Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Home Restaurant

15 Kwong Wah Street.

The wind in early autumn still retains a trace of summer's heat and humidity. When it blows on your face, it feels sticky and you can't help but raise your hands to wipe it off.

After several months of renovation, the shop finally opened its doors.

I was busy preparing for the opening ceremonies for my three children yesterday, and now I have to immediately prepare for the opening of my [family restaurant].

Early in the morning, Wang Nian pushed open the light blue glass and wooden door and pulled down the red cloth covering the plaque.

Shi Xiangming then hung a blackboard he made himself on the wall and wrote a few words of today's menu on the blackboard.

The names of the remaining dishes can only be determined after Wang Nian finishes counting this morning’s dishes.

After finishing these things, the small restaurant at No. 15 Guanghua Street quietly started business.

The first floor has an area of ​​65 square meters, and the second floor has an area of ​​almost the same.

As soon as you enter the restaurant, you can immediately see the door connected to the kitchen. At this time, the door is open and you can only vaguely see the kitchen through the curtain.

The name of the restaurant is Home Restaurant, and the lobby really exudes a relaxed and cozy feeling similar to a home living room.

There are seven or eight tables, some square and some round. The big one can seat twelve people, and the rectangular table is just big enough for two people to sit opposite each other.

In addition to some children's paintings, there are also some calligraphy works left by my grandfather who loves calligraphy and painting on the wall. Most of them were painted by my grandparents when they practiced calligraphy.

The five-drawer cabinet on the wall is both a decoration and a storage for sundries needed in the store.

There is a person-high glass cabinet on each side of the kitchen door, with drinks on the left and spoons and dishes on the right.

The style of the second floor is completely different from that of the first floor. Wang Nian deliberately preserved the style of this small Western-style building and found many broken foreign gadgets from the garbage transfer station as decorations.

The pendulum clock in the corner has long stopped moving; the curtains have a strong exotic style; even the ceiling light is an old-fashioned chandelier.

However, in order to match the style of the first floor, the tables, chairs and benches are all in the same walnut color.

Thanks to the windows on the wall facing the street, the light on the second floor is not affected at all.

Sitting at the table by the bed window and looking out, the undulating buildings of various types form a perfect landscape painting.

"Can the two of us handle it?"

Although there is no customer in the restaurant right now, Hu Wenli is already worried that they will not be able to handle the business once it picks up.

"There's only one table of guests at noon, so we can handle it." Wang Nian put down the wooden board, which not only blocked the guests from entering the kitchen, but also served as a table for serving food. "When Qiu Shasha recovers in two days and goes to school, there will be three of us, so we can handle it."

Wang Nian definitely couldn't open a restaurant alone, so two months ago he planned to find two helpers to work together.

When Hu Wenli and Zhang Hongyan heard this, they immediately said that there was no need for help. They were both hardworking people, and serving plates and washing dishes were simple tasks for them.

Unfortunately, Zhang Hongyan had to wait until Qiu Shasha recovered from a cold and fever before she could come to work.

There was only one table of guests at noon, and they were friends and acquaintances that Shi Xiangming had invited to join in the fun, so the two of them were more than able to handle it.

"Did someone come to rent the shop next door yesterday?" Hu Wenli asked again.

Wang Nian nodded: "I didn't agree."

Although he was talking to Hu Wenli, he did not stop the preparation work. After peeling the garlic, he quickly took the plate to the stove and put it away.

"Why didn't you agree?"

"They are going to open a video room and also have a barbecue stall on the first floor."

"That's definitely not allowed. The video studio in our factory's living area has been having a dispute with someone recently. It's been really bad!"

It's OK for regular video halls, but some video halls will play adult movies at night to attract customers, and the sound of the movies can be heard several miles away...

The video room in the factory area was in bad condition because the children of factory employees often squatted on the roadside to listen to the sound of movies, causing a very bad influence.

Just at this moment, Shi Xiangming returned to the lobby after hanging up the blackboard, picked up the table and went into the kitchen.

"Then I'll go to work. I'll invite Third Senior Brother to our restaurant for dinner tonight."

"How many friends will Uncle Xu bring over at noon?"

"Two."

Now if you want to enter your home from the restaurant, you can only go through the kitchen. After Shi Xiangming answered, he walked out from the original kitchen door.

The kitchen area is already large, and only internal modifications are needed to make it fully sufficient for the restaurant.

Three liquefied natural gas stoves are mainly used for cooking, while eight beehive coal stoves are placed in the yard for stewing.

The most expensive items in the entire kitchen are the two exhaust fans. In this era when every household still relies on windows to exhaust cooking fumes, it was a good idea to install two fans in the kitchen.

