txolops Chapter 28 It's time for Tangtang to go to kindergarten.
Chapter 28 It's time for Tangtang to go to kindergarten.
Night falls.
The tricycle weaved through the alleys of the urban village before finally coming to a steady stop in front of the rented house.
"Brother Chen, I'll get the bigger items, you carry Tangtang!"
As soon as Wang Hai came to a stop, he jumped down with great enthusiasm.
He carried the two empty stainless steel barrels from the truck bed in his hands, and without even taking a breath, strode upstairs.
Lin Chen removed the car key and locked the tricycle.
He turned around and picked up Tangtang, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
"Daddy, was Tangtang good today?"
Tangtang wrapped her arms around Lin Chen's neck, her big eyes sparkling in the dim hallway light.
"Very good. Tangtang is Daddy's best little helper."
Lin Chen smiled gently, supporting his daughter with one hand as he steadily walked up the stairs.
Back in the rented room.
Wang Hai had already placed the two stainless steel buckets next to the kitchen sink and was wiping his hands with a rag.
"Daddy, Uncle Fatty, Tangtang's going to wash her hands!"
As soon as Tangtang was born, she took small steps and ran into the bathroom. She picked up her special little plastic stool, placed it in front of the sink, stepped on it, turned on the tap, and carefully lathered herself with soap.
Lin Chen walked to the water dispenser, filled two glasses with warm water, and handed one of them to Wang Hai, who had just come out of the kitchen.
"Have some water and take a break."
Lin Chen pointed to the old folding table.
"Why!"
Wang Hai took the paper cup and drank it all in one gulp.
He pulled over a plastic stool, plopped down on the edge of the table, his excitement barely contained, and even his hands were rubbing together slightly.
"Brother Chen, let's quickly settle today's accounts!"
Wang Hai took out his old phone, which he used specifically for receiving payments, and skillfully opened the WeChat bill. His voice was particularly loud because of his excitement.
"One hundred servings of fried rice, ninety-nine dollars each!"
Not a single penny was left! On the way back, I mentally counted it several times—a full nine thousand nine hundred yuan in transactions!
Wang Hai showed Lin Chen his phone screen and pointed to the long list of payment records. "Brother Chen, in less than two hours, you've made almost 10,000!"
I used to work as a food delivery driver, braving wind and rain, and even working my butt off for a month, I only made a little over 8,000 yuan.
This is like a dream!
Lin Chen pulled out a chair and sat down, his expression still calm, but there was a hint of reassuring warmth in his eyes.
Let's calculate the net profit.
Lin Chen took the phone and began to take stock in an orderly manner. "This morning at the farmers' market, I bought 22 jin of old rice, 8 trays of free-range eggs, plus scallions and a new gas cylinder. The total cost was no more than 400 yuan."
"Nine thousand nine minus four hundred, today's net profit is about nine thousand five hundred."
Lin Chen gave an extremely clear number.
Upon hearing the number "nine thousand five hundred yuan," Wang Hai couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Earning 9,500 a day, if you can maintain this customer flow, that's a net income of nearly 300,000 a month!
While Wang Hai was still reeling from the huge sum of money, Lin Chen had already taken out his phone and opened the WeChat transfer interface.
I tapped the screen a few times with my finger.
"Beep—" A crisp notification sound came from Wang Hai's phone.
Wang Hai paused for a moment, then took out his phone to take a look.
[WeChat transfer: 2850.00 yuan.]
"Brother Chen, this..."
Wang Hai looked at the numbers on the screen.
"The rules we agreed on yesterday are to split the profits 30/70."
Lin Chen put down his phone, his tone calm and decisive, "The profit of nine thousand five hundred yuan, that's the thirty percent you deserve."
After their heart-to-heart talk last night, Wang Hai didn't try so hard to refuse as he had before.
He knew Lin Chen's personality; he was a man of his word.
Moreover, he was busy packing, collecting money, and maintaining order all by himself today, and he understood his value as a "partner".
Wang Hai took a deep breath and solemnly clicked "Confirm Payment".
"Brother Chen, I'll take the money."
Wang Hai raised his head, his eyes serious. "I won't say anything sentimental. From now on, all the dirty and tiring work will be done by me."
I'll be over at 7:30 tomorrow morning, let's try to be more proficient at preparing the goods!
"it is good."
Lin Chen nodded slightly.
"Daddy, Tangtang's finished washing!"
With a light footstep, Tangtang ran out of the bathroom, holding up her two clean little hands that were still wet.
