1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 220 Wanting to Buy Osmanthus Flowers and Share Wine (Part Two)

After sitting in a riverside teahouse for over an hour, Duan Yuyan took Zhou Momo to try all the local snacks and watch a Sichuan opera face-changing performance before finally taking the satisfied little one home.

"Today was so much fun! The food was delicious, the things were beautiful, and the cars were so comfortable!" Zhou Momo sat next to Duan Yuyan, resting her head gently on her arm, and said softly, "Sister Yuyan, I'm so happy! Thank you for taking me out to play~~"

"You're welcome." Duan Yuyan smiled and shook her head, inwardly screaming: Oh my god! How can she be so cute! She's practically an angel!
"You haven't left yet, but I've already started missing you." Zhou Momo looked at her expectantly. "Sister, when will you come back?"

“I…” Duan Yuyan hesitated.

Grandma went back to Hong Kong with her, and she originally didn't plan to come to Jiaozhou again.

This small town in southern Sichuan didn't hold much special significance for her.

Her grandmother was the reason she came here and stayed for almost a year.

She wasn't as close to her other relatives as she was to Song Wanqing, who often went shopping with her.

But things seem different now.

The dishes Zhou Yan made, and the adorable little girl Zhou Momo, deepened the bond between her and Jiazhou.

"I'll come back when your brother's restaurant opens in Jiaozhou," Duan Yuyan said with a smile.

"Really?!" Zhou Momo's eyes lit up, and she raised her right hand, extending her little finger. "Pinky promise!"

"Pinky promise, for a hundred years, no take-backs." Duan Yuyan smiled and hooked her fingers together with hers, saying with a smile.

"Once it's stamped, it's official!" Zhou Momo looked at their thumbs touching up with a serious expression and smiled happily.

Duan Yuyan also laughed heartily.

"Sister, you must come! I'll have Guoguo treat you to a meal!" the little guy said.

"Mr. Zhou, would you like to come in?" Duan Yuyan asked with a smile, looking at Zhou Yan sitting in the front row.

“Miss Duan has come all this way, so I’ll definitely treat you.” Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

"I'll remember that. I'll only order the most expensive dishes on the menu."

"Order whatever you want, with your tiny appetite, you won't bankrupt me."

"If you put it that way, I'll bring my uncle next year. He can eat a whole cow in one meal!"

"Really? Can it really eat a whole cow?" Zhou Momo was shocked and asked in astonishment.

Everyone in the car laughed.

Back at the Qiu residence, Duan Yuyan presented Zhou Yan with a pre-prepared document for his signature.

After carefully reviewing the document, Zhou Yan signed his name and looked at Duan Yuyan, saying, "Taxes and handling fees..."

Duan Yuyan said, "You don't need to worry about those things, we'll take care of everything. Come up here tomorrow afternoon, and someone will take you to complete the formalities. You just need to sign a few papers. I've already asked around, and the process isn't too complicated. This house belongs to my grandmother, the property rights are clear, and there are no disputes."

“Okay.” Zhou Yan nodded.

Who could resist such a wealthy woman?

Unfortunately, the rich woman only likes Zhou Momo.

"Thank you." Zhou Yan stuffed the document back into the file bag and looked at Duan Yuyan sincerely.

If it weren't for her, how could he have easily bought this courtyard for ten thousand yuan, and even received so many valuable pieces of furniture and ancient books as a bonus from the old lady?

“Saying thank you would be too formal. We’re just having a pleasant working relationship,” Duan Yuyan said with a smile. “If it weren’t for you, my uncle and aunt would have really come to see the old lady as a group. We wouldn’t have been able to bring her to Hong Kong for the New Year.”

"It's nice to have a family reunion." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

"Is the signature complete?" Old Mrs. Qiu came in from the courtyard.

“Yes, they’re all signed.” Zhou Yan nodded.

"Come here, I have a few things to tell you." Old Mrs. Qiu beckoned to Zhou Yan and walked towards the front door.

Zhou Yan quickened his pace and caught up.

"I've been renting these two shops to Qi Laosi, who sells braised meat, and Xiao Zhang, who sells noodles, for two years now. The rent is fifteen yuan a month, paid monthly, and the lease won't end until after the Chinese New Year this year," Grandma Qiu said as she walked.
"Do you want to continue renting to them until the Chinese New Year, or do you plan to take the shop back immediately? If you don't take it back, you'll be collecting the rent from now on. If you do want to take the shop back, that's fine too; I'll just pay them three months' rent as a penalty for breach of contract."

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Yan said, "Then let's stick to the original lease until the Chinese New Year, which is just over two months."

