As soon as Zhou Shi saw that their children were out of earshot, she immediately asked, "Hubby, you really do not approve of Ting Er studying?"
"Oh! Of course I want Ting Er to make a name for himself! Think about it, our Wen family had never had a scholar before. Just now, I said all these to agitate him in hope that he would perform well under pressure. Ting Er is a smart man. But sometimes he thinks too much and does not control his emotions! Especially during the exams! Each time when it comes to the exams, his mind would suddenly go blank." Wen Shouzhen sighed, and did not say another word.
— Under the light of the Kerosene lamps —
Golden color fried eggs, simple vegetables, several kinds of red braised pork belly, and warm white rice filled the dining table. The whole extended family was enjoying the food and chatted with one another as they eat.
"In a few more days, it would be the end of the month. The Drunken Immortal Restaurant will be extremely busy. I would have to trouble you two to help out with the Lunar New Year preparations." Wen Shouzhen asked his elder brother and sister in law to help out in the restaurant.
"Do not say that, 3rd brother! To say that is to disregard us as a family. Most of the time, our family depended on you. Whatever we a can do, we will cheerfully help out! 3rd brother need not be troubled by this matter." The wife of the eldest brother of the Wen Family is named w.a.n.g Shi. She is an honest and simple woman.
The eldest brother in the Wen Family is Wen Shoucheng. He had several mu of land, and he used these lands to plant some crops to feed himself and his family. But because he had a large family with 3 children, he could barely manage to feed his family.
Usually, Wen Shouzhen would help his brother out. Without Wen Shouzhen"s help, the family financial situation would be dire, and it would be difficult for them to make ends meet.
The 2nd brother Wen Shoucai is a gambler and usually does not help out in the household. He depended on his family for a living and does not work. "I agreed with the eldest sister in law. Do not worry, 3rd brother. All of us will help out, and you can focus on your work in the Drunken Immortal Restaurant."
Up to today, Wen Shoucai had already grown much older, but he still continued to laze around.
Wen Shouzhen glared at his 2nd brother, and in his heart, he thought, "You are the chief reason why I am worried!"
"Shi Tou, during the Lunar New Year, you did not have a family to return to. Why not stay here and join us?" Zhou Shi immediately changed the topic, and turned and faced Fang Dashi, who was quietly eating his dinner.
"Thank you for your kindness, Shi Niang [1]. Shifu has busied himself for a year, and he should have some time to rest. I will not impose myself on him, and will help proprietor Lee to look after the restaurant. It will give me more free time." Fang Dashi is a very truthful and simple person. Whatever he thought, he would say it out without hesitation.
Wen Shouzhen stood up for his disciple, "Let him be!”
Wen Shouzhen then turned to Fang Dashi as he said, “I will cook some delicious food for you during the Lunar New Year, and let Ting Er deliver them to you." Wen Shouzhen patted Fang Dashi on his broad shoulders. This disciple of his had followed him for five years, and is a practical and hardworking kid.
Wen Rou also looked at Fang Dashi. Fang Dashi had a strong body, a square face that is typical of people who lived in the countryside, and is quite handsome.
Fang Dashi noticed that Wen Rou was looking at him, and he suddenly turned beet red. He immediately looked downwards and quickly ate a few chopsticks full of rice.
"4th brother, after the Lunar New Year will you retake the children graduation exam again?" On the dinner table, the one question that Wen Ting did not want others to enquire was finally asked by his 3rd cousin, Wen Xin.
"I….." Wen Ting stammered, and did not say a single word more. He just buried himself in eating the food.
Wen Shouzhen also quietly eat his bowl of rice, and did not say a single word.
"In my opinion, not studying is also a good thing. All the hard earn money has to be spent on hiring tutors, paying examination fees, books, accommodations, brushes, and ink etc… Just thinking about it is enough to make one"s head explode. Also, the number of people who did well in the examinations and become a scholar is quite rare." Wen Shoucheng remarked.
"3rd uncle is the head chef of the Drunken Immortals Restaurant and is doing well. 4th brother, why don"t you learn from your father? At least you have a trade skill. Even if you could not earn big monies, at least you will not starve!" 2nd cousin Wen Shan also added his two cents.
"But, I……" With great difficulty, Wen Ting raised his head. His face had shown his unwillingness to give up. His lips were trembling, but under the table, his fists were clutched tightly.
In the next year, he will definitely succeed!
Wen Ting secretly swore.
"3rd brother, let Ting Er continued to study. He had already studied for so many years. To give up suddenly is such a waste." The gambler Wen Shoucai actually spoke up for Wen Ting.
"2nd brother, you need not care about this issue! If you can stop gambling and racking up gambling debts before the Lunar New Year, I would burn joss sticks and give thanks to the heavens!" Wen Shouzhen shot back. His comment really frustrated his brother Wen Shoucai.
