In previous years, when these uncles came to pay their New Year's visits, a mahjong table would already be set up. But this year, no one was playing cards; instead, they all asked about He Wenlin's family business.
Mr. He went on and on, saying how much the bosses he was working with liked his daughter Linlin, how much the owners of the clothing factories liked her, how much they took care of her business, and how they even bought meal tickets (vouchers) for Linlin to give to their employees as welfare during the Chinese New Year.
Actually, He Wenlin personally visited the company to discuss the purchase of vouchers as a year-end benefit for employees.
They did appreciate He Wenlin, but they didn't actually buy the vouchers from her because of that appreciation. Instead, He Wenlin told them that if they received vouchers for the Lunar New Year, the workers would come back to work next year because of the remaining vouchers. This could reduce employee turnover to some extent, and for the bosses, spending the same amount of money meant that using vouchers was more convenient.
Before the Lunar New Year, Hongda, Bosi Garment Factory, and Shirt Factory purchased over 41,000 yuan worth of vouchers from He Wenlin.
So next year—or rather, this year—the business has stabilized in the first quarter of this year, so even if competitors open stores, He Wenlin isn't afraid.
"Linlin is amazing. She's built such a big business without making a fuss."
"That's right, our He family's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke."
"Da Ming, you have raised a good daughter."
"If my child were half as good as Linlin, I could sit back and eat my fill."
"..."
Hearing everyone's envious compliments, Mr. and Mrs. He smiled from ear to ear.
At this moment, Uncle He Fanglong said, "You've made quite a bit of money this year, haven't you? Aren't you planning to build a new house?"
He Wenqing, the son of the second uncle, said, "My uncle bought a house outside, so he definitely won't build one here anymore, and he won't be coming back to live here."
"We will always come back for the New Year. When we get old, we will return to our roots."
Aunt He smiled and said, "We wanted to tear down this house in our hometown and build a new one, but we don't have the money."
"Your business is so good, yet you don't have any money. Don't be modest."
Mr. He: "We really don't have any money. We borrow money from banks and credit unions to do business. If we can't repay it by the agreed time, the property owners will confiscate and auction it off."
Mrs. He said, "No one would believe it if we told them, but we're basically working for the bank. It will take at least seven or eight years to pay it off. The pressure is immense. Ever since we opened the fast food restaurant, others have followed suit, and business has become difficult."
He Fanglong: "Can you take my Qinqin with you when you go out this year?"
At this time, people rely on relatives and friends to find work, and it's impossible for siblings not to help.
So Mr. He readily agreed: "Sure, we'll set off around the sixth or seventh of the month. The van can't fit all of us. We can arrange to buy tickets together with Hui Ya and the others. You can come to Shaoxing later if you want."
...
He Wenlin was also surrounded by her older brothers and sisters, who asked her about her situation in Shaoxing.
He Wenlin's reply was similar to what her parents had said.
"Linlin, you're amazing."
"Yeah, what's wrong with your brain? Did you take all the skills of the He family?"
"It makes us look so useless."
"Linlin, I'm following you next year!"
“Before the New Year, your stall business in the county town was so good. I heard you had so much money you couldn’t even fit it all in your pocket. Next year, I’ll follow your lead.”
...
He Wenlin laughed and said, "Can't fit it all in the wallet? Haha, it's not that exaggerated. This amount of money won't even be enough to pay the workers' wages after the New Year."
He Wenqin immediately took He Wenlin's arm and said, "I don't care. I'm sticking with you this year. I don't ask for great wealth or status, just a stable job and a monthly income."
"Okay, okay, let's go together."
...
Before long, the villagers also came to wish Grandma He a Happy New Year.
The custom in her area is that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, neighbors or relatives in the village who have a good relationship visit each other to exchange New Year's greetings. On the second day, people visit their maternal grandmother's house, and visits to their aunts and uncles' houses are the last thing to be done.
Every New Year's visitor would ask He Wenlin if she had made a lot of money, and would say that they wanted to follow He Wenlin in the future, or that they wanted He Wenlin to take their children out to work.
He Wenlin was starting to pretend to be sick.
Otherwise, when I go out to pay New Year's visits, I don't know how many of these questions I'll have to answer.
“You can’t not go. People will think you’ve made some money and don’t recognize us anymore. Just go out for a cup of tea and come right back. Your aunt is coming soon too,” said Aunt He. “And those relatives from the courtyard across the street are coming too. They’ve all called us and they all want to eat at our house. You should come back early to help out.”
“There must be four or five tables today. In previous years, they didn’t even come to wish Grandma a Happy New Year, let alone eat here.”
The relatives in the opposite courtyard are from the branch of my great-grandfather's brother. They are all within the fifth generation of the family, but they live several miles away, so we don't see each other very often. They haven't come to pay their respects in previous years.
Aunt He smiled but didn't say anything.
That's how people are: when you're poor, no one cares even in the bustling city; when you're rich, even distant relatives come calling.
"I'm going to pay my respects for the New Year." He Wenlin picked up her things and, together with her younger brother, He Wenhua and his wife, and He Wenjun, went to pay New Year's respects to the elderly neighbors she was on good terms with.
Just as Wenlin had predicted, at each stall she visited, they all asked her how much she had earned before the Lunar New Year, how much she had earned last year, and whether she had really earned over a million yuan.
He Wenlin was stunned; she had no idea where they got that figure of over a million from.
He Wenlin naturally denied it, but there was nothing she could do since no one believed her.
If it weren't for the fact that there were several tables of guests today, He Wenlin would have had a hard time getting away. Everyone wanted to drag her to lunch and then continue talking.
After finishing her New Year's greetings, He Wenlin returned home, where the uncles from the neighboring courtyard arrived with their families.
After drinking a glass of water to soothe his throat, Mr. He began another round of showing off his daughter...
He Wenlin could already imagine that the main event of the New Year's greetings in the next few days would not be card games, but rather her father constantly showing off his daughter...
...
After dinner, He's father still sat down at the card table, but he played with his uncles, and the stakes were low, just a penny's worth of cards (a Shaoyang-style card game), so He Wenlin didn't interfere.
It's fine for family members to have a little fun together during the Chinese New Year, but we can't be too strict. With so many relatives here, we have to give them face too.
In the afternoon, Xia Chunlai came to offer New Year's greetings, carrying gifts.
However, with Mr. He at the card table and many people around, it wasn't easy to have a conversation, so Xia Chunlai didn't say anything about his purpose.
After the afternoon session ended and dinner was served, the mahjong table was set up again. The relatives across the street had gone home, and since they needed someone, Xia Chunlai joined in.
The event didn't end until midnight.
The relatives went home, and Xia Chunlai stayed behind to explain his purpose...
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