Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Linji Officially Opens By the afternoon of August 7th, Linji was already bustling with activity. The kitchen had been cleaned thoroughly, and both large woks were set over the fire, braising duck necks, duck heads, braised pork, and chicken feet. Lin Meiyan held a long-handled ladle, occasionally stirring the contents of the woks. The steam kept rushing into her face, making it hard for her to keep her eyes open. Ye Qiuju and Gu Kaihua rushed over as soon as they got off work—one washing edamame, the other tending the fire. Qiaoqiao, meanwhile, had dragged a small stool to the doorway and was sitting there peeling garlic. She peeled slowly, taking forever on each clove. After finishing one, she'd lower her head and sniff it. Her little face would scrunch up, but she never forgot to comfort herself in a soft voice, "This is money, this is money, this is money." It was all little money. Qiaoqiao had barely peeled a few cloves when a car pulled up in front of Linji. Secretary Shen stepped out, dressed in a suit, looking refined and scholarly. In his hand, he held a rolled-up document and a few photographs. But Secretary Shen didn't rush inside. Instead, he stood at the entrance of Linji and took a moment to look it over. Even he couldn't help but be impressed—after the renovation, Linji really did look wonderful. He straightened his clothes and walked in, calling out, "Youth Lin." Hearing the voice, Lin Meiyan poked her head out from the kitchen. "Secretary Shen?" As soon as he stepped through the door, Secretary Shen caught a whiff of the braising aroma. He paused mid-step. That smell was truly appetizing. He'd been rushing over the whole way and hadn't felt hungry at all. But the moment he entered Linji, his stomach let out a low growl. Secretary Shen felt a bit embarrassed and immediately coughed, pretending nothing had happened. "Youth Lin, I'm here to deliver the promotional draft." Hearing this, Gu Kaihua stopped wiping the table and hurried over. "What promotional draft?" Secretary Shen placed the items on the table. "The advertising mock-up from Jianghai Dicai's renovation department. It's going in tomorrow's Jiangcheng Daily." "Jiangcheng Daily?" Gu Kaihua's voice shot up a notch. Ye Qiuju poked her head out from the kitchen. "Old Gu, what are you yelling about?" Gu Kaihua pointed at the draft on the table. "Wife, our Yanyan and Linji are going to be in the newspaper!" "In the newspaper?" Ye Qiuju abandoned the edamame she was washing, dried her hands, and came over. Hearing the word "newspaper," Qiaoqiao hopped off her little stool and stood on her tiptoes. "Let me see, let me see." Secretary Shen smiled and slid the mock-up toward her. "Let the little shopkeeper take a look too." Qiaoqiao's face turned red. "I'm not the little shopkeeper." Gu Kaihua immediately said, "How are you not? Didn't you help come up with the menu?" Qiaoqiao felt shy and hid behind Lin Meiyan. Lin Meiyan dried her hands and came over to look at the mock-up. At the top was a line of large characters. —The first storefront model case from Jianghai Dicai's renovation department. Below that was a photo of Linji. In the photo, Linji's storefront had been freshly repainted, and the glass windows had been replaced with new ones. It looked much brighter than before. Further down was another line of text. Linji, an old establishment with a fresh new look, will reopen on August 8th on Simenkou Hengjie. Lin Meiyan stared at those words for a long time without speaking. Her fingers pressed against the edge of the paper, gently rubbing it. Linji. Old establishment, fresh new look. Reopening. These words—she had waited so many years for them. Gu Kaihua's eyes were turning red too. Afraid someone might notice, he deliberately cleared his throat. "The photo came out pretty well." Ye Qiuju shot him a look. "Pretty well? It's because our Yanyan fixed the place up so nicely." Gu Kaihua nodded eagerly. "Right, right, right. It's all thanks to Yanyan." Hearing this, Lin Meiyan finally snapped back to the present. She lowered her head and continued reading the mock-up. There was no clear shot of her face in the photo. There was Linji's storefront, the front hall, the menu board, and the wooden partition outside the kitchen. But not her. Seeing that, Lin Meiyan felt a quiet sense of relief. Secretary Shen noticed and explained on his own, "Youth Lin, my boss said we couldn't print your face without your permission." Lin Meiyan paused, then looked up, her apricot eyes bright. "President Yu said that?" "Yes." Secretary Shen smiled. "He said this is a promotion for Jianghai Dicai's renovation department, and he didn't want to put you in an awkward position." Lin Meiyan lowered her eyes and said nothing. Her heart felt a little unsettled. Yu Jianghai could be overbearing at times. But at other times, he would think things through for her in the smallest ways. Like the photo. Like that pair of shoes. Lin Meiyan let out a soft sigh inwardly. She read through the mock-up from start to finish. "I have no problem with this." Secretary Shen nodded. "Then