novelonline Chapter 1475 Educating My Brother-in-Law? I'm a Professional!
Chapter 1475 Educating My Brother-in-Law? I'm a Professional!
The winter of 1984 was exceptionally long. It was only a little past five in the afternoon, but the sky over Beijing was already a steely gray, which then quickly sank into inky black. The cold wind swept through Jiudaowan Hutong, stirring up the thin layer of snow on the ground, which rustled softly against the mottled gray walls.
For the ordinary people living in this courtyard, the long winter nights are always the hardest to endure—entertainment options are pitifully scarce, they've been listening to model operas on the radio for over a decade and are already tired of them; movie tickets are hard to buy; and entertainment books are even scarcer, with a single copy of "Popular Cinema" circulating among neighbors for half a year.
Therefore, watching TV together became the best form of entertainment.
At six o'clock sharp, it was completely dark. Yet, the courtyard where Qin Hao lived was brightly lit. A 14-inch Peony brand black-and-white television sat atop a chest of drawers. Around the television, three or four rows of long benches, stools, and small benches were packed with more than twenty people. A coal stove burned inside, its iron chimney protruding from the window. A large aluminum kettle sat on the stove, steam hissing upwards, making the whole room warm and cozy, filled with the smells of coal smoke and tea.
"Here it comes! Huo Yuanjia is starting!"
As soon as the opening theme music started, the room fell silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the small screen, even the sounds of cracking sunflower seeds and shelling peanuts subsided. On the screen, Chen Zhen, played by Leung Siu-lung, delivered a flying kick to the ground, knocking down a Japanese samurai. The teenagers in the yard couldn't help but let out a soft "Wow!" before being smacked on the back of the head by their parents: "Watch TV quietly!"
Qin Hao sat in a chair against the wall, holding an enamel mug in his hands, which contained the finest tea leaves from the bottom of a tea canister. It tasted bitter, but it was a common dish for entertaining guests in those days.
During the commercial break in the TV drama, the room became lively again. Aunt Li put down her shoe sole, picked up her teacup, and took a sip: "That Chen Zhenzhen is something else! She took on a dozen people by herself!"
"That's for TV, you wouldn't do that in a real fight," Old Sun said, pursing his lips.
Before he could finish speaking, the curtain was lifted. A gust of cold wind rushed in, and a clear voice rang out: "Brother Hao, we're not late, are we?"
Everyone turned to look. Zhao Yajing was wearing a red woolen overcoat and a white scarf, her cheeks slightly red from the cold wind, but her eyes were bright and sparkling. Behind her were her mother and younger brother—Zhao's mother was in her early fifties, wearing a navy blue cotton-padded jacket, her hair neatly combed; Zhao Yaping was a boy of thirteen or fourteen, wrapped in a brand-new military overcoat and wearing a pair of shiny leather shoes, his eyes fixed on the television as soon as he entered the house.
"Ya Jing is here! Come in quickly, I saved a seat for you." Li Yuxiang brought over two more stools from the corner.
Zhao Yajing greeted the neighbors with a smile and pulled her mother to sit down. Zhao Yaping, however, squeezed straight to the front of the television and plopped down next to a seven or eight-year-old child. The child stumbled from being pushed and grumbled in dissatisfaction before being pulled back by his mother.
Zhao Yaping's mind was clearly not on the television. He kept glancing back at Qin Hao, then at his sister, looking restless. Finally, after another fight scene ended, he couldn't hold back any longer. He abruptly turned around, his voice so loud it drowned out the television's sound:
"Brother Hao, my sister told me you guys invested in making a movie in Hong Kong. Have you met Leung Siu-lung?"
One shout silenced all other sounds.
The TV was still playing the plot, but no one was watching anymore. More than twenty pairs of eyes turned to Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing, some with surprise, some with curiosity, and most with a complex kind of inquiry—the kind of complex expression that ordinary people have when they look at the "outside world" with both longing and doubt.
Zhao Yajing gave Qin Hao a helpless look. She had been separated from her younger brother when she was very young. Her father's original plan was to take his daughter to Guangzhou to make a living, while his son would stay in Beijing with his wife for a relatively stable life. This was a helpless choice made in that era, but it created Zhao Yajing's unique upbringing.
Boys who grow up with their mothers often develop some personality issues, and Zhao Yaping was no exception. He was often called "the child without a father" from a young age, making him sensitive and competitive, always striving to prove himself superior to others. Since Zhao Yajing started earning money in Guangzhou, she frequently sent money home to buy him trendy gadgets: digital watches, jeans… Zhao Yaping couldn't resist showing them off to the neighbors, enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by envious glances.
