North Family Letters

Just when Qiuju was worried about the expiration of her lease and having to find a new location, her elder sister Song Chunyan came all the way from her hometown.

When the wave of state-owned enterprise reform arrived in the 1990s, my older sister was laid off from her factory. She had spent half her life working in the workshop and suddenly found herself without a job. She pondered for many days at home, thinking that she couldn't just sit idly by. When she heard that Qiuju had opened a successful restaurant in the county town, she packed her bags and went to find her.

Song Chunyan was a kind and honest woman, not much of a talker, but quick and efficient. As soon as she entered Qiu Ji's restaurant, before Qiu Ju could even offer a proper greeting, she rolled up her sleeves and started wiping tables, clearing plates, and counting ingredients. After the busy mealtime was over, she sat down to listen to Qiu Ju explain that her rent was due, she hadn't signed a contract, and she needed to find a new address. The older sister remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking:

"You, you just bury yourself in your work and never pay attention to these rules and regulations."

There was no blame in her words, only heartache.

She knew that Qiuju had had a tough time all these years, and now that she had finally returned to her hometown and settled down, this had to happen. Song Chunyan thought for a moment and said to Qiuju:

"If the shop needs to move, then we'll move. I'm currently unemployed anyway. If you don't mind, I'll stay and lend you a hand. You know how to cook and run a business, so I'll help you with the odd jobs. We sisters can work together, find another place, and still make a living."

Qiuju looked at her older sister and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

After wandering for so many years, in the hardest times, it was ultimately her own sisters who she could rely on. Just as Qiuju was racking her brains over the expiration of her lease and finding a new place to live, the layout of her home had already quietly changed.

When the wave of people going abroad to seek their fortune swept over the country, my second sister, Song Xiahe, was the most ambitious. She was unwilling to stay in the small county town and endure the hardships. She joined her fellow villagers in applying for overseas labor services and went overseas to work.

She was gone for several years, and letters and overseas phone calls became her only connection to her family. She lived frugally there, sending back her earnings little by little, intending to help support her family. However, just as Qiuju had started to run her restaurant, she encountered the hurdle of her landlord taking back the premises.

Song Xiahe would occasionally call back, but hearing the difficulty in Qiuju's voice, she could only worry helplessly from a distance.

"If all else fails, I'll save up some more money and send it back, and we'll move to a bigger and better place."

But Qiuju couldn't bear to see her suffer outside, so she just smiled and said:

"It's okay, I can manage with my older sister here. Just take good care of yourself out there."

On one side is her second sister, Song Xiahe, who is far away in a foreign country and longs for peace and stability at home.

On one side was Song Chunyan, the eldest sister who had just been laid off and rushed over to help.

The three sisters, scattered across the country, were all gritting their teeth and persevering for the sake of the same family. Time flew by, and the fourth, fifth, and sixth sisters grew up one by one, leaving school and starting their careers.

They grew up listening to stories of their eldest sister being laid off, their second sister going abroad, and their third sister working hard in Guangzhou and eventually returning home to open a restaurant. Influenced by these stories, they all carry a spirit of never giving up.

The fourth brother is reliable and steady. After joining a unit in the county, he does things meticulously and methodically. Whenever there are errands or dealings at home that require his help, he always handles them perfectly.

The fifth brother is quick-witted and diligent. He learned a skill and is quite adept at everything, whether it's repairing things or helping the restaurant come up with new ideas.

The youngest of the six, he was the most worldly-wise, sweet-talking, and good at handling things. Whenever he had free time, he would go to Qiuju's restaurant to help greet customers and tidy up tables and chairs, without being spoiled at all.

With several people working, the house suddenly became much more lively.

Upon hearing that their third sister's restaurant was moving, the younger sisters all came over without hesitation.

Some helped look for new storefronts and inquire about rent and location.

Some helped clean up the pots, pans, tables, chairs, and benches in the old shop.

Some people go to the construction site every day, keeping an eye on the simple renovations, afraid of being fooled.

Looking at the group of younger sisters she had grown up in front of her, Qiuju felt both warm and reassured.

She used to shoulder everything alone.

Now the sisters are a large family, united in purpose and effort.

What's there to be afraid of if we just change the address and reopen the business?

