As time went by, Shui Lian could no longer stand such "exploitation and oppression."
In private, I often complain to my sister and brother-in-law.
Shui Qing and Hong Yanwu were not only upset because of Shui Lian, but they were also worried that Aunt Shui would be unhappy. I'm afraid no one would have a good time during the Spring Festival.
After thinking about it like this, the couple estimated that Aunt Shui's negative emotions were not only missing her daughter, but also because the old lady disliked the deserted home at home on New Year's Eve.
So the couple decided that it would be better to take Xiaoying to stay up late this year in the west courtyard to add some excitement to the family.
Unexpectedly, Shui Qing tentatively brought up this matter, but was immediately rebuffed by Shui Gengsheng and Aunt Shui, and was even scolded.
The old couple, Ganqing, are both conservative people. They believe that when a daughter leaves home, her husband's family must pass her thirties, otherwise it is unreasonable.
He said that if the Shui family really did something like this, they would no longer be able to see the Hong family in-laws.
My daughter is absolutely not allowed to talk to the Hong family like this.
So Shui Qing and Hong Yanwu were completely lost.
Seeing that the New Year was approaching and both of them were busy, it was difficult to come up with an idea.
In this way, in the end, it was up to Hong Yanwu to seek advice from his resourceful mother.
I have to say, he did the right thing.
As an aunt from a large family, Wang Yunlin's biggest advantage in running a household is that she is good at handling social affairs.
In terms of caring about relationships with relatives and friends, and in being considerate of people's difficulties, I'm afraid all the men in the Hong family who are outfielders can't match it.
After thinking about it, the old lady quickly came up with an idea that would kill two birds with one stone.
This is what she told Hong Yanwu.
"Don't say that the Shui family is cold this year, even the Shou family is the same. Shouzheng will not come back for the New Year. He is preparing his vacation for Lin Susheng. By the way, there is also your master..."
"These people are all relatives and friends who have a good relationship with the Hong family. It's sad to think about them. No matter from which angle, we should try our best."
"From what I see, it's not as good for our families to get together for the New Year this year. Let's be the hosts and hold the New Year's Eve dinner in the small stone building. How about that?"
"Look, there are many people and things to do. We have three new girls to help us this year. Besides, the small building is next to the courtyard, so if anyone gets tired, there will be a place to rest."
"Although we see each other all the time, it's rare that we all meet together. We only have a few relaxing days in a year. If we can get together to eat, drink, play cards and chat, what's wrong with that?"
"Although it is customary to stay in the family on New Year's Eve, but now the New Year has no part in worshiping ancestors, so there is no need to stick to the old rules. The only obstacle is the issue of face."
"You just need to explain the current situation of each family in detail to your parents-in-law and Master Zhang, and then tell them that Shitou Xiaolou is not the Hong family's original family. We just want to borrow this place to facilitate everyone's gathering."
"I think they will understand our sincerity, and maybe they can give us face."
It really must be said that Wang Yunlin thought this matter was indeed in place.
Hong Yanwu followed his mother's instructions and persuaded them separately. Although it took a lot of effort, in general the ideological work went smoothly.
The old couple of the Shui family and "Zhang Dashao" were very understanding of the Hong family's intentions, and they agreed out of love.
So this year has been extraordinary.
The four families, the Hong family, the Shui family, the Shou family and the Zhang Dashao family, decided to spend the Spring Festival together in a unique way.
Even Hong Yankang wants to stay here for the New Year.
He greeted his family in Hong Kong and said that mainland affairs were urgent and he would not be able to return home until the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
It goes without saying that since so many people want to celebrate the festival together.
As the organizer, the Hong family must make careful preparations.
The decoration is mainly done by the female relatives.
First of all, in order to make it easier for everyone to watch the Spring Festival Gala, Hong Yanwen and his wife moved down the two color TV sets upstairs.
There are three "Twenty-One Remote" broadcasting in the entire area at the same time. Even in the dining room and living room, you can watch the program.
Secondly, the grand piano was pushed into the corner.
At the original location, two card tables were set up according to Wang Yunlin's wishes. She wanted to play mahjong and poker at any time.
As for the original chess and card room, there are two new arcade machines purchased by Hong Yanwu for the "Polar Bear Day and Night Food Store".
This is fun for children, and because it’s noisy, it won’t get in the way when the door is closed.
Although it is a bit of power-seeking for personal gain.
But let the Hong family's children play with it for a few days, and then send it to the merchant after the festival, and no one can say anything.
Hong Yanwu had already thought of an excuse and called it a trial!
Finally, there is the decoration that adds to the festive atmosphere.
Xu Chongya not only worked with Lin Su, but also took "San Ying" to cut out the window grilles from red paper.
It also caused people to put colored lights on the lamps in the living room.
Hong Yanwen bought a few more pots of good narcissus and placed them with "bergamot" and "guangtan" given by the "Cantonese Promotion Association".
The red, green, orange and yellow colors in your home are not only pleasing to the eye, but also full of fragrance.
But as for the finale ornament, it has to be Wang Yunlin’s.
The old lady specially assigned Hong Yanwu to go to the garden of her parents' half-acre garden.
I broke off two large branches from the prosperous wintersweet tree, brought them back and put them in a bold vase in the living room.
That thing is four feet tall, has beautiful branches, and many flower buds, so it is truly spectacular.
Especially when contrasted with the harsh winter weather and withering flowers, it makes people's eyes brighter and their moods more joyful.
After this, plus the imported food brought by Hong Yankang, Hong Yanwu, and Chen Liquan, polar bear snacks, and high-end tea.
As well as all kinds of game brought back from Longkou Village.
Sea cucumbers, abalone, scallops, and prawns were sent by mail from the "general" of Bincheng.
