Under the guidance of Zhang Wanjun, Huo Yaowen took a change of clothes and went downstairs to the toilet to take a shower.

After wiping it out, I happened to see Zhang Huawei's daughter Zhang Chunfen and son-in-law Zhang Zhide walking in from outside.

In the puzzled eyes of Zhang Chunfen and Zhang Zhide, Zhang Wanjun introduced: "Mom, this is Huo Yaowen, the grandson of my aunt and grandmother. ”

Auntie?

Zhang Chunfen was stunned for a moment, her mind turned, and then she remembered who her aunt and grandmother were, and hurriedly said in surprise: "You are the son of Brother Chengcai?"

"Yes, auntie. Huo Yaowen smiled and nodded.

"When you came to the United States from the mainland, you weren't born yet, and more than 20 years have passed, and you have grown so big. ”

Zhang Chunfen looked at Huo Yaowen, who was so tall, and couldn't help but sigh that time flies so fast, looked at her husband Zhang Zhide next to her, and introduced: "Zhide, this is my aunt's grandson, I mentioned to you before that I have an aunt in Hong Kong." ”

"I remember. Zhang Zhide remembers that Zhang Chunfen mentioned that she had an aunt and cousin in Hong Kong.

"Yao, Yaowen, right. ”

Zhang Chunfen walked over and patted Huo Yaowen on the shoulder, pointed to Zhang Zhide beside him and said, "This is your uncle." ”

Huo Yaowen said hello: "Hello uncle." ”

"Good. ”

Xu is meeting for the first time, Zhang Zhide just responded in a hurry with a smile on his face, but he did not have the enthusiasm of the relatives Zhang Chunfen saw.

Zhang Chunfen pulled Huo Yaowen to sit down beside him: "Yaowen, sit down and talk, I haven't seen my aunt and cousin Chengcai for many years, and I don't know how they are doing in Hong Kong." ”

Zhang Zhide was on the side.

On the other side, Zhang Wanjun ran directly into the kitchen without even asking, and soon the sound of the stove igniting sounded, which should have been the case all along.

The three of them sat down, most of them were Zhang Chunfen asking questions, Huo Yaowen answered, and Zhang Zhide interjected a sentence or two next to him from time to time.

Most of the chat content is how the family is doing, how is my aunt doing, how is my cousin, is Yaowen working, and so on.

A few minutes later, Zhang Wanjun brought two plates of leftover food to the table.

Zhang Chunfen smiled and asked, "Has Yaowen eaten?"

"I've already eaten my aunt. Huo Yaowen replied.

"Your uncle and I have just gotten off work, and we haven't had time to eat yet. ”

Zhang Chunfen smiled, picked up the meal, and began to eat the vegetables, and his uncle Zhang Zhide, who was sitting on the side, also began to eat in a big gulp, looking really hungry.

"Where do my aunt and uncle work?"

"Working at the Chinese Daily. My aunt said casually.

"Chinese Daily?" Huo Yaowen raised his eyebrows, he didn't expect his aunt and uncle to actually work at the Chinese Daily.

"Well, when your uncle finishes eating and rests until the wee hours of the morning, he will go to the printing house. ”

Zhang Chunfen said: "Your uncle is the executive editor of the printing department of the newspaper, and he has to go to the printing house every night to supervise the work. ”

Looking at Huo Yaowen, Zhang Chunfen smiled again: "Yaowen became a teacher at the University of Hong Kong, I think Brother Chengcai must be happy." In his early years, he was not good at reading, but this time his son must be very happy to become a university teacher. ”

The Zhang family was a clan that lived in the same place with the Huo family in the early years, Zhang Chunfen went to school with her cousin Huo Chengcai since she was a child, although there was a difference of two terms, but the two often went to school together, and they were still very familiar, so she knew a lot about Huo Chengcai.

Hearing what his aunt said, Huo Yaowen chuckled, he didn't talk much about the elders, but Huo Chengcai couldn't read, he had already learned about it in Grandma.

Zhang Zhide, who was next to him, suddenly said: "How long is Yaowen going to stay in the United States this time?"

