Chapter 231: Chapter 232: Taking the Initiative to Visit
“Hehe…” Xiao Mingguo chuckled, then said, “I’ll try my best.”
When it came to the car, Xiao Mingguo fell silent. His son had high expectations for a car, insisting on buying a top-of-the-line Mondeo, costing more than two hundred thousand. Originally, it was planned to buy a slightly more than one hundred thousand car for commuting, but his son adamantly refused. Moreover, he was struggling with cash flow with only one hundred thousand in hand. With a monthly income from the supermarket barely over ten thousand, buying a car worth over two hundred thousand seemed like an eternity away. He was getting quite anxious.
Now that an opportunity had finally presented itself before him, how could he let it slip away so easily? Therefore, he decided to take a chance; even if he failed, he wouldn’t lose out. And who knows, he might even succeed, and then the chances of getting his son a car would be quite significant.
So, Xiao Mingguo decided to take immediate action.
That afternoon, Xiao Mingguo pulled up all the membership data from the supermarket. Then, he compared the data and quickly selected some young customers’ information, printed it out, processed it, and noted down their identities and schools. With this information, he went straight to Xiao Han to discuss it.
After arriving at the Fuxing Community,
Xiao Mingguo knocked on the door of Xiao’s family.
The door was opened by Mother Xiao. Seeing her eldest brother had come, she hurriedly opened the door and asked, “Eldest brother, what brings you here?”
“Hmm!” Xiao Mingguo nodded and replied, “I have something to take care of. Is Xiao Han home?”
“Oh, Xiao Han isn’t home,” Mother Xiao smiled, then said, “He went out. What’s up? Do you need something?”
“Hmm!” Xiao Mingguo nodded and said, “I have a few friends’ children who need to enroll in the Hanmen Training Class, and Xiao Han has a say in this matter, right? So… I specifically came to inquire about this.”
“That’s…” Upon hearing this, Mother Xiao was immediately taken aback. She wasn’t foolish and could clearly understand the other’s intention. Her younger sister had just left that morning, and her eldest brother had come that afternoon; it was obvious he came for money, right? As such, Mother Xiao hastily said, “Xiao Han isn’t home, and I can’t help you with that matter.”
“Then… can you give Xiao Han a call for me?” asked Xiao Mingguo.
“That’s…” Mother Xiao shook her head and said, “His phone is hard to reach, but… I’ll try!”
After saying so, Mother Xiao called Xiao Han, and sure enough, there was no answer.
Xiao Mingguo hesitated for a moment and remained quiet. He smiled and then said, “Well, if he’s not home, let it be. I’ll come back later tonight.”
“Okay!” Mother Xiao nodded.
As Xiao Mingguo left, Mother Xiao felt anxious inside. Without saying, she knew he had likely come for money. Confronted with her eldest brother’s greed, Mother Xiao genuinely didn’t know what to do. No sooner had Xiao Mingguo left than Xiao Han returned the call.
“Mom, did you call me?” Xiao Han asked curiously.
“Yes!” Mother Xiao nodded and then said, “Your Eldest Uncle just came over.”
“Couldn’t be another person enrolling through me, could it?” Xiao Han asked doubtfully.
“Exactly,” Mother Xiao nodded and continued, “If you ask me, it must be because your aunt went to brag at your Eldest Uncle’s house, and now he wants to make some money off you too. Ugh, this situation is getting troublesome.”
“So what shall we do?” Xiao Han paused for a moment,
Feeling helpless, Mother Xiao said, “I really don’t know what to do. Xiao Han, you’re the head of the family now, so it’s up to you.”
After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Han said, “Then let him come to me.”
“That works,” Mother Xiao nodded and then added, “After all, only you can decide on this matter. I can’t. Let him come to you then.”
“Alright,” Xiao Han nodded.
After hanging up the phone, Li Dapang approached and asked, “Xiao Han, what’s going on?”
“Nothing!” Xiao Han said with an expression of annoyance.
“Hehe, boy, you’ve got your troubles written all over your face,” Li Dapang chuckled, then continued, “Come on, tell me. What trouble you’re in?”
“It’s not really trouble,” Xiao Han shook his head and then explained, “It’s just that lately, the family’s been a bit troublesome.”
Xiao Han shared the day’s events with Li Dapang. Li Dapang listened in disbelief, exclaiming, “There are relatives like that? Taking money and still showing off everywhere? Now all your bizarre relatives are showing up; you’re in for it now.”
“Haha…” Xiao Han burst into laughter upon hearing this and said, “That’s a good description, ‘bizarre relatives.’
“Aren’t they bizarre?” Li Dapang chuckled and then said, “Having the nerve to take money, I’m astounded.”
“What can we do?” Xiao Han smiled and said, “That relative you introduced last time, named Li Liang. Isn’t he also working at Hanmen Technology?”
