Liu Wu’s mother got out of the car, and Chen Jian continued to greet her, “Happy New Year, Auntie.”
Hu Pan and Sun Nana also came out at this time. As soon as Liu Wu saw Hu Pan, he immediately went up to her.
“Panpan!” Liu Wu shouted. Since he couldn’t hug her, his arms waved in the air a few times. “You’ve become even more beautiful.”
“Wow, really?” Hu Pan said. “I think so too.”
Sun Nana smiled and added, “Maybe it’s because she’s so happy working at Dayin.”
She really knew what to say.
“Happy New Year, sister,” Liu Wu immediately greeted Sun Nana as well.
While Liu Wu was busy greeting everyone, Liu Wu’s father also got out of the car, carrying something.
“Is my dad stuck?” Shan Yu asked.
“Hey, sis,” Liu Wu’s father said, holding a pair of shoes. “My brother-in-law’s shoes are still in our car…”
So Professor Shan had been hunched over in there for so long not putting on his shoes, but looking for them?
Chen Jian was shocked.
“Give them to him quickly,” President Liu said. “Any later and he’ll be sewing a pair out of the floor mats.”
“Happy New Year, Uncle,” Chen Jian greeted Liu Wu’s father.
“You must be Manager Chen, right?” Liu Wu’s mother walked over and looked at Chen Jian. “Little Wu came to visit last year, and when he got back, he went on for half a month about ‘Manager Chen this’ and ‘Manager Chen that’… I didn’t expect you to be so young. You’re about the same age as Little Wu, right?”
“Mhm, I’m twenty-one this year,” Chen Jian smiled.
Professor Shan, who had been trapped in the car and unable to get out, was finally rescued by his brother-in-law.
Looking for shoes in the car had been a bit disheveled, but he was very composed as he got out and walked over.
Originally, Chen Jian thought Shan Yu resembled his mother more. It was only when he saw Professor Shan that he realized Shan Yu actually resembled his father more, just without Professor Shan’s peaceful and scholarly demeanor. In terms of personality, he was definitely President Liu’s biological son.
“Shan…” Chen Jian hesitated for two seconds when he started to speak. He hadn’t called President Liu ‘President Liu’, so would it be better not to call Professor Shan ‘Professor Shan’ either?
“Happy New Year, Happy New Year,” Professor Shan said, smiling and nodding before he could even finish.
“It’s fine to call him Professor Shan,” Shan Yu whispered against the back of Chen Jian’s head. “He’s not President Liu. He won’t make you submit a project report.”
Chen Jian smiled.
“Everyone, let’s go inside first,” Sun Nana said. “It’s windy outside.”
“Yes, let’s go inside. Is there anything hot to drink?” Liu Wu’s mother asked Sun Nana. “I’m actually a bit cold. In the car, it was stuffy with the heat on, but cold without it…”
“Yes, we have coffee and tea, and also hot milk,” Sun Nana said. “Which would you like, Aunties and Uncles? I’ll prepare it for you.”
“Coffee, please,” Liu Wu’s mother said.
“Iced Coke,” President Liu said. “For the two uncles, you can make them tea. Thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s no trouble,” Sun Nana smiled. “It’s part of my job.”
Shan Yu led the group to the coffee shop to sit down first. Sanbing and the Pigsty Party had been standing by, waiting for a long time. Now they all walked over in unison.
“Welcome, Uncles and Aunties! Happy New Year!”
The group of adults was startled and turned to look at them simultaneously.
Forget them, even Chen Jian was so startled he whipped his head around.
“Oh my, Happy New Year, everyone,” President Liu smiled. “Does Dayin have a choir? Such great voices.”
“Uncles and Aunties, please rest for a while,” Sanbing walked over. “We’ll take your luggage up first.”
Chen Jian handed the suitcases over to Sanbing and the others.
“Is there anything else in the cars?” Shan Yu asked. “Let them take up anything that needs to be brought up.”
“That’s all,” President Liu said, pointing to a few other bags. “These are some New Year’s goods your aunt brought… oh, and some of it is vegetables that need to be prepared.”