The restaurant hadn't even reopened yet, but the house was already bustling with activity. My second sister, Song Xiahe, who had been working hard abroad for three years, had finally packed her bags and returned home.

For three years, she lived frugally and worked tirelessly in a foreign country, swallowing all her hardships and only sending money home to let them know she was safe. Only when she finally set foot on her homeland, stepped out of the station, and smelled the familiar northeastern air, did she finally relax.

Upon hearing that Qiuju's restaurant lease was expiring and she was worried about finding a new place, Song Xiahe immediately took out all the money she had saved up over the past three years:

"Sister, we won't miss this opportunity. If the shop is to reopen, my share will count too."

The eldest sister, Song Chunyan, manages the store's internal affairs and keeps the staff stable.

Qiuju focuses on taste and business operations.

The money my second sister brought back just covered the shortfall in rent and renovation costs for the new shop.

In addition, my fourth, fifth, and sixth younger sisters would come over to help run errands whenever they had free time.

There were so many sisters in the family, and not one of them stood by and watched.

The relocation problem, which was originally a major headache, was overcome by the combined efforts of the women. Thanks to their concerted efforts and careful budgeting, the new store gradually got on track, and business slowly improved.

Qiuju continues to work in the kitchen, making every Northeastern dish authentic and delicious.

The eldest sister, Song Chunyan, manages the kitchen and miscellaneous tasks, keeping the shop in perfect order.

My second sister, Song Xiahe, had just returned to China and was greeting guests in the front hall. Having seen the world, she spoke politely and thoughtfully.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth younger sisters would rush to the store after get off work or school, never hesitating to lend a hand.

The family worked together as one, and the new store's reputation was even more stable than the old one.

Regular customers follow the aroma to find their way here, and new customers become repeat customers after just one visit.

The stew in the pot simmers and bubbles every day, and the restaurant is bustling with activity.

The relocation dispute actually became the beginning of a more united family.

Qiuju looked at the fireworks filling the shop, then at the sisters surrounding her.

I know in my heart:

The shop can be moved, but the family must not fall apart;

As long as the sisters are of one mind, they can make a good living wherever they go.

The new shop was located at a street corner not far from the old street, where there was a more stable flow of people. The storefront wasn't grand, but it was bright and clean. Qiuju and her sisters painted the walls and laid tiles by hand, polished the old shop sign until it shone, and hung it up again.

Song Chunyan continued to oversee the kitchen and front of the restaurant, meticulously managing accounts, ingredients, and hygiene. She showed no mercy to anyone who cut corners or cheated customers; yet she was incredibly warm-hearted towards the restaurant's regulars and neighbors, offering a bowl of hot soup and a greeting that always warmed their hearts.

Song Xiahe had just returned to China, and her accent still carried a hint of foreign influence, but she quickly blended into the lively atmosphere. Having seen the customs and etiquette of the outside world, she quietly brought the new service and clean procedures into the restaurant—how to set the tableware, how to greet customers, how to keep the ingredients fresh—making changes little by little, but without losing the authentic charm of Northeastern cuisine.

Qiuju, on the other hand, devoted herself entirely to the flavor. She would sit by the stove, trying out every possible step: how long to cook the stew in the iron pot, how much sweet and sour sauce to add to the sweet and sour pork, and how many hours to simmer the broth for the pickled cabbage and pork belly hot pot. A customer's simple comment, "It tastes just like home," could make her happy for half a day.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth sisters are young and quick-witted. After school or get off work, they rush to the shop to serve dishes, wipe tables, handle cashier duties, and run errands—they volunteer to do everything. When the sisters are together, they are so busy that they don't even have time to talk; they understand each other with just a glance.

As soon as dinner time arrives, the restaurant is filled with steam, the iron pots are bubbling, and the aroma of the dishes wafts across half the street.

Someone asked Qiuju if she was afraid of losing money again after all the commotion she had caused at the store.

Qiuju watched her eldest sister bustling around the stove, her second sister efficiently handling the accounts, and her younger sisters running around, and smiled:

"When a family is united, there is no obstacle they cannot overcome."

As night deepened, the shop was warmly lit.

The sisters, who were once scattered, are now all living under the same roof, making their lives warm and fulfilling.