Her mom’s check-up was quite fast. It was finished before ten o’clock. There was still some time before they were scheduled to meet his uncle’s family for lunch, and his mom couldn’t sit still after resting in the hospital room for a while.
“Let’s go to the company,” his mom said. “Go get that car.”
Shan Yu looked at her. “There’s no rush, is there? I’m not leaving yet.”
“Aren’t you going to hang out with Yue Lang and the others these next few days?” his mom said. “You need a car to get around. Do you want to keep bumming rides off me?”
“Then you wait here. Xiao Ye and I will go get the car,” Shan Yu said.
To be honest, he was quite worried that his mom would go to the company and not leave. This was one of his childhood traumas.
“It’s Friday today,” his mom said. “The people at the company really don’t want to see me. We’ll just grab the car and go. It would be too awkward to just hang around here.”
In the end, they decided to go to the company to get the car.
“Shan Yu will drive,” his mom said. “When we get to the parking lot, Xiao Ye will get out, go to the company to get the keys, and drive the car out. Then we’ll go to the restaurant.”
She could probably sense Shan Yu’s reluctance. In her plan, she wouldn’t need to get out of the car; she would stay in the same car with Shan Yu the whole time.
As he drove toward the company, Shan Yu looked at the bustling street scene outside—the cars queuing up at both red and green lights, the nimble electric scooters beside them, and the people coming and going on the sidewalks. He asked, “What car does Dad drive now?”
“He drives that little beat-up electric scooter of his,” his mom said. “He still hasn’t gotten his driver’s license.”
“He did get one,” Xiao Ye reminded her from the side. “He got a motorcycle license.”
“Right, he got a motorcycle license,” his mom clicked her tongue. “It’s so weird. He rides the electric scooter to work, and says he rides the motorcycle to go fishing.”
“Does he still go fishing now?” Shan Yu was a bit surprised. He didn’t know his dad had this hobby.
“He’s fishing for weeds, not fish. He just wants to join in the fun when others go,” his mom said. “He’s only gone three times in total. Once to a reservoir and twice to a pay-to-fish pond. The time he went to the reservoir, someone took pity on him and gave him a fish. It was the same at the pay-to-fish pond. He spent several hundred yuan and didn’t catch a single one. In the end, he secretly went to the wet market and bought two…”
Shan Yu started laughing. “How did you find out?”
“I saw him when I was buying groceries,” Xiao Ye said with a smile. “Uncle was loading up his fishing box with his catch.”
“In the future…” Shan Yu hesitated, then tilted his head toward his mom. “If you have time, you can try fishing at Red Leaf Town. There should be fish in that river.”
“Yes, the town should be fun during the New Year too. You can set off firecrackers and stuff,” Xiao Ye immediately said. “It has more of a New Year’s atmosphere than the city.”
Shan Yu glanced at her in the rearview mirror. As expected of the assistant his mom had personally trained—attentive and quick-witted.
“Will CEO Shan arrange it for us then?” his mom smiled.
“Okay,” Shan Yu nodded.
His family’s New Year tradition was that on the thirtieth, the entire extended family had to gather together. A meal at noon and a meal at night, for his dad’s relatives and his mom’s relatives, respectively. Although there were no more elders, the relationship between his parents’ generation of siblings was very close.
If his parents were willing to go to the small town, it would be after the first or second day of the New Year.
For some reason, even though this was still just a proposal, his hands holding the steering wheel started to sweat inexplicably. It was an indescribable feeling.
Anticipation mixed with resistance, nervousness tinged with excitement.
Very complicated.
His mom’s company was still in the same old building; it hadn’t moved. Shan Yu felt an odd sense of relief. At least not everything had changed while he knew nothing.
“Go quickly, and quietly,” his mom poked Xiao Ye’s shoulder. “Go steal the car.”
“How long has it been since it was last driven? Does it still have gas?” Shan Yu only now remembered this important question.
“No,” his mom said. “Xiao Ye will bring a rope and run while pulling it.”