“I’ll take them to the kitchen,” Chen Jian said, going over to pick up the bags.
He needed to escape this place for a moment, even if it was just for a few seconds.
“I’ll go with you to take a look,” President Liu followed him. “And wash my hands while I’m at it.”
Please let your son take you, President Liu, I’m begging you.
“The sink is over here, Auntie,” Chen Jian said.
As they passed the front desk, Hu Pan, who had just finished a call, immediately came over and took a bag from Chen Jian’s hands.
With Hu Pan there, Chen Jian was briefly relieved.
But the next second, Liu Wu, who was standing by the front desk, also came over and took the bag from Hu Pan’s hands.
Hu Pan rolled her eyes at him, then helplessly took another bag from Chen Jian’s hands.
As they reached the bar counter, his dad came out of the kitchen.
“Auntie,” Chen Jian turned his head and introduced his father to President Liu. “This is my father. He’s here to help.”
“Happy New Year, Uncle Chen,” Liu Wu said. “I’m Shan Yu’s cousin. My name is Liu Wu.”
“Hey, Happy New Year, kid,” his dad responded.
“Thank you for your hard work, Master Chen,” President Liu said, extending her hand. “I’m Shan Yu’s mother. My surname is Liu.”
“Hello, President Liu. Happy New Year. It’s no trouble, just helping these kids out.” His dad wasn’t as nervous as Chen Jian, just probably not used to shaking hands, so he was slightly awkward.
That was normal. The only nervous person in the entire shop was probably the manager.
“Are you cooking already?” President Liu asked, looking into the kitchen.
“Yes,” his dad said. “It’ll be ready in a little while.”
“We have a helper here,” President Liu smiled and waved towards the coffee shop.
“Oh, no, no,” his dad quickly waved his hands. “You all just rest.”
“Auntie,” Chen Jian tried to stop President Liu. “You must be tired from the journey. Lunch is just a simple meal, it’s no trouble.”
“It’s fine. Someone loves to do this,” President Liu said.
Chen Jian looked towards the coffee shop. Shan Yu had probably been looking over, because as soon as President Liu waved, he had already seen it and was pointing at people one by one over there.
The first person he pointed to was Professor Shan. President Liu shook her finger. The second was Liu Wu’s mom.
“Hey,” Liu Wu shouted directly. “Call my dad over to cook!”
“What a loudspeaker,” President Liu frowned.
Liu Wu’s father ran over. “Need help?”
“No, no…” His dad didn’t know what to say anymore. After all, he had just taken three thousand yuan, and now he needed someone else to help with the cooking. He definitely felt bad about it.
“It’s fine,” Liu Wu’s father said, rolling up his sleeves. “I just love being in the kitchen. For the next few days, whatever needs to be done, just assign it to me, master.”
“This master chef is Chen Jian’s father,” President Liu introduced him. “He came specially to help them out. Otherwise, their guesthouse would have to close for the next few days.”
“You’re handling so many dishes all by yourself?” Liu Wu’s father said. “Truly, a tiger father will not have a…”
He probably wanted to say “a tiger father will not have a dog son,” to praise both Chen Jian and his father for being capable, but it seemed the cause-and-effect relationship didn’t quite fit at this moment, so he changed his words.
“A dog son…”
A dog son will not have a tiger father isn’t right either, Uncle Liu.
“Your dog son is right here,” President Liu said, glancing at Liu Wu as she washed her hands.
“Hehe,” Liu Wu laughed happily.
“Tiger son…” Uncle Liu was still trying.
There was a tiger dog in the village, a Malinois from the city, very well-raised.
“Then come with me,” his dad said. Although he didn’t usually deal with formal situations, he still spoke up to break the awkwardness. “I was just thinking of making a salad…”
“I’m good at that,” Uncle Liu said, following him into the kitchen. “I even brought some of my homemade sauce…”
“Isn’t there a dog?” Liu Wu asked Hu Pan. “Where is it?”
“In the backyard,” Hu Pan pointed to the door. “Go take a look.”