Huo Yaowen said directly: "Because I came here on leave, there are still classes to be held at the school, so I may have to buy a plane ticket to go back tomorrow." ”

"Why don't you stay for a few more days?!" Zhang Chunfen frowned and said, "It's hard to come to the United States to see why my aunt and uncle are in such a hurry to go back, why don't you stay for a few more days and let Wanjun visit San Francisco." ”

Seeing that his aunt was retained, Huo Yaowen said helplessly: "I also want to stay for a few more days, but the school is not on vacation yet, I asked someone to take the class for a few days before I can take the vacation, if I don't go back, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep this job." ”

"Alas, too. Zhang Chunfen sighed, nodded and said, "It's still important to work, and there will always be a chance to come to the United States again next time." ”

"Well, there's always a chance. Huo Yaowen smiled.

When the aunt and uncle finished dinner, according to the aunt's meaning, she slept in the same room with Zhang Wanjun, and Huo Yaowen slept in the same room with her uncle.

But then he thought that Zhang Zhide had to get up at night, and he was afraid that Huo Yaowen would be noisy, so he went upstairs and took a futon to the restaurant below to rest.

Huo Yaowen wanted to refuse, but he couldn't resist his aunt's enthusiasm, so he could only go upstairs and live in his cousin Zhang Wanjun's room.

The bedroom was very small, with almost a very narrow aisle and a small desk attached to the bed, except for a bed.

Although the room is small, it looks very warm, especially on the somewhat shabby walls, which are pasted with pink paper by my cousin, which looks a little more girly.

Xu took a day's plane and got into bed, and Huo Yaowen quickly fell asleep.

...

At night, at midnight.

Huo Yaowen woke up in a daze, feeling a little thirsty, and subconsciously wanted to reach out to get the water cup on the table, touched the air, opened his eyes and glanced at the dark room, with the help of the faint moonlight, after seeing the situation in the room, he remembered that he was no longer in the dormitory of the University of Iowa.

I wanted to endure my thirst and sleep until the morning, but the more I endured it, the drier my mouth became, and Huo Yaowen had no choice but to get up cautiously, put on his coat, and prepare to go downstairs to find water to drink.

I walked out of the house in the dark, came outside, carefully stepped on the iron stairs, and went downstairs step by step.

"Bang dang. ”

I only heard the sound of chopsticks falling to the ground in the kitchen downstairs.

At this time, my aunt's voice came from inside: "Be quiet, don't wake up Yaowen." ”

"Got it. Uncle replied.

Soon the sound of a stove fire sounded again.

Huo Yaowen pushed the door in, and happened to see his aunt cooking on the stove, and his uncle washing by the pool.

Hearing the sound of pushing the door, Zhang Chunfen turned her head to look at it and said in surprise: "Yaowen, why did you come down?

Huo Yaowen shook his head: "There is no aunt, it's just that I'm a little thirsty, so I'm going downstairs to find water to drink." ”

"Oh, I'll pour you water. ”

When Zhang Chunfen heard this, she hurriedly put down the iron pot in her hand, picked up the hot water bottle on the side, picked up another cup, poured it full of hot water and put it in front of Huo Yaowen.

"Thank you. Huo Yaowen took a small sip of the water cup, it was a little hot, so he was not in a hurry to drink, he glanced at his uncle who was washing, and asked, "Uncle is going to the newspaper office so late?"

Zhang Zhide washed his face with cold water, the cold cold water stimulated him, and he was in a lot of energy, hearing Huo Yaowen's words, he turned around and nodded with a smile: "Well, I want to go to the printing factory to supervise the work of the workers." ”

"Eat here or bring it?" Zhang Chunfen glanced back at Zhang Zhide.

"Bring it, it's late, it's a little late. Zhang Zhide shook his head.

Zhang Chunfen said: "Then I'll put it on for you, eat it directly when you arrive, don't be cold, don't be cold like last time, take boiling water and soak it to eat, you have a bad stomach, it's easy to have diarrhea if you eat like this." ”

"Got it. ”

Zhang Zhide casually picked up the boxed lunch packed by Zhang Chunfen, saw that Huo Yaowen was still standing there, and said with a smile: "Yaowen is only early in the morning, let's go and rest early." ”

"Well, I know my uncle. Huo Yaowen nodded.

Here, Zhang Zhide took the lunch box, picked up the briefcase on the side, waved goodbye to the two from the kitchen path, stepped on the dark night, and went to the newspaper office that was not very far away.

"Uncle just walked over like this?" Huo Yaowen asked as he looked at his aunt who was cleaning up.

"Well, it's not very far, it's half an hour and a half walk. ”

My aunt smiled and glanced back at Huo Yaowen and said, "Yaowen is hungry, do you want your aunt to give you something to eat?"

