13 Mink Street

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

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

　　 Fortunately, Karen doesn’t need to clean up the dinner plates. Aunt Winnie and Aunt Mary will help clean them up.

　　 Karen poured himself a glass of water on the second floor, took out the ice cube tray from the refrigerator and added two pieces to it, holding the water, Karen returned to the third floor.

　　 He wanted to take a nap, but when he opened the bedroom door, he found Mina Sarah and Lunt leaning against his desk writing homework.

　　 Noon nap, soaked up.

　　 After all, as a psychological adult, he has no face to make homework children leave so that they can sleep.

　　 Not only did she fail to sleep in her nap, Karen also helped Mina and Sarah counsel her physics homework under the inquiry of Mina.

It can be felt that Mina's academic performance is very good, and it is no wonder that aunt does not want Mina to stay and take over. In fact, from the perspective of "money path", if Mina can inherit the skills of her aunty makeup artist, she will definitely do it in the future. I've had a pretty good life, but when conditions permit, we should still strive for more choices.

　　 And Sarah, her grades are relatively ordinary, and her comprehension ability is also very average.

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

　　 This detail made Karen feel a little bit about himself. In his previous life, when the conditions at home were normal when he was a child, he also wore special clothes for walking with relatives.

　　At the same time, Sarah’s stationery can also be seen, which is much worse than the ones Mina and Lent use.

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

　　 It stands to reason that this shy little girl shouldn’t become so cheerful all of a sudden, actively wanting to look at herself;

Later when teaching the topic, Karen discovered that it was because Sarah’s right ear might have some hearing problems. If you speak to her right ear with a lower voice, she may not be able to hear clearly, so every time she perceives herself as speaking, She has to turn her head around.

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

　　 "Brother is tired?" Mina asked.

"fine."

　　 Mina got up, walked over, and helped Karen massage her shoulders.

　　 Sarah was a little shy at first, but she also walked over to help Karen rub her leg.

　　Lent saw this scene next to him, just smiled, even if he was slapped by this cousin a while ago, but he really can’t hate Karen and won’t be jealous of him;

　　 The same feeling as his father, he doesn't think Karen is his brother, more like his elder uncle.

　　 "That, no..."

Karen doesn’t want to enjoy the comfort of this “lord master”. If his younger siblings are younger, he doesn’t mind using some change and candy to trick them into running errands or knocking them out. Most people actually do it. Similar things.

　　 But now my sister is old, and there is a strange female classmate.

　　 But to Karen’s surprise, Sarah’s leg rubbing was very professional and powerful. For a while, Karen didn’t want to stop.

　　 But in the end reason still defeated everything, Karen sat up again and said:

　　 "Mina, and Sarah, you have grown up, and you are girls. Remember to keep your distance with the opposite **** in the future."

　　 "But brother is not an outsider." Mina took it for granted.

　　 Even Sarah nodded in agreement.

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

　　 Sarah looked at Mina who was touched, her eyes showed envy.

　　 Karen also stretched out his hand and touched her head.

　　 Just as men have no resistance to beauties, in fact women do not have much resistance to handsome men.

　　The kind of heterosexual relationship that comes everywhere is like luck for normal people, but for a small number of people, it is like a Chinese cabbage growing on the side of the road, which can be picked everywhere.

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

　　 "Does Sarah usually help her family squeeze her legs at home?" Karen asked curiously.

　　 "Well, I help Dad squeeze his leg every day."

　　 "True filial piety."

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

　　 took out a cigarette, Karen lit one for herself, the wind outside was chilly, Karen turned sideways to reduce the wind exposure area.

　　At this moment, Diss came out of the study, and Karen smiled.

　　 "The thermos is out of water." Diss said.

　　 Karen immediately shouted to the bedroom: "Mina, help Grandpa store a thermos."

"OK."

　　 Mina walked out obediently, took the thermos from Grandpa, and went downstairs to the kitchen to get hot water.

　　 Diss did not have any opinion on Karen’s “lazy” behavior, but asked:

　　 "It's the 15th today."

