335: 317 Little Town Stories (Thanks for the tips!) 335: 317 Little Town Stories (Thanks for the tips!) “Jiang Chen, shall we change the place?
This is too expensive.”
East Sea’s Fresh.
Second floor.
The Fang Weiguo family and Jiang Chen were going up the stairs.
Having seafood usually isn’t cheap, and East Sea’s Fresh is even more so—one of the top seafood restaurants in Sha City, with a per capita consumption starting at three hundred, which ans a casual al can easily run into a few thousand dollars.
Sure, in Hancheng that’s nothing to talk about, but consider the economic level of Sha City?
The average salary is about three thousand, and spending a few thousand on a al is definitely considered a luxury.
“Uncle Fang, the private room has already been reserved for us, and I’ve called my aunt as well; it wouldn’t be quite right to change locations now.”
“But you’re still studying and have no inco…”
A bit of luxury once in a whole year isn’t really anything, but Fang Weiguo was worried it could put too much economic pressure on the kid.
He was about to offer to pay for the al himself when Jiang Chen spoke with a smile, “Uncle Fang, it’s fine, I’ve earned so money from working part-ti.
I can still afford a al of seafood.”
“Yes, Dad, Jiang Chen often works part-ti and studies frugally.
He must have saved quite a bit.”
Fang Qing chid in from the side.
“How do you know?”
Pan Hui was surprised.
“We chatted, ah.
When I’d talk to him, he often was at work, a real busy person indeed.”
Despite the long distance between them, with modern communication so advanced, Fang Qing used to like to chat with him to pass ti.
At first, it was okay, but later, perhaps because he was busy working or perhaps because he started dating, their communication gradually decreased and wasn’t as frequent anymore.
Plus, he wasn’t soone who liked to post on social dia much.
But occasionally he would ‘like’ one of Fang Qing’s posts.
Upon hearing this, Fang Weiguo patted Jiang Chen’s shoulder, reassured.
“Getting so early experience is good, but don’t overwork yourself.”
The four entered the private room.
“Let’s wait for your aunt and the others to arrive before ordering.”
Pan Hui suggested.
Jiang Chen nodded and poured water for the Fang family.
“Xiao Chen, it’s been quite a while since you’ve seen your aunt and them, hasn’t it?”
“Mhm, it’s been over a year.”
Seeing the boy’s face without any sign of strangeness, Pan Hui secretly let down her guard.
After all, they were family; no need to keep stiff with each other.
And in Sha City, this kid only had that many relatives.
One big advantage of small cities is the convenience of getting around.
Not like in places like Hancheng or East Sea, where eting in different districts can take at least an hour.
By the ti Jiang Chen and the others had barely sipped their water, his aunt’s family had arrived.
The two families were naturally familiar with each other and greeted one another warmly.
“Uncle, Auntie.”
Jiang Chen said with a smile as he rose to his feet.
“You kid, coming back and not even saying a word.”
The speaker was Jiang Chen’s aunt, Jiang Huazi.
She had stayed with the Jiang family for a while when Jiang Chen was young, and was quite thin back then.
But now she was plump, though not exactly fat—weighing around one hundred and forty pounds or so.
“Xiao Chen.”
Uncle Hong Ou also nodded and smiled at Jiang Chen.
“Please, have a seat.”
Fang Weiguo invited.
Everyone settled back down.
“May I take your order now that everyone is here?”
A waiter ca in.
“Please go ahead.”
“You young people decide.
We’re fine with anything.”
Jiang Huazi pushed the nu passed by the waiter over.
“Have a look.”
Jiang Chen handed the nu to Fang Qing who was sitting beside him.
“Are you really letting order?”
Fang Qing confird in a whisper.
Jiang Chen gave her a wink and whispered back, “Just order anything; money is no object.”
Fang Qing chuckled at that, then quickly suppressed her smile and seed to take him at his word but after flipping through the nu for quite so ti, she only picked a sea-caught yellow croaker before passing the nu to Hong Xiaoyu.
“Xiao Yu, take a look.”
Hong Xiaoyu didn’t dare to accept it and handed the nu back to Jiang Chen.
“Brother, you order.
I’m fine with anything.”
Jiang Chen, resigned, began to randomly check off items, knowing this could go on forever if he kept demurring.
The older folks were chatting.
Fang Qing had been sitting demurely beside her mother, pretending to be a lady, but when she suddenly glanced to the left, her expression changed.
“Have you gone mad?
Why did you order so much?”
The guy was just marking things chaotically.
He had nearly ticked off every specialty dish on the nu.
“I haven’t eaten here before, so I don’t know what’s good.”
Fang Qing was speechless.
“Do you want to spend all the hard-earned savings you’ve accumulated on this one al?”
She snatched the nu from him, “Give the pencil.”
Jiang Chen passed her the pencil.
Fang Qing then went through her own round of selecting, handing the nu back to the waiter with an elegant smile.
“That’s all for now.”
“Okay, please wait a mont.”
“Both of you are out.
Who’s handling the store?”
Fang Weiguo looked at Hong Ou and Jiang Huazi.
The couple had rented space in the Green Land neighborhood where they lived and opened a convenience store.
It was a small business that wouldn’t make them rich but was enough to support the family.
“Closing for a day won’t affect anything.”
“That’s true, you are your own bosses after all.”
