1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 336 Tie Ying, the in-laws are here?

The weather in Jiaozhou has stabilized recently, remaining consistently cold.

Therefore, those households in Zhoucun who are well-off have already started slaughtering pigs to make cured meat and sausages.

For those with average means, these two pigs in the pigsty are raised for others. They cut pig feed and feed them sweet potatoes all year round, and finally see some return on their investment at the end of the year.

Gao Cuihua's family lives diagonally across from the Zhou family's old house. Today, they are also slaughtering a pig. They started cutting the meat at six o'clock in the morning.

Half of the pig was taken away by the butcher to sell, while the other half was kept to make cured meat and sausages.

Gao Cuihua was dressed in bright red today, with two patches of red blush on her cheeks. She stood at the door directing Zhou Kunkun and Zhou Liangliang to work, her face beaming with pride.

Wu Guihua, wearing an apron, assisted on the side, preparing pig's blood and washing pig intestines.

The two grandsons were playing in the sand nearby.

Gao Cuihua is the village's women's director, and her family's financial situation is considered quite good in Zhoucun.

Recently, Zhou Liangliang's noodle business has been booming, and with the addition of braised beef, he can earn at least five yuan a day!
We're slaughtering a pig today, and I've called my relatives over to help. We'll have a lively pig-slaughtering feast at noon.

Gao Cuihua received more praise today than in the past year. Everyone envied her son for being successful and for having two grandsons.

He was riding high on his success.

Zhou Kunkun looked up at Zhou Miao and the others who were setting up a pig-slaughtering stool across the door and said, "I heard that Zhou Miao's family is also slaughtering a pig to make cured meat and sausages. They came back this morning and have already put the pig-slaughtering stool at the door."

“Sanshui and Tieying are having such a good time now, working at the restaurant with Zhou Yan. I don’t know how much money their family is making! I heard they earn at least a thousand yuan a month, and they’ll become a ten-thousand-yuan household in a year! I think Zhou Yan will definitely be the first ten-thousand-yuan household in our Zhou Village.” Zhou Kunkun’s older brother, Zhou Qianjin, chimed in, his tone filled with undisguised envy.

"A millionaire! That's amazing!" Zhou Kunkun exclaimed.

"I'm afraid it's more than that. Zhou Yan has even bought a house in Jiaozhou, and I heard it's a really big one. Zhou Jie and Zhou Hai learned the recipe for braised beef from Zhou Yan and they also help sell braised meat. Now they're probably earning a thousand a month." Zhou Liangliang said in a low voice, his tone a little sour. "Those two brothers are so lucky, making money by following him around."

The more they talked, the more excited they became, filled with envy for Zhou Yan and his family.

We're all from the same village, and we're all brothers three generations back. If something happens, it spreads throughout the village the next day.

Upon hearing this, Gao Cuihua's smile froze, and she said somewhat sourly, "Bullshit! I think he's just bragging! His restaurant has only been open for a few months and he can already buy a house in Jiaozhou? So many people in our Zhoucun sell hot pot, and none of them have made a fortune."

"He's bragging so much, but he doesn't seem to be bringing a wife home yet. My Liangliang is only three years older than him, and both of his kids can already call her 'Grandma' and go buy soy sauce."

“Ah, yes, yes, yes.” Zhou Kunkun and Zhou Qianjin nodded in agreement. Gao Cuihua’s words seemed to make some sense.

It was Zhou Yan and his family who brought up the matter of buying a house. This made everyone feel a little better and offered some comfort.

Gao Cuihua's voice was quite loud; even Zhou Qing and Zhou Miao, who were working opposite her, could hear it.

Zhou Qing frowned, immediately becoming somewhat displeased: "This Gao Cuihua, as the women's director, is such a tiny official, like a three-pronged fork tied to a dung ditch, she has such a stinking air about her."