Now, upon hearing that Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing had not only gone to Hong Kong but also invested in and made a movie, the neighbors in the house immediately went into an uproar.
"Brother Hao, Sister Ya Jing, you've expanded your business to Hong Kong?" The speaker was Xiao Liu, a former educated youth who had returned to the city. His eyes widened. "Hong Kong! Isn't that a capitalist society? How did you get there?"
"Xiao Hao, it seems Ya Jing's business is getting bigger and bigger." Aunt Li put down her shoe sole and asked tentatively, "You must have made a lot of money last year, right? I heard that in Guangzhou, it's not uncommon to have ten thousand yuan a month."
"Sister Yuxiang, you two are so lucky." Aunt Wang from the front yard held Zhao's mother's hand, but her eyes glanced at Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing: "These two children are really capable, each one more capable than the other."
Zhao's mother smiled, but said modestly, "No, no, it's just the two kids messing around."
Qin Hao glared at Zhao Yaping. The kid was smugly raising his chin, clearly enjoying the sensation his words had caused. Qin Hao knew that if he didn't put out the fire soon, the entire Jiudaowan Hutong would be buzzing with their "feat" of "filming a movie in Hong Kong" by tomorrow—which was no good thing in these days.
"Hey, don't listen to this kid's nonsense." Qin Hao put down the enamel mug, waved his hand, and said casually, "We just went to Hong Kong for a casual stroll. We happened to run into a friend who makes movies, so we invested a little money in it. It's a low-budget film; we'll be lucky if we don't lose money."
Zhao Yajing quickly added, "Yes, it's just that I couldn't refuse my friend's request. Having more friends means having more options. Actually, our main business is in Guangzhou. We just went to Hong Kong to broaden our horizons."
This was a very skillful way of putting it. It acknowledged the fact that they were "going to Hong Kong"—which was already quite impressive in the eyes of the neighbors—while downplaying the impact of "investing in film production." After all, in an era where even having ten thousand yuan was considered extraordinary, their wealth was truly astonishing.
Although everyone knows that Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing have made a lot of money in Guangzhou, no one knows exactly how much they have earned, not even Zhao's mother, Li Yuxiang.
"Oh, I see. That explains it." Aunt Li's expression relaxed considerably as she picked up the shoe sole again. "Making movies isn't something ordinary people like us can do. Only government agencies can do that."
"You scared me!" Old Sun clicked his tongue. "I heard that making movies is expensive. Stars in Hong Kong can easily earn over 100,000 yuan for a single film! Over 100,000 yuan! We can't earn that much in a lifetime. With so many stars in a film, how much does it cost?"
"Absolutely! The other day the newspapers were saying that Hong Kong celebrities live in villas and drive cars, living the bourgeois lifestyle," Aunt Wang chimed in, her tone critical but her eyes revealing envy.
The neighbors chatted amongst themselves, and the atmosphere eased again. The topic shifted from "Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing filming a movie in Hong Kong" to "how extravagant and corrupt Hong Kong stars are," and finally returned to discussing the TV series plot. Everyone seemed to accept Qin Hao's explanation—it was just a normal business transaction, nothing serious.
Zhao Yaping was quite displeased. He said it on purpose, wanting to appear important in front of others and enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention—even if it wasn't him being fawned over, but rather his sister and future brother-in-law.
This clearly didn't meet his expectations. He pursed his lips, his eyes darting around, seemingly brewing his next "explosive revelation."
Just as he cleared his throat, about to continue showing off, Qin Hao suddenly stood up and walked up to him.
"Yaping, come here for a moment, I have something to tell you."
Zhao Yaping was taken aback: "Brother Hao, what's up? Let's wait until this episode is over..."
"Come now." Qin Hao's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable force. He placed one hand on Zhao Yaping's shoulder, seemingly casually, but actually using a clever trick, half-pushing and half-dragging the boy away from the television.
Zhao Yaping tried to struggle, but Qin Hao's hands were like iron clamps, and he could only reluctantly follow. Some people in the room looked over curiously, and Qin Hao explained with a smile, "Ask him about his studies, you guys continue watching."
Once inside, they closed the door, and the sound from the television in the outer room became muffled. Qin Hao let go of Zhao Yaping's hand, and Zhao Yaping immediately jumped aside, rubbing his shoulder and grumbling, "Brother Hao, what are you doing? I was watching TV!"
"Watching TV? I think you want to act in a TV show." Qin Hao leaned against the door, arms crossed, staring at him: "Zhao Yaping, what did I tell you last time? I told you not to talk about your sister's business in front of outsiders, but you ignored me?"
Zhao Yaping retorted, "I'm stating the facts! You did go to Hong Kong, and you did invest in the film..."