I'll send it over to the Jiangcheng Daily." Gu Kaihua still couldn't quite believe it. "It'll really be printed tomorrow?" "It definitely will." Secretary Shen smiled. "The layout is already confirmed." Gu Kaihua wiped his hands on his apron and couldn't help pacing back and forth a couple of steps. "Aiyo, Linji's going to be in the newspaper." The more he said it, the happier he got. "Wife, wife, did you hear that? Linji's going to be in the newspaper." Ye Qiuju gave him a look of disdain. "I heard you. My ears aren't deaf." That said, she couldn't help the smile spreading across her face either. Gu Kaihua rubbed his face vigorously. "No, I have to burn this newspaper and show it to my brother-in-law. Tell him that Linji, which has been dormant for sixteen years, is reopening—and it's even made the papers." "It's even more glorious than when he was alive." As soon as he said this, the room fell silent. Lin Meiyan's eyes reddened slightly, but she quickly composed herself. She handed the sample draft back. "Sorry for the trouble, Secretary Shen." "No trouble at all." Secretary Shen packed up his things and glanced toward the kitchen. "Youth Lin, tomorrow is going to be busy." Lin Meiyan gave a soft "mm." "I know." "If you're short on hands, you can let me know in advance." Lin Meiyan shook her head and looked at Gu Kaihua and the others. "No need. My family's all here to help." Secretary Shen didn't insist. He knew Lin Meiyan's nature—if she could handle it on her own, she wouldn't easily ask for help. He walked to the door, then turned back for one more look. Lin Meiyan suddenly thought of something. "Secretary Shen, wait a moment." Secretary Shen was a bit puzzled. Lin Meiyan had already walked into the kitchen and scooped out some braised goods from the big pot, draining off the marinade. She quickly sliced two plates' worth and packed them full into aluminum lunch boxes. She handed them all to Secretary Shen, her voice soft. "Secretary Shen, it's such hot weather. Sorry to make you run all this way." Given Secretary Shen's own way of handling things, he would normally refuse. But was this braised food really for him? Probably not, right? The drinker's heart is not in the cup. With that thought, Secretary Shen's smile grew a few shades more meaningful. He took the boxes with both hands. "I've been craving this braised flavor. Thank you so much, Youth Lin." Lin Meiyan felt a little awkward under his smile. She paused. "The braised food can be eaten cold or hot, but it can't sit out too long in this heat." Secretary Shen said, "Got it." Then he hurried back with the two lunch boxes in hand. As soon as he left, Lin Meiyan turned around and saw everyone looking at her. She acted as if nothing was wrong. "What are you looking at me for? Keep working." Gu Kaihua was the type to bring up what shouldn't be brought up. "Yanyan, was that braised food for Secretary Shen or..." Or for the boss of Jianghai Dicai? Lin Meiyan couldn't answer that. She felt a bit flustered. It was Ye Qiuju who, while cutting braised duck necks, shoved a piece into his mouth. "Even eating can't shut you up." "Ask, ask, ask—what's there to ask?" "Get to work!" Lin Meiyan shot her aunt a grateful look. Ye Qiuju smiled but said nothing. But inside, she was thinking—Yanyan's relationship with that ex-boyfriend of hers seemed a bit unusual, didn't it? Still, that was something she couldn't say out loud. On the other side, after leaving Linji, Secretary Shen rushed back to Jianghai Dicai with the two aluminum lunch boxes and went straight to his boss's office. When he arrived, Yu Jianghai was still in a meeting with others. A moment later, the meeting dispersed. Secretary Shen knocked and entered. "Boss." Yu Jianghai looked up at him. Secretary Shen immediately set the lunch boxes on the table, smiling with extra enthusiasm. "Youth Lin asked me to bring these back. She said they're freshly out of the pot—still warm." Yu Jianghai stood up, walked around to the table in front, and looked at the two lunch boxes. "She gave them to you?" Secretary Shen immediately straightened up. "How could that be? I'm just the errand boy." He pushed the lunch boxes toward Yu Jianghai. "Youth Lin said it was for my trouble running over, but do I not understand? This was clearly made specially for you to eat, wasn't it?" Yu Jianghai didn't say anything. He just opened the lunch box. Braised duck necks, braised pork, chicken feet, and a few slices of braised lotus root—packed full to the brim. The aroma spread out at once. Yu Jianghai picked up a slice of lotus root and took a bite. Secretary Shen watched eagerly. "Boss, how is it?" Yu Jianghai said flatly, "Not bad." Then he picked up another piece. The flavor was just right. Secretary Shen knew what that meant. "Not bad" meant very good. The boss had a hard mouth, especially when it came to anything involving Youth Lin. He immediately grinned. "Youth Lin's skills really are something. Linji reopens tomorrow—I reckon it's going to be a hit." Yu Jianghai didn't respond, just lowered his head and ate slowly, as if savoring a grand feast. After a moment, he suddenly