Chapter 74 (First Update)

The full name of Lao Mo is Moscow Restaurant. Ten years ago, even the doormen were foreigners, but now it's a state-run restaurant. Luo Yan first came here when she was very young, and it's said she was so frightened that she cried.

She told Zhou Xiuhe, "My mom said I cried a lot because I've never seen a blonde, blue-eyed person before."

Zhou Xiuhe had witnessed firsthand just how much she could cry today, and teased, "How does it compare to today?"

Luo Yan didn't think crying was shameful, and raised her eyebrows: "A small fry compared to a big fish."

Crying is something many people are embarrassed to admit, as if it signifies a weak or helpless part of their humanity. Zhou Xiuhe certainly wouldn't be so open about it. He said, "Next time I'll bring more tissues."

Luo Yan gently nudged him, glanced at the time, and said, "You should go back now. My family should be here soon."

Zhou Xiuhe wanted to wait with her a little longer, but meeting the parents was a very formal matter. He said, "Then be careful, see you tomorrow."

Luo Yan waved goodbye to him, hesitating whether to go into the store first to grab a seat—there were many people eating, and if she sat down she would have to order à la carte. She could hold out for a while if she was thick-skinned, but she couldn't resist.

Just as she was hesitating, Liu Yinfeng arrived. She saw her daughter in the distance and called out, "Yanyan!"

Luo Yan turned around and jumped down two steps: "Mom!"

Why are you so hasty? Liu Yinfeng: "Have you taken a number?"

Luo Yan's last visit to Lao Mo was a long time ago. She said, "You can get a number now?"

Liu Yinfeng: "Yes, they will give you a number plate."

This method of calling people by number suited Luo Yan's personality very well. She said, "Then I'll go get it."

They ran inside again, and soon came out to show their mother: "We are number 18, how auspicious!"

"That's really a good omen," Liu Yinfeng said. "I didn't hear a single crow caw today."

Crows in Beijing are as numerous as hairs on a cow. Luo Yan has always been afraid of all black creatures, including but not limited to crows, black cats, and black dogs.

She subconsciously looked up and left and right to see if it was there, saying, "We're watching a play this afternoon, it's really good."

Before they got a television at home, Liu Yinfeng would go to see plays or similar shows every month. She said, "I'll go when there aren't many people around."

Luo Yan, unsure when the performance would end, decided to buy the tickets in advance to surprise her mother. She changed the subject: "I wonder if my dad or my brother will arrive first."

Both father and son are going to work today. Liu Yinfeng said, "It must be your dad, he lives nearby."

"But buses are slow and congested, while my brother rides his bike so fast it's like he's flying."

Liu Yinfeng suddenly had a whimsical idea: "How about we make a bet?"

Luo Yan held up one finger: "One cent."

The mother and daughter eagerly awaited the outcome of their bet. When Luo Xinmin arrived, he saw two faces, one sad and one happy. He asked, "Oh, what's wrong, Yanyan?"

Luo Yan explained with a wrinkled face, and a few seconds later saw her brother say that he was a disappointment.

The bicycle factory was far away, and Luo Hong had already rushed there as fast as he could. He grabbed his sister by the back of the neck and said, "I won't hold it against you because you support me."

He even became magnanimous, and Luo Yan reached out her claws to scratch him. The two siblings argued, while their parents watched the commotion from the sidelines.

Luo Xinmin remembered something: "That day, Li Ke's son brought me back. Did he see Yan Yan?"

Liu Yinfeng: "I've seen you before, what's wrong?"

Luo Xinmin: "They came specifically this afternoon to inquire about Yanyan, but I turned them down."

He added, "The young man is quite promising. He got into university through a recommendation when he was sent to the countryside, and now he works as an engineer in a machinery factory."

Liu Yinfeng: "He looks like a scholar to me."

The couple were talking when they heard their number called and stopped. The family of four followed the waiter's guidance and sat down, watching with great interest.

