13 Mink Street

People who cook actually don't like to clean up the table;

Just like you like the satisfaction and happiness of feeding small animals, but you don't want to clean up their nests.

Fortunately, there is no need for Karen to clean up the dishes. Aunt Winnie and Aunt Mary will help clean up.

Karen poured himself a glass of water on the second floor, then took out the ice cube compartment from the refrigerator and added two more to it. Carrying the water, Karen went back to the third floor.

He wanted to take a nap, but unfortunately when he opened the bedroom door, he found Minasara and Lent sitting at his desk doing homework.

Afternoon nap, wasted.

After all, as a psychological adult, I have no face to ask the child who is doing homework to leave so that I can sleep.

Not only did he not get a good nap, Karen also helped Mina and Sarah with their physics homework under Mina's inquiry.

It can be felt that Mina's academic performance is very good, and it's no wonder that my aunt doesn't want Mina to stay and take over. In fact, purely from the perspective of "money and career", if Mina can inherit the skills of her aunt's makeup artist, she will definitely have a better life in the future. It's a good life, but if conditions permit in life, we should strive for more opportunities to choose.

As for Sarah, her grades are relatively average, and her comprehension ability is also average.

Karen also noticed that Sarah's clothes were quite new, so new that they didn't fit her well.

This detail made Karen feel a little bit. In his previous life, when the family conditions were average when he was a child, he also had special clothes to wear when visiting relatives.

At the same time, it can be seen that Sarah's stationery is much worse than that used by Mina and Lent.

Also, every time Karen spoke, Sarah would immediately move to face him.

It stands to reason that this shy little girl shouldn't suddenly become so cheerful and actively want to look at her;

When teaching the topic later, Karen discovered that it was because Sarah might have some hearing problems in her right ear. If you speak softly into her right ear, she might not be able to hear clearly. So every time she sensed that she was speaking, She has to turn her head around.

After the tutoring, Karen stretched and leaned on the bed.

"Brother tired?" Mina asked.

"fine."

Mina got up, walked over, and massaged Karen's shoulders.

Sarah was shy at first, but she came over and rubbed Karen's legs.

Lent saw this scene from the side, just smiled, even though he was slapped by this cousin just a while ago, but he really couldn't hate Karen, nor would he be jealous of him;

Like his father, he didn't feel that Karen was his elder brother, but more like his elder uncle.

"That, no..."

Karen doesn't want to enjoy the comfort of a "landlord". If his younger brothers and sisters are younger, he doesn't mind tricking them into running errands or knocking on his legs with some change and candies. Most people actually do Had something similar.

But now my sister is grown up, and there is also a strange female classmate.

But to Karen's surprise, Sarah rubbed her legs very professionally and powerfully. For a while, Karen didn't want to stop.

But in the end reason prevailed over everything, Karen sat up again and said:

"Mina, and Sarah, you have grown up and are girls, you must remember to keep a distance from the opposite sex."

"But brother is not an outsider." Mina said naturally.

Even Sarah nodded in agreement.

"But this is inappropriate." Karen reached out and touched Mina's head, "Brother, I don't like this."

Sarah looked at Mina whose head was being patted, with a look of envy in her eyes.

Karen reached out and touched her head.

Just as men have no resistance to beautiful women, women do not have much resistance to handsome men.

The kind of relationship with the opposite sex that comes everywhere is like good luck to normal people, but to a small number of people, it's like Chinese cabbage growing on the side of the road, which can be picked anywhere.

It's just that most people can't have a similar sense of substitution.

"Does Sarah pinch her family's legs at home?" Karen asked curiously.

"Well, I pinch Dad's legs every day."

"Really filial piety."

Karen walked out of the bedroom, stopped by the floating window, and opened the window. Pu'er, who was lying there taking a nap, moved a few times in dissatisfaction.

Taking out a cigarette, Karen lit one for himself. The wind outside was chilly, so Karen turned sideways to reduce the area exposed to the wind.

At this time, Diss came out from the study, and Karen smiled.

"The thermos bottle is out of water." Diess said.

Karen immediately called to the bedroom: "Mina, help grandpa store the thermos."

"OK."

Mina came out obediently, took the thermos bottle from grandpa and went downstairs to the kitchen to get hot water.

Diss didn't have any opinion on Karen's "lazy" behavior, but asked:

"Today is the 15th."

"Yes, the other party has booked on the 17th, and there are two days left. In fact, there is only one day left." Karen said, because the 17th is the deadline, it must be a mourning party, so the other party has to wait until the 16th at the latest. Send the deceased tomorrow, otherwise it will be too late to make a funeral.