said, "Add a hundred yuan to your salary this month." Secretary Shen froze, then his eyes lit up. "Thank you, boss!" Youth Lin—he loved Youth Lin. But he loved the boss even more! They were both his money gods! Early on the morning of August 8th, the moment the Jiangcheng Daily arrived at the newsstands, someone spotted Linji's advertisement. The newsstand owner at Simenkou picked up the paper, glanced at it, and gave a start. "Whoa." The man beside him buying cigarettes asked, "What are you looking at?" The newsstand owner handed him the paper. "Look—Linji made the papers." The man looked down. "Which Linji?" "Which else? The Linji on Cross Street." "Didn't Linji close down long ago?" "Well, they're reopening now. This is the old Lao Linji." The man looked at the advertisement and read it again, "Jianghai Dicai Decoration Department's first commercial storefront sample case... Huh, this Lao Linji is connected to Jianghai Dicai?" "Who knows," the newspaper stand owner said. "But if it made it into the Jiangcheng Daily, it must be something special." As more and more people bought newspapers, the news spread to more ears. Even the aunties out buying groceries in the morning knew about it. Some people even bought a newspaper specifically and took it to Linji's doorstep to watch the excitement. At Linji's entrance, everyone was on high alert. For this reason, the Gu family had collectively taken a day off work, all to prepare for Linji's grand reopening. Gu Kaihua had been hanging red silk at Linji's entrance since early morning. Just as he finished hanging the red silk, someone came running over with a newspaper. "Old Gu!" Gu Kaihua turned around, "What is it?" The man unfolded the newspaper, "Your Meiyan has made it big—Linji's in the newspaper!" Gu Kaihua had actually known for a while, but seeing the newspaper now, he still couldn't help but feel proud. He took the newspaper and pretended to read it again. He folded the newspaper and waved his hand modestly, "Oh, it's nothing, nothing." The other man looked at him, "Your mouth's practically stretched to your ears, and you call it nothing?" Gu Kaihua immediately tried to rein in his smile. Unfortunately, he just couldn't quite manage it. Auntie Cao, who had come early specifically to watch Linji make a fool of itself, had a sour look on her face. She had come to see Linji's humiliation, not Linji's glory. She couldn't stand the sight of Gu Kaihua's smug, self-satisfied expression, and immediately made a snide remark. "So what if it's in the newspaper? It's not such a rare thing. If running a shop could be made successful just by getting in the newspaper, then anyone could do it." She was still holding a grudge against Lin Meiyan and Gu Kaihua for kicking her family out of the Lin family house. Gu Kaihua's smile faded a few degrees. He sneered, "Getting in the newspaper isn't rare? Your Cao family—three generations, no, eight generations—how come I've never seen any of you in the newspaper?" "I think you're just a sour grape—can't have it, so you call it sour. What a load of nonsense, ruining the mood this early in the morning!" After cursing, the fire in his chest dissipated a bit. He warned, "Old Cao, Linji has connections now too. If you try any dirty tricks on us, don't blame us for retaliating." Auntie Cao's scheming face immediately fell. She remembered how the Luosiban and the police station had looked after Lin Meiyan when they were kicked out last time. In the end, she left with a heavy heart. Once she was gone, Gu Kaihua spat, "Prosperous and thriving, prosperous and thriving!" Ye Qiuju called from inside, "Gu Kaihua, have you finished wiping the tables?" Gu Kaihua quickly stuffed the newspaper into his chest, "Coming, coming!" Lin Meiyan was in the kitchen preparing the morning goods. The clay pot soup had been simmering since last night, and the sesame paste for the Reganmian was already mixed. Selling Reganmian was purely out of habit, for good luck. As for the braised duck necks, braised duck heads, and braised lotus root, they had all been put back into the pot. A big bucket of mung bean soup had also been boiled and placed in the shade by the entrance. Qiaoqiao was wearing a new dress, her hair tied up in two little buns, running back and forth in the front hall. One moment she was looking at the menu board, the next at the mung bean soup, then checking whether the tables had been wiped clean—so busy it seemed like she was the one reopening Linji today. The Gu family's children had also come, with Gu Xiaolin taking the lead and the others helping out. Ye Qiuju managed the kitchen. Gu Kaihua managed the front hall. Lin Meiyan was in charge of the stove and the dishes. Qiaoqiao looked around, furrowed her little brow in thought for a moment, then suddenly ran over to Lin Meiyan's side. "Mom." "What is it?" "Can we move the mung bean soup a little closer to the entrance?" Lin Meiyan turned around, furrowing her brows slightly, her voice soft, "Why?" Qiaoqiao said seriously, "It's hot outside. When people see it, they'll want to drink some." After saying that, afraid she sounded too much like