(Word Count: 4517)
Mrs. Han fainted twice before. The first time she fainted was because Han Ze believed what Old Blind Han said that he would not have a son, so she fainted. The second time she fainted was because her sons refused to pay for Han Xilan’s job search. For this reason, she was so angry that she lay in bed for half a month.
The brothers and sisters knew that their mother was acting after fainting twice, but this time she was really unconscious, which scared her sons and daughters. Han Yang, who worked in the county, was also called to ask for leave and drove a tractor to take their mother to the hospital. After the doctor examined her, he said that their mother fainted because she was so angry that she couldn’t breathe out.
The brothers and sisters looked at each other. Their mother fainted because of anger. Why?
Han Xilan glanced at Han Ze with a cold look. Han Hai noticed his younger sister’s expression and asked, “Brother, do you know the reason?”
Han Ze didn’t speak.
The brothers and sisters all looked at Han Ze. Han Xilan snorted coldly and complained, “When mom was talking to big brother, mom fainted. I don’t know what he said to mom that made mom so angry.”
Han Ze still didn’t say anything, and looked like he was ready to be beaten and scolded.
That look made the brothers and sisters believe that it was because of him that mom fainted. Sister Han frowned and looked at Han Ze reproachfully, complaining, “Mom is not in good health. You should be more careful when you speak. Don’t say anything out of anger, people in their forties should know what is good and what is bad. ”
Second sister Han was also full of indignation, and said: “Han Ze, if you can’t speak, don’t speak, so as not to cause trouble for us.”
Han Hai and Han Yang are Han Ze’s younger brothers. It is not good for younger brothers to teach their older brother a lesson. The look they gave Han Ze was very unfriendly.
Han Ze smiled, a sad smile. He looked at his brothers and sisters with lifeless eyes, and said self-deprecatingly: “Yes, I am honest, I can’t speak, let alone read people’s eyes. I should be dumb. Why should I speak? If I don’t speak, I won’t make my mother faint, I deserve to die, I shouldn’t be a member of this family. ”
As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell silent. The atmosphere was very awkward for a moment.
The eldest sister Han and the second sister Han looked at each other with mixed feelings in their hearts. They didn’t mean anything else. Their mother fainted, and in a hurry, they didn’t care about anything else and said hurtful words. Their eldest brother was filial to their mother and treated his brothers and sisters well. They have always been very satisfied…
Han Hai and Han Yang were speechless for a moment. To say who among the brothers was the most filial, of course it was the eldest brother. Whoever harmed their mother, the eldest brother would not harm their mother. Even if their mother fainted this time because of the eldest brother, he must not have done it on purpose. They all blamed him, which was indeed wrong.
Han Xilan sneered and said, “No one stops you from speaking, but don’t you understand what you should say and what you shouldn’t say? Don’t tell me you can’t even speak when you are in your thirties. ”
Han Hai and Han Yang frowned. Wasn’t it too much for a younger sister to say that to her elder brother?
Elder sister Han couldn’t stand it anymore. She was Han Ze’s elder sister. It was okay for an elder sister to teach her younger brother a lesson, but it was wrong for Xilan, as a younger sister, to say that to her brother.
She looked at Han Ze and asked, “Speaking of this, why did mother faint?” Han Ze took a deep breath, glanced at the siblings, and said awkwardly, “Mom fainted in anger when she heard that I had a vasectomy.”
“What?”
The brothers and sisters couldn’t believe it. They looked at Han Ze in shock and blankness. Of course, except for Han Xilan, she really didn’t care whether her elder brother had a son or not.
Elder sister Han opened her eyes wide and exclaimed, “Oh my God, tell me, when did you do that operation without saying anything, why did you do the vasectomy, and do you still want to have a boy? ”
Mother fainted because of this; she could understand it too well.
Han Hai and Han Yang remembered what their eldest brother said, that Old Blind Han said that their eldest brother would not have a son, and their eldest brother believed it. Thinking of this, the expressions on their faces were very strange, and the two brothers looked at each other. Now it seems that their eldest brother not only believed what Old Blind Han said, he had gone crazy and even regarded what Old Blind Han said as an imperial decree. He went for sterilization and gave up having another son.
