Still a neighbor
"Happy New Year!"
"I wish my two little ones good health, peace, and academic progress in the new year!"
"I also wish my lover great success and all the best in the new year!"
Jian Yangping was the first to raise his glass and offer his blessing.
"Happy New Year! I wish Mom and Dad good health and more happiness! May my brother and I achieve our wishes!"
Jian Jianan also raised his glass to celebrate.
It's a new year again. The four members of the Jian family, who have never been apart, are celebrating at the dinner table. They clink glasses with each other and say auspicious words. Jian Jianan and her brother drink soda, while the two adults sip wine.
Drinking would interfere with their work, and they were usually under great pressure in their business, so they were not good at drinking excessively. Now they finally had the chance to drink to their heart's content, but in front of their children, in order to set a good example, they had to drink in small sips.
Although the family has said such auspicious words for the New Year more than a dozen times, the situation this year is different from previous years. The place where they are celebrating now is their new house that was just renovated last month.
Freshly painted, newly finished wooden furniture, and brand new modern appliances, everything is brand new and is waiting for the new owner to move in.
This is a good sign, Jian Jianan thought, indicating that every day in the future will be a new day and a good day.
The four of them finished their New Year's Eve dinner while chatting with each other. This year, the Nanbei Hotel held the tail-burning banquet as usual. Yang Tao had successfully mastered it through the experience of the past few years. This greatly saved Su Qinxuan's time, allowing her to spend more time with her family.
Not until Yang Tao was able to work on his own did Su Qinxuan feel at ease to look after the store during the day and rush home at night. He only needed to check on it again the next day.
As usual, Su Qinxuan began to announce his summary of the past year and his outlook for the future.
"Over the past year, our family has experienced so many things, both big and small. First, Nannan successfully entered high school, and Beibei continues to study hard in junior high and has even won awards in sports. Meanwhile, your father and I have made Nanbei Restaurant increasingly prosperous. Most importantly, we've moved into a new house!"
Jian Jianan added, "It's still a new house that no one else is optimistic about! It's been appreciating in value, and it's become something that many people can't even afford even if they're begging to buy it!"
Su Qinxuan looked at her daughter, who was talking freely, and smiled at her. "Yes, that's right. Looking back at last year, the most important thing that happened to our family, and also the most worthwhile product we bought to preserve our value, was this house."
Jian Jianan could not hide his excitement. They bought the house just to live in it, with no other intentions. Although the value had appreciated, they could not buy or sell it immediately. In fact, the price did not mean much to them.
But from a psychological perspective, this means a lot, as it means they are truly settling down in a new place, a new city.
With a house, especially a house of their own, no matter what the final outcome is, they have a way out and their own safe haven. Nestled in their own little harbor, their sense of security rises sharply. What they need to do next is to face difficulties and bravely venture out!
Jian Jianan could not have imagined that this small action would actually open a door to "buying houses non-stop" in the future.
After Su Qinxuan finished talking about the house, she talked about her beautiful outlook for the new year.
The two adults looked at each other, as if they had made an important decision together, nodded in determination, and announced to their two children: "We plan to open a new restaurant in the new year."
Jian Jianan immediately became energetic after hearing these words, and she continued to listen with great interest.
Su Qinxuan thought this way: "I plan to separate all the categories and make a subdivision. Our Nanbei Restaurant now has too many types of food, and it's hard to find the style. Everyone talks about it in a variety of ways."
Jian Jianan deeply agrees with this, taking her classmates as an example.
Shan Jiqing called the Nanbei Restaurant "Southern Cuisine", Duan Duan said it "sells Hainan noodles", and Lin Chuan said it "sells Guangdong local dishes".
It's no wonder that people are so confused about the names of the North and South Restaurants, because when they opened last year, they didn't have a clear positioning in mind, but just did whatever made money. They have local dishes from their hometown of Hainan, as well as the craftsmanship of local Guangdong chefs, and even a few Nanyang dishes - they even spent a lot of money to hire a Chinese chef who returned from Malaysia!