“Why don’t you take me? The puppy might be shy with strangers. A stranger like me might scare it,” Liu Wu said.
“I’m working,” Hu Pan said.
Hu Pan was being really decent. Chen Jian was very moved. He knew that Hu Pan and Sun Nana had probably already guessed his relationship with Shan Yu. They were staying here to save him from embarrassment.
But Chen Jian was also afraid that if Liu Wu insisted on going, in front of President Liu…
“You can take him,” Chen Jian said. “Nana can watch the front desk for a while.”
“Alright then,” Hu Pan nodded and led Liu Wu towards the backyard.
“You have a dog too?” President Liu asked, turning off the tap after washing her hands.
“Mhm, it’s a small local dog,” Chen Jian said, handing her two paper towels. “It was… bought by the boss.”
“He bought a local dog?” President Liu was a bit surprised.
“He bought it on the shuttle bus. Someone was taking it to town to sell,” Chen Jian smiled.
“Shuttle bus?” President Liu was still surprised.
“If you want to leave from here and don’t drive, the only way is to take the shuttle bus,” Chen Jian said.
“Oh, yes,” President Liu nodded. “When I was young and went to the county for business, I also took the shuttle bus, holding someone else’s chicken.”
Chen Jian started laughing.
“Do you want me to give you a tour?” Shan Yu’s voice came over.
Chen Jian turned his head. As Shan Yu walked towards him, his feelings at that moment were simply indescribable. You’re finally here! Boss, brother, save me!
“Sure,” President Liu said. “After we eat, take us to see the river. Your dad brought his fishing gear.”
“Don’t you want to rest for a bit?” Shan Yu asked.
“What rest? He slept the whole way. He was snoring so loudly I had to banish him to your uncle’s car,” President Liu said.
“Was he not wearing shoes when he switched back to your car?” Shan Yu asked.
“He was wearing a pair of hotel slippers,” President Liu said, looking at Chen Jian and smiling. “Sorry for the scene, Little Chen.”
“Not at all,” Chen Jian smiled.
So cold, Manager Chen.
But he didn’t know what else to say.
Not at all embarrassing?
“I’ll take them on a tour,” Shan Yu said. “You can get back to your work.”
“The rooms on the fourth floor are all ready,” Chen Jian said, taking the room cards from the front desk. “Three rooms, all with a river view.”
“Two rooms will be enough,” President Liu said. “Liu Wu already said on the way that he wants to sleep at Shan Yu’s place. If not, just arrange a floor mattress for him, or the sofa.”
Chen Jian glanced at Shan Yu.
“Then two rooms it is,” Shan Yu sighed.
“Do you want to rest? Shan Yu will give us a tour,” President Liu said, asking the others in the coffee shop.
“A tour? Of course, we have to take a tour,” Liu Wu’s mother said.
Shan Yu walked a few steps towards the dining room, and Chen Jian followed.
“You don’t have to worry about it for a while,” Shan Yu said. “I’ll take them around for a couple of laps, and then we’ll eat.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian leaned against a pillar and let out a soft sigh. “Was I… not performing well?”
“No,” Shan Yu’s lips curved up. “You just think you’re nervous. It doesn’t actually show.”
“Really?” Chen Jian frowned, pondering.
“Really,” Shan Yu said in a very low voice. “Cool, calm, and polite.”
“Please, don’t mention ‘cool’ anymore,” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu smiled and patted his arm.
“Let’s tour the garden and the courtyard first,” Shan Yu said, returning to the coffee shop. “Then we’ll go up to my office and see the viewing terrace.”
“Let’s go,” President Liu stood up.
The group followed him out through the side door of the coffee shop.
Just as they reached the courtyard, they saw He Liang coming in through the back gate, carrying a gift basket.
Shan Yu stood still. The moment He Liang saw him, he quickened his pace and walked over with a smile.
It was only when he was right in front of him that Shan Yu spoke. “Boss He is here?”
“I’m here to wish you a Happy New Year on behalf of Liangye,” He Liang said with a smile.
“You’re too kind, Boss He,” Shan Yu said.
