Things indeed unfolded as Su Xiaoqi had predicted. A few days after their return from admiring lotuses at Xishan Lake, she heard from Xiao Yi at the "Supermarket" that Su Dafu had been arrested.
This time, it wasn't for conspiring with someone to steal their family's grain.
Instead, it was for luring people into gambling, opportunistically lending money at usurious rates, and ruining countless families. It was even said that he had blood on his hands, his crimes so heinous that he faced the death penalty.
Su Xiaoqi, though mentally prepared, couldn't help but laugh aloud with joy. "Truly good news."
She said meaningfully, "This is why people shouldn't do evil. There are gods three feet above your head; good and evil are ultimately rewarded."
Had Su Dafu only colluded with Xiao Liu to steal her grain, she wouldn't have dealt with him so severely.
But upon hearing Xiao Liu recount Su Dafu's "glorious deeds" and the many lives he had taken, she had been thinking of ways to deal with him ever since.
"Sister Xiaoqi is right," Xiao Yi agreed wholeheartedly.
Though they were beggars, they had never done anything against their conscience.
They had only banded together for self-protection because they were too young.
Su Xiaoqi walked around the shop, observing Xiao Yi.
She found him to be genuinely clever.
Aside from bookkeeping, he had already mastered all aspects of the business.
Highly satisfied, she patted Xiao Yi's shoulder, encouraging him to keep up the good work and learn diligently from Shopkeeper Zhao.
Her words were broad, but both Xiao Yi and Zhao Dayou understood.
She was hinting at elevating him to the position of shopkeeper.
Zhao Dayou felt a twinge of deep unease.
But Su Xiaoqi soon dispelled his fears.
She informed them that she planned to open another shop. Once Xiao Yi had honed his skills, he could become the shopkeeper at the new establishment.
This reassured both of them, motivating them to work even harder and to believe more firmly that following Su Xiaoqi would provide them with ample opportunities.
Before leaving, Su Xiaoqi asked Zhao Da to stock more goods, to truly live up to the name "Supermarket."
The shop's reputation had been established, and it was time for it to become a genuine "supermarket."
Zhao Dayou readily agreed.
He was also eager to try the supermarket management model Su Xiaoqi had described.
However, he looked at the current shop and remarked that it was still a bit small.
If they could acquire the adjacent shops, it might be better.
Su Xiaoqi had already anticipated this. She said, "No need. Just get more shelves. We'll utilize the front yard as well."
She intended to convert the entire front yard into a supermarket.
She reasoned that the current shop, only thirty square meters, was entirely insufficient.
But buying more shops wouldn't be cost-effective.
Her gaze fell upon the courtyard behind the shop.
That space was ample. Excluding the eight rooms within, the courtyard alone spanned over three hundred square meters.
Compared to modern supermarkets, it was still small, but it was quite good for this place.
She believed in taking things step by step.
If it became insufficient later, they could expand further back.
For now, however, they needed to erect beams and tiles for the courtyard, ensuring adequate sunlight.
Su Xiaoqi's idea astonished Zhao Dayou.
He had never seen a shop modified in such a way.
He parted his lips, wanting to say something, but ultimately uttered nothing.
Having been conventional for so many years, he too desired to experience a different approach.
After finalizing arrangements with Zhao Dayou, Su Xiaoqi went to the back and separately informed Granny Wen about the matter.
Granny Wen stated that the property belonged to Su Xiaoqi, and she had the final say in everything.
Su Xiaoqi inquired about Zhao Xiaozhu's progress in embroidery. Granny Wen praised her enthusiastically, saying she had a true talent.
She learned quickly and was proficient from the start.
In time, she would undoubtedly become a master.
These words made Su Xiaoqi smile with delight.
Upon entering the flower hall in the backyard, which had been converted into a classroom, Su Xiaoqi saw Zhao Liushun diligently teaching the children to read the "Thousand Character Classic."