“She dares to act like this in front of us, Gao Cuihua has no sense of propriety at all! Zhou Yan is only a few years old, just turned twenty this year! She really is... really…” Ma Jinhua said angrily, but unfortunately she was not good at cursing, so she punched Zhou Han next to her in anger.

Zhou Han: "?"

"If you're angry, take it out on Gao Cuihua. Why are you hitting my hand?" Zhou Han looked completely innocent.

“Jin Hua can’t even utter two farts in three sentences, let me do it.” Yang Qiuju stepped forward, cleared her throat, and was about to start cursing.

"Forget it, forget it, why bother arguing with her?" Zhao Tieying laughed and pulled her back. "Ignore her, let's start the fire, and later we can eat sunflower seeds, chat, and watch them slaughter the pig."

"Huh?" Everyone looked at Zhao Tieying with surprise.

"Tieying, what's wrong with you? How could you tolerate this?" Yang Qiuju looked at her in confusion.

Of the four daughters-in-law in the Zhou family, Ma Jinhua was the most honest and simple. Apart from beating her husband and kicking her son at home, she usually only had to endure mistreatment outside the home. She was not good at cursing people, and her two sons were also honest and simple.

When it comes to the most formidable fighter, it has to be Zhao Tieying, the number one crooked woman in Zhoucun.

The Iron Lady's reputation wasn't just because her name contained the word "iron." In her youth, she was unmatched in her verbal sparring in Zhoucun, and even dogs that passed by would get slapped twice.

Moreover, she is extremely protective of her own family members. Not only does she protect her two sons, but every single member of the Zhou family is protected. If anyone is bullied outside, she will be the first to step in, even more so than the men in the family.

One year, Zhou Linhai, a local bully, got drunk and made a lewd joke about Ma Jinhua, saying that her buttocks were big and round and would definitely make a loud slap.

Before Zhou Han could react, Zhao Tieying arrived at the door with a gun and fired three shots without saying a word.

One shot shattered the light bulb in Zhou Linhai's house, another shot blew up their water tank, and the last shot hit Zhou Linhai five centimeters below the crotch, tearing a hole in his pants.

Zhou Linhai, a tall man of 1.8 meters, was so scared that he wet himself on the spot.

This matter eventually alarmed the police, and after an investigation, Zhou Linhai, who had harmed the villagers, was imprisoned for three years.

Zhao Tieying, as a model militia member, was commended for her meritorious service in eliminating evil and maintaining peace.

With three shots, she shattered the village tyrant's spirit, and the name "Iron Lady" became famous in Zhoucun and even throughout the entire Suji Town.

From then on, no one dared to make a single joke about the women of the Zhou family.

Even the men in the village treated Zhao Tieying with utmost respect, instinctively keeping their legs tightly closed as they walked.

As for swearing, that's her forte.

I don't know where she learned so many rhymes and proverbs, but when she curses, she does it with such gusto, spewing out a string of profanities. She can curse someone's ancestors for eighteen generations without repeating herself. They must be lucky.

Over the years, Gao Cuihua has been the only one in Zhoucun who can rival her.

Gao Cuihua was also quite skilled; her ability to curse was on par with Zhao Tieying's, and her ability to climb the social ladder was unparalleled. She even had good relationships with the town's officials, which is how she secured the position of Zhoucun Women's Director, a post she held for eighteen years.

Zhao Tieying and Gao Cuihua have been sworn enemies since they were young. If they don't quarrel once a month, the villagers think it's abnormal.

When the two started arguing, a lot of people came to watch, some even bringing their own stools and sunflower seeds.

When masters clash, everyone wants to learn a few moves.

These past few months, Zhao Tieying and her family moved to the town, and Zhoucun has become much quieter. At the end of the month, when everyone gathers together to celebrate, they mostly feel that something is missing, as a regular event is gone.

To be honest, it's no worse than the face-changing performances that are brought to the countryside.