It's New Year's Eve, but in terms of material and appearance, if the Hong family's small stone building is not the first in the capital, it is probably not much different.
So on the night of February 8, 1986, there was a lot of excitement in the small stone building of the Hong family.
The four families gathered together, eating, drinking, playing cards, and chatting. They were so happy.
The children were also happily running here and there, laughing there, completely letting go of the sheep.
Even the three girls who were still busy with each other didn't feel unhappy.
Anyway, they are destined to not be able to go home if they have no money. They have been mentally prepared this year not to think so.
But the Hong family treated them quite well.
In addition to the New Year dishes, we specially prepare a few hometown dishes for them and invite them to eat at the same table.
They also gave each person a red envelope worth 20 yuan and a cosmetic imported from Japan in advance.
We even asked a photographer to come and take a group photo at seven o'clock in the evening, and their positions were all in the photo.
Everything is in place emotionally and rationally, there really is nothing to fault.
Although it is not as comfortable and casual as at home, it is a taste of life that ordinary people rarely experience, and it is quite insightful.
I have to say that working in a home with such people is also a blessing.
And to say that the only condition in the whole small building does not match the New Year.
I'm afraid they are cousins Hong Yankang and Hong Yanwu.
These two brothers were playing billiards with Hong Yanwen and Quanzi in the basement.
But slowly, the two of them sat down and started talking about serious matters, and there was no shortage of arguments.
If nothing else, the main reason is that this kid Hong Yanwu has come up with a new idea.
The plan is to let Hong Yankang hire a chef from Hong Kong after the Spring Festival, and then open a "high-end Chinese restaurant" using the shop he has purchased in Ginza, Tokyo.
His starting point is that the island country is about to enter a bubble era due to the sudden rise in the stock and property markets.
The era is coming when the devils will least regard money as money.
Don't miss the opportunity; it will never come back.
Why not take this opportunity to sharpen your knife and go over there to bleed the Japs.
It should be said that Hong Yankang quite agreed with the business opportunities that Hong Yanwu saw.
Because based on what he heard and saw and what he experienced in Tokyo, there are indeed signs of extravagance.
Young people cannot resist delicious food and fun, while older people are increasingly fond of luxury goods.
Every festival has become a good time for carnival.
This kind of consumption craze in society as a whole has the conditions to continue.
But what Hong Yankang opposed was Hong Yanwu's business methods.
He believes that the Japanese are quite picky and attach great importance to food safety, so operating with integrity is the long-term solution.
Only by gaining a good reputation through service quality and food quality and cultivating repeat customers can we survive.
But Hong Yanwu's idea, as soon as I heard it, was how to save money, seek quick success and maximize profits.
For this reason, Hong Yankang earnestly asked his brother not to follow evil ways or destroy the Hong family's brand.
But I didn't expect that his words were all in vain as his lips went dry and his tongue went dry.
Hong Yanwu still insisted on his opinion.
"Brother, I'm afraid you are mistaken about one thing. I have never thought about using the name of our Hong family. I have no intention of doing this for a long time."
How could Hong Yankang not be shocked?
"Ah? You...what did you say? Why can't I understand you?"
Unexpectedly, Hong Yanwu was happy and told another truth.
"Brother, when things go to extremes, things will turn upside down, and when things are as prosperous as they are, they will decline. The devil's temperament is that his desires are insatiable, and they don't know when to stop. So if the stock market and the property market collapse, they will suffer huge losses due to their greed."
"For such a small country, its economic development is seriously biased, and it will be difficult for it to recover. Since their good days are only a few years away, can I make the mistake of setting up a brand? By then they will not be able to afford it. I have cultivated the market for several years.
Aren’t you wasting your time in vain?”
"What's more, they are devils. They have occupied our hometown for eight years, and how many dirty things have they done? Don't say I feel bad for lying to them. When the time comes, I will add insult to injury and exploit their national wealth."
"Don't feel guilty. Isn't there a saying that says, repay evil with kindness, how can we repay kindness? We are good people, but we have to see where our good intentions are. I don't lie to my own people, but I can lie to the devils. There is no psychological barrier."
"If that doesn't work, go to a hotel in Beijing and see how much Japanese food costs. You'll feel at ease after seeing it. A piece of sashimi rolled into a piece of broken rice will cost you the price of a pair of shrimps. And now on the street
California beef noodles popping up on the Internet? Is that true? There is no beef noodles anywhere in California, but it’s all in Lanzhou.”
"So I finally figured it out. This is a trade war. I am forced to fight back and bring honor to my country."
"Hurry up and hire a team of chefs in Hong Kong later. The skills are about the same, but the restaurant must be luxurious and stylish."
"There are two things we rely on to make money. One is to exaggerate. We use the "Man-Han banquet" that does not exist in history as a gimmick to attract people."
"Later, I will find someone to renovate two Ouchi walking imperial chef signs and put them in the store. The Japanese people will be shocked when they see Noh. I'm sure they will rush to pay for it."
"The second thing is to find ways to reduce costs. Although the owners of this restaurant recommend dishes with delicacies from the mountains and seas, there is actually no need to give them good food. The bear paws can be replaced with camel paws, and the shark fins can also be cooked with vermicelli and isinglass.
"
"I'm not bragging. It's a lie. You have to rely on your craftsmanship to make money. When the craftsmanship is good, not many people in the world can taste it. Just because of this shady method, it won't be unfair for the little devil to pay for it."
"Hey, don't believe it. My master will serve a dish of 'white grilled imitation fin' tonight. Even though you haven't eaten less shark fin, you can't eat it either. How about we make a bet, 100,000 Hong Kong dollars?"
Listening to Hong Yanwu's endless talk, Hong Yankang couldn't say a word and was completely confused.