"Good work, everyone. Let's wrap it up for today~"
With Chu ngyao's announcent, the workday at the cafe officially ca to an end.
Ling Ning stretched luxuriously as she walked out of the cafe with the two little ones, only to see Jiang Xue standing there, staring at her blankly.
"What's up? It's already late—why aren't you heading ho?" Ling Ning asked, genuinely curious.
"Um... Ling Ning, could I ask you sothing?"
"Go ahead."
"How do you get to be as amazing as you are?" Jiang Xue asked with admiration, her eyes sparkling. Today, she had watched Ling Ning at work, effortlessly handling every task. Even when issues arose, Ling Ning managed them with grace and ease.
"Amazing? ?" Ling Ning raised an eyebrow.
Jiang Xue nodded enthusiastically.
"If you buy dinner, I'll tell you~" Ling Ning looked at Jiang Xue as if she were a free al ticket.
"No problem!" Jiang Xue agreed without hesitation but then realized sothing. "Uh... can we not go anywhere too expensive?"
Ling Ning nodded and turned to the two little ones. "What do you two want for dinner tonight? This beautiful big sister is treating!"
"Mickey D's!" the two little girls said in unison.
Jiang Xue patted her wallet with a pained expression but nodded reluctantly.
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"It's true—free als always taste better~"
Though Ling Ning wasn't particularly fond of junk food, which she'd had more than her fill of, free food always seed to taste a lot better than food you had to pay for.
Seeing Jiang Xue's pitiable expression, Ling Ning narrowed her eyes thoughtfully and then spoke up. "I think I understand your situation now. You genuinely want to do well, but you keep making mistakes because you're too anxious."
The mont Ling Ning started talking, Jiang Xue quickly pulled out a small notebook and a pen from her bag, ready to take notes.
Ling Ning took a sip of her cola before continuing, "You're probably living a bit tight financially right now, aren't you?"
Jiang Xue hesitated for a mont before nodding. It wasn't sothing she was embarrassed about—if you had money, you had it; if you didn't, you didn't. Pretending otherwise would only hurt you in the end.
"That's perfect, then."
"From now on, whenever you're about to do sothing, consider how much it'll cost you if you ss up. For instance, how much money you'll lose if you break a plate, spill tea, or accidentally smash cake in a custor's face. Think about those costs, and you'll naturally make fewer mistakes. Trust ." Ling Ning spoke with an air of confidence.
Jiang Xue opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but then realized that Ling Ning made perfect sense. She had no rebuttal and quietly started jotting down notes.
"You can also look at it from the other side—think about how much you'll earn if you don't make any mistakes for a month, or how much commission you'll get if you convince custors to order more. Doesn't the thought of that make you feel completely energized? Rember—money is life!"
Jiang Xue imagined that scenario, her eyes practically lighting up with dollar signs.
"I understand now, Teacher! I'll work towards that goal with everything I've got," Jiang Xue said with determination.
Ling Ning looked at Jiang Xue with approval, nodding. "Young one, I've got high hopes for you. Whenever you have questions, just co to ."
They exchanged smiles, and all was understood without further words.
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"Where's your ho? Do you want to walk you back?" Ling Ning rubbed her stomach, feeling a bit guilty for making Jiang Xue treat her, especially since she had brought along her two little ones.
"N-no, that's okay. I live in that old apartnt building over there," Jiang Xue said, pointing.
Ling Ning looked in the direction Jiang Xue indicated and suddenly had a feeling of nostalgia. Wasn't that the direction of the old apartnt building she used to live in?
"You live in a place with no elevators, broken hallway lights, and a creepy landlord, right?" Ling Ning muttered.
"Huh?!" Jiang Xue looked at Ling Ning, wide-eyed, as if silently asking how Ling Ning knew all that.
Seeing Jiang Xue's stunned expression, Ling Ning continued, "I even know you live on the fourteenth floor."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I used to live there too~" Ling Ning said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It had to be said—fate really was sothing mysterious. Without all these coincidences, how could the plot progress smoothly? How could a salted fish like her keep going?
"Mom, I want to see!"
Ling Ye, who had been quietly standing by, tugged at Ling Ning's clothes, her eyes lighting up at the ntion of her old ho.
"See? My little sister wants to visit, so you shouldn't say no."
"Well... alright." Jiang Xue glanced at Ling Ye. She couldn't quite understand why, even though they were sisters, Ling Ye called Ling Ning 'Mom.' It was too confusing.
When they arrived at Jiang Xue's place, Ling Ning quietly rubbed her sore legs. It seed she'd grown too accustod to using elevators—climbing stairs left her legs aching, just like when she'd first arrived in this world, exhausted like a dog after each climb.
The room was still small, and the furniture arrangent hadn't changed much. There were just a few more personal items belonging to Jiang Xue.
Ling Ye, too, looked around nostalgically. She had grown up here, living with her Mom for so many years. The place was small, but it was warm. Even though they had moved, she still missed living here.
At least she could see her Mom changing clothes. At least she could sleep with her Mom every night. At least...
"This brings back mories~" Ling Ning said, almost without realizing it.
"Did you live here for a long ti, Teacher?" Jiang Xue asked, curious.
Ling Ning nodded. Back then, after her unscrupulous relatives divided up her family's property, they dumped her here. She'd felt like she had nothing left to live for. If it hadn't been for her daughter, she might not have made it.
She reached out and gently ruffled her daughter's hair.
Ling Ye looked up at her Mom, puzzled, but still rubbed her head against Ling Ning's hand.
"Alright, since we've seen the old place and dropped you off, we're heading back. Just be careful around that creepy landlord, okay? If anything happens, call ." With that, Ling Ning headed back downstairs with her two little ones.
"Mom, when Ye Ye has enough money, can we buy that apartnt?" Ling Ye asked as they walked.
"That whole area is scheduled for redevelopnt."
"Redevelopnt?"
"It ans they'll tear it down and build it again."
"..."
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Author's Note:
PS: About those obnoxious minor characters, the salted fish truly isn't trying to mock people from rural areas—I'm from the countryside too. The idea just ca to while recalling an old news story about a 'trafficking village.' Please understand.
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