Today is Sunday, and Zhao Tieying and the others are back to slaughter a pig, which is a rare occurrence. Gao Cuihua is cheekily mocking Zhou Yan, which is really going against Zhao Tieying's wishes.

In the past, Zhao Tieying would have immediately retorted.

These sisters-in-law were responsible for breaking up fights and keeping an eye on the guns in the house.

Who would have thought that Zhao Tieying would be so calm today, and even try to break up a fight?

"Tieying, what's wrong with you?" Yang Qiuju looked at Zhao Tieying with a puzzled expression. "This isn't like you at all."

“Exactly.” Ma Jinhua looked at her with the same puzzlement. “Does money really nourish people like that? Does it make them so peaceful and generous?”

Zhao Tieying smiled and said, "No, it's just that I don't think it's necessary to argue with her. Our Zhou Yan is tall and handsome, and his restaurant business is doing very well. Finding a partner is a natural thing for him."

Anyone with eyes could see him. His family set up a stall across from ours all day, but they ran away in disgrace without making a single sale, not even earning back their rent. She was heartbroken, and it's normal for me, someone who laughs at others, to be more forgiving.

Zhao Tieying didn't muffle her voice either, just enough for Gao Cuihua and the others to hear.

Zhou Liangliang blushed and lowered his head to cut the meat. This was too embarrassing. He had never dared to say it in the village. Today, his mother had provoked him, and Zhao Tieying had brought it up. He would inevitably be laughed at in the future.

Gao Cuihua broke down instantly, hands on her hips, and angrily said, "Zhao Tieying, don't talk nonsense! We call it returning to the right place, only then will the dock bring prosperity to our Liangliang!"

We sell noodles and braised beef at the dock, and business is booming. I think you're just jealous that we're making money, that's why you're criticizing us!

Zhao Tieying smiled and said, "I can't stand seeing you earning just three or five yuan, with your whole family struggling to make ends meet at your stall. You're making a big deal out of it, like a precious pearl dipped in soy sauce."

"That's true. It's better than just selling hot pot; we can still make ends meet, and we can eat cured meat and sausages during the New Year."

Zhao Tieying's words were light and airy, without a trace of anger, lacking her usual fierceness.

But it was precisely these two light-hearted words that made Gao Cuihua so angry that her eyes turned red.

What does she mean?
Do they look down on Gao Cuiying, and their family?!

The pig slaughter was supposed to be a good opportunity to watch the excitement, but the renewed dispute between Zhao Tieying and Gao Cuihua attracted the attention of many villagers. Some people turned around and went back into their houses to get small stools, only to find out what they were hearing when they got closer.

Three months have passed, but the Iron Lady's skills haven't diminished at all!
The sarcastic tone was spot-on, but that's not what they wanted to see.

They want to see rivers of blood!
Sniping at the middle gate, let's increase the intensity!

Zhao Tieying didn't argue with Gao Cuihua. She turned and went into the courtyard. A moment later, she came out with a bag of candy in her hand. She smiled and handed the candy to her own and the neighbor's children, saying, "Come on, be good and eat some candy."

"Time for candy!"

"Thank you, Sister Four~~"

"Thank you, Fourth Grandma!"

Most of the children in the village only get to see candy during festivals like Chinese New Year. They were all overjoyed to receive the candy from Zhao Tieying.

"It looks like Tieying and the others have really made some money. They've started giving out candy to the kids even before the New Year, and it's fruit hard candy."

“Last time I went to the market in town, I stopped by Zhou Yan’s restaurant at noon. Wow, there was a really long queue, business was booming.”

The villagers were talking about it, and some shameless people even went up to take the candy.

Gao Cuihua's expression was somewhat unpleasant. If Zhao Tieying were to argue with her hysterically, she could at least put up a fight.

Now Zhao Tieying speaks in a sarcastic tone, and she no longer shouts curses, but when you think about what she says, it's even more unpleasant to hear than when she's cursing.

