Siheyuan: I just want to live

The next morning, the sunlight shone through the window onto Chen Feng's face. He stretched, got up, washed up, and enjoyed a hearty breakfast.

After breakfast, Chen Feng put on his coat and hat, pushed out his bicycle, placed the prepared New Year gifts in the basket, then got on the bicycle and rode towards Li Guotao's home.

Along the way, Chen Feng enjoyed the scenery along the road with a gentle breeze. After a while, he arrived at the door of Li Guotao's house.

Chen Feng parked his bicycle, picked up the gift, and knocked on the door gently.

The door opened and Li Guotao greeted Chen Feng warmly. After the two greeted each other, Chen Feng walked into the house.

The room was filled with a faint scent of tea. Chen Feng and Li Guotao chatted for a while and the atmosphere was harmonious.

However, after just a few words, Li Guotao couldn't wait to get to the point. He looked at Chen Feng and asked with a serious face.

"Chen Feng, what have you thought about what I told you yesterday? Is it feasible?"

Seeing that Li Guotao was so anxious, Chen Feng knew that he took this matter very seriously, so he stopped beating around the bush and answered frankly.

"Uncle Li, I discussed the matter you mentioned yesterday with Xiao'e and the others after I returned."

Li Guotao immediately perked up when he heard this. He raised his eyebrows slightly and asked quickly, "Oh? What was the result? Did Lou Xiao'e agree?"

Chen Feng paused for a moment, then slowly said: "Xiao'e said that if you open a restaurant, the investment is relatively not too much, and the funding should not be a problem."

"However, in addition to funding, there are some other problems that are not easy to solve."

Upon hearing what Chen Feng said, Li Guotao showed a puzzled look. They really couldn't understand, since the funds for opening a restaurant were no longer a problem, what other obstacles would there be?

Li Guotao couldn't help but ask, "Chen Feng, please tell me what's wrong with Lou Xiao'e that can't be solved? I'll see if I can help."

Chen Feng was secretly delighted. He came here today to ask Li Guotao for help in solving some problems. He did not expect that Li Guotao would take the initiative to ask so quickly.

Since Li Guotao had already asked, Chen Feng naturally stopped being polite and immediately replied: "Uncle Chen, you know that opening a restaurant requires more than just money. In addition to capital, you also need chefs, waiters and a suitable storefront."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Now there is no problem with funding. As for the waiter, the old colleagues at the scrap yard are willing to come and help, so this is not a difficult task."

"As for the chef, although it may take some effort to find one, I believe that as long as the salary is high enough, we will be able to recruit a good chef."

At this point, Chen Feng's tone became slightly more serious, "But the most critical issue now is that we still haven't found a store!"

Li Guotao nodded slightly while listening to Chen Feng's words. When Chen Feng stopped talking, Li Guotao understood. It turned out that they were short of a store!

So Li Guotao thought about it for a while, and then asked Chen Feng: "What do you and Lou Xiao'e think about the store?"

Hearing Li Guotao's question, Chen Feng chuckled, as if he had already made up his mind. Then he said with a smile: "Uncle Li! This is what I think!"

Chen Feng paused and continued, "Uncle Li, look, isn't the scrap yard going to be closed?"

He paused for a moment, giving Li Guotao some time to understand, and then continued, "Since the scrapyard has been closed, then the land where the scrapyard was located will be vacant, right?"

Chen Feng looked at Li Guotao, a sly look flashing in his eyes, "I was thinking, that land is just sitting there empty anyway, why not let Xiao'e buy it and build a high-end hotel."

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had already seen the prosperous scene of the hotel in the future. "This way, Xiao'e will have a place to open a restaurant and avoid wasting that piece of land. Uncle Li, what do you think of my idea?"

After saying that, Chen Feng looked at Li Guotao expectantly, waiting for his response.

However, Li Guotao did not answer immediately as Chen Feng expected. Instead, he remained silent, as if he was carefully considering Chen Feng's proposal.

When Chen Feng saw Li Guotao's reaction, he felt a little anxious, but he did not show it. Instead, he chose to sit quietly and wait patiently for Li Guotao to continue speaking.

As time passed, Li Guotao finally broke the silence. He looked at Chen Feng and said slowly, "Chen Feng, I really can't directly agree to your proposal. After all, this involves the company's decision-making and related procedures."

Chen Feng nodded slightly, indicating that he understood Li Guotao's difficulties.

Li Guotao continued, "But don't be too anxious. Let me tell you this. After work, I will go to the headquarters in person to inquire about the sale of the land for you. Let's see what the headquarters thinks and whether they agree to the deal."

Chen Feng felt a little relieved. At least Li Guotao was willing to help inquire. This was already a good start.

