Chapter 175

Mr. Chen had seen these two kids before. Tangtang and Guoguo, with two identical cute faces, plus their clever and sensible personality, were very lovable.

Seeing Tangtang and Guoguo, Mr. Chen fancied them very much, and he greeted Xu Ran and the others in a hurry.

He and Qin Shuwu were acquaintances, since they both ran business in the town.

Mr. Chen smiled at Qin Shuwu, “Mr. Qin is really a sight for sore eyes! I am honored with your visit.”

Qin Shuwu smiled, “Sure. Since this is my first visit here, will Mr. Chen treat me nicely?”

Qin Shuwu was joking obviously, which drew close their relationship at once. Mr. Chen responded with a smile, “Of course, I will surely serve you well. Just order any signature dishes in my restaurant, and I will only charge you half the price today.”

Charging him half the price could both do Qin Shuwu a favor, and get paid without belittling him. No wonder Mr. Chen was a qualified businessman, speaking in a smooth and pleasing way. Especially that he said he could order any signature dishes in the restaurant, many of which rationed supplies.

Xu Ran smiled. “Mr. Chen, Brother Qin, can you two dispense with the formalities? We are starved. Mr. Chen, if you really want to do us good! Quickly serve us a few dishes!

Tangtang and Guoguo also looked at Mr. Chen with an expectant look, which was irresistible to Mr. Chen, who immediately said, “Sure, sure. I’ll serve you dishes immediately. Tangtang and Guoguo, order whatever you like.”

As soon as Mr. Chen said this, the waiter came over to report the names of dishes for them.

Tangtang and Guoguo looked at Xu Ran blankly as they had no idea about what were the dishes mentioned by the waiter.

Xu Ran was also a little stunned because he didn’t know the names either. Maybe he could guess literally if they were written down.

Xu Ran thought for a moment and said to Mr. Chen, “Mr. Chen, don’t report the dish names, since we don’t know what they are. Just serve us a few dishes directly, but don’t serve the ones I brought over. We’d like to eat something novel.”

Mr. Chen was annoyed when he heard it. “Xu Ran, are you serious? You are bored with those dishes that the others are desiring but fail to get! If you are so bored with them, why don’t you send some to me?”

Having rubbed it in, Xu Ran quickly got up to appease him, “Mr. Chen, calm down. I have no other intentions. For the first time, I brought two kids to eat at your restaurant. Shall I give them some food that they haven’t tasted before? Save the other dishes for the other guests. Isn’t that better?”

“Humph!” Mr. Chen snorted coldly, obviously not wanting to talk to Xu Ran.

Xu Ran whispered to Mr. Chen, “Mr. Chen, I have an good idea. Get me a private room and I’ll share it with you.”

The moment he heard the word “idea”, Mr. Chen’s eyes lit up, but he didn’t show it on his face, and maintained his indifferent expression.

Xu Ran pulled at Mr. Chen’s sleeve. “Mr. Chen, I’m serious. If you don’t agree, I’ll share it with someone else.”

Xu Ran pretended to leave.

Knowing it was a blackmail, Mr. Chen could not help but get angry!

“Stop! Xu Ran, remember this. If you can’t come up with a good idea today, I will charge you twice the price today.”

Xu Ran smiled, “What if you’re satisfied?”

“Satisfied, then I’ll treat you to a free meal!” Mr. Chen still wore an arrogant look on his face.

Xu Ran was amused. He didn’t expect that Mr. Chen, at this age, still got moody. Fortunately, not many people were in the restaurant right now, and they were eating in their seats without seeing this scene, otherwise many people would have made fun of him.

Mr. Chen asked the waiter to take Xu Ran and the rest to the private room upstairs, and mentioned a few dishes for the waiter to inform the kitchen. He also asked the waiter to bring a dish of pastries for the two kids to eat.

It was quite thoughtful.

They were the only guests upstairs. The two kids were really starved and pitched into the pastries. Qin Shuwu took the opportunity to ask Xu Ran, “Xu Ran, what is your idea? So mysterious!”

Xu Ran chuckled, “It’s nothing sophisticated, but it will be much more convenient once applied in the restaurant.”

“Then tell me, what’s the idea? The suspense makes me itchy.” Qin Shuwu said unhappily.

“Yeah! Me too. Tell us!” As soon as Qin Shuwu finished, Mr. Chen pushed the door open and entered.

Xu Ran said, “Mr. Chen, it’s fine that you didn’t knock upon the door before you came in. However you didn’t even bring a plate of food here. That’s too much!”

Mr. Chen didn’t expect to be questioned by Xu Ran. He smiled and said, “Xu Ran! Don’t forget this restaurant is mine! Besides, I’m a shopkeeper at least. I’m not responsible for serving food. You just tell me what the idea is, and you can enjoy your meal. I promise that I won’t go up here again.”

There were so many twists and turns only for a meal; Xu Ran also felt troublesome. Thus, he nodded, “Okay! The idea is actually very simple: make a menu and let the people who come to the restaurant read it by themselves. Those who read would rather read it by themselves. As to those who can’t read, the waiter will report the menu for them, so there wouldn’t be an awkward situation.”

Xu Ran paused for a moment and then continued, “The menu must be delicate, which will make people desire to open it as long as they see it. The dish names on it should be exquisite, too, and they should be easy to understand. As soon as people see them, they will know what they are made from, and whether they are something they want to eat.”