Shan Yu laughed.
“It’s been regularly maintained,” Xiao Ye said with a smile as she got out of the car. “We arrange for someone to take it out for a drive every two or three months.”
“Yeah,” Shan Yu nodded.
After Xiao Ye entered the garage, Shan Yu made a U-turn and parked the car in a temporary spot next to the garage exit.
Only he and his mom were left in the car. It felt different from the feeling of drinking and chatting at home. He felt a little awkward now.
“How many days are you planning to stay this time?” his mom turned her head and asked.
“Whatever works,” Shan Yu said. “There’s no set time. There isn’t much going on at the B&B.”
“Isn’t this the busy season?” his mom said. “Is it just Xiao Chen alone?”
“The others can help out too, although…” Shan Yu thought about the staff at the B&B one by one and felt a little like laughing again. “Everyone is still very dedicated to their work.”
“If you’re busy, just go back when you need to. You don’t have to stay a few extra days just for us,” his mom said. “As long as we see you come home, our hearts are at ease.”
“We’ll see next week,” Shan Yu said. “Are you planning to go anywhere for the New Year?”
“If we go, Liu Wu will definitely follow. And if he follows, your uncle and aunt will definitely follow too,” his mom said softly. “If this whole big group goes over, will Manager Chen be under too much pressure?”
“We won’t let Liu Wu go,” Shan Yu said.
“Oh?” his mom smiled. “You think you can stop him? The reason Liu Wu is always sticking to you is because you’re the one who spoils him the most.”
Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
“If we really do go,” his mom said, “tell him in advance, so he doesn’t get too embarrassed.”
“Yeah,” Shan Yu nodded.
His mom paused for a moment, then asked another question. “What’s his family situation like?”
“When he was young… his mother passed away. The family was in a lot of debt, and he and his dad have been paying it off,” Shan Yu paused. “It’s not all paid off yet, but they’re close.”
“No wonder he didn’t go to college,” his mom said. “Are you… going to help him pay off the debt?”
“No,” Shan Yu said. “He wouldn’t accept it either.”
“Yeah,” his mom nodded. “Actually, even if I don’t ask, I know you can handle it well. But as a mother, I can’t help but worry. I used to be afraid you’d get annoyed…”
“I’m not annoyed,” Shan Yu said immediately. “I’m not annoyed now.”
His mom smiled and reached her hand toward him, but it stopped in mid-air, as if she didn’t know whether to pat his shoulder or do something else.
Shan Yu tilted his head toward her.
His mom rustled his hair a couple of times. “You need a haircut. Your hair is getting long.”
“I’ll go this afternoon,” Shan Yu said. “I don’t know if the old place is still there.”
“It is,” his mom said. “Your dad still goes there all the time.”
“He goes that far?” Shan Yu asked.
“He zips over on his little electric scooter, all dashing,” his mom said. “If he’s happy to go, let him. In a few years, his hair will probably start falling out. He’ll go over and won’t even need a cut, just a hair wash, and he’ll use face wash for it…”
“Hey,” Shan Yu laughed. “Don’t bully my dad.”
Xiao Ye drove the familiar S500 out of the garage and honked once.
“Let’s go, let’s go,” his mom said. “Quick, escape.”
“Navigation, navigation,” Shan Yu started the car. “Which way do we go?”
“Head towards that blade-like skyscraper first,” his mom said, poking at the central control screen and directing him. “Turn right after the building.”
“Yeah.” Shan Yu drove out of the intersection, and Xiao Ye followed behind.
When he was a child, his mom loved to play like this. With his dad, they would take him and pretend to be fleeing, or pretend to be Mr. and Mrs. Smith…
Unfortunately, opportunities for the whole family to go out together like this were too few.
If his mom hadn’t suddenly done this, Shan Yu would have already forgotten.
With Xiao Ye in tow, they fled. Under the guidance of headquarters (the navigation), they arrived at the restaurant where they were meeting his uncle’s family without any mishaps.