Li Guotao continued, "Then, after New Year's Day, you can come to see me at the scrap yard. By then, no matter what the headquarters decides, I will give you a clear answer. Do you think this arrangement is okay?"

Chen Feng thought for a moment and felt that this plan was reasonable, so he replied: "Okay, Uncle Li, let's do as you say. Thank you very much for your help!"

Listening to Chen Feng's words of thanks, Li Guotao waved his hand and said, "Hey, you're my nephew, this is our own business! Why are you saying thanks? Let's not be so polite!"

Hearing Li Guotao say this, Chen Feng smiled and stopped being polite. Instead, he took the initiative to change the subject and chatted with Li Guotao about other things.

………………

Chen Feng finished his lunch at Li Guotao's house and stayed there until the afternoon, then he got up and said goodbye and left Li Guotao's house.

After returning to the courtyard, Chen Feng just walked into the living room and found that Jin Ling and Lou Xiao'e were also in the living room.

Before Chen Feng could speak, Lou Xiao'e couldn't wait to ask Chen Feng first.

"Chen Feng, you went to Uncle Li's house today. What did Uncle Li say?"

Seeing Lou Xiao'e so anxious, Chen Feng did not beat around the bush and said directly, "Uncle Li said that he couldn't make the decision on the purchase of the land."

When Lou Xiao'e heard Chen Feng's answer, her expression immediately dimmed.

Seeing this, Chen Feng quickly added, "Xiao'e, don't worry too much. Uncle Li said that he would go to the headquarters to help ask about it. He asked me to find him after the Lantern Festival and he will give us an answer then!"

"Let's wait a little longer! If it doesn't work, we can think of other ways."

Listening to Chen Feng's words, Lou Xiao'e felt a little helpless. She sighed softly and said, "Okay! This is the only way now!"

Chen Feng noticed that Lou Xiao'e was sighing. He knew that she might be a little disappointed, but he didn't say much. Instead, he changed the subject and asked, "What about you, Xiao'e? What did you gain today?"

When Lou Xiao'e heard Chen Feng's question, she frowned slightly, as if thinking about how to answer. After a while, she slowly said, "Like you, I didn't gain anything."

Then, Lou Xiaoe explained in detail: "The people from the Investment Promotion Office said they would help me contact the street offices in several commercial areas to ask if there are any properties for sale."

However, there was a hint of worry in her tone, "But it's the holiday season now, they are all on vacation, and we won't get any concrete results until we start work."

Seeing this, Chen Feng didn't know what to say, and for a moment he fell silent like Lou Xiao'e.

Jin Ling, who was standing by, saw the atmosphere suddenly become dull and silent. She felt a little anxious and said quickly, "Chen Feng, Xiao'e, don't be like this. It's just that we don't have land. It's not a big deal."

Her voice was clear and loud, as if it could break the depressing atmosphere. Then, Jin Ling continued.

"If we don't have the land, we won't open this restaurant! Opening a restaurant doesn't really have a big impact on our family's life! It's not something we have to open."

After hearing Jin Ling's words, the knot in Chen Feng's heart seemed to be untied at once.

He realized that his current job was pretty good, his family wasn't short of money, and it really didn't make much difference to them whether he opened a restaurant or not. Why should he care so much?

After figuring this out, Chen Feng suddenly felt much more relaxed, and he was no longer as conflicted as before.

So, he immediately said to Lou Xiao'e: "Okay Xiao'e, Jin Ling is right, it doesn't matter whether the restaurant is opened or not. Even if it doesn't become a restaurant in the end, I have the ability to support you and the children!"

Chen Feng's words revealed a firmness and confidence, which made Lou Xiao'e feel very reassured.

She looked at Chen Feng, the worry in her eyes gradually dissipated, and then she slowly said: "Chen Feng, I know, don't I also want to make some contribution to this family?"

Chen Feng kicked. Hearing Lou Xiaoe's words, he smiled slightly, and then said with a smile on his face, "Making a contribution, right?"

"It's time to cook dinner now. Let's go to the kitchen and cook dinner for the children! If we take good care of the children, we can increase the supply and sales, right?"

Hearing Chen Feng's words, Lou Xiao'e rolled her eyes at him and said, "You only know how to laugh at me! You let me into the kitchen even though you know I can't cook!"

Receiving Lou Xiao'e's eye roll, Chen Feng smiled even more happily. He grabbed Lou Xiao'e's wrist and led her to the kitchen while speaking.

"Let's go. You can't cook, but you can wash vegetables, right? Even if you can only peel garlic, it's still your contribution to this family!"

As he spoke, Chen Feng pulled Lou Xiao'e into the kitchen.

Jin Ling watched Lou Xiao'e being pulled towards Chen Feng, smiled slightly, and then shouted to the two of them from behind, "Wait for me, I'll help out too!"