Mr. Chen burst into laughter upon hearing Xu Ran’s words, “Ha-ha! This is a good idea! Okay! I will do as you said. You know, a lot of scholarly people frequent my restaurant and they are very particular about eating. Xu Ran, this idea is really good. Ha-ha! I’ll have it made tomorrow. When it’s ready, give me some advice.”

Finishing his words, Mr. Chen went out, just in time for the waiter to deliver the food. Mr. Chen waved his hand and said that this meal was for free.

Xu Ran didn’t care much. It was already past noon, and he had long been hungry. The bill could wait after the dinner. Of course, eating for free would definitely be the best.

After dinner, Xu Ran didn’t pay for the meal, since Mr. Chen had said that he would spare their payment. Not only did Xu Ran eat his fill, but he packed some and took it away, not standing on ceremony with Mr. Chen at all.

Qin Shuwu made fun of him, saying that he got more than he bargained for.

Xu Ran looked proud. Both eating and taking for free were also a skill set.

…

When they got home, it was quite late. As soon as they returned home, Tangtang and Guoguo gave the things they bought on the street away to the other family members, as if they was offering them some treasures. Though the things were not expensive, they were the good will of the two kids. Everyone who received the gifts was very happy, and praised the two kids so much until they were embarrassed. Then the twins slipped into the room claiming to practice calligraphy.

…

Xu Ran didn’t join in the fun. He greeted those at home and went out to village head’s house.

Village head’s family were busy planting potatoes. They had bought a few mu of wasteland to plant potatoes, but had not hired hands to reclaim it. Thus, they were much slower than the others.

When Xu Ran arrived at their home, he didn’t see anyone. While the weather was fine these days, village head’s family were busy with tail-in work.

Xu Ran did not know where the village head’s land was. He circled their house without seeing anyone, so Xu Ran decided to quit looking for them. He thought about coming over at dinnertime the next day! Maybe it would not be good to interrupt their meal, but he would surely find them then.

On his way back, Xu Ran suddenly wanted to visit Xu Family. It was impossible for Xu Cheng to come back. Anyway, the fact that Xu Family had come down like this was more or less his obligation to offer them a hand.

Xu Family’s door was closed, and it was unknown whether anyone was home.

Xu Ran knocked at the door. After a while, the door was opened, and the one who opened it was Xu Qiang, the person who had been bullying Tangtang and Guoguo back then. He was now skinny. Seeing that it was Xu Ran, he was a little surprised. But he didn’t call anyone, nor did he let him come in.

At this moment, Elder Daddy Xu’s voice came from inside, “Xu Qiang, who is it?”

Xu Qiang didn’t say anything. Probably he didn’t know what to say.

Xu Ran didn’t say anything, either and kept standing at the door. The scene was a little awkward. Seeing that Xu Qiang didn’t reply, Elder Daddy Xu came out with a curse.

In fact, Xu Ran didn’t understand why he was always cursing. Although he was a Ge’er, his cursing skill was even better than a modern woman’s.

Elder Daddy Xu went to the door and saw that it was Xu Ran. Looking even more sullen, he asked, “What are you doing here? Are you coming to watch how miserable we have come down to without Xu Cheng?”

The words were a little harsh, but Xu Ran thought it could be understood. He shook his head, “I don’t mean that. I’m just here to check.”

“Check? What are you checking? Whether are we dead? But I have to disappoint you. Our family are still alive and well.” He said that with a smug expression.

Xu Ran felt that the words of Elder Daddy Xu today were the smoothest he ever said, also the most serious ones, which was perhaps because they had never talked properly.

Xu Ran said, “Since you guys are very well, then I can rest assured. I will go back now.”

Xu Ran then turned and left. Maybe Elder Daddy Xu still had some unspoken words, or wanted to curse, but he didn’t hear any of those.

Elder Daddy Xu, who saw that Xu Ran turned around and left, felt even angrier. They were not doing well now and were badly in need of Xu Ran’s help, but before he could say it, Xu Ran had left, without even looking back.

“Bah!” After Xu Ran left, Elder Daddy Xu spit and cursed. Then he closed the door and pulled Xu Qiang in.

Xu Qiang opened his mouth and finally didn’t ask what he wanted to. Now in this house, he and Xu Hui could only rely on Elder Daddy Xu and Xu Houcai to survive. After so many things, he was no longer the Xu Qiang who only knew about bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

Elder Daddy Xu seemed to be unwilling to let Xu Ran leave just like that. After entering the house, he started to curse again, and even started to smash things.

Xu Houcai just came back with a hoe on his shoulder. Seeing this, he asked Xu Hui and Xu Qiang what had happened. Xu Hui shook his head, indicating that he did not know what was going on. Xu Qiang hesitated for a moment and told him that Xu Ran had been here and the words he had said.

Xu Houcai sighed and went to put down the hoe without saying anything.

While working, Elder Daddy Xu was still cursing tirelessly.

At this, Xu Houcai just shook his head. This family was no longer like a family. All had fallen apart. He didn’t even know how long he could hold on, nor did he know what to do with the two kids.

Xu Houcai sighed.

Xu Qiang and Xu Hui standing outside the door looked at each other without saying anything. Other than themselves, nobody knew what they were thinking.

When Xu Ran got home, he had dinner, and slept. This day had passed, and Xu Ran felt exhausted. It seemed that he could only relax during sleeping time every day.