"No need aunt, I'm not hungry. ”

Huo Yaowen held the water glass, thought about it for a long time, and finally couldn't help asking: "Auntie, Grandma said that my uncle opened a big restaurant in front of Duban Street before, why is he only running such a small restaurant now?"

In fact, Huo Yaowen has wanted to ask this question for a long time, although he knows that his uncle Zhang Huawei must have fallen into the middle of the family road, so he fell like this, but looking at the area of the previous Guangdong shopping mall, the area is still quite large, and the upper and lower floors are at least about 5,000 feet (500 square meters).

People who can open such a big restaurant, even if they lose money, will not fall to the current point.

And Grandma said that this cousin Zhang Huawei's family is also a superior family, otherwise he would not have immigrated to Chinatown in the United States to open a big restaurant in that era.

He didn't want to ask his uncle before, and he didn't really want to ask Zhang Wanjun's cousin, after all, he was still young and couldn't ask why.

Later, when Zhang Chunfen and his wife came back, he actually wanted to open his mouth to ask, but Zhang Wanjun was always by his side, so he didn't open his mouth.

At this time, seeing that Zhang Chunfen was the only one left in the house, and in the evening, Huo Yaowen was quite happy to communicate with this aunt, so he couldn't help but ask.

When Zhang Chunfen heard Huo Yaowen's question, she was obviously stunned for a few seconds, and then the whole person was a little melancholy.

After thinking about it for a long time, she sighed and said, "Yaowen, if your uncle didn't tell you about this, it means that he doesn't want you, your aunt and cousin to worry." But it's been many years since this happened, and it doesn't matter if you don't talk about it, but I'm afraid that if you go back to Hong Kong and tell your aunt, the restaurant will go out of business, which will make your aunt worried. ”

Zhang Chunfen continued: "Actually, your uncle's restaurant has always had a good business in Chinatown, cooking Cantonese food, and there are more Cantonese people here in Chinatown, so it can be said that there is a constant flow of customers. At that time, your uncle was not yet fifty years old, and he was still like Zhongshan, he liked to carry a birdcage in his hand and walk around the streets and alleys.

In this way, I met a fellow villager who came to the United States in the early days, and the two hit it off at first sight, and often went out to walk the birds to play, which was nothing, but the man loved gambling and often dragged your uncle with him. Gradually, take your uncle to gamble with you......"

Huo Yaowen didn't have to listen to the rest of the words, he could guess that it was nothing more than his uncle who couldn't help it, gambled, and then lost all his family property.

After finishing speaking, Zhang Chunfen was a lot more relaxed, seeing that Huo Yaowen had not spoken, he said with a smile: "Yaowen, don't worry too much, Yaowen, it's much better now, the debt has been paid off, although your uncle's small restaurant doesn't have much business on weekdays, there are still many old customers." And my and your uncle's wages have also risen a lot recently, and life is okay, just say this to your aunt when you go back. ”

Huo Yaowen pursed his lips, he heard Zhang Chunfen say that the family was okay, but in fact, he still didn't believe it very much, if it was okay, his cousin Zhang Wanjun would not drop out of school and not study, and when chatting in the afternoon, he could see that Zhang Wanjun still wanted to continue studying.

After thinking about it, Huo Yaowen said: "Auntie, Hong Kong is developing very fast now, almost completely different from 20 years ago, I know many people who have developed quite well after returning to Hong Kong." ”

In the United States in the 60s and 70s, the situation of the Chinese was still relatively difficult, and it was almost difficult to find a good job outside when they left Chinatown, unless they were people with high diplomas, it was difficult to have a chance to get ahead.

"Back to Hong Kong for development?" Zhang Chunfen was stunned for a moment, as if she was thinking, but after thinking about it, she still shook her head and said: "It's okay to live here, your uncle has now become the editor-in-chief of the printing department of the newspaper, and his salary has risen a lot, and life will gradually get better." ”

Hearing what his aunt said, Huo Yaowen didn't say much, he just proposed, after all, in the 70s, Hong Kong's economy will gradually begin to take off.

He didn't know what the situation was in the United States, but even if the American economy was getting better and better, I was afraid that Chinatown would still be the same.

Unless it is after the turn of the millennium, when the mainland economy is rich and more people travel to the United States, Chinatown will gradually develop.

Zhang Chunfen said: "Okay Yaowen, it's not too early, let's go upstairs and rest early." ”

"Good. ”

Huo Yaowen nodded in response, held the water glass, turned upstairs and continued to sleep.

...

Following.