Outside the exhaust fan is an exhaust pipe that Shi Xiangming welded himself using what he learned. The pipe is on the kitchen wall facing the backyard.

Although such a large pipe does not look very beautiful when viewed from the front door, it is worth the money for Wang Nian.

Otherwise, when you start cooking, the smoke will float to the living room and study, and after a long time the whole house will be filled with the smell of smoke.

"I'll go wash the vegetables, you cut the meat first."

Looking up at the clock on the wall, it was almost nine o'clock. Hu Wenli suddenly felt that time was running out, so she rolled up her sleeves and urged Wang Nian to come.

At twelve o'clock noon, the bell for the end of class at No. 8 Middle School rang on time.

Jingle Bells——

Hu Wenli leaned against the door of the restaurant with her arms folded. She had looked to the side of the road countless times, hoping that someone passing by would look up at the hotel sign.

As if someone had heard her thoughts, a black car slowly stopped by the roadside.

Hu Wenli tried hard to look inside the car, just to see if the people in the car were targeting the restaurant.

Snap——

The doors of the driver's seat were closed, and the two men and one woman looked up towards the restaurant as soon as they got out of the car.

Xu Xingbang smiled and raised his hand towards the restaurant: "This is the restaurant opened by our niece's wife. It looks nice, doesn't it?"

The nodding man had a slender figure, and every move he made exuded a sense of elegance, as if he had walked out of a classical painting.

He was wearing a modified Tang suit, and the sandalwood bracelet on his wrist gave off a faint sandalwood scent.

The smiling woman clapped her hands and pointed directly at the door, reading out the name of the restaurant word for word: "Home Restaurant, it really is opened at home."

"To be honest, I didn't expect them to open a restaurant. I thought..."

I thought that after getting such a huge fortune, I would squander it and improve my living conditions after becoming rich, but I never expected that I would open a small restaurant and continue to make money steadily.

Xu Xingbang was relieved from the bottom of his heart. Grandpa Luo did not choose the wrong person. Xuemei's son and daughter-in-law were both down-to-earth people.

"I've long wanted to see Xuemei's daughter-in-law and grandchildren. She has the most grandchildren among the four of us."

The woman gathered her hair and walked towards the restaurant first.

When Hu Wenli saw that he was really coming to the restaurant, she hurriedly went to greet him with a smile.

"We are the guests invited by Shi Xiangming." Before he could open his mouth, he was interrupted by an auntie who waved her hand and said, "No need for a sister to lead the way. We can go in by ourselves."

This auntie has a ruddy face and a loud voice, and you can tell at first glance that she is a capable person.

Hu Wenli quickly stepped aside and shouted towards the kitchen: "Wang Nian, Shi Xiangming's guests are here!"

"Okay."

Wang Nian stopped cutting vegetables and wiped his hands on the towel.

As soon as he turned around, he immediately bumped into a pair of curious eyes. They stared at Wang Nian from head to toe for several seconds, then turned around and asked the person behind him with a smile: "Old Xu, is this Xuemei's daughter-in-law?"

"Uncle Xu."

Xu Xingbang nodded: "These two are Xuemei's good friends, she is Aunt Gao Rong, and this is Uncle Ren Xihong."

Although Gao Rong's hair has turned a lot whiter, she is full of energy and spirit, and she wears light makeup, obviously a very delicate aunt.

Ren Xihong has a gentle smile and a gentle temperament. He is obviously a "cultured person"

"Hello, Aunt Gao, hello, Uncle Ren."

"Where's Shi Xiangming?" After observing Wang Nian, Gao Rong became curious about Shi Xiangming, who Xu Xingbang praised endlessly: "Let him come out quickly for Aunt Gao to see."

"Xiang Ming has gone to work." Wang Nian invited the three of them to the courtyard: "During this period, a new project will be put into the factory for experimentation. As the leader, he must be on site to direct it."

"What about the child?" Gao Rong asked again.

"It should be almost time for school to end. The eldest brother is at No. 2 Middle School..."

These three people and the mother-in-law whom they had never met grew up in the same compound, and the four of them have a very deep relationship, which can be seen just from the way they address each other.

Xu Xingbang called Gao Rong "Xiaorong" and Ren Xihong "Hongzi".

Gao Rong and Ren Xihong were transferred to other provinces for work, and were only transferred back to Anhuai in the last two years.

While they were talking about the child, Shi Feiying's noisy voice came clearly through the doors and windows into the yard.

"Mom."

The mother screamed with all her might, as if someone was strangling her neck.

