Chapter 32: Parents' Career
Living under someone else's roof, especially when that person is a relative, is never a pleasant feeling.
Now that he had the means, Zhang Yang fully supported his father stepping out on his own.
"If nothing else works, I can give you some money to open a small restaurant. With your cooking skills, Dad, being your own boss is better than working for someone else, right?"
"I've actually been thinking about that." Zhang Zhaohai smiled a little awkwardly.
Parents all care about their pride. When it comes to spending money on their children, they are as enthusiastic as can be. But asking their children for money-unless it's absolutely necessary-they would rather not.
As the topic came up, Zhang Zhaohai couldn't help telling Zhang Yang the whole story from beginning to end.
"Then just stop interacting with them if necessary." Zhang Yang felt unhappy after hearing it.
A few years ago, when his uncle's restaurant had just opened, several relatives had pooled money together to support him. At that time housing prices were still at a low point, and their family had originally planned to pay a down payment to buy Zhang Yang a house. But that plan was delayed because they lent money to his uncle.
Later the money was returned slowly and reluctantly, but by then housing prices had already risen.
Back then, if they had gritted their teeth and paid the down payment, the kind of house whose mortgage they could have barely afforded was something they wouldn't even dare to look at anymore.
After all, a mortgage meant decades of repayment. Just thinking about it felt like a huge mountain pressing down.
Did they regret it? Of course they did. But what could they do? They could only endure it. After all, he was family-his own uncle.
Damn it, and now when they turned around to ask that uncle for a little money, all sorts of ridiculous problems came up!
"Stop interacting? I don't really mind. But what about your mom? That's her younger brother." Zhang Zhaohai shook his head helplessly.
After a few generations, relationships naturally fade. But this wasn't that kind of distant relation-it was his brother-in-law, Song Wenqin's own younger brother, and Zhang Yang's own uncle.
"My mom? She and Uncle are siblings, but she doesn't share any blood relation with Aunt." Zhang Yang smiled it off.
Once people have their own families, everyone naturally forms their own camp.
The father and son chatted all the way in the car. It was mid-afternoon, and it felt like they hadn't talked so deeply in a long time.
"Why did you buy so many expensive cigarettes and wine? Your dad here is like a wild boar that can't appreciate fine grain," Zhang Zhaohai joked self-deprecatingly.
"If others can enjoy it, my dad can too." Zhang Yang turned his head and looked at him.
This old man-before he realized it, his hair had already thinned so much and he had grown so old.
"You're just wasting money." Zhang Zhaohai felt comforted in his heart and scolded with a smile. This son truly hadn't been raised in vain.
A little past two in the afternoon, Zhang Yang drove back to his home.
Three bedrooms and two living rooms, about 120 square meters (~1,292 sq ft). It looked spacious enough, but the building itself was quite old.
After parking the car and returning home, he heard movement coming from the kitchen.
"Mom, what are you busy with?" Zhang Yang walked over and asked.
Song Wenqin turned around and immediately widened her eyes. "Are you my son?"
"What kind of question is that?" Zhang Yang smiled helplessly. No matter how much he had changed, could his own mother fail to recognize him? Mom, you're joking again.
"Oh my heavens." Song Wenqin laughed so hard she couldn't close her mouth. "I never dreamed my son would become this slim and handsome one day."
In her eyes, Zhang Yang now looked tall and well-proportioned, with a good temperament and full of energy. If that wasn't handsome, what was?
Zhang Yang obediently stood there, letting his mother walk around him and examine him.
Zhang Zhaohai energetically carried the boxes of cigarettes and liquor into the house. Case after case of Wuliangye and Maotai-these were tokens of affection from his son. As a father, his feelings were indescribably complicated.
"Huh? Where did this wine come from?" Song Wenqin quickly noticed the odd one out mixed among the expensive cigarettes and liquor.
"Aunt forced it on us," Zhang Yang said.
"She gave it?" Song Wenqin snorted angrily. "Later we'll throw it in the garage. When we visit their house during the New Year, we'll bring this with us."
The father and son exchanged a glance, both seeing the same amusement and understanding in each other's eyes.
"Mom, calm down. Look what I brought you." Zhang Yang took out the bracelet he had bought for Song Wenqin. It wasn't some ultimate luxury, but with a price of over a hundred thousand, it was enough for Song Wenqin to gain plenty of face among her circle of friends.
Song Wenqin stretched out her hand in delight to try it on, her eyes full of satisfaction.
"It wasn't cheap, right?" She turned her wrist, examining it from every angle.
"Mom, let's not talk about that." Zhang Yang waved his hand. "I heard from Dad that you're planning to open a small restaurant?"
"That's true. Your dad has already looked at a location." Song Wenqin glanced at Zhang Zhaohai and nodded.
"Then while I'm home these next few days, let's get it done." Zhang Yang smiled.
The family of three talked about the matter for a long time.
Song Wenqin naturally wanted to use the money to buy a house first. Once the house was bought, she would feel secure.
But how could she know Zhang Yang's actual situation? Why rush to buy a house? After finally getting a large sum of cash from gambling on jade stones, Zhang Yang naturally wanted to make the most of it. One portion would go to helping his parents open a restaurant, and another portion would stay with him for emergencies.
Besides, if he kept some money on hand, the next time he displayed his financial ability in front of his parents he wouldn't need to explain so much.
In this household, it seemed like Song Wenqin was the one in charge. But when it came to buying a house, if Zhang Yang himself didn't agree, it simply wouldn't happen.
In the end, Song Wenqin couldn't argue against Zhang Yang and agreed to open the restaurant.
It wouldn't be a big establishment-just a small restaurant where people could have simple meals, with a few private rooms and some tables.
But although the business was small, it carried profound meaning for Zhang Zhaohai and his wife.
After drifting through most of their lives, they were finally taking the step to be self-reliant and become their own bosses.
"Dad, Mom, I think you can do it. Don't look down on it just because it's a small restaurant now. Who knows-maybe it'll grow bigger in the future and become a grand restaurant. Look at that Xunweixiang in Yinghai City. Years ago it was just a small shop, but now it has seven or eight branches," Zhang Yang kept painting grand visions.
"I don't dare to dream that big. If it can become as big as your uncle's restaurant, your father and I would already be satisfied." Song Wenqin laughed happily.
"Uncle's restaurant?" Zhang Yang smiled but didn't comment further.
Today was the last day of the month, and tomorrow would be May Day.
Zhang Yang's fitness task-thirty days had mostly passed. Since today was the end of the month, based on how hard he had worked this month, his body fat should have met the requirement. The five experience points had to be secured first.
That evening, the family of three had a nice meal at home.
Whenever the couple felt like putting effort into cooking, Zhang Yang would absolutely feast. That was the advantage of having a chef in the family.
Dish after dish came out-big dishes, small dishes. Zhang Zhaohai displayed his skills while Song Wenqin assisted him.
Tonight was both to welcome Zhang Yang back home and to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter for their family starting today.
"Cheers!" Zhang Zhaohai filled his glass with Wuliangye and drank heartily.
Zhang Yang resisted drinking alcohol, because later he still had to go to a local gym to continue his fitness task.
He didn't dare delay even once. Missing a single day would mean the loss would be multiplied by sixty.
Read the full book (450+ chapters) with faster updates and no ads at htt ps:// ravenarchives .com/book/my-life-after-listening-how-i-became-the-ultimate-male-god. Updates here may be irregular due to bulk upload limitations.