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墨書 Inktalez
Uncle sat down. Xu Li nodded and took out a cigarette, handing one to the father and son. "What's going on?"
Gennady yawned. "It's about my eldest son, Ivanov. He plans to get married next week, and I want to make the wedding grand. This kid has been bragging to his fiancée that you can prepare a traditional Chinese wedding feast, so here I am, asking for your help."
"This is simple," Xu Li said, putting down what he was working on. He turned to look at the somewhat shy young man. Tall and lean, he seemed decent enough, mainly because he was practical and hardworking. "After getting married, do you plan to live in the village or the city?"
Ivanov looked a bit embarrassed. "Nadia is from a village near Bratsk and works as a sales clerk in the city. I promised her that after we marry, she won't need to work; she just needs to help manage the household. She agreed."
"Once you're married, you're an adult now. Don't keep sneaking out to play; people will have trouble finding you," Xu Li teased.
"Hey, isn't that just to go on dates with Nadia?" Ivanov chuckled.
Xu Li smiled and turned to Gennady. "How big of a banquet are you planning?"
Gennady, feeling confident with his full wallet after working alongside Xu Li for nearly a year, replied, "Everyone in our village will be invited, and there will be plenty of relatives from the bride's side too. We’ll need a big bus from our village to pick everyone up; I estimate there will be more than a busload of people. The food needs to be substantial; we can't let them worry about their daughter suffering with my son."
Tap, tap, tap—Xu Li rhythmically tapped his finger on the table as he thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright, it sounds like we’re almost set. Let’s head to the farm first to select some cattle and sheep. You should get a good night's sleep today; let Ivanov cover for you tonight. Tomorrow we’ll gather a few people and go to Bratsk to buy spices and other ingredients."
"Sounds good," Gennady said as he stood up with his eldest son, following Xu Li to the village's Small Farm. Despite its name, Small Farm was anything but small; every household in the village raised cattle, sheep, and pigs there. In Gennady's family alone, they had one cow, several pigs, and nearly a hundred sheep.
The Small Farm had each household sending one laborer to help out; mostly it was women or young children from each family who worked there. Xu Li selected two cows, six pigs, and eighteen sheep. "There will definitely be leftovers from the beef and pork for cooking, but we’ll need whole sheep for roasting."
"That's nothing," Gennady said with an air of newfound wealth. "I'll go back to the farm and pick out a new breed of beef cattle. Just deduct whatever it costs from my share of the profits; I'll slaughter it and send it over to my in-laws."
Xu Li nodded in agreement. "Alright then, just talk to Daria about that. Also, get your son a car; it'll make it easier for him when he visits his father-in-law's house. That old Lada of yours isn’t going to cut it anymore."
"Right! The village chief has a point!" Hearing that the village chief advised his father to buy him a car made Gennady nod vigorously. "I don’t want a house; I’ll build my own next summer! Dad, can you buy me a better car?"
Gennady patted his eldest son's shoulder. "Alright then! Tomorrow we'll go car shopping!"
"Thanks, Dad!"
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