Chapter 4 [4] Don’t count on him!
Zhang Qiang reluctantly borrowed 3 yuan.
There was a shop selling jelly on this street. Tang Yuanyuan didn't think much about it and bought one for thirty cents.
The sauce is just a mixture of soy sauce, minced garlic, chopped green pepper, sugar and sesame seeds. It doesn't require any technical skills.
No matter how slowly you eat, the small half bowl of jelly will soon be finished. Tang Yuanyuan was shy and felt embarrassed to stay here any longer, so he stood at a distance and counted the food. He then found that in half an hour, he had sold three servings, which was equivalent to 90 cents.
That bowl of jelly probably costs only fifty cents.
There should be no possibility of losing money.
No matter how you look at it, this business is viable.
She took the money and went to the store, where she bought two yuan worth of jelly noodles. She already had soy sauce, garlic, and green peppers at home, so she only bought one yuan worth of sesame seeds and a handful of thin plastic bags.
It was already evening when I got home. Zhang Lancao was cooking dinner on the stove, her clothes were soaked and stuck to her body. Tang Aiguo had just finished work and was sitting in the main room, brewing tea in a large teapot.
Tang Yuanyuan didn't mind the heat. She put her sandals and handkerchief inside and went straight into the kitchen.
Tang Aiguo knocked on the table in dissatisfaction, "You little bitch, you don't even know to call your dad when you go home. You've read so much that it's gone to waste."
Tang Yuanyuan pretended not to hear, picked up the rolled noodles, shook them, and waited for the water to boil before pouring them in.
When Zhang Lancao saw the pea flour, she thought she was craving jelly: "I'll cook it for you later. You can eat it when you get back from the night shift in the morning."
Tang Yuanyuan didn't want to hide it from her mother, so she lowered her voice and said, "Mom, this isn't for me to eat. I want to set up a stall and sell it for a while this afternoon."
Zhang Lancao is not optimistic about this.
Jelly is such a simple thing, you can just make it yourself, who would spend money to buy it!
My heart ached again. My family owed so much debt that I couldn't even straighten my back when walking in the courtyard, let alone buy a new piece of clothing.
I’m afraid that people will say, look at the Tang family, they owe a lot of debts, they have money but don’t pay it back and spend it on themselves, and they even feel uneasy when they run into creditors when buying meat.
My daughter is just too sensible.
She shook her head: "How can this be possible? I stayed up all night and didn't even get enough sleep. Mom and Dad will take care of the debt. You're just a child, don't worry about it. Just rest well. You're still growing. If you get exhausted, it will be a lifelong problem."
While Zhang Lancao was speaking, she had already taken the noodles and put them into the pot.
He took out the small piece of minced meat from the cupboard and stuffed it into his daughter's mouth with a spoon, "Eat it quickly."
Tang Yuanyuan realized that the minced meat was what her mother had made from the corn burrito that morning. She felt sad and helpless. She patted the flour off her hands and said, "Mom, I just went to see Teacher Ma. He said I can continue studying and he'll take me to enroll after summer vacation."
Zhang Lancao twisted her neck, "Really?!"
“That’s a good thing!”
"Mom supports you."
She has suffered from a lack of education throughout her life and she never agreed with her daughter dropping out of school. This has always been a concern for her.
As long as my daughter can continue her studies, it doesn’t matter if she continues to be in debt. At most, she will have to pay it back for a few more years.
Tang Yuanyuan: "Mom, I just went to the market and saw that the jelly business is pretty good. In just over an hour, they sold nine servings. I think there's money to be made in this business. It's not tiring at all. Maybe I can earn dozens of yuan a month."
Zhang Lancao herself doesn't buy this, so she was skeptical: "Is this true? Jelly is so easy to make, and people still buy it?"
Can't you do it yourself?
Tang Yuanyuan: "I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be fake? I plan to try selling it tomorrow after I wake up."
Zhang Lancao felt distressed again, but she was still not optimistic about this matter. Perhaps it was just a coincidence.
But I have bought the things. If I can’t sell them, I can just take them home and eat them. It’s not a big deal.
"Mom will let you try selling it, you just need to sleep."
Tang Yuanyuan knew her mother would say this, "You can't leave here. If my dad finds out, this business won't work."
Tang Aiguo is a person who cares about his reputation. He calls himself a formal worker and looks down on street vendors. He says that in the early years, these were all speculators and should be arrested.
