Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

He first stated the price to avoid disputes later—if it's too expensive, you can find someone else. This person is an official from the Second Light Industry Bureau. If they really want to make things difficult for you, the Industry and Commerce Bureau can intervene. It's not worth getting into trouble for him.

Director Hou nodded: "The price should be in accordance with the standards of state-run restaurants, but there is one condition: the taste must be authentic, it must be genuine Cantonese flavor."

Liu Hongchang readily agreed, "How about we try it here tonight? Whether it suits your taste or not is up to you."

Director Hou readily agreed, "Alright, I'll trust you this time!"

The couple had already been introduced by Director Yao and had a pretty good idea of ​​what Liu Hongchang was capable of – Director Yao wasn't exaggerating.

Not long after, Director Hou returned carrying a plump chicken and some fresh seafood, which he personally handed to He Wenyuan. He Wenyuan quickly went into the kitchen and steadily handed the items to Liu Hongchang.

Two hours later, Liu Hongchang called Xiao Cui to bring out the dishes, which were steaming hot and placed on the table for Director Hou to taste.

At this moment, the shop was getting busier as customers entered one after another; it was Liu Hongchang's busiest time of day. After Director Hou finished tasting the food, seeing the room full of people and the clanging of pots and pans, he didn't disturb them and went straight to Wu Xiaoying to pay the bill—Liu Hongchang had already instructed that this meal would only incur a two-yuan processing fee.

Director Hou nodded in satisfaction, and his wife, beaming, got into the car. Who would have thought that this unassuming little restaurant actually housed a chef skilled in Cantonese cuisine?

In fact, Liu Hongchang's Cantonese cooking skills are only slightly above average, not quite masterful, but he excels in being down-to-earth, knowing how to control the heat, and being able to judge the temperature.

As usual, Liu Hongchang would give the two waiters extra dinner: sometimes it was minced meat and cabbage, sometimes it was stir-fried bitter greens with leftover oil residue from the pot—leftovers weren't as fresh, and keeping them was just a waste; if there was nothing left, they would go home empty-handed.

Old Liu's family moved their dinner to the shop early on. At noon, it's crowded, and they're afraid the children will get lost; in the evening, it's quiet, and the whole family can sit together, enjoying hot soup and rice, chatting and laughing—it's more comforting than anything else.

As Liu Zi stepped through the door carrying a bottle of liquor, Yang Maixiang was just lifting the pot lid: "Perfect timing! We only need one last dish!"

Liu Zi leaned over and teased the little girl with her hair in a small bun in his arms: "Call me uncle! Uncle brought you candy!"

Yang Maixiang laughed and shoved him lightly: "She's already tipsy before even touching a drop of alcohol? She's only eleven months pregnant, and she can't even speak properly yet!"

Liu Zi scratched his head: "I'm just hoping she'll speak up soon!" As he spoke, he deftly unwrapped the candy and stuffed it into the little girl's palm.

Liu Hongchang carried out the last steaming plate of food, and the room was immediately filled with a delicious aroma. The two waiters, the entire Liu family, and Liu Zi sat down around the round table. Before they even touched their chopsticks, laughter filled the room.

……

After the meal, Liu Yunchang and his wife immediately went into the kitchen to get busy. In the past, Liu Hongchang would help them with the braised meat, only charging for the meat and seasonings; the couple felt bad about it, so they eventually learned the whole technique themselves. Now that they have an electric stove, they can control the heat themselves, and Liu Hongchang insists on not charging them five yuan a month for electricity, which makes them very anxious.

With He Wenyuan joining the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) stall, Liu Yunchang earned a steady seventy yuan a day. The couple were very content, telling everyone they met how much they owed it to Liu Hongchang for lighting the way. Wang Cuilan, seeing her brothers united and her children around her, felt as sweet as honey—this was the peaceful life she had longed for her whole life.