The restaurant has a high ceiling, a huge crystal chandelier, four large golden carved pillars, and even the tableware is made of silver.

Liu Yinfeng wanted this kind of glittering experience. Touching the dark red square napkin, she said, "Look how grand it is."

Luo Xinmin: "Now that I've gotten a raise, we can still afford to make two or three trips a year."

Liu Yinfeng clicked her tongue: "That's still too much. It would cost ten yuan for two people."

"No, how come there are only two people?" Luo Hong questioned. "I thought there was me and Luo Yan in this 'us' group."

Luo Yan, annoyed that her brother was tactless, grinned and said, "Of course we won't be included."

The elderly couple, Liu Yinfeng, felt a little embarrassed by their children's teasing: "Let's order, let's order."

Old Mo only had a few signature dishes, and Luo Hong ordered them all.

While waiting for the food, Luo Yan asked him, "How did things go?"

It was about asking him to make a bet with Zhou Weifang.

Luo Hong crossed his arms and asked, "Who are you, leader?"

Luo Yan could only fawn over him by massaging his shoulders: "You're the leader, you're in charge."

Luo Hong's shoulder was almost dislocated from the beating, but he said, "It's done."

Luo Yan feigned praise: "I knew my brother was amazing; he can handle anything."

Forget it, Luo Hong: "I bet you're cursing me in your heart."

Luo Yan did indeed curse, but she said confidently, "Don't wrong me."

Seeing that the brother and sister were about to fight again, Liu Yinfeng quickly stopped them, saying, "These pots and pans are very expensive."

Speaking of this, Luo Hong said, "It seems that too many forks have been lost, so we won't use silver ones anymore."

Liu Yinfeng fiddled with the tableware: "What a pity, these are so beautiful."

Luo Xinmin: "I can't afford that."

Liu Yinfeng: "Buying this thing and leaving it at home is just waiting for thieves to steal it."

Then, curiously, he asked, "How much do you think it would cost?"

The family of four studied the cutlery and then the wine glasses, whispering to each other endlessly, and they ate quite a bit of food.

Liu Yinfeng was so full that when her son paid the bill, she said, "Your dad and I will stroll back, and you and your brother can ride your bikes."

Luo Yan agreed and waited for her brother to come out and tell him. Luo Hong gave his sister the change and said, "Then you have to come with me to Qiaosheng's house."

Speaking of Ho Kiu-sang, Luo Yan thought of Dongdong: "I have to buy candy for Dongdong when I pass by the department store, as we promised last time."

Luo Hong rarely spoke to his younger sister in a way that could comfort a child, and he reflected, "I really used to give you a lot of perfunctory answers."

There are so many things he said he wouldn't do, Luo Yan can't even count them all. The one that impressed her the most was: "Once you and Zhou Weifang lied to me and said you were playing hide-and-seek. But you ran away while I was counting. When I opened my eyes, there was only a small piece of paper left. There were five words in total, and three of them were misspelled."

Luo Hong: "Are there that many?"

Luo Yan said firmly, "Yes, and you two are only in third grade."

School wasn't really in session back then, and Luo Hong spent most of his days wandering around outside. He had no grounds to argue about his own educational level, but he subconsciously added on behalf of his friend, "Sanfang is doing alright now."

That's true; the book also says we should look at things from a developmental perspective. Luo Yan: "It's much better now."

Luo Hong then disagreed, saying, "It's just so-so."

He didn't mean to smear his childhood friend, but he realized he didn't need to help him build a good image in front of his sister. However, he couldn't get past the issue of friendship, so he quickly changed his tune: "Actually, it's alright."

Luo Yan criticized: "How can you be so contradictory?"

Luo Hong thought to himself, "That's because you don't understand my dilemma," and sneered, "Hurry up."

Luo Yan jogged behind her brother, and even when she got on her bike, she lagged a few steps behind.

