Journey 1995:Non-Stop

Chapter 176 An Unexpected Joy

Yan Hui's father's words had a significant impact on him. Yan Hui had previously considered collaborating with his cousin, but that would have made profit sharing very difficult. According to his father, he needed to cultivate his own team.

Yan Hui had always been closest to Lao Si (the fourth brother) since childhood. Unfortunately, Lao Si didn't come home for Chinese New Year again, standing him up. Lao Si and his family were still running a bamboo weaving business in Gansu Province, and they weren't coming home for the holiday. Lao Si's surname was Xiao, and the Xiao family was considered "outsiders" in the village, with a weaker sense of clan. Of course, Lao Si wanted to come back, but his parents always felt it was a waste of money and unnecessary.

The eldest and fourth brothers haven't returned, and the second brother is doing relatively well in Beijing, so the only person I can trust right now is the third brother.

A few days ago, when I met Lao San, Yan Hui talked about this matter. Lao San was very interested, but he still needed to convince his family, so Yan Hui didn't urge him.

The third son has graduated from vocational school and is still doing the same work in the village as before, earning a negligible income in Yan Hui's eyes. If he went out with Yan Hui, his income could easily increase tenfold. But Yan Hui has never been one to make empty promises; this is a decision that the third son and his family need to make themselves.

During this year's Chinese New Year, several elders came to inquire about Yan Hui's situation. His eldest uncle, fourth uncle, and others also spoke with Yan Hui privately about business matters and expressed their approval of him.

Upon returning home, Yan Hui learned that his aunt and uncle's family had also invested money in his fourth uncle's business, meaning that his fourth uncle's factory wasn't entirely funded by his own money. His aunt asked Yan Hui if the work his fourth uncle had assigned him when he opened the factory was tiring, and Yan Hui replied that it wasn't.

Yan Hui, 18, was considered a relatively outstanding young man in the clan, but he didn't have much influence. The New Year passed quickly and lively, and the third brother finally settled down to go to Jianye with Yan Hui.

Yan Hui decided to return to Jianye on the ninth day of the lunar new year, as there was a classmate reunion on the eighth.

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Yan Hui was tidying up at home when his second son brought some classmates and friends to his door, inviting him to play cards, specifically a card game called "Upgrading". Yan Hui happily went over.

"What have you been busy with lately? I've never seen you all day long," Yan Hui asked, walking down the street.

"Nothing much. By the way, has the third brother decided to go to Jianye with you?" the second brother asked.

“Okay, it’s settled. We’ll leave together on the ninth.” Yan Hui nodded. “The third brother’s family is quite worried. To be honest, they don’t know what he’s so attached to about his work in the village.”

"I only heard about this a few days ago. As soon as you came back this year, you bought a big color TV and a big refrigerator for your family, and you even want to install a telephone. His parents probably agreed to let him go out with you because they heard about these things," the second son guessed.

"What have you been busy with lately?" Yan Hui asked again.

"What can I be busy with? Just busy with nothing." The second brother changed the subject. "You guys do well in Jianye. I might come to visit you again if I have the chance."

"Huh? You were doing just fine in the capital?" Yan Hui asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Beijing. I don't have a temporary residence permit right now, which is going to be a hassle." The second brother sighed.

“Okay, if your business over there doesn’t work out, come find me in Jianye.” Yan Hui had always thought that the second brother was a very reliable person, at least more dependable than the third brother.

"Alright, good brother!" The second brother put his arm around Yan Hui's shoulder, and the two went to the second brother's house together.

The second son's house is a traditional Fujian Tulou (earthen building), with two floors, but the staircase leading to the second floor is very narrow, making it difficult for people to pass each other.

I don't know why, but my second brother's house was unusually lively today.

The second son's family lives in a Tulou (earthen building) with an earthen stove. Today, in addition to the kitchen, a pot was set up in the yard. The second son's father was busy at both ends, and many dishes were laid out on the table outside.

"So many dishes? Uncle, I want to eat here today!" Yan Hui greeted his second son's father.

"Huh? Of course, you'll definitely eat here!" the second son's father said matter-of-factly. "Huh?" Yan Hui felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

The second brother's family had a lot of people today, at least more than 30 people coming and going. Although the Lunar New Year is usually a time of decorations and lively celebrations, today was quite special.

The second brother went to get busy and invited Yan Hui and the others upstairs.

Yan Hui and several classmates and friends were playing cards when they heard the sound of gongs and drums outside. The classmates peeked out and saw the second oldest riding a bicycle back from outside, surrounded by a group of people. On the back of the bicycle sat a girl in a red dress with a red veil covering her head.

When we arrived at the door, there was a brazier at the entrance.

"Huh? Today is the second son's wedding?" Yan Hui's head exploded at the sight. He didn't even know about this?

"You don't know?" Several classmates were also confused. "Aren't you brothers?"

"Ah!" Yan Hui was completely dumbfounded. He rubbed his eyes and even pinched his thigh.

This is not a dream.

When did the second son tell me he wanted to get married?

No?

what?
Yan Hui was completely shocked and speechless. Even after finishing the meal, he was still a little dazed. To this day, he is still somewhat confused about his second son's wedding and can no longer remember the specific details.

In the evening, Yan Hui returned home and told his parents and sister that he wouldn't be coming home that night, but would be eating and sleeping at his second brother's house. His mother asked him why, and Yan Hui said that his second brother was getting married today.

Upon hearing Yan Hui's words, his mother immediately laughed: "You brothers are such good friends, you didn't even know you were getting married, you're really something."

I, Yan Hui, was speechless, completely subdued by the second brother.

On the way back to his second son's house, Yan Hui finally calmed down and accepted the fact that his second son was getting married.

In his hometown village, getting married at the second oldest is considered quite old; many of Yan Hui's classmates are already married. Of the people currently playing cards, only Yan Hui and one other classmate are unmarried. If it hadn't been so sudden, Yan Hui wouldn't have been so surprised.

Walking down the street, Yan Hui could understand his second brother's situation somewhat. His brother was probably still embarrassed because of Liu Yu. However, Liu Yu had gotten married last year, so the matter was practically over.

When Yan Hui arrived at his second brother's house, he had nothing to do, so he spent the whole night playing "Upgrading" with his classmates. He won over a hundred meters, but he didn't even take the money.

A hundred or so yuan was really meaningless to Yan Hui, but his classmates would feel bad about it. They were celebrating the New Year, so they decided to let it go. Yan Hui didn't take the rice, and his classmates felt embarrassed, but they all knew that Yan Hui was the boss, so they stopped worrying about it.

Before going to bed that night, Yan Hui gave his second brother a beating, which brought the night to a perfect close.

After the class reunion, he should return to Jianye.

(End of this chapter)