TL: Etude
Xue Chunli's face reddened as she stammered, "I'm just checking to see if I'm dreaming."
Lin Jianguo was somewhat speechless, "Then why don't you pinch yourself?"
Xue Chunli gave her husband a glance, "Wouldn't that hurt?"
Faced with his wife Xue Chunli, Lin Jianguo was simply at a loss, and could only go off to sulk by himself.
Chen Jianghai and Lin Wanqiu exchanged a glance and then shared a knowing smile.
Chen Jianghai then called out, "Mom, Dad, please sit. I still have to be busy for a while. There are so many TVs I haven't had the chance to install, and the buyers are all waiting."
"Alright, alright, you go ahead with your work, don't mind us!" Lin Jianguo quickly responded.
Although Xue Chunli didn't speak, she subconsciously nodded.
The warehouse was small and there wasn't much to see, so Lin Wanqiu took a long bench and sat down with her mother at the door, and the mother and daughter chatted intermittently.
So much had happened in less than a day's time.
What else would happen if they continued to stay?
Xue Chunli didn't know and didn't dare to think about it.
However, she could now be certain of one thing—Chen Jianghai had truly changed and become capable!
"Dad, Mom, I'll take you out to eat at a restaurant today. Aiguo, Changgui, you guys come along too."
After putting away his tools, Chen Jianghai stood up and said.
Zhao Changgui shook his head, "My sister is still at home, so I won't go."
"No way, you go get your sister now and bring her over. We'll go together," Chen Jianghai didn't give Zhao Changgui any chance to refuse.
Fang Aiguo, however, smiled and said, "If there's a meal, I naturally have no objections."
Lin Wanqiu couldn't help but ask, "Jianghai, where are we going to eat?"
Chen Jianghai gestured with a wave of his hand, "Fuchun Restaurant. Aiguo, you're quick on your feet, go ahead and book a table for us."
"Okay!" After speaking, Fang Aiguo turned and ran off, not giving anyone a chance to react.
Fuchun Restaurant, a three-story building, was currently considered the most prestigious restaurant in the county.
The restaurant was built in 1877, and it had been around for a hundred years. It joined the public-private partnership in 1956 and was the largest and best restaurant in Linghai.
Hearing this name, Fang Aiguo was visibly excited, while Lin Wanqiu's expression changed slightly.
Xue Chunli saw the change in her daughter's expression and quickly asked, "Girl, what kind of place is this Fuchun Restaurant?"
"Mom, it's the best restaurant in Linghai. I heard that the cheapest meal costs at least fifty yuan, and the most expensive ones can cost several hundred per table!" Lin Wanqiu hurriedly explained.
Lin Jianguo listened with a look of astonishment.
"Fifty yuan for a meal? Are we eating gold?"
In an era where pork cost one and a half yuan per jin, Lin Jianguo truly couldn't comprehend how a table of dishes could be so expensive.
Xue Chunli said worriedly, "Shall we change to another place? This is too expensive! It's not necessary, not necessary at all."
Lin Wanqiu turned to look at Chen Jianghai.
Honestly, she wanted to advise Chen Jianghai too. It was just a family meal, there was no need to go to such an expensive place.
Chen Jianghai pursed his lips and said leisurely, "We don't have to go. But just so you know, the restaurant has a rule—if you book a table and don't show up, they don't refund the money. It's like throwing it into the water!"
Hearing him say this, Lin Jianguo and Xue Chunli felt the sting.
"Let's go! We'll go!" Xue Chunli quickly said.
This was several dozen yuan they were talking about!
How could they just throw it away?
Lin Wanqiu, of course, knew that although Fuchun Restaurant had many rules, there was no such policy.
She gave Chen Jianghai a look—this was clearly him forcing her parents to go for the meal.
However, Lin Wanqiu certainly didn't blame Chen Jianghai. On the contrary, she was quite happy inside. In the past, we didn't have the financial means.
But now that we do, it's perfect to treat my parents to a good time.
They have worked tirelessly in the countryside for most of their lives, living a very hard life, with almost no occasions of dining out at a restaurant.
Now that they've come all this way, naturally, I should treat them well and show my filial piety.
Chen Jianghai then said with satisfaction, "You all wait here for a moment, I'll call a tricycle."
With that, he left, not giving others a chance to speak.
After Chen Jianghai left, Lin Jianguo couldn't help but ask, "Daughter, does Jianghai really make so much money with his work?"
"Didn't you see for yourself just now?"
Lin Wanqiu said with a smile, "You always claimed it was fake before, do you believe it now?"
Hearing her daughter's words, Xue Chunli's expression turned somewhat awkward.
It was embarrassing!
Before, she had been vocally dismissive, saying that he was good for nothing, always idling around at home, living off his wife's money, a wasteful and ineffectual man.
But now, the image of that thick stack of money was constantly pricking at her nerves.
…
Riding the tricycle on the way to the restaurant, Xue Chunli occasionally glanced at Chen Jianghai beside her.
She felt as if this was all a dream.
A useless lump of mud suddenly propped up against the wall!
And turned out to be impressively beyond imagination. If they had really forced their daughter to divorce him that day, wouldn't that have been a huge loss!
Soon, the Fuchun Restaurant appeared in front of everyone.
Looking through the main entrance, the place was bustling with people, clearly many were dining.
"Mom, Dad, Wanqiu, let's go in!"
Chen Jianghai, having parked his bicycle at the entrance, beckoned to everyone.
The group had just walked into the hotel when Fang Aiguo, not far off, immediately stood up and waved his hand, signaling to them where to sit.
Everyone sat down in turn, and the waiter approached with the menu.
"Hello, what would you like to eat?"
Chen Jianghai took the menu and looked at Xue Chunli and Lin Jianguo to ask, "Mom and Dad, what would you like to eat?"
Lin Jianguo hurriedly said, "Something simple will do; we're not picky."
Xue Chunli didn't speak but also quickly nodded.
Chen Jianghai then asked, "Do you have any dietary restrictions?"
"No, no."
Lin Jianguo answered quickly and then added, "Your mother doesn't either."
Xue Chunli couldn't help but glare at her husband.
"Okay, then I'll just order some dishes," said Chen Jianghai, scanning the menu.
For this meal, Chen Jianghai didn't think about saving money at all and straight away ordered ten dishes.
Braised lion's head, old goose pot, pine nut seabass, "Emperor and the Concubine"… all special dishes of the restaurant, and none were cheap.
Xue Chunli, sitting opposite, saw that so many dishes were ordered and finally couldn't help but speak up, "Order fewer dishes. It'd be a waste if we can't finish them."
Chen Jianghai smiled and said, "Mom and Dad, it's not easy for you to come here. Wanqiu said we should treat you well. Naturally, we can't go to a small restaurant. We have to try some special dishes, right?"
Xue Chunli glanced at her daughter and saw that she was staring at her. The words that had reached her mouth were swallowed back.
Based on what she had seen and heard today, if it was all an act by Chen Jianghai, it surely couldn't be.
Just the expenses of this half-day alone were not something an ordinary person could afford.
Xue Chunli was now more than half convinced about Chen Jianghai's ability to make money.
Now the only worry for Xue Chunli was whether the money Chen Jianghai made was legal or not, and whether it would last.
If it was illegal, wouldn't her daughter suffer as well!
And if it was just a passing wind, consuming everything now and returning to the old ways later!