Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Chapter 67: At the Wine Table

Carrying three bottles of alcohol and eight jins of fine wine snatched from an old master, Zhang Guoqing and the two mothers headed towards the main house, where two tables were set up after a tidy-up.

The large table was made by Zhang Guoqiang, Zhang’s second brother. It’s particularly large, made from suitable wood he found that year. Normally, it’s used for ancestral ceremonies during Chinese New Year, and can comfortably seat twelve big men.

During Chinese New Year, the Zhang family doesn’t have many women or children, and they still sit separately, all gathered around this big table. A smaller one nearby is commonly used for daily family meals. When these two tables are set up, the main house doesn’t feel cramped. Two sisters-in-law are already setting the bowls and chopsticks and bringing out dishes.

The men sit at the big table chatting, while women and children sit at the little table. The two tables are close enough that turning your head to talk is easy, and everyone got seated without any delay.

Both tables were filled to the brim, a rare sight of such abundance in the Zhang family. On the table were sauerkraut pork stew with vermicelli, chicken stewed with hazel mushrooms, three earth fresh dishes, pot-roast meat, hot pepper with dried bean curd, fried meat segments, white pork blood sausage, fried intestines, Northeast stew, ribs with oil beans, and stir-fried venison.

The men’s eyes lit up when they saw the wine in Zhang Guoqing’s hand. Seated at the big table were Grandpa Lin, Mr. Zhang, Eldest Zhang, the second brother, Xiao Zhou, Xiao Fei, and three guards. Including Zhang Guoqing, it wasn’t too crowded and quite comfortable. His father opened the large jar of wine, and a rich, fragrant aroma wafted out, covering the smell of the meat dishes.

Even at the nearby table, everyone could smell the wine. Once everyone was seated, Zhang Guoqing picked up the jar and started pouring from Grandpa Lin’s seat, followed by Mr. Zhang in order of seniority, then went around to pour for his mother and mother-in-law. Before he could reach his second brother, a few people had already snatched it and wanted to pour it themselves.

Grandpa Lin held up his bowl, closed his eyes, sniffed the wine, and took a small sip, "This wine is good, truly an old high burn from Northeast, it’s over 20 years old now, isn’t it?"

Mr. Zhang also took a sip, "It’s been 20 years, alright. I heard from Xiao Wu that it was buried by someone 20 years ago. The brew is good too, he snatched it from a restaurant master chef in the county, but there wasn’t much of it. With grain being scarce now, no one brews their own anymore."

Grandpa Lin raised his bowl towards Mr. Zhang to clink glasses, "Let’s finish this one off, I’m very grateful to you both for looking after Jiao Jiao all these years.

This child, she didn’t grow up with us, she suffered a lot. Now seeing your family harmony, and the couple’s good relationship, a weight has been lifted from my chest, I can also give an account to her father.

That old Zhou is not trustworthy, I’m always worried he’ll make a mess. When he mentioned Zhou Jiao and Xiao Wu’s matter, I was hesitating, hadn’t confirmed with him yet, but he said they were already married.

Before coming, I was worried all along, luckily this muddlehead didn’t do anything wrong, helped my Jiao Jiao find a good family and a good grandson-in-law, otherwise, I wouldn’t have let him go."

Lin Lishan, sitting by the side, was unsatisfied with these words, "Dad, you were not aware, it wasn’t him who found it, it was Jiao Jiao herself. You wondered why they got married early, why Jiao Jiao rushed to leave the Zhou Family?

I only recently found out, Huang Zhaodi and Zhou Xue conspired against Jiao Jiao wanting her to marry into the Huang Family, which Jiao Jiao overheard. The child didn’t dare tell anyone, fearing her grandpa had the same intentions, and feared being plotted against, didn’t dare even to sleep soundly.

She was worried, not knowing what to do, just at the time Xiao Wu told her he wouldn’t go to the army, would stay with her, moved her to tears, but she didn’t dare tell Xiao Wu, afraid he would lose his patience and cause trouble, so told her grandma she wanted to marry Xiao Wu, if not allowed she would go to the city to find Grandpa.

She knew her grandpa wouldn’t let her come to find you, if she wasn’t at the Zhou home, we wouldn’t send money. In the end, her grandpa agreed, till marriage didn’t pay her any mind. Even left the Zhou home without good sleep, fearing something might happen."

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