The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 212 - 205: Another Year

Chapter 212: Chapter 205: Another Year

"How could it be, today my mom made fish, and I held back from eating much just so I could come and keep you company."

In the past, at this time of year, my family would all be together, happy and united. Even if we had minor squabbles on normal days, we’d be cheerful during the festivities. But this year, my Fourth Brother is still out there selling goods, and who knows if he even has a place to stay. I just hope he’s not sleeping on the streets over the New Year."

"Tsk, tsk, don’t talk such unlucky words during the New Year. Can’t you just hope they’re staying in a guesthouse?"

"Humph, thinking of Xia Lin having a feast at home and laughing with my Fifth Brother, without a single worry, just irritates me."

Xia Lin’s current situation was something Lu Jingqiu didn’t want to know. She probably didn’t feel any guilt either, feeling that they both invested money in the business and she had worked hard to produce the clothes. Gao Da also should be contributing his efforts.

She didn’t expect Gao Da to be in such a rush to sell goods, especially during the New Year; she felt he was overdoing it. Now, she looked like the incompetent one causing trouble, while Gao Da seemed like the one cleaning up her mess.

No gratitude, just complaints toward Gao Da.

Lu Jingqiu stewed a small clay pot of mixed vegetables, including braised pork belly, dried green beans, leafy greens, and tofu.

With a dozen dumplings each, the two of them moved directly to Lu Jingqiu’s balcony on the second floor, where they could enjoy the view and the wide open space outside.

"Qiuqiu, your cooking skills have really improved. People indeed change a lot over the years. Take me, for instance, I can now make simple vermicelli and egg custard at home."

"We change and improve at every stage of our lives, it’s just a matter of how quickly it happens."

"Yeah, you’re right. Everyone is constantly growing, for better or for worse. Xia Lin, on the other hand, has become increasingly sharp-tongued. Ah, let’s not talk about her. Qiuqiu, these dumplings you made are really delicious."

"I learned from the folks at the Educated Youth Spot. These cooking skills, I really owe it to them."

"Have all those educated youth returned to the city? Recently, many policies seem to be addressing the issues of the educated youth. It seems like they want to resolve the problem of those who’ve been left in the countryside."

"They all got into university, and two couples even formed among them; they’re all doing quite well and haven’t been left behind in the countryside. However, there are many other places where educated youth haven’t returned to the city, but it should happen soon. Eventually, educated youth should be able to return to the city, even if they don’t have a unit to accept them."

"Really? Then once they come back, jobs in the city will be even tighter, right?"

Lu Jingqiu nodded. With more people, jobs would indeed be in shorter supply, but there would also be many opportunities.

Halfway through their meal, snowflakes began to float outside.

Gao Qing suddenly shivered and said, "It’s snowing. Do you think my Fourth Brother and Second Older Brother Yang have eaten yet?"

"They must have eaten by now; don’t forget, we prepared so much for them. Before they left, I also told my second brother to buy a bit if he found a good place in a state-owned restaurant."

"That’s good then."

The two men in the north did indeed have a meal, but it was on top of a mountain.

Fortunately, there was a recessed cave on the mountain top, so they didn’t have to sleep exposed to the snow out on the streets.

They had traveled to a city on the plains, gotten in touch with the manager of a department store, and sold two hundred sets of goods.

They also set up a stall along the way and sold another two hundred sets. They were planning to stay in a guesthouse for two days before heading north.

But then they thought, staying for two days would also be a time-waster, so it might be better to try their luck in some small county towns, directly setting up stalls there.

Maybe just a few small county towns and we could sell off all the clothes.

Today is New Year’s Eve; daring not to seek shelter in the villages, they found a small hill here and decided to stop.

Gao Da, busy stirring the meat stew that was almost ready, laughed and said, "Mingchao, this is our first time spending the New Year outside since we started driving, and in such a wilderness at that."

Yang Mingchao nodded, "Although we have been outside for many years, it’s thrilling, just like the military field exercises."

Gao Da said, "I think it’s even more exciting than that."

"Even though we are sleeping outdoors, we have everything we need, food and blankets, nothing’s lacking. My sister has thought of everything."

Gao Da nodded and then seemed to recall something and said, "Mingchao, I’ve decided. Once we sell these clothes, I’m going back to settle the accounts with Xia Lin. From now on, let’s just do our own thing. Women are too troublesome."

"I don’t agree with that, my Qiuqiu is not like Xia Lin."

"Of course, apart from Qiuqiu, she is indeed our lucky star."

"Haha, saying this in front of Qiuqiu would certainly make her say we’re flattering her. But when we were short of money, she invested in us. She just put in money, didn’t get involved in our affairs, and was optimistic whether we lost or profited. In the future, we should keep Qiuqiu’s share."

"Keep it, just the three of us then. Now the money we earn is enough for us to restock. From this incident, I’ve realized that even the best of brothers, once they get married, have families, some things change flavor, and can never go back to how they used to be. My dad is very wise about this, he always advised us to avoid financial involvement, especially in business."

Yang Mingchao understood, patting his shoulder silently for comfort.

He and Gao Da grew up in the same courtyard, and were virtually raised together. Gao Da had always taken care of Gao Shu, the brother who joined their family mid-way.

Originally, to give space to Gao Shu, he secretly signed up to go to the countryside, not expecting that later it would actually be Gao Shu who was sent down.

Gao Da had always remembered this and felt he owed it to his younger brother, so after he started working, he would periodically mail things to Gao Shu.

It was not until Gao Shu returned, found out he had started a family, that Gao Da was truly happy for him.

Wanting to grow closer to his brother, he soon found that there were new elements in his brother’s life, and he could no longer blend in.

The way he viewed the essence of things had changed, and they each had their own considerations. Their paths were slowly diverging.

"Ah Da, your father really does have far-sightedness. In the future, we can ask him more about things we don’t understand."

Gao Da nodded, the person he admired most was indeed his father. They had planned to have a drink together this year, alas, after going back this time, he would make time to accompany him.

Both men enjoyed their stew and fried dough sticks; their New Year’s Eve dinner was exceptionally delicious.

The wind and snow howled outside, but they were unafraid. The truck cabin was filled with cotton-padded clothes; they used a red-and-white checkered canvas for a cover, laid a blanket down, covered themselves with another, and were surrounded by warm garments, so they didn’t feel cold.

The two actually kept watch for the night, Yang Mingchao for the first half and Gao Da for the latter half.

When they awoke the next day, the surroundings were blanketed in white.

Luckily, the snow was not deep. After a breakfast of two steamed buns, they hit the road again.

Determined to sell the remaining stock before the fifth day of the new year.