Han Ze frowned and said, “Sisters, didn’t you hear mother say that Old Blind Han told me that I would not have a son? Since I don’t have a son, why should I have a son?”
Sister Han and Sister Han looked at Han Ze in disbelief.
Han Hai and Han Yang coughed unnaturally.
Han Xilan’s eyes flashed with guilt.
Sister Han asked, “Just because Old Blind Han said you would not have a son, does that mean you would not have a son? ”
Han Ze’s eyes fell on Han Yang and saw that he stiffened all over. He moved his eyes to Han Xilan and said slowly, “Mom once asked Old Blind Han to tell fortunes for my younger sister and third brother, and everything came true, so I believe him.”
All the brothers and sisters of the Han family knew that Old Blind Han had told Han Xilan and Han Yang’s fortunes. As girls, the eldest and second sisters Han were thoughtful and usually obeyed their mother in everything. They were puzzled by the truth and falsehood of the fortune-telling but did not take it to heart. They were married and could not take care of their natal family’s affairs. Now, because of Old Blind Han’s fortune-telling, their eldest brother had a sterilization and even did not want to have a son. They realized the seriousness of the matter.
The eldest sister Han blurted out, “You believe that too?”
Han Ze said in a naive tone, “Why shouldn’t I believe what mother said?”
Why shouldn’t he believe what mother said? The eldest sister Han glared at him with disappointment and said, “I just don’t believe it. ”
Han Xilan’s eyes shrank, her cheeks turned pale, and she subconsciously pleaded, “Sister…”
“Shut up.” Sister Han glared at her fiercely, then turned to look at Han Yang, “Han Yang, tell me, what’s going on?”
Han Yang lowered his head and smiled bitterly. He shouldn’t keep this a secret. If he keeps it a secret, he’s afraid that his elder brother will do something unexpected. He knows that he’s selfish, but he cares about his elder brother who’s devoted to the family. After all, he’s his own elder brother. He’s already ashamed of him for causing him to lose his son. He can’t let him believe Old Blind Han’s words anymore.
Han Ze looked at the people with different expressions and asked blankly, “What’s going on?”
Han Yang smiled bitterly and explained, “Brother, Old Blind Han’s fortune-telling was a lie from beginning to end. In order for me to get a job and my younger sister to go to school, I asked my mother to work with Old Blind Han to make up a lie based on our ideas.”
“What?” Han Hai screamed, but he wasn’t as angry in his heart as he looked on the surface. After all, his wife often talked about this in front of him, and he actually believed it. Now it’s just a confirmation.
Han Xilan clenched her palms tightly and stared at Han Yang gloomily.
Han Yang noticed her gaze and shrugged indifferently. His elder brother was honest and simple. He didn’t feel anything when he bullied him and took advantage of his family in the past. However, he felt guilty because his elder brother had a sterilization and had no chance to have a son.
Han Ze’s face was dull, and he murmured, “I don’t believe it. Mother wouldn’t lie to me. Mother said she loved me the most…”
Han Yang was helpless. His elder brother was his mother’s son. Of course, his mother loved him, but she loved Xilan the most.
Sister Han stepped forward and patted Han Ze on the shoulder, sighing: “No matter what, since you know that what Old Blind Han said is a lie, don’t believe him anymore in the future.”
Han Ze’s eyes were wet and a tear flowed out. He stretched out the back of his hand to wipe his face, looked at Sister Han and said with a choked voice: “I don’t believe that mother lied to me, but mother was mad at me this time. In order not to mad her again, I’d better stay away from her in the future. I have something to do. Please take care of mother. If you don’t have enough money, tell me and I’ll ask Hongmei to send it over.”
After saying that, he walked out without looking at anyone.
They didn’t know whether Han Ze believed Han Yang’s words or was afraid of maddening Mrs. Han again. During the time when Mrs. Han was in the hospital, and for a long time afterwards, he didn’t appear in front of Mrs. Han. He just cooked the noodles that Mrs. Han liked every day and asked Elder and Second Sister Han to bring it to her.
After Mrs. Han recovered from her illness and was discharged from the hospital, Han Xilan had an argument with her second brother’s wife for some unknown reason. The second brother’s wife wanted to drive her out in anger and refused to let her live at home. The daughter-in-law became arrogant, and Mrs. Han had no choice but to ask Han Ze to solve the problem.
