The family made their way to the state-run restaurant. At this time of year, people who came to state-run restaurants were either entertaining important guests or young couples. It was very rare to see such a large family dining together.
Inside the state-run restaurant, there were several wooden tables, with two tables occupied. At the far end was a wooden window where a waiter was knitting. Next to the window was a small wooden board painted with black ink, on which were written the following dishes: Sweet and Sour Pork, Four Happiness Meatballs, Steamed Pork Belly, Braised Pork Ribs, Sauerkraut Stew with Pork Bones, Chicken Stew with Mushrooms, Stir-fried Garlic Sprouts with Pork, Vinegar-braised Cabbage Slices, and Stir-fried Potato Shreds…
The staple foods include cabbage and pork dumplings, white flour steamed buns, mixed flour steamed buns, rice, sorghum rice, and cornbread.
"Mom, I want to eat Four Happiness Meatballs and Steamed Pork Belly." Wang Baoshan said, swallowing hard.
"Then let's order some braised pork ribs and stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts," Tao Ying said after glancing at the menu.
Wang Chunni was about to say something, but Wang Chuntao pulled her aside, and seeing the mother and daughter so enthusiastic, she chose to shut up.
"What else would you like to eat?" Tao Ying turned to look at the remaining children.
"Mom, I want to eat dumplings." Wang Baomin looked at Tao Ying expectantly.
"Okay, two more pounds of dumplings, please." Tao Ying nodded vigorously.
"Mom, sweet and sour pork, and a vegetable dish too, otherwise it'll be too greasy." Seeing that the dishes ordered were all meat dishes, Wang Chuntao thought they might not go well with rice, so she added a vegetable dish as well.
"Here comes the radish and vermicelli soup. Chunni, what would you like to eat?" Tao Ying looked at Wang Chunni expectantly.
"Mom, I want to eat white flour steamed buns." Wang Chunni glanced at her younger siblings a few times, hesitated for a moment, and then said.
“Okay.” Tao Ying nodded and then walked towards the waiter.
"Thank you for your hard work, comrade. Could you please make us Four Happiness Meatballs, Sweet and Sour Pork, Braised Pork Ribs, Stir-fried Pork with Garlic Sprouts, Steamed Pork with Stew, Radish and Vermicelli Soup, Two Jin of Dumplings, Four Steamed Buns, and Four Bowls of Rice?" Tao Ying said politely to the waiter.
However, it was known that state-run restaurants at that time had signs prohibiting the beating of customers without cause.
"Auntie, did you run out of money or did you find some?" The waiter glanced at the group's clothes and said in a sarcastic tone.
"But no, no, I haven't tasted meat in three months, I have to have a good meal." Tao Ying said cheerfully, as if she hadn't heard him.
"Go wait here." The waiter rolled his eyes and told him how much money and tickets were needed.
"Okay, thank you, comrade." Tao Ying hurriedly handed the money and tickets to the waiter, feeling a bit of a pang of regret, as this meal had cost almost half a month's salary.
"Mom, she clearly looked down on us just now, why didn't you scold her?" Wang Baoshan asked Tao Ying earnestly.
I thought there was going to be a bloody battle, and I was all ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work, but who would have thought that my mom would just put up with it?
"Are you crazy? Don't you want to eat? What if she puts something in your food? Wouldn't that be disgusting? She's just jealous that you can eat so much meat. Why are you arguing with her?" Tao Ying whispered to Wang Baoshan.
Wang Baoshan: "..."
“Baomin, especially you, you’ll inevitably have to drive around in the future. Try to be kind to people when you’re out there. It’s good to be sweet-talking, but you can’t let people bully you. Figure out the other party’s strength. Only fight if you can win. If you can’t win, admit defeat quickly. Wait until you’re stronger in the future to get revenge. Never do anything recklessly just to save face, understand?” Tao Ying whispered to Wang Baomin.
"Okay, Mom." Wang Baomin nodded vigorously.
At this point, the waiters won't bring the dishes; they'll just call out when it's ready, and whoever's dish it is will bring it.
Without Tao Ying even having to say anything, Wang Baomin and Wang Baoshan automatically took on the task.
The portions of each dish were very generous, but people's bodies were relatively deficient in oil and water at this time, so everyone ate a lot.
Wang Baomin and Wang Baoshan usually eat four or five bowls of rice, and even Wang Chuntao eats two bowls of rice.
The dishes were served, but the children didn't touch their chopsticks; instead, they stared at Tao Ying.
"Eat up." Tao Ying picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and gestured for everyone to start eating, clearly quite satisfied with it.
Wang Chunni first scooped half a bowl of rice for Tao Chenyang, then added some radish soup, and then scooped half a meatball before eating it herself.
Four Happiness Meatballs are four fist-sized meatballs with a rich and indescribably fragrant broth.
Whether they were losing a lot of money or the chef was just too good, the family of six remained silent and focused on eating.
After a hurried and frantic meal, only a small half-bowl of radish stew with rice noodles remained. Wang Chuntao had taken several lunchboxes for nothing, and the whole family was so full they couldn't move.
"This meat is really delicious!" Wang Baoshan exclaimed, clutching his stomach.
Wang Chuntao lowered her head and secretly rolled her eyes, as if he were the only one with a mouth. Who's crazy enough not to know that meat tastes good?
"Let's go home!" Tao Ying waved her hand and decided to take the children home.
"I'll take the rest of the food back with me." Wang Chuntao took out a lunchbox and packed the remaining radish stew with rice noodles into it. It all cost money, so she couldn't let it go to waste.
“My Chun Tao is really good at managing money. Mom will give you some living expenses from now on. If the family is short of anything, or if your sister is busy with work, you can go and buy it.” Tao Ying looked at Wang Chun Tao with great admiration.
Children should be strongly supported if they consider the needs of the family, so that they can develop a good mindset of taking initiative in doing chores.
“Mom, I promise I won’t waste a single penny.” Wang Chuntao’s eyes lit up instantly.
"Sweetie, Mom believes in you." Tao Ying gently patted Wang Chuntao's head.
Wang Chuntao was radiant with beauty, and her steps instantly became light and quick, completely losing her previous composure.
Wang Baoshan secretly rolled his eyes.
"Chunni, what do you think about going to night school?" Tao Ying turned to ask Wang Chunni.
"Mom, I've asked my mentor, and she's very supportive of me studying. I've also inquired about night school; classes are from 6:30 to 8:30 every evening. I just need to ask you to watch Yangyang for me then," Wang Chunni quickly replied.
"Why be so polite with family? Yangyang is such a good boy," Tao Ying said nonchalantly.
"Good boy, Yangyang!" Tao Chenyang immediately echoed upon hearing his own name.
"Yes, yes, our Yangyang is the best-behaved." Tao Ying patted Tao Chenyang's head.
"Baomin, you're in charge of taking your sister to and from class," Tao Ying instructed.
The reason for the crackdown is because of the chaos, and Tao Ying is worried about leaving Wang Chunni alone.
"Mom, I get out of school at eight o'clock. I'm going to pick up my sister." Wang Baoshan felt that his mother didn't remember him.
"You? Skinny as a beet, you have no intimidating presence at all. I wonder where all that food went. If you encounter any danger, don't ask your sister to save you again." Tao Ying glanced at Wang Baoshan with disdain.
"Mom, don't look down on people." Wang Baoshan was displeased.
The family returned home in a lively atmosphere, and from afar they saw a middle-aged woman dressed in bright colors, with her eyebrows and hair drawn up, standing at their door.
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