Starting a new chapter in life

Chapter 140 Moving

“That’s normal. The military factories are all here, so security is naturally tight. The family quarters you bought should be reserved for technical personnel who have made significant contributions to the country. You were able to buy it because of three generations of your family’s military background. Otherwise, no amount of money could buy it.” He Jiaoxu understood very well.

“We’ve set up a shop. Jingyan is planning to open a braised meat and barbecue shop. We can start once we move here. I just don’t know how business will go.” He Zhijun took the opportunity to mention the shop to his family.

Cui Hongru looked at Jing Yan: "You added barbecue this time? Have you found a source of meat? I think all the supplies on this island are transported from the sea market. We can't be self-sufficient here."

Jing Yan nodded: "We contacted the meat processing plant. Zhijun negotiated the deal. Once we open, the daily usage will be delivered along with the meat supplied to the supply and marketing cooperative."

Cui Hongru was quite surprised: "When did Zhijun become so capable? I never realized he was so good at socializing before."

Jingyan smiled and said, "Zhijun is very capable. He handled the renovation of this house and the meat supply issue without missing his job. He also helps with housework and childcare at home. He is almost a perfect man. I really admire him and am so glad that I married him."

He Zhijun blushed from her praise, but the subtle glint in his eyes showed that he was quite pleased with Jingyan's compliments. Grandma just smiled at the two of them, knowing better than to say anything. One was willing to flatter, and the other was willing to listen; it was all good.

Zhou Jie glanced at He Zhicheng beside her. This rough-around-the-edges guy was completely absorbed in the scenery of the island and hadn't paid any attention to Jing Yan's words. Although she felt a sense of disappointment, they had been married for many years and knew each other's temperaments very well. The occasional thoughtfulness and gentleness he showed now was already enough for her.

If it weren't for his younger brother's family being a comparison, He Zhicheng probably wouldn't have thought of helping her find a job. It has to be said that women in this era really don't ask for much; just a little bit of care is enough for them to devote all their energy to their families. They are both pitiful and admirable.

Since the topic of shops had come up, the family couldn't help but go and take a look. In He Jiaoxu's mind, a shop with a size of seventy or eighty square meters would be considered good, so they were really shocked when they saw the two-story detached building.

He Jiaoxu pointed at the small building in disbelief: "This is the shop you were talking about? Are you going to open a restaurant?"

Jingyan shook her head: "We can't open the restaurant. We don't have the skills. Hiring someone from outside is too risky. Outsiders aren't allowed to stay on the island permanently. We might not be able to find a good chef among the family members on the island. If we don't find out the chef's background properly and something goes wrong, none of us can bear the responsibility."

The only things I can really make that are braised meat and barbecue, so I'm only planning to make those two categories. I can add a lot of other dishes, though. My cold dishes are pretty good too, so adding them in will make them a good snack with drinks. That's my initial idea; I'll adjust the details once we open."

He Zhijun chimed in, "We're not used to the state-run restaurants here. My colleagues come from all over the country, and quite a few people complain about it when we chat at work. I think Jingyan's shop should be able to open."

He Jiaoxu wasn't too worried about these things: "It's alright, do whatever you want. Even if you fail, your mother and I will cover for you. We won't let you go hungry." He strolled around upstairs and downstairs: "This place is all empty. What do you want to do with it?"

He Zhijun pointed upstairs: "Upstairs, there are separate private rooms. People who want to gather with friends and don't want the crowds in the main hall can come up to eat. Those who prefer a more lively atmosphere can stay in the main hall on the first floor."

The braised meat kitchen and preparation area are also on the first floor. For now, we only have the one we brought from Beidahuang, which is fine for now, set up in the front yard. If business is good, we can add more grills later.

He Jiaoxu listened to his youngest son's explanation and became more and more satisfied: "Your son has grown up and can support a family. Your plan is very good. We will come to support you and help out when the business opens."

He Jiaoxu and his group left Haishi on the third day of the Lunar New Year. With fewer people at home, it felt much quieter. Liu Qiang and his group returned to the island after the fifth day to continue their work. There were quite a few people stranded on the island during the Spring Festival. Whenever they passed by shops and saw them working, people would stop and ask them a few questions.

