Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 253 The Family Arrives

Chen Hui and Huang Laowu played billiards at the billiard hall until five o'clock, while Xiao Wei and Xia Maosheng went back to their room to prepare dinner.

Sister Zhang and Brother Zhai prepared more than ten dishes. After picking through them, they left six dishes for Xiaowei's parents and cooked the rest. Then, they decided to make a few more stir-fries and stew a large pot of sauerkraut, just in case it wasn't enough.

The second floor is finished now. It's basically just two fixed screens with small movable panels inside that can be pushed to the side. Once the materials are in place, it's quick to set up.

The two of them carried the food up to the second floor. The first floor was now like a battlefield, and there was nowhere to eat.

Downstairs, Xiao Wei called for Lao Xu and the carpenter, while Xia Maosheng went to call Chen Hui and Huang Laowu.

Fourteen or fifteen people washed their hands and went upstairs to eat. The main dish was steamed buns. Sister Zhang and her colleagues didn't cook rice today. The rice cooker used in the restaurant was the extra-large kind, and it would be a waste if they couldn't finish a whole pot. Actually, the main reason was that the two of them were too lazy to cook.

Apart from Lao Xu and a few carpenters, they were all young men who could eat as much as the others. They finished a dozen or so dishes plus two large bowls of stewed sauerkraut, and there wasn't even any soup left. It looked like they would finish off a few more dishes.

After dinner, the carpenters continued their work, while Xiao Wei and the others went to the billiards hall to hang out.

This time of night is when the billiard hall is busiest. All six tables are full, and the whole room is filled with people watching. Mainly because there was really no leisure life in this era. Few young people liked to watch TV. There was no internet, no mobile phones, and no nightlife. In the early 90s, billiards was the leisure activity for most men.

They stayed until seven o'clock, then the three of them ran out of the billiards hall and drove to the train station.

It was the same train, still delayed, and the bustling station was just as noisy as ever.

A tide of travelers poured out of the station exit, different people doing the same things: shouting, hugging, laughing, and crying. The same things happen in the station every day.

The three of them stood quietly outside the exit, waiting for Xiaowei's parents and younger brother to come out. They knew without a doubt that they would be the last to arrive; they were experienced. Sure enough, the crowd slowly dispersed, and the family of three calmly walked out.

Xiao Wei, Xia Maosheng, and Chen Hui went to greet him. Xiao Bing spotted his brother immediately and shouted, "Brother!" He broke free from Xiao Wei's mother and rushed over, jumping up and hugging Xiao Wei's neck. "Brother, did you miss me? I missed you so much! Brother, why did you run so far away? This is too far from home, I can't go back. Where is this? I don't know it."

Xia Maosheng and Chen Hui went over to greet Xiaowei's father: "Uncle, Aunt." Xiaowei's father smiled and talked to them, introducing them to Xiaowei's mother: "This is Xia, this is Chen, Xiaowei's buddies. They work together, and they get along very well."

Xiaowei's mother smiled and nodded, not knowing what to say.

Xiao Wei hugged his younger brother and said, "Get in the car, get in the car, we'll talk about it when we get back. It's colder here than where we are."

Chen Hui and Xia Maosheng took the things from Xiao Wei's parents, and the group walked towards the car. Xiao Wei's mother looked around and said, "It's quite cold here, even colder than where we are. This place doesn't look very big, it doesn't seem as prosperous as Beixi."

Xiao Wei said, "Yeah, Zhaobei Creek here is a bit worse, but it's definitely better than the county town."

Xiao Wei's dad laughed and said, "Well, at least this is a big city."

When they arrived at the car, Xiaowei put his younger brother down, opened the car door, and helped his parents into the car. Xiaobing jumped in like a monkey: "Wow, this car is big! Brother, brother, where is this car? Why isn't there a ticket?" He grew up in the mountains and had only ever ridden in two kinds of vehicles: the bus to the county town and Uncle Wang's jeep. He had never ridden in either vehicle more than five times in total.

