Chapter 19: The State-Run Restaurant

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Old Zhou saw that the man was not making unreasonable demands and looked even more troubled. "Brother Wang, you understand, at a time like this..."

"I understand." The middle-aged man gave a bitter smile, a trace of helplessness flickering across his face, but he quickly regained his composure. "It was my oversight. Sorry to bother you."

As he turned to leave, his eyes casually swept over the skins on the ground, a glint of understanding flashing in his gaze.

He knew that his old friend might have money, but since these skins hadn’t been sold yet, he still had to collect them; borrowing money now would indeed be difficult.

But whenever he thought of his daughter lying at home, Wang Jingyun’s heart felt as if it were being sliced repeatedly by a dull knife.

Last night, the child had a high fever again, her little face flushed red, repeatedly calling out, "Daddy, it hurts."

He had taken her to the town hospital, but the doctor said she had to be sent to the provincial city; the local facilities couldn’t help.

The provincial city...

He patted the few coins left in his pocket, and his vision momentarily darkened.

The journey would cost at least ten yuan.

As a father, he felt as if his throat was stuffed with cotton, making even breathing difficult.

His daughter was only eight years old—an age full of innocence and joy. She should have been running and jumping to school, not lying in bed suffering every day.

Each time he saw her drenched in sweat from pain, he wished he could bear it for her.

But he could not falter; he was her only support.

His wife was gone, and he had to care for the child in her stead.

But now...

He clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug into his palm, yet he felt no pain.

Li Xiangyang silently watched the middle-aged man’s retreating figure.

That desolate silhouette reminded him of a painting he had seen abroad in his past life—a shabbily dressed father struggling through wind and snow.

But what moved him more was the anxiety and pain buried deep in that man’s eyes.

That feeling was all too familiar to him from his last life—when his mother and sister fell ill, had he not felt the same helplessness?

“Wait.” Li Xiangyang suddenly spoke up. “Brother, how much do you need to borrow?”

The middle-aged man was stunned, clearly not expecting a stranger to take the initiative.

“I’m not sure. The child has a fever, and we can’t treat it here. We have to go to the provincial city.”

“I haven’t exchanged my money yet. I know you’re in a hurry, but wait a moment; once I have the cash, I can lend you some.”

Without further ado, Li Xiangyang pointed to the skins on the ground.

“This...” The middle-aged man hesitated.

Li Xiangyang could tell he was proud and reluctant to accept help from a stranger easily.

But he could also see that the man was truly desperate.

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“My surname is Li, Li Xiangyang. I’m from Xiaoliang Village.” Li Xiangyang introduced himself proactively. “Everyone has emergencies. From the look of you, you’re a man of integrity who wouldn’t default on a debt. When you have money, come find me here in the village.”

The middle-aged man stared at Li Xiangyang for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Young man, I’ll remember your kindness.”

During the ensuing bargaining, Old Zhou offered a reasonable price.

Once the transaction was completed, Li Xiangyang immediately handed the man ten yuan.

“That’s too much,” the man hurriedly declined.

“Keep it,” Li Xiangyang insisted. “I believe you’ll need it.”

The man fell silent for a moment before solemnly accepting the money. “This is a debt of kindness. I, Wang Jingyun, will remember it and repay it one day.”

Before leaving, he looked deeply at Li Xiangyang. “Young man, you’re remarkable.”

Watching the man’s retreating figure, Li Xiangyang pondered.

In this special era, many like Wang Jingyun were living extremely hard lives for the time being.

But in the future, they would become the backbone of the nation's development.

“Brother, what are you doing?” Old Zhou asked, puzzled.

“Just a feeling,” Li Xiangyang smiled. “I felt I should help him.”

Some people may suffer setbacks temporarily, but there will come a day when they rise again.

And seeds of kindness always bloom into beautiful flowers in the future.

“Brother, that was a whole ten yuan! You lent it to a stranger just like that? What if he never pays you back...”

After leaving the tannery, Li Xiaohua asked with concern.

Li Xiangyang gently patted his sister’s head.

She was still young and didn’t understand these things.

But this was a perfect moment to teach her.

“Xiaohua, let me ask you,” he crouched down to look into his sister’s eyes.

“If one day you fall ill and need to travel far for treatment, but your father and mother have not a penny to their name and have been turned away by everyone, tell me—would you hope someone would help us then?”

Li Xiaohua was stunned.

She recalled the anxiety and helplessness in that uncle’s eyes and seemed to understand.

“That uncle’s daughter is probably about your age,” Li Xiangyang continued. “Look, although we’re not rich, at least we can eat warm meals. But that child is suffering, maybe even facing danger to her life. If you can help, shouldn’t you?”

“Mm.” Li Xiaohua nodded firmly, tears glistening in her eyes. “Brother, you did the right thing.”

Their mother, standing nearby, had tears in her eyes as well.

She knew her son’s skills had improved, and his heart had grown warmer.

“Silly girl,” Li Xiangyang smiled, wiping her tears away. “Remember, help others according to your ability. Even if you lose out in the end, it’s still an act of kindness. You’ll do the same when you grow up, understand?”

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“I understand!” Li Xiaohua wiped her tears and smiled brightly.

“Son, it’s not that what you did was wrong, but the skins are easy to sell; this much meat, though, is hard to handle.”

“You know how times are now. Every household is struggling; few can afford to buy meat.”

“It’s freezing cold outside. We can’t just haul it back home, can we?”

Their mother was right; ration coupons for grain and cloth were strictly controlled, and ordinary people had little extra money. This much meat was indeed difficult to sell.

Even if they found buyers, the price would likely be driven very low.

But the state-run restaurant was a different matter.

“Mother, don’t worry. We won’t sell it piecemeal. We’ll take it to the state-run restaurant; they need meat, and the price is fair.”

After saying this, Li Xiangyang hitched up the donkey cart and took his mother and sister to the busiest street in the county seat, South Main Street.

There was a state-run restaurant here, one of the few places in the county authorized to supply meat to the public.

Several young waiters were standing at the entrance, wiping tables and chairs.

Seeing Li Xiangyang and his family, one of them immediately approached. “Are you here to eat?”

“We’re looking for Director Zhang,” Li Xiangyang lowered his voice. “Tell him we have meat to sell.”

The waiter was surprised that Li Xiangyang knew Director Zhang and, seeing the cart loaded with meat, nodded and went inside to inform him.

Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in a blue Zhongshan suit emerged.

He appeared to be in his fifties, with graying temples but a lively spirit.

“Young man, I hear you have meat to sell?” Director Zhang asked with a cheerful smile.

“Yes,” Li Xiangyang nodded. “Wild boar meat, fresh.”

Director Zhang’s eyes lit up.

Meat on the market was rationed, and wild game like this was especially rare.

If the restaurant could serve a few wild game dishes, it would be a big attraction.

As for the young man’s unfamiliar face, that was no issue.

Anyone who could find their way here must have been introduced by old acquaintances.

Having made his judgment, Director Zhang grew even more enthusiastic.

“Come, let’s talk in the back yard.”