Seeing that the topic of conversation had been switched, Wen Ting immediately grabbed hold of this opportunity, "Yeah, 2nd uncle, you are no longer young, and should have a job!"
Wen Shoucai glared at Wen Ting, and furiously shouted, "You little rascal! I was speaking up for you, and you have the gall to lecture me? When did you have the right to lecture me?"
Wen Ting rolled his eyes, and turned around to face his uncle. He knows how to handle this uncle of his. "Oh yes, 2nd uncle. About half a year ago, you borrow 2 copper coins from me, and said you would return the monies to me before the Lunar New Year. When will you return the monies to me?"
At this, Wen Shoucai kept quiet and did not say anything, and just eat the dinner.
"Father, let brother continue to study! Let me earn cooking from you!" Wen Rou tiny hands reached under the table, and gently patted her brother"s hand.
Wen Rou clearly recalled that at this point in time, Wen Shouzhen finally hardened his heart and make a stupid decision - he forced his son Wen Ting to stop studying and learn cooking.
But Wen Shouzhe could not have known that his son did not have any talent for cooking, and is not the type that could cook. After learning cooking skills for several years, Wen Ting ended up washing the dishes and preparing the vegetables instead. Until his death, Wen Ting had never even cooked a single dish. What a great tragedy!
Looking at her brother, and thinking about the future, Wen Rou immediately decided to change the Wen family fortunes from this moment onwards. She would first change Wen Ting"s fate!
Wen Shouzhen swallowed a mouthful of rice, and immediately chided her in a strict voice, "No, you are a girl. How could you learn how to cook!"
"Why can"t a woman learn to cook?" Wen Rou immediately shot back! Her retort was fast and straight to the point.
Wen Shouzhen was caught by surprise. He immediately recovered his wits, "Accordingly to our ancestors, the Wen family cooking skills can only be pa.s.sed down to our sons, and not our daughters."
Again, with this excuse!
In her past life, Wen Rou had begged her father to teach her, but Wen Shouzhen had always declined to do so. His excuse is always the same old, same old. And in this life, the same old scent was repeated.
"Dad, you are lying!"
Wen Rou immediately called out her father for lying. "The Wen family ancestor you mentioned about is yourself! Do not think that your daughter does not know that in so many generations of the Wen family, you are the only chef! Where did this ancestor rule that cooking skills could not be imparted to woman come from?"
Listening to Wen Rou, everyone on the dining table snickered.
"You!" Wen Shouzhen looked angry, but he immediately softens his tone.
"Rou Er, the reason why your dad is unwilling to impart his skills to you is for your own good. You are a girl, how could you withstand the hardships of learning how to cook? If you love to cook, you could practice at home. In future, when you get married, you can also handle the housework." Zhou Shi tried to speak up for her husband.
"Husband family? Again they talk about marriage and husband family!" Just by thinking about the Yin family, she immediately flared up and clutched her fists in anger.
"Father and mother, please grant me my wish. Dad is the head chef of Drunken Immortal Restaurant, right? I will not marry and just learn how to cook from father!" Wen Rou looked at her parents with her big, innocent eyes, and stand firm.
"Rou Er, all the people who are working in the kitchen are men. You are a girl. It is inappropriate!" Wen Shouzhen did not give it a second thought, and immediately rejected Wen Rou"s request.
"Dad, with you around, what do I have to be scared of? Dad, I really love to cook, and really want to learn cooking skills from you! Please, give brother 1 more year to study." Having said that, Wen Rou immediately got up, placed her tiny hands on her father"s shoulders, and shook him.
Wen Ting was very thankful to his sister, Wen Rou, and immediately said with conviction, "Dad, please give me 1 more year! If I could not make it this time, I will definitely give up on studying!"
"Wooo…." Wen Shouzhen sighed, and in his heart, he could not make up his mind.
Listening to the sigh, Wen Rou immediately observed her extended family members.
Her mother Zhou Shi was smiling as usual, and stroke Wen Rou"s hair lovingly.
Her brother, who desperately wants another chance.
The square-face Fang Dashi.
And her uncles, their wives, and her cousins.
And her father. Although he is stubborn, he really loves his family.
In the future, these members of her extended family will be eradicated to the last man.
And experience all kind of torture. From having all their limbs being ripped apart by five horses, behead, chained to an iron pillar and burned, enslaved and forced to work in the mines until they died, and worse!
The look on the cold listless eyes that had lost all hope. The screams of the dying as they were tortured repeatedly
No. Definitely not! I will not allow these events to be repeated!
Wen Rou was drenched in cold sweat. She immediately shook her head to clear her mind of these thoughts. She really dared not to keep thinking about these. She immediately shouted, "Father, your daughter has something to tell you!"
Notes:[1] Shi Niang is the name used to address the wife of the Shifu.
Next chapter:How can Wen Rou change the mind of her stubborn as a mule father? Plus, lots of food!