“Alright, then I’ll take you to meet them first, so they know that this house has a new owner.” Old Mrs. Qiu nodded.

Zhou Yan took two quick steps forward and opened the heavy door.

Because of Zhou Yan's words, Qi Laosi was somewhat uneasy all day.

There were many tourists and merchants visiting the pier on Sunday, and the braised meat shop was busy all day, but his mood was not as good as usual.

Could that kid really be here to buy a house?
I just saw him get into Miss Duan's car, chatting and laughing with her. They seemed very familiar with each other, and their relationship was quite close.

Buying a house is one thing, but this guy is also in the same industry as him!
That's a big problem.

They saw that his business was doing well and wanted to get rid of him so they could run it themselves!

His braised meat shop has been open for two years. Although he hasn't built up a good reputation, he's made a lot of money. He can earn at least six or seven hundred yuan a month, and even more during holidays.

When people are out having fun, they are more likely to make impulsive purchases.

After taking a boat tour to see the Leshan Giant Buddha, customers who come into the shop to buy braised meat are expected to be more generous.

"Half a pound of pig's head meat, one pig's ear, three yuan and two mao, here's your change of three mao, take care." Qi Laosi collected the money from the last customer in the shop, and when he looked up, he saw Qiu Laotai and Zhou Yan, who hadn't been to his shop for a long time, enter the shop one after the other. His heart skipped a beat.

"Grandma Qiu, you've arrived." Old Master Qi quickly greeted her with a smile.

"Qi Laosi, I have some news to tell you. I've sold the house, and it will belong to Zhou Yan from now on. He'll be your new landlord." Old Mrs. Qiu got straight to the point and introduced the shop to Qi Laosi. "I just talked to him, and we've agreed that you can rent the shop until the end of the Chinese New Year month, which is the end of February next year. That's three months left. You can discuss how things will go after that. You'll pay the rent to Zhou Yan after that."

The smile on Qi Laosi's face disappeared.

As the smile reached Zhou Yan's face, he said with a smile, "Hello, my name is Zhou Yan. You see, I'm only giving you three months to take your time."

“I…” Qi Laosi gritted his teeth.

"You want to move today?" Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"N-Hello, my name is Qi Laosi." Qi Laosi swallowed the rest of his words, looking at Zhou Yan with a face full of grief and indignation. "Boss Zhou, you never tell the truth! Where is your friend?"

“My friend changed his mind and didn’t want to buy it anymore, which I thought was a good idea, so I bought it,” Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Fine, fine!" Old Qi was so angry he was practically fuming.

Zhou Yan looked at him and said, "I will take back the shop in three months. I'm letting you know in advance so you can start looking for a new shop."

Qi Laosi put on a smile, took out a cigarette and said, "Boss Zhou, could you let me rent it for a few more months? It took me more than two years to revitalize this braised meat shop and build up its reputation."

"No, thank you." Zhou Yan took a half step back and shook his head, saying, "With this foot traffic, you've made a lot of money these past two years. Just find a place to reopen the braised meat shop. As for reputation, don't even mention it. I'll have to leave the shop empty for a few months so people know that the owner has changed."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Qi Laosi had no choice but to give up.

Grandma Qiu looked at him earnestly and said, "Qi Laosi, study the taste of braised meat carefully. You can make it work in another place too. Young man, be more steady."

Qi Laosi quickly straightened his attitude and nodded, saying, "You're right."

Grandma Qiu took Zhou Yan to the noodle shop next door.

The noodle shop owner, a middle-aged woman, was stir-frying noodle toppings when she heard the news. She was somewhat surprised and also asked Zhou Yan for a long-term lease opportunity.

Zhou Yan explicitly refused: "I'm sorry, after I take back this shop, I will demolish the building and rebuild it. I don't know when it will be finished. I don't plan to rent it out again. So you can find a suitable shop to move to in the next three months. Tell your regular customers in advance so that it won't delay your business."

The proprietress was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then sighed helplessly, "Fine, then I'll find a new shop."

"Don't worry, Xiao Zhang, your noodles are delicious and reasonably priced. All the neighbors know that. You've already given them a heads-up, so they'll all go with you," Grandma Qiu reassured her. "By the way, look for a shop a little further down the street; the prices there are cheaper."

"Okay." The proprietress nodded with a smile. "Thank you for taking care of me these past two years, Aunt Qiu. Are you planning to go to Hong Kong to enjoy a life of luxury?"

Grandma Qiu said calmly, "Life in Jiaozhou wasn't hard. I went to Hong Kong to see my children and grandchildren. It wasn't about enjoying life, but about seeing if Hong Kong had changed much in the decades that had passed."

