Chapter 178 Returning to My Mother's Home on the Second Day of the Lunar New Year
"The Jian family...tsk tsk, they've really gone all out!" Yuan Qionghua exclaimed as she helped her younger brother and sister-in-law sort through the gifts the Jian family had sent.
Putting aside everything else, there's a pair of fish maw that's at least mid-range quality, and sea cucumbers of the same quality.
These are no longer the gifts that ordinary people would bring on their first visit.
For ordinary families, the first visitor always brings tea, cigarettes, and alcohol.
The tea is aged Pu-erh.
This was clearly a gift given according to An Jianping and An Shunhe's preferences.
The cigarettes and alcohol were also chosen from domestic brands.
Other gift boxes, such as pastry boxes, fruit boxes, and dried goods boxes, were also included.
No wonder the family was carrying loads of things when they came in.
"Fortunately, Third Sister-in-law made some preparations when preparing the return gift," Geng Yulan added with a smile.
"It seems the Jian family is very sincere!" Jiang Shanshan said with a smile as she helped pack things up, watching the sisters chatting together not far away.
Yuan Qionghua followed her sister-in-law's gaze and couldn't help but say proudly:
"How could such an outstanding child as our Ayu not be sincere?"
“That’s true!” The other two laughed.
This is even more prideful than a biological mother!
After laughing, the group got down to business: "When is Ayu going to the Jian family? Is she going alone, or are you and your husband going with her?"
"Let's wait until tomorrow!" Bi Lizhu shook her head slightly; she wasn't entirely sure either.
Moreover, her daughter hasn't discussed this matter with her yet.
Yuan Qionghua and the others exchanged glances but didn't say anything more.
If both sets of parents really start visiting each other like relatives this year, then the two children's marriage is not far off.
To be honest, An Songyu has only been out of school for less than a year!
The idea that her whole family might get married still doesn't feel quite real to her.
The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day when married women return to their parents' home.
However, this year, the place where the An family entertained their daughters getting married was neither An Songyu's house nor the place where An Jianguo and his brothers rented a house.
Instead, it's located on the spacious side of the reservoir.
Early on the second day of the Lunar New Year, An Songyu and his family took An Shunhe and his wife to Linhe Village.
The three An Jianguo brothers from Liangdi also arrived quite quickly.
The brothers drove directly to the reservoir entrance, to a large flat area on the other side.
That is, behind their big courtyard.
Then he carried his things into the yard.
This was something they prepared specially before the Lunar New Year.
However, apart from meat and fruits and snacks to serve guests.
Nothing else is needed.
Even the meat only needs to be prepared as pork, beef, and mutton.
As for chicken, duck, fish, and meat... the food that several families ate during the Lunar New Year was just something they brought back when they came to pick up Anshun and the elderly couple.
Of the employees at the reservoir and silkworm rearing facility, only a middle-aged couple remained during the Spring Festival.
The couple were both from neighboring villages.
One of them has polio, which causes him to walk with a limp.
One of them had completely lost hearing in one ear, and could only hear slightly in the other.
Two people suffering hardship came together to live their lives.
She originally wanted to have a child.
However, due to poor care when he was young, he died from a high fever.
The two heartbroken people left behind never wanted to have children again.
Over the years, as the village has developed and prospered, the couple has been able to support themselves.
However, as they got older, the two became more worried about the future.
That's why they proactively approached Anshun when they needed help managing their fishponds.
The man walked with a limp.
But he's also quite intelligent.
In the past, in order to take care of him, the village collective also managed the fishpond for quite some time.
Now I can finally make a living with this skill.
Perfect timing! After moving to Linhe Village, we won't just need people to manage the reservoir.
There are also two elderly people who live here long-term, which makes me uneasy.
After discussing it, An Jianping and his brothers decided to invite his wife over as well.
Although the woman was hard of hearing, she was quick and efficient, and cooked meticulously.
In the past, I was reluctant to spend money on food, so the dishes I made were rather ordinary.
After staying with An's family for a few months, even the two elderly people said that her cooking was getting better and better.
Most importantly, she is meticulous in her work, preparing every meal according to the tastes of the two elderly people.
This has impressed Anshun and the two of them more than once.
This is truly more comfortable than living with one's children and grandchildren.
When the An family arrived, the two were busy.
One person had picked the vegetables they could use that day from the garden early in the morning, while the other was cleaning a fish.
In the kitchen, the chickens and ducks had already been slaughtered.
The ginger duck on the stove next to us already had a rich aroma wafting out.
The An family greeted the two first before getting busy with their own tasks.
There were many people eating today, and Shi Youqin and her four daughters-in-law were the main force in the kitchen.
An Jianping and his three companions did not go far.
When it's time to cut and slash, that's the perfect time for them to make their move.
Having run a farmhouse inn in Jiangcun for a long time, An Jianguo couldn't resist showing off his skills.
He said, "Everyone loves my poached chicken!"
Upon hearing this, An Songyu and the others who were helping with the work outside all revealed expressions of pain.
The biggest downside to celebrating the New Year in Shuncheng is...
Then it's probably the poached chicken dish that can't be missing.
An Songyu, still clinging to hope, asked:
"But Uncle, didn't we agree to have steamed chicken and steamed fish today?"
Under his wife's direction, An Jianping was carefully cutting chicken.
Hearing her daughter's words, she replied rather irritably, "I'm working on it right now!"
Now, not only was An Songyu satisfied, but all the other women who worked with her were also satisfied.
"If you have nothing to do, go see if your aunts have arrived yet!" Bi Lizhu said, annoyed by the group of people who were taking so long to peel garlic.
"Once they arrive, take your older and younger cousins and have a good time."
"But don't go too far, remember the time, and don't let anyone call you around at noon, understand?"
"Understood!" The sisters paused for a moment before answering for An Songyu.
Then they squeezed together to wash their hands, and walked down to the reservoir chatting and laughing.
The two aunts had visited the reservoir before.
But on a day like today, it would be good to go out and greet them.
However, the sisters hadn't gone far yet.
Then I saw a familiar car, which drove up shakily.
The group instinctively stopped and took a considerable amount of time to back up.
I'm afraid they'll stage an accident with a car that looks unstable.
The people inside the car clearly saw them too.
It wobbled and slowly drove up to them.
Suddenly it lurched forward for a distance, then braked sharply.
The group was so frightened that they took several steps back again.
After the car windows were rolled down, the group almost rolled their eyes when they saw An Songshu's familiar face inside the car.
"Hey you guys, where am I supposed to park my car?"
"This damn road... Why come to this desolate place instead of staying in the city during the New Year holiday?"
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