Courtyard House: Inheriting the Restaurant, the Jia Family Wants to Get It for Free

In winter, there isn't much farm work to do. Under the big locust tree at the village entrance, there are always some villagers who have finished their work or are just relaxing, smoking their pipes, basking in the sun, and chatting about this and that.

"Hey, look, isn't that Cheng Shuhai? He's back with his sister!"

A sharp-eyed villager was the first to spot them and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Wow! It's true! This kid's really grown up. Look at that outfit, so stylish!"

"you do not say!"

"Ling'er has grown quite a bit taller, and her little face is much rounder!"

The villagers immediately erupted in excitement, all standing up and swarming around Cheng Shuhai and his sister.

Everyone wore simple and warm smiles, greeting each other in a lively chatter.

"Shuhai, how could you bear to come back?"

"How's business in town? Have you been bullied?"

"Ling'er, are you eating well in the city?"

Cheng Shuhai smiled and patiently responded to the villagers' concerns one by one.

He took out the candies and snacks he had prepared in advance from his cloth bag and distributed them to the children who gathered around, which brought a burst of laughter.

He told everyone that he came back this time to visit his uncle and take care of some things.

Everyone nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with even more admiration as they looked at Cheng Shuhai.

This kid is really honest. Even after he became successful, he didn't forget his roots and still remembers his relatives in the village. He's a good kid.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the villagers, Cheng Shuhai took his sister's hand and, surrounded by the crowd, headed towards the home of his cousin, Cheng Dashan.

Cheng Dashan's house is located in the center of the village, a small but clean mud-brick house with a courtyard.

At this moment, Cheng Dashan's family was eating around a small square table in the yard.

On the table were several bowls of coarse grain porridge, a dish of pickled vegetables, and a few dark cornbread buns.

Although it was simple, the family ate a decent meal.

"Uncle Dashan, Auntie, I'm back!"

Cheng Shuhai's voice reached inside the courtyard before he even entered.

Cheng Dashan, who was eating, suddenly looked up and saw Cheng Shuhai and Cheng Ling'er standing at the gate of the courtyard. He put the cornbread in his hand on the table.

He immediately stood up, his face showing both surprise and nervousness.

"Shuhai? Ling'er? You...you're back? Did...did something happen in the city? Were you bullied?"

Cheng Dashan rushed to Cheng Shuhai in three steps, grabbed his arm, looked him up and down, his eyes full of worry.

In his simple mind, unless one couldn't make a living outside or encountered some great difficulty, who would run back to this poor and remote place from a big city like Beijing for no reason?

Everyone else at the table stood up as well.

A tall, burly young man, about the same age as Cheng Shuhai, was Cheng Dashan's eldest son, Cheng Shujun. He slammed the bowl down on the table, clenched his fists, and charged over.

"Big brother! Who bullied you? Tell us, and we brothers will grab our weapons and head to Beijing to avenge you!"

Cheng Shujun was furious, revealing his straightforward nature.

Behind him, Cheng Dashan's other two sons and daughter also stood up, each filled with righteous indignation, as if they could immediately grab their hoes and storm into the city if Cheng Shuhai gave the nod.

Looking at their tense yet sincere expressions, Cheng Shuhai felt a warmth in his heart, but also found it somewhat amusing.

He quickly waved his hands, explaining with a wry smile, "Uncle, Shujun, what are you thinking! Nobody's bullying me, I'm perfectly fine!"

"Then... what's this?"

Cheng Dashan was still worried.

"Uncle, this is great news! My little restaurant is doing so well, I'm busy from morning till night every day, I can't manage it all by myself."

"That's why I'm thinking of coming back to the village to see if there are any trustworthy relatives who can come with me to the city to help out. I'll pay them well; I certainly won't mistreat my own family!"

Cheng Shuhai cleared his throat before explaining his purpose for coming.

The moment those words were spoken, the entire courtyard fell silent.

The Cheng family stared wide-eyed at Cheng Shuhai, their expressions shifting from tension to astonishment, and then from astonishment to disbelief.

Business is booming? Too busy to handle everything? Need to hire more people? Starting wages?

To them, these words sounded like something out of a fairy tale.

Cheng Dashan's wife, a slightly plump middle-aged woman, was the first to react.

Her eyes lit up with surprise. She had been so envious of Cheng Shuhai and his sister for being able to move to the city. She never imagined that her nephew would become so successful!

"Shuhai, what you...is what you're saying true?"

"Could it be that you're kind-hearted and, seeing how tough things are for us, you're making up an excuse to take care of us?"

Cheng Dashan frowned, looking at Cheng Shuhai with suspicion.

He knew his nephew well; he had always been resourceful and kind-hearted. He feared that his nephew was just putting on a brave face and using his own money to support the family.

"Uncle, why would I lie to you!"

Cheng Shuhai felt somewhat helpless.

Just then, Cheng Ling'er, who had been holding his hand, looked up and said loudly in her clear childish voice, "Uncle Dashan, it's true! My older brother's cooking is so delicious! Every day, so many people come to our restaurant to eat, and he's so tired that his back is so sore! Sometimes when I try to help carry a bowl, he thinks I'm in the way and he's too busy!"

The little girl spoke with such conviction and seriousness that it was more convincing than any explanation.

Children speak without restraint; they don't lie.

Seeing that Cheng Ling'er had said so, most of Cheng Dashan's doubts vanished, replaced by a tremendous, indescribable shock and pride.

Looking at his nephew, who had shed his youthful naiveté and become calm and capable, he was so excited that his lips trembled slightly.

"Great...great! Great! You've really made something of yourself! Shuhai, you've really made something of yourself!"

Cheng Dashan's wife beamed from ear to ear, quickly pulling Cheng Shuhai and Cheng Ling'er into the house: "Quick, quick, it's cold outside, come in and sit down! Shujun, what are you waiting for? Go get some hot water for your older brother and younger sister!"

The oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard vanished, replaced by an overwhelming joy.

The way Cheng Shujun and his siblings looked at Cheng Shuhai changed from their previous shared hatred to one full of admiration and longing.

Let's go to Beijing! Let's open a restaurant!!

For these rural children who have spent their entire lives toiling in the fields, this is simply an unattainable dream.

And now, their cousin has brought this dream to life right in front of them.

And we also have to take some of them to Beijing!