Chapter 168 This New Year was really fun!
That evening.
As soon as Zhou's father returned home, he went to find Lin Dacheng and brought him directly into the house.
The two began a unique interrogation scene.
Mr. Zhou's expression was serious: "Name."
Lin Dacheng was taken aback: "Uncle, my name is Lin Dacheng."
Mr. Zhou continued, "Age."
Lin Dacheng: "20 years old."
Mr. Zhou raised an eyebrow. He was two years older than his daughter, which was just right.
Mr. Zhou asked expressionlessly, "What about the gender?"
Lin Dacheng's lips twitched: "...Uncle, I'm a man."
Mr. Zhou immediately lost his composure, covering his mouth and coughing, "Ahem..."
His profession made him accustomed to interrogating prisoners in this way.
(Lin Dacheng: Uncle, do I look like a criminal??)
Mr. Zhou looked somewhat embarrassed and quickly changed the subject, asking, "How did you and my daughter meet?"
Lin Dacheng: "When they went to the countryside before, they encountered some ruthless bandits. I happened to be passing by and rescued them, so that's how we met."
Mr. Zhou nodded. His daughter had actually mentioned this in her letter.
(Zhou Linghui was speechless: Dad, since I already told you in the letter, why do you need to ask again??)
Zhou's father: "What do you do in the countryside? Do you have a job?"
Lin Dacheng honestly replied, "I was originally a hunter, and later a militiaman."
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Zhou's father's eyes.
Both of these are better than working in the fields; they allow my daughter to eat meat and have money to spend.
This young man is honest, kind-hearted, and capable; he's truly remarkable.
Zhou's father looked him up and down: "You look strong and healthy, have you ever trained?"
......
at the same time.
Outside the door, Zhou Linghui was extremely anxious, pacing back and forth at the doorway.
Jiang Feiyan, who was sitting to the side reading a book, couldn't help but say, "Sister Linghui, sit down for a while. You're making my head spin."
"Oh dear, Yanzi, I'm so nervous!" Zhou Linghui said, shaking her arm.
"You know, Da Cheng's brain is so slow. What if he says something wrong and angers my dad...?"
Zhou's mother was sitting on the sofa sewing shoe soles when she heard this, and she chuckled:
"Linghui, don't think of your dad as so terrible. You know his personality."
He may look intimidating, but he's actually kinder than anyone else.
Besides, I think Dacheng is a good kid; the two of them will definitely get along."
After spending half a day observing him, she grew to like Lin Dacheng, her son-in-law, more and more.
This young man is very hardworking; he not only helps with cooking but also insists on washing the dishes.
In this courtyard, whenever a son-in-law comes to visit, he's the kind of person who does chores; everyone else just lounges in a chair drinking tea like a big lord.
However, just as Zhou's mother finished thinking this, a series of clattering sounds came from the room.
"Oh no! My dad and Da Cheng are fighting!!"
Zhou Linghui was so anxious she was almost in tears, and quickly looked at her mother and said:
"Mom, hurry up and knock on the door to see what's going on and try to persuade Dad!"
"Old Zhou, what are you doing!" Zhou's mother angrily put the sole of her shoe on the sofa, stood up, and walked towards the room.
"If my good son-in-law runs away like this, I will definitely not let him get away with it!"
Jiang Feiyan was also a little surprised.
Given Uncle Zhou's personality, he wouldn't be so reckless, would he? What exactly happened?
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Zhou's mother pounded on the door and said, "Old Zhou, open the door! We can talk this over!"
What's there to discuss? If this old man really scares his son-in-law away, she'll definitely throw a tantrum.
Not long after, the door was opened.
Zhou's father and Lin Dacheng appeared before everyone unharmed.
Zhou's mother: "What's going on? Why are they fighting?"
Mr. Zhou chuckled and said, "It's nothing, just a friendly spar."
Zhou's mother glared at him: "The room is so small, what if you break something?"