Han Ze smiled and refused: “Mom faints when she sees me. I’d better stay away from her. Besides, Xilan is a college student, a cultured person, well-educated, and knows how to deal with people. She is not like me who is over 30 years old and can’t speak. How can I help her solve the problem? I believe that with my younger sister’s intelligence, she will definitely get along well with my second brother’s wife.”
Mrs. Han was full of sadness and did not make any more entanglements. The eldest daughter told her that the eldest son already knew that she had colluded with Old Han to deceive people. Even if the eldest son was filial to her as always, she did not dare to ask him to make all efforts for his brothers and sisters.
Han Xilan was driven out of the house by her second sister-in-law, but she was not too worried. She thought fearlessly that if the second sister-in-law did not take her in, she could ask her eldest brother to take her in. When she saw her mother coming back from her eldest brother’s house alone, but didn’t see her eldest brother, she couldn’t help asking, “Where’s my eldest brother? Why didn’t he come?”
Mrs. Han looked at the little girl and said slowly, “Your eldest brother said that you are well educated and know how to deal with people. You will definitely be able to handle the relationship with your second sister-in-law. He is over 30 years old and can’t speak, so he won’t get involved in your affairs.”
After she finished speaking, she sighed. The little girl offended the eldest and second brothers. It seems that there is a problem with her temper. Since there is a problem, she must change it. It’s time for her to remember it. She shouldn’t think that she is great just because she is a college student. She looks down on everyone and offends all her brothers and sisters. In the end, no one is willing to take care of her.
Han Xilan’s face turned pale and her body trembled slightly. She felt panic for the first time. If her eldest brother doesn’t care about her, who can she rely on among her three brothers?
……
Han Ze once again showed the Han family his stubbornness. No matter who Han Xilan asked to plead for mercy, he always said: he was uneducated and could not speak. Han Xilan was a college student, and he had no way to solve the problem that college students could not solve.
The brothers were unwilling to take care of her. Even though Han Xilan was a college student, she had no choice but to borrow money from her classmates to rent a house.
Han Ze still ignored her, and set up the stall and closed it. He asked around the town to see which storefronts were for sale or for rent. He ran around for a few days but got nothing. He was deeply impressed by the difficulty of finding a storefront. It was so difficult for ordinary people to do anything. Thinking of this, he lost the desire to sell noodles.
He planned to close the stall after selling 30 bowls of noodles. The female owner of the clothing store handed over the business of the store to the man. She was about to come to eat noodles as usual, but found that Chef Han had already started to close the stall. She panicked and asked hurriedly: “Han Chef, are all the noodles sold out?”
Han Ze was unhappy and sighed: “Sorry, we won’t sell them today. You can come to eat them next time when there is a market.
“It has become the habit of the female owner to eat a bowl of noodles made by Chef Han every time there is a market. When he said that he would not sell them, the female owner was very disappointed and asked: “Why not sell them? It’s still early. You haven’t sold 60 bowls yet?”
Regular customers of the noodle stall knew Han Chef’s rules. She thought that if she came on time, she would definitely get noodles, but she didn’t expect Han Chef to stop selling them.
Han Ze smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, “It’s nothing. Come earlier next time during the market. We may only sell thirty bowls of noodles that day.”
The female boss became extremely anxious when she heard this. Sixty bowls of noodles were not enough for their diners to share, and the diners would definitely fight hard for thirty bowls of noodles. She thought for a while and asked, “Chef Han, are you in any trouble? Or are others jealous of you because they see that you are making money, and are threatening you not to sell so many bowls of noodles?”
Han Ze did not know whether to laugh or cry, and quickly waved his hands and said, “No one is threatening me. It’s not that serious.”
Not that serious?
The female boss paused. Chef Han said it was not that serious. She thought he must have encountered some difficulties. She said, “Chef Han, just tell me. One person’s shortcomings can benefit two people. So many diners can always help you solve the problem. So just sell your noodles the same way you did before.”
Han Ze said embarrassedly, “How can I trouble you with my business?”
The female boss kept waving her hands, “No trouble, no trouble.”
