Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, there were guests at Hu Ruoyun's home, and this time, quite a few people had come.
Zhao Hongtao drove the company car and brought along Jiang Qiuying, Tong Caiying, and Brother Biao as a group. Later, Zhang Meina and her boyfriend Li Yingjie arrived in a 212 jeep driven by a driver from the Pingbei Township Government. They had arranged for the driver to return at three in the afternoon to pick them up. Just as they settled the two groups in the living room, Xiao Hu rushed in from outside and said, "Brother, someone else is here to see you!"
When they went out to greet the newcomer, it turned out to be Chai Hongmin. With the driver's help, he brought in a pile of things and arranged for the driver to leave after dropping him off.
The table at home was small; setting one table felt a bit cramped. Hu Ruoyun wanted to set up two tables but was stopped by Chai Hongmin and Zhao Hongtao: "It's not easy to get everyone together; if we sit separately, it won't be lively. Just push another table together and add a couple of dishes... We're not outsiders; there's no need to make it so complicated."
Zhang Meina, Jiang Qiuying, and Tong Caiying sat close together while Hu Ruoyun's father and Second Uncle arranged for Chai Hongmin to sit in the middle. Chai Hongmin adamantly refused: "Uncle, if you make me sit there, it feels like you're trying to chase me away..."
As the host, Hu Ruoyun introduced the three groups of people. When he introduced Chai Hongmin as "the director of our Laogu Township Party Affairs Office," Li Yingjie raised his cup: "Uncle, my dad is Li Mingqing from Pingbei Township..." Chai Hongmin also raised his cup: "Yingjie, right? I heard your dad say you're studying at Jiangbei University?"
The hierarchy among the younger generation became hard to define. Fortunately, Chai Hongmin was well-versed in social etiquette; after taking a drink, he said to everyone else: "I'm very close with Yingjie's dad. He calls me Uncle, so I’ll go along with that, but you all can refer to each other however you like..."
After everyone was introduced, it was time for eating and drinking.
Later, Zhang Meina asked Hu Ruoyun: "I heard you were supposed to go find Sister Mona with Yingjie. But then things got busy; when is she coming?" Li Yingjie beside her also looked hopeful.
Hu Ruoyun made up a story: "Last time she specifically mentioned wanting us four to get together. But I was busy those days; when I finally had time, she had something else going on... Anyway, she plans to come after the New Year; she just hasn't set a date."
Chai Hongmin asked: "Mao Na?"
Zhang Meina quickly replied: "That's Hu Ruoyun's girlfriend; her dad is County Chief Mao."
Chai Hongmin suddenly understood: "No wonder..."
He raised his glass again to toast Hu Qihua and Hu Zhenhua: "Uncle, let me toast you again!"
After dinner, the driver from Pingbei Township Government arrived. Mao Na and Li Yingjie left first. Li Yingjie even invited Hu Ruoyun to visit his home sometime.
Chai Hongmin offered cigarettes to Hu Qihua and Hu Zhenhua: "Uncle, we're not outsiders here; next time you come over, don't buy such expensive liquor!"
Hu Qihua's cheeks were flushed from drinking: "...You've helped our family quite a bit these past couple of years—just with that fertilizer and pesticide alone... This liquor wasn't even bought; it was brought by Xiao Na's dad..."
Director Chai thought to himself that there were some matters he needed to discuss further with Township Head Feng when he returned.
As they chatted, a 212 jeep from the village arrived. Chai Hongmin shook hands with Hu Qihua and Hu Zhenhua: "Uncle, no need to see us off... We don't need to exchange pleasantries; just let us know if there's anything we can help with!"
After sending off the first two groups of guests, Hu Qihua and Second Uncle Hu Zhenhua also left their seats.
What remained were Hu Ruoyun's classmates from middle school and high school.
Hu Ruoyun began sharing about his studies over the past few months when Brother Biao teased him: "With your grades, you can still make it into the top three! Jiangbei University isn't that impressive after all?"
Then Zhao Hongtao spoke up; after receiving his high school diploma, he transitioned from a temporary worker to a full-time employee. He had just been transferred from a local branch office to the central office and was doing quite well; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to drive the company car.
Brother Biao raised his hand and said, "Let me speak! I can now cook by myself, making three to five dishes is no problem... This year aside, next year everyone should come to my house and taste my cooking!"
Everyone applauded in agreement.
Next was Jiang Qiuying. She had a solid foundation and continued to work hard even after attending Jinan Normal University. After briefly sharing her situation, she asked Hu Ruoyun, "Meina has been asking what Sister Mao is doing?"
Hu Ruoyun replied, "Her boyfriend's father is Deputy Township Head Li from Pingbei Township..."
The crowd suddenly understood, "So that's how it is."
Finally, it was Tong Caiying's turn to speak. This girl had shed the shyness of her high school days and now radiated with vitality: "I feel very content. I came here..."
She then turned to Hu Ruoyun and said, "I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
As they were leaving, Zhao Hongtao remarked, "Next year Forward should be able to visit home. It would be even better if he could come back!"
Second Aunt pulled Hu Ruoyun aside for some gossip: "That short-haired girl is the daughter of the Party Secretary from Pingbei that your uncle Jian Guo introduced to you? By the way, didn't she say our family was poor? Why is she coming to our house again?"
A woman from Woodzi joined in, also commenting on Hu Ruoyun: "That girl from Pingbei is taller than your current Mao Na and looks fairer too..."
This made Second Aunt glare at her: "She may look good and be tall, but she just doesn't have the charm of our Mao Na!" She then turned to Zhao Meirong and asked, "Sister-in-law, are those new clothes you and my brother are wearing also bought by Mao Na?"
Zhao Meirong replied, "Not just our clothes; the outfits for Xiao Hu and Xiao Feng, all four of us have our cotton shoes bought by Mao Na... Oh, Dezi's Sister-in-law, come inside! Mao Na's father brought some good wine. Today the director of that village said the wine is quite expensive. We won’t drink it; let’s have tea instead. The tea leaves were also brought back by Xiao Na's father. Let me brew you a cup to taste..."
In the evening, through the courtyard wall, they could hear another quarrel in the front yard. The woman from Woodzi first scolded Woodzi for being useless since the Household Responsibility System was implemented; their few acres of land were poorly cultivated, and they didn't harvest as much grain as others. She then berated Third Sister Wu Mingliang: "You’re going to be Town Chief in a couple of years; shouldn’t you be finding a partner? Do you want your parents to help you with that too?"
She also scolded her older sons: "You two have forgotten your mother after marrying your wives! Do you even know how much money was spent on building your houses? How much more was wasted on arranging your weddings? Now that you're living well, no one cares about your mother or father anymore..."
During the New Year festivities, the neighborhood was disturbed by their shouting.
The younger daughter-in-law was playing cards at her sister-in-law's house when Second Aunt came over and said, "You're still playing cards here while your mother-in-law is causing a scene at home? Shouldn't you go and talk her down?"
The eldest daughter-in-law Mu Xiumei replied, "Second Aunt, why bother with that? Come on and sit here; help me play a few hands..."
The second daughter-in-law had just gotten married this year but had already heard many things from her sister-in-law. She slammed her cards down loudly: "Second Aunt, I just got here; I don’t know anything about family matters yet. I can’t just jump in blindly!"
Wu Mingyang and Wu Minghui did go over but ended up being scolded out. Their younger brother Wu Mingliang advised them not to meddle too much.
Comment 0 Comment Count