Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 214 The Cart Inn

Li Guangzhao said, "I came to pick up my certificate and also to buy some things. But then everyone suggested that I come and hang out with you guys for a while. Who knows when we'll see each other again after I go back?"

Xiao Wei said, "I can see you whenever I want. This is my home; I can't just move the whole house, can I?"

Li Guangzhao said, "That's what you say, but in reality it won't be easy to see each other in the future. You're all busy, and we all have things to do. We're about to open a shop, get married, and raise children. Who can run around every day?"

Xia Maosheng laughed and said, "That's because you're lazy. You're the closest person to Fengtian from here. It's only an hour's drive. You can come here for a meal and go back in half a day. How is that difficult?"

Li Guangzhao nodded and said, "Okay, you're right. I'll come to you guys every day to freeload, and then I'll go back to work."

Xiao Wei asked Yang Tiebin, "Old Yang, what are your plans? Are you going to stay in Fengtian for a while, or go back?"

Yang Tiebin said, "The business hasn't taken off in the past two years. It would cost a lot of money to open a shop in the county, and besides, it's hard to say how business will go. My dad wants me to work here for two years and earn some money first. My wife agreed and will come with me after the New Year. I'm looking for a place to live these days."

Qi Guangjun said, "Brother Zhang, Sister Jin said you opened a restaurant. I was wondering if I could work here? I don't need any special treatment in terms of salary, just the normal market rate. I just thought working for you would be more comfortable and less stressful. Now when I go out to work, I get yelled at all the time."

Wang Zhilong glanced at him and said, "Scolding you? Scolding you is the least of my worries. If I were you, I'd beat you up, you believe me?"

Jin Jie, Li Na, and Yang Tiebin started laughing. Xiao Wei asked, "What's wrong?"

Qi Guangjun was a little embarrassed, but Sister Jin laughed and said, "He was helping out in the kitchen. There was a huge pot of oil sitting there, and he just dumped it down the drain like water. That's it, because some worker put a smelly sock in their head chef's water cup. He took out his anger on both of them and got a scolding. He probably won't get his salary this month."

Qi Guangjun scratched his head and said, "I was willing to move, thinking I'd tidy up the kitchen and show off, but who knew that big pot was full of oil?"

Xia Maosheng asked, "Aren't you going to take a look?"

Qi Guangjun said, "Without Erhu, they didn't even say a word, so how can you blame me for this?"

Xia Maosheng glanced at Xiao Wei and then fell silent.

Li Na leaned against Xiao Hong and said, "Xiao Hong's body is so warm, so soft. Have you started working on your end yet?"

Chen Hui said, "It'll take some time to get it done. I estimate it won't be until April at the earliest. It won't be ready until then."

Li Na said, "That's true, but it's a bit rushed. It's like we can't stay any longer once we hear about leaving. Sister Jin, do you feel the same way?"

Sister Jin said, "No, I'm not doing this. Wherever I go, I'm chopping vegetables and cleaning the kitchen. I'm not here to be an official."

Xiao Wei said, "If you two really make a decision, then use this time to train someone to take over. After all, you've been doing this for so many years, you can't just let someone else do it, right? Gradually let someone take over, and do less work little by little, so that the other person can get used to it."

Sister Jin said, "I'm fine here. Zhang Li will take over after I leave. She likes to meddle in things, so it's perfect."

Li Na said, "I don't have anyone to hand it over to, so Lao Zhao has to find someone himself. I had my dad talk to him about it. Anyway, I'll quit after I finish this job in December, take a break for a while, and come back to work after the New Year."

Xiao Wei said, "That works too, as long as the arrangements are good and no one can find fault with them. You can go check it out on-site after the New Year; besides, finding people takes time, and you need to train them beforehand, right?"

Li Na thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Hmm, I need to get things sorted out; I've never done this before. So, when do I start working?"

Xiao Wei looked at Chen Hui and said, "Let's do it in March. Forget about February, it's Chinese New Year. The renovation work will probably be busy in January, so it won't be a problem if you go. March is about right, and then we'll have to start taking care of a lot of things. You can go to work now."

Li Na nodded in agreement.

Xiao Wei said, "Your assistant Chen Hui has already found one for you. She's from the Yao family, named Wei Yun. Her family also owns a restaurant, so she knows the place well. She's also a good person in terms of personality and height. You can call her over to help you with the work, so you won't be busy and bored by yourself. Sister Jin will come a little later, in April."

Sister Jin said, "I won't be coming back after the Lunar New Year holiday. I'm leaving anyway. I'll take a few days off and see. If I can't stand being alone, I can come and join you. It's not tiring, just for fun."

Luo Qinghe said, "It's making me want to work with you guys, but my family won't agree. I have a restaurant waiting for me to come back."

Chen Hui asked, "Where does your husband's family own a restaurant? How big is it?"

Luo Qinghe said, "It's right near my home, on the side of the national highway. We can't even afford a proper chef, so we just barely make ends meet."

Xia Maosheng laughed and said, "I know, it's a roadside inn, you know. Stewed meat, liquor, and a warm kang (heated brick bed), they make all their money from long-distance trucks. We have them where I live too."

Yang Tiebin nodded and said, "They're everywhere where I live, right? Everywhere along the national highway, near the village, there are car rental shops. They're all self-built houses with heated brick beds, and a bunch of old women and young wives are watching from the windows. When a car comes along, they just rush out and cause a huge traffic jam, right?"

Luo Qinghe laughed and nodded, saying, "That's right, if there's no traffic, you won't get any jobs. It all depends on who can handle it and pull the driver. Before the car even stops, the old women climb up and stand on the steps to pull the driver. Some are tough and ignore you, just keep driving forward. Some can take people ten kilometers before daring to stop. Others can't take it anymore, so they just stop to eat."

Xiao Wei had never seen it before and was skeptical, saying, "That's too dangerous."

Luo Qinghe said, "What do you mean by dangerous? Didn't you see? A car was whizzing by, and that little girl dared to run into the middle of the road and stretch out her arms to block it?"

Yang Tiebin said, "My dad used to work in restaurants like that. There was no other way; everyone was just trying to earn a living. Before winter, sometimes the car couldn't brake properly, and the drivers would break out in a cold sweat. Experienced drivers could tell from afar whether there was a restaurant ahead to stop them. If they didn't want to stop, they would just accelerate, honk their horn, and rush forward. Usually, these long-distance trucks had regular restaurants and wouldn't go to unfamiliar ones."

Xiao Wei asked, "Why not? It's the same no matter where you eat."

Luo Qinghe glanced at the women and said with a smile, "Once you get to know them, you can take a nap. Long-distance freight runs can take ten days to half a month."

Sister Jin spat out, her face flushed, and scolded, "You men are all worthless."

Yang Tiebin laughed and said, "What does it have to do with us men? It's all because the women dragged us there."

Xiao Wei understood and asked Luo Qinghe, "What do you think of that deal?"

Luo Qinghe shook his head and said, "It's so-so. Sometimes it's good, sometimes I don't make a single sale for days. We can't afford to do what those prostitutes do. We just make do, but it's still better than farming."

Li Guangzhao shook his head and sighed, "It's all because of poverty. If there were any other way, who would do this?"

Chen Hui asked Li Guangzhao, "There aren't any like this in your area, are there?"

(End of this chapter)