"Mom, I brought my classmates to our restaurant for dinner, Mom...Mom..."

In the blink of an eye, the mother called out four or five times, as if she was going to yell through the house if Wang Nian didn't agree.

Wang Nianchong and the others smiled helplessly, then quickly responded and went into the kitchen.

In the lobby, a group of chick-like students all looked up at Wang Nian eagerly. The short little girl had the sleeves of her school uniform rolled up twice, which was still too long.

The first-grade students are so uneven, it seems like they are three or four years apart.

"Hello, Auntie."

"Hello, Aunt Wang."

"Mom, I told my classmates that we have student meals at home. Can we eat at noon?" Shi Feiying asked loudly.

Yesterday was just her first day of school, and today she is able to bring her classmates to take care of her own business. Wang Nian doesn’t know whether to say that Shi Feiying is friendly or has amazing eloquence.

"Our student meals are 50 cents a meal, one meat and two vegetarian dishes." Wang Nian pointed to the price list posted on the kitchen door and said, "When you have decided, just tell Auntie. I'll go cook."

First grade... probably, should be able to understand the price list.

With this doubt in mind, Wang Nian first went to the backyard to talk to a few elders, and then immediately went into the kitchen.

Xu Xingbang and the other two followed suit back to the hotel and went up to the second floor with the guidance of Hu Wenli.

Since you are here to take care of business, you must eat.

Seven or eight primary school students were still chattering about the price list. Xu Xingbang saw that Shi Feiying was busy giving advice to her classmates, so he did not disturb them.

"Just eat the 50-cent meal and you'll be full."

For students from ordinary families, Shi Feiying strongly recommended the 50-cent student meal. As for the two students whose families were said to do business in Guangdong, he recommended them to try the 80-cent two-meat and two-vegetarian meal.

As for why he knew everything his classmates were doing, it was of course because he had been talking non-stop yesterday.

The classmates gave the money to Shi Feiying, who ran into the kitchen and gave the money to Wang Nian.

Six of them chose the 50-cent student meal, and two chose the 80-cent set meal.

"Your sister will be home from school soon. Go upstairs and say hello to Grandpa Xu." Wang Nian also took the time to tell Shi Feiying: "Don't talk nonsense in front of your elders. Come downstairs to eat after saying hello. You have to go to school soon."

"I know."

“…”

After answering, the man didn't leave, with his head raised high as if he was still waiting for something.

Wang Nian knew it at a glance, and no matter how busy he was, he quickly raised his hand and touched Shi Feiying's head: "Our Feiying is the best. She helped mom get the first order for the restaurant."

"I will be even more powerful in the future." Shi Feiying puffed out his chest and waved his fist proudly.

At the entrance of the restaurant, Shi Wan, carrying her schoolbag, just walked to the door and sighed again.

"Sister, where is the classmate you called?"

Shi Feiying, who was squatting at the door of the restaurant, jumped up immediately and accused her second sister angrily when she saw that she was alone.

Last night, the brother and sister made a bet that whoever called more classmates tomorrow would win, and the loser would have to pay the other person five yuan from his piggy bank.

Shi Wan still sighed, and without saying a word, she took out five yuan from her pocket and handed it over.

Such a quick and decisive response made Shi Feiying feel a little embarrassed. She took the money and immediately asked about the cause: "What's the problem?"

"Our head teacher's wife took over the school cafeteria. The head teacher specifically mentioned this in the last class..."

Shi Feiying: “…”

"Then why didn't you go?"

Shi Wan turned her head away with disdain: "My family runs a restaurant, why would I go to the school cafeteria!"

The head teacher not only mentioned it in class, but also stood at the door of the teacher's office on the first floor after school at noon to see which direction the students went.

When I saw Shi Wan walking out of the school, I could even ask her why she didn't go to the cafeteria to eat.

Shi Wan told the teacher at that time that her family opened a restaurant and she had to go home for lunch at noon. The teacher's face fell and he said "oh" twice without saying anything else.

"Grandpa Xu is here, Mom asked us to go up and say hello."

Xu Xingbang came to the house several times later. Every time he came, he either gave red envelopes or some small toys that the children liked. Shi Wan was very happy whenever he mentioned him.

"Walk."

The brother and sister rushed upstairs without a second thought, and soon the sound of footsteps could be heard on the wooden stairs.

The three people sitting by the window looked towards the staircase at the same time.

"The youngest boy of Shi Xiangming's family is here." Xu Xingbang also knew immediately after hearing the sound that Shi Feiying was definitely among the people rushing up.

