Chapter 27 Summary

  These two young rascals, upon hearing Grandma call Liangzi's name and seeing his icy gaze, felt a chill run down their spines. One of them couldn't take it and grabbed his companion to make a run for it. After running far away, the one who was dragged along was panting, "What are you running from? What's there to be afraid of? I don't believe we two can't beat him up."

  "Do you know who he is? It's scary to say, but he's the tyrant of this street, or rather, our county town. He's notorious for his fierce fighting and disregard for life. I heard that now he's become a big shot, in the past, when he saw the police, it was like a cat seeing a mouse, but now he even drinks with them and calls them brothers."

  "Good thing we didn't fight just now, or else it wouldn't be fun for others to watch."

  Grandma Liang welcomed him in and hastily stuffed a few hot buns into his hands. "Hurry back, your mother is waiting for you!"

  "Ah! How can this be, Old Mother Mo?" Liang Zi said evasively, then gave a signal to Fang Mernan with his eyes.

  "Take it." Fang Mo Nan said, then told Grandma, "I'll take Brother Liang in to find Auntie Liang."

  "Alright... you all go in first, I'll sell for a while and then come in." Grandma said with a smile.

  "Brother Liangzi." When Liangzi heard this sentence, it was the most comfortable time in her heart. Although she was very capable, she still had to be called "brother".

  "Alright, stop sneaking a smile. Hurry up and go inside, it's cold out here!" Fang Mo Nan knew what he was smiling about. Being polite in front of adults was still necessary after all.

  Since the Lingqi wandered in his body, Fang Mornan often practiced "Dianzhi Shengong" by popping fruit seeds at the acupoints of a copper mannequin as tall as a person. This move had two benefits: practicing internal strength and memorizing acupoints. He had already made some progress, but hadn't tried it out in real combat yet, so he didn't know if his power was strong or weak. What a pity that such a good opportunity was wasted.

  It was also the northern room, the "small black room". As soon as they entered, Fang Mernan pulled open the cord of the 15-watt US-made light bulb, and the room was filled with a warm yellow glow. Fang Mernan sat down on the kang, indicating that he should sit down too.

  Liang Zi sat down excitedly, and as usual, took out a large cloth package from his close-fitting clothes. "I sold nearly 50 radios in the city this time," he said with an excited voice that was slightly trembling. "Also sold 50 calculators, 2000 electronic watches."

  Fang Mo Nan picked up the bill, took a glance and nodded. "It seems that the purchasing power in the city is still strong, especially with the New Year approaching."

  "No way, it's like they're snatching it away, as if it's free." Liang Zi exclaimed excitedly, gesturing with his hands.

  "It must be tiring doing all these things!" Fang Mo Nan looked at Liang Zi who had lost some weight.

  Running a store is also very troublesome, and the three of them, including Liangzi, are busy day and night. During the day, they sell goods, at night, they take stock, keep accounts, and clean up the store.

  Especially Liangzi and Shouhou still have to go to the city and provincial capital to run errands.

  "Not tired, doing it with great enthusiasm. When counting the money at night, all the fatigue disappears." Liangzi said with a smile.

  "We three didn't feel tired at all, Fatso stayed home to watch the stall, I went to the city. Skinny Monkey carried goods to the provincial capital, and should be back by tomorrow." Liangzi hesitated for a moment before continuing: "Nan Nan, those pearl flowers, small purses and whatnot, when I was selling calculators at the unit, I gave them away for free. Those little trinkets only cost one or two cents, so... people all like to take advantage of a small bargain."

  "Li, you're really good at doing business and even know how to do a buy one get one free promotion. Alright, well done." Fang Mo Nan was increasingly appreciating him, as he was willing to think carefully and come up with ideas on his own without anyone guiding him.

  "If Skinny Monkey comes tomorrow, go to your home and wait for me at night, I have something to do." Fang Mo Nan said as he was about to leave, then took some of the family's 'chicken, duck, fish, meat' and let him take it back home with him.

  At dusk, Grandma cleaned up the steamed bun stall and went back to prepare for the sacrifice to the stove god. In our country, the Spring Festival generally starts with the sacrifice to the stove god. The folk song "Twenty-three, sugar gourd sticky" refers to the sacrifice to the stove god on December 23 or 24 of each year.

  The worship of the stove, is a custom that has had a great impact on the people and has been widely spread. In the past, almost every household had a "Stove King" shrine in their kitchen. When building the kitchen, grandma would specially invite a Stove King image to be hung on the back wall of the kitchen. The Stove King image usually had the calendar for that year printed on it, with words such as "East Kitchen Master", "God of Human Affairs", and "Master of the Family" written on it, to indicate the status of the stove god. On either side were pasted couplets saying "Heaven speaks good things, the underworld protects peace", to bless the safety of all family members.

