Reborn in 1990: My Family Store Leads to the Future

"Old Song, tell me properly about that girl, what's going on?"

Lu Yuan was already twenty-two or twenty-three years old. Nowadays, a child would already be running around by now. Lu Zhaocai actually had this idea and hurriedly asked how the girl's family was doing.

At this age, people like to play matchmaker.

While Song Shan and his mahjong partners were chatting together, Lu Yuan strode in carrying several bags, looked at the sunflower seed shells on the ground, and sighed.

"Old man, can't you pay a little attention? Every time I ask you to mind the shop, you never sweep the floor. I just happened to see this. If my mom sees this, she'll have a lot to say to you."

"I'm having a serious talk with your Uncle Song."

Having been lectured in public by his son, Lu Zhaocai was already used to it and explained with a smile.

Seeing what Lu Yuan was carrying, Song Shan smiled and said.

"Your dad and I were chatting, and we were talking about a girl who's quite a catch, and we were thinking of telling you about her."

"It must be Wang Changying."

Hearing that familiar tone of urging him to get married, Lu Yuan spoke with a hint of helplessness.

Song Shan, who was happy to act as the matchmaker, showed a surprised expression on his face, as if to say, "How did you know?"

Lu Yuan opened the bag, which contained the snacks he had specially brought back: chocolate, melon seeds, and some milk candy. He poured these items onto plates and placed them on the tables one by one.

"You told me last year during Chinese New Year that the girl was still a market worker and that she didn't even look at me, a self-employed individual, back then."

How do you know?

They must have met before.

A few years ago, people didn't think this way. They all thought it was good to have a secure job. But in such a short time, many people have lost their jobs.

Lu Yuan didn't elaborate on the matter, knowing that few people would truly listen to his words.

He smiled warmly at the customers who came to the mahjong parlor and said this.

"These are some snacks that the mahjong parlor is giving away to everyone today. We hope you'll come and play often in the future."

"Boss, this chocolate tastes so sweet! It's different from the bitter ones I've had before!"

A regular customer picked up a Dove chocolate, took a bite, and his eyes lit up immediately.

"These sunflower seeds are so crunchy, they smell amazing!"

"But these sunflower seeds taste even better than meat! Where did you get them?"

"This candy is so sweet, and it even tastes a bit milky."

The group of people playing mahjong all showed expressions of shock after taking a bite of what they were holding.

Song Shan blushed, feeling ashamed of what he had said earlier, when he suddenly heard what the others were saying. He was stunned for a moment, then picked up a Dove chocolate bar and ate it.

Unlike the chocolates he bought elsewhere, this chocolate had a particularly smooth texture when he put it in his mouth, and then it tasted very sweet.

His eyes lit up, and his tone became younger.

"It's delicious! Xiao Yuan, where did you buy this chocolate?"

"These are the goods I sell on Xijing Road. If you're interested, you can go and take a look."

As a seasoned businessman, Lu Yuan's thinking is naturally not limited to simply selling things.

Having lived through the internet age, he understands very well that for the real economy to thrive, it must first build its reputation.

The purpose of distributing flyers before was to achieve this effect.

The same is true today.

He wanted to use the mahjong parlor to promote his products and, incidentally, boost the parlor's popularity.

After saying this, he took a few more bags of sunflower seeds and handed them to the uncles and elders who were playing mahjong with Lu Zhaocai.

"Uncles, this is a gift I specially brought for you. Please take it back and try it. If you like it, please come visit my shop more often."

"How could I possibly accept this?"

"They want to eat the child's food and take the child's money."

"This money is really hard for me to take."

The group exchanged glances, feeling their faces burning.

Should I take the things that are far away and then go to him to arrange a marriage?

I feel a bit restless and uneasy.

Lu Zhaocai knew all too well what kind of temper his friends had. They wouldn't feel embarrassed at all, and immediately overturned the cards in front of them and said...

"What are you guys pretending for? If you don't want it, give it back to me."

"Xiao Yuan gave this to me. You just give it to me like that? How can you be so shameless?"

"You old Song, just you wait until I teach you a lesson today."

"Let me show you what a true mahjong master is!"

Mahjong parlors usually start to empty out around 4 or 5 pm.

Except during holidays when it gets a bit busier, it's usually close by this time.

Lu Zhaocai and his son tidied up the mahjong set. Looking at his son who was busy at work, he felt a pang of guilt.

I just asked him about this, gave him the money to spend, and now I'm going to take it back. Doesn't that make me seem a little shameless?

"Son, haven't you still paid the money I promised you...?"

"I've spent all that money. Didn't I tell you before? I have a classmate who owns a supermarket in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and I've been spending money to buy supplies there."

Lu Yuan looked up, feigning confusion.

Upon hearing his son say this, Lu Zhaocai's eyes widened immediately.

"That's ten thousand, not a hundred dollars, and you've spent it all in just a few days."

"Don't rush."

Lu Yuan smiled and closed the door of the mahjong parlor.

"How can I not be anxious?"

Lu Zhaocai didn't say anything more, but just paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. Judging from his appearance, he probably still wanted to call the police.

After confirming that no one was in the mahjong parlor, Lu Yuan took out two stacks of 100-yuan notes from his pocket and slammed them onto the table.

Lu Zhaocai's heart skipped a beat along with the table. He quickly took it in his hand, measured its thickness, and looked at his son in astonishment.

"I gave you ten thousand, but the number here is wrong; it looks like it's more than ten thousand?"

"Hmm, otherwise how could I say your son is capable?"

Lu Yuan calmly shrugged.

Keep in mind that the national average wage is only a little over 300 yuan. Even if Shanghai is more developed than other places, you can only earn a little more.

Their mahjong parlor claims to make money, but in reality, they only earn a hundred or eighty yuan a day at most, and usually only forty or fifty yuan.

How could someone from afar produce 15,000 yuan in just a few days? That's like going out to rob someone.

Old Lu gave his son a meaningful look, and after a moment he made up his mind.

"Son, which bank did you rob? We are an honest family. If you turn yourself in, you can start a new life sooner."

"..."

Lu Yuan was both amused and exasperated. Without offering any explanation, he reached out to take the money back.

"Give it back to me if you don't want it."

"Once it's in my hands, it's mine!"

Lu Zhaocai quickly clutched the money to his chest, refusing to take it out no matter what, and muttered to himself happily.

"Keep ten thousand in the safe, and the rest can be kept as personal savings."