Chapter 60 Wherever Mom goes, I'll go...

Cai Yang finally got to eat dumplings, but his stomach was already half full from a full bowl of hot pot, so he could only manage to eat three dumplings before he couldn't eat anymore.

He learned a lesson from this experience and realized that he shouldn't put leftovers in his bowl, otherwise he wouldn't get anything new to eat at the next meal.

After Song Yu returned to town, he showed Song Xinran the firecrackers he had cleaned and excitedly asked, "Mom, do you know what this is?"

Song Xinran certainly knew; she had played with it when she was little. But seeing the little one's happy expression, she deliberately shook her head: "What is this?"

"These are firecrackers!" Song Yu chuckled, revealing a few white teeth, and took out a firecracker to demonstrate, "Just rub it like this and it'll light! Bang! Explosion!"

"But I'm very careful not to blow my hand," Song Yu said quickly. "Little Yang also played with it, and he almost blew his foot off."

Song Xinran knew that these firecrackers were only loud but not very powerful, so she didn't stop them. She just told Xiao Yu to be careful when playing with them.

Song Yu nodded happily, sat on the cool couch, supported himself with his two little hands by his sides, gently swung his legs, tilted his head slightly, and curled the corners of his lips up. His voice was childish and soft: "Mom, this is my first time playing with firecrackers, it's so much fun!"

Song Xinran sat down next to him: "So how did Xiao Yu play during the New Year in the past?"

Song Yu couldn't quite remember, but his mother would come back every year for the New Year. He leaned over, hugged Song Xinran's arm, and said softly, "Spend it with Mom."

Song Xinran's heart softened as well: "If Xiao Yu likes them, let's buy some fireworks to play with at home tomorrow."

At this time, the city had not yet banned fireworks, and there were also firecrackers and fireworks in the town, but since it was on the main street with shops and residential buildings on both sides, it was not as lively as the countryside. Many shops in the town were also closed, and everyone wanted to rest well on this day.

The next morning, Song Xinran took Song Yu back very early. The motorcycle had been arranged in advance, and the price had increased by three yuan because of the Chinese New Year.

Song Yu put on her precious royal blue down jacket, hat, and scarf. Her round face was adorned with a cute smile. As soon as she arrived at Song Xinwen's house, she bowed to her aunt and uncle and said in a childish voice, "Happy New Year, Aunt and Uncle! May everything go well for you and may all your wishes come true!"

Song Xinwen grinned widely, his eyes and brows beaming with joy. He pulled a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to Song Yu, saying, "Happy New Year, Xiao Yu!"

Song Yu accepted the red envelope with both hands without even looking at Song Xinran, her eyes crinkling with laughter. It's customary to accept a New Year's red envelope quickly, no matter who gives it to you, as it's considered a good omen for both parties throughout the year.

Cai Yongde smiled broadly and handed a red envelope to Song Yu, saying, "Happy New Year, Xiao Yu."

Song Yu's eyes widened slightly, and he hesitated for two seconds before taking the gift: "Thank you, Uncle."

Even with the red envelope in his hand, he was still a little incredulous. His uncle had actually given him a red envelope for Chinese New Year this year. This was the first time Song Yu had ever received a red envelope from his uncle. He carefully put the red envelope into his pocket and felt his pocket become heavy.

Hearing the noise outside, Cai Yang ran out quickly and shouted, "Happy New Year, Auntie!"

Song Xinran naturally prepared a red envelope for him as well. When she handed it to Cai Yang, Cai Yang's face was beaming with joy. He stuffed the red envelope into his pocket and ran outside. You could hear the child's loud voice from afar: "Happy New Year, Fifth Aunt and Fifth Uncle! Give me the red envelope!"

It's obvious he went to other people's houses to ask for New Year's money and red envelopes.

Cai Yang visited the homes of Cai Yongde's brothers. Song Yu's father had no siblings, so there was nowhere else to visit for the New Year. However, Song Yu was already very happy because he actually received a red envelope from his uncle this year!

Song Yu put her hands in her pockets and felt around, touching every red envelope.

After breakfast, the adults went to the teahouse across the street to play mahjong, while the children gathered in a group and went off to play by themselves. Even the most hardworking people would stop and rest on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Song Xinwen doesn't know how to play mahjong, and although Song Xinran does, she didn't go either; they just stayed home chatting and watching TV.