an adult, she added, "Every time Xiao Min's Mother sees mung bean soup, she says she wants to drink it." Lin Meiyan thought about it and found it reasonable. "You can, but don't block the way." Qiaoqiao immediately nodded, "I know." She went to find the Gu family's young uncle for help, and the two of them moved the mung bean soup bucket a little closer to the entrance. Ye Qiuju watched her and couldn't help but say, "This child, she's really like a little shopkeeper." Gu Kaihua nodded, "Just like Yanyan." Ye Qiuju gave him a sideways glance, "Being like Yanyan is of course good. What, you'd rather she be like you?" Gu Kaihua, "..." He'd already been snapped at several times this morning. But today he was in a good mood, so he wouldn't quibble. More and more people gathered outside. Before the official opening, a crowd had already formed around Linji's entrance. There were old neighbors. There were people who had come because of the newspaper. And there were old customers who had eaten Linji's food before, coming up to ask proactively, "Meiyan, girl, is Linji really reopening today?" Lin Meiyan came out from the kitchen, smiling, "Yes, we're opening today." "Do you have braised Wuchang fish?" "Yes." "Is the braised duck neck the one written about in the newspaper?" "Yes." Qiaoqiao stood nearby, adding proudly and spiritedly, "We also have braised lotus root slices and mung bean soup." Uncle Wang looked down at her and chuckled, "Oh, isn't this Qiaoqiao? Are you Linji's little shopkeeper today?" Qiaoqiao puffed out her chest proudly. "I'm the little boss of Linji." Everyone around laughed. When the auspicious time arrived—8:08 on the morning of August 8th—Gu Kaihua went to the entrance and lit a long string of red firecrackers. The firecrackers crackled and popped. Red paper scraps scattered across the ground. Lin Meiyan stood at the doorway, looking up at the Linji sign above her head. She took a deep breath and called out, "Linji is open for business once again." Only when those words left her mouth did she truly feel a sense of relief settle in her heart. She had reopened Linji. She hadn't let her father's legacy sign gather dust. The others joined in with cheers. "Meiyan, you're bringing back the glory your father had when he first opened Linji!" Lin Meiyan nodded solemnly. "I will." No sooner had the firecrackers finished than customers began to walk in. They were all familiar faces—Uncle Wang was a regular. The moment he stepped through the door, he ordered, "Meiyan, give me a bowl of Reganmian and a bowl of mung bean soup. Extra sesame paste, please." Lin Meiyan acknowledged with a quick "Sure!" and once the water in the pot came to a rolling boil, she swiftly dropped in the alkaline noodles. The sesame paste had been prepared in advance. After blanching the noodles for exactly thirty seconds, she scooped them out, added sesame paste, scallions, and pickled vegetables, then handed the bowl to Ye Qiuju. Ye Qiuju was in charge of passing dishes through the small window between the kitchen and the dining area. She called out, "Reganmian's ready!" "Mung bean soup is by the door—help yourselves." That was clearly the mark of someone seasoned in the restaurant business. With Uncle Wang setting the example, the others began placing their orders one after another. Some ordered pork rib and lotus root clay-pot soup and braised lotus root. Lin Meiyan glanced at the order slips being handed to her and immediately got busy. Most of the neighbors had ordered Reganmian and tofu skin for breakfast. These were all breakfast items, and Lin Meiyan had long since mastered them to the point of second nature. By eleven o'clock, more people started ordering lunch—braised Wuchang fish, Bagua Tang, lotus root soup, cold tossed edamame, cold tossed lotus root stems, braised duck necks, braised chicken feet, braised pork belly, and more. The braised items alone numbered over a dozen varieties, an impressive spread. After looking over the menu, the old regulars couldn't help but remark, "This Linji you've opened really has a bit of your father's touch from back in the day." "The decor inside is lovely too." Clean and tidy, spotless—it made people feel at ease just eating there. Lin Meiyan smiled softly and said, "My father is my goal." She was attending to customers while bustling around the kitchen at the same time. It was at that moment that Secretary Shen arrived. He was dressed in a suit and tie, his face beaming like a spring breeze. Behind him followed two people from Jianghai Dicai, carrying a pair of bright, eye-catching flower baskets. On the red silk ribbon were the words: "Congratulations to Linji on becoming the first storefront model case of Jianghai Dicai's Renovation Department. Wishing you a prosperous opening." The signature read: Jianghai Dicai Renovation Department. The moment the flower baskets were placed at the entrance, they instantly drew the attention of everyone inside and outside Linji. Some people even stopped eating to run out and read the congratulatory message on the baskets. After reading it clearly, they exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, these