That old guy's itching to get his hands dirty again; we really can't let him get away with it.
Zhou Linghui asked with a grin, "Dad, how is it?"
Mr. Zhou naturally understood what his daughter wanted to ask, and he nodded: "That's right."
The young man was quite skilled and capable enough to protect his daughter, which pleased him greatly.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Linghui's anxiety was completely relieved.
She glanced at Lin Dacheng with delight, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart.
She found a partner that her parents approve of; how lucky she is!
Lin Dacheng was very happy to hear what Zhou's father said.
He earnestly promised Zhou's parents, "Uncle, Aunt, don't worry, I will definitely treat Linghui well."
"Good child, we believe in you." Zhou's mother nodded with a smile, feeling very relieved.
Standing to the side, Jiang Feiyan watched the heartwarming scene at the Zhou family's home, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips.
That's wonderful! Seeing Uncle Zhou's family so happy makes her happier than anyone else.
---
Soon, it was New Year's Day.
Mr. Zhou got up early in the morning to go grocery shopping, while Mrs. Zhou stayed home to prepare the ingredients.
Jiang Feiyan, Zhou Linghui, and Lin Dacheng helped clean the Zhou family's house inside and out.
Cleaning on New Year's Day symbolizes bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new: sweeping away all the bad luck and misfortune of the past and welcoming the new year with a clean and tidy environment.
On this day, Zhou's mother specially prepared 10 dishes, symbolizing perfection.
There are spicy braised pork, steamed spare ribs with rice flour, fried meatballs, free-range chicken soup, steamed fish, stir-fried bean sprouts with meat, glutinous rice, and more.
These dishes were a rare sight in the 1970s; no family would have been so extravagant unless it was Chinese New Year.
It's rare for the Zhou family to have such a lively time, especially with their son-in-law coming over for the New Year, so they naturally have to be generous.
Mother Zhou said with a smile, "Come on, everyone, eat to your heart's content! You're not allowed to leave the table until you've finished eating!"
Jiang Feiyan laughed and said, "Aunt Wu, there are so many delicious dishes, we probably won't be able to finish them in three days and three nights."
Zhou Linghui chuckled: "My mom was just joking. She'll eat as much as she can!"
Zhou's father glanced at Lin Dacheng, picked up the wine bottle, and said, "Dacheng, have a drink with me?"
Lin Dacheng nodded and quickly handed over the empty bowl: "Okay, Uncle."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Linghui quickly said, "Dad, Dacheng doesn't drink alcohol, so pour him a little less."
Mr. Zhou snorted: "You silly girl, you're not even married yet, and you're already protecting her?"
Lin Dacheng was afraid that Zhou's father would be dissatisfied with him, so he quickly said, "It's alright, Linghui. It's a happy New Year today, so I can drink with your uncle a little longer."
Mr. Zhou chuckled: "Well done, that's my good son-in-law!"
Zhou's mother whispered to Zhou Linghui, "It's alright, your dad's alcohol tolerance is just so-so, he can't drink much."
Hearing this, Zhou Linghui winked and said with a grin, "Then you guys drink, but Mom and I won't take care of you if you get drunk."
"Don't worry!" Zhou's father put his arm around Lin Dacheng's shoulder and said, "Come on! Let's have a drink!"
The two men clinked bowls together and each took a sip. The pungent taste of the liquor immediately choked their throats.
"Cough cough..." Lin Dacheng choked immediately when he drank alcohol for the first time.
Mr. Zhou couldn't help but laugh loudly, "Look at this kid, he can't even drink alcohol, hahaha..."
Zhou's mother was both amused and exasperated. What was this old man so smug about? He'd surely collapse soon enough.
Sure enough, after only a few sips, Zhou's father started to stutter and couldn't even recognize people anymore, not even as well as Lin Dacheng.
Zhou Linghui watched from the side and chuckled. Her dad was really hilarious.
Jiang Feiyan smiled, her eyes crinkling.
This New Year was so much fun!
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