sjar Chapter 125 We are a family
Chapter 125 We are a family
Lu Li stood outside the Baishi Teahouse, his eyes fixed intently on the interior.
The teahouse was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of people coming and going.
Lu Li's hands were clenched into fists at his sides, and his palms were sweaty.
His eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions: surprise, regret, and deep greed.
Lu Tao!
He couldn't believe it. How could Lu Tao possibly become the Madam Lu of such a large Baishi Teahouse?
That younger sister who was always cautious and reserved, speaking and acting gently and slowly...
My sister, who lived in poverty after getting married and couldn't even afford a penny in her pocket...
How could there be such a big shop?
Just then, he saw that familiar figure appear on the second floor of the teahouse.
The woman in the simple dress, with her hair in a simple bun, was talking to her daughter, Tian Tian.
Lu Li stood there, stunned, muttering to himself, "Is it really her? Is it really Lu Tao?"
Almost instantly, a strong sense of annoyance welled up in his heart.
Why did he just kick them out?
If... if he hadn't driven her away, wouldn't that whole carload of New Year's gifts have been theirs?
This frustration quickly transformed into a firm resolve.
He had to go in and find Lu Tao; he had to go and coax her properly.
As long as he can win her over... not only money, but the entire Baishi Teahouse could be his.
Thinking of this, Lu Li could no longer restrain himself and strode into the teahouse.
Xiao Si was greeting customers at the door when he saw that the man's clothes were worn out. He immediately stopped him and said, "Sir, we are full. Please wait a moment before you come in."
Lu Li shoved Xiao Si aside, strode inside, and shouted, "Get out of the way! I'm looking for my sister!"
His actions immediately attracted the attention of many people in the teahouse, and many customers turned to look at the poorly dressed, agitated middle-aged man.
Some people showed expressions of disgust, while others whispered among themselves.
Xiao Si quickly caught up and stood in front of Lu Li, patiently saying, "Sir, please tell me who you are looking for first."
"This is a teahouse, not a place to cause trouble."
Lu Li looked up at the second floor and saw Lu Tao enter the side room.
"I'm looking for Lu Tao! My sister Lu Tao is here. She's the manager of this teahouse. Tell her to come out and see me!" Lu Li pushed aside the waiter blocking his way and rushed up the stairs to the second floor.
At this moment, Lu Tao, who had followed Tian Tian into the side room, heard the commotion downstairs.
She frowned slightly and followed the sound outside.
She froze when she saw the man who barged into the teahouse.
"Big brother?" Lu Tao murmured the word, her expression shifting from surprise to complexity, but quickly regaining its composure.
When Lu Li saw Lu Tao, he was so excited he almost choked up, and shouted, "Lu Tao! It's me, your older brother! Come down and come home with me!"
Lu Tao looked at Lu Li below with a complicated expression.
He kicked her out just a few days ago...
Lu Tao stared at him, a mocking smile flashing in her eyes.
Lu Li's gaze darted away, as if he had been stung by something.
Lu Tao sneered, "A few days ago, I went back to my parents' home to pay New Year's respects, but my elder brother didn't even give me a chance to enter the house."
"Now that you know I opened a shop, do you remember I'm your sister?"
Lu Li opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to answer.
He cleared his throat, forcing himself to calm down. "Sister, I had no choice that day. Your sister-in-law was in her postpartum period, and you had just lost your husband... She's superstitious about it..."
"I've already talked about her."
"Little sister, it was my fault, but I came to find you, didn't I?"
“We’re family. Come home with me. Your parents are waiting for you.”
Lu Tao raised an eyebrow, her tone full of sarcasm, "Since my sister-in-law thinks it's bad luck, then I won't go back."
"After all, my husband is dead and cannot be brought back to life."
Lu Li was speechless, wringing his hands anxiously, and said awkwardly, "Your sister-in-law is confused. She already knows she was wrong, and she regrets it..."
"Knowing I'm the manager of Baishi Teahouse, you regret it, right?" Lu Tao finished for him, her tone icy.
Seeing her cold attitude, Lu Li was so anxious he almost jumped up and down. He stepped forward, looked up and pleaded, "Little sister, I really know I was wrong! Please forgive me, come home with me, we can still be family!"
"My parents haven't been feeling well lately, and your sister-in-law needs to take some tonics..."
"Your teahouse is doing so well..."
"I see," Lu Tao said with a sneer. "So you came to see me today not because of family ties, but because of the money at the teahouse, right?"
Lu Li was taken aback, and quickly denied it: "No, that's not it! I really want to take you home!"
"My parents are not in good health and want to see you more often."
"Your sister-in-law also remembers how you used your betrothal gifts to buy her tonics back then..."
Lu Tao saw through everything and said nothing more. Instead, she looked at Xiao Si next to Lu Li and said, "Xiao Si, see the guest out."
Xiao Si immediately stepped forward and politely but firmly stopped Lu Li.
"Sister, sister! Let me explain!" Lu Li tried to step forward, but Xiao Si and several other employees pushed her away.
His shouts gradually faded into the distance, and the teahouse returned to silence.
Lu Tao stood there, the coldness on her face gradually fading, replaced by a faint weariness.
She sighed softly, turned around, and saw Tian Tian.
"mother?"
Lu Tao smiled and said, "Tian Tian, let's get back to what we were saying earlier. Can we continue selling our New Year's gift boxes?"
Tian Tian nodded, "We can sell them, but we need to increase our manpower."
"We also need to... add more space."
There's no room left in the kitchen.
Lu Tao seemed completely unaffected by Lu Li's influence, her thinking clear: "Aren't those two rooms in the backyard of the shop next door vacant?"
Those two rooms were originally for the aunties who made bean curd sheets, but now they've all moved to the rented courtyard, leaving the rooms empty.
In the shop next door, several stoves have been added to the empty space that used to sell steamed buns.
Several aunties from the neighboring Willow Village have already started making bean curd sheets at the shop next door.
These women usually live in a rented courtyard, working six days a week and resting one day.
Lu Tao continued, "Let's tidy up, clean up... and hire a few more people to make gift boxes..."
Seeing that her mother was calm, Tian Tian couldn't help but ask, "Mother, are you really... alright?"
Lu Tao raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Uncle..." Tian Tian murmured, trying to remind her.
She really didn't want to call him "uncle."
Lu Tao lowered her gaze, her face cold. "I am a married daughter who has established my own household. I have no connection with the Lu family anymore."