Chapter 124: The supermarket

Early in the morning, Han Songlin was sound asleep when Han Ting woke him up, saying it was time to take her to school. School!

It had rained last night.

  A winter rain came unexpectedly. Someone once said that a winter rain is a graceful poem and a lingering tune. But for Han Songlin, winter rain is the most annoying.

Like now, Han Songlin shivered as he climbed out of the warm covers.

Winter in the south is damp and cold, and the rain made it even more obvious.

  Liu Yuyan wanted to get up, but Han Songlin stopped her, asking her to take good care of Han Yufei.

The night before, he had slept in the same bed as Liu Yuyan because he was worried that Han Yufei would catch a cold.

'Ting'er, did you dress yourself?' Han Songlin reached out to check, just in case she hadn't put on the right clothes!

  Han Ting's face was full of pride: 'My teacher said that I'm a big girl now, and I have to dress myself, I can't let my parents help.'

Han Songlin laughed a little, which reminded him of when he was a child, and he also wanted to dress and undress himself in winter.

But the winter clothes were really too much to wear, and a sweater hung on his body, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take it off, so he jumped up and down on the bed in a hurry.

  It was only with my father's help that I managed to get it off.

I have to say that winters in the 1990s were really cold in Han Songlin's memory.

Nowadays, it's not like the future, when every household has a down jacket to keep warm.

Well, now Han Ting doesn't need to wear too much, because a down jacket was prepared for her early.

Compared to traditional cotton-padded clothes, down jackets are indeed much better in terms of warmth retention. The most important point is that down jackets are lightweight.

'Have you washed your face?'

  Han Ting shook her head vigorously. Her mother said that she could not touch the kettle on the stove, as it was hot!

She secretly tried to touch it, and indeed it was very hot.

Therefore, Han Ting had to be a good child who listened to her mother.

Han Songlin did not know about this, otherwise he would not know what to say.

There was always a kettle full of water on the coal-burning stove, which was very convenient in winter.

  At least you can always use hot water, right?

Is this the reason why household water heaters have not yet entered every household?

Han Songlin poured hot water, and Han Ting had her own small basin, so she was able to wash her face by herself.

Yes, there were quite a lot of water stains on the sleeves.

Well, that's not important; what's important is that the child has learned to take care of herself.

After brushing her teeth, putting on her little schoolbag, and putting on her little pink scarf, everything was ready.

  As he was walking Han Ting to kindergarten, Han Songlin ran into Han Songcai.

'Big brother, tonight, why don't you pick up Yingzi and bring her over to your place?'

Han Songlin didn't even bother to ask what Han Songcai wanted first, and just agreed; it made no difference whether it was one sheep or two.

  'What are you wearing all that fancy new stuff for?' Han Songlin looked at Han Songcai strangely. Han Songcai had cleaned himself up and put on a new suit.

'I'm going to the provincial capital by car today!'

'To the provincial capital?'

Han Songcai laughed: 'To buy some tools and materials for the renovation.'

Renovating a house is a big job, and all kinds of tools and materials are naturally very important to improve work efficiency!

  Many things are not available locally in Yuechi and must be obtained in the provincial capital.

'I see. I thought you were going to the provincial capital to develop the market!'

'Oh no, I dare not go to the provincial capital!' Although he said so, Han Songcai had an restless heart. What if he really went to the provincial capital to give it a try?

If it really didn't work, he could always come back.

  Han Songcai was going to the bus station to catch a bus, and Han Songlin took him there on his way.

Seeing Han Songcai enter the bus station, Han Songlin couldn't help but smile.

As far as Han Songlin knew, Han Songcai did a pretty good job renovating the music room.

The price was reasonable, the renovation was standard, and the materials were transparent; in the renovation market, Han Songcai also had a good reputation.  

  So Han Songlin wanted to let Han Songcai go to the provincial capital to try and see how far he could go.

Han Songlin didn't like to directly tell Han Songcai what to do, so he gave him a little hint.

He knew that, according to Han Songcai's personality, he would definitely try it.

Because he himself was not a contented person.

When he returned home, Han Songlin brought buns and steamed buns.

  'Mom, it's raining outside today, so just watch TV inside!'

Zhang Suyun was almost full after eating some kimchi, some congee, and two xiaolongbao.

'I'll go lie down on the bed and watch TV.'

'Is it cold in the house? Do you want to add another quilt?'

Winter is always a difficult time of year for the elderly.

Many elderly people pass away in winter.

  Zhang Suyun waved her hand and shook her head, saying, 'I have a down comforter and a quilt, so I'm very warm. I don't need a quilt!'

'If you're cold, just say so. There are quilts and other things in the house.'

Zhang Suyun: 'I know!'

Han Songlin smiled and didn't say anything. They had bought several down comforters, one for Han Songcai and his family and one for Han Ze's grandmother.

  As for the rest of the family, Han Ting also has a quilt.

Seeing that Liu Yuyan had not gotten up, Han Songlin carried the food to the bedside.

It was true that Liu Yuyan was a bit lazy, which was not common.

Liu Yuyan felt strange being fed by Han Songlin.

She was already such a big person, and yet someone was still feeding her in bed.

  'Don't be embarrassed, you should feel at ease, because this is what a husband should do!' Han Songlin thought it was pretty good and quite novel.

'So from now on, every morning you will feed me breakfast?' Liu Yuyan took advantage of the situation. Since you said it, I won't be polite.

Han Songlin smiled and didn't say anything; the meaning was clear, it was not allowed.

Once is enough, and she still wanted it every day. It was quite a beautiful thought.

  'Hmph, I knew it, you big liar! I don't want you to feed me, I want to eat by myself!'

Han Songlin snorted and didn't argue with her: 'Do you want more xiaolongbao? I'm keeping them warm in the pot!'

'No, I want some more pickles!'

'Wait, I'll bring them over.'

In Sichuan, basically every household has pickles, and even city people are no exception.

  If there is no pickles at home, it always feels like something is missing in life.

Liu Yuyan bought the pickle jar, and Zhang Suyun made the pickles herself.

Making pickles is quite simple. Just prepare a pickle jar, pour in bottled water, add dried vegetables, salt, sugar, and a small amount of grain liquor.

Of course, you can add some Sichuan peppercorns to enhance the flavour, although it doesn't seem to be of much use.

  'What exactly was the business you were talking about last night that is both low-skill and profitable?' Liu Yuyan suddenly asked. She had been thinking about it all night and still hadn't figured it out.

  Han Songlin, on the other hand, thought the topic was over!

'Supermarket!'

'What's a supermarket?'

The concept of supermarkets doesn't seem to have spread very widely in China.

The first self-service supermarket in China was founded on 12 April 1981, and the Yangcheng Friendship Supermarket officially opened for business on that day.