Her two grandsons, who were playing in the mud, saw the candy and immediately threw down their sticks and ran towards Zhao Tieying.

"Hey! You two, stand up straight!" Gao Cuiying shouted in a drawn-out voice.

But the two children were only three or four years old, and all they could see was candy. They wouldn't listen to any advice and immediately ran up to Zhao Tieying, looking up and shouting, "Fourth Grandma! Fourth Grandma! Candy~" "Come on, Xiaoying, Xiaorong, here's some candy for you." Zhao Tieying smiled and grabbed a handful of candy for them.

"Thank you, Fourth Grandma! Happy New Year! May you live a long and healthy life!" The little guy took the candy, happily said auspicious words, and ran back to his doorstep.

Gao Cuihua looked at the two little ones with a dark expression.

"Xiaoying, Xiaorong, come here quickly!" Wu Guihua hurriedly called the two children to the side, secretly glancing at Gao Cuihua's expression, feeling a little nervous.

Zhao Tieying handed out candy to the children. Seeing Gao Cuihua glaring at the two children with a dark face, she laughed and said, "Gao Cuihua, you, the women's director, are quite petty. Our conflict is between the two of us. What's wrong with the two kids calling me Fourth Grandma and asking for candy?"

"Even a tiny baby has to be subservient to you. The Qing Dynasty has been gone for years. Are you Empress Dowager Cixi?"

Gao Cuihua was so angry that her nostrils were practically spitting fire. She gritted her teeth and said, "Don't talk nonsense. You've said all the good things. I'll buy candy for my grandson if he wants some."

San Tang, I think you're just jealous of other people having grandchildren! If you're so capable, why don't you have your Zhou Yan have two too?

"Oh, with the one-child policy now, you don't even have the chance to have two. If you have a girl, you'll be crying somewhere. That's right, your Zhou Yan doesn't even have a girlfriend, what kind of baby can he have?"

Zhao Tieying scoffed, "Women's Director? You have no awareness at all. What about girls? Isn't 'Boys and girls are the same' your daily slogan?"
If you can't handle it, get out! You're always all red eyebrows and green eyes, looking like everyone owes you 20,000.

Gao Cuihua opened her mouth, but didn't dare to finish the sentence.

"jingle!"

A clear, crisp bell rang out.

Everyone turned around.

"Zhou Yan is back!"

"Who's that girl in the car behind him? She's so pretty! She looks like a city girl."

"Even though Zhou Yan is wearing an old cotton-padded jacket today, I still feel like he's really made a lot of money."

"I think so too! If I hadn't made a lot of money, how could I have found such a beautiful and charming partner!"

"And who are those two in the car behind? They look like intellectuals, dressed so well."

The villagers were buzzing with discussion, craning their necks to watch, and the most curious of all was the girl riding on the back of Zhou Yan's bicycle.

She's so beautiful.

Her skin is fair and beautiful, and her clothes are also very nice, just like a movie star.

Today I'm definitely going back to the village with Zhou Yan for the pig-slaughtering feast!
That must be Zhou Yan's boyfriend.

You can't escape!
Zhou Yan greeted the village elders with a smile, his eyebrows soaring as if they were flying into the sky.

As Xia Yao listened to those words, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and she gently put her hand, which was holding the car seat, up to hug Zhou Yan's waist.

His waist is quite slim; I can feel his abs even through his cotton-padded coat. I really like it.

Her face immediately turned red.

"Wow, she's really beautiful, with such fair skin." Zhou Liangliang straightened up, looked over with everyone, and muttered to himself.

Wu Guihua glared at him with murderous intent, which frightened him so much that he quickly lowered his head and continued cutting the meat.

Gao Cuihua's face turned ashen. She had just said that Zhou Yan didn't have a girlfriend, and then he brought back such a beautiful city girl. The slap had swelled up her face.

