Chapter 097
It was still early, so Chuxia was not in a hurry to go home.
Although the procedures for the business license have been completed, the license has not yet been obtained, so she does not plan to go back and announce this to anyone today. She will just wait until she gets the license in three days and then decide based on the license.
She was so excited that she couldn't suppress it, so she went out to play with Lin Xiaohan in such happiness.
She first invited Lin Xiaohan to go boating in Beihai Park. They rowed on the water where the White Pagoda was reflected until the evening, and then invited him to dinner.
They didn't have any more casual food tonight.
Chuxia invited Lin Xiaohan to the Xinqiao Hotel, which was officially opened to the public this year. It is a Russian Western restaurant like the Lao Mo restaurant they had visited before.
We ate the restaurant's specialties, including braised mud sausage, creamy mixed dishes, and soft-fried fish.
While eating, Chu Xia turned her head and carefully observed the environment in the restaurant, and subconsciously thought to herself - with the continuous advancement of economic system reform and the continuous development of the national economy, if she had money, she should be able to open a Western restaurant like this one day.
After thinking for a while, I felt that I was thinking too far ahead.
She was really too excited. She had just obtained the business license for her first private restaurant, but she was already thinking about things so far in the future, and she even dared to think so big.
The economic system reform has just started and is in the stage of exploration and trial. There is still a long way to go in this stage.
Coming back to her senses, Chu Xia didn’t think about anything else.
It was rare that things had made some initial progress, so she wanted to be happy for a few days. So she maintained this good mood and finished the meal happily with Lin Xiaohan.
After dinner, it was dark for a while.
As usual, Lin Xiaohan rode his bike to send Chuxia home first.
I sent her to the gate of the yard, watched her enter the gate, and then rode away on my bike.
Because it was dark, he didn't ride very fast.
After he turned left and walked for a while out of the alley, two people suddenly appeared from the side, stopped his bicycle, and shouted, "Stop!"
Lin Xiaohan stopped the car and looked at the two people who intercepted his car.
He didn't recognize the person on the right, but the person on the left was an old acquaintance, Guo Gai, so he sneered.
He said nothing, and heard another cough.
He turned around following the sound of coughing and saw Han Ting, Chaozi and a person he didn't know, leisurely walking up to him.
After Han Ting and Chaozi Guogai returned to the city, their other good friends also returned to the city one after another. None of them found a job, so they gathered together and lived their previous life again.
No one dares to mess with him, and he is very popular wherever he goes.
Ever since they ran into Lin Xiaohan at the entrance of the alley the night before, they have been looking for an opportunity to arrest Lin Xiaohan.
Recently, Lin Xiaohan always sent Chuxia back before dark in the evening, and he never went into the alley, so they didn't take any action. Today he came late, so they finally caught him.
If Lin Xiaohan had just done that one time during the Chinese New Year, they would have let it go and they wouldn’t have said anything more.
But now he came again, completely ignoring the three brothers, as if they were dead, as if he didn't remember how many hatreds they had between them.
Two years ago, the entire city knew the name of their Brother Ting.
This alley is where they live, and it is also the alley that the three brothers have protected since they were young. It is their territory, and it is not a place that a villain like him can come in whenever he wants.
Lin Xiaohan looked at Han Ting without saying anything.
Han Ting stared at him and said, "You don't think that now that you are back in the city, all the things that happened in the countryside are over, right? If you still remember them, you shouldn't have come here."
Lin Xiaohan looked at Han Ting and smiled, but still said nothing.
Han Ting hated the way he looked down on everyone. He didn't know what qualifications he had to act so arrogant in front of him, so he immediately became angry.
Han Ting lowered his eyebrows and used the tip of his tongue to touch his cheek to suppress his anger.
After a moment, he looked at Lin Xiaohan again and said, "I'm giving you a chance now. I don't care what happens between you and Chu Xia, but don't show up in Tianxian'an Hutong again. Remember this, this is my territory, Han Ting, and you can't come here."
