Chapter 137: Chapter 136: The Next Small Trap
To welcome Zhao Meimei’s family, Shi Yang’s mother has been busy in the kitchen since morning, making her specialty braised fish, steaming prawns, and frying two plates of vegetarian dishes. The rest Shi Yang ordered from the restaurant downstairs, and he transferred them from takeaway boxes to their beautiful home plates, filling the table completely.
Shi Yang’s home has good heating, especially during the festive season with the radiators scorching hot. Zhao Dazhuang took off his sweater, wearing only a shirt, rolled up his sleeves and got comfortable as if he were at his own home.
Shi Yang’s father was similarly dressed in home attire, making himself comfortable. Ever since Zhao Dazhuang arrived in the afternoon, the two were engrossed in lively conversation.
Shi Yang’s father asked briefly about Zhao Dazhuang’s mother’s health, about the situation over there and things that happened recently, before leading Zhao Dazhuang to talk about his plans.
These words Zhao Dazhuang had already told Shi Yang in the bathhouse, now he was just repeating them.
Shi Yang’s father shared Shi Yang’s thoughts, feeling that Zhao Dazhuang’s decision was somewhat reckless, but as an outsider, it wasn’t appropriate to voice such thoughts.
Shi Yang’s father could only tactfully express his opinions, but unfortunately, Zhao Dazhuang was stubbornly set on returning home to honor his elders, focusing only on the immediate situation without looking further ahead, thus failing to understand what Shi Yang’s father meant.
Shi Yang’s father, being a sharp person, seeing that Zhao Dazhuang was determined to move back south, gave up the idea of persuading him, as a friend, offering words of consolation.
Shi Yang’s father actually admired Zhao Dazhuang greatly, thinking he made a good friend, though at times he was a bit slow-witted, too straightforward and honest. True friends like Zhao Dazhuang are indeed rare around Shi Yang’s father.
Without this, Shi Yang’s father wouldn’t have allowed Shi Yang’s mother and him to be so close with Zhao Meimei’s family.
Zhao Dazhuang and Shi Yang’s father lounged on the sofa, chatting about men’s topics.
Liu Xiue helped Shi Yang’s mother in the kitchen with plating, both bustling around happily, then quickly calling people to wash up for dinner.
Once the dishes were on the table, Shi Yang’s father and Zhao Dazhuang held their wine glasses, drinking and continuing their previous conversation.
Zhao Dazhuang emptied his glass, the mood was just right, he said heartfeltly to Shi Yang’s father, "Actually, after so many years in the north, I’ve gotten used to it. Returning home this time, even I felt it hard to adjust. Couldn’t find anything I needed in town, home doesn’t feel like home anymore, sigh!"
Zhao Dazhuang downed his drink in one go.
Shi Yang was busy helping Zhao Meimei peel shrimp, all the while listening closely to Zhao Dazhuang and his father’s conversation. Hearing this, he saw an opening, and tentatively suggested, "Uncle, you don’t have to move back home just yet, returning later would be the same, right?"
Liu Xiue was actually quite supportive of moving back south, but worried about Zhao Meimei’s schooling. Upon hearing Shi Yang’s words, she chimed in, "I agree, after living here for over ten years, at least there’s still a livelihood. You’ve bought out from the factory, you could find work in another plant. Can’t you work with your skills anywhere?"
Several glasses of wine in, Zhao Dazhuang was flushed red, sweating at his temples, he casually wiped a few times with a napkin, "We can get by anywhere, the key is Meimei. She has to transfer schools when classes start back home now. Are we really going to switch again after a year or two, then transfer back here for senior year?"
Shi Yang, listening to their conversation, was outwardly focused on shrimp peeling yet his mind was racing with ideas, almost combusting.
He pondered how to steer the topic towards his desired direction, looked up at the people around the table, and locked eyes on his mother.
Shi Yang’s mother thought Liu Xiue’s words made sense but didn’t join in, as it was a family matter and it’s not good for outsiders to interfere too much.
Liu Xiue countered Zhao Dazhuang’s words, "Why must Meimei transfer? Transferring now is just disrupting the child!"
These days, Zhao Dazhuang was nagged so much by Liu Xiue’s repeated protests that his brain hurt. As soon as he sensed she would start again, he rushed to wrap up the topic himself, "Besides, your grocery store’s business isn’t thriving either. Your monthly turnover doesn’t even reach half of what it used to in two weeks."
Mentioning this halted Liu Xiue immediately. Ever since the factory started the buyout, the living standards of people in the employee housing sharply decreased, and everyone started cutting back on expenses, unable to find new jobs that earn money until then, having to live off the barely satisfactory buyout money.
No one dared spend recklessly, families who used to regularly purchase cigarettes and alcohol now rarely did. Buying alcohol went from once a day to once a week, and cigarette quality declined rapidly.
Zhao Dazhuang suppressed Liu Xiue’s resistance, turned around, and continued drinking with Shi Yang’s father.
Shi Yang placed the peeled shrimp into Zhao Meimei’s bowl, then suddenly spoke to his mother, "Mom, you haven’t told aunt about my plan to switch yet, have you?"
Liu Xiue, simmering with anger, was caught off guard by Shi Yang’s words, paused in surprise and asked, "Switch what?"
Shi Yang’s mother laughed, "Yangyang plans to open a Naughty Castle in a mall, an indoor playground for kids. He’s currently busy renting a place."
This interruption diverted Liu Xiue’s attention, she forgot about just now arguing with Zhao Dazhuang, and asked curiously, "Building a playground in a mall?"
Shi Yang promptly elaborated, not forgetting to highlight Li Shuren’s successful example in the provincial city. After speaking, he casually added, "But since Naughty Castle is a place for kids, the staff hired must be young women, and the management should be female too, as they communicate better with the parents."
Liu Xiue asked, "Hiring outsiders, what about collecting money?"
Shi Yang left out the complete management method he learned from Li Shuren, showing a troubled expression, "I am thinking of hiring acquaintances, but the employees from my previous company have all found other jobs, and the few that stayed to work with me are all men. I’m also worried about this."
Liu Xiue chimed in out of casual conversation, "Why hire outsiders then? If your mom’s free at home, why not let her do it?"
This time, before Shi Yang could reply, Shi Yang’s mother said herself, "Oh come on, I’m not suitable, I’m most afraid of accounting, but if you help with management, it might work. You’re great at accounting and dependable too."
When Shi Yang’s mother finished talking, Liu Xiue was stunned, not continuing the discussion any further. For the rest of the time, she seemed somewhat distracted, lost in deep thought.