“Tomorrow? You didn't even ask if we were available, just said tomorrow? That's not very considerate.” Second Sister-in-law seemed to have objections.
“What? Honey, are you unavailable tomorrow?” A Zong asked.
Second Sister-in-law wanted to speak.
“It’s my fault for not giving you advance notice. I just thought that everyone usually gets together for dim sum on Saturday mornings, so we could go together.” A Yao took the blame.
“We’re available.” A Guang and A Zu quickly responded.
It would be foolish to decline a free meal.
“Second Sister-in-law, if you’re busy, I’ll have Xin Zi take you out for dim sum another time.” Seeing everyone else agree, A Yao said to Second Sister-in-law who said she was unavailable.
“Oh, I just have plans to play mahjong with some friends. We can play another time.” How could Second Sister-in-law possibly miss out on a dim sum feast?
“That’s great. So that’s settled then. We’re going together tomorrow.” A Yao said happily.
“Wait a minute, what kind of gift should we take to Xin Zi tomorrow?” Old Ma asked.
This hospitalization led to insurance compensation, thanks to Xin Zi.
“No need, your presence is the best gift.” A Yao quickly waved his hand.
“I don’t know about that.” Kang Bo grumbled, being stubborn as usual.
“Come on, Big Brother, why turn down a free breakfast? It’s a free meal!” Kang Er Zheng patted Kang Bo on the shoulder.
Kang Bo was unhappy.
“Alright, A Yao, tell Xin Zi that we’ll all be there tomorrow.” Kang Er Zheng told A Yao.
“Okay.” A Yao nodded repeatedly.
“Speaking of which, Xin Zi works for an insurance company. Getting compensation for us is her job. It’s just a small favor, no big deal.” Second Sister-in-law tried to diminish Xin Zi’s contribution.
“Don’t say that, Second Sister-in-law. If she hadn’t sent us the Lucky Card, where would the compensation have come from? Moreover, this time we got the maximum amount, and we definitely couldn’t have done it without Xin Zi’s help.” Kang Er Zheng spoke up for Xin Zi.
“Yes, my uncle is right. Xin Zi adjusted the amount to the maximum.” A Yao nodded in agreement.
Second Sister-in-law didn’t say anything.
The next morning.
The Kang family arrived at the restaurant where Xin Zi had invited them for dim sum.
Xin Zi was waiting for them at the entrance, greeting them with great courtesy and respect.
“Come, have a seat.” Xin Zi invited them to sit.
Seeing Xin Zi's manner, Kang Bo stopped frowning and even smiled a bit.
After all, you don't hit a smiling face.
A grateful mouth is soft, a hand that receives a gift is weak.
“Miss, please bring out the dishes we ordered.” After everyone sat down, Xin Zi instructed the waiter.
“Kang Bo, this is your favorite single-origin Tieguanyin tea.” Xin Zi poured tea for Kang Bo, who loved Tieguanyin tea.
“Good, good.” Kang Bo nodded in satisfaction with a smile. “Thank you, thank you.”
“Second Sister-in-law, this is your favorite chrysanthemum tea.” She then took a teapot and poured tea for Second Sister-in-law.
“Thank you.” Even if she was still unhappy, Second Sister-in-law managed a forced smile of gratitude. It seemed rather awkward.
Kang Er Zheng couldn't understand why Second Sister-in-law was so hostile towards Xin Zi and her family.
“Tian Xiu, guess what this is.” Xin Zi took something from behind and gave it to Tian Xiu.
“Mommy, it’s chocolate!” Tian Xiu opened the bag and saw chocolate, he was ecstatic.
“Don’t you say thank you?” Second Sister-in-law’s hostility lessened a bit when she saw Xin Zi giving Tian Xiu a gift.
“Thank you.” Tian Xiu happily thanked her.
“You’re welcome, we already promised.” Xin Zi patted Tian Xiu’s head.
Soon, the waiter pushed a food cart over.
“Kang Bo, here’s your favorite shrimp intestine and chicken feet.”
“Kang Shen, here’s your favorite egg tart.”
“Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, here’s your favorite vegetable dishes and shrimp dumplings.”
“Big Brother, here’s your favorite pork bun and beef balls.”
“Little Uncle, here’s your favorite tripe and cowboy bones.”
Xin Zi brought out everyone’s favorite dishes, placing them in front of them.
It seemed that Xin Zi had done her homework.
They quickly thanked her.
“Hmm? A Yao, how did you know I like tripe and cowboy bones?” Kang Er Zheng was a little surprised.
He didn’t remember saying that before.
“Little Uncle, last time we had dinner together, you ordered those two dishes. You didn’t finish the others, but you finished those two completely, so I guessed you like them.” A Yao explained.
“Not bad, you’re quite sharp.” Kang Er Zheng was amazed.
“It wasn’t me, it was Xin Zi. She works in insurance sales, so she’s good at this kind of thing.” A Yao pointed to Xin Zi.
Kang Qi Zheng nodded.
It’s true that Xin Zi works in insurance sales, so she’s good at dealing with people.
“You really put a lot of thought into this. Too bad, I have a mouth ulcer and can’t eat fried food.” A Zu said with a hint of disappointment.
“Qi Zu, here’s some turtle jelly, it’s good for you.” Xin Zi placed a bowl of turtle jelly in front of A Zu.
“Huh?” A Zu was stunned. “This is good for me.”
A Zu didn’t expect that Xin Zi knew he had a mouth ulcer and couldn’t eat fried food.
“Everyone, if you want anything else, just tell the Miss. We’re like family, don’t be shy.” Xin Zi saw everyone eating and said politely.
“You think we're like family.” Second Sister-in-law muttered under her breath. But since someone was paying, she didn’t hold back. “A bowl of congee.”
“I want bamboo shrimp.” Tian Xiu also spoke up without hesitation.
“It’s just dim sum, why would you order bamboo shrimp?” Big Brother Guang reminded him.
“Mommy said that when someone’s paying, you eat whatever you can.” Tian Xiu directly exposed his mother.
Second Sister-in-law quickly interrupted Tian Xiu.
“You little rascal, you have no manners.” She pretended to scold Tian Xiu, glancing at others with a guilty conscience. Then she added, “I meant you should order some snacks.”
“It’s okay, we can have dim sum and lunch together. Miss, do you have bamboo shrimp?” Xin Zi said generously.
“Yes, with so many people, is two pounds enough?” The waiter approached and asked.
“No need, just the child likes it, half a pound is enough.” Old Ma quickly said, she was worried that Xin Zi would spend too much.
Bamboo shrimp costs tens of yuan per pound now, and it’s even more expensive in a restaurant, two pounds would be more than one hundred.
This breakfast would cost at least five hundred yuan.
This was the year 2000.
The average monthly wage was less than one thousand yuan.
A lunch box with a steak only costs five yuan.
“Half a pound then.” Xin Zi said.
“Also, order a plate of steamed spare ribs.” Kang Er Zheng added.
“Okay, please wait a moment, I’ll go place the order.”
The waiter took down the order and left.