After having breakfast, Cai Yongde went to the teahouse.

Song Yu took his firecrackers and sky rockets to play with the other children. Cai Yang followed beside him, both curious and envious: "How come you have so many firecrackers?"

Song Yu slightly raised her chin: "My mom bought it for me."

Cai Yang was extremely surprised: "Your aunt actually bought you firecrackers?!"

When he asked his mother to buy it, she told him to stop playing with such wasteful and dangerous things.

Cai Yang was actually a little afraid of Song Xinran. Children are very sensitive to others' likes and dislikes. He knew that his aunt didn't like him very much, and didn't seem to like other children very much either, but he didn't expect his aunt to buy these things for Song Yu.

Song Yu nodded: "Mom said to have fun during the New Year."

Cai Yang felt a pang of envy, then looked at Song Yu's clothes, poked them with her hand, and found them to be exceptionally soft: "Is this also a new outfit for you?"

Song Yu said, "Yes, you must wear new clothes for the New Year."

Cai Yang: "But didn't you wear new clothes when you came back the day before yesterday?"

Song Yu's eyes crinkled into a smile: "I have lots of new clothes."

Cai Yang was truly envious this time. He first saw Song Yu when he went to town with his father to pick up his mother. At that time, Song Yu had already changed a lot, and he felt very sad. This time when Song Yu came back, he had changed even more, but his sadness seemed to have lessened.

"Brother Yu," Cai Yang called out, "can you let me play with a few of your firecrackers?"

Song Yu was a generous child. If Cai Yang didn't snatch his things but politely asked him for them, he would give them to him. He immediately gave Cai Yang a few firecrackers.

The firecrackers he brought were not available at the village store, such as firework tubes that would explode with colorful fireworks when lit, and long sparklers that would emit star-shaped sparks when held in the hand...

The children all crowded around when they saw it, and Song Yu didn't hesitate to light quite a few, even giving one to each child. He completely won over the group of children and was showing signs of becoming the king of the kids.

However, joy turned to sorrow. When Song Yu returned home after playing, he found some soot and ash on his brand-new down jacket that he couldn't wipe off.

Song Yu lowered her head, looking a little down, and said to Song Xinran, "Mom, I'm not going to play this afternoon."

Cai Yang reacted strongly to this: "No way, we have to go play! You still have so many firecrackers to set off!"

He kept a close eye on the firecrackers and fireworks, waiting for Song Yu to give him some more in the afternoon.

Song Yu said, "I'm not playing anymore, I've gotten my new clothes dirty!"

He tried to wipe the stain off his clothes again, but he couldn't get it off, and his cheeks puffed out.

Song Xinran found a damp towel and wiped it clean several times before Song Yu was finally done, but Song Yu was still a little hesitant until Cai Yang found his own smock: "Here, wear this, we'll play with the rest of the fireworks this afternoon!"

He looked completely absorbed in setting off fireworks.

Song Yu put on the apron himself, feeling that he had protected his new clothes well, and then nodded: "Okay, little Yang, you can put it away with me."

Cai Yang's small eyes widened, and he quickly nodded, "Okay, okay!"

Fortunately, Song Xinran had bought enough fireworks and firecrackers. They played with them in the afternoon and there were still some left in the evening. Fireworks are best viewed at night. That night, Song Xinran and Song Yu stayed at Song Xinwen's house for the night.

Happy times are always short-lived. The third day of the Lunar New Year is market day, and Song Xinran has to go back to town to continue selling braised meat.

When Cai Yongde heard about this, he was extremely conflicted. When Song Xinran was at home, she would occasionally cook a dish or two, and the aroma was so enticing that people would want more after eating it.

On the other hand, he was also a little scared. Song Xinran was completely different from before. She spoke with a smile, but her words were always barbed. She was efficient in her work, but she was also a bit sarcastic. In particular, she was only targeting Cai Yongde, which left Cai Yongde with no way to express his suffering. He couldn't wait for her to leave.

Amidst his inner conflict, and also to save face, Cai Yongde said, "Xinran, you're just too hardworking. You should rest a couple more days during the Lunar New Year."