really are from Jianghai Dicai?" "So what the newspaper said is true." "Linji is really going places now." "Even Jianghai Dicai sent flower baskets—that's a huge honor." Lin Meiyan had been busy in the kitchen, but when she heard the commotion, she came out and saw Secretary Shen standing at the entrance. She walked over to greet him. What was even more eye-catching than Secretary Shen were the two gaudy flower baskets standing at the door—impossible to ignore even if you tried. Lin Meiyan paused, then cleared her throat and said, "Secretary Shen, you really shouldn't have gone to all this trouble." Secretary Shen smiled and replied, "Youth Lin, these were sent on behalf of the company—I didn't spend a cent personally. After all, Linji is the first storefront model case for our Jianghai Dicai Renovation Department. Sending flower baskets is only fitting." He spoke very formally. Lin Meiyan found it hard to refuse. She wiped her hands and said, "Please thank Jianghai Dicai for me." Secretary Shen said meaningfully, "I'll pass that along to the boss." The phrasing was far too easy to misinterpret. Lin Meiyan looked up at him, but unfortunately, the shrewd Secretary Shen didn't take the bait—he had already turned around to arrange the flower baskets. Because besides those two baskets, Secretary Shen, as if by magic, produced three more pairs from who knows where. That made four pairs in total—eight flower baskets lined up in a row at Linji's entrance, quite an imposing sight. But with so many baskets and so many people, no one noticed that behind the large pair of baskets sat one slightly smaller basket. That basket didn't bear the name of Jianghai Dicai. It was sent in a personal capacity. Unfortunately, Lin Meiyan had no time to look at it right now. Because the crowd at Linji was growing larger and larger. At first, the front hall was full, then people started waiting at the door. Later, some simply stood at the entrance drinking their mung bean soup. The braised duck necks sold the fastest. Many young workers who had come out of curiosity after reading the newspaper found themselves unable to walk past the aroma of the braised goods. One duck neck, a serving of braised lotus root, and a bowl of mung bean soup. It wasn't expensive, and it tasted great. Some people finished one neck and came back to buy a second. Uncle Wang was also a regular. Watching others gnawing away happily, he gritted his teeth and spent seventy cents on one for himself. One taste—sweet, numbing, and spicy—and he was completely hooked. He sucked in air sharply from the spiciness, yet couldn't help saying, "Meiyan, this duck neck you made is really something." Lin Meiyan, busy without pausing her hands, said gently, "Uncle Wang, this is an old Lin family recipe. If you like it, come again next time." "I'll come, I definitely will." When Uncle Wang left, he noticed that the mung bean soup at the entrance of Linji was selling quickly too. Qiaoqiao sat on a small stool, in charge of watching over the mung bean soup bucket. When someone came to buy, she would announce loudly, "Five cents a bowl." Someone handed her a dime. She lowered her head and carefully counted the money, then gave back five cents in change. The customer deliberately teased her, "Little shopkeeper, how about you shortchange your uncle by one cent?" Qiaoqiao immediately shook her head. "No, that's not allowed." "Why not?" "If I give you less change, then you're at a loss, Uncle." "And what if you give more?" "Then my mom would be at a loss." The man burst out laughing. "This little shopkeeper really knows how to do the math." Qiaoqiao felt a bit embarrassed from being laughed at, so she lowered her head and continued counting the loose change. Lin Meiyan heard this from the back kitchen and couldn't help but smile. But before she could finish smiling, Ye Qiuju came in. "Yanyan, the cold dressed marinated lotus root is almost gone." Lin Meiyan was taken aback. "That fast?" She had bought thirty jin of lotus root and marinated it all in one go. "Exactly, everyone outside is ordering the marinated dishes." Gu Kaihua also called out from the front, "Yanyan, how many clay pot soups are left?" Lin Meiyan glanced down. "Two more jars." Gu Kaihua drew in a sharp breath. "That was way too fast." Lin Meiyan hadn't expected this either. She had already prepared much more than usual, but even after officially opening, it still wasn't enough. Lin Meiyan thought for a moment. "The marinated dishes can still be replenished with another pot, but there's no time for the clay pot soup. Once it's sold out, we'll just stop selling it." Ye Qiuju nodded. "Alright." With that, she turned and went out. The front hall was already bustling beyond belief. Gu Kaihua was greeting customers while collecting bowls at the same time. Gu Xiaolin, who had never worked as a server in his life, was running around so much his legs were about to give out. "Gu Kaihua, where are you? Where are you? Get over here and carry the dishes." Ye Qiuju yelled at him. Gu Kaihua wasn't angry at all. His fair, plump face still carried a smile as