"Mom! I was just disciplining our son, what are you doing?" Dad Mei said helplessly, catching the candy that fell from his face.
"Is that education? You didn't even let Liangliang finish what he was saying!" Grandma Mei glanced at her son, feeling that he was really being unreasonable.
"Alright, alright! Go ahead and speak!" Dad Mei gestured for his son to continue.
“No one in my family has ever done business before, and no one knows the ins and outs of it. But I know someone who knows the business. He knows Sisi too. When Sisi was in junior high school, she often went to his shop to eat skewers and stuff. I’ve known him for several years now. I’ve watched him get rich. I plan to learn the trade from him and then set up a stall in Kyoto.”
For the past few months, Mei Liang has been thinking about this matter, and he is confident that he can succeed.
“They’ve become rich, that’s their skill, but do you think they’ll pass on their money-making skills to you? As the saying goes, ‘Teach your apprentice, and you’ll starve.’” Mr. Mei thought his son’s idea was too naive. Who would teach their livelihood to an outsider?
"Don't worry about it. I already asked Xu Liang, and he agreed to teach me."
Mei Liang said confidently.
"Patriotism, you're highly educated, what do you think?" Seeing that his son had already made up his mind, Mei's father knew he couldn't stop him, but he still wanted to hear what Wang's father had to say.
“Things are different now than before. Everyone can eat their fill now, wages have gone up, and people have spare money to buy and eat. Now the streets sell all kinds of things: meat skewers, rice cakes, wontons, all kinds of snacks, as well as clothes and shoes, and there are more and more styles. Culture and times are changing, and I believe the country will definitely become more and more prosperous and strong…” Wang’s father kept talking until Wang’s mother came over to call everyone to eat.
Mei's father was dizzy and confused after listening to this. Before going to bed that night, he summarized it and finally understood what Wang's father wanted to say. Wang's father had only one point: there's nothing wrong with doing business!
Since Wang's father, who has lived in Kyoto for many years, agrees with Mei Liang's idea, he will just watch from the sidelines and see how far Mei Liang can go.
Mei's father: My son is still young, so let's give him two years.
It wasn't until the next day that Mei's mother learned that Mei Liang had given up his good job at home to start a business.
"Have you thought this through? Doing business is not like having a job where you just sit and do your job every day. Doing business is very hard work, and there are no holidays at all."
Mei's mother was afraid that her son wouldn't be able to hold on.
"Mom, don't worry, I've thought about it for a long time."
"What about the little rabbit?" Mei's mother began to worry about her son's lifelong happiness.
“Little Rabbit knows my plans. I thought I’d come over first, and once I’ve made some money and my life is stable, Little Rabbit can come over too.” Mei Liang was very satisfied with his partner, who was both obedient and well-behaved.
"Just tell them," Aunt Mei nodded, relieved.
"What about me? When am I coming?" Mei Jian pointed to himself, wondering why no one had mentioned his plans.
"You? What are you doing here? Go home and study properly, don't cause trouble." Mei's mother glanced at her youngest son and said.
"How did I cause trouble? I came here to take care of my grandma!" Mei Jian felt quite wronged; he had only meant well.
"Take care of your grandma? It's your grandma who takes care of you! Your grandma came here to enjoy herself, but if you come along, what's the difference between that and home?"
“I can take care of people too!” Mei Jian felt that her mother was looking down on her.
"You? What can you do? You probably can't even tell the difference between salt and sugar."
"I may not know how in real life, but I can learn!"
“Okay, if you can keep heating the kang (heated brick bed) and making breakfast for us every day during the Spring Festival until we go home, I’ll consider letting you come here to study.” Seeing her youngest son’s high spirits, Mei’s mother made this promise.
On the morning of Lunar New Year's Eve, Grandma Mei got up very early to roll out noodles. Today was Mei Si's birthday, and she had to make a bowl of longevity noodles for her granddaughter.
The family had already discussed it beforehand. When they arrived at the Wang family's house, they wouldn't mention that it was Mei Si's birthday. It was already a lot of trouble for them to come to the Wang family for the New Year, so it wouldn't be right to ask them to celebrate Mei Si's birthday as well.
Wang Ce Lou's maternal grandmother was also brought to the Wang family, but she was unhappy about having to spend the New Year with others.
In previous years, her daughter's family would go to her place to spend the New Year, but this year it suddenly became her going to her daughter's place to spend the New Year, which made her feel awkward.
When Grandma Yu saw Mei Si's family at noon, her smile was very unnatural. She didn't understand what her daughter and son-in-law were thinking. They weren't relatives, so why were they spending the New Year together?
"I'm going back to my room to lie down for a while. Call me when it's time to eat." Grandma Yu and the Mei family had nothing to say. Rather than sitting there like an idiot, they figured it was better to go back to their room and rest for a bit.
"Alright, Mom, you get some sleep first. If Lingding sleeps in a different place, she definitely won't sleep well last night." Wang's father stood up, walked to the door, lifted the curtain, and saw Grandma Yu out.
"Wenhua, is your mother-in-law feeling unwell? Should we get her some hot water?" Grandma Mei asked Wang's father with concern.
"It's alright! She'll be fine after a while. She stayed here last night, but she couldn't sleep well in a new place." Mr. Wang said, offering a reason that even he himself didn't believe.
"Dad, I'm taking Mei Jian out to set off firecrackers." Mei Liang felt the atmosphere in the room was a bit awkward, so they decided to go out and play instead.
"Okay, keep an eye on Jianjian," Mei's father nodded and instructed.
"I'll go check on the kitchen; I wonder how their preparations are going." Grandma Mei also got up and went to the kitchen.
Mei Si popped another piece of candy into her mouth, and looked up in confusion, wondering why everyone had gone out.
"I'm going back to my room to read for a while." Wang Celou stood up, intending to leave as well, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and saw Mei Si still eating with her head down. He simply picked up a plate of candy and waved to Mei Si.
Mei Si tilted her head and followed Wang Ce Lou out.
"You... sigh!" Looking at Wang's father, whose face looked rather pale, Mei's father wanted to say something, but in the end, he kept quiet.
"Why are you sighing? I don't care anymore. I've gotten used to it over the years." Wang's father glanced at Mei's father, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and handed it to Mei's father.
"I don't smoke." Mei's father shook his head. "Every family has its own problems!"
"Isn't your family doing quite well?" Wang's father took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it.
"My mother-in-law is quite a worry. She's gotten older these past two years, and her temper... tsk tsk tsk!"
“I’ve heard my mom talk about those years. Your mother-in-law is a really nice person!” Mr. Wang has always been very grateful to the Hao family for taking in his grandmother and son during those years.
"It's good."
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, no one had eaten lunch, so they planned to have lunch and dinner together.
With the improvement of living standards, many hearty dishes were laid out on the New Year's table. As soon as Mei Si sat down at the table, she started staring at the meat and vegetables and swallowing her saliva.
Grandma Yu really disliked Mei Si's staring gaze, as if she hadn't seen meat in eight hundred years.
"This girl is the world champion?" Grandma Yu curled her lips, thinking that if a country girl like Mei Si could win a world championship, how impressive must the foreigners be?
"Yes! The world record-breaking champion!"
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