Upon arriving at the back door of the noodle shop, Lin Chuan took the things he had brought back to the kitchen.
Lin Ping and Lin Wei looked at the seaweed knots and tofu fritters that Lin Chuan had brought over, and couldn't resist picking them up with their chopsticks and stuffing them into their mouths.
"Da Chuan, this is spicy enough." Lin Wei said with great satisfaction. "This would be a really good snack to have with drinks during the New Year."
Lin Chuan said, "I asked my mother and sister-in-law to make some more today. I'll prepare the seasoning this afternoon. Second brother, take it back and soak it. Bring it back tomorrow. Let's see how it sells these next couple of days."
Lin Wei nodded, "No problem, no problem."
Lin Ping also tried it. "Da Chuan, how much is this?"
Lin Chuan said, "Just like the small potatoes, it's three cents a serving. Tell the customers that they can order a platter, or half a serving of each."
The number of customers who came for noodles at noon was about the same as usual.
I learned that Chunmai Noodle Shop had added new side dishes, and although they were vegetarian, I wanted to try them all.
At noon, several servings of the three-cent side dish platter were sold.
Some customers found the taste novel and delicious and even bought an extra portion to take away.
Some people even come over after get off work in the evening to buy it, saying they want to have it with their drinks when they get home.
Lin Ping was very happy to see that he had earned an extra ten yuan or so today.
"Da Chuan, our business is getting better and better, and our income is increasing."
Lin Chuan smiled at him, "Of course, we'll slowly prepare some other side dishes. As everyone's lives get better and better, we'll earn even more."
When Lin Chuan took off his clothes to go to bed that night, he touched the half of the jade pendant he had picked up that morning.
He actually read the newspaper today, but didn't find anyone advertising for this thing.
He sat there, stroking it for a long time, and felt more and more that he had seen it before.
That night, in his dream, Lin Chuan vaguely saw the other half of the jade pendant, tied with a red string, dangling in front of him, and then someone took the jade pendant away.
The person who took the jade pendant looked so familiar, yet fierce and menacing, but I couldn't make out her face clearly in the dream.
When Lin Chuan woke up in the morning, he was still thinking about who that person was while getting dressed.
After two busy days, on the morning of the third day, Lin Chuan actually saw the lost and found notice in the newspaper.
The note said that if anyone finds it, please go to the Wangshan County Guesthouse and find a man surnamed Fu. He will reward you handsomely.
To the guesthouse?
They seem to be from out of town.
He greeted Lin Ping and Lin Wei and then went out.
Neither of them asked him where he was going. In the hearts of these two older brothers, whatever Lin Chuan did was right.
The Wangshan County Guesthouse is not far from Chunmai Noodle Restaurant.
Lin Chuan walked there, which took only fifteen minutes.
Upon seeing someone arrive, the staff at the guesthouse quickly asked, "Comrade, do you need a room?"
Lin Chuan walked over and said, "Hello, I saw the news in the newspaper and I'm here to see a Mr. Fu."
Mr. Fu had naturally made arrangements with the staff at the guesthouse.
"Comrade, please come this way, to the innermost room."
Lin Chuan strode to the innermost doorway and knocked.
Soon, the door opened, and a man who looked to be around fifty years old came out.
His hair was combed meticulously, except for a few strands of gray hair at his temples.
He wore gold-rimmed glasses and a perfectly wrinkle-free Zhongshan suit, giving him a very scholarly air.
"Hello, are you Mr. Fu?"
Mr. Fu nodded. "Who are you?"
Lin Chuan said, "I saw the information in the newspaper and came here to return your lost items."
Mr. Fu was overjoyed and immediately invited Lin Chuan into the room, saying, "Young comrade, please come in, please come in."
He poured Lin Chuan a glass of water.
Lin Chuan looked around the room and could tell that Mr. Fu didn't have much stuff with him, and that he was an extremely clean person.
Lin Chuan took the water glass and placed it on the bedside table.
Since there were no photos in the newspaper, Lin Chuan certainly couldn't just give the items away to anyone.
"Mr. Fu, could you draw or describe what you lost so I can confirm if it's something I found?"
Mr. Fu took out paper and pen and drew the shape of half of the jade pendant. "There are cloud patterns on it. This thing is very old and there are some scratches on it."
After looking at it, Lin Chuan was certain and reached out to take the thing out of his arms.
"Return the item to its rightful owner."
Mr. Fu was overjoyed, holding the item in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure. "This is wonderful, wonderful! Thank you, young man. I've been searching for this item like crazy these past two days."
Lin Chuan smiled and said, "I'll be leaving now that the goods have been delivered."
As he spoke, he turned to leave.
Mr. Fu immediately stopped him, "Young man, wait a minute."
Lin Chuan turned around and saw Mr. Fu take out a thick envelope from his bag. "As I said in the newspaper, if you can find it, there will be a generous reward. Thank you."
Lin Chuan didn't take it. "Mr. Fu, there's no need for that. It's just a small favor."
Mr. Fu stuffed the envelope into Lin Chuan's hand. "Young man, this is different. This thing is of great significance to me and my parents. This thank-you gift is a must, otherwise we will not be able to eat or sleep properly."
Lin Chuan stared at the envelope in his hand, realizing that the family in front of him was quite wealthy.
"Young man, what is your name?"
"Lin Chuan".
Mr. Fu extended his right hand. "My name is Fu Tongyuan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Comrade Lin Chuan."
It was clear that Lin Chuan genuinely didn't intend to accept the money. Fu Tongyuan invited Lin Chuan to sit down, "If you're not busy, would you like to hear about this half of the jade pendant?"
Lin Chuan really wanted to hear this; he really wanted to know where he had found the other half.
He sat down and placed the envelope on the bedside table.
“I’m about the same age as your father, maybe even a little older?” Fu Tongyuan had a very good impression of Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan nodded. "My father is forty-five this year."
"I'm still older. I'm forty-nine this year, and I'll be fifty next year. I'll be over fifty."
Lin Chuan's guess was pretty accurate, but Fu Tongyuan clearly looked much younger than Lin Qingyou.
Fu Tongyuan took out the half of the jade pendant. "Forty-five. If my younger brother were still alive, he would be forty-five too."
"I came to Wangshan County hoping to find the owner of the other half of the jade pendant, but I haven't been here for a while and haven't found out anything."
"It's been over forty years, and we still don't know if he's still alive. But I am alive, and I will definitely keep searching."
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