Lin Chen took out a clean tissue, bent down, and carefully dried his daughter's little hands.
He looked at Tangtang's delicate, fair face, which appeared somewhat thin due to long-term malnutrition, and a slight thought stirred in his heart.
He used to be so hungry that he didn't even dare to think about many things.
But now, with this skill, I can earn a stable income of 10,000 yuan a day, and I have a real sense of security in my life.
Those responsibilities that were once shelved, which are the most important things a father should consider, must now be put on the agenda.
Lin Chen threw the used tissue into the trash can, looked up, and looked at Wang Hai sitting opposite him.
"Fatty, I want to ask you something."
Lin Chen spoke up.
"Brother Chen, you say it."
Wang Hai immediately sat up straight. "I've been delivering food for several years, and there's basically nothing I don't know about this area."
Lin Chen reached out and gently touched Tangtang's soft hair, his gaze becoming deep and serious.
"Tangtang is almost four years old, which is the age when she should go to kindergarten."
Lin Chen looked at Wang Hai, his tone filled with the expectation of a father, "Are there any reputable and good kindergartens around here?"
Upon hearing this question, Wang Hai paused for a moment, then slapped his thigh.
"Yes! Tangtang should be in kindergarten long ago!"
Looking at the well-behaved Tangtang, Wang Hai immediately started searching his mind.
"Brother Chen, if it were before, I would definitely have suggested that you send Tangtang to the Red Sun Kindergarten on the street ahead."
It was a public kindergarten where tuition and food costs only 800 yuan a month.
It's a bit crowded inside, with dozens of children in a class, so the teachers sometimes can't give them all the attention.
Wang Hai paused, glanced at Lin Chen, and said, "Now that we've made money, we absolutely can't let Tangtang suffer by having to squeeze into those kinds of places anymore."
Money is not a problem.
Lin Chen's tone was extremely decisive, "What I want is a safe environment, responsible teachers, clean food, and a place where Tangtang can be happy."
"If that's the case..."
Wang Hai stroked his chin and thought seriously for a moment, "About three kilometers from our urban village, near the city center residential area, there is a bilingual kindergarten called 'Qiming'."
Wang Hai lowered his voice, sounding somewhat serious: "Brother Chen, I've delivered takeout there a few times."
That kindergarten has an excellent reputation and very strict security; delivery drivers can't get in at all and can only leave their packages at the guardhouse.
I heard from nearby residents that the teachers there are all professional early childhood educators, and there are a maximum of fifteen children in a class.
The meals were specially prepared with nutritious ingredients.
"but……"
Wang Hai swallowed hard. "The tuition there isn't cheap."
The monthly childcare and food expenses alone amount to about five thousand yuan.
Over a year, it would cost at least sixty or seventy thousand.
If they had heard this number a few days ago, neither of them would have dared to even imagine it.
But now.
Lin Chen didn't even frown after hearing this.
Five thousand a month, sixty or seventy thousand a year.
For him now, this is just the net profit from a few days of setting up his stall.
As long as it provides Tangtang with a healthy and safe environment to grow up in, this money is well spent.
"Is it far?"
Lin Chen asked the question he was most concerned about.
"It's not far! It's only a ten-minute ride on our tricycle."
"If you buy a car for transportation in the future, it'll only take five minutes to get there."
Wang Hai quickly replied, "Okay."
Lin Chen made a decision without any hesitation and with extreme decisiveness.
"After preparing the goods tomorrow morning, there's no rush to go to the building."
Lin Chen looked at Wang Hai and said, "Come with me to take Tangtang to this Qiming Kindergarten so we can see the environment in person."
If it's suitable, register on the spot.
"Alright!"
Wang Hai readily agreed, "Leave it to me, I'll lead the way tomorrow!"
"Are you going to school yet?"
Tangtang tilted her little face up, her big eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of anticipation, "Daddy, will there be lots of other kids to play with at school?"
"right."
Lin Chen squatted down, placed his hands on his daughter's delicate shoulders, and said with gentle eyes, "There are many children and many fun toys."
From now on, before Dad goes out to set up his stall each day, he'll take you to kindergarten first, and then pick you up to go home after he's done.
"Yay!"
Tangtang happily raised her little hand and cheered.
Looking at his daughter's excited smile, Lin Chen felt all the fatigue from wielding the iron pot all day vanish in an instant.
In this cramped, dilapidated rental room, there was no high-end furniture or luxurious dinner.
But the air was filled with a warm feeling called "hope".