Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 256 Zhuzi Opens a Shop

On an early winter afternoon, although the sky was still foggy, which was the effect of dust, the alleys of the old city still looked so beautiful. Yan Jiekuang was riding a bicycle on the road. From time to time, groups of young people passed by in twos and threes. What surprised Yan Jiekuang was that there were quite a few young women among them.

Yan Jiekuang knew that there was no place for them in the old city at that time. Except for a small number of people who found their own way, most of the children from better-off families had become street urchins. Fights and petty thefts were common in Nanluoguxiang.

Yan Jiekuang arrived not long after, carrying his bicycle into the courtyard. As soon as he looked up, he saw Grandpa Sun's vigilant eyes. Grandpa Sun greeted him and said, "Hey, isn't this our boss Yan? How come you have time to visit our courtyard in your busy schedule?"

Yan Jiekuang said with a smile: "Grandpa Sun, you are teasing me again. How are you? Where is my brother Sun?"

Grandpa Sun said with a smile: "Thanks to you, I'm in good health. You haven't been here for half a year, right? Your brother Sun is at work. What do you eat when you're not at work?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "Yes, the restaurant is too busy. I'll have time later. Come back often and talk to me if you have anything to say."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yan Jiekuang went into the west wing. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Yang Ruiping sewing something. As soon as Yan Jiekuang came in, Yang Ruiping saw him and called out "Mom".

Yang Ruiping complained: "It's really hard to find you. I've found you twice."

"The restaurant is busy, so I came here as soon as I had some free time. What's the matter, Mom?" Yan Jiekuang asked.

Yang Ruiping stood up and walked to the front door, closed it, then pulled Yan Jiekuang to sit down and said, "I have a few questions for you. You have to give me some advice."

Yan Jiekuang nodded and said, "Mom, go ahead and talk. I'm listening."

Yang Ruiping thought for a moment and said, "Your eldest brother has been suspended from work, and so has Yu Li. They rented a shop on Xiushui Street and have already finished decorating it. The couple went to the south, saying they were going to purchase goods. Do you think they can make it?"

Yan Jiekuang knew that the mother was a little worried about the eldest son, so he said, "If nothing unexpected happens, their idea is right. By the way, where did they get so much money? I always thought they would borrow money from me."

Yang Ruiping said, "Yu Li is a person who saves money. She didn't touch a penny of the money from the watch business last time, except for the one thousand yuan that Yan Jiecheng squandered. She has about five thousand yuan left. Now she has taken another three thousand from me. It's not that I value money, but I'm afraid they will do something stupid. If you say it's okay, I'll be relieved."

Yan Jiekuang said: "How can I use your money? I will give it to you later. Your son is very capable of making money."

Yang Ruiping looked at Yan Jiekuang suspiciously and asked, "Son, tell me the truth, how much money did your restaurant make?"

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Oh my god, how can I hide this from you? In the past year or so, the net profit has exceeded 500,000 yuan, not to mention that I bought a three-story house."

Yang Ruiping was shocked, but he believed that his third son would not lie to him, and said, "No wonder your father wandered around the surrounding villages all day long, saying that he was going to open a small shop or something, and he had a very unhappy relationship with Grandpa Sun."

"Ah, why did he have an unpleasant relationship with my uncle Sun?" Yan Jiekuang asked.

Yang Ruiping said, "You don't know what kind of temper your father has. He wanted to exchange your northern room for Old Sun's three back rooms. Old Sun was not a fool, so of course he refused. Your father said that your Grandpa Sun's house was worthless. It was a warehouse used to store goods in the past, and even dogs didn't live there. So your Grandpa Sun got angry and started a quarrel. I had to separate them in the end."

Yan Jiekuang spat out a mouthful of water, thinking to himself that his father was really good at making trouble and could say anything.

Yang Ruiping continued, "You don't know, ever since the news of you opening a restaurant got out, this courtyard has never been peaceful."

Yan Jiekuang had expected this, but he didn't expect that every family has its own difficulties. His father's stingy nature would make him want to do the biggest things with the least money.

Yan Jiekuang said: "What is my father's plan now?"

Yang Ruiping sighed and said, "Your dad has set his eyes on Yi Jun's house again. I heard that they had a good chat. Tell me, he is already old, why is he making such a fuss?"

