Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

"Sister-in-law, my stall is doing better and better. In a while, I'm planning to take over a shop. I'll be busy in the kitchen, and I'll need someone to manage the front."

"In charge of...management?"

"Yes, someone in charge." Li Chunsheng put down his chopsticks. "I need to find someone to help me collect money, keep accounts, greet customers, and manage miscellaneous tasks. This person has to be someone I can trust, someone with clean hands and feet, and someone who can read and write. Sister-in-law, I think you're suitable."

Yunniang could hardly believe her ears.

"Me? I can't!" she quickly refused. "I'll ruin my reputation. If I go to your shop, people will talk behind my back and say that your shop is a disreputable place. Chunsheng, you're a good person, and I can't let you down."

"Sister-in-law, I don't care about any of that. People can say whatever they want!" Li Chunsheng waved his hand. "As long as I'm upright and honest, that's all that matters. Besides, once my shop opens, it'll be a legitimate business, a job I do based on my own abilities. Who would dare look down on you?"

He paused for a moment, then threw out his last chip.

"I'll pay you five silver dollars a month, including three meals a day. Ya Ya can also help out at the shop. I'll teach her some skills. It's better than her suffering in the cold with you. The money isn't much, but compared to your current life of constant worry, how about it?"

Five silver dollars!

A patrolman's monthly salary was only seven or eight dollars, and many primary school teachers were often owed wages. Five dollars was enough for the mother and daughter to live a decent and comfortable life in Beiping! More importantly, it was clean money!

Yunniang raised her head, staring intently at Li Chunsheng. "Chunsheng...you...you're serious?"

"Absolutely true." Li Chunsheng nodded. "But don't rush to agree. We'll have to wait until I take over the shop. Think it over carefully these next few days. If you're willing, then cut off your business here and throw away all that mess in the house. If you don't think it's okay, I won't force you."

Yunniang could no longer hold back; she suddenly slumped onto the table, sobbing uncontrollably.

At first, her crying was very soft, but then it gradually grew louder. It was a way of venting; she cried her heart out, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances, scorn, and humiliation she had suffered over the years.

Li Chunsheng didn't try to persuade her; he just sat silently to the side, waiting patiently. He knew that this woman had suffered too much, and she needed this outburst of tears to wash away the past.

After a long while, Yunniang finally stopped crying. She raised her head, her eyes swollen from crying, but there was a light in them that she had never seen before.

"Chunsheng," she stood up, carefully straightened her disheveled clothes, and bowed deeply to Li Chunsheng, "As long as you don't mind, I'll work myself to death to make sure you don't suffer any losses!"

"Sister-in-law, you flatter me." Li Chunsheng quickly helped her up. "We're in a mutually beneficial relationship. Alright, it's getting late, go back and rest."

Li Chunsheng returned to his room, lay on his bed, and was in a good mood.

As the saying goes, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, so this probably counts as saving Yunniang's life.

The following week, Beiping remained freezing cold.

But on Qianmen Street, Li Ji Wonton stall was bustling with activity.

Since Ya Ya started helping out, Li Chunsheng's efficiency has increased significantly. Although the little girl is small, she has excellent eyesight. As soon as a customer puts down their bowl, she can immediately take it away and wipe it clean with a cloth. Moreover, she has a sweet tongue and calls everyone she meets "uncle" or "grandpa," which makes many diners, even if they are not hungry, happy to stop by for a bowl of soup and tease this well-behaved little girl.

During this week, Li Chunsheng got up early every day to cook soup, knead dough, set up his stall, make noodles, close the stall, and count his money.

My daily income is consistently around six or seven hundred copper coins, and sometimes it can even exceed eight hundred.

On the evening of the eighth day, Li Chunsheng packed up his stall a little early and returned to the courtyard with Ya Ya. Yun Niang had already made up her mind not to sell herself anymore and spent this time recuperating at home.

After telling Yunniang, Li Chunsheng took the money bag and went out.

Longxing Teahouse is a stronghold of the Black Tiger Gang. Ma San usually drinks tea and listens to music here, while also handling miscellaneous matters within the gang.