It was late at night, so Luo Hong didn't dare stray too far from her, but two-wheeled vehicles are fast, and the brother and sister actually caught up with their parents who had walked a short distance.

Even so, Liu Yinfeng still complained that they were going too fast: "Slow down, you two."

Luo Hong waved and walked away without turning his head. Luo Yan told her parents, "We're going to visit someone," and huffed and puffed as she caught up with her brother: "I can't ride anymore!"

Luo Hong slowed down: "You've pulled your scarf up too high, you must be having trouble breathing."

Luo Yan: "They're all like you, swallowing so much sand along the way."

Luo Hong: "It's not that exaggerated."

He grew up in Beijing and was used to this kind of weather.

Luo Yan was used to it, but felt that people didn't need to deliberately seek out trouble: "You're just tough-as-nails."

Luo Hong didn't think it was a derogatory term: "That's what a real man is like."

Luo Yan: "Mmm, you're the most manly one."

Suddenly, she raised her voice and said, "Brother, there's something I absolutely need you to do."

"Use people when you need them, discard them when you don't," Luo Hong said helplessly. "What's the matter?"

Luo Yan: "I want to buy tickets to a play for my mom. Do you know anyone who deals in these?"

She definitely wouldn't have time to queue up herself, so asking Zhou Xiuhe to buy it for her would only lead to another dispute over the money.

Luo Hong knew many people, so he said, "I understand, I'll buy it tomorrow."

Luo Yan emphasized, "I'll pay for it."

Luo Hong added, "And my delivery fee too."

Luo Yan scolded him for asking for too much, but when she bought him candy, she gave him a piece and said, "We're even now."

Luo Hong: "Is that all your brother is worth?"

Luo Yan nodded emphatically, but her brother pinched her face and mumbled insults at her. The two siblings bickered as they walked to the He family's house.

He Qiaosheng squatted on the ground and played beanbag toss with his stepson, gesturing to the guests.

Luo Hong: "It's done."

What's done? Luo Yan was curious to know, but she couldn't care less because Dongdong was clinging to her.

Dongdong seemed to want to show off, so he pulled her into the alley to show the other children, saying, "She's my auntie!"

Luo Yan helped him save face by taking out candy and distributing it around, thinking to herself how lucky she was to have bought so much.

This undoubtedly made Dongdong stand tall with his chin held high. Kids doing things like this are so cute, Luo Yan pinched his round face: "Go play."

She stood at a distance that wasn't too far, watching from a safe distance.

After a while, Luo Hong finished his business and came out. He Qiaosheng and his wife saw him to the door and took their son home. Only then did Luo Yan remember to ask, "What did you just say was settled?"

Luo Hong: "About Dongdong going to school."

These days, you have to wait in line to get a household registration. Dongdong's household registration hasn't been transferred to his stepfather's name yet, so he can't attend the children's daycare at the bicycle factory for the time being. Fortunately, Luo Hong has a lot of connections at the factory and has been helping out these past few days, so we finally got it done today.

Luo Yan: "That's good. Otherwise, it would be too far for my sister-in-law to go back to Shijingshan to study according to her household registration."

He added, "Now that we've finished your business, let's pass by the car dealership. I borrowed some books for Zhou Weifang; they're so heavy."

She was enthusiastic about everything, regardless of whose education it was. Luo Hong tried to stop her, saying, "It's okay, I'll take it tomorrow."

Luo Yan: "Anyway, it's on the way home, and he might be able to read a couple of pages tonight."

Luo Hong was speechless: "Why are you reading books so late at night instead of sleeping properly?"

She then pursed her lips and said, "Perfect for sending him over for hypnosis. He'll probably get sleepy after reading a couple of pages."

Luo Yan retorted irritably, "That's you!"

Luo Hong thought to himself that Zhou Weifang and he were no different without him, and remained silent.

Luo Yan took it as him being unable to argue with her, and revealed a smug look of great victory.

Luo Hong was speechless and let out a long howl.