he ran, shouting, "I'm exhausted, I'm exhausted. I can't handle this kind of hard life." A moment later, he laughed at himself. It was Linji's first day of business, and being this busy—he was happy even if he was tired. While Linji was buzzing with activity, at the intersection across from Linji, stood a woman who looked to be in her early forties. She was dressed very fashionably, her permed waves braided and pinned high at the back of her head, revealing an overly beautiful face. But she was no longer young, and fine lines had formed at the corners of her eyes. Beauty fades with age, yet she still carried an elegant grace. This person was none other than Lin Meiyan's mother, Gu Qiuyuan. She had appeared at the street corner outside Linji early in the morning. She watched the shabby, desolate Linji that, under Lin Meiyan's leadership, had now become prosperous and lively. Gu Qiuyuan couldn't say whether she felt happy or pained. She only felt a tightness in her chest. That Linji which had fallen into decline and silence for over a decade—that Linji she had thought would never open again in her lifetime— was now being carried forward and expanded in her daughter's hands. Gu Qiuyuan gazed from afar at everything inside Linji. Through the glass window, she seemed to see a young woman busy in the kitchen. At that moment, Lin Meiyan's figure seemed to overlap with Lin Tonghe's. Back then, Lin Tonghe was still alive. He stood at the stove, busy from morning till night without stopping. Little Lin Meiyan sat behind the counter eating peach shortbread, her hands covered in crumbs. Gu Qiuyuan used to tease her back then, "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." Later, everything was gone. Lin Tonghe was gone. Linji was gone. She left too. She sent her daughter far away and withdrew herself from the Lin family. That meant she had given up on Linji, given up on the Lin family, and even given up on her daughter. But now, Lin Meiyan stood in the kitchen of what used to be Linji, serving the coming and going customers. This gave Gu Qiuyuan an indescribable feeling. Her eyes turned red. "Old Lin, look—what I couldn't accomplish, Yanyan has done." "Old Lin, open your eyes and see." "See how Yanyan has reopened Linji." Unfortunately, the deceased Lin Tonghe would never see this scene. Gu Qiuyuan's emotions were somewhat stirred. The little boy she was holding looked at her curiously, making "ah ah" sounds, but unable to form complete syllables. The boy gently tugged at her hand. Gu Qiuyuan looked down. "Does Songsong want some mung bean soup?" Songsong nodded. He was about six or seven years old, wearing a small shirt washed until it was faded white. His skin was fair, his lips red, and he was very handsome. But his eyes were quiet and still, and he didn't say a word for a long time. Gu Qiuyuan hesitated for a moment before leading Songsong over. Qiaoqiao was selling mung bean soup at the entrance. When she looked up, she saw the boy first. She was stunned for a moment—this older brother is so handsome. But wait, had she seen him somewhere before? She couldn't quite remember at the moment, but a guest is a guest. Qiaoqiao curved her big eyes into a smile and asked sweetly, "Grandma, would you like some mung bean soup?" Gu Qiuyuan looked at Qiaoqiao and was also taken aback. This was the first time she had seen this child up close. Qiaoqiao was very good-looking. Big eyes, fair skin, with a bit of baby fat on her face—she looked a little like Yanyan when she was young. Gu Qiuyuan's fingers twitched, almost reaching out to pat the child's head, but she held back. It took a moment before Gu Qiuyuan managed to rein in her emotions. She asked in a low voice, "Child, how much for the mung bean soup?" Qiaoqiao snapped back to attention. "Five cents a bowl." Gu Qiuyuan took out the money. Qiaoqiao took it, counted the coins, and only then ladled out a bowl for her. After filling it, she stole another glance at the boy. "Doesn't your brother talk?" Gu Qiuyuan said quietly, "His throat isn't good." Qiaoqiao let out an "oh." She thought for a moment, then picked up a small slice of braised lotus root from the side and set it on the rim of the bowl. "This one's for your brother to try. No charge." Gu Qiuyuan was taken aback. Qiaoqiao said softly, "It's our opening day. My mom said kids can have a little taste." Actually, Lin Meiyan had never said any such thing. But Qiaoqiao felt that this brother looked far too quiet. Quiet in a way that seemed almost pitiful. Gu Qiuyuan stared at the slice of braised lotus root, her throat tightening. She whispered, "Thank you." Qiaoqiao looked at her and suddenly asked, "Grandma, do you know my mom?" Gu Qiuyuan's expression shifted slightly. Qiaoqiao tilted her head, seeming a little puzzled. "You kept looking at her just now." Gu Qiuyuan gripped the mung bean soup in her hands. After a long pause, she said softly, "Your mom's cooking smells wonderful—very much like a flavor I knew back in the day." Qiaoqiao was about to ask more when someone else came up to buy mung bean soup. "Qiaoqiao, give your uncle a bowl." Qiaoqiao had no