Tan Tao’s father was still running his ice jelly business, but he had also started selling other items, such as sushi. The sushi venture might seem small, but the profit margins were very impressive.
They were especially popular when made to be small and delicate.
Tan Tao’s malatang and mala mix stall had opened for business, too. The only one left was Tan Qin, who was still perfecting her small desserts. You could say that all four members of their family now had their own little stall, and every single one was profitable.
When Tan You came over, she was naturally showered with hospitality, so much so that she felt a little embarrassed. "You’re all being too kind," she said. "I mostly just came to see how Taotao’s business is doing."
Tan Tao’s delight was written all over his face. "The food court has air conditioning, and it’s precisely because of the AC that the malatang business is doing so well."
"I originally thought business would pick up in the winter, but I never expected so many people to crave malatang in this heat."
’Clearly, a lot of people have a taste for this,’ she thought, recalling the malatang shops of the future—weren’t they all raking in dough? Some even grew into major chain brands.
Tan You didn’t ask about his revenue. She and Tan Tao had no financial ties, so it would have been inappropriate. Besides, she had learned a lesson back in her life as Ji Li.
’When you help someone, you shouldn’t talk about personal gain. Otherwise, business and emotions get hopelessly tangled. If you’re going to help, it should be a pure act. That’s the only way to keep things from getting complicated.’
She stayed at Tan Tao’s stall for a little while, and seeing that his business was booming, she didn’t linger in the city. After a quick browse through the Xinhua Bookstore, Tan You headed back to her hometown, bathed in the twilight glow of the setting sun.
On the way home, Tan You was already thinking about taking her grandparents out for the National Day holiday. She had even decided on the destinations—just a short trip to the neighboring N City and Y City.
But the moment she walked in the door and saw who was sitting in the living room, her good mood evaporated. In fact, her good mood instantly soured, and she felt a wave of revulsion.
"Second Grand-uncle, when did you get back?" Tan You asked nonchalantly after parking her electric scooter and composing herself. She glanced at Tan Deming. "Grandpa, you didn’t tell me."
Tan Deming shot Tan You a quick wink and lit a cigarette. "Your second grand-uncle got back last week."
"Oh," Tan You said. "Okay then. Where’s Grandma?"
Tan Deming gestured toward the kitchen. "She’s busy making dinner. Your second grand-uncle is a picky eater."
Tan You nodded in understanding. "I see. So, is Second Grand-uncle eating here tonight, or is he going over to Tan Deji’s place out back?"
She had barely finished her sentence when she saw a middle-aged man approaching. Tan You murmured, "Looks like Second Grand-uncle is eating out back tonight after all. I shouldn’t have bothered asking."
Tan Desheng froze. ’I haven’t said a single word since she walked in the door, and she’s already trying to shoo me away?’ he thought. ’Is this really the same dull, timid grandniece I remember?’
Tan You couldn’t care less what he thought. She simply gave Tan Desheng a slight nod before pushing open the door to her room. As for the person who had just arrived, she didn’t even spare him a glance.
’As if anyone from Tan Deji’s family could be a good person.’ Unfortunately, while Tan You wanted nothing to do with them, some people had a real talent for showing up just to cause trouble. Case in point.
Tan Shanyun strode into the Tan family’s courtyard and called out, "Second Uncle, come to our place for dinner tonight! I brought a bottle of fine liquor. You can’t get anything good to drink here, so why not come to my house and try something special?"
Tan You’s temper flared. She yanked her door open, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Uncle Shanyun, the way you keep calling him ’Second Uncle,’ you sound more affectionate than a real nephew. What a shame my second grand-uncle and your father aren’t actual brothers, isn’t it? If they were, he could justifiably live at your house. It would even save you the trouble of coming all this way to fetch him. It must be such a burden for you."
Tan Deming turned his head to hide a smile. Tan Shanyun’s face went stiff. "Oh, Tan You’s home?"
This was his sore spot—any mention of his parentage. After all, his supposed father, Tan Deji, wasn’t actually related to Tan Deming by blood. In fact, Tan Shanyun didn’t even know who his own biological father was.
By bringing this up, Tan You had just twisted the knife in his deepest wound.
"Mhm, I just got home and what do you know, it’s Uncle Shanyun," Tan You said, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. "Uncle Shanyun, I honestly can’t tell if you genuinely have my second grand-uncle’s best interests at heart, or if you’re deliberately trying to cause him harm."
"My second grand-uncle has bronchitis and emphysema. His lungs sound like a broken bellows, and he gets winded after just a few steps. He absolutely should not be smoking or drinking. As long as he’s staying with us, my grandparents would never dare give him alcohol or cigarettes, terrified it would trigger his condition."
"So how is it that coming from you, Uncle Shanyun, it suddenly sounds like we’re mistreating Second Grand-uncle and being inhospitable? My grandparents are honest folk, but does that mean you can just walk all over them? You think you can just flap your gums and slander people with baseless lies?"
Tan Shanyun frantically waved his hands. "That’s not what I meant! I just haven’t seen Second Uncle in a long time..."
"Oh, really?" Tan You refused to back down an inch. "How can you say it’s been a long time? Doesn’t my second grand-uncle go over to your house every single day? Second Grand-uncle, go ahead if you want to. But when you end up sick from drinking, don’t come crying to us. It won’t be our problem."
"Honestly, what kind of person knows someone is sick and still deliberately goads them into drinking and smoking..."
"And you, Second Grand-uncle! You’re something else. I’m not even asking you to know who your real family is, but you should at least be able to tell right from wrong! You know exactly how my grandparents treat you, don’t you? And you’re just going to stand there and let Uncle Shanyun say things like that?"
"What, do nice people just deserve to be pushed around? We exhaust ourselves taking care of you, and in the end, *we’re* the ones at fault for being poor hosts?"
Tan Deming cleared his throat. "Youzi, why don’t you go to the kitchen and help your grandma."
Tan You muttered as she headed for the kitchen, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "Fine. I guess you really do see everything if you live long enough. Inviting someone with bronchitis for drinks... that’s a new one on me... a real eye-opener... What a piece of work."
Tan Desheng’s face darkened with humiliation. He scowled. "Tan You... what’s gotten into her? Does she have no sense of seniority or respect for her elders? Don’t you ever discipline her?"
Tan Deming had already been angered by Tan Shanyun’s initial words, but Tan Desheng’s attitude made him even more furious. Now his own brother was pointing fingers at Tan You? How could Tan Deming possibly tolerate that?
He let out a short laugh. "My wife and I depend on Tan You now. She’s the one who makes the decisions in this house. Her grandma and I both do as she says."
Tan Desheng wasn’t a fool. In fact, he was a sly old dog, having navigated the political world for many years. He immediately grasped Tan Deming’s underlying message: Tan Deming was unequivocally on Tan You’s side and wasn’t about to reprimand his own granddaughter just for the sake of his younger brother.
Tan Shanyun started to ask something, but Tan Deming simply said, "If you’re going over to eat, you should go. Tan You only gets to come home once a month..."
"We were even planning to go on a trip for the National Day holiday... Ah, well."
Tan Desheng nearly choked on his anger. ’Is he blaming me for coming back at a bad time?’ But when he looked at his older brother’s simple, honest face, Tan Desheng began to wonder if he was just reading too much into it.
His eyes darted about for a moment before he glanced at Tan Shanyun. "Shanyun, I don’t think I’ll go over to your place today. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Tan You, and she is my own grandniece, after all."