Han Ze touched the back of his head and said embarrassedly, “You all like the noodles I make. It’s not a good idea to set up a stall like this for a long time. I plan to find a storefront and open a noodle shop so that I can operate every day. Who knew that the storefronts in our town are too tight, and I couldn’t find one after searching for several days?”
The female boss suddenly realized, and then she was surprised. Chef Han wanted to… If they opened a noodle shop, wouldn’t they be able to eat noodles every day? She laughed and said, “It’s just a small problem with the storefront. I’ll tell other diners and ask them to help find it. It will be solved in less than two days.”
Han Ze hesitated: “This, this is not good, right?”
The female boss said straightforwardly, “There’s nothing wrong with it. As long as you open a noodle shop, you can open it every day.”
Han Ze smiled and said, “If there are no accidents, we will definitely open it every day.”
The diners knew that Chef Han didn’t want to sell noodles in order to find a storefront, so they actively mobilized their connections to help him find a storefront suitable for the noodle shop. There is strength in numbers. When the market was held again, Han Ze bought a storefront that suited his taste with the help of the diners.
Han Ze was very grateful, but the diners said, “Don’t be grateful. Chef Han, please open the noodle shop quickly, so we don’t have to think about the bowl of noodles every day. It’s better to prepare a few more kinds of food, which is a sincere thank you to us.”
In order to thank the diners for their full help, Han Ze spent a week to decorate the noodle shop, handle the formalities, and prepare for business.
He considered that Wu Hongmei had to take care of the children and could only help collect money and could not give him other help. Since he was busy alone, Han Ze only planned to increase the number of dumplings. Making dumplings was time-consuming, so he bought a refrigerator and put it in the restaurant, so that he can wrap the dumplings to be sold the next day in advance, put it in the refrigerator, and when the customers want to eat dumplings, just cook it for them.
Since the restaurant has been opened, Han Ze plans to open at noon, selling 60 bowls of noodles and 60 bowls of dumplings every morning; 60 bowls of noodles and 60 bowls of dumplings at noon. Dumplings and noodles are ten yuan a bowl, so that he can make money and not be too tired.
Although Wu Hongmei thinks it is a bit strange for her husband to open a restaurant like this, she doesn’t say anything. Even if it is strange, her man can make money. She supports him no matter what.
The diners know Han Ze’s temper very well and don’t expect him to add other kinds of food. Unexpectedly, when he opened the restaurant, he actually added dumplings and even opened at noon, which made them surprised.
Wu Hongmei was worried that they would not be able to sell out the sixty bowls of dumplings. Seeing her husband’s calm face, she was worried and said nothing. Unexpectedly, before ten o’clock, the sixty bowls of noodles and sixty bowls of dumplings were sold out. She breathed a sigh of relief and cursed herself for being useless and not as calm as her husband.
The restaurant was open every day. Han Ze didn’t want to run back and forth between his home and town, so he rented a small courtyard near the restaurant and moved into the small courtyard with his family of seven. Han Yao was in junior high school in town, which was very convenient. The second and third girls went to elementary school in Hanjia Village, which was a bit far away. It was very troublesome to ride a bicycle to send them to school in Hanjia Village every morning. Han Ze thought about it and planned to transfer them to the town to study.
Han Ze was not very clear about the children’s transfer. He went to several elementary schools and they all said that they would not accept transfer students from the village. He was very helpless. The second girl was in the third grade this year, and the third girl was only in the first grade. It would take several years for them to graduate from elementary school. Would they have to go to school like this for the next few years?
Thinking of this, he lost interest in selling noodles and wrote a notice on the wall, which said that the shop would be closed at noon for a period of time.
In the morning, when the noodle shop just opened, diners came one after another. When they saw the notice on the wall, they immediately quit. They came to eat a bowl of noodles or dumplings every day at noon during this period. Their lives were so comfortable. Chef Han actually said that the shop would be closed at noon for a period of time. Isn’t this asking for their lives? No, absolutely not. The female owner of the clothing store thought of the last time when Chef Han couldn’t find a storefront, so he was focused on finding a storefront and had no intention of selling noodles. Now, Chef Han suddenly said that the shop would be closed at noon. Could it be that he encountered some difficulties again?