“Oh, don’t get me started,” Li Dapang became annoyed upon hearing this and said, “That guy is so useless. He’s been chasing after Yang Lu tirelessly, not even stopping to look at himself in the mirror to see what he’s like, yet he still shamelessly tries to pursue Yang Lu. It just makes me dizzy.”
Xiao Han chuckled and then said, “Really?”
“Of course, it’s true,” Li Dapang nodded and said, “Hasn’t Yang Lu told you?”
“No, she hasn’t,” Xiao Han shook his head and said, “Yang Lu has been at Hanmen Technology recently, and haven’t we all been helping out at the Second Store?”
“Right,” Li Dapang nodded and said, “It’s because we’re not there that the kid is even more brazen in flirting with Yang Lu. This really irritates me. Sister Yang is only tolerating him out of respect for me. I don’t know what to do.”
“Do what needs to be done!” Xiao Han said with a cold laugh.
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“What should be done is what you should do?” Li Dapang’s mouth curled into a smile, then said, “You must have an answer, right?”
“These kinds of things, I honestly don’t know what should be done,” Xiao Han replied and said, “It’s not strangers we’re talking about, they’re our own relatives after all. My mom can’t bear to cut ties with these relatives. She always believes that relatives, not outsiders, will be good to you in this world. Yet, she never considers that they are after your money, not truly looking out for you.”
Li Dapang let out a sigh and then said, “No matter what, this sort of thing is a family matter.”
“Exactly, even an honest official finds it hard to settle a family quarrel,” Xiao Han said with a smile.
“You’re leaving tomorrow,” Li Dapang patted Xiao Han’s shoulder and said, “Is everything packed?”
“Yeah!” Xiao Han nodded and said, “Don’t worry, everything’s packed. Tomorrow you’ll take me to school.”
“Sure thing,” Li Dapang nodded.
The two chatted and immersed themselves in the busy work. Business at the Hanmen Restaurant Branch No. 2 was indeed good, always standout. Most importantly, the style and system of Hanmen Catering made lots of people like it. Although it was slightly expensive, most were willing to accept these prices. Thus, every mealtime saw long lines at the entrance of Hanmen Restaurant Branch No. 2.
Although the policy of compensating for waiting time had been mimicked by many other restaurants, none could replicate Hanmen Catering’s level of excellence. Nearly every day, there were dozens of groups, even tens of groups, waiting in line. This made many secretly study Hanmen Catering’s business model. However, many still believed it to be an enigma. Countless restaurants hoped to introduce the management system of Hanmen Restaurant, but in the end, they all failed.
After a day’s work, Xiao Han hurried back home.
As soon as he arrived home, his eldest uncle and second uncle were already waiting there. They brought many gifts, and even the great aunt came along. The household was very harmonious, with the great aunt helping Mother Xiao in her chores. Their chatter and laughter might have deceived someone into thinking they were sisters catching up rather than realizing the flattery was either for ulterior motives or theft.
“Yo, Xiao Han is back.” Everyone in the house stood up.
Second Uncle Xiao Minghua even walked over quickly and enthusiastically ushered Xiao Han inside, saying, “Xiao Han, you’re now Linjiang City’s big celebrity.”
“What Linjiang City.” His eldest uncle cut in, saying, “Xiao Han is China’s big celebrity, the first student in history to get a perfect score on the college entrance exam. That’s the greatest honor in Xiao’s family history. In ancient times, that would have been the top scholar!”
“Exactly!” Xiao Minghua immediately nodded, then said, “The top scholar, indeed. That’s bringing glory to the ancestors.”
“Really impressive,” the great aunt said cheerfully.
Xiao Minghua hurriedly said, “Xiao Han, come sit down and chat.”
“I don’t know…” Xiao Han was enthusiastically pulled over by them, and to those who didn’t know, it appeared as if this were their home. Xiao Han looked at them awkwardly and said, “Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, what… what is this about?”
“Oh, nothing much,” Xiao Minghua said with a smile, “I haven’t come to see you for a long time, so I specifically made a trip to visit you!”
In the past few years, they had never had any interaction with their own family and had even fallen out over money matters. Today, however, they came on their own initiative, even making such polite conversation. It really felt a bit cold-hearted.
Yet, Xiao Han didn’t show any expression, not warm, but not cold either.
“Oh,” Xiao Han smiled and said, “That’s good, because I’m leaving for the provincial city tomorrow. It’s nice that you’ve all come together today.”
“You’re going to the provincial city tomorrow?” As soon as his eldest uncle heard this, he seemed a bit anxious.
“Yes!” Xiao Han nodded and said, “I start registration tomorrow, so I plan to report to the provincial city university first and then start my college life.”
“Not bad,” his eldest uncle seemed distracted as he asked, “Xiao Han, with such great scores, why didn’t you apply to Tsinghua or Peking University? Why choose a university in the provincial city?”
“To each his own,” Xiao Han answered and said, “Eldest Uncle, didn’t you take Dahai to work in Shenzhen before? Why have you come back?”
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