  The Stove King has been staying at home since the New Year's Eve of last year to protect and supervise the family; by the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Stove King will ascend to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor in heaven about the good deeds or evil deeds of this family. The ceremony of sending off the Stove God is called "Sending the Stove" or "Bidding Farewell to the Stove". The Jade Emperor will then entrust the Stove King with the fate of fortune and misfortune that this family should receive in the new year based on the report of the Stove King. Therefore, for a family, the report of the Stove King is indeed of great importance.

  Just in time, my mother also had a holiday and went home. My grandmother led them to send the stove together. The whole family first arrived at the stove room, set up tables, and my grandmother respectfully offered incense to the Stove King in the shrine on the wall of the stove. I didn't know that my grandmother used to do this before, but since I knew that the space was related to Guanyin Bodhisattva, my grandmother became more Buddhist. On the table were sugar gourds made from maltose and flour. Offering maltose to the Stove King is to make his mouth sweet. She said while applying: "Say good things, don't say bad things." This is to stuff the Stove King's mouth with sugar, so that he won't speak ill. After my grandmother finished applying sugar to the Stove King's mouth, she took down the statue and burned it with paper and incense together.

  The ceremony was simple, but grandma was very devout.

  After dinner, Grandma gathered everyone in the family and took out an account book that only she could understand. From September to now, including this morning's vegetable sales, after deducting costs, expenses, management fees, and hygiene fees, we made a profit of over 700 yuan. Every year on New Year's Eve, as long as Grandma was still doing business, she would tell everyone about the annual accounts.

  "Wow... it's been less than five months." Xiaoyi exclaimed, her mouth agape. She knew that the family's life had improved, and it was evident from the dinner table and the usual fruits they ate, but she didn't expect this much.

  My dad and mom were also shocked, their two salaries combined are only over 500 a month, after working hard for a year, it's just 6,000, not even enough to eat or drink. This is too much of a blow to them! It's really stimulating.

  Mr. Lin nodded, indicating it was more or less what he had expected, and that it was done fairly well.

  "Now I'm telling you seriously, don't go outside and brag about it, just keep a low profile. Who knows if the weather will change or not? If others ask, just say we're barely making ends meet, don't mention how much we've earned. If they don't believe us, that's their problem, who can come to our house to investigate anyway?" Grandma said sternly: "Remember this, don't take it lightly. We're not afraid of thieves stealing from us, but we are afraid of them remembering us. If someone can't keep their mouth shut, don't blame me for being ruthless with you." She lightened the mood a bit and added: "Remember, we want to make a fortune quietly, no need to show off." Grandma even mimicked the gesture of showing off.

  "Alright, that's all!" Grandma concluded her speech.

  "Heh heh...... Look at Mom now, she's really got the air of a wealthy landowner." Little Auntie teased, poking fun at Old Mom.

  "Xiao Yan, you'd better remember this for a long time. With your explosive temper and big mouth, be more careful." Grandma ruthlessly slapped her on the head with an iron sand palm.

  Everyone burst out laughing...

  "It seems that our mother has really become wealthy, her waist is straightened, and look at this voice, it's really loud." Xiaoyi stroked her head and said: "Don't worry, I have a sense of propriety. My classmates still look down on me now, no one wants to be friends with me, plus I'm older than them, a group of naive kids, what's the fun in that? Now my priority is studying." She has suffered from being uneducated.

  "By the way, sister, is that big coat done yet? Let me take a look." Little Aunt changed the subject.

  Little aunt pulled mom into the bedroom, took out a dress, shook it out and put it on, looked in the mirror, twirled around, really beautiful.

  "Sister, your craftsmanship is really good." The bright red coat, simple and elegant Chinese style, round doll collar, highlighting the lines, set off her slender body, just wearing it alone, looks youthful and beautiful with a bit of cuteness.

  "Mmm! Good-looking." Mom nodded in satisfaction at her own handiwork.

  "Sister, let me take a look at yours." Little aunt took out mom's moon-white woolen coat again. "Wow! This one is even more beautiful." She couldn't help but touch it lovingly.

  Then she took out two men's clothes from inside, blue and black in color, also in Chinese style, casual and loose. "Go, let your brother-in-law try them on." Xiaoyi pushed Lao Ma to the living room.

  Auntie urged Dad to change into it, nodding non-stop, "It looks much better than the ones sold outside. There's also a men's one inside, whose is it?"

  Dad is wearing new clothes, happily touching and laughing foolishly.