"Yes, the other party has booked until 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 meeting, so the other party must be on the 16th at the latest. Send the deceased tomorrow, or there will be no time to make the remains.

　　 And if the other party sends it during the day on the 17th, even in the morning, the mourning will be difficult to start, unless the other party really just wants a simple cutscene, but the problem is that the other party gave too much.

　　Shooting such a generous customer, I certainly don't want the funeral to be scribbled.

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

This is to prevent the other party from sending it on the 17th, or on the 18th, the operability of the welfare form is much higher. Just like the last time Jeff, the three photos were taken, and the reason was arranged on that day. , Is for the other party to bargain after the "time limit" has passed.

　　 Of course, if the other party is really late a day or two, depending on the deposit, they will still help, but the requirements and details can be more calm at home.

　　 "Hmm." Diss nodded, took the thermos from Mina and went back to the study.

　　 At this time, Karen found that it was raining outside, and he pinched out the cigarette **** on the window sill.

　　 Pu'er stared at the place where he used to sleep and was scalded with a small black spot, and pointed at it with his paw very dissatisfied:

"Meow meow meow!"

　　 Karen reached out and touched Pu'er as a cat.

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

　　 "Who will pick you up?" Karen asked.

　　 "I'll go back by tram." Sarah replied.

　　 The tram stop is outside Mingke Street, so you need to walk some distance.

　　 "I will accompany Sara to the station." Mina said with an umbrella.

　　 "Heh, where do you live, Sarah?"

　　 "It's on Mine Street in the East District."

The East District is the industrial zone of Luojia City. In addition to the factories, there are rows of old-fashioned workers’ dormitory tubes. Those who can live in the tubes are pretty good. Many workers, including the population who later developed, can only build around the tubes. Rows of shanty houses form a shanty town.

In the past few years, the old mayor implemented a plan to improve the living conditions of the shanty towns in the eastern district. Of course, he could not and was unable to make any "shanty town renovation project", but it was completed by connecting all the water and electricity. The basic guarantee for the lives of residents in shanty towns.

　　 Mine Street is a well-known block made up of shanty towns in the East District. There are many small shops there and a flea market that is very famous in Luojia City has been derived.

　　 "Well, I'll drive you back, Mina, go to your dad to get the car keys."

　　 "Okay, thank you brother."

　　 Soon, Mina brought Uncle Mason’s car keys:

　　 "Dad also asked brother if you can drive, and mom said that brother, you can drive well."

　　 Aunt Mary said that she and Mrs. Hughes were drunk and drove them home by herself.

　　 "Get in the car."

　　 New hearse, this is the first time Karen has entered. Not only the driver's seat is much more spacious, but also there is a rectangular pit design for the coffin at the back, and there are also bus-like seats on both sides.

　　 started the car, Karen began to drive towards Mine Street.

　　 Because the last "Karen" used to like to go to the flea market to buy second-hand comics and novel books, Karen knows the location of that place.

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

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

　　 Karen who drove heard this and laughed:

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

　　 During the middle of the journey, I encountered a street repairing, which made Karen had to exit and re-circumvent it. The process of exiting took a lot of time. After all, the new hearse is very large and it is not very convenient to move.

　　 When I arrived at Mine Street, it was already five o'clock in the afternoon.

　　 "Mom." Sarah saw her mother's figure.

　　 Karen found an open space nearby and stopped the car.

　　Mina got out of the car with Sarah;

　　 After a while, Mina and Sara came to the driver’s seat window:

　　 "Brother, Sarah's mother invited us to be a guest at home."

　　 "Well, brother, my mother's milk tea is delicious!"

　　 Karen wanted to refuse, he preferred to drive home directly, but seeing Sarah’s expectant eyes and the somewhat restrained woman standing not far away, Karen still nodded:

"OK."

　　...

　　Sarah’s home is deep in Mine Street. Because it had just rained, there were many puddles on the road. Some puddles were filled with bricks, so they could only step on the bricks to pass.

