Why must we have a family dinner for New Year’s Eve dinner?
Why do you have to eat dumplings made by yourself?
Just because it is kind and informative, it can bring the whole family together into this meal.
Even if such meals are put on the table one by one, they will already be cold by the time you eat them.
That heart-warming taste cannot be compared to the superficial and bells and whistles provided by the hotel.
But some people never seem to understand such a simple truth.
Far away in a villa in Repulse Bay, south of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong.
The eldest grandson of the Hong family has always judged the New Year's Eve dinner based on whether the dishes are expensive enough.
Their tongues seem to be born with the ability to taste high and low prices.
Even though the taste is similar, the preference for Fulinmen, known as the "Rich Canteen", is far higher than that of Taipanlou and Fulin Hotel, which are lower in consumption level.
So this New Year's Eve dinner worth 28,880 meals is no longer a meal, but a pure taste of money.
If Hong Yankang's understanding is followed, I'm afraid a gold brick that doesn't need to be cooked should be placed in front of everyone.
His family will also think that eating it will be more delicious and better for their health.
Speaking of this, it really makes people feel cold and sad from the bottom of their hearts.
Because Hong Yankang knew very well that the family's money worship and selfishness stemmed entirely from the genes of his biological father, Hong Fucheng.
The tangible evidence is that although the Republic of China and the United Kingdom issued a "Joint Statement" jointly announcing the return of Hong Kong in 1997, Hong Fucheng's attitude finally changed due to concerns about the future of the Hong family.
He actually took the initiative on this New Year's Eve and planned to let his eldest son go to the mainland for activities on behalf of the family, in order to hook up with a high-level mainland official and ensure the safety of the Hong family after the handover of Hong Kong.
But the indifference and cruelty he showed towards the matter of searching for relatives was really incomprehensible and unacceptable.
This scene still takes place in the "cigar room".
Hong Fucheng blew out a puff of thick smoke from his mouth and his throat trembled.
He just repeatedly emphasized to his eldest son what he considered to be extremely important instructions.
"I don't know what Hong Kong will be like after 1997. The British have actually softened. This is a magnitude 10 earthquake. In short, we need to plan ahead and find the best way out."
"You must try your best. Don't forget that our family cannot immigrate to those developed countries openly like other people. If not, we will have to give up everything here and go to those barren lands to suffer.
Then how can the Hong family talk about the future? So this matter is actually more important than taking care of our property."
"Of course it costs money to do things, especially things that cannot be rushed. But you must first settle things in Hong Kong before setting off. Don't leave any hidden dangers, so as not to delay things by running back and forth. In addition, you must settle things in Hong Kong.
You also need to pay attention to one thing: if the water flows slowly, if you don't see a rabbit, you won't let an eagle fly."
"Let me tell you, officials are actually very simple. Smart people understand that personal relationships are more important than official matters, and it is difficult to withstand the test of money. For them, in fact, just giving them face and establishing a personal relationship is enough. For example, in the early stage, you can use many methods
Try to find opportunities, but don’t invest too much. In addition to normal social interactions, you can give gifts, electrical appliances, jewelry, etc. These don’t cost a lot of money. You can talk about investment, but you must not implement it.”
"The mainland is very poor. Those poor-legged cadres only know television and gold and silver. Maybe they can't tell the difference between old and new. Don't give jewelry or antique calligraphy and paintings. They don't understand. According to my estimate, one hundred
The social fee of 10,000 yuan should be enough, you can raise it based on this number and bring it over."
"But you must pay attention to one thing. Our investment must select key investment targets. When dealing with those officials, you must avoid the kind of selfless and unkind cadres. When looking at the size of the officials, don't just look at the rank. Although
In theory, the higher the level, the more control. But more depends on the inner nature of this right. If it is really arranged, the specific scope of jurisdiction is more important than the level..."
It's just that although these words are the secrets of success that Hong Fucheng has summarized throughout his life, they are really not what Hong Yankang cares about.
Probably because he grew up with his grandfather and mother, he is the only one who is different among the grandson of the eldest son.
The wisdom in his flesh and blood is still tied to the distant capital, and he has never put money before emotion.
He actually only cares about one thing.
