Chapter 179

The Spring Festival of 1978 passed quickly, as if only I had just finished eating the reunion dinner while watching the Spring Festival Gala, and the year had already slipped away.

It hadn’t been long since they moved to the capital, so they didn’t have many relatives to visit. Su Xiaoxiao took some time with the kids to visit Han Songbai and Zhuzi’s families to exchange New Year’s greetings and collect a few red envelopes. This could be considered a way of paying respect to relatives.

During this period, Bai Lan almost came over every day to discuss the details of opening the shop. They decided to temporarily use Bai Lan’s yard as the storefront. Her yard was several hundred square meters, with only a few rooms left after she and Chen Ping’an each took one.

Chen Ping’an was at school from Monday to Friday and only came back on weekends. With few rooms in her house, it seemed wasteful for her to live alone most of the time.

The layout of Bai Lan’s yard happened to have two large rooms connected to the kitchen. As long as they knocked down the wall between the two rooms and opened a door connecting the kitchen and the rooms, it could be used to entertain guests. When the weather was good in the summer, they could set up a few more tables in the yard. This scale was sufficient for now. They would consider moving to other places more suitable for catering once they could officially open as a private business in a couple of years.

They planned to start construction as soon as the fifteenth day of the first lunar month passed, striving to get the business up and running before the start of the school year.

By the end of February, Han Cheng had already gone to the laboratory to register for the graduate program. Although he had completed the registration process, he could not obtain his admission ticket until March. The national unified exam was held in mid-May, giving him a few months to review.

Han Cheng is determined to pass the graduate entrance exam this time and has been intensely focused on his studies since the beginning of the Chinese New Year. The children know that their father is preparing for the exam, so they don’t disturb him, allowing him to study in peace.

Fantuan, a genius child, picked up his father’s book and read it for a while, only to find out he didn’t understand it!

The child was depressed for several seconds and then made up his mind that he must learn the basic knowledge of middle and high school honestly and solidly in the future.

The start time of Su Xiaoxiao’s school was also at the end of February, similar to the start time of the cubs.

The first to start school at home were actually Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan. Both were brought to school by their older brothers and were not unfamiliar with the environment at all. They quickly made new friends in kindergarten. Xiao Roubao, a social butterfly, was especially excited about it. Every day, he asked his mother when he could go to school and meet new friends.

Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan attended the kindergarten affiliated with Peking University. Han Cheng had already completed the enrollment procedures early on. The kindergarten started earlier this year than in previous years, just before the university started. The school began right after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Most people in this era didn’t have the consciousness to send their children to kindergarten, nor were there private kindergartens. They all attended government or institutional kindergartens. If there was someone at home to take care of the children, they wouldn’t go to kindergarten.

On the first day of school, the two little ones woke up earlier than usual. They didn’t have the habit of sleeping in. When it was time to get up, they rubbed their eyes and got up quickly. It was tough to go to school on such a cold day, but there was no choice. Their older brother and Su Xiaoxiao were going to school in a few days, and there was no one at home to take care of them.

The kindergarten wasn’t far, within a ten-minute walk. They passed by the primary school before reaching the kindergarten.

Fortunately, it hadn’t snowed for the past few days, and the sun was already high in the sky. The whole family went out to send the two little ones to school.

The entrance of the kindergarten was filled with children crying and clinging to their parents. Tang Tiantian, whom they met that day, was also among them, stubbornly refusing to enter and clinging to her grandmother’s legs.

Xiao Roubao couldn’t understand this behavior and leaned on Fantuan’s shoulder, asking his brother, “Big brother, why is everyone crying so miserably? Isn’t kindergarten fun?”

Fantuan replied, “They haven’t been to kindergarten before, so how would they know if it’s fun or not? They’re reluctant to leave their families.”

Xiao Roubao still didn’t understand. “But don’t parents come to pick them up in the evening? Can’t they wait for a while?” he asked.

If all children were as easy to handle as Xiao Roubao, there wouldn’t be so many parents with heart problems.

Han Cheng put Xiao Tangyuan down and instructed her, “Xiao Tangyuan, stay with your brother, listen to the teacher, and don’t cause trouble. Dad will come to pick you up after school in the afternoon.”

Xiao Tangyuan nodded obediently with a smile. “I know, Daddy. I’ll take care of my brother.”

Han Cheng: “…” He didn’t mean it to sound that way, but his son is more mischievous than his daughter, and it seems like he’s saying the same thing.

After Xiao Tangyuan finished speaking, she ran over to Tang Tiantian. “Little sister Tang Tiantian, are you also coming to kindergarten?”

Tang Tiantian’s grandmother breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Xiao Tangyuan coming over. “Tiantian, look, Xiao Tangyuan and Xiao Roubao are also going to kindergarten. Everyone is going to kindergarten. You don’t need to be afraid. Would you like to play with your sister, Xiao Tangyuan?”

Xiao Tangyuan took out a candy from her bag and handed it to Tang Tiantian. “Here, little sister Tang Tiantian, sister will give you candy. Let’s go in together.”

Only then did Tang Tiantian hold Xiao Tangyuan’s hand and let go of her grandmother’s leg.

Xiao Roubao wrinkled his nose and looked disdainful. He said with an air of superiority, “It’s fine if a little girl keeps crying, but why are these little brothers crying so much too?”

