Jin Yuanyuan's Top-Tier Life

Chapter 51 The Legend of an Osmanthus Tree

Jin Yuanyuan had been agonizing over the issues with these long-time employees for several days. She also spent several days in Jin Yaya's warehouse helping to pack packages, listening to all sorts of gossip, including the story of the osmanthus tree in front of Jin Yaya's small restaurant.

She didn't even know about this.

The story begins seventy years ago. Her grandfather, Jin Rongguang, had several brothers and sisters. His eldest brother, Jin Rongfa, who was five years older than him, was the most handsome and very promising. He was also a skilled worker in both farming and other household chores. Even though he had never studied painting, after helping his family repair several ancient houses, he learned to trace the paintings on the beams. He quickly learned to mix colors and outline, and even his teachers said that he should not be underestimated in the future and would definitely become a formidable expert.

Jin Rongguang also liked to stay by his older brother's side, because every time his older brother went out to work, he would bring him some good food, pat his head, and tell him to study hard and make a great career in a big city.

Life went on like this, simple yet happy. One day, my older brother came back excitedly from outside, carrying a thick wooden branch. He said it was an osmanthus tree, and once it grew up, we could eat osmanthus cakes.

Jin Rongguang was naturally preoccupied with food, so he watched eagerly as his older brother busied himself planting the thick branch in front of the house, watering it, and adding soil. Although it looked a bit strange, after hearing his brother's description, Jin Rongguang felt it must be a good thing, so he waited patiently.

The older brother also instructed him not to block the sunlight, to water it once every three days, and to bury chicken manure or something similar underneath as fertilizer.

"If this thing grows successfully, it will be quite precious and rare. You must take good care of it. When your older brother isn't home, you must protect it even more, just like you would protect your older brother. Can you promise me that?"

Hearing his older brother say this, Jin Rongguang nodded vigorously and swore, "I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

Not long after, the older brother suddenly said he had a stomachache and stayed at home all night. When Jin Rongguang went to see him in the morning, he was already dead.

Faced with this sudden tragedy, Jin Rongguang was completely devastated, and the Jin family wept and wailed. This was the family's most promising member, someone who should have been earning money to support the family. Losing his life in the prime of his life plunged the Jin family into utter misery.

But life goes on.

A month after the funeral, Jin Rongguang remembered to water the thick branch. But at that moment, he was surprised to find that the branch had sprouted new branches and green leaves on its own, and was clearly alive.

From then on, he carefully tended to the thick branch until it slowly grew, from half a person's height to a person's height, from the thickness of a fist to the thickness of a thigh, growing little by little, just like the passing years. Jin Rongguang refused to leave Jinjia Village to work outside, preferring to stay at home doing carpentry and tailoring. Every day, he would water the thick branch, which had grown into an osmanthus tree, and in his spare time, he would sit under the tree and talk to himself.

When Jin Yuanbao was born, he grew up under this tree. By then, the osmanthus tree was already very tall, its branches and leaves reaching out to cover the roof of the Jin family's ancestral home. Jin Rongguang often told Jin Yuanbao stories about his uncle, and also taught Jin Yuanbao the skills of carving beams and painting rafters, hoping he would become as accomplished as his uncle.

Jin Yuanbao also regarded this uncle as his role model and worked hard to learn about ancient architecture. He did not only learn the work of bricklayers, but also studied the mortise and tenon wooden frame structure, as well as the doors, windows, corbels, brackets, brick carvings, stone carvings, etc. He studied and observed them carefully, discovering the essence from the smallest details.

Of course, Jin Yuanbao followed his father's example and often watered and fertilized the osmanthus tree. He would even prune the branches and leaves to make it grow stronger and more lush. Every time it bloomed, the fragrance that could be smelled from a kilometer away would always remind people of home and the meaning of home.

When Jin Yuanyuan was born, Jin Yuanbao would play with her under this osmanthus tree. Later, he even converted the place into Jin Yaya Restaurant. When people from far and near mentioned Jin Yaya Restaurant, they would always talk about this osmanthus tree first.

The fragrance was indeed very rich, a subtle sweetness mixed with a unique aroma that was truly delightful.

But Jin Yuanbao never told her the story of the tree, perhaps because he never had the chance. Zhu Hongying probably knew too, but over the years, she and Jin Yuanyuan had never really sat down for a casual chat about these things.

After hearing about the osmanthus tree, Jin Yuanyuan was somewhat moved, but at the same time, a question arose in her heart: there must be something about this osmanthus tree, otherwise the young lady that Zhao Zhuoran brought wouldn't have been looking around trying to buy it.

Just as she was idly pondering something, Zhao Zhuoran called to ask if she had prepared any New Year's goods. He said he was packing New Year's Eve dinner gift packages for clients and could give her one too. "Free, no money needed! You've introduced so many clients to me, this is my way of thanking you."

"My mom is probably having a get-together with her sisters and old friends. No one's having New Year's Eve dinner," Jin Yuanyuan thought for a moment. In previous years, she would have been out having fun at this time, as it was a rare long holiday. Jin Yuanbao and Zhu Hongying weren't together either, and they certainly wouldn't be making arrangements for New Year's Eve dinner, so she was even happier not to go home.

But this year is a little different; at least she stayed in Jinjia Village for the Spring Festival because of the hosiery factory.

"So what are you planning for New Year's Eve dinner?" Zhao Zhuoran's place was clearly chaotic, with lots of noise. "How about coming to my shop? We're open for business on New Year's Eve, and we're fully booked. I'll reserve a spot for you, in that little room where we had hot pot last time. How about I get you a grouper too?"

"No need, no need. Cao Xiaoyu, Jin Feiyan, and I are left-behind children, so we can just eat whatever we want."

"No, no, no, I have to take good care of the left-behind children." Zhao Zhuoran smiled quite happily. "Your friend Ye Huanxi isn't coming, is she? I get a bad feeling whenever I go out and see that lakeside. I always feel like Ye Huanxi is standing there crying."

"Pah, pah, pah, she's doing just fine. Can't you wish her well for once?" Jin Yuanyuan retorted, displeased. "She's going home to have dinner with her parents. I'll ask Cao Xiaoyu. Actually, I suspect he wants to have dinner with Jin Feiyan alone... Never mind, I'll ask him first."

"Okay, besides myself and the people from our shop, I'll also have Dong Xiaoran come over. Her family is in England, so she'll be here alone... Is that alright?" Zhao Zhuoran suddenly asked cautiously.

Jin Yuanyuan immediately exclaimed, "Sure, sure! I was just thinking of talking to her again about making socks from bamboo fiber!"

(End of this chapter)