List of high-quality authors Approaching the Chinese New Year, I gave two bowls of mutton soup to the down-and-out father and son, and they came to the door twenty years later!
On a cold lunar afternoon in 1988, the wind was howling and the snow was flying. The streets were deserted, and several kiosks closed early for their homes.
The stalls selling lighters, oil cakes, and tofu brains were only open in the morning, and the shopkeepers greeted each other and said that they would wait until the end of the Chinese New Year to open.
My wife looked at this scene and couldn't help but say to me: "Let's close the door too, it's almost the New Year, and we have to prepare some New Year's goods." ”
Although there was no one around, I had an inexplicable premonition, as if a sentence echoed in my ears: "Wait a little longer." ”
We run a mutton soup shop that has been passed down from my grandfather to generations.
My grandfather gave birth to my father and all four of them, and they all relied on this craft to make a living, and in our generation, there were six families selling mutton soup.
We strictly abide by the traditional craftsmanship, slaughter sheep by ourselves, put water in the pot, do not add any extra seasoning, only put home-grown shallots, peppercorns, ginger, the taste is pure and delicious. Coupled with the pancakes from the wife's stall, a bowl of hot mutton soup is simply a wonderful treat on a cold winter day.
Our mutton soup is only sold for four cents a bowl, plus my wife's pancakes, a dime a piece, and customers who want to eat more can get another one for free. Overall, you can eat enough for five cents.
Because of the large bowl and affordability of our mutton soup, it quickly became famous on the streets, and many people came to taste it.
Especially when we are in the market, my wife and I are so busy that sometimes we don't even care about collecting money, and customers will consciously put money in cardboard boxes.
In the era of scarcity of materials, relying on this mutton soup shop, our family finally solved the problem of food and clothing.
My wife and I were chatting when suddenly the door of the store was pushed open by a violent snowstorm, and snowflakes flew in with the cold wind.
My wife looked at me and smiled and said, "You really have foresight, no wonder you refuse to close the door." It's strange that there are still guests coming at this time. ”
Two men walked into the store, one in his mid-forties and the other in his thirteen or fourteens, looking like they were father and son.
The two of them were shivering with cold, and when they walked in, they couldn't wait to run to the stove to roast the fire, and the old man stomped his feet and said, "Boss, please bring us a steaming bowl of mutton soup." ”
Listening to their accents, it's clear that they're not locals.
I poured a bowl of boiled water from a thermos and placed it on the table next to them, motioning for them to warm up first.
The wife quickly walked into the back kitchen, made a bowl of mutton soup and brought it out, and warmly beckoned them to sit down. We were busy cleaning the kitchen, occasionally secretly observing the father and son's every move.
I noticed an old man who had only taken a few sips of the soup, and the meat in the soup barely moved, he just kept drinking the boiled water from the thermos.
His son tried to stuff the mutton into his father's mouth in distress, but the old man was stubborn, but finally took a bite. I was so moved by this scene that I said to my wife, "Let's cook two more bowls of mutton soup for them, they seem to be in trouble." ”
The wife immediately understood the situation, and without saying a word, she cooked two more bowls of broth, which were full of lamb and haggis.
We brought a bowl of mutton soup to the father and son, and the old man hurriedly said, "Boss, we only need a bowl of soup, and you can bring these two bowls back quickly!" I smiled and said, "We're going to close tomorrow, and there's still a lot of haggis left in the pot, which is easy to spoil after a long time." If you do not dislike it, eat it all, so that you do not waste it. ”
The wife also chimed in and said, "Yes, hurry up and eat it while it's hot, and you can continue your journey after eating, it's not too early." ”
The old man didn't say anything more, but I noticed that he secretly wiped his eyes, and then began to gulp the soup with his son.
Ten minutes later, the father and son had drunk all three bowls of mutton soup, and the son burped, and when he saw that we were all looking at him, he covered his mouth a little embarrassed.
My wife and I finally smiled reassuringly.
The old man took out a few crumpled pieces of money from his pocket, one, two, and five, and put them all on the table. He said a little crampedly: "Big brother, big sister, this money is all I have, if you are not too little, just accept it first." I will definitely come back to repay you in the future. ”
I chased them out and stopped them: "It's normal to have difficulties outside, everyone should help each other." Don't have any psychological burden, we don't expect anything from you in return. If you think so, you couldn't be more wrong. ”
The wife came out with a stack of pancakes in her hand, and a bag of haggis, garlic, and sesame salt.
