Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 44
“Yes…” Liu Yu hesitated and whispered, “Fusheng-gege, you go deliver the goods first. I will find you at the dock later.”
Shen Fusheng nodded and went ahead.
In the past few days, with no rain, the sun shone brightly, and it seemed like ten thousand golden snakes were dancing wildly on the river. Many men worked shirtless, beads of sweat dripping down their dark and oily backs.
As Aunt He and her family stood under the big tree, a group of people gathered around them.
In addition to hot dry noodles, siu mai, three delicacies, shredded pork, and tofu skin, Aunt Liu’s meal today also included two large buckets of cold drinks.
For two cents, one could refill the bowl of mung bean paste and lily stew as many times as desired. Aunt Liu gave it a try to Aunt He and Shen Fusheng’s family, seeing their success in business, prompt payments, and no defaults.
After the first wave of customers dispersed, Shen Fusheng noticed a small shadow not far away. He washed his hands and told his mother, he was going to work, leaving in a hurry.
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Liu Yu held a pile of embroidered handkerchiefs in her hand, her face turning red before she could speak because she was uneasy about sharing family issues.
Shen Fusheng didn’t rush her, and the two slowly walked back toward the restaurant. Many shops selling handkerchiefs and ready-made clothes lined Rouge Road. Even if Liu Yu didn’t want to talk anymore, it wouldn’t delay her from doing serious things.
“Fusheng-gege, this matter has something to do with my brother.”
Liu Yu explained the matter with difficulty, still hesitating and being vague. Fortunately, Shen Fusheng, having worked for his family since childhood, had seen a lot of strange and weird things, figuring things out after putting them together.
Aunt Liu was divorced by her husband and left the Gao family with her two daughters.
After their departure, Gao Mingda immediately brought in a gentle and beautiful lady. Though not from a good background, she had a fortune and skillfully pleased the old lady of the Gao family and Gao Mingda’s son, Gao Yaozu. They went to Baihe Restaurant for dinner, and Gao Mingda bought two heavy gold bracelets for the old woman with his own money.
To help the woman redeem her life, old lady Gao reluctantly took out the house deed. Both she and Gao Mingda hoped to make big gains with small things, relying on the woman’s dowry to become small rich family, and enjoy glory and wealth.
Gao Mingda took the money to redeem the woman.
During the day, the building seemed empty. When the madam saw the money, she smiled happily, stating that since the woman was interested in a concubine, she wouldn’t stop her and would personally help the woman buy a wedding dress. She’d give her a good headdress and a beautiful marriage.
Afraid the woman would think the marriage wasn’t a big deal and wouldn’t bring the gold and silver for the three of them to enjoy, the old lady of the Gao family gritted her teeth and actually took out all the money from the bottom of the box.
Gao Mingda slaughtered pigs and sheep, shopping around for another butcher, decorating the Gao family’s house festively.
On the appointed wedding day, Gao Mingda became the groom for the second time, riding a big white horse to welcome the bride happily. Unexpectedly, when he arrived at the flower house, it was empty.
Gao Mingda was completely dumbfounded and almost went crazy with shock. He thought the old madam must have betrayed her promise and kidnapped his sweetheart. He emptied his pockets and asked around, hoping to find traces of her.
His infatuated appearance did not last long because someone came to take possession of the house with the house deed. The old lady of the Gao family refused and cried in a panic.
She asked Gao Mingda to kick the man out, and the group of people laughed at her. He said, “What do you call your ancestral home? It was sold to us for 600 taels of silver. If you don’t get out, I won’t be polite!”
Gao Mingda resisted with all his strength, but finally, his leg was broken again. Once his leg was broken, his whole heart was gone.
In addition, some people saw that he was pitiful and gave him a few words in private, saying that this was a common swindle, and the situation was a little bigger. Someone wanted to occupy his family’s house and was greedy for the money he got from selling his ancestral house.
Gao Mingda refused to believe it and instead kicked out the person who told him the truth. From then on, no one looked at him anymore, and the three of them reluctantly found a shabby house to live in, and the rent could only cover half a year. The whole family was completely depleted and couldn’t even afford a big buck.
Because he had no money to buy medicine for Gao Mingda, his broken leg developed pus and sores. The smell was so rotten that neighbors had to cover their noses when they passed by. He died not long ago.
The grandmother and grandson cried so much that they could no longer live, and they had no money to bury Gao Mingda.
They scraped together some money, bought a rolled straw mat, wrapped the person in a mass burial, and buried him in a mass grave. A hole was dug on the post, and he was buried.
After the grandmother and grandson were driven out, Gao Yaozu secretly came to Zaozi Lane and asked Aunt Liu for help.