Song Xinwen immediately retorted: "You can't do business half-heartedly. Do you think Xinran is like you?"

Cai Yongde argued, "Our factory hasn't started work yet; this is a normal break."

Song Xinwen ignored him, but packed some things for Song Xinran and gave her a dozen or so freshly laid eggs to take back with her.

Song Yu was a little reluctant to leave; he felt this had been the happiest Spring Festival he had ever had. If he went back to his town, all his good friends had gone back to their hometowns, and he would have no one to play with. But no matter where he went, he wanted to be with his mother.

Early on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Song Xinran set up her stall. When she arrived, the wonton shop was already brightly lit. Deng Mei was standing at the door. When she saw Song Xinran and Chen Jingfang, she smiled and called out, "Happy New Year, Boss Song!"

He even took out a red envelope from his pocket and gave it to Song Yu: "Happy New Year, Xiao Yu too."

Song Yu's eyes widened, but he didn't put it away because today wasn't the first day of the Lunar New Year, and he wasn't as familiar with Aunt Deng as he was with his aunt.

Song Xinran politely declined, saying, "Sister Deng, we appreciate your kind gesture, but we can't accept the red envelope. We're already very happy that you're thinking of our child."

Deng Mei kept stuffing red envelopes into Song Yu's pocket, saying as she did so, "It's the New Year, and although it's not much money, it's a token of my appreciation. I've earned much more these past two years by setting up a stall here than I have in the previous two years!"

This was the first time Song Yu had encountered something like this. She covered her pockets and hid them behind Song Xinran, not knowing how to refuse. Her childish voice was a little nervous as she said, "Aunt Deng, I don't want to."

Deng Mei genuinely wanted to give. Although Song Xinran had only been setting up her stall in front of the wonton shop for a month or so, the shop's revenue had doubled compared to the same period in previous years, thanks to the braised meat stall attracting customers.

The competition among noodle shops in town is fierce. Other shops must want to take over their braised meat stalls because they see that the braised meat stalls are so popular. Didn't they take over their stalls in the same way?

The couple discussed it and both felt that they absolutely could not let Song Xinran get away.

Song Xinran noticed Deng Mei's concerns and said tactfully, "Sister Deng, I think it's great to set up a stall here with you."

She is someone who dislikes trouble, and she gets along well with Deng Mei. Moreover, frequently changing locations is not conducive to accumulating customers, so she naturally won't leave unless something happens.

But Deng Mei still wanted to give red envelopes, saying that the more red envelopes the children received during the Lunar New Year, the better their luck would be.

Song Xinran then said, "Xiao Yu, then you should accept it."

Accepting the red envelope should ease Deng Mei's mind.

Song Yu then accepted the red envelope, her big eyes still a little dazed, and said in a childish voice, "Thank you, Aunt Deng."

He was a little confused; why was his mother telling him not to accept it one minute and then telling him to accept it the next?

Deng Mei's smile widened even more as she exchanged a few pleasantries with Song Xinran.

Song Xinran looked across the street and found that Third Sister's Noodle Shop was still closed, which was a bit unusual. Today was the first market day after the New Year, the best time to do business. On her way here, she found that all the breakfast shops, such as noodle shops, were open.

Deng Mei followed her gaze, a hint of joy appearing on her face, and said with a touch of schadenfreude, "Third Sister's noodle shop didn't open yesterday, she's probably closing down."

For small noodle shops like theirs, they usually only take one day off during the Lunar New Year and have to open again on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Yesterday, Deng Mei saw that Sanmei's noodle shop was not open and told her husband about it. They both guessed that business was not good and they didn't want to continue.

With a "whoosh," the Third Sister's Noodle Shop opened its doors. Sister Fang pulled up the roller shutter and deliberately glanced in their direction.

Deng Mei: …………

Song Xinran was quite calm: "Whether their store is open or not, we just need to do our own business well."

Deng Mei quickly nodded: "That's right, that's right."

She hurried into the wonton shop and told the man about it.

Song Xinran didn't have the extra energy to manage Sanmei's noodle shop. As soon as she set up her stall and put out the braised food, customers came to buy it.