Upon entering the teahouse, a strong smell of tobacco hits you.

Li Chunsheng looked around and found Ma San by the window.

Ma San was sitting with his legs crossed, playing with a pair of iron balls in his hands. There was a pot of tea on the table next to him, and several of his men were talking to him.

Li Chunsheng walked straight over.

"Hey, isn't this Manager Li?" One of the henchmen spotted him first. "What's up? Not setting up your stall today? Came here to kill some time?"

Ma San raised his eyelids and glanced at Li Chunsheng. "Manager Li, what a rare guest! Please have a seat."

Li Chunsheng did not sit down. He walked to the table, took out the heavy cloth bag from his pocket, and placed it on the table.

Ma San raised an eyebrow and sat up straight.

Li Chunsheng untied the knot in the cloth bag, revealing the silver dollars inside.

There were four silver dollars in total, plus a pile of neatly arranged copper coins.

"Third Master," Li Chunsheng said respectfully, "I borrowed three silver dollars from the gang back then, which was a life-saving loan. I will never forget it. Today, the principal and interest are all here."

The teahouse suddenly became much quieter, and the tea drinkers at the surrounding tables were all secretly glancing this way.

Outside Qianmen, many people can pay back their high-interest loans, but it's rare to see someone like Li Chunsheng who can pay it all off in just a few days, and even give extra money.

Ma San glanced at the money on the table, but didn't reach for it. Instead, he looked up and smiled at Li Chunsheng.

"Manager Li, this really makes me look at you in a new light." Ma San reached out and picked up a silver dollar, blew on it, and listened to the sound it made. It was the sound of real silver.

"What's the meaning of this extra piece and these copper coins?" Ma San pointed to the extra part.

"Three dollars is the principal, and this dollar is the interest," Li Chunsheng said, cupping his hands. "As for those copper coins, they are for treating Third Master and the brothers to tea. These days, thanks to Third Master's care, if it weren't for Third Master's intervention, my business would probably not be so peaceful."

Pay attention!

Ma San secretly praised him.

This young man, so young, yet so meticulous in his work! Paying back the money shows he keeps his word, giving extra interest shows he knows the rules, and inviting him for tea shows he's giving face! As long as he doesn't die young, someone like him will definitely be a big shot in Beijing someday.

"Hahahaha!" Ma San suddenly burst into laughter, stuffing the silver dollar and copper coin into his pocket, but pushing the three original coins back.

Li Chunsheng was taken aback: "Third Master, what's this?"

"Manager Li, I'll accept the money, including the interest and the tea fee." Ma San stood up, patted Li Chunsheng on the shoulder, "But you can take the principal back first."

Seeing the doubt on Li Chunsheng's face, Ma San lowered his voice: "I heard you're planning to buy a shop, but that will cost a lot of money. You'll need to pay the deposit and rent to the landlord, so you can't do it without some cash on hand. How about these three silver dollars? Consider it my investment? Or you can pay it to me first, and we can settle the bill after your shop opens? Don't worry, there won't be any interest."

Li Chunsheng's heart stirred.

Ma San is quite well-informed; he knew I had this plan before I even made a move. Moreover, his actions clearly showed that he genuinely wanted to befriend me.

In this world, having more friends means having more options, especially for local bullies like Ma San.

But Li Chunsheng shook his head and pushed the three silver dollars back.

"I appreciate Third Master's kindness," Li Chunsheng said solemnly. "But this debt must be cleared. Only when you are debt-free can you sleep soundly. As for the money to take over the shop, I have almost raised it. If I ever need to make money in the future, I will definitely come to Third Master for help as soon as possible."

You refused?

Ma San was taken aback for a moment, then his eyes showed even more appreciation.

"Fine!" Ma San slammed his hand on the table, making no attempt to be polite. He swept all the money away with a wave of his hand, then ordered someone to bring out a piece of paper and handed it to Li Chunsheng. "Manager Li is a straightforward man! This is the original IOU! The debt is settled! From now on, in this small area of ​​Qianmen, if anyone dares to cause trouble for your Li family, they're slapping me, Ma San, in the face!"

"Thank you, Third Master!"