Zhou Yan's lips curled up slightly; the old lady was still too elegant.

As we left the noodle shop, the old lady said, "This house is now considered handed over to you. When we go to Hong Kong, I'll have Xiao Yan deliver the key to your shop."

"Thank you," Zhou Yan said.

The old lady looked at him and smiled, "Rather than watching it decay and fall into ruin, I'd much rather it become a new culinary landmark in Jiaozhou. I think you have the ability to do that. I'll come and taste it again when your new restaurant opens." "Looking forward to your return," Zhou Yan nodded.

The two walked towards the gate, and Zhou Yan spoke up: "Grandma Qiu, there's something else I'd like to ask you. I'm thinking of hiring your housekeeper, Aunt Li, as an employee. You've worked with her for three years; what do you think of her character?"

Grandma Qiu paused, a hint of surprise on her face. She nodded and said, "Lihua is of good character, diligent, not talkative, and never lazy. I've known her for three years and have never seen her lose her temper. I think she'd be a good fit if you wanted to hire her as a waitress; her family is from Suji."

"With your words, I understand now." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile, it seemed he hadn't misjudged him.

"You're a really nice person. You found her a job while you were cooking a meal." Old Mrs. Qiu smiled as well.

Zhou Yan said, "She said that since you're going to Hong Kong, she won't need her anymore and is planning to go back to the village to farm. I think she's quite efficient at her work, and since the shop is hiring, she's a good fit. I'll ask her if she's willing later."

The two entered the courtyard.

Grandma Qiu called Li Lihua over and told her about it.

"Work at a restaurant?" Li Lihua was stunned, but her eyes quickly lit up: "Great! Of course I'd agree! I'm so happy!"

"You don't even ask about the salary?" Old Mrs. Qiu said with a smile.

Li Lihua gave an awkward smile and looked at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan said, "The restaurant is located in Suji Town, at the entrance of Jiaozhou Textile Factory. The salary is the same as your salary at Qiu Mansion, twenty a month. However, the restaurant will be quite busy. You have to be at the restaurant at six in the morning to help with the preparation of ingredients, serving dishes, and washing dishes. You can only go home after the business closes at night, around seven o'clock. You can rest one day a week on Sundays."

“I’ll do it!” Li Lihua nodded without hesitation.

In Suji Town, the monthly salary is twenty yuan!
This earns much more than farming.

She had worked in a restaurant for two years and was quite adept at these jobs.

No matter how tiring the work is at the restaurant, it's not as tiring as farming.

Not having to rely on the weather for a living, and being able to steadily receive a salary every month, is better than anything else.

“Okay, then come to work after you’ve finished dealing with things at the Qiu residence.” Zhou Yan nodded; things were going much more smoothly than he had expected.

"Okay, I'll do as the boss says." Li Lihua nodded with a smile.

Grandma Qiu smiled and said, "No need to wait. There's nothing for you to do at home. Lihua, go pack your things now. Xiao Yan will take you back to Suji later. You can go to work tomorrow morning. It won't delay you at all."

"Thank you for taking care of me these past few years. I'm going to Hong Kong and don't know when I'll be back. The house has been sold, so I really can't keep you here. Zhou Yan is an honest and kind man. If you work for him and do your job well, there won't be any problems."

“Madam…” Li Lihua’s eyes immediately reddened upon hearing this.

"Aunt Li, we'll come back to see you next year," Duan Yuyan said with a smile.

"Okay." Li Lihua nodded, turned around and went inside to pack her things, silently wiping away her tears.

Grandma Qiu looked at Duan Yuyan and said, "Could you count out twenty yuan for me and pay Lihua's salary for this month?"

"Okay," Duan Yuyan replied, rummaging through her small bag and taking out three ten-yuan bills. She smiled and said, "I have ten yuan left, consider it a small token of my appreciation. Do you think that's appropriate?"

The old lady smiled and said, "If it's your money and you're willing to give it, then it's appropriate."

Before long, Li Lihua came out carrying a bundle wrapped in a bed sheet, which was bulging and probably included the quilt.

"Lihua, this is your salary for this month. I've settled it for you." The old lady handed the money to Li Lihua.

Li Lihua took two steps back and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no, Madam, it's only been a week this month, I don't want my salary!"

"This is not only your salary, but also a bonus for your work over the past three years. Ten yuan of it is a small token of appreciation from Yuyan for the care you've given her during this time." Old Mrs. Qiu stuffed the money into her hand and smiled, "Keep it safe. You know my personality."

"Please accept this, Aunt Li. Thank you for taking care of me during this time," Duan Yuyan said with a smile.