During the New Year, everyone had smiles on their faces. After saying what they wanted to buy, they would add, "Happy New Year, boss!"

With a smile on her face, Song Xinran exchanged a few pleasantries with the customer while stuffing two more chicken wing tips into her pocket: "As a New Year's thank you to our loyal customers, here's a free sample for you."

No one is unhappy about getting something for free; everyone happily talked about how prosperous their business was, and left with their bags.

Behind the braised meat stall, the wonton shop was also bustling with customers, with the number of customers doubling compared to the same time yesterday. Deng Mei was so busy that her face was full of smiles, and she felt that Boss Song's braised meat stall was the lucky star of the wonton shop.

In contrast, although Sanmei Noodle Shop was also open, it was deserted and hardly any customers.

The man said irritably, "I told you not to open today, but you wouldn't listen. Look, has anyone come in? Opening the shop costs a lot in utilities!"

Fang's wife, annoyed, retorted, "So you're just letting the other side laugh at us?"

Did they make you money because they were laughing at you? You're doing a losing business!

Aunt Fang crossed her arms, her expression dark and brooding. She stared at the door without saying a word. People passing by were frightened by her appearance and quickly walked away, not wanting to pass by the noodle shop.

Song Xinran prepared nearly 300 yuan worth of ingredients today, but people who wanted to buy braised food still had to queue up. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out: "Boss, ten of each kind."

Song Xinran looked up in surprise: "Brother Xu? Didn't you guys get any rest during the New Year?"

Seeing Xu Guolin approach, Song Yu asked, "Uncle, has Yuanyuan returned?"

He felt he hadn't seen Yuanyuan in a long time and wondered what she had done during the Chinese New Year. He still had firecrackers and fireworks at home, and if Yuanyuan came back, they could play together.

Xu Guolin looked at Song Yu and said with a smile, "Yuanyuan is still in the city. She finally has a holiday, and her grandparents and maternal grandparents are going to take her out to play. She probably won't be back until school starts. But Yuanyuan asked me to tell you that she misses you and will bring you a gift when school starts."

Song Yu was a little disappointed, but nodded understandingly: "It's a lot of fun being with Yuanyuan. Yuanyuan's grandparents and maternal grandparents must also want to play games with her."

Xu Guolin laughed heartily, thinking that Yuanyuan was not fun at all when she was in the city. She wanted to eat this and that, and if she didn't get what she wanted, she would pout so much that she could stick soy sauce on her lips. Yuanyuan was only more obedient when she was playing with Song Yu.

Neither his nor Yuanyuan's mother's families had many children; Yuanyuan was the only one, and she was spoiled by both sets of elders.

After chatting with the child for a while, Xu Guolin said to Song Xinran, "This year is a bit special. The town has a reception task after the Lunar New Year, and the police station also needs to step up its training and patrols. In previous years, I would still be on vacation at this time. Although I am on standby 24 hours a day, I basically won't come back unless something major happens."

Xu Guolin sighed as he spoke, "Xinran, it's all thanks to you selling braised meat in town. That's probably the only reason I came back."

Song Xinran chuckled and put a few more chicken wing tips on his plate: "Come and eat here often if you like."

Seeing her actions, Xu Guolin quickly said, "Don't put any more on your plate. It's not just for me to eat. I was sent by the station to buy braised food. If you put more on your plate, we'll all eat it together."

While saying this, he handed over the money: "You have to take this money. It's fine if I eat it myself later and you can bring it to me, but you must not let my colleagues take advantage of me!"

Xu Guolin spoke with an air of seriousness, calculating the money precisely so that Song Xinran wouldn't need to give him change.

Song Xinran took it and said with a smile, "Okay, Brother Xu, be sure to tell me next time you want to eat it."

Xu Guolin carried the braised food back to the police station, and was immediately surrounded by people as soon as he entered.

"My chicken wings!"

"Brother Xu, have you bought my chicken drumsticks yet?"

Ah, my favorite duck feet!

My colleagues rushed over, each grabbing one, and soon the large bag of braised food was divided up into several pieces.

Xiao Liu put the chicken leg in his mouth and couldn't help but sigh, "I feel like I've come back to life. I have to go back to work on the third day of the Lunar New Year. My life is so hard. Only braised chicken leg is the only sweetness in my life."