Everyone got into the car, and Chen Hui started the engine and drove into the yard. Buwei asked his mother, "I remember Xiaobing was quite steady, why did he jump like that?"

Xiaowei's mother looked at her youngest son and said with a smile, "Who knows? He's been like this for the past few days. He's just excited to go out. He's changed his personality."

Xiao Wei's dad said, "Isn't this the same car as last time? It seems like the last one wasn't this big."

Xiao Wei said, "No, it's not anymore. It was changed a long time ago. The car Xiao Hui borrowed last time was the one I had."

Xiao Wei's dad said, "Did you buy this? This car is quite big, and it's more comfortable to sit in than that one."

Chen Hui laughed and said, "The last car only cost tens of thousands of yuan, but this one costs over 400,000 yuan. It's definitely different."

Xiao Wei's dad peered into the car; it was pitch black, and it was hard to tell what he could see. He said, "This car is so expensive! But it seems pretty good. Did you guys buy it?"

Xiao Wei said, "Yes, I bought it. There are still a few more left. You'll see them in a few days."

Xiaowei's mother reached out and touched the back of the chair, saying, "Over four hundred thousand yuan, you guys are really willing to spend it. Is making money that easy?"

Xiao Wei said, "Xiao Hui's dad helped with it, it didn't cost any of that money. Where would we get that kind of money? I couldn't bear to part with it."

Xiao Wei's dad asked, "What kind of car is this? What other car did you buy?"

Xiao Wei said, "These are Japanese cars, Toyota Hiace, and a few sedans, all foreign brands. I haven't seen them yet, but you'll see when they're back."

Xiaowei's mother asked, "What's the point of getting all these cars? Are they really necessary?"

Xia Maosheng said, "It takes several heads, and we have to travel back and forth, including to Fengtian. We can't buy them if they're useless."

Xiaowei's mother smiled and said, "That's right, I don't understand these things either."

Xiao Wei's dad asked, "Where are we going? Are we staying at the power company again?"

Chen Hui said with a smile, "Come eat at our restaurant, and stay in our courtyard tonight. Everything's already set up and ready."

Xiao Wei's dad asked, "Is the boiler on?"

Chen Hui said, "It's been burning for half a month, and it's completely warm."

Xiao Wei's dad asked, "Where did you find this person? Did you hire them?"

Xiao Wei said, "There are two people working at the restaurant, but one was temporarily transferred here. Now that you've arrived, the other person has to go back home. He hasn't been home for the past ten days, and his wife came to see him today."

Xiao Wei's dad laughed and said, "What a ridiculous mess you've made! You haven't come home for over ten days and you haven't come looking for me? Did you two fight?"

Xia Maosheng said, "Damn it, you're making so much noise I can hear you."

Xiao Wei's mother laughed and scolded, "You kids, really, what kind of mess did you make? And then what happened? No fight, right?"

Xia Maosheng said, "No, he didn't hit him. His family was short of money. Xiaowei gave him 500 yuan, and then he asked his wife to come and work. Neither of them had been able to work for the past two years, and they were having a hard time."

Xiao Wei said, "They're all from small factories. Their wives are in bed with them. The factories went bankrupt, and the men have been laid off at home for almost two years. It's really tough for them." Xiao Wei's mother sighed and said, "If you happen to be in that situation, try to help them out. It's not easy in the city either. They don't have any land, and they can't even afford food when they don't have a job. It's pretty much the same in our county."

The car turned a corner and the restaurant came into view. Xiao Hou, leaning on the back of the seat, said, "What's that? It's so beautiful, Mom, Mom, look, aren't those lights pretty?" Xiao Wei's mother turned her head and looked over, saying, "They are pretty, but how many lights must there be?"

Xia Maosheng said, "That's our restaurant."

Xiao Wei said, "The back rooms are all ready and ready to open, so the lights are all turned on in front and behind to make it look more lively."

(End of this chapter)