My name is Zhang Wei, and I am eight years old in my Chinese New Year's Eve. Since I was a child, I dreamed of one day opening my own small restaurant and living a life of being the master of my own house. It's a pity that I didn't have enough start-up capital, so I could only work in someone else's restaurant.
Last spring, I was working in a small restaurant, and my boss was very nice to me. One day, the boss suddenly called me aside and said that he was going to take care of the shop for me. At first, I thought it was a joke, but the boss said that he was old and wanted to be more leisurely, so he rented the shop to me.
The terms offered by the owner were attractive, the rent was cheap and rent-free for the first few months. I was so excited that I burst into tears, this was the opportunity I had always dreamed of! Although I did not have much savings, with the experience and contacts of the part-time job in the past few years, and the rent-free favor of the boss, I believe that I can always run this small shop well.
The night before I opened, I stayed up almost all night, full of hopes for the future. This is a new beginning in my life, and I vow to run this little shop well and make it a place I am proud of.
"Uncle, what do you want to order? My home-cooked food here is made with good ingredients to ensure that it is fresh and delicious!" I said with a smile.
The old man shook his head, "Then let's have the most ordinary white rice and a few side dishes." "
"Okay, I'll be right away!" I answered, and I was secretly glad that it was finally open.
Soon, the fragrant meal was served. Seeing the old man eating with relish, I couldn't have forgotten how happy I was. This is a new beginning in my life, and I sincerely hope that this small shop will become more and more prosperous.
Sure enough, business got better and better in the months that followed. At noon, the shop is always full, and sometimes even tables and chairs are added. Looking at the full house of diners, I am sincerely proud that these are all recognitions of my cooking skills and service. A few of them are regular customers, and they have to sit in fixed seats every time and order the same dishes. They often compliment me on my craftsmanship, which makes them have a lot of memories.
I looked at him puzzled, waiting for his next step. Unexpectedly, Lao Wang actually suggested that I marry his youngest daughter and let her come together to help take care of the business. At first, I was a little hesitant, after all, this is a lifelong event. But what Lao Wang said is very reasonable, not only can solve my worries, but his daughter also has a way out, killing two birds with one stone.
So, after much consideration, I nodded my head and agreed. Lao Wang's youngest daughter is called Xiaomei, and she is a young and beautiful girl. After we got married, she and I were busy in the shop. We respect each other like guests, the division of labor is clear, and life is smooth.
But the good times didn't last long, and one day, the arrival of an uninvited guest completely broke our stable life.
It was a sunny afternoon, the shop was bustling, and Xiaomei was busy greeting customers. Suddenly, the door was slammed open, and a middle-aged woman dressed in plain clothes burst in angrily. Her presence caused a commotion, and everyone was attracted to her movements.
"You despicable villain! The middle-aged woman pointed at Xiaomei, her eyes wide with anger.
Xiaomei was startled by her and stayed in place for an instant. Seeing this, I rushed out of the kitchen to find out.
"Who am I? I am the biological mother of your rebel!" She glared at me, anger written on her face, "You wicked person, you ran away from home in the first place, and now you have done such a dirty thing!"
I choked on her words, and my mind was in turmoil. It turned out that Xiaomei turned out to be my daughter who had been away from home for many years, and I, a confused father, were married to her!
Xiaomei was also completely crushed by this fact at this time, and she fell to the ground, tears raining down. The guests on the side were also completely exposed by our family ugliness, some showed disgusted expressions, and some whispered like schadenfreude. My mood can be imagined, I have no place to be ashamed!
Seeing that the situation was out of control, I had to temporarily close the business of the store and ask the customers to leave temporarily. What followed was a dismal dispute, the mother and daughter said a word, and the scene was very tense for a while. I'm fighting in the middle, lest I miss someone and hurt someone.
In this way, we quarreled in the small shop for more than an hour, and all the knots and hidden pains that had been in our hearts for many years burst out. My mother scolded me for my ruthlessness and injustice, and Xiaomei cried about being kept in the dark. I explained again and again, but I was powerless to change what had happened.
Eventually, the mother and daughter hugged each other and cried, while I silently shed my own tears. I know that from now on, the relationship between the three of us can no longer be as simple and beautiful as before. The pain of those years, the estrangement of those years, finally gushed out at this moment, and I had nowhere to hide.
In this way, the three of us exhausted all our strength and sat quietly in the corner of the small shop. Outside was a bustling street scene, but we were left with a heavy heart at the moment. Yes, life is always so unpredictable, and no one can predict what awaits them in front of them. We can only face everything with a humble heart.
That night, I tossed and turned and couldn't sleep at all. My mind has been wandering around the scenes that happened during the day. I began to reflect on my life and when it began to lead to this point of no return.
I remember that many years ago, I was a young and energetic young man with infinite hopes for the future. It's a pity that fate always likes to play little jokes. That year, my wife and I met and fell in love, and we got married soon after. We were newly married, and I worked on the construction site during the day, and my wife waited at home for me to return at night. At that time, we were young, hardworking and simple, and although we were living in poverty, we snuggled up to each other, and we felt that we were the happiest people in the world.
But the good times didn't last long, and his wife soon became pregnant. Due to her family's poverty, she was malnourished throughout her pregnancy. Finally, on a cold night, my wife died in childbirth, and my eldest daughter was adopted by relatives after she was born. And I hugged my youngest daughter Xiaomei and began a life of displacement.
In those years, I barely managed to make ends meet by working part-time jobs. But as Xiaomei grew older, I found it more and more difficult to pay enough for her to go to school. I began to feel that my future was bleak, and the pain in my heart gradually accumulated. Finally, on a frustrated night, I simply entrusted Xiaomei to a friend temporarily, left my hometown alone, and embarked on a wandering journey.
Since then, I haven't heard from Xiaomei again. The self-blame and guilt in my heart have been growing over time. But in those days, I gradually indulged myself, began to drink and gamble, and lived a life of uncertainty. It wasn't until the end that I met the kind boss that I was on the right path again.
Now, when Xiaomei and her mother suddenly appeared in front of me, those past events completely drowned me like a tide. I was saddened to realize that my impulsiveness and weakness had caused such serious consequences. I owe them so much that I can't make up for it today.
"Xiaomei, come in. I took out a clean rag and handed it to her.
Xiaomei didn't speak, just nodded vigorously. Then, the two of us went on with our work in silence. Occasionally, I would glance at her, only to see her wiping the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, probably crying.
In this way, in a heavy atmosphere, the small shop was quickly cleaned up by us. Outside, there was a bustling flow of people, but in our small world, there was only a heavy silence.
"Dad, are we going to keep this store open?" Xiaomei finally asked.
I took a deep breath and began to rethink my life in my mind: "Let's rest for a while, and when your mother's pain is better, the three of us can sit down and talk about valleys." No matter what happens in the end, I'm going to do everything I can to make it up to you. "
Xiaomei nodded, and a spark of hope seemed to be rekindled in her eyes. Yes, there are always bumps in the road of life, but as long as we have the perseverance to face and repair, we will definitely make it better.