"Lao Jiang, are you returning on the 2nd?"

The dumpling shop has been closed since National Day.

However, early in the morning, Hu Zhihai still managed to get soup dumplings and spicy chicken at the shop. Of course, there was no hot and sour soup or shredded radish salad because Jiang Yu found it troublesome and was too lazy to make them.

Originally, he didn't even want to make the soup dumplings and spicy chicken, planning to head straight to the train station to return home. But he couldn't resist Hu Zhihai's persistent requests, so he reluctantly came to the shop early in the morning to prepare enough for two days, considering it as "compensation" for Hu Zhihai having to supervise the dining hall renovation during the holiday.

"Yes, two days should be enough, maybe even less,"

Jiang Yu sat down and started eating breakfast, talking as he ate,

"We need to finish all the preparations for the Seventh Dining Hall before the holiday ends, so we can officially open on the 8th."

"The construction team is progressing quite quickly, and they should finish in a couple of days. The large equipment we pre-ordered for the dining hall, like the dining area's row of tables and chairs, and the kitchen's refrigeration units and steam ovens, can be moved in as soon as the kitchen is ready."

Although Hu Zhihai usually seemed carefree and somewhat unreliable, he was always diligent when it came to important matters,

"The various licenses and registrations should be sorted out today, and as for other things, it seems like there's nothing left, right?"

"How is that possible? With such a large dining hall, how can the few people from our shop be enough?"

Jiang Yu chewed a few times, swallowed his food, glanced at Hu Zhihai, and instructed,

"We now have Yan Tongtong and two others in our shop, but we need at least five more people. They're still students with classes and can't be here every day.

If you have time in the next few days, contact the Student Union's Work-Study Department and have them reach out to some underprivileged students. When I come back, we can select a few to help at the shop."

"Okay, then you must be back on the 2nd,"

Hu Zhihai nodded and reminded him, "Otherwise, when these soup dumplings and spicy chicken run out, I'll be starving."

"..."

Jiang Yu was speechless. Can't you eat something else if these run out?

If you can't eat, it's because you're not hungry enough. When you're starving, even the roadside grass will look appealing!

After breakfast, it was not even seven o'clock when Jiang Yu cleaned the dishes, turned off the lights, locked the doors, and left the Second Dining Hall.

He couldn't wait to rush back home.

…

Jiang Yu stayed less than two days in his hometown Yuqing County, under Raozhou City.

He hadn't seen his grandmother for over half a year, and she seemed to have aged significantly. At just over sixty, her hair was completely white, and she was thin and frail.

Seeing his grandmother hunched over, struggling to sort through a pile of plastic bottles in their shabby courtyard, he couldn't help but feel a sting in his nose, tears almost welling up.

For him, for their family, his grandmother had endured too much hardship.

However, now things were better. He could earn money, and days would only improve. His grandmother wouldn't have to suffer so much anymore.

Still, what Jiang Yu never expected was when he took out the two hundred thousand yuan he had brought to repay debts, his grandmother refused it.

"Xiaoyu, didn't you say you started a business? Renting a shop, hiring people, utilities—all these require money. You have many expenses; you shouldn't have brought this money back."

His grandmother gently patted Jiang Yu with her thin, dry hand, shaking her head,

"I've told you before, these debts are not your concern. I'm still strong enough to repay them. You just need to live your life well, and that's enough to make me happy."

Despite usually being obedient and a filial grandson, Jiang Yu was stubborn about this matter, insisting on leaving the money for his grandmother to repay the debts, and he planned to bring her back to Jiangzhou with him.

Now that he could earn money, those debts were entirely manageable for him. He couldn't bear to leave his grandmother alone and struggling here.

The two rarely "argued," but in the end, it was his grandmother who compromised.

"Alright, alright! Xiaoyu has grown up, knowing to care for his grandmother now,"

His grandmother tightly held Jiang Yu's hand, tears in her old eyes and a face full of relief, as if all the suffering over the years had been worth it,

"I'll keep the money and start repaying tomorrow.

But I won't go to Jiangzhou. I don't know anyone there, and I can't understand the dialect. I'd feel out of place there, and you have a business to run. I can't help and don't want to be a burden."

Moreover, since we still owe people money, me staying here might give them some peace of mind."

Jiang Yu tried persuading her a few more times, but this time his grandmother was firm, refusing to agree to leave with him.

With no other choice, Jiang Yu could only accept it for now, thinking to himself:

When he earns enough by the end of the year to clear all the debts, his grandmother will have no reason to stay.

That evening, Jiang Yu personally cooked, preparing a table full of dishes for his grandmother, who scolded him, saying he made too much and that it was wasteful, but her face was all smiles. During dinner, she even had two cups of wine, a rarity.

Jiang Yu vaguely remembered seeing his grandmother drink when he was young, but after his parents passed, she'd never touched alcohol again.

Tonight, that she was willing to drink wine probably meant she was genuinely happy.

After dinner, the grandmother and grandson sat in the main hall talking for a long time, chatting about Jiang Yu's father and Jiang Yu himself, though his grandmother never mentioned what it was like being home alone…

The next day, Jiang Yu got up early to cook white porridge and make some fresh meat dumplings for his grandmother.

By the time breakfast was ready, his grandmother had already taken the money Jiang Yu brought and started using it to repay debts.

Jiang Yu had initially planned to accompany her, but his grandmother refused, not wanting him caught up in those matters. She was perhaps still worried that creditors might bypass her to demand money from Jiang Yu, disturbing his otherwise peaceful life, right?

After breakfast, while his grandmother was busy outside, Jiang Yu went into the county town, bought a small fridge for their home, and headed to the market to buy some chicken, duck, and pork to stock it.

His grandmother wouldn't buy these things otherwise, refusing to spend.

After a morning of chores, Jiang Yu finally settled everything and started preparing lunch.

Just as lunch was ready, his grandmother returned home and saw the newly acquired fridge but didn't say anything.

After finishing lunch, Jiang Yu packed his things and prepared to return to Jiangzhou.

His grandmother didn't try to stop him, knowing there was really nothing worth staying for in their dilapidated home.

Hailing a cab by the roadside, Jiang Yu, sitting in the car, glanced at the rearview mirror to see his grandmother run a few steps after the moving car before stopping, standing silently at the roadside, watching the car slowly disappear. Her headful of white hair fluttered in the wind, filled with tangible concerns.

A sudden twinge of sadness hit, and Jiang Yu quickly turned his gaze away, not looking at the mirror's reflection of the receding small figure. But perhaps his vision had already blurred long ago…

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