Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 332 Buy it?

She's still the same talkative older sister, still threading needles with lightning speed.

"Big sister, time to eat," Chen Hui called out as he entered the room.

The older woman looked up from behind the bar and said with a smile, "You guys, did you have a good meal yesterday? What did you eat? The same few dishes as yesterday?"

Chen Hui said, "Anything is fine except crabs. We don't need the grilled mantis shrimp, but everything else is fine. You can arrange a few more dishes after that, since there are a lot of people today. Oh, and what about the kids? We have kids today, so what should we make for them?"

The older sister said, "How about steaming some shrimp and egg cake? I'll make you some shrimp paste to mix in, it won't be too salty or bland. The kids can eat some of the other stir-fries too. Oh, by the way, there's a bakery next door, do you want some cakes or something? I can go buy some for you."

Chen Hui glanced at Xiao Wei and said, "Yes, let's buy it. Buy a little of everything from his store, don't worry about having too many."

The older woman nodded and said, "Okay, let's go upstairs. There's no one upstairs."

Xiao Wei said, "Sister, your place is nicely organized, and the space is quite large, so why does it seem like business isn't doing too well?"

The older woman shook her head and said, "That's how government businesses are; they're too rigidly regulated. Private businesses can be more flexible with their prices and adjust them whenever something happens. But we can't do that; we have to report and get approval. Besides, it's their money they earn, while we only have this fixed salary. If you do a good job, you get criticized; if you don't, nobody cares. That's how it is. I heard they're going to unify the contracting system; maybe things will be different then."

Xiao Wei said, "Big sister, why don't you just take over this shop and run it yourself? It's a big shop, you're sure to make money."

The older woman finished knitting the thread on this needle, put the needle and thread aside, stood up and said, "Anyone can make money by taking over the work? If you don't have connections, you can't do it and you won't make any money. Besides, where would you get that kind of money? Who would take over the work for you without any promises? There's a lot of space behind this shop. It's fine if the government is idle, but even if you take over the work and it's idle, you still have to pay according to the area. I can't take over the work."

Xiao Wei paused for a moment, then turned his head to look around: "There's more behind? I didn't see it, where is it?"

The older woman pointed to the stairs and said, "It's blocked up. The wall at the entrance to the stairs between the first and second floors is made of large wooden planks nailed together and plastered on the outside. It's been there for so many years that you can't tell anymore. It's been sealed off for years, at least several decades. Nobody who comes to work after that knows."

Xiao Wei asked, "How big is the back?"

The older woman said, "It looks the same as the second floor now. The first floor is a bit smaller. There's a third floor above the second floor. It was open before I started working here. The upper floors were private rooms, and the back was an office where we piled things up. Later, it became the headquarters of the rebels, and they opened a door in the back yard to block off the front. Then, when the Gang of Four fell, the back door was blocked with bricks, and the front never opened again. So many years have passed. I was only sixteen back then. My goodness, it's been almost twenty years. Tsk tsk." The older woman shook her head.

Xiao Wei asked, "Sister, which unit are you under?"

The older woman came out from behind the bar and said, "We're from the grain bureau. You go upstairs, I'll go arrange the vegetables. Someone from the kitchen isn't here today, and I still have to wash the vegetables. It's so annoying." Xiao Wei went upstairs thoughtfully.

Xiao Hong saw him coming up the stairs and asked, "Why are you taking so long? What are you doing?"

Chen Hui asked, "What are you doing?"

Xiao Wei walked to the table and sat down, saying, "Xiao Hui, go find Brother Liu and tell him we want to buy this house. Ask him to inquire about the price; he works at the Grain Bureau."

Chen Hui paused for a moment, then asked, "Can someone sell a car that's perfectly fine?"

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "It should be possible. Don't say anything else, or what it's for, just find someone to buy a house." Chen Hui nodded.

Xiao Wei turned to Xie Xiaolong's wife and said, "Now that we're going to live so far away, aren't you a little reluctant? Hehe, there's a big river on the outskirts of that city, and the terrain is quite similar to Andong."

Mu Lijuan was a little embarrassed. She glanced at Xie Xiaolong and said, "It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that... how should I put it, the child is a bit young, and he's used to living here. It's a little unsettling to go so far away all of a sudden. It's okay, he'll be fine in a few days."

Xiao Wei said, "When we live our lives, we have to look forward and consider the future. I can't say for sure, but Brother Long will earn much more money at my place than he does now. That's a good start, right, sister-in-law? Once we have money in the future, we can do whatever we want, right? Besides, when we start doing business, we might not even be in Longcheng anymore. That place is too small."

I'm from Beixi, and my boyfriend is in Fengtian. My whole family moved to Longcheng, but there was no other way. We'll just have to take it slow. Honestly, we're lucky to be in this area now. We can earn money through our own abilities and live a good life. Imagine what things would have been like before, right? Things will definitely get better and better in the future, don't worry.

Mu Lijuan nodded, sighed, and said, "You're right. No matter what, we have to make money first. Don't worry, I won't hold him back." Her son looked up at her and called out, "Mom, Mom, I won't hold him back either. What hold, what hold?" Everyone laughed, and Xie Xiaolong reached out and patted his son's head.

The stairs creaked as the older woman came up carrying dishes, placed them on the table, and asked, "Want some alcohol today? Yalu River beer, it's really good."

Xiao Wei said, "No, I have to drive in a bit." The older sister took a thermos, added some hot water for everyone, and went downstairs.

After his older sister went downstairs, Chen Hui said, "Yalu River Beer dares to say it's delicious? I don't want to drink it, it's too bitter."

Xiao Wei said, "Every place has its own taste. They're used to it, so they'll definitely think it tastes good. There's no point in comparing them. You might like Snow Beer, but other people might not."

Xiao Hong said, "I don't think Snowflake Water tastes good. I think Longshan Spring Water tastes better." Chen Hui looked at Xiao Hong and was about to speak when Xiao Hong pointed at him with her chopsticks and said, "Longshan Spring Water tastes better, Longshan Spring Water!" Chen Hui smiled, and everyone else laughed along.

Just like how Northeasterners love soy sauce and Sichuanese love Sichuan peppercorns, regional differences are too great to be compared. Those regional snobbish people who praise themselves and belittle others are just a joke.

Soon all the dishes were served, a large table laden with food. The three men transformed into skinning knights, serving their wives. Xie Xiaolong had the worst off, having an extra son. Fortunately, his wife was very understanding, and the two of them worked together to take care of their little darling. Occasionally, Xie Xiaolong would stuff a piece of shrimp into his mouth, which made him look quite happy. It was clear that Xie Xiaolong's family lived a comfortable life, probably neither rich nor poor, judging from how they ate their child.

(End of this chapter)