Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Chapter 153 New Plans

No matter what joyful thoughts Xu Bei had in his heart, he had to appear very understanding on the surface.

"Brother Song, that's wonderful. But even if it doesn't work out, it's okay, I can understand."

Song Zihou waved his hand and said, "No, I have to get this done for you, otherwise I'll be eating and drinking for free."

Since the other party had said so, Xu Bei naturally wouldn't refuse, and he smiled and offered another glass of wine.

In the end, he made Song Zihou and Wei Xuelin very happy and satisfied, and they ate almost all four dishes without wasting a single bit.

After the three of them finished their meal and left, they parted ways at the restaurant entrance and agreed that Xu Bei should go back and wait for news, which would be available within a day or two.

After Xu Bei returned to the Forestry Bureau store, he didn't rush to talk to his sisters about the house.

Moreover, he was quite concerned about his mother, who was suffering from a cold and was resting at home.

After decisively suggesting that they close the shop early and go home, Xu Li and her husband, as well as Xu Juan, responded positively.

So, around 3 p.m., the group closed the shop and went home.

As a result, before Xu Bei and his three bicycles even reached their doorstep, they saw smoke billowing from the chimney of their house.

After they filed into the courtyard pushing their bicycles, Zhao Fengying, who was busy in the kitchen, leaned out. The white breath that billowed out made them smell the aroma of food.

Xu Li immediately sniffed, "It smells so good. Mom, why aren't you resting?"

"I figured I had nothing better to do, so I steamed some sauerkraut and pork buns. I used a lot of oil and meat, so of course they're delicious."

Although Xu Bei knew that his mother was someone who couldn't sit still at all, and even when she had a cold and was feeling unwell, she was still busy making dough, chopping fillings, and steaming buns, Xu Bei still felt a surge of heartache and dissatisfaction.

"Mom, you don't take care of yourself at all. Even if you want to do it, it would be better to wait until we come back to help. Aren't you afraid of catching a bad cold?"

Zhu Wenliang, being the son-in-law, was practically a son to him, and chimed in, "Yes, Mom, a cold is so uncomfortable. You'd be happy if we could help you chop the filling."

"I work slowly and leisurely, it's not tiring at all. Plus, working a little and sweating helps me recover from a cold faster. I hardly sneeze anymore," Zhao Fengying said with a smile. "Alright, hurry up and come inside. There's a fresh pot of food in it, it's still hot. Eat it while it's hot!"

The group looked at each other in bewilderment, then propped up their bicycles and went inside.

After everyone washed their hands, each person was given a large steamed bun with a thin skin, a generous filling, and some parts even had oil seeping out and staining the dough yellow.

Even though Xu Bei had eaten at a state-run restaurant at noon, he had already digested quite a bit by now.

He ate a steamed bun, a clove of garlic, and then some pickled mustard greens mixed with sesame oil.

"It smells so good."

Zhao Fengying, as a mother, is happiest when she sees her children eating heartily, even more so than when she eats it herself.

"If it smells good, eat more. We'll have this for dinner tonight. I'll also cook some porridge, so we won't need to stir-fry any other dishes. By the way, son, how did your trip to the city go? Did the wood products dealer come back from his trip out of town after the New Year? And did Xiao Wei help you find a suitable house?"

Xu Bei swallowed the delicious food in his mouth before giving a brief account of the situation.

"The last location we looked at was really good, right next to the department store — but they haven't said anything about renting it out yet. Wei's friend promised to go back and try his best, saying that we should hear something in the next day or two."

Although Zhu Wenliang supported his wife opening a shop, he was intimidated by the location. "Next to the department store? The rent there must be expensive, right? Brother, is it feasible? Maybe we should find a cheaper place."

Xu Bei could understand the other party's timidity. After all, doing business is different from working a job. He wiped his mouth and said, "It's too early to say that the rent is expensive, because it's not certain that it can be rented out yet."

Xu Li couldn't help but glare at Zhu Wenliang. "Brother, you've gone to so much trouble to help us find people and places, and things aren't even settled yet, and you're already backing down? Can't you get anything done?"

Zhu Wenliang quickly explained, "No, I was just thinking that we don't have much money on hand. Even if we can get an interest-free loan, as you said, we still have to pay it back later. What if we lose money and can't pay it back? We'll be in a bind then."

And as you know, my mom wasn't really in favor of us starting a business in the first place—”

Xu Li was actually quite unsure about the loan, especially since the shop was located in the city and she wasn't as familiar with the Forestry Bureau as she was, which made her even less confident.

But upon hearing her husband's next sentence, she retorted somewhat angrily, "Does your mother's disagreement matter? Shouldn't I be the one to decide things in our family?"

Even though Zhu Wenliang was henpecked, he was now showing signs of resistance and displeasure. "Wife, I didn't say you don't have the final say, but if we don't have enough money to open the shop and don't want to take out a loan, shouldn't we ask our parents for some money?"

"I'd rather take out a loan than have to bow down and be manipulated by others!" Xu Li said to Xu Bei. "Brother, take me to run some errands for that loan these next couple of days!"

Xu Bei hates seeing couples bickering and arguing the most, especially since his sister is pregnant. It's not good for her to get angry and lose her temper over opening a shop.

"You should all keep quiet. We might not even be able to rent this place yet. Let's wait until we do rent it before making any decisions."

Zhao Fengying, not wanting her eldest daughter and son-in-law to have a conflict, stepped in as a peacemaker, saying, "That's right, things haven't even started yet, why are you two already arguing like this!"

Although the couple didn't argue anymore, after they finished eating and left, leaving only the mother and her two children, they still shared their worries and feelings.

"Son, the shop hasn't even opened yet, and your sister and brother-in-law are already like this. If it really opens, there will be even more trouble, and they'll be arguing every day. Especially with her big belly, commuting to and from the city is too tiring. I think we should hold off for now and wait until after the baby is born."

Xu Juan looked at her mother and brother. "But it takes at least a year from pregnancy to childbirth before the shop can be opened. My sister can't do it either. She dreams of having her own shop and being her own boss as soon as possible. You weren't in the shop today, and you even told me about your future plans."

Xu Bei pondered for a moment, and quickly came up with a new plan. "How about this? Mom, you transfer the Forestry Bureau shop to my sister and her family, and we'll open a new shop in the city. Then we can rent a place to live nearby. Xiao Juan won't have to live in the school dormitory anymore, and she can come home to eat and sleep every day. If she eats well and sleeps well, she can study even more effectively."

Zhao Fengying and Xu Juan both widened their eyes upon hearing this.

"Son, you know what, this way your sister has a shop and doesn't have to travel back and forth anymore."

"Brother, I want you all to go! I'd be so happy!"

Xu Bei reached out and flicked his younger sister's forehead, laughing indulgently, "Little girl, the Lantern Festival isn't over yet, what are you saying about dying? Children really do speak without thinking, hurry up and spit twice."

Xu Juan quickly did as instructed, then grinned foolishly.

Zhao Fengying smiled when she saw her two children like this, but then she thought of something else. "Son, if we go to the city to open a shop again, when will we be able to pay back the five hundred yuan we owe your boss? And what about the business of selling stools? Will it not be affected?"

Xu Bei, the real mastermind, immediately smiled confidently and said, "Our boss isn't in a hurry, he'll just owe it to us for now."

Besides, I already sell stools in the city, so it won't affect me at all. As for Dahei and Guodong, picking up goods every now and then won't cause any problems.

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