Chapter 24: A Family Reunion

Words : 1661 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: A Family ReunionLu City, Lin Nan County, Qingpu Town. This is a small township with a total population of just over twenty thousand people. Chen Feng’s hometown is right here, his ancestors were farmers, and there were two brothers in his generation. After graduating from junior high, his elder brother Chen Rui started working, having been a chef apprentice, a taxi driver, a businessman, and later got married, had children, and became a truck driver who hauled goods with his own small truck. His sister-in-law Li Guihong was Chen Rui’s junior high classmate, working at a small factory in town and was also very diligent. The two didn’t earn much, but it was enough to keep their small family fed and clothed. And Chen Feng’s parents ran a small convenience store at their home, along with helping their eldest son with the kids. Chen Rui had two daughters in a row. Luckily, the preference for boys over girls wasn’t so serious anymore, and the whole family doted on these two little treasures immensely. Chen Feng included, who brought mostly gifts for these two little nieces this time he returned. By the time he got home, it was almost five in the afternoon, and both little ones had already returned from kindergarten; the older one was six years old named Little Yu, and the younger one was four named Little Xue. Chen Feng saw them as soon as he got out of the taxi, standing at the entrance of the convenience store, playing. "Little Yu, Little Xue." Chen Feng called out to them. As a result, the two little ones looked at him with surprise, not recognizing him. This was understandable, because the last time they met was the National Day a year ago, and there were a few video calls with the parents since then, so it was normal they didn’t remember their uncle. "I’m your Uncle Feng, have you forgotten?" After Chen Feng said this, the two little ones finally reacted, especially Little Yu who seemed to have remembered and enthusiastically ran up to him with a smile, calling out "Uncle Feng" and instantly making Chen Feng burst with joy, unable to resist picking her up. Little Xue was a bit younger and just stood there blankly, not coming forward to greet him. Of course, Chen Feng didn’t mind, stepped forward, and picked up Little Xue as well, one in each arm. "This time Uncle Feng has brought you lots of gifts, call me ’Uncle Feng’ and I’ll give them to you." Chen Feng said to Little Xue, who was clearly a little shy. Little Yu immediately started calling "Uncle Feng" excitedly, and upon glancing at the large package behind Chen Feng, Little Xue finally called out "Uncle Feng" sweetly; Chen Feng happily answered "Eh," then set them down, picked up the big package, and said, "Alright, let’s go inside and I’ll hand out the gifts." The two little nieces immediately followed behind Chen Feng with beaming smiles. There was no one in the convenience store at the moment, the business was just the usual, and on their town’s street, which was less than two hundred meters long, there were four convenience stores. "Mom, I’m back!" Chen Feng called toward the back room on the first floor. Their house had three floors, with the front room on the first floor being the convenience store and the back room serving as the kitchen and dining room. Chen Feng heard the sound of cooking from there. Sure enough, his mother Zhao Xiaolan’s voice followed: "Okay, in a bit. The food’s almost ready, call your brother and tell him to hurry back from his delivery to eat." "Alright." Chen Feng assured her, then called his elder brother. Elder brother was on the way back. After finishing the call, with the two little ones eagerly looking at him, Chen Feng quickly opened the large package to distribute the gifts. Barbie dolls, bubble cameras, Little Teddies, magic kaleidoscopes, electronic magic wands, and the like, all in pairs, to the delight of the two little girls, who cheered and beamed. "Why did you buy them so many things?" Zhao Xiaolan came over with a bit of reproach, but seeing her two granddaughters happy, she didn’t say much more. It wasn’t long before sister-in-law Li Guihong also came over, and Chen Feng also had gifts for her: a set of cosmetics, which, of course, led to a round of polite refusal. Then, elder brother Chen Rui arrived with their father, Chen Dayong. Their father sometimes helped with the hauling, able to make some money. Though there was some heartburn over Chen Feng’s divorce, the family was, after all, reunited. Chen Rui pulled Chen Feng aside, and the two brothers drank quite a bit together until they both drank too much, and Chen Feng didn’t even know how he got back to his room. When he woke up, it was already the next morning. His old room, the rear