choice but to turn and get busy. By the time she looked back, Gu Qiuyuan had already walked off into the distance, leading the boy by the hand. Qiaoqiao watched their retreating figures, the more she looked, the stranger it felt. That brother looked so familiar. A flash of inspiration struck her, and suddenly she remembered. Wasn't that the little boy who had been kidnapped along with her last time? So he belonged to that grandma's family. "What are you looking at?" Gu Kaihua came out and noticed Qiaoqiao clutching a big iron ladle, staring blankly in one direction, so he asked casually. "A pretty grandma just brought a little kid over." Qiaoqiao tilted her head, thought carefully, and said uncertainly, "That brother seems to be the kid who was kidnapped with me last time." Gu Kaihua let out an "ah"—this was the first time he'd heard such news from Qiaoqiao's mouth. He followed her gaze and caught sight of Gu Qiuyuan's back. He hadn't seen his older sister in many years, but Gu Kaihua recognized her in an instant. Gu Kaihua's plump face trembled, and almost without thinking, he chased after her. Qiaoqiao was still confused. "Granduncle, Granduncle!" She called out behind him, "Why are you running off?" The dining hall was still busy, and now Granduncle had just taken off—how were they supposed to keep up with everything here? Gu Kaihua acted as if he hadn't heard. He sprinted all the way, only to be blocked at the Simenkou intersection by a passing taxi. By the time he tried to chase again, the other party had already vanished from sight. Gu Kaihua stamped his foot in frustration, his round belly jiggling with the motion. "Sis." Unfortunately, the departing Gu Qiuyuan didn't hear him. Gu Kaihua muttered to himself, "You came all this way—why not go see Yanyan?" Their relationship used to be so close. But now they were like strangers. She knew her daughter had opened Linji, yet she wouldn't even show her face. No one could answer that question for Gu Kaihua. Gu Kaihua trudged back to Linji, utterly dejected. The moment he arrived, Ye Qiuju, who was run off her feet, scolded him, "We're this busy—where did you go?" Gu Kaihua was pale and plump—what else could he be but a lazy parasite? Gu Kaihua looked up and said softly to Ye Qiuju, "My sister came." "What?" Ye Qiuju was stunned for a moment. "My sister came. She just arrived, and she left without showing herself." This time Ye Qiuju heard clearly. She quickly glanced back into the kitchen, confirming that Lin Meiyan was busy and hadn't heard anything. Only then did she lower her voice. "Just pretend this never happened. Don't let Yanyan know." Gu Kaihua let out a heavy, troubled "mm." "Tell me, what is my sister thinking? She came to Linji, saw Yanyan and Qiaoqiao with her own eyes, and still wouldn't show her face." Ye Qiuju wiped her sweat. "What else could she be thinking? Just guilt." "The more you love, the more you feel you owe." "And when that's the case, meeting is worse than not meeting." The two exchanged a look and let out a soft sigh. Lin Meiyan, busy in the kitchen, remained completely unaware of all this. Linji stayed busy until evening. During the peak of the lunch rush, the line at the door nearly stretched to the street corner. The braised duck necks sold out once. The braised lotus root sold out once. The mung bean soup sold out two whole buckets. The clay-pot soups were gone early on. Lin Meiyan was so busy she didn't even have time to drink water. One moment she was slicing braised goods, the next she was stir-frying, and then she had to head to the front hall to greet regular customers. One regular customer finished his meal and stood by the counter, gazing at Linji for a long while. Then he walked over to the kitchen window and tapped on it. "Meiyan." Lin Meiyan looked up, beads of sweat rolling down her face, radiant as a blooming peach. "Uncle Zhang?" Uncle Zhang murmured, "If your father knew that Linji had reopened, he'd be thrilled." These people were all regulars from the old days of Linji, having eaten there for half their lives, and had watched it close its doors for so many years until now, when it had reopened with booming business. Lin Meiyan's hands paused for a moment, then she smiled, as if relieved, and said, "Yeah, he'd be happy." Uncle Zhang nodded, said nothing more, and walked off with his hands behind his back. Lin Meiyan lowered her head and continued keeping the accounts, but as she wrote, her eyes grew sore and blurred. The busyness lasted until evening. When the last table of customers left, Linji finally quieted down. Gu Kaihua sat directly on a stool, pounding his legs. He wasn't a particularly diligent person by nature, and now he slumped in the chair, complaining loudly, "My legs today—they're probably going to be ruined." Ye Qiuju untied her apron. "If your legs are ruined, tomorrow you can keep working with your hands." Gu Kaihua, "..." He truly had no energy left to argue. The Gu children were also exhausted, each one lying slumped against the tables, not wanting to move. Qiaoqiao was especially sleepy, her little head bobbing up and down. But she still