　　 The eaves are very short, and you need to bend over to walk in. Inside are two rooms, 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 up with bricks, which is half-shielded with iron.

　　 The house is very clean, with a few bunches of wildflowers in it.

　　 "Grandma, I will bring my classmates and classmates brother to play at home."

　　 "Good, good."

　　 The old grandmother is getting older, but her hair is meticulously groomed, sitting there, smiling at Mina and Karen.

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

A man’s voice came from outside. He leaned on a cane and came in tumblingly. He had a half-burned cigarette in his hand, but when he entered the door, he glanced over Mina and Karen and threw the cigarette directly. To the outside.

　　 "Hello, uncle." Mina said.

　　 "Hello classmate, hello."

　　 "Hello, this is 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 his family is used to this, so he doesn't have to pretend at home.

　　 The man was taken aback, but he still reached out his hand to shake hands with Karen:

　　 "Hello, you can call me Rotter, neighbors call me the lame Rotter."

　　Rot's hands are rough and calluses, and the other trouser leg under the cane is empty.

　　When he came in, Karen noticed that there were a lot of tires and cut-off tires in the yard, plus some simple tools. Roth used waste tires to sell “slippers” in exchange for income;

　　 And Sarah's mother, according to Sarah in the car, was working as a worker in a nearby cotton mill, but the recent off-season has not many days to go to work.

　　 "Please sit down, please sit down."

　　 Sarah moved a few benches, and Karen and Mina sat down.

　　 "My dear, I smell a good smell, are you making milk tea?" Rot exaggeratedly exaggerated.

　　 "Yes, all right."

　　 After a while, Sarah’s mother came in with a few cups in the lid. The cups were filled with white milk tea.

　　The cups in front of Karen and Mina are full, the cups in front of Granny and Sarah are half full, and the cups in front of Lott are just as small as a layer;

　　 Sarah’s mother smiled again and said:

　　 "I'm going to prepare dinner, Sarah told me just now, thank your family for serving her with very hearty food today."

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

　　 Sarah's mother lowered her head, kissed Sarah on the forehead, and smiled:

　　 "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, and said specifically:

　　 "Please show your face and stay for a meal in return for your entertaining Sarah."

　　Rot 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 have hot meals, right, Mr. Cullen?"

　　 Lott felt that the young man looked young, but he had a decent manner. Like a civil servant sitting in an office in the government, he subconsciously added "Mr." to his address.

　　 "Then I'm looking forward to it."

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

　　 "How about, Mina?" Sarah asked.

　　 "It's delicious," Mina said.

　　 Karen also took a sip, and then subconsciously controlled her frowning instinct. This cup of milk tea resembled the taste of malted milk when she was a child, and it was also sweetened with extra sugar.

　　 Karen took two more sips,

　　 put down the cup, smiled and said, "It's delicious."

　　 "Hahaha, right?"

　　 Lott looked very happy, and he took up the cup and drank his little bit, and he stayed for a while; when he put down the cup, his lips were white, and then he licked it with his tongue.

　　 "Uncle smokes."

　　 Karen took out his cigarette case;

　　 In fact, he is not addicted to cigarettes now, only two or three cigarettes a day. In addition, he sometimes overlaps with his uncle in his work duties, that is, he needs to carry cigarettes all the time for social occasions.

　　Molff gold box, 70 Lu coins a pack, the price is higher than the soft China of the previous life.

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

　　 Just as Karen took out the lighter to help Luo characterize, Lott glanced at his mother who was sitting there.

　　 The old grandmother said with a smile: "Pick it, stay with Mr. Cullen."

　　 Karen knew, and proactively said: "Let's go outside the house and smoke."

　　 "Okay, okay."

　　 Karen went to help Rot get the crutches, but Rot took the first step by himself and supported himself: "Please come here."

　　 The two came outside,

　　 Lott took out a match from his pocket, cut one, blocked the fire with his left hand, and leaned in front of Karen;

　　 This cannot be pushed, because the match fire will soon go out;

Karen could only smile embarrassedly, took out a cigarette, bit it in his mouth, and leaned forward. After helping Karen to light it, Rot sent a match that was almost burning to his finger in front of him and lit his cigarette. Then he immediately threw away the match stick, making a "hiss..." sound in his mouth.

