Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 770 Miscellaneous Matters of the Xia Family

After a few snowfalls, the whole world became bloated, and the whole world looked the same.

The cake shop is already open in the mall, and GG (a popular Chinese TV show) plays it on TV every day; business is good. The restaurant branches are a little slower, but four have already opened. Business is slightly worse than the main store, but there's no rush. These days, word-of-mouth is more important than GG, and things will gradually improve.

The food factory officially started operating, producing cakes, bread, freshly baked goods, and packaged products for supermarkets, as well as various biscuits. More equipment was added to keep up with sales. Instant noodles were also officially produced. Xiao Wei then learned that the production of instant noodles involved stretching countless long strands into a large noodle mesh in the workshop, then frying, coating, cutting, and turning them into small squares to be packed into bags.

An Kee Old Restaurant Bone Broth Instant Noodles. An Kee Old Restaurant registered its trademark a long time ago and has now authorized the use of it for instant noodles. The logo is the "An" brand signboard that was passed down from the fifth brother.

Freshly baked bread and packaged bread are completely different things, even if they look the same and have the same name.

Buy freshly baked bread from large supermarkets whenever possible, as it's not expensive. However, freshly baked bread from bakeries outside is generally quite expensive, so you should choose according to your budget. Of course, the cheapest bread is the kind that's packaged and transported to supermarkets and shopping malls. Because of the need for storage and transportation, the main ingredient is flour, with fewer eggs. Also, it's not recommended to eat it too often because preservatives are added.

Eating bread has many benefits: it's convenient, nutritious, and won't make you fat.

Frozen dumplings and wontons have also hit the market, and they're called Aunt Zhang's. This made Xiaowei's mom feel embarrassed to go to the factory for quite a while.

Fresh steamed buns, dumplings, and baozi are still in the planning stages. Sales points need to be set up before production can begin. Li Bing is in charge of this, and Xiao Wei didn't ask any questions.

Liu Hongliang and Li Bing have already moved from their rented house to the courtyard, where they can keep Xia Maosheng and Zhang Wang company. Next year, Xia Maosheng will also be working here to set up a feed sales company.

By the end of December, before Xiao Hong had even started her holiday, Xia Maosheng's older sister and mother arrived; Geng Hui was about to give birth.

This year, the Lunar New Year falls on February 3rd. Geng Hui's due date is at the end of January, and from now on, it will be considered her dangerous period.

"Have you seen the news? The Soviet Union is gone, it's finished." Xia Maosheng asked Chen Hui and Xiao Wei at the dinner table.

Xiaohong said, "I know, the school has issued a notice."

Xiao Wei looked at the group and asked, "Where did they go? I didn't notice. Was there a fight?"

Xiao Hong said, "No, it's because the shop went out of business. It's an economic problem; the people can't afford to eat. That's what the official report said."

Chen Hui said, "The flag was lowered on the 25th, and Sherwin-Williams was disbanded. Alas, things are unpredictable. Back then, such a powerful country, now America is shaking up, and no one can compete with it. It can crush the world with its grandma."

Xiao Wei asked, "Will this have a big impact on us?"

Xia Maosheng shook his head and said, "It's just hearsay, it doesn't have much impact. We don't depend on them, we're all independent countries, what impact could it have?"

Chen Hui laughed and said, "You can't escape a major study session. I'm just a lowly soldier, but you're an officer. I bet you'll have to write a lot of reflections and summaries. I feel sorry for you."

Xia Maosheng's sister and Lao Hao weren't very familiar with these people yet, and were a bit reserved, so they didn't talk much and just listened. Xia's mother kept putting food on Geng Hui's plate and adding rice to her bowl, which made Geng Hui feel embarrassed. She kept telling her, "Mom, you eat it yourself, I have enough." Xia's mother would just smile and continue to put food on her plate.

After dinner, Xia Maosheng and Uncle Wang went to work, Xiaowei and Chen Hui went to work at the shop, Xiaohong went to school, Xiaowei's father went to the pig farm, Xie Xiaolong and Mu Lijuan also had their own things to do, Zhang Wang went with Xie Xiaolong, leaving only Xiaowei's mother, Aunt Wang, Chen Xiao, Geng Hui, Zhang Wang's wife Tian Xiaoyu, and Xia Maosheng's sister and mother at home.

Chen Xiao carried Chen Xiaohui upstairs to catch up on sleep, while Xiao Wei's mother and her group accompanied Geng Hui and Tian Xiaoyu for a walk in the yard. The big dog followed beside them, its breath steaming in the air. Because there were too many people, the canteen had hired a manager, and Xiao Wei's mother was now free to do nothing.

"Sister, what do you usually do at home?" Aunt Wang asked Xia Maosheng's mother.

Xia's mother said, "I haven't done much. My whole life has revolved around the stove, washing clothes and knitting something, and the day is over. I've never worked. When the children were young, I had some things to do, but now they're all grown up and have moved out."

Xiaowei's mother said, "You can stay here all day? Don't you have any space at home?"

Xia's mother said, "I started a small business, just growing a few vegetables. I've lived in the city my whole life, taking care of these four men for most of my life. I've only been idle for the past two years. I haven't done anything for too many years and can't afford to do it anymore."

Xiaowei's mother said, "If you ask me, why don't you just move here and be with your son and grandson? Your eldest brother has retired, right? What else is there to hold you back? Xia and her husband are definitely here now, so what are you two doing waiting over there?"

Xia's mother said, "I can't decide this. It depends on his father. I'm just here to visit. I won't stay long. If I leave, he won't even be able to eat. He'll spend his whole life in the factory and won't be able to do any housework."

Xia Maosheng's sister gently supported Geng Hui and said, "My mother is worried but can't leave. My father is a pure feudal patriarch. He always has a stern face and only knows how to bully my mother. He has to approve everything in the family. It's been like this since I was a child."

Aunt Wang said to Xiaowei's mother, "If we were stuck with someone like that, wouldn't we be fighting every day?"

Xiaowei's mother smiled but didn't say anything. Both of them were the heads of their households, and she really couldn't understand this situation. But in this era, women like Xia's mother are the mainstream of society, and they represent the typical figures and families of this time.

Geng Hui said to Xia's mother, "Mom, you don't need to worry about me here. Look, my aunt and uncle are so good to us, nothing's wrong with them. You don't need to stay here with me, go back and take care of Dad. My sister is the same, she still has children to take care of at home. I feel uneasy having you here. You can come over after I give birth."

Xiaowei's mother said, "If you ask me, you should go back and discuss it. Why don't you all move over here? Those who have jobs can't work anymore, and those who don't have jobs, what are you doing cooped up over there? If you come over, the whole family can be together, and you can see what you can do here. It will save you from being bored out of your mind."

Sister Xia said, "I'll have to wait for my mom to say it. She's never had any backbone in front of my dad in her entire life. I'll go back and talk to her myself. I run a small shop over there. It's a poor place with few people, and business is barely enough to make ends meet. I've really wanted to come here. Wouldn't it be better to do something here than back home?"

Xia's mother said, "I'll go back and ask your father. He's been strong-willed his whole life; do you expect him to back down now that he's old?"

Aunt Wang said, "That's easy. Once your grandson is born, we'll have him come over to see him. Your whole family can come and spend the New Year here. Then we'll tell him, 'Honestly, doesn't everyone want the best? Aren't you worried about your grandson? What can you possibly achieve by just staying there?'"

Sister Xia said, "I think it's a good idea. We can let Xiao Hui do it. She's the only one in our family who can keep him in check right now. Xiao Xiao doesn't dare to say a word in front of his dad."

(End of this chapter)