Linxia

Chapter 72, Wen Ning

After Cheng Shiliang left Xuan Mo Zhai, there was no rest for a whole month because there was one less person in the store - in the years before Fang Lin came, Manager Liu was energetic and could hold on, but later on, he was not energetic enough and did not want to be too tired, so he thought of hiring another person. In the one or two months since Fang Lin came, Manager Liu just drank tea every day and was very leisurely. It is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality, and it is impossible to recover the previous intensity.

Manager Liu was unable to take over the job and couldn't find a suitable person, so he had to call his eldest son Liu Hongwen to temporarily help in the store.

That evening, Fang Lin was told that he would have a day off tomorrow, so he said goodbye to Manager Liu and prepared to go back.

The last time he went back was one evening, and it had been seven or eight days. On the way, Fang Lin saw that the fish in a fish shop were quite fresh, so he bought two mandarin fish.

After returning home, since today was not the standard day of returning once every ten days, Fang's father, mother, and Tian Xuan had not prepared anything. They were naturally surprised to see Fang Lin, and did not cook the vegetables they had prepared. Instead, they took out the remaining piece of tofu at home and planned to stew it with the two mandarin fish.

The two mandarin fish that Fang Lin selected were big and delicious, and were great for making fish soup. With the addition of tofu, the fish soup became thick and white, and looked very delicious, fresh and fragrant, with the aroma wafting from far away.

The Man family next door was "severely affected". Mangen sniffed hard and asked in a hoarse voice: "Mom, what are we having for dinner tonight?"

"Rice soup and stir-fried vegetables."

"It's this kind of food again. It tastes so bland!" Man Gensheng's voice was filled with resentment.

"My son, didn't we stew big bones the other day?"

"The day before yesterday is the day before yesterday. We had dinner the day before yesterday, so we won't eat today? Well, Mom, give me some money and I'll go out and eat with my friends."

"Okay, okay, my son, do you think this is enough?"

Grandma Man sent her son out the door, glanced at the Fang family, slammed the door shut, and cursed: "Every time you come back, you cook delicious food to please people. I have a big belly at home, but you didn't even send a bowl of food over. I've never seen such a stingy neighbor..."

The soundproofing of the house was not very good and her voice was so loud that the Fang family could hear it.

Fang's mother was so angry: "I won't send it. The day before yesterday, her family stewed big bones, but she didn't even say she would send us a bowl!"

In this era, if a family makes something delicious, they will often give half a bowl to their neighbors so that they can taste it. Of course, if there are guests at home, or if there is a pregnant woman, it is understandable not to give any.

"However, we are not ignorant of etiquette. Granny Qiu has sent us many vegetables, the Xin family has also sent us small fish twice, and there is also Mr. Ou... When the fish soup is ready, you can send some to these three families." Fang's mother said.

Of course, there are far more than just these few houses in the West Lane Hutong, but if they are farther away, we won’t be able to take care of them.

"Yeah." Fang Lin agreed.

……

When the fish soup was ready, Fang's mother took out a bowl and asked Fang Lin to deliver it to the family he had mentioned before.

Fang Lin carried a bowl of fish soup to the Qiu family next door and said, "Mr. Qiu, Mrs. Qiu, my family made fish soup tonight. I'd like to send some over for you to try. It's not much, so don't think it's too little."

At this time, the Qiu family was having dinner. On the table were two bowls of thin rice soup and a small dish of fried cabbage, without any meat.

When Mr. Qiu and Mrs. Qiu saw Fang Lin coming, they both stood up and said something strange. Fearing that Fang Lin would have to wait any longer, they hurried into the kitchen to find a bowl, poured the fish soup into it, and then returned the bowl that Fang Lin brought to him.

——In this era, every household was not well-off, and if they held a banquet, they usually had to borrow bowls and chopsticks from their neighbors.

……

Then, Fang Lin went to Xin Laoguan's house to send it off.

At this time, the Xin family was having dinner under the osmanthus tree. There was only a small dish of grilled fish that they caught themselves, and no other dishes.

Mr. and Mrs. Ou were also here. They brought a dish of tofu mixed with green onions and ate it with the Xin father and son.

While Xin You was eating the rice in his bowl, he stared at the dish of tofu with green onions. After picking up the food once, he wanted to pick up more, but the chopsticks were held back by Old Man Xin, as he was afraid that he would take too much advantage of Master Ou's family.

Fang Lin came and saw this scene. He smiled and said, "Eat now. My family made some fish soup. Bring some over to try. Master, I'll bring another bowl later."

Mr. Xin stood up and wiped his clothes with embarrassed hands: "I don't have any extra bowls at home!" "Then, go get a bowl!"

Master Ou said to his wife, and then said to Fang Lin: "I know your family's intentions, but there is no need to send more. These are all. The two of us will eat with the Xin family and just taste them."

……

Fang Lin went back and told his mother about what he saw and heard at the Qiu and Xin families.

Fang's mother sighed and said, "Mr. Xin is reluctant to eat and wear because he wants to find a wife for Xin You. The old couple of the Qiu family are so old, frugal and capable. I have advised them, saying, 'You are old now, and your three children have their own families. If you ask each of them to contribute some money, it will not be enough for you to live on.' They said, 'We have been used to working all our lives and cannot rest. We are born to be hardworking.'"

As they were talking, the Fang family also started eating.

The faint flame of the oil lamp danced, and the dim light dispelled the small darkness in front of the table. The food was steaming, and the swirling smoke made the table look hazy.

"Linzi, you eat this big piece of fish meat, and let your father eat the fish head."

"I'll just eat the fish tail. Mom, Sister Xuan, you can eat it too."

"Brother Lin, don't pinch me, I have enough! I have enough!"

……

Wen Ning's atmosphere was like the gurgling trickle of spring water, soaking into the soul and washing away Fang Lin's tiredness from a busy day, making his heart soften unconsciously.

"People outside, such as the shop assistants, are just passing through. The only ones who can stay with you for a long time are your family members!" he thought to himself.

"Dad, Mom, let's go to the theater tomorrow!"

Without waiting for Fang's father and mother to speak, Fang Lin continued, "You don't have to worry about the money, because I did more work, and the shopkeeper increased my salary by one or two taels of silver."

"Oh my God, at the end of that month, wouldn't that be another four taels of silver?" Fang's mother exclaimed in surprise.

"Brother Lin is really capable!" In the dim light, Tian Xuan's big eyes were bright.

Father Fang said, "The shopkeeper is honest, so it's understandable that he doesn't charge more. You have to work hard."

He is indeed honest and loyal. In the past in Xiaohe Village, workers often had to change jobs. Many people would cheat and not work hard. But Fang's father was an honest man. He worked hard and was always very tired when he came back.

"Okay, I understand." Fang Lin listened one by one and talked quietly with his family. It was nothing more than the daily life of the neighborhood and some things in the store. Time flowed slowly in such a cool night.

……

The next day, the weather was fine and the family went out to see a play.

At the door, I met Mr. and Mrs. Qiu. They didn't go out to sell vegetables today. They were wearing nice clothes and looked like they were going out.

"Are you guys going out?" Fang's mother greeted with a smile.

"I'm going to attend a relative's wedding banquet." Grandma Qiu also replied with a smile.

……

At noon, Fang's mother was afraid of spending money and didn't go out to eat. When the family came back, after dinner, Fang's father, mother, and Tian Xuan all said they were tired and didn't want to go out in the afternoon.

Fang Lin gave up and went to chat with Master Ou.

……

(End of this chapter)