After dinner, Yang Maixiang pushed a stroller with Wenpeng on her back, while Wang Cuilan carried Wenhao on her back. The group strolled slowly home. Liu Yunchang and his wife had to stay at the shop until after 11 p.m.

Liu Hongchang tossed the keys to the two of them, helped Yang Maixiang hold the handlebars, and pushed the bike back home.

Wenhao tilted his little face up, staring longingly at the candy in Liu Hongchang's hand: "Second Uncle, I want some candy!"

Liu Hongchang smiled and peeled one open, feeding it to him, then peeled another and stuffed it into Wenpeng's little hand.

They chatted about everyday things along the way, their steps light and quick.

These two children were unusual; they resembled neither their father nor their mother, but were spitting images of Wang Cuilan in her youth. The old lady's heart softened at the sight of them, and she wished she could give her life for them.

When He Wenyuan returned home, his mother was still weaving under the lamp. He quickly put down his bag, moved a small stool, and sat down to help. The family still owed Gao Junling more than seven hundred yuan—over the past three years, Gao Junling had lent Yu Qiuhua this money in installments. Although she didn't press her for payment, Yu Qiuhua kept it in mind: Gao Junling was about to give birth to her second child, and she should pay it back as soon as possible.

Now, with her salary and weaving income, Qiuhua sends twenty yuan to her every month without fail. When will she be able to pay back the meager thirty-odd yuan? She has no idea, but she is no longer anxious—the eldest son's earnings support his younger brothers, and the second son also voluntarily hands over twenty yuan of his earnings. The days are getting brighter, and the smile lines at the corners of her eyes are deeper and warmer than before.

Gao Junling's home

Hou Dunzi was busy serving food to Gao Junling and coaxing his youngest daughter to eat, but his heart was filled with sweetness, like he was sitting in a honey pot. No matter how busy the breakfast shop was these days, he wouldn't let Gao Junling step out of the door—her pregnancy wasn't even stable yet, how could he let her stand in front of the stove?

Gao Junling smiled and waved the fifty yuan in her hand: "My master settled all the debts he owed me today. After all these years, we've finally seen some light at the end of the tunnel."

Hou Dunzi shook his head, his brow furrowing slightly: "Don't just listen to her nice words. Her two sons are short-sighted and cunning. Even if you're related to your master, you still need to be careful."

"Don't worry," Gao Junling picked up a piece of tofu with her chopsticks and put it in her bowl. "I only recognize my master as my guide, and I won't even touch any other branches—your worries are completely unnecessary."

"Yes, yes, I was just worrying for no reason." Hou Dunzi quickly picked up the chicken soup and stuffed it into her hand. "Drink it while it's hot, it's more effective than any reasoning."

The youngest daughter couldn't sit still any longer, twisting and turning on the edge of the bed, sometimes tugging at the back of the stool's sleeve, sometimes pulling at Gao Junling's freshly combed hair, giggling incessantly.

"Oh my little darling!" Hou Dunzi grabbed her under her arms and lifted her up a bit. "Your mom's got your little sister in her belly, how could she have time to do somersaults with you?"

He didn't care at all whether the baby was a boy or a girl. As long as there was a new member in the family, he felt that life had been refilled with energy, and he was ready to move forward with renewed vigor. But the little girl didn't listen to any of that. She kicked her little legs and climbed onto Gao Junling's belly.

Gao Junling supported her back as she said, "Dunzi, my dad called this morning to ask if we're going back to the village for the Mid-Autumn Festival. I was thinking... I won't go. I know you're still hung up on those old things."

Hou Dunzi lowered his head and wiped his hands, his voice softening: "Let's go back. The anger has long since dissipated, and I should go back and see if the grass on my parents' graves has grown tall."

"That's right," Gao Junling's eyes lit up. "We need to take the kids to pay their respects. Grandpa and Grandma's graves have been in disrepair for years, so we should take this year to fix them up. The money is piled up there now, we can't even count it all."