And if the other party sent it during the daytime on the 17th, even in the morning, it would be difficult for the mourning party to proceed smoothly, unless the other party really just wanted to make a simple cutscene, but the problem is that the other party gave too much.

A client who spends so much money certainly doesn't want a sloppy funeral.

"Uncle Mason has already received a welfare order and plans to do it on the 18th."

This is in case the other party sends it on the 17th, or on the 18th, the operability of the welfare bill will be much higher, just like Jeff last time, the reason why he took three photos was arranged on that day , It is for the other party to bargain after the "time limit" has passed.

Of course, if the other party is really late for a day or two, I will still help out for the sake of the deposit, but I can be more relaxed in terms of requirements and details.

"En." Diss nodded, took the hot water bottle from Mina, and went back to the study.

At this time, Karen noticed that it was raining outside, and he stubbed out the cigarette butt on the windowsill.

Pu'er stared at a small black spot scalded on the place where he used to sleep, and pointed his paw here in dissatisfaction:

"Meow meow meow!"

Karen reached out and stroked Pu'er as if it were a cat.

"Brother, I'm home." Sarah, carrying her schoolbag, came out to say goodbye to Karen.

"Who's coming for you?" Karen asked.

"I'll take the tram back," Sarah replied.

The tram stop is outside Mink Street, and it takes a while to walk.

"I'll accompany Sarah to the station." Mina said holding an umbrella.

"Oh, where do you live, Sarah?"

"In Mine Street, East End."

The east district is the industrial area of ​​Luojia City. Apart from the factory, there are rows of old-fashioned workers’ dormitory tube buildings. It’s not bad to live in the tube buildings. Many workers, including the population gathered in the later development, can only build around the tube buildings. Rows of shanty houses form a shanty town.

A few years ago, the old mayor implemented a plan to improve the living conditions of the shantytowns in the eastern district. Of course, he was unable and unable to carry out any "shantytown renovation project", but he connected all the water and electricity, which can be regarded as completed The basic guarantee for the life of the shantytown residents.

Mine Street is a well-known shanty town in the East District, where there are many small shops and a flea market that is very famous in Luojia City.

"Well, I'll drive you back, Mina, and find your father to get the car keys."

"Okay, thank you brother."

Soon, Mina brought Uncle Mason's car keys:

"Dad also asked my brother if you can drive, and my mother said that you can drive, brother."

Aunt Mary was talking about the time she and Mrs. Hughes got drunk and drove them home by herself.

"Get in the car."

This was the first time Karen sat in a new hearse. Not only was the driver's seat much more spacious, but there was also a cuboid pit design for the coffin at the back, and there were seats similar to buses on both sides.

After starting the car, Karen started to drive towards Mine Street.

Because the previous "Karen" used to like to go to the flea market to buy second-hand comics and fiction books, so Karen knew the location of that place.

"Hey, Sarah, isn't our car spacious?" Mina asked.

"Yes!" Sarah nodded, "You can lie down and sleep."

Karen, who was driving, laughed when he heard this:

"Haha, you can't lie down in this car."

Halfway through the journey, Karen encountered a road repair, which forced Karen to exit and go around again. The process of exit took a lot of time. After all, the new hearse is very large and it is not very convenient to move around.

It was already five o'clock in the afternoon when we reached Mine Street.

"Mom." Sarah saw the silhouette of her mother.

Karen found an open space nearby and parked the car.

Mina followed Sarah out of the car;

After a while, Mina and Sarah came to the driver's window:

"Brother, Mama Sarah invited us to our house as guests."

"Well, brother, the milk tea made by my mother is delicious!"

Karen wanted to refuse, he was more inclined to drive home directly, but seeing Sarah's expectant eyes and the somewhat cautious woman standing not far away, Karen nodded and said:

"OK."

...

Sarah's house is deep in Mine Street. Because it has just rained, there are many puddles on the road. Some puddles are covered with bricks, and they can only be passed by stepping on them.

The eaves are very low, and you need to bend down to walk in. There are two rooms inside, one is for Sarah's parents, and the other is for Sarah and grandma;

The cooking place is outside, and there is a small stove built with bricks and partially covered with iron sheets.

The house is very clean, and there are a few bouquets of wild flowers.

"Grandma, I'll bring my classmate and my classmate brother to play at home."

"Good, good."

The old woman, who was old but with her hair well-groomed, sat there smiling at Mina and Karen.