"That's our business, it's none of your concern to spread it around," Qin Hao interrupted him.
Zhao Yaping opened his mouth, then whispered, "I...I just think it's amazing, tell me what's wrong..."
"What's wrong?" Qin Hao sneered, "If you keep talking like this, I'll have your sister cut off your allowance, and take back all those digital watches and jeans."
This struck a nerve with Zhao Yaping. He looked up abruptly, his eyes wide: "What right do you have! That was given to me by my sister!"
“Every penny you spend is earned through your sister’s hard work.” Qin Hao took a step closer, looking down at him. “Back in Guangzhou, your sister would go to the market before dawn every day to pick out goods, haggling with people until her face turned red. In the sweltering heat of 37 or 38 degrees Celsius, she would carry bags of goods onto crowded buses, her clothes soaked through and then drying again. To open her clothing store, she slept only four or five hours for three consecutive days… All you do is use the money she sent back to buy this and that, showing off in front of others. If you had any conscience at all, you wouldn’t have caused her any trouble!”
Zhao Yaping's face flushed red, half with shame and half with anger. He was about to retort when the door to the inner room was pushed open, and Zhao Yajing walked in, glaring at him fiercely: "If you don't believe me, just try it."
When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Zhao Yaping could only give in, muttering to himself, "What's so great about it? I'll make money someday..."
Zhao Yajing shook her head helplessly. She was only in her early twenties and had no idea how to educate her younger brother.
Qin Hao frowned. Zhao Yajing's younger brother was no pushover. He was good for nothing except spending money, and he had a gambling addiction. In the original drama, he even managed to anger Zhao Yajing to death. If he didn't straighten him out while he was still young, there would be endless trouble in the future.
"Ya Jing, Ya Ping is still young, don't scare him."
When Zhao Yajing's mother saw her son being brought into the house, she immediately became restless.
With her mother as her backer, Zhao Yaping slipped away immediately, even making a face at Zhao Yajing.
Zhao Yajing looked helpless: "Mom, you can't keep spoiling him like this. He's thirteen already. When I was thirteen, I was already selling goods with Dad on the streets."
"That's because our family wasn't well-off back then. Now we're not short of money, so why force ourselves to suffer?"
Zhao Yajing was speechless for a moment, and could only watch her younger brother's triumphant departure.
"You'll spoil this kid sooner or later."
Zhao's mother didn't care at all: "That's your own brother, can't you wish him well?"
Zhao Yajing was completely speechless. After her mother left, she complained to Qin Hao, "A doting mother spoils her son. I've seen it all now."
"Talking about it won't do any good. If you want to change him, you have to be really tough on him."
Zhao Yajing's eyes lit up: "What great idea have you come up with?"
"People can't teach you everything, but you can learn it in one go by doing something. You have to make him suffer a bit," Qin Hao said seriously.
“Suffer? With my mom’s protective nature, if I let my brother suffer, wouldn’t she cry her eyes out?” Zhao Yajing smiled bitterly.
"So, your mother and your brother need to be separated."
How do we separate?
Qin Hao said confidently, "Hasn't your brother always wanted to go to Hong Kong? Leave him to me for the two months of summer vacation, and I guarantee he'll give you a completely transformed Zhao Yaping."
He was very experienced in dealing with this kind of rebellious brother-in-law.
"Two months is such a long time, will my mom agree to that?" Zhao Yajing hesitated.
Qin Hao leaned close to Zhao Yajing's ear and whispered, "Just tell your brother: you don't want to go to Hong Kong with someone following you around, right? He'll definitely find a way to keep your mom from going."
Zhao Yajing's eyes lit up, then she rolled her eyes at Qin Hao: "You always have the most clever ideas."
Qin Hao grabbed Zhao Yajing's chin: "Isn't this repaying kindness with enmity?"
"Hehe, how about we say it another way, 'resourceful and wise'?" Zhao Yajing chuckled and gave Qin Hao a light tap on the cheek.
"That's pretty much it."
……
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.
Early in the morning, the residents of Jiudaowan Hutong began preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner. Although supplies were still scarce, the Spring Festival was the most important event of the year, and every household took out the coupons and savings they had accumulated throughout the year, ready to treat their families well.
Smoke curled from the communal kitchen of the courtyard house, four large stoves burning simultaneously. The aromas of stewed meat, fried meatballs, and steamed buns mingled and filled the entire courtyard. Housewives bustled in and out, carrying basins and baskets, greeting each other.
"Aunt Li, your stewed meat smells so good! How much spices did you put in?"
"Aunt Wang, how many meatballs did you fry this year? Wow, the color is so beautiful!"
