Chapter 28 (1/2)

Chapter 28: Braised Pig Trotters with SoybeansTranslated by Kollumceti of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Zhao XueMei waited for several days till Yang JianGuo finally called to say that he would not come back for dinner on Saturday since he was working overtime.

It was great that he was not coming back for dinner. Zhao XueMei packed up and prepared to take a bus to ChaoYang Street. Before leaving, she met Yang Xiao who had just returned from somewhere. When Yang Xiao heard that Zhao XueMei was going to ChaoYang Street, he asked to go with her.

“You’d better not go. Mom’s just going to see what your grandfather is up to.”

Yang Xiao rolled his eyes, “Don’t, you’ll be alone then. Though Grandpa is easy to talk to, aren’t there two other troublesome people? What if you were bullied after going there?”

Although Zhao XueMei felt that the two men would not dare to do anything to her, she was happy that Yang Xiao had said as such, thus she agreed, “Only our family’s Xiao Xiao knows how to love his mother.”

“Of course. You’re my mother. Who else would I love best other than you?”

Zhao XueMei was coaxed by this remark till she grinned from ear to ear. She pulled Yang Xiao’s hand and prepared to go out.

“By the way, Mom, when does Dad get paid?”

“On the twenty-fifth. What happened?” Yang Xiao had never ever cared about these things. Why did he suddenly ask this question?

Yang Xiao scratched his head, “Nothing, I’m just asking. It’s quite hard for Dad to be the single breadwinner. Why don’t I go and see if there is a suitable job at some time?”

Yang Xiao had been idle at home for several years. After graduation, he interned at several places but soon quit and refused to work, complaining that this job was tiring and the another was too hard. Although Zhao XueMei spoiled her son, she also knew that it was impossible to go on like this. However, as long as she mentioned going to work to Yang Xiao, he would got angry and say that they could not stand to see him staying at home. In the end, she just no longer brought it up. Even though it was hard for Yang JianGuo to be the sole breadwinner, Zhao XueMei always thought that it would be better if Yang Xiao was a little older. Zhao XueMei was really surprised now that Yang Xiao volunteered to find work. Her son had finally become sensible and started to understand things. She did not dote on him in vain.

Zhao XueMei looked very happy, “Mom is really glad that you think this way, but you don’t need to be in a hurry to find a job. Ask your father to help you see if you can find a relaxed one.” Firstly, she was afraid that her son would suffer hardship, and secondly, she was afraid that Yang Xiao would quit after two days like before after saying it was too tiring and waste their efforts.

Yang Xiao had something on his mind and was just speaking casually. He became a little impatient upon seeing that his mom took it seriously and looked like she wanted to send him out immediately, “OK, OK. Then, mom, you have the final say.”

Zhao XueMei did not know why Yang Xiao did not want to mention it again after he had brought it up himself, so she said, “Xiao Xiao, don’t clash those two people later. Mom has her own method.”

Yang Xiao did not know what the method his mom mentioned was, but no matter what she said, he just felt that Lin ShuYi was an eyesore. Therefore, he nodded on the surface, but he did not take it seriously in his heart.

Zhao XueMei did not pretend to be any more this time. Anyway, she would not let the matter drop if she did not achieve her aim. She could not let it go on like this, and let other people profit off this for free.

However, she never thought that the XiQin Restaurant would be packed with people when she arrived. Zhao XueMei stared at the unremarkable small restaurant with wide eyes.

“Little handsome brother, we want two bowls of beef noodles.”

“We want a bowl of chicken noodles, with more coriander.”

The sight of this small restaurant packed with people was too incredulous. Could it be that she had walked into the wrong place? History repeated itself and Zhao XueMei stepped back before looking at the sign above.

“Mom, this is Grandpa’s restaurant?” Yang Xiao also could not believe it. They had always looked down on to this small restaurant. The shop front was really unremarkable. Putting it mildly, it was simple and unadorned. Putting it harshly, it was dilapidated. Yang JianGuo worked in a company and Zhao XueMei would rather idle at home than do a job that was full of the odor of oil, let alone Yang Xiao.

Therefore, none of them came to see this small restaurant when they were living here. In their opinion, Old man Yang could not earn much by selling at such a low price even though there were people coming here to eat. In addition, those that patronized the shop were just those few people. Zhao XueMei felt that they were just all acquaintances who were supporting the restaurant.

So in reality, they had been deceived by Old man Yang over the years? There were actually so many people in this seemingly dismal little restaurant? Zhao XueMei’s face immediately turned black, “I’m going to ask your Grandpa what happened.”

