While they were waiting for the news from Law Enforcement Office, summer vacation had finally arrived. Gaya ng plano ni Veira, Lulu setup a mini classroom outside their home and invited the children from their barangay to join the free classes. Donna also decided to lend a hand and taught children along with her.
Of course, Veira's new foster children also joined the classes. She wanted them to get used with the ambiance of studying with other kids as she was planning to enroll them to school as soon as the new semester opened.
Anyway, the mini classroom was supposed to be just a small project for Lulu and Donna for the summer. They were expecting na maliban sa mga foster children ni Veira, mga nasa sampung bata lang siguro ang aattend sa klase nila. Not because these children were lazy but it was normal for these children to help at home even at the young age.
However, Kapitan Tunio and Aling Concha thought the summer class was a great idea. They encouraged their barangay folks to have their kids attend the class and even managed to collect some school supply donations from those families na nakakaangat angat sa buhay.
Upon seeing the new papers and pencils, the children got interested to join the fun. So from less than 20 students, they now had around 30.
Of course, dahil nadagdagan ang kanilang mga tuturuan, they also needed to add more chairs and desks. Fernan, Diego and James helped build some of them for the children.
Another thing that made the Tan family busy was Veira's restaurant.
To have this restaurant, she bought a two storey establishment. Renovation had been going on for quite a while and was just completed a few days ago. For now, she would open the first floor for the customers and not the upper floor. She hadn't hired enough people yet dahil na rin wala pa siyang enough na budget. The remaining money she had was for buying ingredients.
Originally, she was planning to work the restaurant like a canteen, where the customers would get food in front of the kitchen and pay at the end of the line.
But Nanay Onang said that she should run this restaurant as how she always wanted it to be. She really wanted to but she couldn't hire assistants and wait people yet dahil na rin wala pa siyang pera.
Unexpectedly, it was also Nanay Onang who solved the problem for her.
***
"Freida, Maria, Carmen, Rosa at Beth, anong tingin niyo sa food cart namin?" Nanay Onang asked the five madams when they gathered in the Tan's home one afternoon.
Dahil sa summer classroom na inestablish nila Lulu, some of their young children and grandchildren joined to learn from them too. So they would often visit the Tan's house too kapag wala silang ganong gawain. They would bring snacks at pagsasaluhan nila ang mga iyon. Well, there would always food on the Tan's table too (mostly, prepared for the children in class) so kahit hindi gaanong madami ang dalhin nilang pagkain, they would not lack them.
"Anong ibig sabihin ng tanong niyo, Nanay Onang?" Aling Maria confusedly asked.
"Well... Alam niyo naman na magbubukas na ang restaurant ni Veira sa port. Naturally, she will need every help she can get from us. Kami nila Lili at Lulu ay malamang sa malamang ay doon na din mauubos ang oras kaya naman wala ng mag-aasikaso sa food cart.
"Kung gusto ninyo ay saluhin ninyo ang food cart business at handa naman kaming ituro sa inyo kung paano maghanda at magluto ng mga lamang loob na putahe namin."
The five madams expressions changed from unbelieving to excitement.
"Talaga ba, Nanay Onang... Veira?"
"En. Whatever Nanay Onang said is also my intention. Your families greatly helped our family noong bagong dating pa lamang kami dito. I believe it is not a big deal to let you take over the roaming food cart business. Of course, kailangan pa din naming siguraduhin na mapapanitili ninyo ang quality ng mga pagkain na ilalako ninyo as the food cart business is still connected to our family's name and soon, the restaurant. Kaya naman kung gusto niyong saluhin ito, then we still need to train you."
There had been a bit of discussion between them then. Of course, the five madams would like to take over the roaming food cart business but there would be things that they needed to consider too. Fortunately, Nanay Onang and Veira had prepared to answer their questions today.
"It is good to take over the business but I don't think makakasali ako sa inyo. Just let the four of them manage it if ever." Aling Carmen said. She sounded full of disappointment but also she was firm when saying so.
"At bakit naman, Carmen?" Aling Freida asked, wondering.
"Wala namang may oras sa amin. Ako at si Kaloy lang nangangalaga sa aming taniman. Si Doray ay napasok pa sa eskwelahan. As for that daughter-in-law of mine...
"Anyway, hindi na ako makikisali sa inyo."
There was a worried silence after that. Now that Aling Carmen said it like that... Even they didn't want that lazy and greedy Juana to join them if ever.
"Well, there is another way you can join the business, Aling Carmen. Do you think physical work is the only thing needed in doing business? Of course, fund is the most important. Kung walang kapital ay paano ka makakapag-umpisa.
"What I suggest is, you invest some money so the business can start. And then you will get dividends according to how much you have invested.
"But of course, it is still up to your other business partners kung papayagan nila ang ganung setup." Veira suggested.
The eyes of five madams lit up! Of course, Veira is right!
They could divide shares according to their investments and work provided.
"Veira, this is a good idea. Let us talk to our family and amongst ourselves first at babalikan ka namin after na makapagdesisyon kami."
"Sure, Aling Maria. Nandito lang naman kami palagi ni Nanay Onang. Whenever you have decided, just visit us again."
***