“Fang, don’t put us down, what bosses, we’re just making a living.”
Hong Ou said with a laugh.
“You two are already doing quite well, with a shop of your own, unlike —my hair’s going white, and I still have to drive all over the place.”
Fang Weiguo was a truck driver.
The life of a truck driver is hard, which most people understand.
Otherwise, Fang Weiguo wouldn’t show such signs of aging, with white hairs at his temples, at his age; Hong Ou was only one year his junior, but in comparison, Fang seed much more worn.
“Fang, your hard days are coming to an end, with such an outstanding daughter, you’ll have blessed days ahead.”
When their daughter ca up, a proud smile appeared on the Fang couple’s faces.
“Xiao Yu isn’t bad either.”
Mutual business flattery was inevitable.
“Ah, it’s not that he’s bad, but compared to Qing Qing, he’s nothing to talk about.
Fang, Pan, I’ve said it since she was young, this girl would definitely be a great beauty when she grows up, and sure enough, Qing Qing is getting more beautiful as ti goes on.”
“Aunt Jiang, you flatter .”
Fang Qing seed embarrassed as she touched her hair.
“You girl, Aunt Jiang has watched you grow up, there’s no need to be shy around .
Our Xiao Yu was often chased by you when you were kids, how many tis he ran back ho crying with his bare butt, I’ve lost count.”
At these words, other than Hong Xiaoyu, everyone present, including Fang Qing, couldn’t help but laugh together.
“Mom, can you not bring up the past.”
Hong Xiaoyu blushed with embarrassnt.
“They aren’t strangers, what’s there to be afraid of?”
“Ah, ti flies like an arrow; in the blink of an eye, all these kids are grown up.”
Fang Weiguo sighed.
“Isn’t that the truth, we’ve all aged.”
Jiang Huazi also showed a wistful expression.
Under the tacit understanding that went unsaid between the two families, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
“Qing Qing, have you got a boyfriend?”
Jiang Huazi asked.
“No.”
Fang Qing shook her head.
“Looks like your standards may be too high.”
“Aunt Jiang, it’s not that, it’s just that no one is pursuing .”
Fang Qing gave a wry smile.
Everyone understood that what she said was an obvious lie; if a girl like her wasn’t being pursued, it would an Hancheng’s University for Political Studies had no n.
“Qing Qing, I think you should just be with Jiang Chen.
After all, you two got along so well as kids, and Xiao Yu has always called you ‘sister-in-law’.”
Jiang Huazi seemingly joked while taking the opportunity to suggest.
Hong Xiaoyu looked at his cousin with a mischievous glee, as if anticipating a good show.
Fang Qing faltered, apparently at a loss for words, so she glanced at Jiang Chen, passing the ball to him.
“Aunt Jiang, this kind of thing, even if I’m willing, it doesn’t work alone.”
Jiang Huazi was taken aback, then felt a surge of excitent inside.
She was speaking the truth; the children had always been close when they were young, and the families had verbally agreed to join in marriage soday.
But ti had changed things.
Now their brother and sister-in-law were gone, and the Fang girl was attending University for Political Studies, with a bright future ahead.
Jiang Huazi held little hope for this marriage prospect, but Fang Qing’s response had suddenly given her a glimpse of possibility.
As an aunt, she felt indebted to this child.
But the world is full of helplessness.
She admitted her selfishness, but she wasn’t just a sister and aunt—she was also a wife and a mother.
The past could not be undone, but she hoped this child would find happiness in the future.
“Qing Qing, you say that, but could there be a possibility that Jiang Chen would disagree?
A girl as outstanding as you, finding one would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, even with a lantern.”
Jiang Chen was at a loss for words, unsure whether to speak or to remain quiet.
Fortunately, the waiter ca in with dishes, sparing him the awkward situation.
Jiang Huazi could only let the topic go.
“Alright, don’t make it too obvious, you’ll make everyone uncomfortable.”
Hong Ou whispered a warning to his wife.
“How is this uncomfortable?
What I said isn’t wrong; the two kids, when they were young, my brother and the Fang…
“Oh, are you still living in the distant past?
Besides, back then, it was all joking between our families, did you take it seriously?”
“Why can’t I?
Didn’t you see how impressive the Fang girl is?
She has the looks, the brains…
not just in the Tri-Building Compound, but take the whole of Sha City, how many girls can compare to her?”
Hong Ou couldn’t help but look at the girl who indeed seed gentle and virtuous.
“The girl is indeed outstanding, but what of it?
Tis have changed; free love is valued now.
If the children have that feeling, they will naturally co together.
If not, all your ddling would be in vain and might even offend the Fang Family.”
“Fang wouldn’t do that, and they have always liked Jiang Chen very much.”
“It’s not the sa thing.”
“How is it not?”
Hong Ou fell silent, and then said, “How do you know Jiang Chen isn’t in a relationship, or doesn’t have soone he likes?
I understand your intentions are good, but don’t forget that good intentions can sotis lead to bad outcos.
You know, because of your brother and sister-in-law’s affairs, Jiang Chen has always held so resentnt toward us.
The fact that he invited us to eat today ans he’s grown up and let go.
This is not the ti to cause unnecessary complications.”
Jiang Huazi hesitated and eventually fell silent.
“Jiang Chen?”
Suddenly.
From outside the room, a surprised voice called out just as the door opened to serve the dishes.
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