"Yaoyao, Anhe, Zhiqiang, and the two little darlings, you're here!" Zhao Tieying greeted them with a smile, glancing at Gao Cuihua's direction like a victorious rooster.

You little punk, you're still too green to mess with me.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen." Xia Yao got out of the back seat and greeted everyone in a graceful manner.

She recognized Zhou Yan's uncles and aunts from the last time she met them in Jiaozhou, and they even had a meal together. Although she was surrounded by a group of villagers, she didn't feel embarrassed with Zhou Yan by her side.

"Sister Ying, you've made all the preparations?" Meng Anhe got out of the car, carrying a small bag, and asked with a smile as she looked at the pig-slaughtering stool placed by the door.

"Isn't this just waiting for Zhiqiang to come and pound the pigs?" Zhao Tieying said with a smile.

"I came prepared today, and I specially changed into a pair of Liberation shoes. I'm sure I can keep him under control." Lin Zhiqiang parked his bicycle on the side of the road, lifted Lin Bingwen off the front bar, and took the cloth bag out of the basket as well. He deliberately showed off his new Liberation shoes to show his determination.

"Godmother!"

Hello, godmother!

Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen ran over to greet them.

"Sweetie, have some candy." Zhao Tieying smiled and grabbed two handfuls of candy for them, her hands almost overflowing with them.

"Yaoyao, my dear, you're here." The old lady came out of the yard upon hearing the voice. Today she was wearing a light blue cotton-padded jacket, her silver hair was tied up and combed neatly, and she looked full of energy.

"Grandma," Xia Yao called out with a smile, and then introduced her, "This is my aunt, this is my uncle, and these two are my cousins."

Zhou Yan was completely unable to get a word in edgewise.

"Grandma, my name is Meng Anhe. I've heard Yao Yao talk about you several times." Meng Anhe took the cloth bag from Lin Zhiqiang's hand and stepped forward with a smile, saying, "I came here with Zhou Yan today for the pig-slaughtering feast, and also to see you. This is a small token of our appreciation."

"Just come and have the pig-slaughtering feast, why bring anything else? You're too kind." The old lady smiled and accepted the food. "Meng Anhe, what a beautiful name. Your father must have been a cultured gentleman, and your mother must have been very beautiful. That's why you and Yaoyao are so good-looking. The whole family is full of beauties. And the two little darlings are also very handsome and well-mannered."

"You flatter me too much. My mom and you will definitely get along well," Meng Anhe said with a smile.

The old lady had a kind face and a straight back. Although her face was covered with fine lines, her bone structure was beautiful. She was completely different from the rural old lady she had imagined. She had a special kind of temperament about her.

Just by listening to him talk, you can tell that being with him would be very comfortable; he's not the kind of person who's unreasonable or rude.

"Grandma, I also brought you something." Xia Yao smiled and stepped forward, handing over the cloth bag she was carrying.

"You're so thoughtful, my dear." The old lady smiled and took the bag. The bag was open, and she could see a bottle of wine at a glance. Her smile became even brighter.

"Come on in, have a seat. Let's have some hot tea first, and then let them push the pigs out of the sty," the old lady said, inviting everyone inside.

“Okay.” Meng Anhe nodded and followed the old lady into the courtyard with Xia Yao.

"Sister Yao Yao~~" Zhou Momo ran over, stuffed a candy into her palm, and whispered with a smile, "Watermelon flavored!"

"Okay." Xia Yao smiled knowingly, put the candy in her pocket, and took her little hand to walk into the yard.

"Come on, Awei, let's go have some tea." Zhou Yan put his arm around Awei and walked into the courtyard.

"Drink hammer, I'm going to the pigsty to pound the pigs!" Awei clenched his fist, raised his hand, and showed off his biceps.

Zhou Yan pulled off his old cotton-padded coat, revealing the vest he was wearing underneath. With a little effort, his biceps were almost taut; the muscles weren't huge, but the lines were quite defined.

