated this, "There will be more of these incidents in the future, that Xu He is no good."

"Yes, even my mom said so," Luo Honglan sighed, "She used to think Sister Xiu’er wasn’t good, but now compared to my second sister-in-law, she’s far worse."

Fang Pingying smirked and said nothing; she could foresee more tough days ahead for Zhou Yunmei.

If Xu He and Luo Zhiming got married and she went out to work, it would be slightly better for Zhou Yunmei. But if Xu He stayed at home, Zhou Yunmei would surely suffer greatly.

By the time the group returned to their city home, it was almost evening.

Fang Pingying instructed everyone to go home for dinner. Cheng Fei’s job search could wait till tomorrow; they would manage to accommodate him for the night.

However, Fang Ping Ying had no good feelings about Zhang Jianguo and didn’t want him to stay at her place. Moreover, there wasn’t enough space at home, and she wasn’t comfortable sending Luo Honglan alone to drop him off. So, she had Luo Zhiyong and Luo Honglan take him to Luo Cuilan’s place.

After dinner, Fang Ping’an and his family of four went home, which was less than two kilometers from Fang Ping’an’s place, and they reached quickly by walking.

At home, Fang Pingying set up a cot in the study for Cheng Fei to sleep, and the rest stayed as before.

After everything was arranged, Fang Pingying returned to her room and played with the two little ones.

The kids hadn’t seen their mom for two days and were exuberantly playful, taking a long time to settle down to sleep.

Fang Pingying thought about the supermarket discussions she had with Zeng Weiguo and Juzi, wondering whether Zeng Weiguo had found a suitable location in the past few days. She hoped to start the supermarket soon.

Such supermarkets, already common in coastal cities, would eventually catch on here. The first to start would surely make a good profit and establish a recognized brand. If they were late, someone else might capitalize on the opportunity, so they needed to act fast.

Thinking it over, she phoned Zeng Weiguo’s family.

"Xiao Fang, I was just about to call you," Zeng Weiguo’s tone, unusually spirited, sounded excited.

After a few words, Fang Pingying learned that Zeng Weiguo had found a suitable place—an underground floor, large in size and reasonably priced, ready to use after some renovations.

Many large supermarkets operate underground, and it sounded good to Fang Pingying, so she agreed to meet Zeng Weiguo and Juzi the next day to inspect the place. If suitable, they would quickly lease it.

However, if this plan went through, Fang Pingying would inevitably be too busy to look after the children all the time. With only Sister-in-law Zhou at home to help, Fang Pingying worried she couldn’t manage alone. While she could have Li Yuchun come over to help, managing three kids between two adults would still be challenging.

Fang Pingying considered hiring an outsider to babysit, but worried they might mistreat or neglect the children.

So, after much consideration, Fang Pingying decided against employing a stranger for childcare. If it had to be done, she only trusted family members, planning to ask Luo Honglan, who was also willing and had mentioned it several times.

However, if Luo Honglan took care of the children, they would need someone else at the shop.

Now, among the family members, Fang Xiu would be the most suitable for the shop as she had experience and was looking for work. However, due to her past mistakes, Fang Pingying hesitated.

When Luo Zhiyong came into the room after his shower, the two little ones were already asleep in their beds, and Fang Pingying sat on the bed, lost in thought.

Luo Zhiyong smiled, sat on the bed, looked at the children briefly, and said to Fang Pingying with a smile, "Kids sure grow up fast. Seeing them after a few days, they seem to have grown."

"You’re imagining things, two days is hardly enough for noticeable growth," chuckled Fang Pingying, then, recalling her earlier considerations, she discussed with Luo Zhiyong, "Zhiyong, I have something to discuss with you."

"Hmm," Luo Zhiyong indicated for her to speak.

Fang Pingying hesitated then said, "I mentioned to you before about starting a supermarket with Uncle Zeng and Juzi. I’ll be quite busy in the coming days and won’t be able to constantly look after the kids. I’m worried Sister-in-law Zhou can’t manage alone. I’m thinking of having Honglan stop working at the shop to help me look after the children for a few months. What do you think?"