So, even before Jingyan and the others knew anything, many people on the island already knew about the braised meat and barbecue restaurant that was going to open there. Although many people didn't know exactly what it was, they knew it was food. Those from other places who weren't used to local cuisine couldn't help but have some expectations, which could be considered as advertising in advance.

Liu Qiang and his group finished all the renovations by the end of April. He Zhijun inspected the house himself. The dining table and chairs for the shop hadn't arrived yet, but everything else was ready. Taking advantage of He Zhijun's May Day holiday at home, everyone packed up their belongings together.

I don't realize how much stuff I have when I'm using it, but when I pack it up, it's a huge pile. I don't plan to move the dressing table, desk, bookshelves, bed, or living room sofa; I'll just take my everyday clothes and belongings with me.

On the day of the official move, Yuan Xiaoling's family and the renovation workers came to help. They hired a truck, and the truck bed was full. He Jiaoxu drove over with He Zhicheng. The women didn't come. Perfect, the jeep could still carry a few people. They followed the truck to the dock.

Yuan Xiaoling arranged for a cargo ship to help transport all the belongings. After arriving on the island, the family moved in by truck. When they entered the residential area, the residents of the apartment building were quite curious to see all these busy people. After asking the security guard, they learned that the first family in the apartment building had officially moved in today.

Many people are curious about what this family does, as these houses are not something ordinary people can afford. Of course, the security at the entrance to the residential compound is indeed as tight as it is known, and so many people have inquired but have all returned empty-handed.

While everyone was happily settling in and choosing rooms, He Chaoli's silence was quite noticeable. Seeing that everyone else was busy, Jingyan took He Chaoli's hand and led him to the side. She squatted down, looked at him, and asked seriously, "Xiaoli, are you unhappy?"

He Chaoli hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up: "Auntie, now that we've all moved here, does that mean I have to transfer schools again? Will I never see any of the friends I made before?"

Jingyan didn't try to brush him off because of his young age, and said directly, "Yes, we'll be coming here to study in the fourth grade next semester. Xiaoli, are you reluctant to leave your old classmates? If you miss them in the future, we can go see them on weekends. However, such opportunities are not many. Over time, the feelings will inevitably fade. You should be prepared for that."

He Chaoli lowered his eyes and remained silent for a while before speaking again: "I know, Auntie. It's one thing that I'm reluctant to leave my friends, but what I'm more afraid of is not being able to make new friends here. Everyone else is always together, but I suddenly came here. What if people don't like me? I don't want to be all alone anymore."

Jingyan understood the child's worries and hugged him tenderly, comforting him, "Xiaoli, don't be afraid. Our braised meat and barbecue shop will be open by your summer vacation. Auntie will take you to the shop to play then. Maybe you'll meet some of your classmates there. If you really can't fit in when you go to school, Auntie will help you find a way, okay? Auntie won't let you be ostracized at school."

He Chaoli trusted Jingyan completely, and with her assurance, his mood improved considerably. After the May Day holiday, Jingyan took He Chaoli back to Haishi to continue his studies, while Sister Wang and Grandma stayed at home to tidy up and settle things.

Jingyan took advantage of this time to close her braised meat business and posted a notice. After hearing the news, the neighbors in the surrounding area would come to her door from time to time to ask why. When they learned that she had to stop the business because of moving, they all expressed their understanding. As the news spread, fewer and fewer people came to buy braised meat, until finally no one came anymore.

He Chaoli's enthusiasm for school did not slacken despite the transfer, and this attitude pleased his homeroom teacher, who even praised him to Jing Yan when she went to complete the transfer procedures.

Jingyan also made dumplings for him because of the teacher's praise. Well, since the two of them moved back in, the meals at home have become noticeably less elaborate. There's no way around it, Jingyan's cooking skills... are not very presentable. Fortunately, He Chaoli is not picky about food, so he can still eat his fill.

Finally, summer vacation arrived. Jingyan informed the Yuan family early on. On the first day of summer vacation, she took her few belongings, dragged her child, and took the earliest ferry back to her home on Changxing Island. During the two months she was away, she really craved Wang Dajie's braised pork, braised pork hock, and all kinds of stir-fries. In short, everything tasted better than what she could cook herself.