one on the second floor, had been arranged that way since his high school days when his family had just moved in. After using the bathroom and washing up, he went downstairs for breakfast. By this time, it was already past nine in the morning, and everyone else in the house had gotten up. "The kitchen has warm sticky rice ready." Zhao Xiaolan, who was busy at the convenience store, shouted to Chen Feng. "Got it," replied Chen Feng, almost as a conditioned response. Scenes like this had happened countless times before. He used to take them for granted and didn’t think much of them, but now, with his days numbered, he suddenly felt very moved and a bit teary. These were the everyday conversations countless families have, which many people often overlook or even fail to cherish and appreciate. He used to be the same. It wasn’t until he was on the brink of death that he suddenly realized he had not repaid his parents for their kindness and understood the silent sacrifices they made for him. After finishing the sticky rice made by his mother, with added shrimp, chopped tofu, ground meat, and sprinkled with green onions, along with a bowl of seaweed egg soup, he couldn’t imagine a more delicious breakfast. It was a flavor of breakfast that one could only get at home, unavailable anywhere else. He finished the nearly two bowls of sticky rice left over, tears unexpectedly welling up in his eyes. Wiping the few tears from the corner of his eyes with a tissue, Chen Feng picked up his phone to call his older brother, Chen Rui, to ask him to come home for lunch to discuss something. Chen Rui readily agreed. Chen Feng then went to help stock items at the convenience store. In the process, he encountered a few familiar neighbors and, of course, exchanged pleasantries. Soon, it was noon. Chen Rui and Chen Dayong both returned home, and their sister-in-law, Li Guihong, also got off work from the factory and came back. The two little nieces were still at kindergarten. After everyone finished lunch, the father and sons had some beer. It was then that Chen Feng spoke up, "Brother, haven’t you always wanted to open a car beauty shop? I’m thinking of going into business with you. I’ll put up the money, and you can handle operations. We’ll split the shares sixty-forty." Upon hearing this, everyone was startled. Zhao Xiaolan was the first to ask, "Where did you get the money?" Chen Feng had no choice but to say, "I won five hundred thousand in the lottery last time. The money’s just sitting there; might as well use it to invest." "Really?" Chen Dayong, who was usually quiet, widened his eyes in disbelief. He had been a seasoned lottery player for over a decade, buying both sports and welfare lottery tickets, but so far, the biggest prize he had ever won was twenty yuan. "Yes, really," Chen Feng said with assurance. "I’m planning to put in three hundred thousand to start the shop. Brother, do you think that’s enough?" Chen Rui eagerly responded, "That’s definitely enough. We can open a shop by the national road. Rent for storefronts isn’t expensive here, and the main expenses would be for renovation, equipment, and materials. At most, two hundred thousand should cover it. However, if we choose to join a franchise, there will be additional franchise fees." "Do you think it’s better to franchise or to go it alone?" After thinking for a moment, Chen Rui said, "Each has its advantages and disadvantages. On the whole, joining a well-known brand is probably better because it is more formal." "Then let’s go with a franchise. You pick out a brand with a good reputation. Even if it costs all five hundred thousand, it’s fine." Zhao Xiaolan frowned and said, "Little Feng, even though this is money you’ve won, you can’t just spend it recklessly." Chen Feng replied with a smile, "Don’t worry, Mom. A car beauty shop by the national road is bound to make money. Think of how many vehicles pass by there every day. And our town doesn’t have a real car beauty shop; there’s only an informal private car wash that’s booming with business." Chen Rui added, "Now there are two of them, neither formal, but both are doing very well." "That settles it then; the shop is sure not to lose money." "All right. You brothers should discuss it yourselves. But, even between blood relatives, keep things clear with a contract, so money disputes don’t ruin your relationship as brothers," said Zhao Xiaolan sternly. "How could that possibly happen?" "How could that possibly happen?" Both brothers objected in unison, showing a clear sign of consensus. Chen Feng laughed and said, "See, we won’t let money come between us; don’t worry." Chen Rui then started discussing the details with Chen Feng, finalizing some specifics.

Chapter 24: A Family Reunion

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