Yan Jiekuang said consolingly: "It's good to let my dad do some work, at least he has something to do, and you can go over and help him when you have nothing to do, so you won't be bored, right?" Yang Ruiping thought about it carefully and said: "If it can be done, of course it will be great, otherwise why would I find you? Don't let your dad get tired, go and help your dad."

Yan Jiekuang agreed and said, "Okay, leave it to me."

Yan Jiekuang drank some water and then asked Yang Ruiping, what changes have taken place in the yard?

Yang Ruiping smiled and said, "That's quite lively. You may not know that He Yuzhu opened a restaurant right here in Nanluoguxiang. The restaurant is not small, and he himself resigned from his job. When the Jia family of the Central Court saw this, they chased after him and wanted to buy shares. Guess what happened?"

Yan Jiekuang became interested and asked, "Mom, why are you still keeping me in suspense? What happened?"

"He Yuzhu directly said that this restaurant was not his, that the money was taken by He Yushui, and that he was just a worker. This left Jia Dongxu at a loss. He Yuzhu's restaurant was doing well, and people from the nearby steel rolling mill were very supportive, and it had always been prosperous. But in the middle of the year, Jia Dongxu made trouble again. He didn't know how he could convince Chang Cun, his backyard man, and wanted the Chang brothers to resign from He Yuzhu's restaurant." Yang Ruiping took a sip of water after he finished speaking.

Yan Jiekuang looked at his mother with great interest, waiting for her to continue. Yang Ruiping continued, "As disciples of He Yuzhu, the Chang brothers were very loyal. They sold out Jia Dongxu the next day. He Yuzhu got angry and ran back to the courtyard to settle accounts with Jia Dongxu without even opening the store."

Yan Jiekuang asked, "What happened next?"

Yang Ruiping said, "You don't know about the old Jia family. Jia Zhang and Jia Dongxu have gone somewhere. Qin Huairu came out by herself, apologizing and crying. In the end, He Yuzhu was embarrassed, and the matter was left unresolved."

Yan Jiekuang drank some water and said, "It was me who suggested He Yuzhu open a shop. Now we have the policy and he has the skills. It's a good time. It's a pity for the Jia family."

Yang Ruiping looked at Yan Jiekuang in confusion, and Yan Jiekuang explained: "Does everyone have to open a restaurant? Why do you have to hang yourself on the restaurant path? Can't you learn from my elder brother?"

Yang Ruiping still doesn’t know the situation outside. In the second half of this year, all kinds of businesses have sprung up like mushrooms after rain and are flourishing all over the city.

Yang Ruiping asked: "San'er, do you want to eat at home? I'll cook for you. Today it's just the two of us."

Yan Jiekuang said, "What are you doing? Come on, Mom, I'll treat you to a meal."

Yang Ruiping was a little unhappy, but seeing that Yan Jiekuang was in high spirits, and she also wanted to go to He Yuzhu's restaurant, she did not refuse.

Yang Ruiping and Yan Jiekuang walked towards He Yuzhu's restaurant together. When they reached the end of Nanluoguxiang, they saw a restaurant with a plaque on it that read "Home Style Restaurant". Yan Jiekuang nodded, thinking that the name was very friendly.

As soon as the two people entered the room, He Yuzhu, who was drinking tea in the front hall, saw them and immediately stood up to greet them.

"Brother Zhuzi, my mother and I are here to support you." Yan Jiekuang said with a smile.

"Haha, I've wanted you to come for a long time, but never had the time. Now you come by yourself. I'm treating you today. Don't fight with me for the seat, or I'll get anxious. Hurry and sit down." He Yuzhu said enthusiastically.

Yang Ruiping also laughed and said, "This is my first time here, Zhuzi. Your restaurant is really clean, bright and bright."

Yan Jiekuang and Yang Ruiping sat down by the window. He Yuzhu asked the waiter to serve tea, and then said, "Don't order anything today. I'll make two of my signature dishes for you. Please taste them and give me some advice."

Yan Jiekuang nodded, and He Yuzhu ran to the kitchen after he finished speaking. The mother and son drank tea while waiting for the food to be served.

But what they didn't know was that there was a man on the street outside who was looking at the mother and son with resentment, and then stormed straight to He Yuzhu's restaurant.

(End of this chapter)