Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 340

Chapter 340: Chapter 262: Full Moon Ceremony (Part 1)

Early in the morning, just past four, the foot of the North Mountain in Zhang Family Village began to bustle with activity. Today, the three generations of the Old Zhang’s family gathered at the home of Zhang the Second, Mr. Zhang, to celebrate the full moon ceremony for their grandson, Little Ping’an.

The men of the Zhang family were busy clearing snow from the front and back yards, building earthen stoves, setting up tents, and carrying tables. In the kitchen, two large stoves were steaming, and Mother Zhang and the other women were busy cleaning the borrowed dishes and utensils for the banquet, preparing the meat and vegetables needed, and getting ready to steam cornbread in advance.

Xi Zi was running errands with a few older children around the courtyard, while the younger ones, still bleary-eyed, stumbled back into the house to continue sleeping. The entire Zhang Family Courtyard was filled with the sounds of shifting, washing, chatting, and the calls of children, all blending into one.

Half-asleep, Zhou Jiao was frequently awoken by various sounds, and when she looked around and saw only her son sleeping beside her, Zhang Guoqing was nowhere to be seen. After freshening up, she peeked outside and was startled by the hustle. Wasn’t the plan to keep it simple? Why so many people, what’s all the commotion about?

Zhang Guoqing had left early the previous morning, picking up his mother-in-law and guests from the Cheng and Lin Families from the provincial city. After accompanying them on a visit to the military district and returning to the county town, he saw his mother-in-law insist on staying at the county guesthouse. After ensuring all was arranged, he hurriedly excused himself to leave. As for her saying she had more eggs to bring to the village the next day, he didn’t take it to heart.

He was extremely busy, constantly notifying the barber and the photographer, never stopping for a moment. Fortunately, he had already consulted the chef about the food and drinks for the banquet a few days earlier. Once home, before he could catch his breath, his father dragged him to the village, personally inviting the village elders and the elderly to come and drink at the Zhang’s the next day.

Finally, after dinner, Mother Zhang saw that it was dark and figured every household had finished dinner. Urgently, she urged the three brothers to go to the designated homes to borrow tables and stools. The three brothers ran throughout the entire village and finally completed the task. Then, their parents pulled them aside to discuss the reception of guests.

Finally lying down for a little rest, his son woke up. Before he could close his eyes again, activity started in the courtyard. This was even more exhausting than his wedding, fortunately only Ping’an, the firstborn, gets such a grand affair.

Mr. Zhang really went all out this time. Besides returning the gifts of eggs and cornbread, the family had slaughtered a pig a few days ago.

Zhang Guoqing, seeing the scale of preparations, had always advocated for simplicity, not setting up more than a dozen tables. After being scolded by Mr. Zhang, he obediently followed his father’s arrangements. He just did whatever he was told and was completely compliant with his father.

Mr. Zhang made an excellent point that couldn’t be refuted. With the sons and daughters from Zhang Guoqing’s big uncle and little uncle’s families alone, two tables would already be packed. Not to mention the old relatives, two uncles, aunts, grandaunts, cousins, and several in-laws from the Zhang family, each household sending one person would fill up two tables, especially with kids in tow.

Including the guests from the Cheng and Lin Families, his godfather’s family, Zhao Dashan, and Zuo Lin, among others, possibly there would also be people joining in for the fun. Plus, the friendly families in the village, Zhang Guoqing’s brothers, and the village elders, setting up anything less than twenty tables would be laughable.

This was the conservative estimate, if his own good friends all showed up, along with acquaintances like the mason, they wouldn’t be able to manage even fifty tables. Back when Zhang Guoqing got married, even the flowing banquet style required dozens of tables.

These past few days Zhang Guoqing had been transporting vegetables and meat back home. Hearing that they really had to set up for twenty tables, the first thought he had was that the family would soon be back to gnawing on cornbread made of corn residue.

Seeing the worry on his face, Mother Zhang pulled him aside secretly and whispered that on the Washing Three Days alone, the washing involved over three hundred bowls. Many people didn’t come last time, but sent gifts instead, and this time the turnout would only be larger, not smaller.

Zhang Guoqing was startled and hurriedly pulled his father aside to consult with the chef once more. After finally deciding on the dishes, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. Things were getting bigger and bigger.

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