Xiao Roubao naturally assumed himself as the older brother, but in reality, he was just the tallest among them. Among these children, only Tang Tiantian was a few months younger than him, and most of the other children were older than him and Xiao Tangyuan.

Su Xiaoxiao squatted down, rubbed Xiao Roubao’s head, and said, “Xiao Roubao is the older brother. You have to take care of your two sisters, no bullying classmates, and absolutely no fighting. Understand?”

Xiao Roubao nodded vigorously. “I understand, Mom. You’ve told me many times these past few days.”

Xiao Roubao was holding onto Xiao Tangyuan, Xiao Tangyuan was holding onto Tang Tiantian, and the three children were happily gone inside the school, hand in hand. Finally, Tiantian’s grandmother calmed down.

Tang Tiantian’s grandmother said, “Thanks to your kids; otherwise, who knows how long it would take for my Tang Tiantian to stop crying?” 

Su Xiaoxiao bumped into Tang Tiantian’s grandmother several times recently and exchanged a few words. They were considered familiar neighbors. “Most children are like this. They cry for a few days and then get used to it.”

Tiantian’s grandma sighed and said, “It’s still your family that has been taught well. You see, your children are the most obedient.”

Su Xiaoxiao led Xiao Doubao back and changed the subject: “Is Tiantian already three years old? Why did she start kindergarten so young?”

Tiantian’s grandma explained that she was almost three and a half years old. She was weak and growing slowly. She was supposed to be sent over in the second half of last year, but she cried and didn’t want me to leave her at school. I became soft-hearted and brought her back. This year, I had to send her to school.’

Su Xiaoxiao remarked: “Actually if there were adults taking care of the kids at home, it’s okay to send the kids to kindergarten later.”

Tiantian’s grandma seemed to be in a good mental state. She didn’t seem to be very old, so she was probably under fifty. Taking care of the children should have been quite easy.

Tiantian’s grandma sighed and said, Although our family is not rich, we live an honest and simple life. To be honest, Tiantian was born when my son went to the countryside and married another female, educated youth. After returning to the city last year, that female, educated youth complained that our family was poor and she wanted to divorce. After completing the divorce procedures, she left Tiantian behind and ran away.

My son took over my job when he returned to the city. I gave him my position, so naturally, I had to be laid off. My job didn’t pay much, and how could it support the three of us? Just yesterday, I saw signs of some privately run restaurants around here recruiting workers. I thought my health was still good. The work I used to do in the workshop wasn’t much easier than washing dishes and serving food, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

Tiantian’s Grandma sighed and continued, “Seeing educated youth returning to the city one by one, I guess that in another year or two, regardless of whether there were units willing to accept all the educated youth back to the countryside, they would all be returned. By then, even dishwashing jobs would have to be fought over with those young, strong youngsters. How could I compete with these young bones?”

After hearing this, Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng exchanged glances. Han Cheng nodded slightly.”

Su Xiaoxiao said: “Tiantian’s Grandma, I’m planning to open a restaurant with Sister Lan from the next door. We’re short of staff, so if you don’t mind, you can come and work for me. However, it’s all dirty and tiring work, really.”

Tang Tiantian’s grandmother looked at Su Xiaoxiao in disbelief. “Aren’t you both students from Peking University? How come you’re opening a restaurant?”

Su Xiaoxiao joked, “Raising children is not easy. We have to have some side business to support our family of four kids.”

Tang Tiantian’s grandmother took it seriously and nodded. “That’s right. The subsidies for your university studies aren’t enough to support four children. If you’re willing to hire me, I’d be grateful. What’s there to mind? Rest assured, I’m only forty-five this year, and I’m in good health. My husband passed away early, and I raised my son on my own. Now, I can also raise my granddaughter.”

Every family has its own difficulties. Most people in this world are carrying burdens, but life goes on.

The only thing Su Xiaoxiao could do was offer her a higher salary. “Then it’s settled. But I won’t be able to open until the end of February. Can you wait?”

Tang Tiantian’s grandmother breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course, of course, I can wait however long. We’re neighbors, and you two are university students. Can you still deceive me?”

With the staffing issue settled, Su Xiaoxiao felt relieved. To be honest, she wasn’t comfortable bringing back unknown people from outside. It’s better to be cautious. With both her and Han Cheng having little time to stay in the shop and with the kids always running around the shop, especially with Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan being so young, it’s better to be safe.

Chen Ping’an started school early. He also went to school to register early that day. He trusted Su Xiaoxiao’s family unconditionally, from Han Cheng to Xiao Tangyuan. When his mother went to start a business with such people, he was completely at ease.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, it was an auspicious day to start construction.

The workers for the yard renovation were hired by Bai Lan, mainly some strong locals. After discussing the requirements with them, they began their noisy and busy work.

Han Cheng had already arranged for the carpenters to make tables and chairs. They would be delivered as soon as the work here was finished.

As for the purchase of pots, pans, and utensils, it was arranged by Grandpa Zhang. Early in the morning, Old Yang drove over to deliver them.

Xiao Wu also started looking for nearby yards for Grandpa Zhang’s family. Later, Old Yang would also live with Grandpa Zhang’s family.

As for the requirements for the yard, Grandpa Zhang asked Xiao Wu to consult their grandson. Zhuzi’s only requirement for the yard was that it couldn’t be too far from Fantuan’s house. Xiao Wu was troubled. There were only a few houses around, and there weren’t many yards available for sale. Setting such a narrow range made it difficult. Where could he find a yard in such a short time?