  "The one inside was made by your mother for Old Man Lin." Grandma replied. "We've been troubling others all day, especially you, Nannan, and Xiaobei, and on top of that, teaching you knowledge. In the old days, it was customary to give teachers a gift during Chinese New Year, so let's just give Teacher Lin this piece of clothing!" She said, taking it from Auntie's hand and handing it over to Old Man Lin.

  Mr. Lin was taken aback, holding it in his hands, "I have one too." It's been many years since I last received new clothes.

  He was a hot-blooded young man, who returned from overseas at the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War to participate in the war and received their warm welcome. He even joined the Communist Party later on. He thought that with the founding of New China, he would be able to live a peaceful life, but unexpectedly, another turbulent era arrived. He used his connections to send all his children abroad, which became his "old home". His wife wanted to stay behind and accompany him, but unfortunately, she fell seriously ill and was forced by him to leave, leaving him alone with no news for a long time, and it's unknown whether he will see her again in his lifetime.

  Mr. Lin wiped his moist eyes and muttered: "Good... good..." He took his clothes and left.

  They left them to look at each other, watching the lonely figure of the old man, and sighed. From the old man's words and deeds, they guessed a little, but they didn't dare touch the wound in the old man's heart.

  "Alright, next is your mother's clothes." Xiaoyi awkwardly looked at them as she took out Grandma's clothes.

  Grandma only wore clothes with a slanted collar, and had never worn clothes with a straight collar in her life. Even her overcoat was a modified version of the slightly slanted collar clothes, which made Grandma look very dignified and spirited when she put it on. Each person had one outfit, and the pants were all thick and sturdy black pants with a slanted stripe.

  "Why aren't there any clothes for Nannan and Xiaobei?" Auntie flipped through them and asked Mom.

  "Their two sets of clothes will be ready in a few days, don't worry, just in time for the New Year." Mom said succinctly.

  Xiao Yi finished admiring the clothes, took off and changed into casual ones at home, led Fang Mo Nan and Xiao Bei, holding the pants, and went to Old Man Lin's house with a worried look.

  Dad went to the kitchen to see how the dishes were doing and happened to turn off the stove.

  "By the way, I had someone buy some rare snacks for you, but they can't be kept for long. You pick some out too, and also pick some fresh vegetables from the backyard, pack them up well, and take them to their house with Zhengping tomorrow. After all, they are elders, so we must show respect. As long as we do it properly, they won't be able to find fault." Grandma brought over a large box, opened it, and pointed at the various pastries inside.

  The old mother looked at the dim sum, not only were there many varieties, but also exquisite packaging, which she had never seen before. Then she opened each package, took out a part, and put the rest inside until it was full, then stopped. "Okay, as long as the intention is conveyed, that's enough, leave the rest for the children to eat."

  "That's good, now let's go and warm up, taste the freshness. Having lived for so many years, I've never seen such exquisite pastries." Grandma took a plate, picked some out, packed them up, and went to the kitchen to heat them up. Let's just do it this way today! Tomorrow will be enough."

  "Come and try some fresh ones." Grandma brought out the freshly baked pastries, hot and steaming, with a fragrance that filled the air.

  "Wow! What smells so good." Xiaoyi followed the scent and came over. "Everyone come and take a look, it looks really delicious, I don't even want to eat it."

  They came over at the sound, and Old Man Lin took a look, "Looks like authentic Cantonese dim sum, wonder if the taste is also authentic."

  "Let's have a taste." Grandma handed them chopsticks and let them help themselves. "Tomorrow is the 24th of the lunar month, and no orders have been received yet. Everyone is busy celebrating the New Year, cleaning up their homes, and buying New Year's goods. Let's just take a break, and there's no need to get up too early tomorrow. We can sleep in late tonight and consider it an extra meal."

  "Mmm! Delicious." The little aunt took a bite, and after eating, she smacked her lips, still savoring the flavor.

  "The flavor is slightly inferior, not as delicious as when it's freshly baked." Old Master Lin said after tasting, thinking back to the days when he traveled all over the country and had tried everything, how long it had been since he last had this dish, it was nostalgic, he was old!

  Dad and mom thought it was delicious after eating, but the big man felt that desserts were usually eaten by women and children, so he put down his chopsticks.

  After Fang Mo Nan finished, he also put down his chopsticks. The ones that were mailed over didn't taste as good, but it's not like they were made with expensive ingredients or anything. Maybe it's because she's a girl and everything she sends is sweet. I should remember to thank her when I write back. Looking at the pastries, maybe tomorrow's breakfast can be some savory Cantonese-style pastries, yeah! That's what I'll do.

  There wasn't much food originally, and Xiaoyi and Xiaobei finished eating quickly. The sky was dark, everyone washed up and went to bed after dinner, had a good night's sleep.