　　 "Mr. Karen, your family is in a funeral agency business?" Roth added, "I listened to Mina."

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

　　 "Hey, if the people who live here are gone, they are all taken directly to the cremation club. How can they go to the mourning service."

　　 said so, but after receiving the business card, Lot still placed the business card very carefully in the pocket on his chest.

　　 "Is business good now?" Roth asked.

　　 It seems that no matter what background, no matter what environment, even, no matter the level of status, when two men light a cigarette to each other, the topic they talk about,

　　 You can’t live without it: Has the business been doing well recently (how has it been mixed recently?)

　　 "Not very busy," Karen said.

　　 After all, the customer who paid a deposit of 100,000 renminbi, there is still no news, and the family will not be able to take other tasks in the near future, so it is quite idle.

"Yes, me too."

　　 Luo Feature nodded and echoed.

　　 In fact, in summer, slippers made of car tire skins are sold well. Some groups like these extremely cheap slippers, but now it’s winter, naturally there are fewer slippers.

　　 "It will get better," Karen said, "Doing business, there will always be off-season and peak season."

　　 Lott agreed with him, "Yes, yes, Mr. Cullen is right, everything will be fine."

Roth likes this feeling of chatting very much, even if he makes a pair of tire leather slippers during the peak season, he will sell for 2 renminbi, and he also knows that the income of the Karen family's business may be worth his own slippers for a year...even Should be more than

　　 But he really enjoys the atmosphere of standing with Karen and talking about the "off-season and peak season".

　　 Look, we are all businessmen.

　　 Karen smoked halfway, and was about to drop it to the ground subconsciously. After hesitating, he continued to hold it in his hand.

　　 Lott threw it on the ground until the smoke was about to burn to the filter and took another puff, and Karen threw it along with it.

　　 Lot is an old smoker. Smash it and touch his cigarette, but he hesitated as soon as he took out the box, but he still took out the "Wild Wolf card" with a pack of 2 Lucoins.

　　 He drew one out and handed it to Karen. Karen took it and took out a lighter to help him light a cigarette. Then Rot smiled.

　　 smoking his own cigarette, it seems that all of a sudden he is no longer restrained when he smoked Morff's golden frame;

Roth said: "My leg was amputated in an accident while working in the factory. At that time, the factory lost a little money and even the medical expenses were not enough. So I asked Mr. Sickson, Sickson for help. Do you know, sir?"

　　 "It seems to have heard it before, yes..." Karen recalled the newspaper, "It's Mr. Mayor."

"Yes, it's Mr. Mayor. In the early years, he was a member of our Eastern District going out. He was the pride of our Eastern District and our own people." Roth gave many compliments to the old mayor, especially his "owner." .

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

Ugh,

　　 A few days ago, a few other workers who were ill fought a lawsuit in the municipal government. They lost. The union organized a demonstration 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 would really not treat us as human beings. "

　　 "Yes, you are right."

"I was also selected as one of the parade representatives to walk to the first row with the 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 came to mind was that the banners and flags brought out by the union guys actually accountable to Mr. Hickson.

　　 At that time, many workers were not so happy.

　　 There is a saying. A few years ago, it was Mr. Hickson who provided us with water and electricity on Mine Street. It seems that we will have to do sewer works 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. The union members wanted to chant slogans with us, and we ignored them.

　　Mr. Hickson promised to us that in the future Eastern District’s taxation, a part of the subsidy will be allocated to disabled workers and permanent chronic disease workers. Although the number will not be large, we are already satisfied.

　　In other words, starting from next month, I will be able to receive a monthly subsidy of 200 RUB.

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

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

　　 "Mr. Hickson will always be our own in the Eastern District, and the mayor of our Eastern District, haha."

　　 Karen nodded.

　　 "Does Mr. Karen have a supportive candidate for mayor?"

　　 "No, I don't, I don't really like to participate in politics."

