Lu Qin, along with his daughter, hadn't even left the alley when a few customers were trailing behind them.
"Lu Boss, don't forget to come tomorrow, I can't sleep without your Stir-Fried Rice Noodles!"
"Yeah, handsome boss, come a bit earlier tomorrow, we're all waiting for your Stir-Fried Rice Noodles and Mung Bean Paste!"
"Lu Boss, get some good rest tonight, recharge, and come back tomorrow to fry up more noodles for us!"
"Boss, tomorrow, same place, we'll be waiting no matter the weather!"
…
"Okay~! Got it~! We'll be there with Daddy~!"
"Rest up too~!"
"Goodbye~!"
Lu Xiyao sat beside Lu Qin, one small hand resting on the guardrail, the other waving energetically.
The little tricycle food cart drove out of the narrow alley.
The little one's fair, smooth face was filled with happiness.
"Daddy, running the stall is so much fun, let's do it again tomorrow."
"Yaoyao, are you tired?"
"Not at all! It's much easier than going to kindergarten."
Lu Qin smiled slightly. Going to kindergarten was more exhausting than making money.
By the time they got home, it was 9:20 PM.
Lu Qin helped the little one take a bath, dried her hair, and tucked her into bed.
"Daddy, tell me a story."
The little one yawned, feeling a bit sleepy.
Lu Qin gently patted her shoulder and began telling the children's story Mother Rabbit Recognizes Her Children. By the time he reached the third part, the little one had already fallen asleep.
He quietly turned off the light, closed the door, and left the room.
He cleaned the tricycle food cart in the yard, using the system's powerful cleaning detergent and cloth, which improved the cleaning speed and effectiveness by four to five times.
No matter how dirty it was, after one wipe, it was as good as new.
He also cleaned the plastic baskets and insulated foam boxes that held the ingredients and left them to dry in the ventilated area.
He liked cleanliness, especially when it came to things related to food; they had to be hygienic so customers could eat with peace of mind.
The hygiene at most street food stalls was poor, with visible grease stains everywhere and even worse, the hidden corners.
There were also many news reports about food poisoning from street food.
Additionally, studies showed that eating street food could lead to cancer, which Lu Qin believed was mainly due to poor hygiene and unhealthy ingredients.
Most starchy sausages, squid, and meat skewers were frozen and packaged, which made them cheap.
Vendors defrosted them and to make the food look fresh, they often added chemical preservatives.
Lu Qin would never run such an unscrupulous business.
He also refused to sell food on busy streets with cars constantly passing by, spreading dust into the food.
After cleaning up, Lu Qin took a shower and comfortably lay in bed.
It was almost 10 PM.
Listening to the chirping of crickets outside, he began to feel sleepy.
He checked his income from the side hustle app and WeChat Wallet; combined, the earnings from the food stall had reached around 10,000 yuan.
This was just from one night plus a whole day's work.
The income was very satisfying, and Lu Qin was content.
He no longer had to worry about the daily struggles of living, and every day felt fulfilling.
His system points had reached 628.
Just as he was about to try his luck with a lottery draw, his phone buzzed with a WeChat notification.
It was from his ex-wife, Shen Mu Yan.
Shen Mu Yan: "Lu Qin, is the little one asleep?"
Lu Qin hadn't deleted their old WeChat conversation history.
In the past, Shen Mu Yan's messages were always about being busy.
"I'm working overtime, don't wait up for me."
"I have a business trip to Haishi, I'll be back in three days. Please take care of the little one."
"There's an important meeting, I can't make it to the little one's kindergarten performance, please tell her I'm sorry."
"I might miss her birthday, but I've ordered the cake, I'll make it up with a gift when I get back."
…
Lu Qin didn't blame Shen Mu Yan; perhaps she was genuinely busy. As the CEO of several five-star hotels, the pressure was high.
The little one could only have him to accompany her, playing both father and mother.
He and Shen Mu Yan were divorced, but they were not strangers. She would always be the child's mother.
Lu Qin typed a reply: "The little one's already asleep."
A few seconds later, the phone vibrated.
Shen Mu Yan: "Where are you living now? Are you adjusting to the new place after moving out?"
Lu Qin: "In the old street area in the south of the city. The place is pretty good, the environment's fine, and the little one sleeps well, no trouble with the bed."
In a villa.
The large, luxurious room felt cold and empty.
Shen Mu Yan, draped in a deep gray silk robe, lay on the bed, her delicate curves accentuated under the thin blanket.
Her long, fair fingers gripped her phone as she pondered what to say.
At work, she could be swift and composed, issuing precise commands to hundreds of employees.
But when it came to dealing with her ex-husband, Lu Qin, she didn't know what to say.
Father and daughter were living in a rental in the southern part of the city.
The place was "good"?
The environment was "fine"?
Shen Mu Yan didn't think so. That area had houses that were 20 or 30 years old. How could an old house be comfortable?
Lu Qin was just putting up a front.
They had fallen so low that he was running a food stall now. Could his life really be that good?
She didn't believe the little one was used to it either.
Shen Mu Yan furrowed her brows, but held back and sent another message.
Shen Mu Yan: "Have you found a job? It's not easy to find one after graduation. If you need help, just ask."
Lu Qin: "I have a job, the income's good, don't worry, it won't affect the little one's life, learning, or growth."
Running a food stall as a job? Good income?
Shen Mu Yan thought Lu Qin was just putting on a brave face, but she couldn't dig deeper. If she did, it would only hurt his pride more.
She sighed, unsure how to deal with the situation.
She couldn't possibly let him keep running the food stall forever with the little one. If it went on like this, she feared they wouldn't even be able to afford the kindergarten tuition next semester.
Shen Mu Yan sighed and switched topics.
Shen Mu Yan: "Tomorrow's the weekend. The little one's grandparents are coming back from abr They want to see her..."
Lu Qin thought for a moment, then sent a location pin.
Before they divorced, they had agreed that if the child was willing, she could visit her mother every weekend.
Lu Qin: "Sure, you can send someone to pick her up at 9 AM tomorrow."
Shen Mu Yan: "Okay, thank you."
Lu Qin: "No need."
And then, they were silent again.
Shen Mu Yan didn't know what else to say.
After a long pause, she finally typed.
Shen Mu Yan: "The little one still has a lot of toys that she hasn't taken."
Lu Qin: "Just leave them. She has plenty of toys here, and we don't have space for all of them."
Shen Mu Yan: "Oh."
Shen Mu Yan felt a little uncomfortable. In the villa, there was a whole room dedicated to the little one's toys and stuffed animals.
After they moved out, Shen Mu Yan noticed that most of the gifts she bought for the little one hadn't been taken.
She only took the ones Lu Qin had bought.
She reflected on how little attention she had paid to the little one's needs. How could a girl like playing with toy cars?
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]