Reborn in the 80s: The Smart Wife with a Secret Space Chapter 1128: Never Settle for Less

A month zipped by in no time, and all the newly hired beauty technicians had finished their training.

Xinyan glanced at Ling Tianze entering the room: "How did the person I asked you to find work out?"

Ling Tianze grabbed a cup, poured himself some tea, and gulped it down: "It's scorching hot today; I'm parched."

With that, he quickly drained two more cups.

Watching his actions, Xinyan instructed the new interim manager of the beauty salon, Liu Jiajia: "Fetch him a large bowl of chilled sour plum soup."

Hearing about the sour plum soup, Ling Tianze remarked: "My fortune's shining today; I get iced sour plum soup too."

He settled down opposite Xinyan: "We located someone and sealed the deal; she'll start after sorting her family issues in a few days."

Xinyan eyed Ling Tianze: "Have you checked her background completely?"

Ling Tianze nodded: "She was employed at a sugar factory. Having just a daughter left her in-laws displeased. Earlier this year, a woman showed up claiming pregnancy by her husband. Her mother-in-law favored that child, growing even colder toward her.

Trapped in that mess, she couldn't keep going, yet her father's poor health barred big shocks, and her husband refused release,

prolonging the issue.

Half a month back, her father died, freeing her concerns, so she demanded divorce from her husband outright.

Her mother-in-law pushed for quick separation to legitimize the outsider child.

Divorce finalized days ago, though minor tasks linger. Given her resolve, it won't drag much longer."

Xinyan inquired: "You knew her previously?"

Ling Tianze shook his head: "Nope, my grandma mentioned her. After leaving her in-laws, she rented next door to me."

Finishing his sour plum soup, he added: "I've spoken with her; her retention hinges on her abilities."

Xinyan lifted her gaze to Ling Tianze: "What role did she hold at the sugar factory?"

Ling Tianze passed the bowl to Liu Jiajia: "One more bowl, please."

Turning back to Xinyan: "Jiang Xiaomin's her name; she handled the factory union work. I visited the sugar factory specially—her performance stands out."

Xinyan pressed: "What's the farthest date she can arrive?"

She continued: "The beauty salon's fully set; we await her alone. I rely on your eye."

Ling Tianze, catching Xinyan's trust, feared she'd think he favored Jiang Xiaomin as a neighbor: "Keep her if she fits; otherwise, I'll scout another. No compromises."

He worried Xinyan might hesitate to dismiss a neighbor.

Xinyan grasped his intent and chuckled softly.

Mid-conversation, a courtyard voice called: "Manager Qi, you're here?"

Qi Baocheng responded: "Yeah, is Young Master around?"

The voice answered smilingly: "He is."

Pointing toward the office.

Ling Tianze rose and approached the door: "We've awaited you."

Qi Baocheng approached grinning, nodded at Ling Tianze, and stepped inside: "Young Master, departure time?"

Xinyan shut her book: "Try some sour plum soup to chill; we leave post-rest."

Before orders, Liu Jiajia presented a bowl: "Manager Qi, enjoy this iced sour plum soup."

Qi Baocheng nodded to Liu Jiajia: "Thanks."

Liu Jiajia beamed: "No trouble."

Xinyan noted it all, pleased by Liu Jiajia's poise and attentiveness during their store manager chat.

She planned Liu Jiajia's aid to Jiang Xiaomin once onboard.

Downing his big bowl of sour plum soup, Qi Baocheng fetched his water bottle from the car, had Liu Jiajia refill it, then told Xinyan and Ling Tianze: "I'm set; shall we go?"

Xinyan headed to Chongyang Mountain Villa this trip to inspect her herbal farm.

In the car, Qi Baocheng updated Xinyan: "Per Young Master's orders, we've agreed on leasing that front hill, signing today."

Xinyan reacted: "Lease price unchanged from before?"

Smiling, Qi Baocheng responded: "Yes. At first, the village head wanted to bump up the price slightly, but before negotiations could even begin, the head from the neighboring village came over to us.

The Chongyang Village head feared we might get snatched away by leaders from nearby villages, so he promptly agreed to hand over the small hill to us."

Xinyan chuckled and remarked: "You have plenty of tasks ahead; hire some folks to put up fences around it. I intend to keep livestock there, making those spoiled vegetable leaves from the fields really useful."

Ling Tianze glanced at Xinyan with a grin: "What a brilliant plan, ideal for recycling. Forget dragging rotten veggie leaves to make compost—later, the animal waste can enrich the fields too, a perfect win-win!"

As they bantered and laughed inside the car, they pulled into Chongyang Village.

Gazing at the barren hills and slopes now bursting with lush greenery, Xinyan couldn’t hold back her praise: "The transformations here are absolutely stunning."