Zhao XueMei walked into the restaurant. She did not see the Old man Yang but saw Lin ShuYi who was bustling about inside and Shen Fu who was collecting money outside.

All kinds of thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant. However, the thought that ‘Old man Yang had given the restaurant to other people’ flashed in big letters and she was unable to shake this thought. Zhao XueMei flew into a rage in an instant.

“Why are you two still here?! Where is he?!” What she had just shouted was rather rude. Zhao XueMei had not planned to shed all pretense of cordiality in the beginning, but she could not bear it any longer.

Lin ShuYi looked through the service hatch and frowned when he saw that woman and her son.

Old man Yang would always be there in the morning. They had only managed to persuade him to go back to take a nap when it was close to noon. These two people came knocking on their door again as soon as he stepped out.

Lin ShuYi did not say anything. Shen Fu raised his eyebrow, “Why are you looking for Grandpa? Have you come to make amends and apologize again?”

What he just said was directly stating that their last visit to publicly apologize was actually an act with hidden intentions. Coupled with Shen Fu’s tone of voice that was full of ridicule, Yang Xiao also became full of rage after hearing this and he rushed forward with a big step.

The shop was still full of people at this moment. Seeing Yang Xiao’s behavior, they suddenly understood that these two who had suddenly appeared were here to pick a quarrel.

Yang Xiao only impulsively took a step forward before he was stopped by Zhao XueMei. It was not that she was afraid of something, but she was thinking that since the restaurant’s business was so good, wouldn’t the loss outweighs the gain in the future if Yang Xiao’s impulsive act frightened away the customers?

Lin ShuYi also did not want them to make trouble in the restaurant. Grandpa would be saddened if the restaurant was damaged. Thinking of this, he reached a hand through the service hatch and tugged on Shen Fu’s clothes, “Don’t make trouble here.”

Shen Fu looked at the fair hand that was tugging on his clothes. The bad mood that had been roused by these two people had nearly disappeared all at once. The corner of his lips lifted up, “I know. I’ll speak with them outside.”

Lin ShuYi frowned again after hearing this, “You alone?”

Was Lin ShuYi worried about him? The joy that showed in Shen Fu’s eyes grew. If there weren’t so many people watching, he would have stretched out his hand and rubbed Lin ShuYi’s hair.

“Don’t worry, it’s not like I am going to fight.”

It was really not a fight. This was just a one-sided lesson. Shen Fu scowled and gave Yang Xiao a chilly glare.

“Let’s go out and talk if you have anything to say.” Shen Fu, with his hands in his pockets, approached Yang Xiao with great arrogance. He turned his head and sneered at Yang Xiao in ridicule as he passed him. It was clear that he was intentionally enraging Yang Xiao.

Sure enough, Yang Xiao immediately took the bait and he followed Shen Fu out. He had completely forgotten the losses he suffered in Shen Fu’s hands the last time.

Zhao XueMei wanted to stop him, but did not do it in the end. Although she did not want to make a scene here, she also did not want to passively follow Shen Fu somewhere else. After all, she had not been here for years. However, Zhao XueMei could only stamp her feet and hatefully look back at Lin ShuYi before chasing after Yang Xiao who had followed. Yang Xiao was impulsive and Zhao XueMei did not forget that Yang Xiao had once said that he had suffered losses in that man’s hands.

Lin ShuYi did not feel rest assured even though the three had left. However, everyone was still eating and he could not just close the shop.

After thinking about it, Lin ShuYi called Xiao Wan. Xiao Wan stayed at home during Sundays and it should be fine for her to help him watch the restaurant for a while.

Xiao Wan has never received a call from Lin ShuYi before. She had to force Lin ShuYi to hand over his phone to save his number and had even set up a special ring-tone for him. Unfortunately, it had not rang once. But that was natural since the two families lived so close by and there was no need to call them on their phones.

So Xiao Wan did not realize that she had a call even after the special ringtone rang for a long time. Xiao Wan’s Grandma was cooking in the kitchen. She was stewing a pot of pig trotters with soybeans and prepared to box some up for Old man Yang. She became anxious when she heard Xiao Wan mobile phone ringing, with no sign of her answering the phone, “Qian Xiao Wan! Are you not going to answer the phone? It’s been ringing for half a day!”

Xiao Wan realized that it was Lin ShuYi’s special ringtone. She took no account of her Grandma’s angry roar and answered the phone happily. “Help you look after the restaurant? Okay, okay. It’s alright. I’ll come now. Two minutes, two minutes.”