There are so many different cuisines that there is naturally no accurate definition.
Su Qinxuan continued, "It's inevitable that our restaurant will expand. Your father and I have been considering opening a new store for a long time, but there were several reasons why we didn't take action. Now we feel that everything is ready and it's time to open it."
Jian Yangping continued, "Yes, yes. Your mother and I both think the time is ripe and we can start preparing for the new store!"
Jian Jianan asked sharply: "Then what is the positioning of our new store?"
Since the positioning of the Nanbei Restaurant is not good, the new store must make changes. I just don’t know what the positioning of this new store will be.
Su Qinxuan did not answer, but threw the answer to this question back to Jian Jianan, "Nannan, what do you think the position should be?"
Jian Jianan thought for a moment, put down the chopsticks in his hand, and ignored his brother's move to grab the last piece of braised pork, and slowly began to think.
After a while, she said, "Cantonese food, it should be Cantonese food. The more local the food, the better."
Su Qinxuan did not move, but looked at the other child, wanting to know her son's answer. She saw her son searching the table for leftovers in a rather unpromising manner, determined to complete the "Clean Plate" campaign.
It was so unbearable to watch. Su Qinxuan turned her eyes away miserably and asked her daughter why she chose Cantonese food.
Jian Jiannan spoke eloquently, "As everyone knows, we don't have any particularly famous local cuisine in Shenzhen. Most of the people here are from outside Shenzhen. They heard about the reform and opening-up policy and came from all corners of the country to build Shenzhen. Different hometowns have different food customs, which means there is great room for the development of Shenzhen's cuisine."
Even though he didn't know that it would be generally recognized in later generations that the local natives of Shenzhen were the rarest, Jian Jianan could now judge this fact based on his experience over the past few years.
"However, one thing everyone overlooks is Shenzhen's local location and the cities it borders."
In any case, Shenzhen is still located in Guangdong Province, which means that it has close ties with Guangdong Province, not to mention that it is next to Hong Kong, so there are more similarities in food and living habits.
"We can become a local brand. We may not have an advantage in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, or in other cities that are nationally renowned for their cuisine, but in this blank slate, we have a huge advantage!"
That's the reason. If you open a Cantonese restaurant in Guangzhou, everyone will be very picky. The local diners are more picky than each other, and the competition is fierce. If you make a mistake, you may lose everything.
But it’s different in Shenzhen. It used to be a small fishing village, and the local food system is not yet mature. There are delicacies from all over the country. They have opened a new Cantonese restaurant, which is a good opportunity to find a new way to fill the gap. There is little competition and a big market, so why not do it?
Jian Jianan's words touched the heart of the couple, and coincidentally, Su Qinxuan and Jian Yangping thought the same.
"That's a really good and thoughtful idea, Nannan. We were thinking the same thing. We're planning to separate the Cantonese cuisine into a separate line and open a dim sum shop!"
Jian Jianan's eyes lit up almost immediately.
Morning tea shop!
She still remembers the first day she arrived in Shenzhen. She ate shrimp dumplings and siu mai bought by her parents in the morning. Guangdong’s local morning tea is a very famous special scenery!
The locals are used to this kind of life. Early in the morning every day, they go to a teahouse to have a meal accompanied by various snacks. This is the morning tea that Guangdong people often talk about.
Drinking tea here does not only mean drinking various kinds of tea, but also includes a wide variety of snacks. Shrimp dumplings, siu mai, egg tarts, and barbecued pork buns are the four basic must-haves, but in addition to these, there are other snacks to choose from.
Dry steamed food, chicken feet, glutinous rice chicken, and so on, to name a few. Each store designs its own unique menu and dim sum styles based on its own situation.
Su Qinxuan dropped another bombshell: "After the New Year, your father and I will go out to recruit people. I'll stay home to take care of you. You'll just have to listen to me, okay? And Sister Xiaotao will stay here too. I've already told her about this. I've asked her to keep an eye on you. You can talk to Sister Xiaotao if you have any questions."