remembered the money. "Mommy, did we earn a whole lot today?" Lin Meiyan looked at the money on the table. There were small bills, coins, and Da Tuanjie notes. Piled up in several messy stacks. Gu Kaihua was in charge of counting the money. Lin Meiyan was in charge of keeping the accounts. Qiaoqiao was in charge of watching from the side. When the counting was done, Gu Kaihua's voice had changed. "Yanyan, this one day is equal to a long time for you before, right?" Lin Meiyan looked at the numbers in the ledger, hardly daring to believe it. She knew business had been good today. But she hadn't expected it to be this good. She nodded. "One day equals half a month of what I used to make." Gu Kaihua gasped. "Then how much is it?" Lin Meiyan held up one finger. "Ten yuan? No, that can't be right, it must be more than that. A hundred yuan?" Lin Meiyan nodded. "One hundred and eighty-three yuan." The moment those words fell, the room inside Linji fell silent. Gu Kaihua sucked in a breath. "This one day is as much as a whole month used to be." Lin Meiyan, however, remained calm. She rubbed her sore wrist. "Uncle, don't forget, today is opening day. Business will gradually settle back down afterward." Gu Kaihua thought about it and agreed. "The money is a lot, but the costs are high too, and we have a lot of people here." "Yanyan, have you thought about it? What do we do next?" Most of the Gu family members had jobs—Gu Kaihua himself worked at the biscuit factory, and Ye Qiuju was in a similar situation. Lin Meiyan frowned. "I was thinking of hiring people." "No way. How can outsiders be as trustworthy as our own people?" Gu Kaihua was the first to reject that idea. "How about this—our biscuit factory isn't doing well right now. Everyone's fighting tooth and nail to keep their positions. I'm thinking I won't compete with them." "Why not just take an unpaid leave with pay suspended? Let the unit keep paying my pension, and I'll spend the rest of my time helping out at Linji. What do you all think?" The moment those words fell, the room fell silent. Lin Meiyan's throat tightened slightly. She said softly, "Uncle, you don't have to do this." Working at the biscuit factory was a respectable job. Coming to her place to be a server was the opposite. Gu Kaihua smiled and waved his hand. "It has nothing to do with you. Our factory's performance is bad anyway. If I stay there, it's like a bunch of roosters staring each other down, and the monthly wages don't even come through. Better to come here and lend a hand." At that, he paused, then deliberately said, "Yanyan, you're not going to say you don't want me because I'm too old, are you?" "How could I?" Lin Meiyan instinctively denied it. "Uncle, if you come to help me, I'd be more than happy." That was exactly what Gu Kaihua had been waiting to hear. He immediately said, "Then it's settled. I'll go to the factory tomorrow and arrange the unpaid leave." This matter was entirely decided by him with a single stroke. Ye Qiuju thought for a moment. "Our factory is still okay for now, but I estimate it won't hold out for more than a few years." This was because in the early 1990s, Jiangcheng was impacted by the southern markets and private enterprises, and the performance of those original state-owned factories was gradually declining. Ye Qiuju's unit was no exception. She smiled and teased Lin Meiyan, "Yanyan, if your auntie gets laid off, can I come here to beg for a meal too?" Those words truly made Lin Meiyan feel overwhelmed. She gave Ye Qiuju a playful glare. "Auntie, what are you saying?" She said very seriously and sincerely, "Linji isn't just my home—it's all of your home too." Hearing that, even if Ye Qiuju never came to Linji, her heart would still feel warm. Gu Xiaolin muttered, "What about me then?" "You'd better climb the ladder while you can. Your father and I are old, but you're not. Don't you dare think about leeching off your sister." With one sentence, Ye Qiuju nailed shut Gu Xiaolin's hopes, and he dropped the matter. Lin Meiyan laughed. "What leeching off his sister? Brother Xiao Lin is helping me." Ye Qiuju didn't take that bait, only deliberately called out to her, "I was so busy cleaning the kitchen that I forgot to bring in the flower baskets from outside." Lin Meiyan snapped back to attention. "I'll do it." She got up and went to the door to collect the flower baskets. There were too many of them. Neighbors, acquaintances, Jianghai Dicai. She checked the inscriptions one by one, planning to thank each person in person the next day. Until she noticed the small flower basket in the corner. This basket was much smaller than the ones from Jianghai Dicai, placed further back, but it was the only one filled with red roses. The roses clustered together, dazzling and striking. With so many people around during the day, Lin Meiyan hadn't noticed it at all. Now, looking at that basket of roses, she froze for a moment and murmured, "Who sends roses in a flower basket?" She picked up the basket and looked underneath—the words on the red silk were clear. Wishing Linji a prosperous opening. Yu Jianghai—Congratulations.