"Auntie, are you watching over us from upstairs?"

"Yes, your dad called me from the factory."

I figured it was about time, so I went downstairs to take a look.

The children greeted Zhuang Ruoting in a flurry of chatter.

Hello, little aunt (great-aunt).

"Hello to you all, you've both grown quite a bit in the few months I haven't seen you."

"Yes, they've all gained a lot of weight."

An Qingbai handed the two bundles to his aunt.

"Auntie, this bundle is from Grandma."

This bundle was given to Conghui and Conghao by their mother.

"Okay, let's go upstairs for dinner first, and I'll take you to your accommodations later."

Zhuang Zhimeng and An Qingbai, along with their two younger brothers, the children, and the dog, followed Zhuang Ruoting upstairs.

"Auntie, isn't Uncle home?"

"Yes, your uncle is still at work. He'll be back in a couple of days."

"Where are Conghui and Conghao too?"

"They're on holiday now, and they're living on Fifth Avenue."

I live there when I'm not working. Isn't this place close to our supply and marketing cooperative?

"You also own a house on Fifth Avenue?"

"That's for sure."

Your uncle-in-law happened to buy a garden villa from a foreign couple.

I'll take you there later; you can stay there for the next few days in the city.

I'll take you to the house by the sea later, and you can bring Conghui and Conghao along too.

"Sure, no problem."

"Go wash your hands, let's eat."

Before washing her hands, Zhuang Zhimeng gave her lover a wink.

An Qingbai understood and stood up.

"Auntie, we also brought you a few jars of fruit wine that we produced."

The taste is quite good; I'll go get it.

"Okay, your wine is indeed very good."

"You sent me some before, and your uncle and I have been drinking it."

Zhuang Zhimeng smiled.

"Let me know when you've finished it, and I'll send you another one."

"Okay, I won't stand on ceremony with you, Ya Ya."

"Um."

Zhuang Zhimeng led the children to wash their hands and sit down to eat.

"Auntie, do you usually cook for yourself?"

"Yeah, I'll just do something simple since I'm all alone."

Conghui and Conghao are all self-reliant.

We'll cook for them when we get back.

"How often does your uncle come back?"

"It's uncertain. Sometimes it might take two or three days, sometimes a week, to come back."

Your uncle got a promotion, and he has a lot more responsibilities now, so he can't come home every day anymore.

"My uncle got promoted again?"

Zhuang Ruoting smiled when this was mentioned.

"I just realized that your uncle-in-law has a strong desire to be an official."

He even came back to celebrate his promotion.

"Haha, of course we should celebrate a promotion!"

An Qingbai came up carrying two large wine jars.

"Aunt, you and Uncle can save it for later."

"Good heavens, you've got such a huge wine jar!"

Zhuang Zhimeng nodded.

"This fruit wine tastes really good; there's never enough of it."

We give large wine jars as gifts to our own family members.

"Then I'll have to try it."

Zhuang Ruoting was about to take a few more cups, but after thinking about it, she only took three.

"If you're driving, you shouldn't drink. Junjun and Qinglin can have a little."

Zhuang Zhijun was very happy.

"Auntie, Qinglin and I will have a drink with you."

"Okay, let's drink together, the three of us."

Zhuang Zhimeng smiled and served food to the children.

"Auntie, this fruit wine goes best with meat."

You can have a drink while eating meat.

"Okay, I understand."

Zhuang Ruoting clinked glasses with Junjun and Qinglin and took a sip.

"That's really good."

I used to dislike fruit wine because I always felt there was a lingering, unpleasant taste, but this one doesn't have that at all.

"We improved upon the original recipe for baijiu and turned it into the fruit wine we know today."

"So the fruit you're using is from Qingbai's hometown?"

"Yes, that saves more costs."

"What's the process if I want to purchase goods?"

An Qingbai was stunned.

"Auntie, we're not trying to sell you alcohol."

Zhuang Ruoting waved her hand.

“I actually had that idea. This wine would definitely sell well if it were sold at the supply and marketing cooperative.”

Zhuang Zhimeng found paper and pen.

"This is our brigade's phone number."

You can tell him you're looking for An Qingsong. Right now, the distillery is mainly managed by the second brother. You can communicate with the second brother.

We'll tell my second brother we can give you a discount.

"Okay, I'll get in touch with you later."

Zhuang Ruoting peeled the meat off the ribs and gave it to the children.

"We're living a wonderful life here, with plenty of wine and meat."

Everyone in the room laughed.

After the meal, Zhuang Zhimeng asked about it.

"Auntie, do you have a holiday?"

"Come play at the beach with us sometime!"

"I can take leave; it's relatively easy for me to take leave given my position."

Your uncle and I will go later.

"OK."

An Qingbai took the children to the toilet.

"Let's go, I'll take you to the garden villa."

Zhuang Zhijun got into his brother-in-law's car without asking.

Zhuang Ruoting got into her niece's car.

"It's fortunate that you all have money, Yaya, otherwise you wouldn't be able to go anywhere just by taking care of these children."

"That's right, there's not enough room for even one car."

"With six children and an adult to accompany them, it's really hard to leave them behind."

"Yes, so we bought another car."

"Of course. How are your grandparents' health?"

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