Outsider: The Fifth Young Master of the Kang Family

Chapter 137 New Year’s Eve
"It's so beautiful. Diana is amazing. The decoration has a Chinese New Year atmosphere."

After lunch, Kang Qirui went to the tea restaurant with the eldest brother Guang Xianglan, the second brother and the second sister-in-law to work for the last half day. In the evening, they left work early and invited all the employees to have a meal before announcing the holiday. When they returned to the Kang family, Diana had already arranged the whole house with the help of A Zu and Ma Zi.

Lanterns, New Year paintings and other decorations made the house beautiful and full of the flavor of the New Year. After Kang Qirui finished praising, Er Lao also gave a thumbs up and praised: "Diana married into our Kang family only two days ago, and she has already brought us new ideas, new images, new atmosphere and new wealth." Er Lao's words made Diana, who was so generous, a little shy, "Do I have such a big impact? Thank you everyone, haha."

"It's a pity that I've been too busy recently. I had planned to go to the flower market to buy some flowers, but I always have no time." The second sister-in-law sighed. She is mainly responsible for the affairs of the clothing store. The clothing company is on holiday, the tea restaurant is on holiday, but the clothing store is not on holiday. The New Year days can be said to be the busiest days of the year. The second sister-in-law really spoke the truth.

A Yao naturally knew that his second sister-in-law was busy, but he still pointed at a few pots of flowers and teased, "Second sister-in-law, don't just talk and do nothing. These were bought from Chen Village today. Give me the money." The second sister-in-law took out her wallet without saying a word and said generously, "How much is it?" Seeing this situation, A Yao hurried away. He was just joking and was not really asking the second sister-in-law for money.

The second brother and his wife had made a lot of money with Kang Qirui in the past two years, and they had a share in almost all the industries. And this year, the second sister-in-law was pregnant with her second child, and she was in high spirits. With her high spirits and money, the second sister-in-law lost her usual stingy nature and generously offered to reimburse A Yao for his expenses, which caught A Yao off guard and he could not respond.

"Zong, the tea restaurant will be closed tomorrow, right? When will it open?" At this time, the old man asked. Since Xianglan became pregnant, the tea restaurant has been managed by the eldest brother Guang and the second brother, so naturally the second brother is in charge. "Yes, old man, it will open on the eighth day of the first lunar month." The second brother replied. In fact, normally restaurants do not close during the Chinese New Year, but this time Ruhao Tea Restaurant is a complete Hong Kong-style tea restaurant model, mainly focusing on fast food, and the target group is mostly working people. During the Chinese New Year, everyone either eats at home or goes to a restaurant. Few people eat fast food during the Chinese New Year, so they just close.

"Boss, boss." At this time, Sister Jiao came with her five children. She greeted everyone first, and then said, "We will go back to the countryside to celebrate the New Year tomorrow. I came here tonight to say hello to everyone and wish you all a happy New Year in advance." Sister Jiao was still very grateful to the Kang family. The job she gave her doubled her income compared to previous years and solved her housing problem. For the first time in so many years, she felt that taking care of five bone-changing dragons didn't seem to be a big pressure.

"What kind of car are you going to take back?" Er Lao asked politely, opening up the topic of conversation. Sister Jiao said jokingly, "I want to take the train, but the train is too crowded. I want to take the plane, but I'm afraid I can't get off the plane." Sister Jiao's words made everyone laugh. Sachiko smiled and said, "Where is the airport in your remote mountain area? Of course I can't get off the plane.

"So I decided to take the bus. Think about it, I brought a few bone-changing dragons with me, so I don't think I can show off my power." Gillian continued, and after chatting for a while, she said she wanted to go back. Kang Qirui gave her a big red envelope on behalf of everyone. After receiving the red envelope and feeling its thickness, Gillian went back happily.

"Okay, we'll be closed tomorrow, so we can sleep in." After Sister Jiao left, Er Lao stretched and said happily, but was hit on the head by his sister-in-law, "Don't even think about it. We still have to work in the clothing store. We're very busy during the New Year. Don't think about being lazy and not helping."

Hearing that she needed help, Diana immediately said actively: "Second sister-in-law, I can also help you." Second sister-in-law was immediately happy. Diana was so beautiful and a foreigner. She didn't have to work, just stand in each store for an hour, and the business would increase by 20%. But after thinking about it, she gave up and said: "I'm sorry, you just got married and it's your first time to spend the New Year in Guangzhou. I ask you to work in the store. That's nothing. You and Fourth Uncle can go to the Flower Street, we can handle it ourselves."

A-Zu also said quickly, "That's right, my second sister-in-law and the others can handle it, we don't have to worry about it." A-Zu is different from Diana. A-Zu likes to play. If Diana goes to the clothing store to help during the New Year, who will go out to play with him? He was afraid that Diana would continue to petition, so he quickly changed the subject, "By the way, the day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve, how are we going to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner this year? Do we have it at home like last year or go to a hotel?"

