After Chen Li Shu's reminder, Liu Yue Min dared not be picky anymore. The couple discussed and decided to pay an extra yuan in rent each month for a better located shop.
"How did the shop hunting go?" Li Xiu Lan asked when they returned.
Gu Xing Min replied, "Mom, thanks to Third Sister-in-law, the shop is secured. We've also inquired about sourcing goods. Once we set things up and stock up, we can open for business."
Hearing that the shop matter was resolved, Li Xiu Lan was happy for the couple.
"What about renting a place? School has started for days now. Ming Ming and Lin Lin can't stay like this forever. Once you're settled, the children can start school," Li Xiu Lan said.
Liu Yue Min shifted her gaze, "Mom, Xing Min and I will be busy with the shop opening. Renting a place isn't urgent. Ming Ming and Lin Lin can attend school with Rui Rui."
Li Xiu Lan frowned, "Rui Rui's school is far from home, and he needs to be picked up and dropped off daily. You must rent a place close to the shop. If you live even further, in my opinion, you should settle the housing first, then choose a school nearby. This way, you won't have to shuttle the children back and forth."
Liu Yue Min smiled, "Mom, isn't it more convenient to take care of the children when they are together? Besides, they are all your grandsons. You can't just look after Third Sister-in-law's children and not help us with ours, can you?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xiu Lan's face darkened. "Second Son's wife, what do you mean by that? Which of your three children haven't I looked after? You're already comparing after I've only watched the Third Family's children for a few days!"
Seeing Li Xiu Lan's anger, Gu Xing Min quickly intervened, smiling, "Mom, Yue Min didn't mean it like that. She just thinks it's the same effort to care for one or two children, and it's just an extra task."
Chen Li Shu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, tell me what kind of place you're looking to rent. I'll have someone help inquire in the next couple of days."
Liu Yue Min's expression faltered. She forced a smile, "Third Sister-in-law, my Second Brother and I are new to the city, and we'll have many expenses. We just paid the shop rent, and we need to buy a tricycle for sourcing goods. With three children to send to school, there are expenses everywhere..."
Before she could finish, Chen Li Shu nodded with a smile, "I understand. Second Sister-in-law, you're looking for something cheaper."
Liu Yue Min was speechless. Was that what she meant?
"Besides being cheap, I think the house must be close to the shop. Think about it, Second Sister-in-law, you'll have to get up early for groceries, around three in the morning. If the place is far, all your time will be wasted on the road. If you can go early, your vegetables will definitely be the freshest. There are only a few vegetable vendors in the entire market. If your vegetables are good and fresh, others will naturally be happy to buy them. Even if you don't sell much more each day, ten or twenty catties in total, that's still a few cents difference, right? That's enough for your rent money in a month!"
"Most importantly, everyone knows your family's vegetables are good. Will they come back next time? You've run a restaurant before, so you know how important popularity is to a shop. I chatted with some people at the market, and roughly estimated that if things go well, a shop can earn at least a hundred yuan profit each month. You and Second Brother can earn enough to buy a house next year."
After listening to Chen Li Shu, Liu Yue Min was stunned. Why hadn't she thought of this? No wonder Chen Li Shu's business was doing so well. She almost made a big mistake by being greedy for a small bargain!
Especially the last sentence Chen Li Shu said, it touched Liu Yue Min the most. Gu Xing Ye and his wife had already bought a house in the city. In fact, she felt a bit uncomfortable. They were both brothers, and the gap would only widen in the future.
"Third Sister-in-law, as you said, the house doesn't need to be big. Just close and cheap. When we find a suitable place, we'll buy one too."
Li Xiu Lan watched the two daughters-in-law talking amicably, and the worry in her heart finally eased. A look of relief spread across her face.
If it were in the past, Chen Li Shu would have directly retorted. But now, she felt it was unnecessary. Thinking about things from a different perspective might lead to a better solution.
The next day, Liu Yue Min and Gu Xing Min went to find schools for the two children. Chen Li Shu went to the shop to ask Wang Ai Xiang and the neighbors to keep an eye out for any rental properties nearby.
As soon as she entered the shop, Wang Ai Xiang mysteriously pulled her to a seat nearby.
Chen Li Shu asked, "Ai Xiang Sister, what's wrong?"
"You know Jin Kun, right?"
Chen Li Shu nodded, "What about him?"
Wang Ai Xiang said, "I heard he was arrested for murder. Guess who he killed?"
Chen Li Shu was surprised, "I know him? Who?"
Wang Ai Xiang replied, "Lu Cheng Ming. Don't you remember our warehouse caught fire before? He was the one who did it. I hated him so much back then. This is a case of 'every villain gets their due.' I heard Zhao Hong was the one who exposed this. It's all very complicated."
Then, Wang Ai Xiang explained the entire incident, from the cause to the process and the outcome, in detail to Chen Li Shu.
"I wouldn't know this much detail if it weren't for Jin Kun's subordinates collecting protection fees. Ever since he was arrested, his gang scattered, and someone else took over immediately."
At this moment, Jin Kun, whom Wang Ai Xiang mentioned, was being interrogated in the detention room.
"Zhao Hong has confessed to your criminal activities. You'd better honestly tell us the specific location where the body was dumped," a police officer said, slamming the table in anger as he saw Jin Kun remain silent.
Jin Kun lifted his eyelids and glanced at the officer. He finally spoke, his voice hoarse from disuse, "What do you want me to say? Zhao Hong is mentally ill. Can her words be trusted?"
"Besides her, there's also someone called 'Coal Ball.' He also identified you as the killer. If you don't cooperate, and we find this person, your sentence will be even more severe."
Jin Kun repeated his initial statement, "I didn't kill anyone. All things require evidence."
The officer was furious, "Fine. Once we find the evidence, you can wait to go to jail."
Watching the officers leave, Jin Kun was not as calm and composed as he appeared.
He had always thought Zhao Hong was mentally ill and had sent her to a mental hospital out of past affection. He never expected her to be faking it all along. Now, she had colluded with 'Coal Ball' to report him.
Jin Kun's eyes narrowed dangerously, like a lurking beast in the jungle, ready to attack at any moment.
He would never let these two go.
Zhao Hong was unfazed by Jin Kun's thoughts, as she believed Jin Kun was doomed.
She had endured the past two years in humiliation. Fearing his methods, she not only dared not say a word to the outside world but also had to pretend to be crazy and foolish every day.