Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 539 - 523 Hiring

"She’s a friend of mine. She opened a shop, but she’s pregnant and has a child to look after. She’s due in two months, and the shop is too much for her to manage. So, she’s been hiring recently," Zhao Chun said earnestly. "If you’re interested, you can give it a try." A young woman, working alone away from home—this takes courage; and for a woman living in such a run-down place—this is something to sympathize with.

Zhao Chun’s words contained many things that Jin Zhi couldn’t fully understand.

She silently pressed her lips together.

A woman running a shop all by herself? To her, this seemed like a fairy tale.

In Jin Zhi’s mind, after women got married, they typically stayed home to nurture their family and manage domestic affairs while men worked outside the home. Rural women, she believed, were destined for a lifetime of toil—working from a young age in their parents’ house, only to continue caring for their husband’s household upon marriage.

When conditions were particularly harsh, married women would have to go out and earn money to help make ends meet, but even then, it would be doing odd jobs in small places. Starting their own shop? Especially one in Beijing? What kind of woman could possibly do that?

Even though she had only been in Beijing for less than two weeks, Jin Zhi was already aware of how starkly divided the shops in the city were. Some were high-end, like department stores, while others were small private shops—noodle houses, diners, kiosks, and general stores, for example.

Moreover, this woman was heavily pregnant and had a child. Shouldn’t she be at home raising her child? How was she still running a shop and hiring workers? Even if she needed workers, shouldn’t she just have family members help manage it? Her husband would surely let her stay home, wouldn’t he? Or perhaps the child she was carrying was an "unwanted girl" that her husband’s family didn’t care much about?

No matter how she thought about it, nothing seemed to make sense.

That thought, however, was fleeting, and Jin Zhi didn’t voice her questions. Instead, she felt a hint of happiness. "Thank you for helping me out—you’re really a kind person." Her words neither accepted nor declined the offer.

"Don’t thank me yet. Let me give you the address for her shop. It’s in the middle of West City Street; there’s a place called Yi Pin Xiang Ju. You’ll see her hiring notice posted outside." Zhao Chun kept his explanation brief. "Whether you decide to check it out is up to you. Anyway, I’ll be heading out now—I have other things to take care of." He used the excuse of being busy to leave; staying too long in a young woman’s room might invite gossip.

"Let me walk you out," Jin Zhi offered.

Zhao Chun waved his hand. "No need, I’m off now," he replied resolutely.

Jin Zhi sighed inwardly. She had wanted to prepare a meal to thank him, but she barely had any money left. Looking at his demeanor, she doubted he’d eat anything she made anyway. Better not embarrass herself.

That night, Jin Zhi tossed and turned in bed. She knew West City Street—it was a bustling thoroughfare. Shops there ought to be decent, as her impression of Zhao Chun’s friends suggested they were capable people. Whenever she closed her eyes, Zhao Chun’s figure emerged in her mind. Truly, he was the most outstanding man she’d ever met.

In fact, a voice in her heart clamored: "Go! Go to his friend’s shop! You’ll have more opportunities to cross paths with him, and you’ll get to see him often."

The next day, Jin Zhi decided to go check it out—and even took the time to inquire more about Yi Pin Xiang Ju. What she found shocked her. Being new to the area, she hadn’t realized that Yi Pin Xiang Ju was a well-known, reputable shop, operated by a former actress. But Jin Zhi had so little money that going inside felt like an impossible luxury.

She stood on the street opposite the shop for a long time, staring at its grand façade, too intimidated to take a step forward.

**

Tian Sangsang had posted her hiring notice two days ago, but only a handful of people had come to apply. She understood why. People who were truly capable went to work for state-owned enterprises, while those with fewer skills made the most of their value by taking odd jobs. That left shops like hers—popular with customers but attracting few applicants. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

After spending all morning interviewing, Tian Sangsang wasn’t satisfied with any of the candidates. Truthfully, her requirements for staff were quite relaxed: as long as someone was reasonably good-looking, had a decent height and weight, could read and write, spoke standard Mandarin, was polite, hardworking, quick-witted, and had a sweet tongue.

That was about it.

She considered herself a tolerant boss—not picky or harsh.

Zhao Chun first prepared the meal, then picked up Meng Shuyan. Carrying the food in one hand and holding the little child’s hand in the other, he made his way to Yi Pin Xiang Ju. Inside the small private room, he placed the lunch box on the table and asked, "Still no luck finding someone today?"

Tian Sangsang purposely made an exaggeratedly troubled expression and blinked her eyes. "No one suitable," she replied.

"Take your time. For now, let’s eat." Zhao Chun stole a careful glance at her expression. Luckily, she seemed fine—not showing signs of despair or distress. On the surface, she appeared calm.

Tian Sangsang wasn’t someone to cry every day, nor someone to grieve in silence. That wasn’t her style. Besides, with Zhao Chun treating her so well, she would never do anything to worry or burden him.

Meng Shuyan instinctively washed his little hands and obediently sat on the couch.

Lunch consisted of chicken soup, steaming white rice, and several side dishes. The chicken soup was rich and flavorful, the chicken tender and soft, with large mushrooms nestled in the broth, emanating an irresistible fragrance.

"Yanyan, eat more," Tian Sangsang encouraged gently, putting a chicken drumstick into his bowl.

"And this—tomatoes, eggs, braised pork, fried chicken wings, greens, octopus. Eat plenty of everything," Zhao Chun said, adding food to Meng Shuyan’s bowl as well.

Soon, Meng Shuyan’s little bowl was piled high, like a small mountain.

Meng Shuyan’s eyes curved with joy. "Mommy, Chun Zisu, you both eat, too!"

Lately, his mother and Chun Zisu had been especially kind to him. He felt very happy, though a bit confused.

Tian Sangsang’s eyes reddened slightly as she watched her little boy eat—innocent, well-behaved, exquisite, and endearing.

She feared he might suddenly ask, "Why isn’t daddy back yet?" She wouldn’t know how to answer. Fortunately, he hadn’t asked yet, but the day would come eventually, and the thought filled her with anxiety.

Each day she could delay the conversation was a small mercy.

Tian Sangsang took a bite of rice but suddenly paused. "Didn’t you mention you were working on another film? How do you still have time to cook? I was already planning to hire a maid to help."

Zhao Chun sighed. "Turns out I was just fooling myself. Right now, my level only qualifies me to handle the camera work in the crew." He had recently joined the Beijing Film Factory, but he was no more than a handyman for the time being. They said he needed to prove himself first.

Tian Sangsang thought for a moment. "Why not go solo?" He had already completed two films. If proving himself yielded no results, starting his own business could be an option. Right now, movies were all state-run, but the future would almost certainly belong to private enterprises.

"Do you think...I could do it?" Zhao Chun froze.

"As a man, how could you not?" Tian Sangsang raised her eyebrows with a teasing smile. "You made chicken soup this delicious, didn’t you? Yanyan, do you think your Chun Zisu can do it?"

Meng Shuyan hadn’t quite followed their conversation, but he eagerly nodded. "He absolutely can!"