"This year, we don't have to go through the trouble of cooking at home like last year. I have already booked two rooms at the Huagong Hotel. We can just go there to eat when the time comes." A Yao said. Last year, everyone was exhausted from cooking at home. This year, A Yao booked the rooms early. But A Zu was puzzled, "Why two rooms?"

"Oh, it's because my mother-in-law has several relatives from other places coming back to celebrate the New Year, so I asked my third brother to help book an extra room." Kang Qirui took the initiative to explain. Mrs. Zhu's sister, brother-in-law, and niece in Malaysia are coming back to Cantonese to celebrate the New Year with her this year. Mrs. Zhu had already asked Kang Qirui to book a room. Just as A Yao was going to book the Kang family's New Year's Eve dinner, she simply asked him to book it together. Everyone chatted about the New Year for a while, and then went back to the room to wash up and go to bed. Early the next morning, Uncle Liang came to the Kang family to find the second brother, "A Zong, A Zong." The second brother came out of the room with a resentful look on his face. He hadn't woken up yet. Although he agreed to help in the clothing store, he promised to go only from the first day of the new year.

As a result, the rare opportunity to sleep in was ruined by Uncle Liang. He asked in a bad mood, "Uncle Liang, what's the matter with you coming here so early in the morning?"

"I usually go to a restaurant for New Year's Eve every year. I know the boss there. I thought it would be okay to call a few days later to make a reservation, but when I called yesterday, they said they were full. I went to many restaurants and they were all full." Uncle Liang started talking nonstop. "My two sons originally said they would not come back for the New Year this year, but now they say they will come back from Hong Kong to celebrate the New Year here. I was caught off guard."

"Uncle Liang, after all you've said, I still don't understand why you came to see me." Er Lao looked sleepy and didn't understand what Uncle Liang was saying at all. Kang Qirui, who had just gotten up, came out to the living room and saw that Er Lao didn't even pour a glass of water for Uncle Liang, so he went to the kitchen to pour a cup of hot tea for Uncle Liang and Er Lao, and after handing it to Uncle Liang, he said, "Uncle Liang, do you mean to have a New Year's Eve dinner in our tea restaurant?"

Uncle Liang took the tea, took a sip, and put it on the table. He nodded and said, "That's right, that's right. How about this, A Zong, help me prepare two tables of New Year's Eve dinner in your tea restaurant, and I'll give you a 20% increase in salary." After Er Lao drank two sips of hot tea, he became more alert. After he understood what Uncle Liang meant, he shook his head and said, "Uncle Liang, it's not about money. What's the signature of our tea restaurant? The first Hong Kong-style tea restaurant in Xiguan. You must know your son in Hongcheng. It's a fast food restaurant and a milk tea bakery. A table can seat four people at most, and two tables can seat eight people. You have more than 20 people, and you want to prepare six tables for a New Year's Eve dinner. What's the big deal?"

"Ah? Is that so?" Uncle Liang had never been to Ruhao Tea Restaurant. He had passed by it a few times before and saw the long line at the door from a distance, but he didn't join in the fun. Now it was the first time he heard about Ruhao's business scope. The second brother continued, "Besides, everyone was on holiday yesterday, even the chef went back to the countryside. Even if you are willing to come, we have nothing to cook for you."

"Yes, Uncle Liang. I'm really sorry that our tea restaurant can't prepare New Year's Eve dinner. You should go somewhere else. Since you are willing to spend so much, it should be fine." Kang Qirui also advised. Kang Qirui didn't want the second brother to be exhausted in this life. He should have a good rest during the New Year. There is no need to work so hard because money can't be earned enough.

Tea restaurants are different from clothing stores. If you contract the New Year's Eve dinner, you may not be able to win even if you work 16 hours a day. The second boss of the clothing store is responsible for replenishing the stock. He is only needed when there is no stock. He actually works no more than four hours a day. This level is still fine. Contracting the New Year's Eve dinner does not make much money and is very tiring. Kang Qirui is extremely opposed to it, and the current Ruhao Tea Restaurant does not have the conditions to contract the New Year's Eve dinner.

On New Year's Eve, Kang Qirui got up early in the morning and wrote two Spring Festival couplets as he did in previous years. After the ink dried, he and Lao Guang pasted them on the doors of the Kang and Zhu families. After pasting the Spring Festival couplets, the old lady led everyone to prepare for the worship of the gods. After the worship of the gods, everyone from the Kang and Zhu families took a taxi to the Huagong Hotel.

"The dishes are all served, so I'll just say a few words." After the waiter served the dishes and closed the door of the private room, the old man coughed and said, "This year, our Kang family has been generally smooth sailing. After Grandpa got married, you five brothers have all started families. Next year, three more lives will be born. It can be said that happy events are happening one after another. Your mother and I don't have any expectations. We just hope that you can all get married and have children soon. Next year is the Year of the Horse. I hope that our Kang family will continue to be smooth sailing and successful next year."

After my father finished his speech, the New Year’s Eve dinner officially began.

(End of this chapter)