She handed the boy the object, patted him softly on the head, and said, "Good boy, take these and eat them with your father." After saying that, she gave the boy another 20 yuan.
The boy knelt on the ground with a "plop" and said gratefully: "Thank you, uncle and aunt, I will always remember your help." ”
With tears in her eyes, my wife said, "Son, get up quickly." So we watched the father and son drift apart in the snow.
We never mentioned it, it was just a trivial thing for us, but we didn't expect them to come back into our lives 20 years later.
Twenty years have passed, because of the construction of roads, the original snack street has been relocated, and our mutton soup shop has also been relocated, and the scale is larger, but the name of the store remains the same.
There is still an endless stream of regular customers, who continue to support our business, they say: "Your mutton soup tastes the most authentic, and if you are used to it, others are not used to it." ”
Whenever I hear such compliments, I feel extremely proud in my heart, because it is their affirmation and trust in us.
2008 was an extraordinary year, and many major events took place in the country, each of which touched people's hearts.
And I, too, have experienced some unexpected things.
One ordinary afternoon, when there were few customers in the store, I sat at the table, sipping tea and occasionally talking to customers.
A car stopped in front of the store, and the young man got out of the car, I thought he was a guest who had come to taste the mutton soup, and I didn't pay special attention to it, and continued to enjoy the aroma of tea.
He paused at the door, surveying the shop from time to time, talking to passers-by, as if looking for something.
I couldn't help but guess in my heart, but in the end I couldn't help it, stood up, walked to the young man, and asked, "Young man, are you here to find someone or ask for directions?" I've lived in this place for decades and might be able to help you. ”
The young man looked at me and got into the car again, and I wondered, but he then stepped out of the car again.
Immediately afterwards, an old man also got out of the car.
The old man was dressed in a woolen coat, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and his hair was neat, and he looked extraordinary.
The young man whispered a few words to the old man, and the old man nodded, then walked up to me and said, "Brother, remember me?" ”
Although I have been in business for many years and have met many well-known people, I have not been able to recall him even after racking my brains.
The young man then said, "Uncle, do you remember that winter? Twenty years ago, you and your aunt gave me and my father three bowls of mutton soup, and if it weren't for you, my father and I might have been dead long ago. ”
I suddenly recalled that scene 20 years ago, and it turned out that the father and son in front of me were the same two people I had served for free at that time!
Their appearance and demeanor show that they have overcome many difficulties and have achieved certain things.
I invited them to the store to talk to each other, and I learned that the two of them had suffered quite a few setbacks.
When the partnership was running a business, he was defrauded of all his property, and later wanted to join a distant relative, but was refused.
And because he was accidentally stolen by pickpockets in an irregular small hotel, he didn't even have the money to go home.
Fortunately, the innkeeper saw their pity and gave them a little pocket money, so that they were barely saved from starvation. By the time they walked into our store, the money had already been spent.
Unexpectedly, I met my wife and I again, and we reached out again. I couldn't help but sigh: "There are so many good people in this world." ”
After the father and son left, they regained their spirits and started their business again. After twenty years of hard work, they have amassed a considerable fortune.
But they never forgot our help and always wanted to repay them. After many inquiries, we were finally found.
They told me what had happened, and the young man, with the support of his father, took out a card and put it on the table, which contained 100,000 yuan. He begged me to accept it in return for my kindness.
I tried to excuse myself, but the young man repeatedly begged me to accept. Eventually, I feigned anger and said, "If you think I'm helping you in return, then please take the money and leave." ”
The old man excitedly grabbed my hand and said, "Please don't be angry, the grace of a drop of water will be reciprocated." You are a life-saving grace to our father and son, and we will not be able to repay it in this life. I'm impressed by your character, and from now on, you'll be my big brother, okay? ”
I laughed.
Since then, I have had a brother of the opposite sex, and we have been honest with each other, facing difficulties together, and sharing joys together.
A small favor was exchanged for a confidant, which is what we call "doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, regardless of the future!" ”