"Damn! Dude, what are you doing? Aren't you a chef?" Awei put his hand down, looking hurt. "Never mind, I'm going to have some tea."

"Tie Ying, your in-laws are here?"

"Your wife is so beautiful, are you planning to get married this year?"

"No wonder they never argue, they were waiting for this move. Even after three months without arguing, they're still the best in Zhoucun." A familiar villager joked with Zhao Tieying.

"Don't talk nonsense. Yao Yao is Zhou Yan's friend, and An He is my in-law. The two kids call me their godmother." Zhao Tieying smiled broadly and handed out candy to everyone. "Come on, have some candy!"

"Eat, eat, eat! The wedding candy is so sweet!" The laughter from the crowd grew even louder.

Gao Cuihua was so angry that her face swelled up, and she turned around and went into her own yard.

Xia Yao and Meng Anhe entered the courtyard. In the corner of the courtyard, a large white goose spread its wings and stared at them menacingly, as if it were about to pounce at any moment.

"What a huge goose!" Lin Bingwen and Lin Jingxing were so frightened that they hid behind Lin Zhiqiang. They had previously eaten at his father's colleague's farmhouse and were chased by a huge goose that screamed loudly. It was very fierce and had a lot of strength.

Xia Yao had heard about it, and subconsciously pulled Zhou Momo to the side.

"Don't be afraid, Dabai won't bite," Zhou Momo comforted, pulling her hand away from Xia Yao's and giving Dabai a big slap in the back. In a childish voice, she warned, "Dabai, this is one of our own. You're not allowed to spread your wings! You're not allowed to bite! Otherwise, I'll have Guoguo stew you!"

The once arrogant white goose immediately lowered its noble head, retracted its outstretched wings, and obediently rubbed its head against Zhou Momo's hand to show its submission.

Everyone who saw this couldn't help but laugh.

“This goose only listens to three people in this house: my grandma, my uncle, and Momo,” Zhou Yan explained with a smile. “I have to carry a stick to defend myself when I come in.”

Lin Zhiqiang said, "The guard geese are fiercer than guard dogs. These geese are very fat, weighing at least ten kilograms. They smell delicious when stewed in an iron pot. When we were training in the north, our favorite winter dish was stewed goose in an iron pot."

The goose, which had been hanging its head, suddenly glanced at Lin Zhiqiang and let out two honks.

"I wasn't talking about you, I wasn't talking about you," Lin Zhiqiang quickly waved his hand.

Xia Yao had seen this small courtyard and the goose in Zhou Momo's painting, and her eyes searched around the courtyard for the tabby cat.

Zhou Yan immediately recognized what she was looking for and explained with a smile, "Hua Hua may have gone out to play. Cats in the countryside are all free-range and mainly eat mice and sparrows. Whether they are at home or not depends entirely on their mood. Sometimes they will go out to play for a couple of days."

Xia Yao laughed when she heard this: "Is that so? My grandpa's orange cat catches mice but doesn't eat them. It only loves to eat fish. My grandpa often goes to the small river in front of our house to fish for it. It just stands by and eats every fish that comes up. It's very fat and shiny. It's very affectionate. You can always find it on the windowsill at home, and it's always sleeping."

The yard is quite large and very clean. There's a section in one corner where chickens, ducks, and geese are kept, as well as a pigsty. There's a slight smell, but it's well-ventilated, so it's tolerable.

After crossing the courtyard and arriving at the main room, everyone instinctively stopped in their tracks as soon as they entered.

Two plaques hang on the wall directly opposite the entrance of the main room—"Family of First-Class Heroes"—the golden characters shining brightly.

They had heard that the Zhou family's old house had two plaques inscribed with the title of First-Class Meritorious Servicemen, but when they actually saw the plaques, the shock they felt made Lin Zhiqiang and Meng Anhe's scalps tingle.

The two plaques represent the highest honor for soldiers.

　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)