He bought three or four storefronts in the city and rented them out to collect rent; he hired chefs to run both breakfast shops, and he only needed to keep an eye on the accounts and the cooking process.

Hou Dunzi smiled and sighed, "I'll listen to you. You're a good person, but you're too soft-hearted and easily taken advantage of."

Back then, working in the mines, he earned less than two hundred yuan a month; following Liu Hongchang to trade watches, he saved up several thousand yuan in capital; Liu Zi started later, but he set up his own business much earlier—Gao Junling quit her secure job at the factory without hesitation, and the couple worked from dawn till dusk, figuring out the business before Liu Hongchang, and now they have long since left behind the "ten-thousand-yuan household" label.

Liu Hongchang was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), gently patting Xinxin's back. The little girl was whimpering and wouldn't sleep, only closing her eyes when he hummed a tune. Her brother, on the other hand, was easy to manage; he would fall asleep as soon as he was tired, grab a steamed bun and start eating when he woke up, and then run around the yard like crazy after he was full.

Yang Maixiang leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and said, "Your idea sounds so unrealistic, how could it possibly be reliable?"

Liu Hongchang stubbed out his cigarette and tapped the table with his knuckles: "I've figured it out—our city is undergoing a massive construction boom, with construction sites springing up everywhere. I'll weld a tricycle, set up a stove, and sell fast food at the door, all you can eat for 80 cents! These days, construction workers earn five yuan a day. We don't accept food coupons or put on airs. What do they want? They just want something practical. The boss already agreed yesterday, saying he'd bring his fellow workers to support us."

The two brothers had already made a plan: the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) shop would be temporarily managed by Wu Xiaoying and He Wenyuan; Liu Hongchang would find another laborer, and the two of them would work together to deliver food to construction sites, splitting the profits 50/50.

The sixth son's wife was even more efficient; she had already bought a tricycle, and was just waiting to hang the noodle pot on it.

Yang Maixiang waved her hand: "I don't know anything about business, you can make your own decisions. By the way, I'm taking the child to the provincial capital to visit her maternal and paternal grandparents tomorrow."

Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang made several phone calls, hoping their granddaughter would show up soon; the old house had been rented out long ago, and the rent was supposed to be wired back at the end of the year.

Liu Hongchang frowned: "How can you manage to take care of two kids on the road all by yourself?"

"Mrs. Li and her husband are also going to the provincial capital for medical treatment. They agreed to travel together so they can keep each other company on the way." Yang Maixiang hugged the child tighter.

Liu Hongchang was still uneasy, but he couldn't find a suitable person to lend a hand for the time being.

"Alright," he slapped his thigh, "I'll have your sister-in-law go with you tomorrow. With her there, I'll feel at ease."

Yang Maixiang thought for a moment and nodded.

Just as dawn was breaking, Wu Xiaoying entered the shop carrying a vegetable basket, with green peppers, green beans, and pork belly neatly arranged; He Wenyuan and his elder brother had set off for the early market before dawn; Liu Hongchang had just pasted a handwritten job advertisement on the glass door.

Wu Xiaoying was squatting by the pool picking green beans when Liu Hongchang lifted the curtain and came in.

"Sister-in-law," he rubbed his hands together, "Maixiang is going to the provincial capital today, and I'm worried she won't be able to take care of the two kids by herself. I'd like to ask you to lend a hand and accompany her."

"What time is the train?" Wu Xiaoying asked without looking up.

"11:00 AM."

"Okay, I'll finish washing these vegetables and then go home to change my clothes right away."

The eldest brother and his wife always get up earlier than the chickens. They get up in the dark at 4:30, first bake the dough until it is crispy and fragrant, then head straight to the market to pick out the freshest vegetables to prepare.

These past few days they've been looking around for traditional courtyard houses—Liu Hongchang mentioned that these old courtyards are easy to demolish, occupy a lot of space, and if the children think they're too old-fashioned, it's cheaper to flatten them and build cement buildings.