Huo Yaowen got up early, and when he went downstairs to wash, he found that his uncle and Zhang Wanjun had already gotten up to clean up the kitchen, washing vegetables and dishes.

Uncle said with a smile: "Yaowen is up, and we will have breakfast later." ”

"Hmm. ”

Huo Yaowen walked to Zhang Wanjun's side, saw that she was washing vegetables, and said, "Do you want to help?"

"No need, cousin, it's already done. Zhang Wanjun smiled and shook her head.

Zhang Huawei asked: "By the way, Yaowen, I heard from your aunt in the morning that you are going to fly back to Hong Kong today?"

"Yes, the school has been taking many days off and I have to go back today. Huo Yaowen said.

"Forget it, it's still important to work, and I wanted to take you around. ”

"No need for uncle, next time I have the opportunity to come to the United States. ”

"Yes. Zhang Huawei nodded and asked again, "Have you bought the ticket?"

"Already bought, three p.m. flights. ”

Fok Yaowen had already booked a flight back to Hong Kong before he came.

A few minutes later, when Zhang Huawei cooked breakfast, the three of them sat down and had a simple meal.

Not long after eating, many regular customers came to the door.

Zhang Huawei also didn't care about Huo Yaowen, he was busy in the kitchen, Zhang Wanjun was in front of the guests, and Huo Yaowen occasionally helped to serve a dish or entertain a customer.

Most of the customers who came were old customers, and when they saw Huo Yaowen, they thought it was the object of Zhang Wanjun's conversation, and they joked about Zhang Huawei, saying that this restaurant would be handed over to his grandson-in-law to take care of in the future, and he would just care for the elderly at home.

Everyone said a word, and Zhang Wanjun blushed, and she didn't know how to answer.

However, when Zhang Huawei came out, he happened to hear the jokes of many old customers, laughed, and said in a show-off tone that this was his nephew, who was a teacher at a university in Hong Kong.

Hearing that Huo Yaowen in front of him was a university teacher, these old people were surprised at the same time, and they all praised it at the same time.

For everyone's praise, Huo Yaowen mostly smiled and said nothing.

I was so busy until the afternoon.

When Huo Yaowen came to pack his luggage and was about to say goodbye, he happened to see Zhang Chunfen and Zhang Zhiqiang coming back, and after chatting, he learned that the two of them had asked for a leave, saying that they wanted to send Huo Yaowen on the plane in person.

Huo Yaowen saw that the two of them were so enthusiastic, and said, "Don't be so troublesome, aunt and uncle, I'll just go alone." ”

"It's okay, I've already taken a leave of absence anyway. Aunt Zhang Chunfen said with a smile: "Could it be that you have to leave after only one night in the United States, so I have to send you a gift." ”

The uncle next to him nodded: "Yes, Yaowen, it's not easy for you to come to the United States, I didn't know before I came, but if you want to leave, you will definitely send it." ”

Uncle Zhang Huawei followed on the side: "Yaowen, I'm still busy in this store, I can't send you, but when I go back, say hello to my cousin on my behalf." ”

"Well, I will, uncle. Huo Yaowen replied with a smile.

Uncle suddenly said: "By the way, Wanjun, you also send your cousin, I haven't seen my cousin for 20 years, send one." ”

Zhang Wanjun nodded: "Yes." ”

When she was about to go out, Zhang Chunfen suddenly remembered something, turned back to Zhang Wanjun and said, "Wanjun, is that camera still there?"

"Upstairs. ”

"Is there still film?"

"Yes. ”

"Take it down, let's take a picture for my aunt. ”

"Good. ”

A few minutes later.

Zhang Huawei's family and Huo Yaowen stood at the door of this small restaurant, asking the neighbor next door to help and took two photos.

It was divided into two rolls, one was left here, and the other was handed over to Huo Yaowen.

In Zhang Chunfen's opinion, Huo Yaowen returned to Hong Kong this time, and I am afraid that he would not be able to come again that year, so it is better to leave a photo as a souvenir.

In this regard, Huo Yaowen smiled and nodded in agreement.

After a delay of more than ten minutes, my aunt, uncle and cousin accompanied Huo Yaowen to San Francisco International Airport by car.

When he arrived at the airport, the flight was already on the air, so Huo Yaowen hurriedly said goodbye to his aunt Zhang Chunfen's family, carried his suitcase, walked through the security channel, got on the plane and left.

PS: Ask for recommendation votes, ask for collections, ask for rewards......