"Dad, look, Uncle Tang fell and injured his leg. You are the pillar of our family. , mom, and Xiao Jun, we can’t be without you," Tang Yue imdiately said. She continued, "Mom, please convince dad. Working at the forest farm is tiring, difficult, and dangerous. You wouldn’t want dad to endure such hardship for so little money, right?"
Tang Yue was just thinking about how hard it was to explain this situation to Zhang Hualian directly. With Uncle Tang’s example, this was the perfect opportunity to give dad a warning.
"Zhengde, Xiao Yue is right. We can’t afford to lose you," Zhang Hualian was extrely worried. Tang Zhengde was indeed the backbone of the family. If sothing happened to him, how would she and her daughters survive in the future?
"Xiao Yue, don’t scare your mom," Tang Zhengde said with a smile, trying to reassure her: "I’ve been working at the forest farm for several years without any issues. Don’t overthink things. Yes, it’s tough and tiring, but as a man, I can handle it."
Moreover, Zhang Hualian managed the household well. Previously worried about Tang Yue, now she had matured and beco sensible, and Xiao Jun was also focusing on his studies. His biggest hope every day was to be able to return ho early.
Night.
Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian lay in bed, each apologizing to the other.
Tang Zhengde felt he had burdened his wife and daughters.
Zhang Hualian felt she had held him back; after all, Tang Zhengde could have married a better woman back then, so why had he chosen a woman who ca with baggage?
The couple talked, and naturally, they ended up engaging in the best exercise for bringing spouses closer to each other.
In the darkness, Tang Zhengde’s eyes glead as he watched the sleeping Zhang Hualian and seriously pondered the feasibility of Tang Yue’s words.
On Saturday, Tang Zhengde took Tang Yue to her school and then went directly to the market to find Tang Mingli, who was selling clothes.
Tang Mingli was very busy when Tang Zhengde arrived. Lacking Tang Yue’s help, from morning till night, he was spinning like a top.
"Second brother, you’re here," Tang Mingli greeted him warmly, but there were too many custors buying clothes, and it wasn’t the place for a lengthy chat.
After saying a few words, Tang Zhengde sat to one side and watched.
Tang Mingli’s stall wasn’t large, but it wasn’t small either. Clothes hung everywhere, attracting many custors. Since his arrival, Tang Mingli had already made around sixty dollars.
Tang Zhengde calculated briefly; it had only been about an hour since he sat down.
When Tang Mingli was less busy, he spoke up: "Mingli, your business is not bad at all."
"It’s passable," Tang Mingli’s smile could light up a room. His business was more than just ’passable.’ These days, he would wake up laughing from his dreams.
"Big brother, you still need money?"
Tang Mingli asked.
"No," Tang Zhengde shook his head. "Big brother’s leg is just being taken care of at ho."
"Then you ca here especially, is there sothing you need?" Just as Tang Mingli asked, another custor arrived.
After completing this transaction, Tang Mingli decided to close the stall an hour earlier than usual.
Tang Zhengde felt sowhat guilty, but Tang Mingli pulled him to a small restaurant for a al, saying, "Second brother, you are my brother. Besides, I usually close only half an hour later than this."
"Second brother, eat more, and later you can stay at my place. It’s been a long ti since we brothers lived together," Tang Mingli warmly invited.
Tang Zhengde had sothing on his mind, yet he wasn’t sure how to start.
As Tang Mingli ate, he waited for his second brother to speak. He sighed and said, "This tofu is not as tasty as the one you make. I rember the braised tofu you cooked; it was so fragrant."
Tang Mingli was nostalgic. In the past, he occasionally tasted Tang Zhengde’s cooking when he went ho, but in recent years, with growing responsibilities, Tang Zhengde had less ti to cook.
"Mingli, do you really think I cook well?" Tang Zhengde picked up the conversation.
Tang Mingli nodded affirmatively, reminiscing about the past.
Tang Zhengde smiled and said, "Mingli, I actually ca today because I have sothing I want to ask you about."
"What is it, Second Brother? Why beat around the bush? I am your own brother. Just speak directly, how much money do you need to borrow?" Tang Mingli spoke bluntly, expressing the close relationship between him and his second brother, who had always cared for him best, often saving the best food for him, the youngest.
"It’s like this, Xiao Yue stayed at ho for a day, and she wants and your sister-in-law to open a small store, to sell breakfast and so simple dishes," Tang Zhengde started speaking.
"That’s a great idea, Second Brother," Tang Mingli interjected imdiately. "I used to work at Fusheng Restaurant, and it did really well. We don’t need to open a big restaurant like that, just start with a small store and save so initial capital."
"Second Brother, are you here today to look for a shop?" Tang Mingli spoke and his eyes began to dart around. "There are good locations near the bus station, near schools, and next to the market, all with lots of foot traffic. However, I haven’t noticed any shops for rent."
Tang Mingli was well-acquainted with the area, not just the market street but also around Wangjiang County. He took initiative and said, "I’ll ask around tomorrow; maybe we can find a shop for rent."
"Mingli, do you really think this is a good idea? Better than working at the forest farm?" Tang Zhengde was sowhat surprised. Tang Mingli seed especially enthusiastic, even starting to help look for a shop.
Tang Mingli laughed, "Second Brother, your cooking skills are good, you’ll definitely have many custors and won’t have to worry about not making money."
"Having heard what you said, I feel more confident. Tomorrow, I’ll let Xiao Yue take to see the shop," Tang Zhengde ntioned the shop a classmate of Tang Yue had spoken about.
Tang Mingli got excited and imdiately said he would co along.
"Second Brother, don’t worry about money," Tang Mingli assured him energetically. "Ninety-five dollars is really cheap."
"Mingli, that’s quite a sum of money," Tang Zhengde thought to himself. Even if Tang Mingli had made so money, one hundred dollars wasn’t a small amount. He still needed to save so for his wife’s dowry.
"Second Brother, just trust ," Tang Mingli patted his chest confidently. "I’ll take care of this. I won’t get involved in this small shop, but if the business expands later, you can’t forget to let benefit too."
After Tang Mingli started doing business, his mind obviously worked faster, and he beca bolder. With Second Brother’s cooking skills, plus both he and his wife being hardworking, this restaurant venture was certain to succeed.
"You, still not sure how this small shop will turn out," Tang Zhengde felt a great relief and said seriously, "Mingli, consider this money as a loan from . Tomorrow, I’ll put the deed to my house with you as a collateral."
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