"Heaven and Earth, Yellow and Black, Universe Vast and Boundless..."
Zhao Liushun read a passage, explained its meaning, and interspersed it with interesting stories, which the children listened to with rapt attention.
Even Zhao Xiaozhu, who was embroidering in the courtyard corridor, was drawn to the commotion.
Su Xiaoqi called Zhao Xiaozhu over, asking her to join Zhao Liushun's lesson.
Zhao Xiaozhu looked alarmed and quickly waved her hands, stating she couldn't recognize a single character and shouldn't attend.
"Precisely because you don't recognize any characters, you must learn. If you knew them, who would need to learn?" Su Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow, joking.
"Not only should you learn to read and write, but when you have time, you can also go to the front and learn inventory management and accounting from Shopkeeper Zhao."
Su Xiaoqi looked at Zhao Xiaozhu, seeing her as a raw gem that appeared rough before carving, but if meticulously sculpted, could be transformed into a beautiful jade.
Zhao Xiaozhu was persuaded and nodded obediently.
When her younger sister spent time with her, she often said: "Listen to my sister-in-law, and you won't go wrong."
Now, she thought the same and acted accordingly.
Seeing her approach, Zhao Liushun asked Xiao Xique to take over, leading the children in their reading.
He then stepped out.
Su Xiaoqi bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Uncle-in-law."
Zhao Liushun waved his hand, urging her not to be so formal.
Su Xiaoqi smiled. Zhao Xiaozhu, with keen insight, cleared the small stool she had been sitting on and the stool for her embroidery, offering them to the two.
"How do you feel here, Uncle-in-law?"
Zhao Liushun excitedly replied, "Very good, better than home, better than anywhere."
He hadn't realized before how much he enjoyed teaching children.
Of course, it might also be because his leg had healed.
His entire perspective had changed.
Hearing this, Su Xiaoqi smiled happily, saying that if Shen Yun knew how much he enjoyed this work, he would surely be pleased for him.
They chatted for a while and learned that the Shen family's new house was nearing completion.
Zhao Liushun immediately declared that he would bring Zhao Xiaozhu along to celebrate.
After sitting for a moment, Su Xiaoqi went to inspect the processed buckwheat tea.
Within a mere few days, they had produced another six hundred kilograms of buckwheat tea. She divided it into two portions, moving half to the supermarket in the front and storing the other half in her spatial dimension. She then took a mule cart to Ping Shi's tea stall.
But she wasn't there. Upon inquiry, she learned that their family had opened another tea stall in the west of the city.
Now, the couple managed one each.
Ping Shi's husband, Yuan Dashu, paid Su Xiaoqi at the rate of thirty copper coins per jin, with evident joy.
This three hundred jin of buckwheat tea, worth nine strings of cash, was enough for the couple to
earn twenty to thirty strings.
Su Xiaoqi, thinking she had come all this way, also visited Chen Jinji.
The business there was as brisk as ever.
Chen Jinniang and Shen Xiaomei were extremely busy in the shop.
They wore the simple masks Su Xiaoqi had suggested and homemade chef hats.
Dressed in pristine white chef uniforms, they were working tirelessly.
Upon seeing her, they exclaimed that they were overwhelmed with work.
Su Xiaoqi's thoughts stirred, and she asked Chen Jinniang if she had considered taking on one or two apprentices to help out.
Chen Jinniang's eyes lit up at the suggestion, saying she had indeed wanted to find help,
but she didn't have anyone familiar around her.
Su Xiaoqi thought for a moment and came up with candidates.
She recommended Xiao Xique and Xiao Liu to her.
They were girls, adept with their hands, and quite suitable for making pastries.
However, she still needed to ask for their consent.
Because she lived in the village, it was inconvenient for her to travel back and forth.
So, she asked Chen Jinniang to inquire herself when the second delivery of pastries was picked up.
Meanwhile, observing the long line of people queuing to buy pastries, Su Xiaoqi's eyes gleamed with another idea.