Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 253: Little Year Showdown
On New Year's Eve, the Yan family set up two tables, one for the children and one for the adults.

Ji Lian packed a portion and sent it to Grandpa Ji in the backyard. Grandpa Ji seldom went out anymore. He was usually taken care of by Shi Xiaoya and Yang Ruiping. He couldn't come out to eat, so the food could only be sent over. Ji Lian came back after serving her grandfather, after all, it was the Yan family's reunion dinner.

When they were sitting at the table, Yan Yongqing said he would not sit at the children's table no matter what, and Yang Ruiping said he would not sit at the adults' table no matter what.

Everyone knew that Yang Ruiping envied the feeling of being surrounded by Yan Bugui's grandchildren in the afternoon, so he did not persuade him much. After the women served all the dishes and put them on the table, Yan Bugui made a simple introduction and everyone started eating and chatting.

Yan Bugui suddenly asked Yan Jiekuang, "Third brother, where is Wang Qing?"

Yan Jiekuang's hand holding the cup trembled a bit, and Ji Lian glanced at him secretly. Yan Jiekuang said, "He went to my place and is working with me. This side is handed over to Lin Song and Er Xiao."

Yan Bugui sighed and said, "Thank you so much, Wang Qing. If he hadn't left, I would still be working for free at the purchasing station. Now I'm a consultant there, and I make more than 30 yuan a month."

Yu Li raised her head and stared at Yan Jiekuang, holding up her cup and said, "Old Third, I'll toast you. You are a man who has done great things, so you can't forget your eldest brother and his wife."

Yan Jiekuang quickly said, "No, no, let me do it. Thank you, sister-in-law."

Although Yan Jiecheng was a little puzzled as to why his wife suddenly toasted the third brother, he did not think much about it. He did not hear any hidden meaning in his wife's words, and said, "The third brother is not that person. Come on, let me drink with you."

Yu Li took a sip of wine and glared at Yan Jiecheng. At this time Yan Bugui seemed to have reacted and suddenly turned his head to stare at Yan Jiekuang. Yan Jiekuang looked at her and realized, yeah, he had heard it.

Ji Lian was trying not to laugh, secretly looking at the father and son, lowering her head and eating without saying a word, pretending she saw nothing. Shi Xiaoya thought Ji Lian was hungry and kept picking up food for her.

Yan Bugui said, "What is Wang Qing doing with you? Why didn't you tell me anything?"

Yan Jiekuang said calmly, "I opened a restaurant, right in front of the front door."

Yu Li exclaimed, "Yan's Restaurant? You opened it?"

Yan Jiekuang nodded helplessly. Yan Bugui said in astonishment, "They are all talking about Yan's Restaurant. It turns out that Yan's is our family. Third brother, you hid it well enough."

Everyone at the table was surprised except Shi Xiaoya and Ji Lian. Ji Lian knew about it in advance, while Shi Xiaoya simply didn't care what kind of restaurant it was.

Yan Jiekuang was suddenly patted, and Yang Ruiping said, "Why didn't you tell me about such a big thing as opening a restaurant?"

Yan Jiekuang explained: "I don't have much to do, so I had to find something to do. I saw that Yuebin Restaurant was doing well, so I opened one too."

Yang Ruiping frowned and asked, "Did you pay the compensation?"

Yu Li said, "Mom, you still want compensation? There's a long queue to eat at Yan's Restaurant, and a lot of foreigners go there every day. Can you get compensation?"

Yang Ruiping didn't ask Yan Jiekuang anymore and sat down next to Ji Lian. The two of them were whispering. Yang Ruiping knew that Ji Lian would not lie to her. Several women chattered for a long time, followed by a burst of exclamations.

Yan Bugui also heard that Yan Jiekuang earned 80,000 yuan in the past two months, and also heard that Yan Jiekuang paid his employees a salary of 200 yuan.

Yan Bugui's eyes turned red, and he was about to raise his glass to toast Yan Laosan. The same went for Yan Jiecheng and his son, who stared at Yan Jiekuang.

In the end, it was Yan Bugui who spoke first. "Old Third, is this considered as excessive profit? Is this against the rules?"

Yan Jiekuang rolled his eyes and said, "I pay taxes and management fees on time. My craftsmanship is there, so of course it's worth the money."

Yan Bugui said, "Then you really need to hide your incompetence. You have made us all like this. If outsiders knew about this, they would be furious."

Yan Jiekuang said jokingly: "Dad, your eyes are red enough."

