Rebirth: Starting from the Cafeteria

Du Shaojie does not plan to use this storefront himself, so he entrusts a real estate agency to rent it out. After deducting the agency fee, the monthly rent will be deposited into his account on time.

Previously, his (Hong Kong dollar) account balance was HK$251 million. After paying for the house and various expenses, he still had HK$149 million left.

After finishing his work, he spent two days with Wang Liwen and then returned to Yangcheng.

Hong Kong is not his home ground and he has no intention of developing here, but that does not prevent him from investing in real estate in Hong Kong.

"Brother, I'm so miserable. There is no winter vacation this year. We will only have a few days off during the Chinese New Year."

Because Du Xiaomei is on internship, she has to abide by the schedule of her company and cannot go home for the New Year.

While having dinner in the old street, she couldn't help but complain to Du Shaojie and Liang Meiqin, but it was of no use.

Liang Meiqin smiled secretly. She had booked a flight for the day after tomorrow so that she could go home and reunite with her family.

"How about I call Mom and have Xiaoya send a telegram to ask them to come to Yangcheng to celebrate the New Year."

Du Xiaomei had a good idea, but when she called back, Wang Yuxiu refused to come.

She had no way of convincing her mother, so she didn't send a telegram to Xiaoya.

Du Shaojie hasn't decided whether to go back or not. After all, he has only been away from home for a few days and he can't stand running like this.

But celebrating the Chinese New Year is an obsession for Chinese people. No matter how far away they are, they will find a way to go home. If they really can't, they can only leave my older sister alone in Guangzhou.

After seeing Liang Meiqin off, Du Shaojie was not idle either. He began to take stock of last year's revenues of the [Barbecue Restaurant], [Xichuan Restaurant] and [Seafood Restaurant].

These three stores alone brought him nearly 120 million yuan in net profit last year, and there is still great potential for the development of stores like [Xichuan Restaurant] and [Seafood House].

The year-end bonus has been issued, which is equivalent to three months' salary for employees.

Du Shaojie has done a good job in this regard. Now, external investment has begun to flow into the mainland, and cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou have received a large amount of funds.

But to be honest, at this stage many business owners are very unfriendly to workers and exploit them severely. The term "sweatshop" is also a product of this stage.

Therefore, his employees respect him very much.

No matter how good the pie in the sky is, it is not as good as the money in hand. Who doesn’t understand this truth?

"Xiaomei, go talk to your company and ask for a few days off. I finally asked someone to book two tickets for the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. Let's go back and celebrate the New Year, and come back on the 8th day of the first lunar month."

After all, Du Shaojie did not leave his elder sister alone in Guangzhou, and the two of them planned to fly back to Xijiang on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The airfare is too expensive for many people, but it doesn't matter to him.

"Brother, you are so great!"

Du Xiaomei was so happy that she quickly asked for leave from her internship unit the next day.

Most companies are relatively tolerant of interns. No one will make things difficult for them if they ask for a few days off to go home for the New Year.

It's human nature.

[Xichuan Restaurant], [Barbecue Restaurant] and [Seafood Restaurant] will all be closed from the 28th day of the 12th lunar month and will not reopen until the 8th day of the 1st lunar month.

Most people go home to celebrate the New Year, and among those who stay is Liao Yongxin.

Du Shaojie and Xiaomei have already packed their luggage and are catching a flight tomorrow morning.

"Boss, Master Liao complained of severe stomach pain today, so the two of us accompanied him to the hospital. It turned out to be acute appendicitis, and the doctor said he needed surgery."

After dinner, Du Shaojie and Xiaomei were chatting in the house when suddenly the phone rang.

He walked over and answered the call. It was from Yan Dabao from Xichuan Restaurant.

Yan Dabao was also one of the people who stayed behind. He had nothing to do in the afternoon, so he chatted with Liao Yongxin, and then he encountered this incident.

"Wait at the hospital. I'll be there soon."

Du Shaojie asked about the specific situation and then hung up the phone.

He now needs to pick up his wife and then go to the hospital. Hospitalization and surgery require family signatures, and his wife must go.

"Xiaomei, I may not be able to leave tomorrow. Go back by yourself. If it's hard to buy a return ticket, call me and I'll help you find a way."

Du Shaojie felt a little embarrassed. He had originally planned to go home with Xiaomei to celebrate the New Year, but now he had to break his promise.

Liao Yongxin was his master, and he couldn't ignore it even if it was just a minor operation.

With this delay, there is no need to go back.

"Brother, this matter is not your fault. I will explain it to mom when I get back."

Du Xiaomei was also helpless. This was an emergency and she could understand it.

Du Shaojie nodded, without further ado, he immediately went to pick up his master's wife, and then went to the hospital together.

Acute appendicitis is not life-threatening as long as you get to the doctor in time. Liao Yongxin had surgery that night, and the doctor said the surgery was successful. If there is no major change, he will be discharged from the hospital within a week.

Nowadays, appendectomy surgery does not use laparoscopy, and the incision is slightly longer, but it is fine as long as there are no complications.

Liao Yongxin is still in good health and may be discharged from the hospital in a few days.

"Boss, you guys go back first, I'll just stay here at night."

Yan Dabao was fine, so he volunteered to stay in the hospital.

Du Shaojie took a taxi to send his master's wife back home, and it was already late at night when they returned to the old street.

He was in a daze for a few hours, then he sent Xiaomei to the airport and refunded his own plane ticket.