"Yo, Sarah took her classmates home to play?"

A man's voice came from outside. He leaned on a cane and staggered in. He was holding a half-burned cigarette in his hand, but when he entered the door, he glanced at Mina and Karen and threw the cigarette directly. to the outside.

"Hi, uncle." Mina said.

"Classmate, hello, hello."

"Hi, I'm Mina's brother, Karen."

Karen stretched out his hand to the man. This is a habit that cannot be changed, because he has never regarded himself as a child, and the family is also used to this, so he does not need to pretend at home.

The man froze for a moment, but still reached out to shake Karen's hand:

"Hello, you can call me Rot, and the neighbors call me Cripple Rot."

Rott's hands were rough and callused, and the other trouser leg under the crutch was empty.

When he came in, Karen noticed that there were many car tires and cut car tire skins in the yard, plus some simple tools. Roth used the waste tires as "slippers" to sell in exchange for income;

And Sarah's mother, according to what Sarah said in the car, is a worker in a nearby cotton textile factory, but it is the off-season recently, and there are not many days to work.

"Please sit down, please sit down."

Sarah moved some benches, and Karen and Mina sat down.

"Honey, I smell a good smell, are you making milk tea?" Rot exaggeratedly shouted to the outside.

"Yes, all right."

After a while, Sarah's mother came in with a pot lid carrying several cups, which were filled with white milk tea.

The glasses in front of Karen and Mina were full, the glasses in front of Granny and Sarah were half full, and the glasses in front of Roth were just so small;

Mother Sarah laughed again and said:

"I'm going to prepare dinner. Sarah told me just now, thank you for entertaining her with a lot of food today."

"Yes, Mom, Brother Karen's cooking is really good. I have never eaten the food he made before, but I think my mother's cooking is as good as Brother Karen's."

Sarah's mother lowered her head, kissed Sarah's forehead, and said with a smile:

"Don't worry, Mom won't let you down."

immediately,

Sarah's mother seemed to be afraid that Karen would refuse to stay for dinner, so she specifically said:

"Please be sure to show your face and stay for dinner, as a reward for your hospitality to Sarah."

Rott also said: "Of course, classmates and friends, even if you come to my house today, you will have hot meals, and tomorrow I will go to your house, and you will have hot meals, right, Mr. Karen?"

Although Rot felt that the young man in front of him looked young, he behaved very well, just like a government official sitting in an office, he subconsciously added "Sir" to his address.

"Then I'm looking forward to it."

Mina picked up the cup and took a sip of the milk tea;

"How's it going, Mina?" Sarah asked.

"It's delicious." Mina said.

Karen also picked it up and took a sip, then subconsciously controlled her frowning instinct. This cup of milk tea tasted like the taste of malted milk when she was a child, and extra sugar was added, which was sweet and sweet.

Karen took another two gulps,

Putting down the glass, he smiled and said, "It's delicious."

"Hahaha, right?"

Roth looked very pleased, took up his glass and drank his own bit, lingering a little longer; when he put down the glass, his lips were white, and he licked it with his tongue.

"Uncle smokes."

Karen took out her cigarette case;

In fact, he doesn't have much addiction to cigarettes now, only two or three cigarettes a day. In addition, his work responsibilities sometimes overlap with his uncle, that is, he needs to carry cigarettes with him all the time for social occasions.

Morph gold frame, 70 rupees a pack, the price is higher than the Ruan Zhonghua in the previous life.

Karen took out one and handed it to Rot, who took it with both hands.

Just when Karen took out the lighter and was about to help Luo Te, Luo Te glanced at his mother sitting there.

The old lady smiled and said, "Dig it, and stay with Mr. Karen."

Karen understood and said proactively, "Let's smoke outside the house."

"Okay, okay."

Karen went to help Rott get the crutches, but Rott took it by himself first, and propped himself up: "Please come this way."

The two came outside,

Rot took out a match from his pocket, struck one, blocked the fire with his left hand, and approached Karen;

This cannot be waived, because the match will soon die;

Karen could only smile shyly, took out a cigarette, bit it in his mouth and leaned towards it, and after helping Karen to light it, Rot put the match that was almost burning to his finger in front of him, lit his own cigarette, Then he immediately threw away the matchstick with his hands, making a "hiss..." sound from his mouth.

"Mr. Karen, is your family in the funeral business?" Rott added, "I heard what Mina said."

"Yes, Uncle Rot." Karen took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Rot, "I have to trouble Uncle to introduce business for us in the future."

