Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets
Chapter 57: A Good Start

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: A Good Start

Tang Mingli fetched a few small rice bowls in the kitchen and placed the cooked soup noodles and stir-fried noodles into those bowls. He carried the tray to a table set up at the storefront, and loudly announced, "New breakfast store, free tasting now!"

After setting up his stall, Tang Mingli initially had to shout out loud to attract customers, but after a while, he didn’t need to anymore as he had regular customers who would come whenever he introduced new items.

Tang Mingli, a sunny-looking young man, attracted quite a crowd when he offered free tasting.

He took the opportunity to say, "The breakfast store is newly opened, delicious food at the same prices as everywhere else."

Tang Mingli introduced the freshly stir-fried noodles that he placed in a small bowl and handed forward.

Tang Zhengde used generous amounts of ingredients, resulting in stir-fried noodles that were aromatic and full of flavor. Paired with the cold winter weather, the hot stir-fried noodles opened up everyone’s appetite.

"Brother, try this. It’s the same anywhere you have breakfast, the same price. Why not eat something tastier?" Tang Mingli grinned, watching the man nod repeatedly, then he said, "I’ll have a bowl of stir-fried noodles."

Once someone began, Zhang Hualian immediately smiled, and Tang Zhengde quickly started preparing the stir-fried noodles.

"Is this soup noodles free for tasting?" There were still people gathered around outside.

Tang Mingli got the chopsticks ready and served the noodles bowl by bowl, saying, "Yes, all are free tasting. If you like it, please do support my second brother’s business."

"Let’s try it."

Driven by curiosity, the crowd tried the soup noodles. Each bowl was served with just a little amount of soup, finished in one bite. Those who had tasted it clamored for another bowl.

Tang Mingli smiled and invited people to wait inside the breakfast store.

Tang Zhengde used two pots, one for stir-frying and one for boiling noodles, managing everything in an orderly manner.

Tang Mingli was very hospitable, continuously offering friendly words. Recognized by someone who knew him from his market stall, Tang Mingli cheerfully responded, "Yes, that’s my clothes stall. When you come to buy clothes, I’ll give you a discount."

"Great, the clothes you sell are nice, my daughter especially likes them," said an enthusiastic uncle.

Through such interactions, relationships grew closer.

Zhang Hualian brought out the freshly stir-fried noodles, followed by soup noodles.

The first group who tasted the noodles liked them, and as the servings were generous and included vegetables, everyone said they would come again. With someone leading, more people entered the store. Zhang Hualian was busy collecting bowls, serving noodles, and taking payments, bustling around like a spinning top. Fortunately, Tang Mingli was there to help.

There weren’t many bowls at home since they couldn’t afford many, so once there were more people, they had to wash the initially used bowls to have enough.

They were busy until 9:30 AM, almost 10 AM, before Tang Mingli, Tang Zhengde, and others finally had a moment to eat their own breakfast.

"Second brother, I want stir-fried noodles, a portion for two," Tang Mingli, too tired to move, said. Just one morning of wiping tables, collecting bowls, and handling payments was more exhausting than selling clothes.

"Alright," Tang Zhengde replied energetically. Even though his hands ached from fatigue, he didn’t feel tired at all, but rather very happy.

Today, with both stir-fried and boiled noodles, although he didn’t calculate exactly, there must have been around a hundred bowls sold. Even earning just ten cents per bowl, that would be ten yuan!

Ten yuan.

He worked in the forest park and it would take him several days to earn that much.

Now, to think he earned it in one morning?

Tang Zhengde felt like he was dreaming.

"So tasty." Tang Mingli, who was already hungry, devoured a bowl of fried noodles in no time.

"Mingli advised, "Brother and sister-in-law, someone said today that it would be even better with noodles, and also, to add some hot sauce. I remember brother, you make amazing hot sauce. That way, those who want it spicy can just add some hot sauce themselves. Right, you guys are short of bowls; it was good I was here today. If I wasn’t, sister-in-law would have been overwhelmed with wiping tables, washing dishes, and handling money all by herself."

Zhang Hualian and Tang Zhengde had noodle soup, although they had eaten it many times before, today it tasted exceptionally delicious.

She joyfully said, "Zhengde, I have never felt as happy as I do today."

"Me neither," Tang Zhengde couldn’t stop smiling.

After they finished cleaning up the dishes and utensils, Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian began counting the money.

Most were ten cents or fifty cents pieces, and not many one yuan bills, but the piles on the table were still very exciting to behold. In the end, after deducting costs, they earned fifteen yuan more than Tang Zhengde’s estimation.

"Hualian, our days will definitely keep getting better," Tang Zhengde’s eyes were filled with hope, his eye rims red with excitement.

No one knew that after he quit his job at the forest park, he had sleepless nights, feeling nervous and anxious before the store even opened. In the morning, seeing no one come to eat, he even thought about the possibility of making a loss, owing Mingli US$ 95, Xiao Yue US$ 101. He could handle the hardship himself, but what about the children’s tuition? What about Hualian?

Now, they finally made money, much more than what he used to earn in several days. As long as he worked hard, he was sure to earn more and be able to pay off the debts.

"Yes, we will definitely keep getting better," Zhang Hualian was so excited she was almost speechless. She said, "Zhengde, today I went to talk to the noodle supplier to order more noodles, also need to buy some chilies, and we are a bit short on bowls, but let’s endure for a couple more days, and then we can get more bowls."

Zhang Hualian carefully recalled the customers’ feedback from the day to see if anything was missed.

"Ok, I will take lunch to Mingli, and pick up Xiao Yue in the evening so we can eat together," Tang Zhengde said.

Zhang Hualian nodded repeatedly, then added, "Xiao Yue is in class; I don’t know if she will have time."

"That’s true," Tang Zhengde thought for a moment then said, "Hualian, then you go find Xiao Yue at lunchtime to let her know so she can be assured."

After lunch.

Zhang Hualian happily went to find Tang Yue.

Seeing her mother’s smiling face, Tang Yue, who had been worried all morning, finally felt relieved. She cheerfully said, "Congratuations, Mom, the breakfast place did well today, didn’t it?"

"How did you know?" Zhang Hualian looked at her surprised, she hadn’t mentioned anything yet.

"Mom, your smile says it all. If the business wasn’t good, would you still be smiling so happily?" Tang Yue carefully asked about the morning’s proceedings and suggested, "Mom, let’s not rush into starting a restaurant just yet. Let’s focus on getting the breakfast right first."