Chapter 57: You’re in Charge of Looking as Beautiful as a Flower!
After leaving the state-run restaurant, Li Yi drove straight to the supply and marketing cooperative with Tang Xue and Li Na in tow.
Today, he planned to buy some wedding supplies for Tang Xue. After all, for women in this era, getting married was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and one should do everything possible to avoid any regrets!
Meanwhile, Tang Xue felt a bit dazed in the cart. When she glanced at the olive-green shoulder bag hanging from Li Yi’s waist, her face was filled with disbelief.
She had seen it with her own eyes just moments ago: by selling mushrooms and a small batch of liangpi, Li Yi had managed to bring back at least six or seven hundred yuan from the state-run restaurant. It was truly astonishing.
She had heard from Li Na before that Li Yi was good at making money.
But back then, Li Na had only mentioned that he could make a few dozen yuan a day.
Although, in Tang Xue’s eyes, a few dozen yuan a day was already a lot—enough to match someone else’s monthly salary.
But now it seemed she had underestimated Li Yi’s earning potential—this was completely beyond her imagination.
Seeing the hesitant look on his wife’s face, Li Yi smiled and said, “We’re family. Just say what’s on your mind. It’s hard to watch you beating around the bush like this!”
Tang Xue was a little hesitant to look at him, but she asked curiously, “How much did you make today?”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Tang Xue realized the question was a bit… well, she hurriedly explained, “I… I didn’t mean anything by it, I was just curious…”
Li Yi smiled and said, “658!”
“658, in one day?”
Although she had mentally prepared herself, Tang Xue was still taken aback by the answer.
She had recently received her reassignment order, and according to the transfer notice, her assigned workplace was the woolen mill in their city.
Tang Xue was well aware of the pay and working conditions at the woolen mill, since her mother was a factory worker there.
As far as she knew, a full-time female worker at the woolen mill earned a maximum of 28 yuan a month; only team leaders could make 30 yuan.
In other words, the money Li Yi earned in a single day was equivalent to her salary for two and a half years after returning to the city!
More importantly, the money he earned came so easily—it was practically a gift.
“It’s not that much. I still have to share some with the kids back in the village when I get home!” Li Yi said.
“Last night I saw you give them a total of only a hundred or two yuan. Does that mean the rest is all your pure profit?”
“Yeah, on a day like today, I can make about four hundred yuan!” Li Yi said.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Na chimed in from the side, “You haven’t even counted the money from the street stall yet—it’s definitely more than four hundred yuan!”
But to Tang Xue, standing nearby, whether it was four hundred or a little more, it was a figure she could never hope to reach.
Suddenly, Tang Xue recalled what Zhang Xinyao had said that night.
Li Yi wasn’t the good-for-nothing he used to be anymore. Not only was he handsome, but now he was also so good at making money.
At this rate, the Li family wouldn’t take long to become a family with assets over ten thousand yuan. She feared she really wasn’t good enough for him anymore.
In an instant, Tang Xue realized that the things she had once taken pride in meant nothing to Li Yi. With his current capabilities, he could easily marry someone younger and more beautiful.
Moreover, Tang Xue was certain that if the villagers knew he could earn in a single day what others made in a year, countless families would be clamoring to marry their daughters to him.
At this thought, Tang Xue suddenly felt a twinge of pressure!
Li Yi noticed Tang Xue’s unease, smiled, and said, “Did that scare you?”
Tang Xue didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed; she nodded immediately and said, “A little!”
“Hehe, it’s fine. From now on, you’ll handle the finances in our household!”
“Me… I’ll handle the money?”
“That’s right. I’ll be in charge of earning money to support the family, and you’ll be in charge of looking as beautiful as a flower!” Li Yi said earnestly.
Tang Xue had never heard such a “flirtatious” remark before; her face instantly flushed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head, unable to look at Li Yi.
Meanwhile, Li Na, standing nearby, looked as if she’d been struck by a thousand blows. She said bitterly, “Li Yi, you’re done for. You’re completely finished!”
“What’s wrong? Why am I finished?” Li Yi asked, puzzled.
“You’re already spoiling her this much before she’s even moved in. I can already see what your status will be at home—you’re definitely going to be a henpecked husband!” Li Na said.
Li Yi shrugged it off. “Is it wrong to spoil my own wife? I’m proud to be a henpecked husband—so what?”
“Being afraid of your wife is a badge of honor? Did a donkey kick you in the head or something?”
Fearing Li Yi might come out with more “lewd” remarks, Tang Xue hurriedly interjected, “Sis Na, don’t tease him. From now on, he’ll make the big decisions in our household, and I’ll handle the small ones!”
Hearing this, before Li Na could even speak, Li Yi couldn’t help but burst out laughing!
Li Na frowned and said, “What are you laughing at? I think what Xiao Xue said makes perfect sense.”
Tang Xue also looked puzzled and said, “Right? Do you think I’m wrong?”
“It’s not wrong, but it reminds me of a story about an old gentleman!” Li Yi said with a smile.
“What story?” Tang Xue asked immediately.
Li Yi replied, “I once heard an old gentleman say that when he first got married, his wife told him, ‘From now on, you’ll make the big decisions at home, and I’ll handle the small ones.’ I was over the moon, thinking I was so lucky to have married such a wonderful wife. But later, I realized I’d fallen into a cesspool!”
“For example, whenever I thought something was a big deal and was about to voice my opinion, my wife would say, ‘It’s such a small thing—do you really need to get involved, you big man?’”
“The result is that in over thirty years of marriage, not a single major incident has ever happened in our household!”
Hearing this, Li Na and Tang Xue couldn’t help but burst into laughter as well, drawing curious glances from passersby on both sides of the street.
After a long pause, Tang Xue suddenly said earnestly, “As long as you treat me well, I’ll allow major events to happen in our family from now on!”
Li Yi, however, smiled faintly. “It’s fine. It’s actually nice not to have any major events at home. A quiet, uneventful life is a blessing!”
“Mm-hmm!”
Seeing the two of them starting to get all lovey-dovey, Li Na said with a hint of exasperation, “Can you two stop being so lovey-dovey in front of me? Hurry up and go shopping—we still have to set up the stall after we’re done!”
Li Yi shot his third older sister—a single woman—a pitying glance, but didn’t say anything else.
His third older sister had always been strong-willed and had high standards.
Over the past few years, there had been no shortage of marriage proposals for her—even the village chief from the neighboring village had come to propose on behalf of his son—but she had turned them all down.
In Li Na’s own words, she wanted to find someone she actually liked.
But Li Yi knew the real reason: she couldn’t bring herself to leave her parents behind.
He hadn’t been doing well for the past few years, and their parents were growing older. If she were to get married, there would truly be no one left to take care of them.
So even if there were a family that truly captured her heart, she could only reluctantly turn them down—in the end, she felt she was just dragging her third sister down.
Still, Li Yi didn’t think there was anything wrong with his third sister’s decision. After all, she was only 21 and still had plenty of options.
Once his business was up and running, he would find her a better match.
With that thought, Li Yi immediately called out to the red mule twice and sped up toward the supply and marketing cooperative!