"Grandma Sun, slow down, the ground is slippery!"
The children, dressed in their new clothes, ran excitedly around the yard, their footsteps crunching through the snow. Small snowball fights broke out every now and then, only to be scolded by the adults and scattered, before gathering together again a little while later.
Qin Hao had just crawled out of bed. He'd been on the phone with Zhao Yajing until late last night, discussing the opening of the clothing store and Zhao Yaping's trip to Shenzhen. He'd gone to bed too late and was still feeling groggy. He put on his down jacket, pushed open the door, walked to the pond in the yard, and turned on the tap—the icy water jolted him awake, instantly making him much more alert.
Just as I was brushing my teeth, the courtyard gate was pushed open with a bang, and Yang Shumao rushed in excitedly, his breath steaming in the air, his cheeks red from the cold, but his eyes were frighteningly bright.
"Old Qin! Old Qin!" He rushed to Qin Hao and grabbed his arm: "Let's open a Burger King in Beijing!"
With a toothbrush in his mouth, Qin Hao mumbled, "What are you up to now? Why are you acting crazy here so early in the morning instead of sleeping?"
Yang Shumo was so excited that he danced around: "I just went to Qianmen to buy New Year's goods, and wow, it was really lively there! There were crowds of people buying things, selling things, and strolling around... I asked around and found out that there's a policy now that allows unemployed educated youth returning to the city to apply for individual business licenses!"
Qin Hao rinsed his mouth, wiped it clean with a towel, and asked unhurriedly, "The business license issue is easy to handle, the main problem is the supply of raw materials. Flour is relatively easy to deal with, but oil, sugar, and chicken are all scarce commodities. Beijing is not like the South; procuring these supplies is not an easy task."
The South, being far from the emperor's reach, had more relaxed policies, resulting in a stronger commercial atmosphere. Beijing, however, was under the emperor's nose; everything was planned, and grains, oils, meat, eggs, and sugar were rationed. Purchasing large quantities for commercial purposes was impossible without connections.
Upon hearing this, Yang Shumo's excitement immediately diminished by half. He scratched his head: "This...this is indeed a problem."
Qin Hao hung the towels to dry, then turned and walked into the house: "Come in, it's cold outside. Tell me, why are you suddenly so interested in opening a shop in Beijing? Aren't you busy enough in Shenzhen?"
Yang Shumo followed him into the house, rubbed his hands together to warm them by the stove, and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Well... my third sister has never had a proper job. She works as a temporary worker in a street factory, earning twenty-eight yuan and fifty cents a month. She works herself to the bone and is always bullied by the permanent employees. She knows that our 'Burger King' pays well, so she wants to work for me..."
"Then let her go to Guangzhou." Qin Hao poured him a cup of hot water and handed it to him: "We're short-staffed over there. If your third sister is willing, she can start as a waitress. If she does well, she can be promoted to store manager."
"I'd love to!" Yang Shumo took the water glass, his face contorted with worry. "But my parents won't let me. They think Guangzhou is too far, and it's not safe for a young woman to travel that far alone. Besides..."
He lowered his voice: "Don't you know what my parents are thinking? They're afraid that my third sister will broaden her horizons in Guangzhou and won't want to come back. What if she finds someone there to marry and lives so far away from home? Then there will be one less person to take care of them in their old age."
Qin Hao understood immediately. Yang Shumao's family had six children; he was the sixth, with three older sisters and two older brothers. His parents were both ordinary workers; after retiring, they gave their jobs to their two sons, leaving their three daughters to fend for themselves. His eldest and second eldest sisters married young, and their husbands' families were of modest means, barely making ends meet. His third sister, Yang Shuying, was twenty-five and still unmarried, a source of worry for her parents—they wanted her to find a good husband, but they also feared she would abandon her family after marriage.
"So your parents asked you to persuade me to open a Burger King in Beijing, and then bring all your older brothers and sisters with you?" Qin Hao asked with a half-smile.
Yang Shumo quickly waved his hand: "Heaven and earth bear witness, Lao Qin, I have never thought that way! Even if Burger King opens in Beijing, I definitely won't stay here. There's a lot going on in Shenzhen. I just think my third sister is a good worker and very kind to me... I thought I could help her out a bit."
He spoke sincerely, and Qin Hao's expression softened. Yang Shumao's three older sisters were actually quite good; the eldest was kind and honest, the second was diligent, and the youngest, Yang Shuying, was the most shrewd and capable, with business acumen.
