Zhang Yulan peeked out, then quickly pulled her head back in, clutching her chest nervously as she said, "My goodness, thank goodness I didn't go out and embarrass myself. If I were outside, they would definitely say that it's most appropriate for the elders to sit in the superior position."
When people in rural areas have a meal together, the older people usually sit in the seats of honor.
"Auntie, look how scared you are!" Zhao Xiaoying covered her mouth and laughed.
“Isn’t this a frightening spectacle?” Zhang Yulan said. “When have we country folk ever seen so many big leaders? There are also two big bosses from the big city. They are all distinguished guests. If they were to put an old woman like me in a high position, I’m afraid I wouldn’t even be able to hold my chopsticks properly.”
"Sister-in-law, this won't do," Aunt Hua said with a smile. "Mo Ran and Xiao Nuan are both big bosses now, and you're their mother. You need to get used to this kind of pomp and circumstance. If you can't, then you need to be more reserved and not act timidly, understand?"
“The problem is, even if I try to act all high and mighty, it doesn’t quite look right,” Zhang Yulan shook her head. “I’m still more used to the life of an ordinary person.”
...
In the end, Su Xiaonuan stepped forward and arranged for the town mayor and the party secretary to sit in the seats of honor. On either side of the seats of honor sat the police station chief, the township head, Ding Xiang, and Li Yuehua, while the village chief and Xiao Moran sat in the lower seats. Su Xiaonuan stood and greeted the guests.
Aunt Hua went to the room and brought out a stool, placing it next to Xiao Moran. "Xiao Nuan, you sit down and eat too. I'll do the work of adding rice and tea."
"Aunt Hua, please sit down!"
"I'm not eating here. There are vegetables inside; we'll eat there." Aunt Hua turned and left. "Just call me if you need anything."
Everything is arranged, and there's no need for anyone to wait on me.
Xiao Moran often discusses cooperation with clients, and he is well-versed in the etiquette of drinking at the dinner table. As the host, he reached out and picked up the wine bottle, "Would you like to drink the health wine from the village winery or my family's Laobaigan?"
There was no homemade liquor on the table, only two bottles of health-preserving wine.
His question was just a polite remark.
"Whatever, whatever." Everyone said, "Whatever."
Xiao Moran smiled and unscrewed the cap of the health tonic bottle. "Everyone says it's up to you, so it's up to you."
Xiao Moran stood up and poured wine for everyone in turn.
"Come on, let's have a drink." The town mayor took the lead in raising his glass, afraid that someone else would lead the way in toasting him.
The clinking of glasses rang out, and everyone took only a small sip.
"This wine is wonderful," the town mayor exclaimed with deep emotion. "Since I started drinking this health-preserving wine, I no longer buy Lao Baigan. I use this health-preserving wine when entertaining guests or giving gifts. It tastes good and looks impressive."
He was telling the truth. When visiting a leader's home, bringing just two bottles of health-preserving wine is always a big hit, especially since it's a product under his jurisdiction. It's a matter of both substance and prestige, so he's now particularly fond of this health-preserving wine.
"The taste is really good." The secretary also praised himself. "Drinking this wine not only doesn't harm the body, but it also has health benefits. My wife used to be against me drinking, but now she pours me a glass of this health-preserving wine every day."
"Hahaha……"
A knowing laugh immediately erupted from the table.
"What are you all laughing at?" The secretary glared at everyone. "Your laughter is making things go completely off-topic. My wife thinks this wine is good for your health, not what you're thinking."
"The more you explain, the more problematic it becomes," the director joked, pointing at him.
"You all need to be mindful," the secretary said seriously. "There are women at the table too."
"This wine was produced by several women working together, so what's there to be afraid of?" said Mayor Gu. "The women themselves are the ones who have the most say in this matter."
Xiao Moran glanced at Su Xiaonuan secretly, thinking to himself, "I'll let her drink more of this wine another day and see if she'll take the initiative."
Su Xiaonuan glared at him fiercely, thinking to herself, "Don't get any funny ideas."
One look from her was enough to make him dare not look at her anymore.
"Eat your food, eat your food. Don't bring up us women." Li Yuehua often joked with the town leaders. "You've only had one sip of wine and you're already making lewd remarks. Don't tell me you're drunk. This wine is good, the best thing about it is that it doesn't give you a headache. So, big leader, you should just eat your food properly."
"Look, did I say anything?" the secretary protested. "She immediately accused me of making lewd jokes. Women and petty people are really not to be trifled with."
"You didn't say anything, but if you think about it carefully, it really does sound like you're making some kind of lewd joke." The mayor picked up a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Why are you siding with outsiders?" the secretary said displeased. "We're all on the same side. Why are you helping outsiders instead of helping me?"
“Okay, we’re on the same side, you said it yourself, right?” The town mayor nodded, then winked at the township head, and raised his wine glass, meaning that Wang Laishun should toast the secretary, and when it was time to toast him later, the secretary should drink for him, aren’t we on the same side?
The township head understood and immediately raised his glass to toast the Party Secretary.
Only then did the Party Secretary realize he had fallen into Ma Xuefeng's trap.
But he couldn't vent his anger on Gu Xuefeng, so he vented it on Wang Laishun.
"What are you doing?" The Party Secretary swallowed the meat in his mouth and raised his hand to block it. "If you're going to offer a toast, you should start with Mayor Ma, shouldn't you? No wonder you're so old and only became the township head; you don't know how to handle things at all."
“We’re on the same path. What difference does it make whether it starts with you or with me?” Mayor Gu immediately retorted.
Wang Laishun was extremely embarrassed. He dared not offend any of the leaders here, and they could all order him around.
Upon hearing this, Su Xiaonuan felt displeased. The township head was from Xiaolong Village and was practically family, so she immediately raised her glass to toast the Party Secretary. "Leader, you won't refuse three toasts, will you?"
Wang Laishun glanced gratefully at Xiao Nuan, who had saved him from this predicament at a crucial moment.
As she stood up with her wine glass in hand, she said to Wang Laishun, “Uncle, please sit down. You’re the oldest person at this table, it’s not right for you to stand.”
That's a double entendre.
This not only expressed her respect for the township head, but also told these leaders not to look down on others just because they are in high positions. Although the township head was so old when he took office, he had Xiaolong Village behind him, and Xiaolong Village was the source of confidence and face for all the big leaders.
Without Xiaolong Village, the leaders sitting here are nothing.
These people understood the current situation better than Su Xiaonuan.
"Three cups?" The secretary was dumbfounded. As a man, he really couldn't refuse Su Xiaonuan's toast. "Isn't toasting usually done one cup at a time? Even if good things happen in pairs, it's still two cups, not three. If there is a rule, it's three cups as a self-punishment. What did I do wrong?"
Ignoring everything else, Su Xiaonuan directly picked up the wine bottle and poured wine, filling both the secretary's and her own glasses. Then, holding the glasses up with both hands, she said, "A toast to Secretary's visit to Xiaolong Village for ideological guidance. Xiaolong Village has developed its economy, but the villagers' knowledge is limited. We will have to rely on Secretary's guidance in the future."
The secretary had no choice but to clink glasses with Su Xiaonuan. He had been observing, but seeing that the woman had drunk her glass dry and turned it upside down, he, a grown man, naturally wouldn't be outdone and drank his glass dry as well.
Everyone at the table, except for Xiao Moran, was clapping and cheering.
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