“You call a car and go straight home,” his mom arranged for Xiao Ye. “If there’s nothing much this afternoon, you don’t need to go to the company either.”
“Okay,” Xiao Ye nodded. “You still have to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, right?”
“I’ll take care of it,” Shan Yu said. “You get some rest.”
“Shan Yu! Bro!” Liu Wu’s voice came from behind. “My dear cousin—”
“Aiyo,” Shan Yu turned around helplessly and opened his arms.
As expected, Liu Wu was coming over with his arms wide open.
“Did you just arrive?” Shan Yu asked, giving him a hug.
“I’ve been here for a while. I figured you guys would be arriving soon, so I came out to wait,” Liu Wu said. “It’s boring waiting in the private room.”
“Did your mom ask about your girlfriend again?” his mom said.
“I told her no, no, no, but she just doesn’t believe me,” Liu Wu said.
“Then you tell her yes, yes, yes, yes, but you just broke up before the holiday,” his mom said. “And now you’re suffering from a broken heart, and you’ll get mad at anyone who asks. If she asks again, just lie down on the floor.”
“With his acting skills? Forget it,” Shan Yu said with a laugh.
“If she annoys me again, I’m going to stay at Dayin for the whole winter break,” Liu Wu said.
“Get lost,” Shan Yu glanced at him.
“I’ve counted the people who will be working at the shop over the New Year,” Hu Pan said, holding her phone and leaning against the office desk. “Sister Zhao is going home for the New Year, and so is Big Sister Huang, but if there’s a lot of work, she can come over to help clean. Lao Si is going back to the next town over and won’t be back until the third day of the New Year. Sanbing and Lao Wu can be here except for the thirtieth. Nana and I aren’t going home. What about you?”
“On the thirtieth, I’ll have New Year’s Eve dinner with my dad…” Chen Jian thought for a moment. “Or I’ll bring him over.”
“Bring him over,” Hu Pan said. “The more the merrier.”
“We didn’t open for reservations on the thirtieth, right?” Chen Jian asked.
“No, but there will be guests who booked in advance to stay over the New Year,” Hu Pan said. “Quite a few, actually.”
“Who’s cooking?” Chen Jian asked.
“…Me?” Hu Pan asked.
Chen Jian looked at her.
If Sister Zhao wasn’t here, this bunch at their shop probably couldn’t even make breakfast.
“How about…” Chen Jian gritted his teeth. “My dad?”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Hu Pan nodded immediately.
“My dad only knows how to make farmhouse-style dishes,” Chen Jian planned. “We’ll confirm with the guests in advance. For the few days that Sister Zhao is not here, those who need meals should let us know in advance. We can only provide farmhouse-style dishes, or if they’re willing to have New Year’s Eve dinner with us, that’s fine too.”
“Yeah,” Hu Pan’s eyes lit up. “I think they’ll be willing. How fun would that be!”
“We have to pay my dad,” Chen Jian said.
“Of course, triple pay for the New Year,” Hu Pan said.
“You and Nana go check with the few restaurants we’re familiar with these next few days. See if we can pre-order all the meals for the New Year period. Then have Sister Zhao stock up on the ingredients in advance, and prepare and freeze any semi-finished products she can…” Chen Jian said, looking at the document on his computer while quickly trying to figure out what else needed to be prepared in advance.
“Hey, I’ve noticed, when you sit behind the desk like this, you look quite like a boss,” Hu Pan said, taking two steps back to look at him again.
“Rebelling because the boss isn’t here, are we?” Chen Jian smiled.
“Don’t you snitch on me!” Hu Pan said.
“Hush money,” Chen Jian said.
“A cup of coffee,” Hu Pan came over and propped herself up on the desk with a little jump. “Nana and I learned a new one, a breve. It’s really fragrant. Want to try?”
“How do you make it?” Chen Jian asked.
“It’s just espresso plus milk plus cream, half and half,” Hu Pan said.