Lin Xiaohan finally looked at Han Ting and said, "Who gave you such a big tone?"
Chaozi said, "You can refuse, but you may not be able to ride your bike back home today. If we don't remove your legs, we will at least break your arms!"
Hearing this, Lin Xiaohan suddenly burst out laughing again.
Seeing him laughing like this again, everyone present was annoyed. Guo Gai reached out and grabbed his collar, saying harshly: "What are you laughing at? I'll fucking kill you, believe it or not!"
Lin Xiaohan knew that they were just threatening him with harsh words. They were not so powerful as to dare to actually do anything to anyone. If they really crippled anyone's hands or feet, they would be thrown into jail.
If a fight really came to a head, the most they could do was beat him up.
Lin Xiaohan stopped smiling, his face turned cold and he pulled the lid of the pot away with disgust.
Without waiting for the pot lid to react, he said coldly: "Do you know how to live your life? You don't still think that the current Sijiu City is still the same as before, do you?"
In the old city of Beijing, because of the revolution, all the adults and teachers were trembling with fear and did not dare to say anything or interfere in anything. So the city became the world of these middle school students.
Because no one cares, they form gangs and try to show off their abilities, competing to see who is better at fighting.
No one would call the police if there was a fight, and everyone would settle the grudge privately.
Even if you are unlucky enough to be caught by the police, as long as you don't cause any serious trouble, you will only be imprisoned for a few days.
I didn't bother with the lid anymore.
Lin Xiaohan looked at Han Ting and asked, "Do you know what major I studied in college?"
Han Ting also sneered and said with disdain: "I don't care what major you study. You don't think that you are so great just because you got into a university that no one dares to touch you, right? College students and elementary school students are all the same in my eyes. They just read a few more sour books."
Lin Xiaohan was too lazy to talk nonsense with him anymore.
He looked at Han Ting and said directly: "I studied law. This year, the country just promulgated the Criminal Law. Do you know the Criminal Law? The punishment is to be sentenced to prison. Listen carefully, Article 160 of the Criminal Law stipulates that if the crime of hooliganism, gathering a crowd to fight, provoking trouble, insulting women or engaging in other hooligan activities, disrupting public order, and the circumstances are serious, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than seven years, criminal detention or control. The ringleaders of the hooligan group shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than seven years. You don't need to cripple my hands and feet. Gathering a crowd to fight and provoking trouble are enough to sentence you to the crime of hooliganism."①
After Lin Xiaohan said this, Han Ting and the others looked at each other without saying anything.
Then it was the pot lid that said, "Who the hell are you trying to scare?"
Lin Xiaohan still looked at Han Ting, "Whether I scared you or not, you can go to the prison and ask and you will know. If you want to be brothers in prison, just try to touch me, I will never fight back."
Han Ting stared into Lin Xiaohan's eyes without saying anything.
Guo Gai then said: "Brother Ting, don't listen to his nonsense, he is just farting!"
Han Ting didn't say anything, and no one else dared to move.
Lin Xiaohan continued to stare at Han Ting and said, "This is no longer an era of fighting and killing. Don't use your tricks anymore. If you still want to challenge me, at least you have to be qualified."
After saying that, he lifted his foot, stepped on the bicycle pedal, and rode away.
Guo Gai forgot to stop him, turned to look at Han Ting and said, "Brother Ting!"
Han Ting finally spoke up: "Let him go."
Guo Gai was anxious and unhappy: "So we'll just watch him come again in the future? You won't even seek revenge?"
Han Ting: "Why rush? It's never too late for a gentleman to take revenge."
***
When Chuxia returned home, she greeted Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei as usual.
After saying hello, Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei did not let her go back to her room, but called her and asked her to go into their room.
It seemed that the couple had discussed it before.
Wu Xuemei said in a gentle tone: "Xia Xia, Mom and Dad want to discuss something with you. Can we not go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau anymore?"