"Hey, if the people who live here are gone, they will be taken directly to the cremation house, so why would they hold a mourning party?"

That's what he said, but after taking the business card, Rott still carefully put the business card in his chest pocket.

"Is business easy to do now?" Rott asked.

It seems that no matter what background, no matter what environment, or even, no matter how high or low their status is, when two men light a cigarette with each other, the topics they talk about,

It is almost inseparable: how is the business doing recently (how is it doing recently?)

"Not very busy," Karen said.

After all, there is no news about the customer who paid a deposit of 100,000 rupees, and the family members are unlikely to take on other jobs in the near future, so they are quite free.

"Yes, me too."

Luo Te nodded and agreed.

In fact, in summer, slippers made of car tires sell well, and there are groups of people who like this kind of extremely cheap slippers, but now that it is winter, there are naturally fewer people buying slippers.

"It's going to get better," Karen said. "In business, there is always a low season and a high season."

Rott said deeply, "Yes, yes, what Mr. Cullen said is right, everything will be fine."

Roth likes this kind of conversation very much. Even a pair of car tire leather slippers he made during the peak season only sells for 2 rupees, and he also knows that the income of Karen's business may be worth his own slippers for a year... It should even be more than that;

But he really enjoys the atmosphere of standing with Karen and talking about "low season and high season".

See, we're all businessmen.

Karen smoked half of the cigarette, and was about to throw it on the ground subconsciously. After hesitating for a moment, he continued to hold it in his hand.

Rott took another puff until the cigarette was almost burning to the filter, and then threw it on the ground, and Karen followed suit.

Rot is an old smoker, so he smashed his mouth and touched his own cigarettes, but he hesitated for a while when he took out the box, but he still took it out, a pack of "Wild Wolf" with 2 rupees.

He took out one and handed it to Karen, and Karen took out the lighter to help him light the cigarette at the same time, and Rot smiled.

Smoking his own cigarette, it seemed that he was no longer restrained by smoking the Morph gold frame;

Roth said: "My leg was amputated in an accident when I was working in the factory. At that time, the factory lost a little money, and even the medical expenses were not enough. I still asked Mr. Sixson for help, Sixson Sir, do you know?"

"I seem to have heard it, it's..." Karen recalled the newspaper, "It's Mr. Mayor."

"Yes, Mr. Mayor. He was a member of our Eastern District going out in the early years. He is the pride of our Eastern District and one of our own." Rott gave many compliments to the old mayor, especially "one of our own." .

"Mr. Hickson helped me find the factory owner, and the factory owner lost another sum of money. Although it is not much, I am satisfied, at least enough to pay the medical expenses and have a little left over.

well,

A few days ago, several other sick workers filed a lawsuit with the city government, and lost. The trade union organized a parade and came to inform me, and I also participated. Although I no longer work in the factory, I am still a member of the union.

Mr. Cullen, sometimes these factory owners, you have to show them the strength of our unity, otherwise they...they really won't treat us as human beings. "

"Yes, you are right."

"I was also selected as one of the representatives of the parade, and I walked to the front row with those injured, disabled and sick workers. I thought this parade was to show the factory owners in the Eastern District to see our strength, but I didn't What I thought of was that the banners and flags that the guys from the trade union took out were actually to blame Mr. Sixson.

At that time, many workers were not so happy.

There is one thing to say, isn’t it Mr. Hickson who connected the water and electricity to our Mine Street a few years ago, and it seems that the sewer project will be done next year, so that we don’t have to ‘dance’ when we go out on rainy days.

Then, Mr. Hickson came out to appease us. As soon as he came out, we stopped making trouble. Those from the trade union wanted to lead us to shout slogans, but we ignored them.

Mr. Hickson promised us that in the future, part of the taxes in the Eastern District will be dedicated to grant subsidies to workers with disabilities and permanent chronic diseases. Although the amount will not be large, we are already satisfied.

In other words, starting next month, I will be able to receive a subsidy of 200 rupiah per month.

Then we all chanted Mr. Hickson's name together. "

When Rott said this, his eyes were full of light:

"Mr. Hickson will always be our own person in the Eastern District, the mayor promoted by our Eastern District, haha."

Karen nodded.

"Does Mr. Cullen have a candidate for mayor?"

"No, I haven't, I'm not very into politics."

"I don't like it very much, if the factory owners can treat us workers as human beings."

Rot took a deep breath and exhaled the smoke ring:

"Who wants to drag his tired body to listen to some election after work every day?"

