Chapter Fifty-Three Reunion

  As we reached the village entrance, Xiao Yang turned around and said: "See you tomorrow!" I rubbed my head, feeling a bit strange - why did both of them say that? Could it be...? Was it possible...? Qiao Hui saw my puzzled face and burst out laughing: "You're confused again! Isn't your store opening tomorrow? He said he'd come take a look, you forgot?" I suddenly realized: "Oh. But isn't he not going back to his own home this week?" "Of course!"

  As soon as I got home, I rushed to the kitchen, knowing that my mom must be there. Sure enough, my mom was cooking up a storm again. Actually, we've been eating pretty well at school this week because my mom had packed me two lunchboxes, one with steamed rice and the other with steamed vegetables. She also included nutritious foods like soybeans, peanuts, eggs, etc., which could be steamed and eaten. Plus, everyone brought their own dishes to share, such as fermented bean paste, dried radish, pickled cabbage, salted fish, and so on, making our table more and more abundant.

  But now my mom is making my favorite dish, which is a home-cooked dish that I never get tired of eating, and it's also one of my mom's specialties. I can already smell its aroma.

  I'm drooling. While staring at the sweet potato meat in the pot, I asked my mom: "Mom, is your sample clothing done? How's our clothing store preparation going?" My mom raised her eyes and smiled slyly: "Hungry, huh? Almost ready." Huh? Didn't Mom hear me? Why didn't she answer? I looked at Mom suspiciously.

  Mom finally couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing. "Haha, Mom, you're pretending on purpose, I know everything is ready, right?" Unexpectedly, Mom also became humorous, seeing Mom's good mood, it must be going very smoothly! "Of course, everything is ready, aren't you preparing to open tomorrow? How can you open without being prepared?" Mom said with a matter-of-fact expression.

  "Awesome mom!" I hugged my mom and gave her a kiss, and she let out a surprised cry of "Ah!" and laughed scoldingly: "This little girl, so unreasonable!" Taking advantage of when my mom wasn't paying attention, I snatched up a piece of the pan-fried taro and meat and ate it: "Ow! So hot!" I cried out in pain, and my mom laughed and hit me on the head: "If you want to eat, then eat slowly, no one's fighting over it!" "Mmm, so delicious, soft and fragrant, with mom's flavor is always delicious!" I ate while praising nonstop. My mom smiled with narrowed eyes: "If it's delicious, then eat a bit more!" Haha, my mom is so fashionable, even knowing the advertising slogans from years later!

  After a while, my second brother and father came back, along with my eldest brother and sister who I hadn't seen in a long time. No wonder mom made so much food today, it turns out they were all coming back! This was the first time our whole family had gathered together since I returned. We sat around the table, happily eating and discussing tomorrow's opening of the clothing store.

  After all, this is a big thing at home, so the elder brother and sister all came back. The elder sister also bought the lockstitch machine she wanted to buy and brought back some small items such as sewing needles, threads, and machine oil. It's still the elder sister who thinks thoroughly, these things are necessary and are consumed the most. With the help of the elder brother and sister, my task tomorrow will be much easier.

  Mom brought out the several sets of sample clothes she made at home this week and let everyone see. My elder sister examined each one, marveling in amazement: "Wow, I've never seen these styles even in the city! Mom, how did you come up with them?" Mom smiled mysteriously, turned around and took out the design drafts I drew from her room. Eldest brother took it over: "Hmm, this is really well-drawn. Who drew this?" My elder sister was shocked after taking a look: "Mom, quickly tell us, where did you get this? This is a treasure!" Mom laughed happily, and second brother chimed in: "It's little sister who drew them. Our family has produced a designer."

  I quickly lowered my head to eat, and my sister was by my side. She immediately grabbed my arm and excitedly asked: "Yun'er, did you really draw these?" I nodded helplessly, knowing that my sister would definitely ask more questions. "Yun'er, when did you learn to paint? How come I didn't know?" As expected, she started asking again. In my heart, I thought: Didn't you want me to study fine arts major? You said it's easy to find a job in the future, and I've been studying since high school. Hehe, but of course, you don't know now!

  I looked up, with an innocent face: "Sister, how can you be so forgetful? I've liked writing and drawing since I was a kid, shouldn't you know that best? But it's also true, you've been away for years, of course you wouldn't know what I've learned!" My sister smiled and patted my shoulder: "Good guy, knows how to secretly learn art, has ideas, has prospects. Like this, don't read ordinary classes in high school, go study special art classes, after learning well, it will be easier to find a job." Hehe, my sister is really planning for me. "Hmm, I think Xiaoyun can really go study art, look at her paintings, they're so good, after a few more years she can become a painter." My brother also agrees. My dad and mom didn't have any opinions, just said that when the time comes, it's up to me what I want to read. I felt depressed: "Aren't we discussing tomorrow's store opening? How did we end up talking about my studies?" My mom suddenly realized: "Yes yes, how are we going to arrange things for tomorrow, we need to think carefully."

  "Isn't there still some time this afternoon? It's just in time." Dad spoke up, "You all prepare everything you need to bring tomorrow at home this afternoon. I and Ruo Ming will leave early, and you can come later. We'll set off the firecrackers at 9 o'clock in the morning, how about that?" "Good, 9 o'clock is good, long long prosperity! Come on, let's all raise our cups for a toast to wish our family's first business a long and prosperous future, booming with success!!" Big sister has been outside for a long time, so she speaks in a very formal way. Although there was no wine, everyone still raised their tea cups to make a gesture.

  "I heard that your family's Ruoxia and Ruoming are back?" Before seeing the person, we first heard her voice, Erniang came in a hurry. Of course, Qiaoyun followed behind. "Erniang is here! Quick, sit down! Eat with us!" Big sister stood up to greet her. "I've already eaten, you guys eat!" Erniang sat on the chair on one side, "After all, it's different when working in the city!" I whispered to big sister: "The money we used to open the store was borrowed from Erniang." Big sister became even more enthusiastic towards Erniang after hearing this: "Erniang, when you go to the city next time, I'll take you to stroll around the park." "Okay, next time you can take me. The city is so big, don't get me lost, haha!" Erniang laughed loudly, and everyone else laughed too.

  Qiao Wei came to my side and asked softly, "Yun Er, are you done eating?" I nodded, "Uh-huh, I'm done." Qiao Wei pulled me, saw that they were chatting and laughing, I quickly slipped down from the table, and followed Qiao Wei out into the courtyard. "What's up, Wei?"