The older aunt looked a bit embarrassed, scolding her eldest grandson twice, and quickly apologizing with a smile to Lin Xiang and Mrs. Lin.
"Maybe we often ntion in front of him how well-off your family is, and he took it to heart and thought of asking for more New Year’s money. The words of a child shouldn’t be taken seriously, please don’t hold it against him. The dishes are ready, let’s tidy up and prepare to eat."
The older aunt hurriedly called her two daughters-in-law to bring the dishes from the kitchen.
The dishes today were quite rich, with three at dishes and a pot of earthenware soup. It was clear that Uncle Lin’s family put in a lot of effort.
Zhao Tiezhu deliberately sat in front of Lin Xiang, frequently serving her food.
But every ti, Lin Xiang would hold her bowl and dodge.
The older aunt saw this and quickly said, "Tiezhu, just eat by yourself. Xiang, if she wants to eat anything, she will serve herself."
Zhao Tiezhu had no choice but to stop.
After the al, the older aunt took her two daughters-in-law to the kitchen to clean the dishes, while Uncle Lin stayed with his two sons to chat with Mrs. Lin and Lin Xiang.
"When Yongzi passed away, Xiang was just a little girl, and in the blink of an eye, she’s grown into a young woman."
"That’s right! My father has been gone for over ten years. If I hadn’t grown up by now, I’d have been taken to the lab for experintation."
Uncle Lin chuckled awkwardly, "Over the years, I haven’t been a good brother or uncle, haven’t helped you much."
"It’s more than that, you and your big sister would’ve drained our family dry."
"Xiang!" Mrs. Lin lightly tapped Lin Xiang and scolded, "Watch your manners."
Uncle Lin continued with an embarrassed smile, "Xiang isn’t wrong; I really haven’t been responsible all these years. I knew life was tough for an orphan and a widow, yet I didn’t help, and even... Well, I really recognize my mistakes now. Let bygones be bygones, and let’s harmoniously be a family from now on."
"Xiuli, now that Lin Yun is in the military, he’s rarely ho throughout the year. It’s just you and Xiang at ho, not convenient for heavy tasks. In the future, if you need help, co to the house. My two nephews can assist."
Uncle Lin’s two sons eagerly expressed their willingness to help.
"Uncle, could you lend so money first?"
Uncle Lin was stunned, nearly spilling his tea, "Lend money? Xiang, you must be joking. Do you really need to borrow from your uncle?"
"Why not? Building a house wiped out our savings. After the New Year, I’ll need to go to school, and we can’t even gather the tuition. Uncle, could you lend ten or twenty bucks so I can continue my studies? Rest assured, when I succeed in the future, I’ll repay you generously!"
Lin Xiang spoke so sincerely that Uncle Lin didn’t know how to respond.
Lin Xiang: "Really? Uncle, you’re unwilling to lend even such a small amount? Then was your offer to help just talk?"
"Of course not, Uncle truly wants to make it up to you two. The issue is, it’s not a small amount, and Uncle can’t afford it. How about this? Since you’re going to school after the New Year and can’t sell spicy noodles, tell the recipe. Once I earn money, I’ll set aside so to sponsor your schooling. What do you say?"
Finally, the true intention!
Lin Xiang feigned difficulty, "Ah? Uncle, you invited my mom and for dinner because of our spicy noodle business?"
"That’s not it, Uncle sincerely invited you. This just ca up in conversation."
"Let think about it." Lin Xiang turned to ask Mrs. Lin, "Mom, didn’t Fifth Uncle say yesterday that they also wanted to take over the spicy noodle business?"
Mrs. Lin: "Didn’t you say you wanted to give the business to your Fifth Uncle?"
"Oh, that’s true."
"What, you’re giving the business to Lin the Fifth? Xiang, I’m not saying this to criticize you, but the Lin Family isn’t on the sa wavelength as you. Only I, as your uncle, genuinely wish you well."
Lin Xiang rolled her eyes nearly sky-high.
During their hardest tis, it was always Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt who helped them, so where was Uncle Lin then?
Saying such things without fear of consequences!
"Fifth Uncle said he wouldn’t take it for nothing; he would give us one hundred bucks to buy the recipe for the broth. But I feel one hundred is too little. Based on selling one or two hundred bowls a day, it should be at least two hundred for to sell him the recipe, so I haven’t decided yet."
"Uncle, if you also want to do the spicy noodle business, I’ll ask only for a hundred and fifty. How does that sound?"
How does that sound?
Uncle Lin didn’t think it sounded good at all!
Why pay a high price for sothing you could get for free?
But since Lin the Fifth offered one hundred, it wouldn’t be appropriate to offer nothing.
"Xiang, I want to give you the money, but the family can’t co up with that much. How about this? Uncle gives you fifty, and you give the recipe?"
"That’s not possible." Lin Xiang rejected without thinking, "I invested quite a bit of money in researching this recipe, and fifty bucks wouldn’t even cover the costs. Besides, the business is already on track, and if I didn’t have to return to school, I wouldn’t want to give it up."
"A one-ti price, one hundred fifty. If you’re willing, give the money, and I’ll give you the business. If not, then I’ll sell it to my Fifth Uncle for two hundred."
Saying this, Lin Xiang didn’t care what Uncle Lin thought, stood up, and said, "It’s getting late; we should head back. Uncle, if you’ve made up your mind, co to find at ho."
Lin Xiang dragged Mrs. Lin along with her.
Mrs. Lin was fuming but left with Lin Xiang without saying goodbye to Uncle Lin.
Outside Uncle Lin’s house, Mrs. Lin couldn’t help but curse, "I really thought he wanted to acknowledge as his sister; never thought he had ulterior motives!"
"Mom, at least Uncle hasn’t completely severed ties with you; there’s still a chance for interaction in the future."
Mrs. Lin suspected Lin Xiang was being sarcastic, but she had no proof.
"Xiang, do you really plan to sell the broth recipe to your uncle for one hundred fifty?"
Lin Xiang didn’t want to.
As long as you’re willing to work hard, the spicy noodle business is foolproof. It won’t earn as much as farming but is much better.
She wanted to let Fifth Uncle’s family have the business and just collect a symbolic amount.
But with Mrs. Lin’s relation, she couldn’t make it difficult for her, so she had to raise the price to deter Uncle Lin.
"And if they really pool together one hundred fifty?"
"Then just give them the recipe, and whatever they earn or not will be out of my hands."
User Comments
0 comments from readers