“If you just want to find a job for your sister, it doesn’t necessarily have to be opening a Burger King.” Qin Hao sat down at the table and gestured for Yang Shumo to sit down as well. “You can talk to Zhao Yajing about it. She opened a clothing store in Guangzhou, right? You can have your sister get her stock from her and open a store in Beijing. She might not become rich, but she can definitely make some money.”
After listening to Qin Hao's explanation, Yang Shumo slapped his forehead: "That's right! How could I forget about that! Clothing stores are fine; they don't need so many scarce goods. They can just ship the goods from Guangzhou..."
Before the joy on his face could fully bloom, he frowned again.
"What's wrong?" Qin Hao asked.
"Opening a clothing store costs a lot of money," Yang Shumo said with a bitter face. "Renting a shop, decorating, stocking inventory... it'll cost at least ten or twenty thousand yuan, right? Where would my sister come up with that kind of money?"
At this point, Yang Shumo sighed heavily, his face full of helplessness: "To be honest, Lao Qin, the ten thousand yuan year-end bonus you gave me was confiscated by my mother before I even had a chance to enjoy it."
Qin Hao rolled his eyes: "You should at least keep it a little secret."
"I hid it!" Yang Shumo said aggrievedly, "I hid the money separately under the insoles of my shoes and inside the lining of my cotton-padded jacket... Who knew that as soon as I got home, they ransacked my luggage like bandits! My mother, my father, my fourth and fifth brothers, the four of them held me down and searched me, they almost pulled down my underwear to check!"
Qin Hao was completely speechless.
"You're such a coward," Qin Hao said with exasperation. "You can't even hold onto the money you work so hard to earn. Looks like I'll have to consider stopping your year-end bonus next year. You don't need it anyway, so it won't be used by your parents to fill those two bottomless pits."
"No, Lao Qin!" Yang Shumo exclaimed anxiously, "I'll definitely learn my lesson next year! I'll deposit the money directly in a Shenzhen bank, and only bring back some money for New Year's shopping. Let them search me all they want!"
Qin Hao shook his head: "You might as well stay in Shenzhen and not come back. Otherwise, with your parents' personalities, even if they don't find any money, they'll make you write an IOU before they'll be satisfied."
Yang Shumo was stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "You're right! I won't come back for Chinese New Year next year! If I can't afford to offend them, I'll stay away! I'll spend the New Year in Shenzhen and see if they can still chase me all the way to Shenzhen!"
"Speaking of which, it's really something that all six of you siblings combined can't beat two old folks..."
He paused, then steered the conversation back on track: "How about this, I'll have Ya Jing open the clothing store, and your sister will be the manager. She won't need to invest any capital; Ya Jing will cover the store location, renovations, and the first batch of goods. Your sister will be responsible for the daily operations. She'll receive a base salary of 200 yuan per month, plus a 5% commission on sales, and a year-end bonus based on profits. If that's all, go back and discuss it with your sister."
Yang Shumo was overjoyed upon hearing this and jumped up from his stool: "What's there to discuss! My sister will definitely be happy! Two hundred yuan as a base salary! Plus commission! She works herself to the bone at the street factory and only earns twenty-eight and fifty yuan a month! Old Qin, thanks! Thank you so much! I'll definitely make sure my sister works hard!"
Qin Hao waved his hand: "Don't give me that. I'll have your third sister come to visit me from time to time. My mother is getting old now, and I'm not comfortable leaving her alone at home."
"No problem." Yang Shumo nodded repeatedly. "If my sister finds out, she'll definitely treat your mom better than my mom. I'll go back and tell my sister the good news right away!"
Yang Shuma returned home excitedly and told her what had happened. Her third sister, Yang Shuying, was overjoyed, and her eldest and second sisters also looked at her with envy.
The fourth brother, Yang Shusen, said sourly, "Silly Mao, you can't just think about your third sister, there's us too."
“That’s right, shouldn’t such a good thing be my turn and Fourth Brother’s turn first? We have families to support, and Third Sister only has to eat her fill while the rest of the family is hungry…” Fifth Brother Yang Shulin chimed in.
Yang Shuying's eyes reddened with anger upon hearing this: "How dare you two say such a thing? You took over your parents' jobs back then, and you can only get temporary work here. What have I said all these years? Now that Mao'er has finally found a good job for us, you still want to take it away. Are you even human?"
Yang Shumo comforted her, "Third Sister, don't worry. No one can take this job away from you. Old Qin said he thinks you're capable, and this store manager position is rightfully yours."
"Really? He really said that?"
Yang Shumo felt a little guilty, but in front of his two brothers who were eyeing him covetously, he could only grit his teeth and nod: "How could it be false?"
Seeing this, the Yang brothers, Shusen and Shulin, could only glare at Yang Shumao with resentment. (End of Chapter)