"Dad, I have remembered everything you said. I will definitely do what you said. But I also want to look for our old house and my second uncle and second aunt's place. You have nothing to tell me.
Of?"
But Hong Fu accepted it, but he just responded in a perfunctory manner.
"You said it yourself, it happened thirty years ago. We all know what happened on the mainland. It is impossible for our old house not to be confiscated. Their lives will not be easy. They may even be gone.
. I always worry about it in my heart, which is just to make myself unhappy. As far as I can see, you’d better not go to all this trouble, it’s a waste of energy and time. There is a saying in mainland China, which is called ‘looking forward’. In the past
Just let him pass..."
This time Hong Yankang couldn't help but be excited.
"Dad, why do you say that? After all, they are our relatives. My second uncle is your half-brother. You have not heard from each other for more than 30 years. Don't you care at all and don't want to know what they are now?"
situation"
"Even if you can forget it, I can't forget them. I still remember the last lunch before we left Beijing. It was the second aunt who managed to prepare it for us when she was ill."
"Not only did she have the kitchen at home prepare some of your and mother's favorite dishes, but she also specially asked people to go out and buy a lot of snacks, such as bean juice, burnt rings, roasted mutton, and sesame tofu... She said it would be great when she got to the south.
I can’t eat anymore.”
"Especially my favorite food is Ai Wo Wo and Donkey Roll. The second aunt asked the family's coachman to take the concierge Lao Zhang to Niujie, and paid a lot of money to beg them to cook it fresh for me. Yanzhu also likes to eat these, but he didn't have a bite that day.
He argued with me and even gave me his almond tofu. All of this is as clear as yesterday."
"Dad, my second uncle left all the property of the Hong family to us. With the life you live now, can you safely ignore them? Can you really sleep peacefully?"
Hong Yankang couldn't help but feel emotional as he spoke.
For Hong Fucheng, he didn't know that it was these extremely harsh words that finally touched his heart.
Or is it because there are important things currently entrusted to the eldest son, so he has to make some compromises.
He could only find another reason in embarrassment and change his tone.
"Yan Kang. You are in your forties, why are you so impulsive? I'll tell you the truth, you don't understand. I don't let you go to them, not because I don't want to, but because I'm afraid of that kind of human tragedy.
What a scene.”
"You should know that there is a novel in the Selected Works of Maupassant, which tells the story of a reunion between a congressman and his son who was born in his early years. The son later became an idiot. Such a tragic event is not impossible in reality."
"If a similar situation really happened to our family, think about it, can I feel relaxed for the rest of my life? Can you still feel relaxed? It's not that I don't miss them, but I don't dare to think about it."
"Of course, if you have thought clearly and have the courage, I will not object to you looking for them. If you really find them, your second uncle and second aunt's financial situation is not good, of course you can help. But you must not
Don’t forget the main purpose of your visit this time, and don’t put the cart before the horse.”
"Also, don't blame me for not reminding you, you must pay attention to your own safety. Didn't you read the newspaper? The news said that people in mainland China will kill people just for a few hundred yuan. It seems that the public security is not very good. You really want to go this time
When you find them, be sure to dress low-key when meeting them, the more casual the better."
"You know, even though we are relatives, poverty can change people's hearts. Your uncle and aunt have never suffered hardship in the past. When Japan invaded China, they still had 600,000 people at home. God knows what they are like now.
Mind. I have seen refugees with my own eyes. Once a person does not have enough to eat, he is no longer a human being. He will turn into a ghost. He will do all kinds of immoral and cruel things."
"Taking a step back, even if they haven't changed, they still have children. It's really hard to say what they will become in such an environment. After all, the system is different. You have never seen the Red Party troops have such
How ruthless. They are all born with beards, can eat raw meat, and drink blood to quench their thirst..."
No matter what Hong Fucheng said, Hong Yankang never refuted.
When he reached middle age, he regained his "muscle" state.
Although the cigar smoke and his father's demeanor only made him feel disappointed and inexplicably depressed.
This conversation not only made him see his father's heart more clearly, but also made him completely lose his last attachment to this family.
But no matter what, he could finally go back to the capital to take a look.
Finally, he had a chance to find the past that had haunted him and his relatives who had been separated for many years.