“Boss Shan, you have… guests?” He Liang asked hesitantly.
“Mhm,” Shan Yu responded. “You…”
“Boss He,” Chen Jian came out from the side door and greeted He Liang. “Happy New Year.”
“Hey, Happy New Year,” He Liang smiled.
“Come in and sit down,” Chen Jian said, stepping aside and gesturing for He Liang to enter.
“Okay,” He Liang said, looking at Shan Yu. “Then I’ll… chat with Manager Chen.”
“Okay,” Shan Yu nodded and led his mother and the others towards the garden.
“Is he the boss of the guesthouse next door?” his mother asked. “Don’t you need to entertain him?”
“Chen Jian can entertain him,” Shan Yu said. “I can’t stand talking to them. A single sentence goes around the earth. After one round of conversation with him, I’ll be twenty-eight.”
“That mouth of yours,” his aunt said, looking at him with a smile.
There weren’t many flowers in the garden at this time, and many of the plants were withered and yellow. However, the various small garden ornaments that Chen Jian had arranged before now showed their importance. The garden’s vitality came from all sorts of brightly colored trinkets.
“This garden is quite well done. The layout was carefully planned,” his mother said.
“The garden, the outer walls, and all the miscellaneous things before the opening were all done by Chen Jian,” Shan Yu said. “I didn’t manage much.”
“You really can’t compare people,” his aunt said with some emotion. “Look at Little Wu, he’s nineteen this year. If you let him do this, he’d definitely mess it up.”
“Everyone has their own strengths,” his mother said. “Shan Yu wouldn’t be able to do this either, and he’s already twenty-eight.”
“Not even twenty-seven yet,” Shan Yu reminded her.
“You can’t have not spoken to that Boss He even once, can you?” his mother said. “Talk to him twice and you’ll be thirty.”
After walking around the garden, they came to the doghouse area. Liu Wu was taking pictures of Mushroom, and Hu Pan was helping him pose Mushroom.
“Does this kid like the little girl?” his father asked.
“If even you can see it, then it must be true,” his mother said.
“Exactly,” his aunt said. “This time he insisted on coming, half for his brother, and the other half, I think, for this little girl.”
“The little girl might not be interested in him,” Shan Yu said.
“That’s not certain,” his aunt said.
“It’s certain,” Shan Yu said.
“Why are you so…” his aunt looked at him.
“Annoying,” Shan Yu said.
“He hasn’t changed a bit since he was little,” his aunt said, looking at his mother. “Right, sis? Not a bit.”
“He has changed a little,” his father said. “He’s much more restrained in his speech. Before, he could make you cry with anger.”
“Oh, don’t even mention it,” his aunt said, clapping her hands.
Back in the first-floor corridor, Lao Wu was standing at the entrance of the conference room with a vacuum cleaner. As soon as he saw them come in, he immediately turned on the machine and started vacuuming with a hum.
Then he pretended to have just seen them, turned off the vacuum cleaner, and greeted them politely, “Boss Shan, Uncles and Aunties.”
“Hey, thank you for your hard work,” his father nodded.
“It’s no trouble, Uncle,” Lao Wu’s voice even became formal.
Further ahead, as they were about to go up the stairs to the second floor, Chen Erhu came down with a small notebook.
“Boss Shan,” Chen Erhu said, pretending to look at his notebook. “We need to replace a few fire extinguishers at the beginning of March.”
“Mhm,” Shan Yu responded. “Tell Manager Chen.”
“Okay,” Chen Erhu said, closing his small notebook and walking straight ahead without looking sideways.
Everyone was being very formal.
“Do you manage them personally?” his mother asked, looking back at Chen Erhu and whispering.
“I don’t,” Shan Yu answered crisply.
His mother laughed. After a while, she whispered again, “Then Little Chen is quite capable, managing such a group of kids. None of them look easy to handle.”
“Mhm,” Shan Yu smiled. “Otherwise, how could he be the manager?”
“So proud,” his mother said.
“It’s appropriate to be a little proud,” Shan Yu said.