Zhang Lancao: “That’s right.”
I'm afraid he will find out about this sooner or later.
She remembered something else. "Your grandfather is going to die in a few months. I heard someone say the other day that raising pigs is profitable now. If you raise them well, you can earn nearly two thousand a year. I'll go raise pigs when the time comes. You don't have to worry about tuition."
Raising pigs is so smelly. Her mother loves cleanliness the most. Tang Yuanyuan only hates that she is too young.
After the noodles were cooked, Tang Yuanyuan rushed to serve them to her grandfather.
The old man was now extremely thin, just a bag of bones. He looked scary, and his temper was getting worse and worse.
Seeing the bald face, he opened his mouth and cursed:
"They are all a bunch of unfilial descendants."
"Why isn't there even any meat?"
Tang Yuanyuan: "We've spent all our money in the capital. People are always asking for debts. How can we afford to buy meat? All that money was saved by my mother for you. She works like a slave to take care of you. How dare you? Your grandson's education will soon be gone, and you're still thinking about eating meat? Second and third uncles do have meat. Why don't you ask your second uncle to take it over to you?"
Even though Tang Youshan is so sick, his mind is very clear. His second and third daughters-in-law have nothing to do with him at all. If he relies on them to take care of him, he won't even be able to have a hot meal.
But Tang Aiguo is a filial son and can control his wife.
"You unfilial daughter!"
"God will strike with five thunderbolts."
Tang Yuanyuan immediately lifted the curtain and went out: "Dad, Grandpa has no appetite, he just needs you to feed him!"
Tang Aiguo was eating noodles with big mouthfuls, but he had no choice but to put down his chopsticks after hearing this, "What's wrong with your grandfather?"
Tang Yuanyuan: "Grandpa doesn't want to eat because there's no meat."
Tang Aiguo was choked and looked ugly. He could only glare at his daughter and lifted the curtain to go to the west room.
Tang Yuanyuan pushed her mother back to her seat and said softly, "Mom, just have a good meal and don't worry about it."
"Grandpa specifically asked Dad to go. He's his biological son."
In the past, Zhang Lancao would always be at the forefront, but ever since Tang Aiguo spent all the tuition for his two children, she became disheartened.
He just said, "Don't do that next time. If someone hears you, they'll say you're awesome."
The fried vegetable dish of chives and eggs was half finished. Zhang Lancao took a plate of cucumbers at hand and put a few pickled cucumbers in the noodles. Tang Yuanyuan picked up some chives and eggs for her.
"Mom doesn't like eggs."
"Eat more."
In the west room, Tang Youqiang was still cursing, and Tang Aiguo was probably struggling to feed him.
After that dream, Tang Yuanyuan realized that the ruthlessness of the men in the Tang family was inherited from their ancestors.
She said to her mother, "Mom, don't you understand? No matter how good you are to my dad, it's useless. Even if you get sick, he won't think well of you. My dad won't take care of you, nor will he support my education. What you should take care of most is your own health. Otherwise, who will I rely on in the future?"
Zhang Lancao was silent for a while after listening, then picked up the egg and put it into her mouth.
Tang Yuanyuan was happier than if she had eaten an egg. She pinched her thigh and tears immediately rushed out: "Mom, you finally figured it out. I was really afraid you would say that he is my dad after all."
"That's how my grandma went early."
Zhang Lancao couldn't help but be stunned.
She really wanted to say that just now, but her daughter's eyes were too expectant.
She suddenly remembered that she used to look at her mother in the same way. Whenever she had a bite to eat, she would either think of her father or her children.
Her mother has been eating fish heads for half her life, and she always says that she doesn’t like this or that.
Later, her mother passed away early, and she, the eldest daughter, had to support the family, washing clothes and cooking. She had no chance to go to school, so she went to the countryside to support her two younger brothers' studies and helped them until they got married.
If I don't cherish my body, will my daughter follow my old path?
"Yuanyuan is right. Mom won't be stingy with food anymore."
She wants to live long enough to send her daughter to college.
Tang Yuanyuan was very happy.
Her mother is willing to be nicer to herself, even if it may just be eating more eggs and more vegetables, it is a good start.
She put down her chopsticks, went to the room to get her sandals, and told him about her meeting with Zhang Qiang.
Zhang Lancao: "I'm already old, and wearing this will make people laugh. Doesn't your uncle have a light red one? I see that young girls are all wearing that. You can get one for yourself."