Yan Bugui glared at him and said, "Who said that about your father? By the way, are you still short of people? I'll do the math for you, just give me a hundred." Yan Jiekuang shook his head and said, "The current policy is still not relaxed. The business cannot have more than eight people. There are exactly eight people in the restaurant now. If you go, I will have to fire others. Besides, even though they earn a lot, the work is really tiring. If you don't believe me, ask Lian'er."

Ji Lian immediately agreed and said, "Yes, Dad, Third Brother has been exhausted in the past two months, not to mention those employees."

Yan Bugui rolled his eyes and said nothing. At this time, Yu Li kept winking at Yan Jiecheng. Yan Jiecheng looked at his wife, then at Yan Jiekuang, and said, "Old Third, what do you think of me opening a restaurant?"

Yan Jiekuang was not surprised at all. With his sister-in-law around, his family would have to start their own business sooner or later, so he said, "Okay, but are you willing to give up your iron rice bowl?"

Yan Bugui looked at Yan Jiecheng at this time and said, "That's right. This third brother has a skill. Do you have a skill? Besides, can you just give up your iron rice bowl?"

Yang Ruiping looked at Yu Li, who had no choice but to go to school herself, so he said, "Dad, Mom, the economy is not doing well now, wages have not increased, and we have to pay 80% of the expenses. Yongqing is about to start a family, so the expenses at home will definitely be high."

Yan Bugui said: "We will find a way to get my grandson's money. The main thing is that you don't have any skills, so how can you open a restaurant?"

Yu Li thought for a moment and said, "We can find a better chef, like He Yuzhu."

When Yan Bugui heard this, he was stunned. To be honest, if he asked He Yuzhu for help, it would almost work.

Yan Jiekuang shook his head and said, "Sister-in-law, don't think about He Yuzhu anymore. He talked to me for a while this afternoon and it seems that he also wants to open a restaurant."

Yan Jiecheng looked at Yu Li, and Yu Li looked at Yan Jiecheng, and they were all discouraged. Yan Jiekuang said quickly, "It's not necessary to open a restaurant in this city. You can open a hot pot restaurant. It's simple, labor-saving, and worry-free."

Yu Li's eyes lit up instantly, and then narrowed a little. She thought Lao San's idea was great, so she said, "Lao San, you have to help us. We have to set up the store anyway."

Yan Jiekuang raised his cup, toasted Yan Jiecheng and his sister-in-law, and said, "We are all family, so it's our duty to help each other."

After a few people finished drinking, Yan Bugui was not satisfied. Why did the old man close the shop after just a few words? He blurted out, "What about me?"

Yang Ruiping burst into laughter when he heard this and said, "Just be an obedient consultant."

Several people laughed out loud. Yan Bugui's face turned red. He drank a cup with himself. Yan Jiekuang said, "Dad, you are the head of the family. Aren't you the consultant of our two stores?"

When Yan Bugui heard this, he thought, that's right. It's also good to go around and offer suggestions when you have nothing to do. He felt relieved at once.

After eating for a while, a few women went to the children's table, and the three of us were left at this table. We started drinking slowly, chatting and talking about family matters.

After a while, the door rang. Shi Xiaoya got up to open the door. When she opened the door, she saw He Yuzhu coming in with a bottle of wine and a plate of braised beef.

Yan Jiecheng quickly asked He Yuzhu to sit down, and the four men began to drink again. During the meal, He Yuzhu also asked Yan Jiecheng questions related to opening a store. Only then did Yan Jiecheng realize that the third brother had not lied to him, and that He Yuzhu really wanted to open his own store.

When a few people were chatting excitedly, the door rang again. Yan Jiekuang wondered what was going on today. Isn't this New Year's Eve a day for families to reunite? Why are there people visiting everywhere? Yan Jiekuang opened the door and saw a rare guest, Jia Dongxu.

Jia Dongxu also came in with a bottle of wine and said, "Uncle Yan, it's boring for me to drink alone at home, so I joined you guys for some fun. Oh, Zhuzi is here too."

Yan Bugui curled his lips. He didn't believe what Jia Dongxu said. Jia Dongxu would come to visit for no reason. He had many ulterior motives. But on the surface, he said, "Hurry up and sit down. Let's have a good drink together."

Jia Dongxu was not shy either, and sat down on the other side of Yan Jiekuang. As soon as he sat down, he said, "Third brother, the Yan family restaurant is doing well."

Yan Jiekuang was stunned for a moment, staring at Jia Dongxu.

(End of this chapter)