"And Aunt Xu Jing upstairs." Jian Jianan added.
Su Qinxuan laughed: "Yes, yes, there are also Aunt Xu Jing and Uncle Shan Tao. They live nearby. If you need any help, just go upstairs and find them."
At the beginning of the winter vacation, Shan Jiqing's family moved with Jian Jianan's family and moved upstairs. The two families became neighbors again, but this time the distance between the two families was closer. They could meet each other by climbing up and down a few stairs. At least they didn't have to cross the intersection to see each other like before.
Jian Jianan straightened his back: "There's nothing I can do. Shan Jiqing is too clingy. I'm also very distressed."
Aunt Xu Jing and Uncle Shan Tao had originally set their sights on other buildings, and they also wanted to be neighbors with Jian Jianan's family, but wouldn't it be enough to live in the same community? Why did they have to live next to each other?
However, Shan Jiqing insisted on living above Jian Jianan's head and gave all kinds of reasons, even saying that he wanted to help Jian Jianan with his homework better so as to show the friendly relationship between classmates. The two adults couldn't persuade the child and had no choice but to agree.
Jian Jianan was still a little worried, "Mom and Dad, how many days are you going to be gone? Where are you going to go? If you can't get back in time at night, I'll be a little scared."
Then she immediately tried to save her face by stretching out her little finger and saying, "Just a little bit."
Su Qinxuan saw her daughter's serious expression as she spoke in fear, and she thought it was so adorable. She immediately reached out and touched her little face. "Don't be afraid, Nannan. Your father and I are staying in a few nearby counties and a city a little further away. If we can make it back that day, we will definitely come back. If not, you two can stay at home. This is a managed residential complex, and there are many security guards patrolling day and night. The safety factor is very high. There is nothing to worry about."
And just like that, the matter was decided.
Jian Jianan could still discuss this matter for a few words, but Jian Jiabei had absolutely no desire to discuss it with his family.
Anyway, he does whatever his parents arrange for him to do. If his parents are not around, he will just listen to his sister's arrangements.
In his opinion, his parents and sister are all smart people, so it would be right to listen to them.
Jian Jiabei has evolved now. He is not easily moved by fame or disgrace. He has changed from a boy who would make a fuss and scream when he saw a little money, and his heart would bleed. He has become a man who can listen to his family discussing whether the huge sum of tens of thousands of dollars is enough to open a store without changing his expression.
Not only that, Jian Jiabei can also leisurely take advantage of the fact that everyone's attention is focused elsewhere to quickly and agilely deal with the leftovers and carry out the "Clean Plate" campaign.
This matter was settled, and both parents took into account the fact that Jian Jianan was afraid of the dark.
Therefore, for the sake of the children's physical safety and mental health, Jian Jianan and her brother received what she thought was the best New Year's gift - a puppy named Fish Maw - on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the day when Jian Yangping and Su Qinxuan were about to leave for Chaoshan.
The little yellow puppy was born not long ago, only a few months old, a furry ball, very cute, but even so, from her sturdy limbs, loud voice, and teeth that have not yet fully grown, you can tell that this little girl will be a majestic person in the future.
He is a good guard at home!
Jian Yangping, who was purchasing agricultural products in the countryside, became obsessed with it as soon as he saw it. He immediately went to his fellow villagers to ask for it, but they refused to accept it even though he offered money in exchange.
"Boss Jian, it's great that you came to collect the things. Otherwise, we wouldn't have known that these things rotting in the mud are so valuable!"
With this money, they can buy some daily necessities, give their children pocket money to buy snacks, and save it for emergencies. Anyway, life is getting better and better with more hope!
In this way, at the beginning of the third year in Shenzhen, Jian Jianan gained a new family member.
Looking at the puppy's golden body and the way its fur would stand up when it shook, Jian Jianan almost immediately decided on its name.
