Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 86 Recognition of relatives
The family quarters of Jianguomen Police Station are located at the end of a narrow alley. The five-story brick walls, covered with withered vines, are dusty and gray. Two strings of frozen sausages hang outside the iron railings of the balconies. Honeycomb briquette boxes and stacks of cabbages for winter are piled up in the corridor.

Inside room 202, a middle-aged woman with gray hair sat on the sofa, staring straight ahead, as if she were reminiscing or daydreaming.

The house is a two-bedroom apartment. Although it is not big, it is quite respectable. A 14-inch Peony brand TV is placed on the cabinet, and an award certificate for outstanding work of the police station is placed under the glass.

The woman seemed somewhat out of place in the house.

"Knock knock..." A knocking sound came from outside the door.

The woman shuddered, shrank back, and slowly turned her head to look at the door.

A rough voice rang out from outside the door, "Fanghua, I'm back."

Upon hearing this voice, the woman showed little expression and remained seated on the sofa.

"Creak..." The door opened.

Director Wei greeted her with a smile, "Fanghua, I've brought a guest today. Do you recognize her?"

The woman stood up, looked towards the door, her expression still indifferent, but she said politely, "Come in, I'll go pour you some tea."

Director Wei walked over, grabbed the woman's arm, pointed at Wang Jianjun and said, "This guest is here to see you. Take a look, does he look familiar?"

The woman glanced at Wang Jianjun and couldn't look away. Those eyebrows, that nose…you are…”

Wang Jianjun looked at the woman, his expression also somewhat moved. "I am Jianjun, Wu Shuhua's son."

“Jianjun…” The woman’s pupils contracted sharply. She grabbed Wang Jianjun’s arm and pulled up his sleeve, revealing a brown scar on his forearm.

“Jianjun! It really is Jianjun! Waaah…” The woman hugged Wang Jianjun tightly and burst into tears.

Wang Jianjun was a little flustered, but he was also touched by the woman's emotions. He patted her on the back and said, "Auntie, it's me, Jianjun. I've come to see you..."

"Father, Mother, Sister, I miss you, I miss you so much..." The woman sobbed uncontrollably, as if releasing years of pent-up emotions...

Director Wei's eyes also reddened, and he slowly lowered his head.

Li Zhe was also a little confused. At first, seeing Director Wei's happy expression, he thought the family reunion scene would be warm and joyful, but unexpectedly it became somewhat depressing.

After a while, Director Wei stepped forward and gently advised, "Fanghua, don't frighten the child. Let's sit down and talk it over."

Wu Fanghua wiped away her tears, still holding onto Wang Jianjun's arm, "Good boy, I didn't scare you, did I? Sit down, sit down and tell me how you've been all these years."

Wang Jianjun seemed a little flustered and briefly explained the situation over the years.

Wu Fanghua sighed, "Good child, your aunt has wanted to find you for a long time... It's my fault for not being able to help you and for making you suffer."

Director Wei quickly said, "It was my carelessness. I should have helped you find Jianjun earlier. Jianjun, this is your home from now on. If you need anything, just tell your uncle."

Li Zhe is worldly-wise, and one can sense the estrangement between the couple in his words.

Actually, upon closer reflection, it becomes clear: Wu Fanghua's status was special, and with a wife like that, Director Wei would most likely not have reached this position; since he did get to this position, he probably made some sacrifices along the way...

Director Wei gave Li Zhe a push, "Fanghua, don't just talk to Jianjun. This is Jianjun's cousin, Li Zhe, and he's a good kid too."

“Auntie, Jianjun and I are both working in Beijing now, and we will come to visit you often in the future.”

"Alright, good children, what work are you doing now? Are you tired?"

Wang Jianjun laughed and said, "I'm not tired. We set up a stall at the Chongwenmen vegetable market. We deliver vegetables in the morning and watch the stall in the afternoon. I'll come to see you when I have time."

"Okay, okay." Wu Fanghua kept saying okay, holding onto Wang Jianjun's arm and refusing to let go.

Director Wei said, "It's getting late, so let's not cook. Let's go out to eat and chat while we eat."

Wu Fanghua asked, "Jianjun, what do you want to eat? Tell your aunt."

Wang Jianjun has only been in Beijing for a short time and has only eaten at Donglaishun once, so how could he say, "I can eat anything"?

Director Wei asked, "Has Jianjun eaten Peking duck in Beijing?"

In the 1980s, Quanjude roast duck was a representative delicacy of Beijing. Whether you were from out of town or a foreigner, when it came to Beijing cuisine, roast duck was definitely the first choice.