They entered the house just in time for lunch. Grandma looked at the two figures, one big and one small, carrying backpacks and umbrellas, and said to Sister Wang, "I told you they would come back early. See? Jingyan is definitely a glutton."

Sister Wang nodded with a smile: "Yes, look how thin she's become. I need to help her get some nourishment during this time. Everything is ready at the shop, and Jingyan will be very busy from now on."

Jingyan went inside, put her things down, and without bothering to tidy up, she took He Chaoli to wash his hands and then sat down at the dining table to wait for dinner. He Chaoli looked at Jingyan's series of actions with a puzzled expression: "Auntie, we didn't eat this morning, are you very hungry now?"

Jingyan wagged a finger at him, "It's not that I'm hungry, it's that I'm craving food. Sister Wang's cooking is so much better than mine. The food these past two months has really been tough on you and me. Today we're going to have a big meal and replenish our bodies."

He Chaoli frowned slightly: "Auntie's cooking isn't that bad. I think it's quite delicious. I've even gained weight recently."

Jing Yan chuckled awkwardly: "That's because you're too picky."

Grandma put a piece of pork rib on her plate: "Boys shouldn't be too spoiled. Xiaoli is fine as he is. We shouldn't spoil him too much. An'an and Zhizhi have missed you a lot while you were away from home. They talk about you almost every day. You should spend some time with them this time."

Jingyan nodded in agreement, and casually pinched the cheek of Zhizhi sitting next to her. Zhizhi, who was eating like a little kitten, grinned at her and continued to gnaw on the bone in her hand. Her gluttonous attitude was indeed inherited from Jingyan.

An'an, perhaps because he was two years older than her, already looked like a little brother. He would frequently put food on Zhizhi's plate and toss a couple of pieces of meat to the cats squatting on the ground waiting to be fed. In the two months since she last saw them, the kittens' heads hadn't grown, but their bodies had become much larger. Jing Yan glanced at them a couple of times and casually asked, "These two cats have enough meat to make a stew, right? How come they're so fat? Have they been catching mice?"

An'an looked up at her mother and said, "Mom, we can't eat cat meat, it'll poison us. Our Mimi is very well-behaved, clean, and doesn't eat mice."

"Not eating? Will you catch mice?" Jingyan continued to ask.

Ann...

Grandma replied, "This is the new house, there are no mice here. Domestic cats shouldn't have that skill. But I did see them trying to catch birds, though they probably didn't succeed. Birds can fly, but they can't."

Jingyan... "Next time they catch birds, let them catch sparrows. Sparrows can be roasted and eaten. Don't catch magpies, those can't be eaten."

An'an: "Mom, why are you always so focused on what we can eat? You weren't this greedy before."

"Things change. Before, I had plenty to eat and drink. But these past two months, I've been cooking for myself, and nothing tastes right. I guess this will last for a while. It'll be fine once I stop craving it," Jingyan said half-heartedly as she continued gnawing on the bone.

An'an was young, so she easily accepted her explanation and stopped asking questions.

After resting at home for a few days, Jingyan thought that since the chicken coop had been built, it couldn't be left empty. After saying goodbye to her grandmother, she left the island and took a bus to Yanjiacun to buy chicks. Now there are no longer any requirements on the number of chickens to raise, so this time Jingyan bought a total of ten chickens of various sizes. She had to make sure she got her money's worth on this trip.

After bringing the chicks home, they dug out the vegetable seeds from their yard and planted vegetables with Sister Wang in different areas. They also planted a batch in the backyard of the shop. The climate here is good, so the seeds can germinate and sprout at any time. Since it's for their own consumption, there aren't many restrictions.

With most of the household matters settled, Jingyan was finally able to focus on preparing for the shop's opening. Without Aunt Yuan's help with promotion, Jingyan was prepared to endure six months of hardship.

She doesn't need to leave the island to order meat. She just needs to wait at the pier between 4:30 and 5:00 every morning for the meat delivery person to come, write down her requirements, and the deliveryman will give it to Section Chief Shen. Her meat will arrive the next day at the same time.

Of course, they had to pick up the goods themselves at the dock; they didn't have the door-to-door delivery service that supply and marketing cooperatives and factory canteens offered. But even so, Jingyan was already quite satisfied, as she saved a lot on the shipping costs.