“Half what?” Chen Jian looked at her.
“English!” Hu Pan said. “Half and half.”
“Getting all fancy with Nana, are we? Using English now,” Chen Jian said with a laugh. “Did you get an English name?”
“Not yet,” Hu Pan said.
“I’ll give you one,” Chen Jian said. “Let’s call you Panpanda.”
Hu Pan was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t stop laughing.
“Panpan for short, it matches with Nana,” Chen Jian said.
“That’s hilarious, hahahahahaha…” Hu Pan laughed as she walked out. “Come down for coffee, Manager! Half and half!”
“OK and OK,” Chen Jian said.
He did need to go downstairs, not just for coffee, but also to discuss something with Sun Nana.
When he was chatting with Shan Yu last night, he was still feeling uneasy about the meeting. Even though he had practically memorized Shan Yu’s document, it was still the first time in his twenty years of life that he would be “going to a meeting in the city.” He had never even imagined such a phrase.
Shan Yu had told him that if he was really nervous, he should ask Sun Nana to go with him.
“Is she going to impersonate the boss?” Chen Jian asked.
“The leaders have met your boss. The leaders also know she’s the housekeeping manager,” Shan Yu reminded him.
“…Oh, right,” Chen Jian came back to his senses.
“If you take her, you’ll have a companion, and you won’t be so nervous. If anything comes up, you’ll have someone to discuss it with. And you won’t have to bum a ride off Lao Ding,” Shan Yu said. “It’s also a good way to show that the B&B has one foot rooted in the local community and the other in line with the young and fashionable style. It’s great.”
“You really are… quick-witted,” Chen Jian marveled.
“That’s all the skill I have,” Shan Yu said.
“No,” Chen Jian said. “You have great skills. That notebook of yours, when I opened it, I only had one word: shocked. I never thought…”
“That’s two words, baby,” Shan Yu said.
Thinking of this, Chen Jian still couldn’t help but want to laugh.
“Hey,” Sun Nana waved her hand in front of his eyes. “Go to a meeting, and then what?”
“Yeah,” Chen Jian quickly collected his thoughts. “It’s just a meeting. The two of us will go. You drive.”
“Are there any requirements? Formal wear or something?” Sun Nana asked.
“It’s a meeting for the Bureau of Culture and Tourism. We probably don’t need to dress too…” Chen Jian pondered.
“Got it,” Sun Nana nodded. “I’ll put together a low-key but stylish outfit. What about you?”
“I still… haven’t decided,” Chen Jian said.
He only had a few sets of clothes, and it was too late to buy new ones now. But Shan Yu had said, rooted in the local community. He just needed to show the state of a local young person.
He glanced at Sanbing, who was standing beside them listening to their discussion.
…Never mind, maybe not that authentic.
“Can you see clearly?” Chen Jian aimed his phone camera at the mirror in Shan Yu’s bedroom.
“Yeah,” Shan Yu said from the video, sitting at his desk at home, leaning back in his chair and looking at him. “Try on that short one.”
“It’s so cold,” Chen Jian said, taking Shan Yu’s short down jacket out of the closet.
“Your meeting isn’t outdoors!” Shan Yu said.
“…Yeah.” Chen Jian put on the short jacket.
“This one makes your legs look long,” Shan Yu said.
“Is that the main point?” Chen Jian said.
“It’s my main point,” Shan Yu smiled. “You can wear whatever you want to the meeting.”
That was indeed the case. No one would care what a B&B representative was wearing. Chen Jian was talking to Shan Yu like this not to pick out clothes.
He just wanted to chat for a while. The meeting was tomorrow, and he was feeling uneasy. Looking at Shan Yu calmed him down.
“Try on the pants,” Shan Yu said.
“No one’s even going to look at my clothes, so what I wear for pants matters even less, right?” Chen Jian said.
“It does matter,” Shan Yu smiled. “Let me see.”
“See what?” Chen Jian was stunned.
“Watch the manager change his pants,” Shan Yu said.