"This..." Li Lihua hesitated for a long time, but still accepted the money and said thank you with red eyes.

She knew that the wife was different from Miss Duan and didn't like push-pull tactics and formalities.

"Are you all getting ready to go back too?" Duan Yuyan asked Zhou Yan.

“Yes, four o’clock, just right to go home.” Zhou Yan nodded.

"Okay, drive carefully." Duan Yuyan nodded and handed Zhou Yan a stack of ten-yuan bills. "Here's a hundred yuan. Thank you for cooking this family feast today. I enjoyed it very much."

Zhou Yan was about to say something when Duan Yuyan interrupted, "You know my personality. Keep it to yourself, I'll call you again next time."

"Then I won't be polite." Zhou Yan accepted the money with a nonchalant air.

Duan Yuyan bent down and pinched Zhou Momo's cheek. "See you next time, Momo."

"Goodbye, Sister Yuyan, Grandma Qiu." Zhou Momo waved to the two of them.

“Then I should head back.” Wang Yu walked over, looked at Qiu Qi with a smile and said, “Qiqi, though old friends are far apart, our hearts are connected. Goodbye.”

"Goodbye." Qiu Qi nodded slightly, her eyes sparkling with a smile.

Li Lihua got into the car and drove away.

Duan Yuyan had originally asked Zhou Momo if she wanted to take a car back to Suji, but the little one refused.

Although Zhou Yan's old bicycle was slow, her bottom hurt a bit, and there was dust on the road, she still preferred to ride on her brother's front bar to go home.

Between luxury cars and bicycles, she chose bicycles without hesitation.

To be honest, Zhou Yan was a little moved after hearing this.

Zhou Yan rode his bicycle back to Suji with Grandpa Wang. On the way, he could sense that the old man was a little down and not as carefree as he said.

Indeed, no matter how frequently the correspondence was exchanged, once the letters were exchanged in Hong Kong and then returned to Jiaozhou, it was already a month-old emotional response.

Even though the mountain city is so close, it still takes five or six days for letters to travel back and forth.

Zhou Yan could only comfort him, saying, "Master Wang, life is full of partings and reunions, so let's enjoy our time together."

Master Wang smiled and said in a low voice, "I accepted the separation, but I underestimated the longing."

"We just said goodbye, but I can't help but start thinking about her."

Zhou Yan looked at the wind ruffling his neatly combed white hair, and the wrinkles on his face seemed especially deep at that moment.

Sorry?
How could I not feel regret?

There is a reopening day, and no one is young.

He read so many books; perhaps he has even more regrets.

"I wanted to buy osmanthus blossoms and share wine, but it's nothing like the carefree days of my youth," Wang Yu said with a smile, turning to look at Zhou Yan: "Youth is wonderful, remember to seize the opportunity."

Zhou Yan nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"I found two books the day before yesterday..." Master Wang seemed to have made peace with himself and started talking to him about books.

Zhou Yan brought Zhou Momo back to the hotel, where Aunt Zhao and the others had just arrived.

"Mom, I rode in a toy car today! It was so much fun..." As soon as Zhou Momo got out of the car, she jumped into Aunt Zhao's arms and happily chattered on and on.

"Is everything done?" Comrade Zhou asked.

“Yes, we signed the papers today, and we’ll go to complete the transfer procedures tomorrow afternoon. Duan Yuyan has arranged everything, and they’ll even cover the taxes and fees. She’s very easygoing.” Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

"That's good." Comrade Zhou nodded.

"How's the house? Is it big inside? Is it well-maintained? If we don't renovate it for now, can we still live there?" Aunt Zhao asked Zhou Yan eagerly, holding Zhou Momo in her arms.

"The house is very big, with ten rooms, a front yard, and a back yard. Grandma Qiu left us some furniture, all in excellent condition. There are mahogany chairs, a huanghuali wood eight-immortal table, and a wardrobe covered in mother-of-pearl inlay. If you really wanted to live there, you could just roll up a quilt and move in," Zhou Yan said. "There are also two shops, which can bring in thirty yuan in rent a month."

"Grandma Qiu is so kind! She gave us so many nice things. It's great that she also has a stable income of thirty yuan a month! She really managed to buy this house!" Aunt Zhao said with a beaming smile.

Zhou Yan also smiled and said, "They're going to Hong Kong on Friday. Once they get the keys, I'll take you to see our new home."

"Get it!"

"We have to go! We have to go see them tonight!"

Aunt Zhao and Comrade Zhou's faces were full of anticipation.

　This chapter is 800 words short... I'll add it tomorrow.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)