I originally thought that if I let her go twice more, she would give up.
Unexpectedly, she still insisted on not giving up and continued to do so for many days in a row.
It didn't really matter.
But ever since the reporter came to the yard two days ago, the news that his family was going to open a private restaurant spread throughout the alley, and now whenever they go out, they will be asked about it.
They all knew that in early summer, they had to go to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau to wait for a bench, so when they asked about this with a smile, most of them were there to laugh at the joke.
Being asked this question for three or four days was really overwhelming.
Of course, Chuxia was asked this question many times.
So she didn't ask why, but nodded decisively and said, "Okay, I won't go."
I didn't expect Chuxia would agree so readily.
Tang Haikuan asked tentatively: "Have you decided to give up?"
Chu Xia smiled at them and said, "No."
Tang Haikuan was even more confused, "What do you mean?"
Chu Xia thought for a moment and said, "I'll tell you about this in three days."
Even if I tell them now, they probably won't believe it, and a lot of words will be wasted. Those people in the alley who treat their family's affairs as a joke will probably not believe it even more and will only laugh even harder.
Wu Xuemei was still curious: "Why?"
Chu Xia said: "Because there will be results in three days."
Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei looked at each other.
They also heard that Chuxia had not given up yet.
Three days is just three days.
Wu Xuemei looked at Chu Xia and said, "Okay, then it'll be the last three days."
Chu Xia nodded at her: "Okay, the last three days."
***
The next day was Sunday.
Chuxia had been running around for so many days to get a business license and was really tired, so she did nothing today and rested at home for a day.
Except for eating and going to the toilet, she never left the room.
Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei didn't want to be asked about opening a restaurant again, so they didn't go out.
Day again.
Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei went to work as usual in the morning.
Chuxia was not idle today. After finishing breakfast, she took the key to open the door of the small restaurant in front. Then she carried in half a bucket of water and took in a broom, rag and radio.
Get everything you need ready.
She cleaned the restaurant while listening to music on the radio.
There are so many cobwebs and dust in the house that cleaning it up is a big project.
I cleaned like this while listening to the radio for more than half an hour, when suddenly someone poked his head in from the door and asked, "Why do I hear someone mumbling here? It's Chuxia, you're cleaning."
Chuxia heard the voice and turned around, only to see Wang Cuiying.
She was in a good mood and smiled, then turned back to continue her work, "Yes, Auntie."
Wang Cuiying smiled and said, "The Industrial and Commercial Bureau won't approve your license, so why are you going to all this trouble to clean up? In a few days, the house will be covered in dust again."
Chu Xia said as she was working: "Then we can clean it up after a few days. Now that the government has returned the house to our family, it will be empty anyway. We can always use it after cleaning it up."
Wang Cuiying smiled and said, "Then you clean it."
After saying this, he stopped standing and went back to the east room in the inner courtyard.
When he entered the second door, he muttered, "There are only three people in the family, why do we need so many houses?"
In her opinion, not only should the house not be returned to a certain family, but it should be divided according to the population.
The way things are done now is becoming more and more unfair, and it makes people feel uncomfortable.
***
After Wang Cuiying left, Chuxia continued to clean the restaurant.
I cleaned until noon, ate something, went back to the room to rest for a while, and continued in the afternoon.
Chuxia spent two days cleaning the restaurant inside and out.
On Wednesday morning, she went out with her schoolbag on her back. When she came back, the smile on her face was brighter than the sun above her head.
After returning to the yard, I would hum a song no matter what I did.
In the evening, I hummed a song while preparing dinner, waited for Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei to come back from get off work, served the food and put it on the table, then sat down with Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei to prepare for dinner.
Before Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei picked up their chopsticks, Chu Xia spoke first, "Mom and Dad, please wait a moment. The rice is too hot. Let's let it cool for a while before eating. I have something important to tell you."
Tang Haikuan’s hand just touched the chopsticks.