He went to deliver food in the evening, replacing Yan Dabao, and stayed in the hospital overnight. By New Year's Eve, Liao Yongxin's condition had improved a lot, and the doctor said that he would be able to go home to recuperate in four or five days.

"Shaojie, Dabao, today is New Year's Eve, you should all take a rest. I will stay with Lao Liao in the hospital tonight."

When Du Shaojie went to deliver lunch, his master's wife told him and Yan Dabao not to come again today.

Liao Yongxin also meant this. Why would you go to the hospital during the Chinese New Year? It's unlucky. Anyway, there's food and drink in the hospital, so you won't starve. There's no need to send food every day.

Du Shaojie and Yan Dabao then left the hospital.

"Dabao, go and call the few people who are left behind to come over and have New Year's Eve dinner at my place tonight."

It was just past noon, and Du Shaojie asked Yan Dabao to call all the remaining staff of [Xichuan Restaurant] to the old street.

In addition, there were two people left behind at the barbecue restaurant, and he called them on his way back.

There were some ingredients at home, and Yan Dabao and others brought a lot of things when they came, so there was no need to worry about the New Year’s Eve dinner.

"Boss, take a break, we'll do it."

We are all in the same business, so there is no need to worry about no one cooking.

Du Shaojie was also happy to have some free time. While Yan Dabao and others were preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, he strolled out to buy some New Year's goods.

As the incident happened suddenly, he was not prepared at all. Fortunately, there were still many shops open in the old street.

Du Shaojie took a look around and bought Spring Festival couplets, blessing characters, fireworks and other items. He also bought some cooked food and fruits. Who told him not to prepare New Year's goods in advance?
Fortunately, there was enough rice, flour and oil at home, so we were not hungry.

Walking back with his things, he met Uncle Chai in front of a flower stall.

"Ajie? Didn't you go home for the New Year? Why are you still wandering around the streets?"

Uncle Chai felt very puzzled. He had met Du Shaojie some time ago. Didn’t he say that he was going back to his hometown to celebrate the New Year?
Du Shaojie explained a few words, saying that his master suddenly had appendicitis and was hospitalized, so he had to stay and celebrate the New Year.

"Is that so? It's okay. I'll send you some New Year's gifts later."

Uncle Chai obviously had something to do, and he left in a hurry after he finished speaking.

Du Shaojie took a look at the flower stall and asked the stall owner to send two large pots of kumquats to his home.

"Xiao Yang, Xiao Wu, come over here and help me put up Spring Festival couplets."

In addition to Yan Dabao, there were four other people who stayed behind and had dinner at Du Shaojie's place.

Two of them helped Yan Dabao cook, and the other two helped Du Shaojie paste Spring Festival couplets and blessing characters. Two tall pots of kumquats were placed at the entrance of the yard, which made it look like the festive atmosphere.

Afterwards, Du Shaojie set off a set of firecrackers at the door and started eating.

Although there were not many ingredients, Yan Dabao still made eight dishes and a soup.

He has all kinds of liquor here, including white wine, beer, and red wine. The six of them ate, drank, and chatted.

Du Shaojie saw that it was almost time, so he turned on the TV. Because he bought this TV a long time ago, it was black and white, but everyone still watched it with gusto.

There is the Spring Festival Gala today, which is considered the first "Spring Festival Gala".

In addition to himself, Yan Dabao and others were deeply attracted by the Spring Festival Gala program from the very beginning and watched it without blinking.

"I think my mother and the others should be watching the Spring Festival Gala right now, right?"

After Xiaoya was admitted to university, her family bought a TV. Otherwise, Wang Yuxiu would have been very lonely when the three siblings were not around.

This was the first time in Du Shaojie's life that he spent the New Year alone, and he felt a little uncomfortable.

But looking at Yan Dabao and others, he felt that he had nothing to be sad about. Every year during the Spring Festival, there are always people who stay behind, and some people cannot go back to their hometown for various reasons.

"Ajie, you guys have prepared a pretty sumptuous meal. I have some things here, take them. It's the New Year holiday, so you can't buy them outside for the time being."

At this time, Uncle Chai came in, carrying a lot of things in his hands.

There are chicken, duck, fish, meat, and some vegetables.

"Uncle Chai, thank you. Come, let's have a couple of drinks together."

Du Shaojie and Uncle Chai were not polite. They took the bags from the other party and invited them to take a seat.

Uncle Chai quickly waved his hand and said, "I have to go back. My family is waiting for me."

Du Shaojie couldn't stop him, so he stood up and sent the other person out of the yard.

After dinner, Yan Dabao and others went outside to set off fireworks. Du Shaojie stood at the door, looking at the fireworks in the sky, and his mood suddenly improved.

New Year's Day.

Du Shaojie got up early in the morning, prepared some food, and then sent it to the hospital.

"Master, I see that you look good. You should be able to be discharged from the hospital in two days."

The main purpose of coming here in the morning to deliver food was not to do so, but to wish Liao Yongxin a happy new year.

People are generally more vulnerable when they are sick, and more care will be beneficial to the patient's recovery.

"Haha, my health has always been great. The doctor said I'm recovering well and I can go back in two days."

Liao Yongxin is in good spirits and has no complications.

As they were talking, Yan Dabao and two employees from Xichuan Restaurant came in. They came to visit Liao Yongxin, and the ward suddenly became much more lively. (End of this chapter)