"No." Wang Jianjun had been going to Quanjude a lot these past few days, smelling the roast duck a lot, but he hadn't eaten any roast duck meat.

"Tonight, your uncle is taking you out for roast duck. You guys rest outside for a bit, I'm going to change my clothes." Director Wei was a quick and efficient man; he changed into casual clothes in no time, carrying a bag of Moutai liquor. "We're having a good time today, let's have some good wine!"

Wang Jianjun and Li Zhe both widened their eyes upon seeing this.

Wang Jianjun quickly advised, "Uncle, this is unacceptable! This wine is too precious!"

“We’re family, why should we care about anything fancy? Let’s drink to our hearts’ content today, listen to me.” Director Wei waved his hand and said gently to Wu Fanghua, “Fanghua, let’s go eat roast duck.”

Wu Fanghua had a smile on her face, which made her look more energetic.

The group went downstairs. Li Zhe and Director Wei rode bicycles, while Wang Jianjun rode a scooter.

Director Wei said, "Fanghua, I'll carry you."

"No need, I'll ride in Jianjun's car." Wu Fanghua said as she got on the backbike, and Wang Jianjun quickly reached out to help her.

Director Wei waved his hand calmly, "Let's go to Quanjude, I'll lead the way."

Wang Jianjun thought to himself: Uncle, I know this road better than you do!

But as he walked, Wang Jianjun realized something was wrong—

"Hey, this direction doesn't seem to lead to Quanjude!"

The incident with Aunt Wang still haunted him, and he would occasionally turn to look at Li Zhe.

Li Zhe seemed to have guessed his thoughts and said with a smile, "Brother, there are three Quanjude restaurants in Beijing now. I think Uncle is going to the Quanjude at the Hepingmen branch."

Director Wei said, "That's right, the Hepingmen branch is the largest and best decorated, and it's often used to receive high-ranking foreign dignitaries, so let's go for the best one."

Wang Jianjun was a little worried, "Uncle, won't we have to wait in line if we go at this time?"

"No need, you'll understand when you get there." Wu Fanghua felt even more heartache seeing how clueless this silly child was.

While the group chatted, they arrived at the Hepingmen branch, a modern six-story building with two white stone pillars hanging at the entrance, bearing the three red characters "Quanjude" in the middle. There was also a flagpole on the right side of the entrance. Compared to the antique-style Qianmen branch, this one had a more modern feel.

There was also a long queue at the store entrance. The group of five got out of the car, with Director Wei leading the way and taking out several foreign exchange certificates from his pocket.

Upon seeing the foreign exchange certificates, the waiter led the four of them directly into the restaurant. Li Zhe watched with some envy, remarking, "Hey, this stuff is useful."

People were queuing in the lobby on the first floor, and the waiter led them directly to the lobby on the second floor. The lobby on the second floor was also full of people, but the tables and chairs were spaced far apart, and the environment was indeed better than the front store.

The four sat at a table against the wall, and Wu Fanghua handed the menu to Wang Jianjun and Li Zhe so they could order.

Director Wei opened the box of Moutai and poured four glasses of wine.

Just then, a commotion arose from the next table—

A woman wearing glasses waved to a waiter and asked, "Why doesn't your set meal include cucumber strips?"

The waitress smiled. "Ma'am, is this your first time here? Where did you get cucumber strips in the middle of winter? I suppose you don't have any at home either?"

The woman wearing glasses was a little unhappy. "Who are you calling 'auntie'? Can't you speak properly? Yesterday, my colleague and I went to the Qianmen branch, and they had cucumber strips. Why don't you have any here? You still have the nerve to call yourself the main branch? I think your branch is even worse than the Qianmen branch."

The waiter retorted, "If you think the Qianmen branch is better, then go eat there. Why are you coming here?"

"Hey, how dare you talk like that? With this kind of service attitude, call your manager over here!"

"What did I do wrong? Where am I supposed to get you cucumbers in the dead of winter? Who's being unreasonable here?"

The waitress's attitude drew criticism from other diners. A middle-aged man said, "Young lady, I only brought my friends to try the cucumber strips because I heard Quanjude had them. If we had known they were only available at the Qianmen branch, we wouldn't have come here."

The waiter said, "Comrade, don't scare me. It's not my fault. I can't make cucumbers out of the kitchen!"

The woman with glasses scoffed, "If you ask me, the Qianmen store is the most authentic. After all, it's the original store; it's not enough to just use the name of the main store..."

Not far away, a man in a navy blue suit heard the commotion and walked over. His expression was rather unpleasant, and he coughed.

The waiter turned his head and was startled.

(End of this chapter)