Hearing Chu Xia say this, he did not take out the chopsticks, but looked at Chu Xia and said, "Tell me, what's the important thing?"
Chu Xia said, "Didn't I tell you three days ago that the Industry and Commerce Bureau would approve our business license? The result will come out in three days, and the result came out today."
"Now that you're out, don't bother with it anymore..."
Tang Haikuan had just said half of his words when he saw Chu Xia handing him a business license. The rest of the words were instantly choked in his throat.
He stared at the business license for a long time.
Wu Xuemei next to him was also stunned, but she reacted faster than Tang Hai. She quickly reached out to take the business license from Chu Xia and looked at it carefully.
After reading it, she smiled with surprise and joy. She looked at Chu Xia and asked, "This... did you really get the application?"
Chu Xia looked at her and nodded. "I completed the formalities three days ago. I was afraid you wouldn't believe me, so I didn't tell you. Now I've got it back. You shouldn't have any questions anymore."
Wu Xuemei still found this too unbelievable and looked down at the license again.
After looking at it for a while, Tang Haikuan suddenly reached out and took the business license from her.
He looked at it carefully and couldn't believe it at all, so he took the license and went out to look for a while.
After reading it, he went into the house and sat down. He looked at Chu Xia and asked in a low voice: "Is it fake?"
Chu Xia said seriously, "How is that possible? Even if you lend me a thousand or ten thousand courages, I wouldn't dare to bring back a fake one. Would I be courting death if I forged the official seal?"
That's right.
Tang Haikuan looked at Chuxia, his expression still showing disbelief.
Without asking him to say anything else, Chu Xia explained, "I went there every day, and it attracted the attention of the senior leaders in the bureau. Later, it attracted a reporter, who wrote a news article and published it in the newspaper. The leaders took it seriously, and then they discussed and decided to approve the license for our family, saying that they would use our family as a test household."
Tang Haikuan came back to his senses and digested it, then looked at the business license in his hand.
This time, I couldn't control my heartbeat. It beat faster and faster and heavier.
He never thought that this could really be done.
Although this may seem like a small matter, just applying for a license, it is actually a very big matter, so big that it will be a big news for the whole country.
If his family can really open a restaurant next time.
Then his restaurant will definitely attract attention from all over the country, including the leaders at the top who are implementing reforms.
As a testing ground for reform, it will naturally become an important part of the reform.
Things like this.
It actually happened in his home.
His hands holding the business license began to shake uncontrollably.
Seeing that Tang Haikuan's hands holding the business license were shaking uncontrollably, Chu Xia said nothing more, letting Tang Haikuan digest the business license for a while longer.
Wu Xuemei was a little anxious, "Say something!"
Hearing the voice, Tang Haikuan suddenly looked up at Wu Xuemei, then turned to look at Chu Xia.
He watched Chu Xia take a few deep breaths, and then he said with shaking hands, "Dad is a man of his words. Since you really got the permit, Dad will go to the construction site to resign tomorrow morning, without wasting a single day."
Not to mention anything else, just in recent days, he and Wu Xuemei were asked by neighbors with a smile whether they were going to open a restaurant at home. They were a little overwhelmed by the questions. Chuxia had been running to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau every day for such a long time. Not only did she have to endure other people's laughing stock, she must have also seen a lot of cold faces and contempt at the Bureau. It is conceivable how much pressure she was under to get this done.
She has done so much, how can he, as a father, go back on his word?
Hearing Tang Haikuan say this, Chu Xia laughed and said, "Really?"
Tang Haikuan nodded seriously and said, "Really."
She took a deep breath and continued, "Dad is not a promising or capable person. He has never done anything great in his life. You should impress Dad. I will listen to you from now on. Let's do something exciting together!"
Chu Xia's smile grew even bigger, and she nodded heavily, "Yeah!"