The female owner said anxiously: “Chef Han, why are you closed at noon? If you have any difficulties, just tell us. We should open when we should, and don’t delay making money.” Don’t delay them from eating.
Han Ze sighed. After the last incident, he and the female boss had already become familiar with each other. He didn’t hide anything and told the truth: “It’s not easy for ordinary people to live. I want to transfer my children to the town. I went to several nearby primary schools, but no primary school was willing to accept students from the village.”
The female boss didn’t think it was a big deal. It was just transferring the children to a new school. In her opinion, it was a small matter. Besides, Chef Han’s diners came from all walks of life. Among the diners, there were several primary school teachers, and even the principal of the town’s first primary school.
The female boss casually mentioned this to them, and a teacher volunteered to help. In order for the children to have a good school, there was no reason for Han Ze to refuse. In order to thank him for his help, he cooked a dish of fried duck with ginger for him. The teacher ate so much that his mouth was full of oil. Before leaving, he pulled Han Ze and said that he would definitely ask him for help in the future.
The children’s transfer procedures were completed, and Han Ze was in the mood to sell noodles again. Seeing this, the diners breathed a sigh of relief and quietly prayed that nothing else would happen in Chef Han’s family, so that he would be in the mood to sell noodles.
The restaurant was closed at night. Han Ze thought that the children had just transferred to the town to study and might not be used to it, so he planned to pick them up from school. When he arrived at the school gate, it was just time to finish school. He stood at the school gate waiting. A few minutes later, the second and third girls walked out of the school hand in hand. When they saw Han Ze, their eyes lit up, and they ran out quickly with their schoolbags on their backs, calling for their dad as they ran.
Han Ze took the schoolbags from their hands and asked with a smile, “Are you used to it?”
The two little girls nodded in unison. Han Min smiled, with pride on her face: “When class was over, our Chinese teacher told me that she liked the noodles made by Dad.”
Han Ze raised his eyebrows, “Really?”
Han Min nodded heavily, looked at her father with admiration, and said, “Even our teacher likes the noodles made by Dad. Is that right, third sister? Hey, third sister, what are you looking at?”
Han Jin stared at the red schoolbag in the stationery store in front of him, with desire in his eyes. Han Ze glanced at the patched schoolbag in his hand, and his heart moved. He stepped forward and took the hands of the girls, smiling and said, “Your schoolbags should be changed. Let’s go and choose a beautiful new schoolbag as a reward for your transfer. How about it?”
Han Jin’s eyebrows lit up and asked loudly, “Really, Dad?”
“Of course, it’s true.” Han Ze said as he walked into the stationery store first, turned around and looked at the two girls and said, “What kind of schoolbag do you like? You can choose it yourself.” As soon as Han Ze finished speaking, Han Jin ran to the red schoolbag she had just seen, pointed at it and said, “Dad, I like this schoolbag.”
After saying that, seeing that her father just smiled at her and didn’t say anything, she asked carefully, “Dad, can I buy it?”
Han Ze nodded. Han Min saw that her younger sister had chosen a schoolbag, and knew that her father didn’t lie to them. She excitedly stepped forward and also chose a red schoolbag with a different pattern.
Han Ze saw that the two sisters had finished choosing, and thought that the eldest girl’s schoolbag was also old, so he asked the two younger sisters to help their sister choose a schoolbag. After discussing for a long time, the two sisters worked together to pick a blue schoolbag for their elder sister.
Han Yao came back from school and received the schoolbag her father gave her. Touching the schoolbag and feeling its texture, she felt mixed emotions. When she first went to school, her mother sewed a schoolbag for her with old canvas. She carried it for five years and is still carrying it now. She didn’t expect her father to give her a new schoolbag.
Han Ze saw her expression and thought that she didn’t like the style of the schoolbag, so he said, “You can change it tomorrow. You can choose whatever you like.”
Han Yao shook her head and smiled, “This schoolbag is very nice. I like it.”
Han Ze found that the children didn’t have pencil cases, so he gave Han Yao money and asked her to buy three pencil cases, one for each child.
The second and third girls were very excited. Their father not only bought them schoolbags, but also pencil cases. Their father was so nice.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152