Tang Yuanyuan also had a trick: "My uncle is running a small stall, the variety is not complete, only what you wear is there."
"Just say it was given to you by your uncle, so my dad won't suspect you of hiding money again."
Zhang Lancao: "I know."
When Tang Aiguo fed Tang Youqiang and came back, the noodles had already clumped together.
He tapped his chopsticks unhappily, "Give me some pickled cucumbers."
*
After changing into work clothes, Tang Yuanyuan felt that her pockets were a little heavy. She touched inside and found several White Rabbit snacks.
She seemed to know why her grandfather didn't eat meat today.
While pushing the cart, Zhou Wei rode a bicycle to her door, still wearing her old skirt.
Tang Yuanyuan: "Didn't you go buy a skirt?"
Zhou Wei: "I suddenly feel that the skirt is not that good-looking, and fifteen yuan is too expensive. I won't buy it for now."
Tang Yuanyuan braked the car and put one foot on the ground: "You won't give the money to my brother, will you?"
Zhou Wei's cheeks flushed slightly. She avoided Tang Yuanyuan's gaze and turned away. "The high school entrance exam is very important. I told him that you gave me the money to bring to him. Don't go looking for him. If you have anything to say, wait until after the exam to talk to him."
Now that Tang Yuanyuan knew about the dream, he couldn't just sit by and watch his good friend get hurt. Besides, his brother was not a good match for him.
"I'm going to tell you a secret about my brother. Don't tell anyone else."
Zhou Wei raised her hand as if swearing, her eyes sparkling: "I absolutely won't tell you, tell me now."
Tang Yuanyuan: "I'm only telling you this."
Zhou Wei: "Just tell me."
Tang Yuanyuan: "My brother, don't be fooled by his handsome appearance, but his hygiene is not very good. He doesn't wash his hands after going to the toilet, not even after taking a big bowel movement."
Zhou Wei always felt that the smell was crawling on her hands: "No way?"
Tang An looks gentle and elegant.
Tang Yuanyuan: "Why would I lie to you? He's a very dirty guy. He picks his feet and doesn't even wash his hands before eating steamed buns. I never want to ask him to pass things to me."
Zhou Wei thought of his father, who would always have his mother urging him to wash his feet, and would also pick his feet.
She never associated this behavior with Tang An.
Why is he like this!
Zhou Wei got goosebumps. "Yuanyuan, please take care of this hygiene issue."
Tang Yuanyuan: "Your mother doesn't control your father? Is that something that can be controlled just by controlling him?"
Zhou Wei: I can’t even imagine that scene!
Arriving at the factory, Zhou Wei changed into work clothes and took out a few pieces of fruit candy from her pocket: "You'd better eat one before going to work. You can't faint again today."
Her mother had a lot of candies in her pockets, and with the few pieces given by Zhou Wei, her pockets were full.
Even the neighbor remembered to buy himself a piece of candy.
Tang An, my biological brother... I can never count on him.
After eating several pieces of candy all night and making it through the night shift, Tang Yuanyuan still managed to hold on and went back to school to find Tang An to get the money back.
There is no reason not to marry her in the future and spend her money.
I also went to see Teacher Ma and took my first-year high school textbooks home.
Half of the jelly in the porcelain basin has solidified into shape, and bath water is warming in the big iron pot on the coal stove. When the lid of the pot is opened, four leek vermicelli dumplings are revealed, and porridge is under the sieve.
Tang Yuanyuan had her meal and took a shower. Before going to bed, she heard Tang Youqiang groaning in hunger. She went to look in the cupboard and found a few buns. She gave him two and poured him a bowl of water. She ignored Tang Youqiang's calls and went back to her room and fell asleep.
When she woke up, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon. When she got out of bed, she saw a pair of light red sandals. Needless to say, her mother had gone to her uncle's house to change them.
Her mother is like that, she always wants to give her children any good things she has.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, her mother's voice came from the house.
"Are you going to sell jelly? You've only slept for a short while, will you be unable to hold on tonight?"
"I've had enough sleep, so I'm not sleepy."
Zhang Lancao pulled open the curtain and came out, holding a rope in her hand. In a few seconds, she tied the porcelain basin securely to the back seat and urged, "Come back early for dinner. It doesn't matter if you can't sell it, you can keep it for your family."
Tang Yuanyuan: "..."
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