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

　　Rott took a deep breath and exhaled the smoke ring:

　　 "Who wants to drag his tired body to listen to elections after he finishes his work every day."

　　 "Yes," Karen agreed.

　　 "Dinner is ready, Dad, Brother Karen." Sarah came and shouted.

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

　　 Dinner is very rich.

　　 There is a plate of noodles in front of each person, like braised noodles, with various vegetables and sauces. Karen and Mina have diced meat visible to the naked eye, but none of the others.

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

　　 In addition, there is a small plate of bacon, plus a small plate of sausages, and a large bowl of pickles.

　　 The bacon and sausage plates are placed in front of Karen and Mina, and the pickles are placed with the Roth family.

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

　　 She wants to invite her good friend and her brother to eat fried chicken.

　　 Sarah’s mother smiled and said, "I’m sorry, Sarah, I didn’t get it today."

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

　　 "Okay." Mina smiled and nodded.

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

　　 But later learned that the meat was all kinds of leftover meat specially picked from restaurants and garbage dumps and then fried, "Karen" vomited for half a night after returning home, and had a fever the next day.

　　 Therefore, Sarah’s “fried chicken” should be the same kind of meat. Like Rot’s car tire slippers, it is only fashionable and circulated in 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 similar to braised noodles tastes really good, the sauce is also very good, the noodles are strong, and taste very enjoyable, suitable for garlic.

　　 Without garlic... pickled cucumber?

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

　　Huh...This sourness was so refreshing, I quickly took a bite of noodles to resolve it, and a special kind of satisfaction and enjoyment was formed.

　　 "Does Mr. Cullen drink?" Lott asked.

　　 "Don't drink, I came by car."

　　Rot asked with some doubts: "Can't you drink while driving?"

　　 But seeing that Karen did not drink, he stopped drinking, and seeing that Karen liked pickles, 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, this creamy taste is quite different. In Karen’s recipe, the presence of fruit and cream in the dinner is destroying the dining experience.

　　Eat after meal is extra;

　　 CD,

　　 Karen raised her hand to refuse Sarah’s mother to add bacon and sausage to herself with a fork, patted her stomach, and smiled:

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

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

　　 "You're welcome, it's really delicious." Karen is not perfunctory;

　　 In fact, the true level of the chef is reflected in the use of simple ingredients to make more refined flavors. Sarah’s mother’s cooking skills can indeed.

　　 Mina also finished eating,

　　 also patted his stomach, and said to Sara:

　　 "Sarah, your mother cooks as good as your brother."

　　 "Hey, right?" Sarah was very happy and looked at her mother.

　　 After eating, it was dark.

　　 Karen takes Mina to bid farewell to the Roth family.

　　 The old grandmother stood up and took the initiative: "Come on, send off the guests, they also sent Sarah back."

　　 The old grandmother is very inconvenient to move and needs Sara’s support. Lot is on crutches, but the family still sends Karen to the parking place.

　　 "Thank you for the hospitality."

　　 Karen thanked the Roth family, and at the same time said to Sara: "Come to play with Mina often."

　　 "So are you." The old woman smiled.

　　 Karen got into the driving position. Just after starting the car, she saw Sarah’s mother handing a plastic jar through the window. Karen turned her head to see that it was filled with pickles.

　　 "It seems to suit your taste. Take it home and try it with your family."

　　 "Thank you, ma'am."

　　 Karen thanked him, but took the jar in without refusing.

　　 Roth, who was standing next to him, slightly slammed Karen's accent and hit his wife lightly:

　　 "Thank you, ma'am, hey, ma'am, did you hear me, he calls you madam."

　　 Sarah’s mother blushed and ignored her husband.

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

"goodbye."

　　 Karen started the hearse and drove to the street;

　　 behind the car,

　　 The Roth family still stood there and watched;

　　 Karen glanced through the rearview mirror.

　　 Under the dim and sparse street lights of Mine Street,

　　 The Roths standing there,

　　 is like a still old photo,

　　 is gradually turning yellow.