“Fish maw!”
"Just call you Fish Maw!" Jian Jianan named the puppy with sparkling eyes, but the puppy tilted its head in confusion in return.
"Very good, it seems you have no objection, then it is decided."
Jian Jiabei looked disdainful and said, "You are just bullying others because they can't speak. Otherwise, she would be the first one to scold you."
Jian Jianan retorted, "Even if you can't speak, you can still communicate. Listen, she has no objection to it. Maybe if I ask her tomorrow, she will nod and agree!"
When the brother and sister were bickering fiercely, Shan Jiqing suddenly made a "hush" sound. The three of them looked at the puppy. It turned out that Fish Maw had been sleepy after playing for a while. Now he was drowsy, with his head nodding and almost falling to the ground.
So cute!
So cute!
Jian Jianan's heart was immediately struck, like a piece of ice melting under the scorching sun.
Moreover, she secretly swore in her heart that she must protect the puppy well and not let it encounter any harm until the puppy fully grew up.
Look at this tiny body! Her father said she would protect herself and her brother. How could that be possible? She could be knocked down by a single finger, and stumbled over a small bump. She's so weak, she must be able to protect herself.
This was the common thought of the three children at that moment. Anyone who saw the children playing with small animals would feel soft-hearted!
Looking at his daughter and son playing with the puppy, Su Qinxuan, leaning against the door, finally breathed a sigh of relief and felt at ease about the upcoming talent hunting trip.
She turned her head and said to Xu Jing, "Sister Jing, please help me take care of Nannan and Beibei if Lao Jian and I can't come back at night."
Xu Jing waved her hand quickly, "Why are you being so polite? Nanbeibei is so obedient, I like her all the time. It's not a matter of taking care of her. You and Lao Jian can go ahead and recruit her without any worries! That way, you can find someone sooner and come back sooner to set up the new restaurant. I'm really looking forward to trying the new dishes!"
Su Qinxuan laughed: "Sure, sure, we can open it by the end of winter vacation at the latest!"
Xu Jing laughed even louder: "Okay, then I'm looking forward to it!"
After arranging everything at home, Su Qinxuan and her husband quickly set off for other cities in the province to poach people, leaving their two children and a dog alone at home.
In fact, without the two adults around, Jian Jianan's life is also very colorful. He is woken up by the new member, the puppy, every day. After breakfast, he runs and walks the dog in the community with his brother, feeds the puppy, cleans up, and then it is time to do homework.
At this time, Shan Jiqing would be like a robot with a clockwork installed on time. Every morning at ten o'clock, when Jian Jianan's door was knocked, she knew that it was Shan Jiqing coming.
Jian Jiabei usually reads various picture books at this time. He sits on the sofa with his feet raised to the sky, showing no intention of restraining himself. As the saying goes, "When the tiger is away, the monkey becomes king."
This is Jian Jianan's comment on his brother.
As soon as Shan Jiqing was welcomed in by Jian Jianan, he immediately broke into a faint smile.
Although he seemed to be isolated from the world in the previous ten years, as if there was a layer of frosted glass between him and the rest of the world, he could neither touch nor hear anything that happened in the outside world.
But Jian Jianan is an exception. She is so lively and full of vitality. If I use something I have just seen to make an analogy, she is like a solar water heater, continuously supplying heat to the people around her.
Jian Jianan does not favor one over another. She transfers her passionate energy equally to everyone around her. It is because of this that she was able to save herself from the human traffickers and break the barrier between herself and the outside world.
Looking at Jian Jianan's sincere smile, Shan Jiqing couldn't help but think of what happened that day and trotted up.
Jian Jiabei heard a series of cheerful footsteps and looked up, confused: Who just passed by? And why is he so happy?
It turned out to be Xiaoqing. How could someone even go to study with a smile on their face and their big teeth showing? This is terrible, really terrible!
He curled his lips and shook his head, then lowered his head to read his comic strip.
