Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 689 Let's go then.

Xiao Liu glanced at the time and said, "Shall we eat first?"

Xiao Wei glanced at his watch; it was already past 2:30, almost 3:00. He'd been up and about all day. He rubbed his stomach: "I don't feel hungry today, why is that?"

Xiao Liu said, "Nonsense, no one would be hungry if it were such a big deal. It's just that we got hungry after we finished."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, let's eat then. You're treating, right?"

Xiao Liu tilted his head and looked at Xiao Wei without saying a word.

Xiao Wei asked Wang Ziqi, "Ziqi, what do you want to eat?"

Wang Ziqi said, "Anything is fine. For me right now, everything tastes delicious. Do you know what you eat every day there?"

Xiao Wei asked, "Are you going back to Brother Long's place this afternoon? Aren't you going to rest for a few days?"

Once you drive away from this area in front of the station, you can't eat here either.

Wang Ziqi leaned back in her seat, lost in thought, and said, "I don't know either. If I don't go, where can I go? I don't know anyone or any relatives in Fengtian. Several of my friends are in the same line of work, so there's nowhere for me to stay. Luckily, Brother Long is a good person. He treats us well; he doesn't deduct our pay or beat or scold us."

Xiao Liu said, "Haven't you thought about doing something else? How long have you been doing this?"

Wang Ziqi said, "What else can I do? I've worked as a waitress. Big restaurants won't take me, and small restaurants make me eat leftovers, sleep on benches, work from dawn till dusk, and only make 300 yuan a month. Sell clothes? In the summer I'm exposed to the sun, and in the winter I'm freezing. I only make a little over 1,000 yuan a month, and I have to pay rent, utilities, and transportation. I have to talk to all sorts of people every day, and I have to smile even when I'm being beaten or scolded. Whether I do anything wrong or not, it's all wrong, and the boss can deduct money from my pay whenever he wants. What else can I do?"

Xiao Liu fell silent. In this era, people had just transitioned from state-owned enterprises to private businesses. The number of unemployed people could circle Fengtian several times if they held hands. Most private businesses were family-run operations, rarely requiring outside workers. The only places that needed people were restaurants and small shops, and even the better places were occupied by locals or acquaintances. It was indeed hard work for outsiders.

This is still Fengtian, the largest city in Northeast China. If you go to smaller cities, the competition is even fiercer and the wages are lower. That's just the reality of society.

Xiao Wei smacked his lips and said, "Forget it, if you want to come out, come work for me. I'm opening several shops anyway, so one more won't make a difference. Restaurant server, food and lodging included, no deductions from pay, you can make a thousand or eight hundred a month, want to work?"

Wang Ziqi asked, "You said they all went to your place, right?"

Xiao Wei said, "Miliya, Shi Xiaoyan, and Yan Xiaoqi are all with me." He glanced at the roadside, turned the steering wheel, and pulled over.

Wang Ziqi said, "I'm going back to Brother Long's place today. I need to get a good night's sleep. Then I'll go see them tomorrow, okay?"

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, whatever you like. Let's eat here first."

Xiao Liu looked down and outside, then said, "Three Thousand Miles of Barbecue, huh? Sure, is it all you can eat?"

Xiao Wei got out of the car and closed the door. Xiao Liu chuckled and got out of the car, saying, "Hey girl, let's go, let's eat this up until we're broke."

After locking the car doors, the three of them went into the restaurant. Xiao Wei slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Damn it, I forgot! Those two sisters didn't eat much either. I forgot to buy them something to eat in the car. They'll starve when we get to Andong!"

Wang Ziqi glanced at Xiao Wei, a hint of something unreadable in her eyes. Xiao Liu said, "Alright, they're not stupid. If they're hungry, they can buy something to eat on the bus, right?"

Xiao Wei sighed, and the three of them found seats. Xiao Wei said, "Those two wouldn't buy anything, and they just endured hunger all the way to Andong, do you believe it?"

Xiao Liu asked, "Why?"

Wang Ziqi said, "Yes, I would have been reluctant to leave when I first came out."

Xiao Liu sighed and said, "They deserve to die. These people deserve to die."

The waiter, who was walking over with the menu, was taken aback by Xiao Liu's words. He glanced at Xiao Liu a few times and then quietly turned to Xiao Wei: "Sir, please order."

Xiao Wei handed the menu to Wang Ziqi and said, "You order, order whatever you want, don't be shy."

Xiao Liu said, "What do you want to order? Bring whatever you have, whatever's good. Anything is fine except for grilled rice cakes and kimchi. Bring it on. One of each thing first, and put the stove on."

The waiter was setting out the appetizer platter. Korean restaurants usually have these, with six to nine small dishes containing a little bit of kimchi, peanuts, pickled vegetables, rice cakes, and so on. After hearing Xiao Liu's words, he looked at Xiao Wei, who smiled and said, "Okay, let's go with it, listen to him."

Wang Ziqi handed the unopened menu to the waiter and said, "I'd like a bowl of cold noodles."

Xiao Wei said, "Don't eat cold noodles, let's have the grilled meat first, and some fruit, do you have any? Get some."

Wang Ziqi whispered, "I want to eat cold noodles. I've always liked them."

Xiao Wei said, "We haven't eaten or slept well for days. Let's eat something good. If you want cold noodles tomorrow, come back and have them. They're available everywhere."

Wang Ziqi nodded, lowered her head, pouted, and fiddled with her chopsticks. But a warm feeling welled up inside her. It had been so many years since anyone had cared about her so casually. This feeling was so unfamiliar, yet so warm, and she was a little touched.

……

On the train to Andong, two girls lay on their sleeper berths. Every time a vendor's cart passed by, the two girls would swallow hard, but wouldn't even glance at it. They clutched their bags, where the two thousand yuan they had earned through these nightmarish months lay. Unconsciously, tears streamed down their faces, flowing silently.

……

After finishing their meal, Xiaowei, Xiaoliu, and Wang Ziqi returned to the car. Wang Ziqi let out several burps and blushed with embarrassment.

Xiao Liu lit a cigarette and said, "Barbecue is something you can eat occasionally, especially the kind made by Koreans; the taste is definitely different."

Xiao Wei lit a cigarette and asked, "Where are you going? Ziqi, shall I take you to Brother Long's place?"

Wang Ziqi thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to Wuma Road. There's nothing to do back there. Let's look around. I'll go back tonight, and you can pick me up tomorrow. I won't be working for the next few days."

Xiao Wei glanced at the rearview mirror and turned the wheel, saying, "Okay, let's go then. Don't worry, I'll give you a bonus if we find the person."

Xiao Wei drove the car to the Shiyiwei area, and the three of them switched to a Daihatsu and headed straight for Wuma Road. Since some of the cars were for their own use, the license plates had already been installed.

When they arrived at Shengli, Xiaowei parked his car at a corner of an intersection, where he could see the paging shop at an angle.

A few men in their thirties and forties were sitting on small stools playing cards in front of the convenience store, making a lot of noise. A young man in his twenties was standing on the side watching, but he didn't see the shop owner.

(End of this chapter)