After she finished answering, she continued, "You don't have to worry or feel uneasy. Our restaurant is a pilot restaurant designated by the government. We have the organization behind us to check and support us. There won't be any problems. At most, the experiment will fail, and the organization will think this road is not feasible, so they will let us close the restaurant."
Of course, she knew it would succeed.
Tang Haikuan nodded, "That's right, we will follow the organization's arrangements."
Chu Xia couldn't stop smiling, "Let's eat now!"
The family of three happily picked up their chopsticks and started eating.
After happily eating a few mouthfuls of food, Wu Xuemei suddenly thought of something and looked at Chu Xia and asked, "The business license has been obtained, but the supply of grain and oil is still a big problem."
Chu Xia finished a mouthful of porridge and looked at Wu Xuemei and said, "The Industry and Commerce Bureau has approved our business license, and the grain and oil supply will definitely be solved. Let's take the business license and the two previous news reports, and go to the Grain Bureau as a pilot household to try to get them to approve the quota for us. It will definitely be difficult at the beginning, but I believe it will be done."
Tang Haikuan nodded and said, "After you quit your job at the construction site tomorrow, I will go to the grain department to handle this matter. Xia Xia, you just stay at home and have a rest. I will take care of this matter."
Chu Xia also nodded, "Okay, Dad."
When this matter came to this, there was a kind of enthusiasm in the Tang family's house that was even higher than the revolution.
Tang Haikuan has lived for decades, but even when he was young, he had never been so passionate.
There was nothing else in his mind now, just one word - do it.
Even if he fails in the end, it will be worth it for him to have gone through this.
Because of this incident, the three members of their family went to bed very late tonight.
Chuxia stayed in Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei's room and talked this matter thoroughly with them. In addition to how to open the restaurant step by step, she also talked about many difficulties they might encounter in the future.
Chuxia told Tang Haikuan in detail all the difficulties she could think of.
When saying this, he was naturally given several reassurances, reminding him to always remember that they were the government's experimental households and the testing point for reform, and that the organization was their strong backing.
By midnight, the three members of the family had their eyelids drooping, and they covered their mouths and yawned from time to time, and then they stopped trying to chat.
Because I went to bed late, I was panting when I woke up the next morning.
The three of them yawned and went to the yard to wash up, and met Jiang Jianping who came out to wash up.
Jiang Jianping greeted with a smile: "Did your whole family not sleep last night?"
Wu Xuemei replied, "I'll sleep for a while."
Jiang Jianping still smiled and asked, "What are you doing? Are you talking about applying for a business license to open a restaurant?"
It was the same kind of joking and teasing tone of laughter and speech, as if his three monkeys were performing the underwater moon-catching show for everyone. Tang Haikuan had seen enough of it in the past few days.
Now he finally no longer felt pressured. He straightened his back and said confidently, "Huh? You really got it right. The three of us talked about this until midnight last night."
Jiang Jianping still had that smile in his voice: "Hey, what are you talking about?"
Tang Haikuan said: "Now that the business license has been approved, of course we can talk about the preparations to be made and discuss the menu..."
As soon as Jiang Jianping heard Tang Haikuan's first sentence, a confused expression appeared on his face.
After Tang Haikuan finished speaking, he smiled and said, "Old Tang, you are not still asleep and talking in your sleep this early in the morning, are you?"
Chu Xia said, "Uncle, my dad is not talking in his sleep. The Industrial and Commercial Bureau has approved my family's business license. The license has been taken back and is now in my house."
Jiang Jianping still smiled, "Chu Xia, stop teasing me."
Wu Xuemei didn't say anything, just turned around and went into the house. She came out after a while with the business license in her hand.
There is nothing to hide about this matter. There are reporters following her family's affairs, and the approval of the business license is a big deal. There is no doubt that it will appear in the newspapers soon.
Wu Xuemei handed the business license to Jiang Jianping and said, "Take a look."
The smile on Jiang Jianping's face suddenly became a little stiff. He took the business license, looked at it, and said with a forced smile: "Is this... true or false?"
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