The first thing Jian Jianan asked Shan Jiqing when he saw him was, "How's it going? Have you solved all the difficult questions I asked you yesterday?"
Shan Jiqing corrected him with a casual glance, "I actually know how to solve those difficult problems, but I just didn't know how to explain them to you clearly and systematically at the time."
After being corrected by him, Jian Jianan readily changed his words and said, "Okay, now have you thought about how to explain it to me?"
Shan Jiqing nodded: "That's right! I've thought about it."
Jian Jianan was very satisfied. His friend was really reliable!
Ever since Jian Jianan entered junior high school, she and her mother Su Qinxuan had reached a tacit agreement between mother and daughter. As long as her academic performance was acceptable and she remained in the upper middle level without any sudden decline, Su Qinxuan and Jian Yangping would not interfere with her participation in the family business, such as checking the accounts, various purchase orders, and the menu for the next season. It was up to her!
"As long as you study well, mom and dad won't care about anything else about you." These were Su Qinxuan's exact words.
As soon as Jian Jianan got the assurance from his parents, his tail immediately stood up and almost flew to the sky.
However, you cannot do business and study at the same time. After all, a person has only so much time and energy in a day. It is impossible to be a good student and a small businessman at the same time. There must be a trade-off, unless there is a good assistant.
Fortunately, she had a good assistant named Shan Jiqing.
Jian Jianan felt that her greatest gain from coming to Hydrangea Primary School was not starting the campus purchasing business nor the opportunity to expand her business to contracting a canteen, but making friends with a group of relatives and friends headed by Shan Jiqing.
Xiaoqing is a righteous person. Although he is very smart, he never looks down on fools. Helping others is just one of his most insignificant good qualities.
But if someone who is familiar with Shan Jiqing's nature knew this, how shocking it would be!
Shan Jiqing opened the notebook and said, "Come on, let's start from yesterday."
Jian Jianan answered happily: "Okay!"
The morning passed quickly. Jian Jianan and his brother had no intention of going to the Nanbei Restaurant today, and they planned to stay at home and review their lessons in the afternoon.
At noon, Yang Tao had lunch delivered and was especially considerate enough to prepare an extra portion for Shan Jiqing.
While eating, Jian Jianan planned her next time. She planned to take time out in the next few days to finish all her winter vacation homework and also prepare some lessons for the next semester, so that she would not be too busy during the busiest time at the beginning of the school year.
Jian Jiabei gave a thumbs up and praised loudly when he heard it: "This is good, this is good, my sister is really good at planning. I have decided that I will also learn from you and make a plan!"
Jian Jianan has always been the type of person who will strictly stick to his plans. He spends five or six hours in the afternoon doing his homework seriously.
As for his brother Jian Jiabei, except for the first few minutes when he was reading a book seriously, he spent the rest of the hours sleeping soundly on the sofa with the book covering his face.
Jian Jianan and Shan Jiqing were amazed by what they saw.
As the sky gradually darkened, Shan Jiqing packed his notebooks into his schoolbag and prepared to go home. He said to Jian Jianan, "By the way, Nannan, your parents said they won't be back until four or five in the morning. Do you want to sleep over at our house tonight? My mom has prepared all the toiletries for you."
Jian Jianan realized as soon as he heard it. Yes, in the message brought back by Sister Xiaotao, mom and dad had sent a message saying that they would be back late tonight, so he and his brother didn't need to wait any longer. They could go to bed early with his brother, or go to Aunt Xu Jing's house to sleep.
"Come to think of it, I haven't visited your house yet!" Jian Jianan thought for a moment and immediately accepted Shan Jiqing's invitation. Anyway, his parents said the same thing to him before he left, so he decided to go.
So, not long after waking up and with his brain still slowly working, Jian Jiabei received a piece of news that left him extremely puzzled.
"What? We're going to sleep at Shan Jiqing's house today?"
"Did Mom and Dad sell us to their family?"
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