Ren Xihong placed one hand casually on the table and the other on his leg. When he heard the laughter, he subconsciously turned to look at his old friend.

Among the three, only Xu Xingbang did not get married.

What is the reason? I believe the three friends all know it.

Xu Xingbang liked Luo Xuemei, from his youth to his old age, from birth to - death!

This relationship lasted for a long time, so much so that even Shi Xiangming's family, who had no blood relationship with Luo Xuemei, were deeply loved by him.

Ren Xihong sighed softly in his heart.

Gao Rong didn't have much emotion. When she saw someone, she immediately smiled and waved to Shi Wan: "Come over to Grandma Gao. Grandma, take a good look at what Xuemei's granddaughter looks like."

Shi Wan pursed her lips slightly, a shy smile on her face, as if she was not used to other people's attention.

Shi Feiying noticed the problem just from her paused back. She sighed slightly and took her sister's hand.

"Hello, Grandma Gao." Shi Feiying walked over and greeted her confidently.

Shi Wan also hurriedly followed suit and called out, "Hello, Grandma Gao."

Gao Rong had poor eyesight, and the brother and sister were just two blurry faces in her eyes. When she got closer and took a look, she immediately cried out in surprise, "Ouch!"

"This boy looks so much like Xuemei!"

The other two were stunned, and then looked carefully at Shi Feiying's appearance.

She has an oval face, double eyelids, and only the right cheek has a dimple. When she blinks, her long and curly eyelashes flutter.

"A bit similar." Luo Xuemei's appearance in Ren Xihong's memory was a little vague, but he remembered that both of them had dimples on the right cheeks.

The corners of Xu Xingbang's lips slowly lowered, and his eyes moved slowly over Shi Feiying's eyebrows and eyes.

Not only does she look like Luo Xuemei, but even the way she speaks is somewhat similar.

Boom boom boom——

Xu Xingbang seemed to hear the dull beating of his own heart. At that moment, his throat felt so dry that it seemed like smoking was coming out.

However, this excitement and enthusiasm soon disappeared as my rationality returned.

The thought that just flashed through his mind was so absurd that it made him, who was usually calm and composed, feel dazed for a moment.

Luo Xuemei had died more than 20 years ago, so how could she have any connection with a rural girl thousands of miles away?

Thinking of the fact that he had just cleaned Luo Xuemei's grave a few years ago, Xu Xingbang felt that his previous idea was ridiculous.

"Come here!" Gao Rongchong waved at the two of them, "This is the gift from Grandma Gao for you. The extra portion is for your eldest brother."

"Thank you, Grandma Gao." Shi Feiying thanked her loudly and immediately went home to get some tea: "Grandma Gao, I'll make you some tea. I'll use the best tea we have."

"Don't panic, there's more." Gao Rongchong raised his chin to Ren Xihong.

Shi Feiying did what she said. After receiving the red envelopes, she immediately ran downstairs to pour tea for grandpa and grandma, forgetting that her shy sister was still upstairs.

"Your name is Shi Wan, right?" Gao Rong asked Shi Wan, who was rubbing her hands shyly, and raised her hand to gently stroke the child's shiny black hair with pity.

She has only one grandson, who is a few years older than Shi Wan and is now at an age where everything he does is unsatisfactory.

Having endured enough of my grandson's stubborn temper at home, I can't help but like other people's well-behaved and sensible children a little more.

Shi Wan answered Gao Rong's questions very obediently, and Xu Xingbang would also interject a few words in between.

"I'm going to ask Wang Nian how to teach kids later. I'm going to send my brat over to learn from him."

"Then we need to get your son to change his bad temper first." Xu Xingbang shook his head and smiled, "I think there is nothing wrong with Xiaoxin. The problem lies with his parents."

Gao Rongyou's parents wanted their children to be successful, and they imposed all their own unattainable dreams on their children, but the result was counterproductive.

As a result, the child becomes rebellious, the parents become even angrier, and the conflict between the two sides becomes more and more serious.

Ren Xihong nodded in agreement.

Xu Xingbang was in a good mood today, and he continued talking, which was a rare occurrence.

"Instead of planning every day for your child to get into a certain school, it is better to cook a few more meals for your child."

Gao Rong sighed helplessly and waved at his old friend: "It's rare to be happy! Don't mention the troubles at home, think about what dishes to order later."

“I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until the students downstairs have finished their meals before it’s our turn,” said Xu Xingbang.

Meanwhile downstairs.

Wang Nian brought the last plate of fried bamboo shoots to the table.

"Come, let Auntie serve you some food."

The small restaurant, filled with the aroma of food, welcomed its first batch of customers after opening.