"Xiao Liu, is there something wrong with your mouth? This braised food is clearly savory and salty, where does the sweetness come from?"

Xiao Liu said, "It's just a metaphor; you wouldn't understand."

Everyone gathered together to eat braised food. The aroma of the braised food gradually filled the entire office, and the gloomy atmosphere finally dissipated a bit, giving us hope for the future.

As they ate, they started chatting: "What kind of reception tasks does the town have after the New Year? There's nothing to do that they called us back. I'm really suffering every morning when I have to get up to go to work."

"My uncle said that the leaders from the Municipal Bureau of Culture are coming down to do something, and their reception center is busier than ours," Xiao Jiang said. Her uncle is the office director of the town's guesthouse, and he is the most well-informed about inside stories.

"What are the leaders from the Cultural Bureau doing here? Are they here to promote civility in our town?" Xiao Liu was completely puzzled.

His doubts were shared by everyone. Although Lingde Town was directly under the jurisdiction of the city, it was too far from Yongyan City and its geographical location was average. It was neither a major transportation route nor had any abundant resources, and its economic development was quite average.

"Brother Xu, do you know anything about this?" Xiao Liu asked. Although Xu Guolin kept a low profile at the police station, there are no secrets that stay hidden forever. Everyone had vaguely heard that he had some connections in his elders and that he would be transferred to the city sooner or later.

Xu Guolin said, "I only heard that the town is planning to apply for the Zhang Clan Ancestral Hall and the archway complex in Fengtong Village to be listed as a cultural relic protection unit. After the New Year, the Cultural Bureau will bring people down to conduct an inspection."

Most of the people working at the town's police station are locals. Among them, Xiao Wang is from Fengtong Village. He was surprised when he heard this: "A clan hall can be declared a cultural relic protection unit? There are many people with the surname Zhang in our village, and the Zhang Clan Clan Ancestral Hall is well maintained."

Xiao Jiang said, "If the application is successful, it will be a great thing. Who knows, our town might even become a tourist attraction in the future."

Everyone laughed when they heard this, thinking that Xiao Jiang's idea was far-fetched. Many of them, being locals, felt that Lingde Town had nothing to see or appreciate, unlike Beijing, which had a rich cultural heritage, or Shanghai, which was economically developed.

Xiao Jiang didn't care what they thought, and just said, "It should be this. My uncle was worried about what local specialties to serve guests during the Spring Festival, and he asked me for recommendations. Do you have any recommendations?"

Everyone started discussing it animatedly. Someone suggested tofu pudding rice, but this was immediately refuted. People said that such a meager dish was only good for themselves, let alone for entertaining others.

Someone suggested local mutton rice noodles, but unsurprisingly, that was also rejected; people who come to eat local specialties are already full after finishing the rice noodles.

...

Xu Guolin suddenly spoke up: "The braised food we're eating today is fine."

No one objected now. Everyone munched on their braised food, agreeing that it was indeed impeccable in terms of taste. Not only was it unrivaled in town, but it also ranked among the top dishes they had ever eaten.

"But it's not really appropriate to serve people things like braised chicken feet..."

Imagine everyone at a formal banquet picking up chicken feet and gnawing on them; the scene would be rather comical.

"Besides, braised food is available everywhere; it's not a local specialty."

Xu Guolin said seriously, "You're wrong. Braised food can be found everywhere, but the braised food that Boss Song makes can only be found in our Lingde Town."

Everyone agreed, saying that if this wasn't a unique feature, what was?

Xu Guolin said, "Moreover, Boss Song doesn't just know how to braise chicken feet; she can also braise beef. Braised chicken feet don't look very appealing, but beef can serve as a dish in itself."

Xiao Liu asked incredulously, "Brother Xu, you've eaten Boss Song's braised beef? When was that? How come we didn't know?"

Xu Guolin said, "My daughter brought these home for me to try. There were only a few pieces. Even if you knew, you wouldn't be able to eat them."

"Brother Xu, your daughter is such a sweet little angel," everyone said.

Hearing his colleagues' praise for Yuanyuan, Xu Guolin smiled faintly, his face revealing undisguised pride.

Xiao Jiang leaned over and asked him, "Brother Xu, can Boss Song really make braised beef?"