"Yes." Karen agreed.

"Dinner is ready, Dad, Brother Karen." Sarah came calling.

"Okay, let's see what your dear mother has prepared for us tonight."

Dinner was great.

In front of each person was a plate of noodles, like stewed noodles, with various vegetables and sauces inside. Karen and Mina's plates had diced meat visible to the naked eye, but others' plates did not.

In addition, everyone has a piece of bread in front of them, Karen and Mina have bread with butter, and everyone else has brown bread.

In addition, there was a small plate of bacon, a small plate of sausage, and a large bowl of pickles.

The plates of bacon and sausages were in front of Karen and Mina, and the pickles were with the Rotts.

"Mom, where's the fried chicken?" Sarah asked curiously.

She wants to treat her best friend and her brother to fried chicken.

Sarah's mother smiled: "I'm sorry Sarah, I didn't buy it today."

Sarah looked at Mina with some disappointment, and said: "It's a pity, the meat is delicious, I will invite you to eat at home next time."

"Okay." Mina nodded with a smile.

And in the memory of the last "Karen", he had seen several shops selling fried chicken in the flea market. Out of curiosity, he bought it and tasted it, and it tasted good;

But after learning that the meat was specially picked up from restaurants and garbage dumps and then deep-fried, "Karen" vomited for half the night after returning home, and had a fever the next day.

Therefore, the "fried chicken" Sarah mentioned should be the kind of meat, just like the tire slippers made by Rott, which are only fashionable and circulated here on Mine Street in the East District.

Sarah's mother lied to her that she couldn't buy it, because she didn't want to entertain guests with stale things.

Everyone started having dinner.

This noodle, which is similar to braised noodles, tastes really good, the sauce is also well adjusted, the noodles are chewy, and it tastes very enjoyable. It is suitable to be served with garlic.

If there is no garlic... pickles?

Karen got up slightly, took a pickle and took a bite;

Huh... this sour taste, I quickly took a mouthful of noodles to dissolve it, and a special kind of satisfaction and enjoyment was formed.

"Does Mr. Cullen drink?" Rot asked.

"No drink, I came here by car."

Rott was a little puzzled and asked, "Can't you drink while driving?"

But seeing that Karen really didn't drink, he stopped opening the wine, and seeing that Karen liked pickled cucumbers very much, he put the cucumbers in front of Karen.

After eating the noodles, Karen picked up the bread again, dipped the bread in the soup and ate it;

In fact, the taste of this cream is quite different. In Karen's recipe, the presence of fruit and cream in the main meal will destroy the dining experience.

Eating after a meal is extra;

CD's,

Karen raised her hand to refuse Sarah's mother to use a fork to add bacon and sausage to herself, patted her stomach, and said with a smile:

"I really can't eat anymore, I'm full."

The old lady smiled and said, "You must be full, you can't be polite."

"You're welcome, it's really delicious." Karen wasn't being perfunctory;

In fact, the true level of a chef is reflected in the use of simple ingredients to create a more refined taste. Sarah's mother's cooking skills are indeed good.

Mina finished eating too,

He also patted his stomach, and said to Sarah:

"Sarah, your mom cooks just as well as your brother."

"Hey, right." Sarah was very happy, looking at her mother.

After dinner, it was completely dark.

Karen takes Mina to bid farewell to the Rot family.

The old lady stood up and said, "Come, see off the guests. They also brought Sarah back."

The grandmother was very handicapped and needed Sarah's support, and Rot was on crutches, but the family still sent Karen to the parking spot.

"Thank you for the hospitality."

Karen thanked the Rott family, and at the same time said to Sarah: "I often come to play with Mina."

"You too." The old woman smiled.

Karen got into the driver's seat and just started the car when she saw Sarah's mother pass a plastic jar through the window. Karen turned her head and saw that it was full of pickles.

"It seems to suit your taste very well, take it home and try it with your family."

"Thank you ma'am."

Karen thanked her and took the jar in without refusing.

Rot, who was standing next to him, gently bumped into his wife in a low voice imitating Karen's tone:

"Thank you madam, hey, madam, do you hear that, he calls you madam."

Sarah's mother blushed and ignored her husband.

"Goodbye everyone." Mina called through the car window.

"goodbye."

Karen started the hearse and drove towards the intersection;

behind the car,

The Rot family still stood there watching;

Karen glanced in the rearview mirror,

Under the dim and sparse streetlights of Mine Street,

The Rotters standing there,

Like an old still photo,

It is gradually turning yellow.