Chapter 1115: Chapter 988: The Elders
Xi Zi’s new home is set up in Zhang Guoqing’s old apartment, with freshly painted white walls and red double happiness characters pasted everywhere, which is quite eye-catching.
At this moment, the two rooms are crowded with relatives and friends eager to see the new bride. Everyone is praising the new wife, keeping Huang Cuilan beaming with joy.
Luckily, she remembers her daughter-in-law is around and pulls a few of the village’s most boisterous women out of the room, saying, "Sisters, help me see if there’s anything amiss."
"What are we looking at? I think everything looks just fine."
"After Xi Zi’s wedding, it should be Xiao Zuo and Xiao You’s turn next, right? Have they found partners yet?"
"I think Xiao Zuo is close. Xiao You hasn’t come back today, has he?"
"He’s in the military, just like how Xiao Wu hasn’t returned."
Ye Zi nudges her, "Let’s go find Qing Shan’s family in the backyard. Cuilan, you should go entertain the guests, we don’t need you with us."
"Exactly, with you here, we wouldn’t dare sneak off to the backyard for some snacks."
After Huang Cuilan leaves, a few of the women quickly chide the person who spoke earlier, "Why did you say so much? Don’t you know she’s upset because Xiao Wu and his wife haven’t come back?"
"Oh~ if she’s upset, why doesn’t she let her family’s third son come back? At least Xiao Wu lets all three sons come back."
"Well, good is better if it can be better, right?"
"Who cares if she’s happy, it’s really a shame Xiao Wu isn’t back."
"Say that to Jiao Jiao, she’ll scratch you up."
"Hahaha..."
"You are such a bunch of jokers, if Xiao Wu were here, he’d surely enjoy the meat feast."
Not only are these few people talking about Zhang Guoqing behind his back, but even Zhang Qingshan brothers, who are receiving wedding gifts, are mentioning him when they see the Ping’an Brothers.
"How many days off does your father get each year?"
Ping’an smiled, "It’s not calculated annually. My Uncle Xiao Wang only gets twenty days of family visit leave after three years, and he only got one month for his wedding."
"Oh, I see."
"Bro, what’s up? Is the second at your place getting married too?"
"Not anytime soon. I was just thinking about how he always came back during busy farming times; maybe we should change the timing in the future."
"Forget it, it’s inconvenient and costs money for him to travel back and forth."
Zhang Qingshan eyes his cousin. Isn’t that obvious? Of course, he knows that. But these words should be relayed back to their father, so Xiao Wu knows his brothers are thinking of him.
Zhang Qingfeng, still full of youthful spirit, didn’t care about what his elder cousin was thinking, and hugged Ping’an’s neck, "Your dad could kill a wild boar when he was your age. How about you?"
Ping’an suppressed his discomfort and smiled, "Not that great, maybe I could hit a wild chicken."
"A wild chicken works too, any interest in joining us on the mountain?"
"No, I’ve promised my dad I won’t go up the mountain."
When Zhang the Second walked over, he heard him urging his nephew to the mountain and gave Zhang Qingfeng a hard slap on the back, "Great! But watch out, my father will thrash you."
Zhang Qingfeng loosened his grip on Ping’an, glanced around, and rolled his eyes, "I know whether Uncle will thrash me or not. But I know it’s your slap first."
"Alright then, how about a drink from the brothers later to make up for it?" Zhang the Second put his arm around him and led him aside, asking quietly, "What about the pork?"
Speaking seriously, Zhang Qingfeng stopped joking around and replied quietly, "It’s easy to talk with our own brothers, but the price with my brothers-in-law is tougher to negotiate."
Zhang the Second nodded, thinking that with his younger brother’s character, this time with two kids married off, he should have brought a lot of things back.
Then he whispered, "Help me ask them if they need anything ideally for barter, things like fabric works.
I’m not hiding, though, Ping’an, these three coming back, their provincial city relatives will definitely give the kids a lot of gifts, and I want to exchange them for meat to take back, as city supplies aren’t enough."
"Alright, I’ll ask around later for anyone who still has dried meat, that’s good, it keeps well into warm weather. If only it were earlier, before the year-end when many families have weddings and need things that they cry and shout for but can’t find feasible routes."
"Indeed, that’s the point. Xiao Wu didn’t come back, be mindful, and trade for good stuff. Remember, don’t say it’s all traded for Xiao Wu in front of your wife."
Not far away, the Ping’an Brothers exchanged surprised looks. They hadn’t expected their second uncle had thought of this, and they were really touched.
From their perspective, making sure no one tricks to obtain goods was already great, they didn’t anticipate him arranging all so thoroughly.
Since they avoided discussing secretively nearby, it wasn’t appropriate for them to reveal they knew, so their original plans needed another revision.
But with Mr. Zhang’s appearance, they didn’t have much time to think, as he was taking them into the main hall to introduce people.
"So these are Xiao Wu’s three sons? They’ve grown so much! We old folks are really getting old. Are these the twins? They look better than their dad."
Mr. Zhang cheerfully pointed to the other side, introducing to his grandsons, "This is your grand-uncle, and beside him is your grand-aunt."
"Grand-uncle, grand-aunt, hello."
May 1st followed by saying, "Grandpa, I know, they’re my dad’s only aunt and uncle. Grand-aunt, my parents said if you have time, come visit Beijing with grandpa and grandma."
Sister Zhang laughed heartily, "What a good child."
Uncle Zhang beckoned, holding May 1st’s hand tightly, "You little rascal always inviting elders, does your home have room for everyone?"
"What’s this, if there’s no room, we’ll make space for you. Grand-uncle, this is right, isn’t it?"
Uncle Zhang patted the edge of the kang bed, "You two also come sit down. Are you cold? Remember to wear more clothes when going out."
Liu Yi nodded obediently.
Uncle Zhang patted May 1st’s head, looking at Ping’an brothers, "I’d say, the best kids in Old Zhang family come from Xiao Wu’s household."
Uncle Zhang joked, "Didn’t you say the best kids come from the Second brother’s family?"
"Haha, none compare to Xiao Wu’s three kids. Look at them, their eyes are so bright, never mind Ping’an, these kids already practicing boxing or going for runs early every morning. Twice in and out, always on time, truly rare. If our old father were still around, he would chuckle in his sleep."
Sister Zhang emotionally sighed, "True. So many sons and grandsons are all accomplished, yet he had no blessings."
Uncle Zhang quickly laughed, "Sister, you mustn’t say that, our old father passed with a smile. He and mother are watching over us."
"Oh, I’m just being silly." Sister Zhang stretched and pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket, carefully unfolding it to reveal some money, ready to hand it over.
Seeing this, Ping’an quickly rose to stop her, "Grand-aunt, we’re all grown up now, don’t trouble yourself."
"What, you don’t find it adequate?" Sister Zhang rarely toughened up, firmly pressing fifty cents in his hand.
Ping’an, seeing her trying to stuff more into his brothers’ hands, quickly took over with a smile, "Then I’ll keep it for my brothers, Liu Yi and May 1st better thank grand-aunt quickly."
"Why thank, it’s cold, and I haven’t invited you to visit my house, you both keep it too."
Both Liu Yi and May 1st are smart, already understanding Ping’an’s intention, smiled and shook their heads, "Already given, enough is enough, truly enough."
Mr. Zhang also supported telling her to take it back. With so many kids from the next generation, if three grandsons collected, others would envy.
If Sister Zhang’s family conditions were good, he wouldn’t say much. But looking back at recent years, cousins’ weddings have piled up one after another, estimating hard times ahead.
Those nephews likely being stingy with money gifts, relying on what the sister and brother-in-law earn to support them.
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