Xu Guolin said, "Of course."

“Okay,” Xiao Jiang said. “I’ll recommend it to my uncle when I get back today.”

She chuckled. If her second uncle really did order Boss Song's braised beef, she could probably get a lot of it for free.

*

Song Xinran sold out all the braised food in less than two hours. On the way back, Song Xinran said to Chen Jingfang, "It's still winter vacation, and students haven't started school yet, so you don't need to make oden. You can come and help me on the afternoon of the first day of the market and the morning of the market."

"How about we pay you based on the number of times you work out? Is that alright with you?"

Chen Jingfang was a little embarrassed: "Why are you saying all this? I have nothing to do at home anyway, so I don't need a salary."

Song Xinran said seriously, "Jingfang, this is what you deserve for your hard work. Let's clarify the salary issue so that there will be fewer conflicts between us."

When it comes to money, Song Xinran is always cautious and doesn't like to be ambiguous.

Chen Jingfang nodded: "Okay."

Before the two even reached their front door, Song Xinran saw a familiar figure standing there.

When the man saw her, he strode over and greeted her, "Xinran, you're already setting up your stall on the third day of the Lunar New Year? You're so diligent!"

Song Xinran smiled and said, "Sister Wanmei, you just got back today? I haven't seen you in so long."

Wan Mei nodded, glanced at Chen Jingfang beside her, and casually asked a couple of questions.

Song Xinran could tell that Wan Mei had something to say, so she said to Chen Jingfang, "Wan Mei is my landlady. Jingfang, you should go back first and come back tomorrow."

As soon as Chen Jingfang left, Wan Mei said apologetically, "Xinran, I'm really sorry, I probably can't rent this house to you anymore."

Song Xinran felt a thud in her heart, as if a huge rock had crashed down on her, making her a little dizzy. She quickly recovered and tried to ask in a calm voice, "Sister Wanmei, what happened?"

Wan Mei looked apologetic: "My parents are coming. My apartment is on the third floor of the building, and they can't climb the stairs because of their mobility issues, so they have to stay here. Xin Ran, I'm really sorry, their decision was rather sudden. Something happened in my family, and as their daughter, I can't let them not come."

"They'll be here on the eighth day of the lunar new year, so it'll be a few more days. You can look around the house again in the next few days, pack your things, and I won't charge you rent this month."

Song Xinran frowned slightly: "I understand, Sister Wanmei, I'll get it ready as soon as possible."

Wan Mei said apologetically, "I'll refund you another month's rent then. Actually, I trust you to rent from me, but I can't control these unexpected events..."

Song Xinran nodded: "I know, then I'll go back and pack my things first."

Wan Mei left with an apologetic look on her face.

Song Xinran sat on the stool, feeling really bad, but she couldn't argue with Wan Mei. After all, the house belonged to Wan Mei. Although a contract had been signed, Wan Mei had already paid out a penalty for breach of contract, which was a month's rent.

They live in the same town, and it would be difficult to meet if this matter caused a rift. Besides, Wanmei isn't an unreasonable or domineering landlord.

Song Yu quietly took her hand. He was dressed warmly, and he held her little finger tightly. "Mommy, are we leaving here?"

He only vaguely understood what they were hearing, but he could tell they couldn't stay there anymore.

Song Xinran nodded and gently hugged the baby: "Xiao Yu, we might have to move to a new house."

Song Yu looked somewhat bewildered, but she stretched out her little arm and gently patted Song Xinran's arm. In her childish voice, she tried her best to speak calmly, "Wherever Mom goes, I'll go. We can go back to Grandma Fang's old home."

Song Yu remembered that her mother had taken her back to her hometown, which was next to Grandma Fang's house.

Although that house had many cobwebs and the floor was moldy and white, it couldn't compare to where they lived in town. But he would go wherever his mother was, and he was fine with it, as long as his mother didn't leave him at his aunt's house anymore.

Although the children in the village now like to play with him, and although Cai Yang will still give him his own smock and won't take his things anymore, he still prefers to stay with his mother the most, and nothing compares to that.

Song Xinran gently held his hand: "Of course Xiao Yu should live with his mother. We won't go back; we'll stay in town."