Chapter 124: Fun in the Countryside
After the sports meet, the much-anticipated National Day holiday arrived.
You have to know that nowadays, apart from one day off every weekend, workers only have one day off for New Year's Day, three days for Spring Festival, one day for May Day, and two days for National Day, a total of seven days off. So even though National Day only has two days off, everyone is looking forward to it.
Everyone had already started thinking about how to arrange these two rare days of vacation.
Shi Yue and Shi Qiu Shui were of course no exception.
Watching the weather forecast on TV, Shi Yue knew that it would be sunny for both days of National Day, so he immediately decided to take Shi Qiu Shui out for some fun.
The father and son have been wearing clothes from the 1990s for quite some time, and they have never gone out to play!
But when it came to where to go, Shi Yue began to hesitate. Should he go to the Forbidden City to see what the emperor's palace looked like, or go to the Ming Tombs to see what the emperor's tomb looked like, or go to the Summer Palace to see what the emperor's garden looked like?
Hey, don’t ask why Shi Yue is so against the emperor. I’m just asking out of curiosity.
After all, there really was an emperor at that time!
At that time, he was not qualified to go into the palace to take a look, and he didn't have the courage to dig the emperor's tomb. Now he traveled to the 1990s, there was no emperor anymore, and he could go to the palace and take a look at the emperor's tomb. Of course he would go!
Shi Yue couldn't make a decision himself, so he passed the problem to Shi Qiu Shui.
Shi Qiu Shui was also hesitant. Although she was curious about the palace where the emperor lived and the tomb where the emperor was buried, she felt that these places were the same no matter where you went.
Just when she was hesitating and unable to make a decision, she suddenly heard from Zhao Ran that the Zhao family was also going out to play during the National Day holiday.
The Zhao family did not go against the emperor like Shi Yue did. Instead, they wanted to go to the countryside to play and visit old man Zhao's hometown.
Although Old Man Zhao and his family have now settled down in the city, he was not originally from the city. His family was originally from Miyun in the suburbs. When the machinery factory was recruiting workers, Old Man Zhao passed the exam and was able to move to the city. Later, he relied on the machinery factory to allocate housing and finally settled down in the city.
His parents and brothers are still in Miyun.
Of course, after so many years, Old Man Zhao's parents had long since passed away, and now even though he was the only younger brother left in Miyun, he still lived in the house left by his parents.
Although Old Zhao and his younger brother stayed in the countryside and city respectively, they had a very good relationship. In the past, when supplies were scarce and families were not well off, the two brothers always helped each other. Old Zhao bought cloth, oil, salt and other industrial products from the city for his younger brother, which were not available in the countryside. His younger brother shared his grain and meat, and saved some from his teeth to send to his brother.
Later, with the reform and opening up, things improved for Old Zhao, and his younger brother wasn't faring much better in the countryside. Since the household contract responsibility system was in place, he listened to Old Zhao's advice and chose a piece of mountain land that few people wanted to plant. He planted chestnut trees. Although it was a painful purchase, because they were mature, three-year-old seedlings, the trees bore fruit the following year. Thanks to these fruits, Old Zhao's younger brother even built a new house and bought a new car.
Although the car is a tractor, it is still a very cool and practical big item in the countryside.
After the new house was built, Old Zhao's younger brother thought of his brother who gave him advice and helped him make money. Since the beginning of the year, he invited Old Zhao to live and play at his home in the countryside, but Old Zhao refused because he had to see his grandson, and it has been delayed until now.
A few days ago, Old Zhao's younger brother called and invited Old Zhao to take his family to live in the countryside. Old Zhao thought about it and decided that since Zhao Ran and Zhao Hui were on vacation during the National Day, he might as well stay in the countryside for two days. So he agreed.
When Shi Qiu Shui knew that Zhao Ran was going to the countryside to play, envy welled up in his eyes and mouth.
"Slurp—"
Shi Qiushui slurped his saliva and asked Shi Yue enviously, "So, when you go to your second grandfather's house this time, are you going to eat apples and chestnuts?"
Zhao Ran: "It's not about eating apples and chestnuts, it's about picking apples and chestnuts. My mother said she wanted me to experience the joy of picking and the hard work of the farmers."
Shi Qiushui asked with his bright black eyes, "Then you can eat them after you pick them, right?"
Zhao Ran: ...
He nodded helplessly. "Yes, it's edible. My second grandfather also said he would make me steamed apples, candied apples, apple and hawthorn soup, as well as chestnut stewed chicken, chestnut stewed pork ribs, and sugar-roasted chestnuts..."
Listening to Zhao Ran's name of the dishes, Shi Qiushui's tears couldn't help but flow out of her mouth again. She looked at Zhao Ran with her big watery eyes and said, "Zhao Ran, Zhao Ran, when you go to your second grandfather's house, can you take me with you?"
She recommended herself: "I'm quiet, perceptive, and hardworking. As long as you give me a meal, I can help you with a lot of work. You won't suffer any loss if you take me with you!"
Zhao Ran: ...
Shi Qiu Shui really wants to eat, he can say anything.
Seeing that Zhao Ran didn't respond, Shi Qiushui tugged at his sleeve and started to act like a spoiled child: "How about Zhao Ran? Do you want to take me with you?"
Zhao Ran: "...I need to talk to my grandfather about this and ask him to discuss it with my second grandfather."
He paused and said, "Besides, shouldn't you also discuss this with Uncle Shi? Didn't Uncle Shi also say he wanted to take you out to play? If you go to the countryside with us, he..."
Shi Qiushui waved his hand: "It's okay, my father can understand me."
Zhao Ran: ...
Is this something that is incomprehensible?
Seeing Zhao Ran's embarrassment, Shi Qiushui thought for a moment and said, "How about I bring my dad along?"
She frowned and said, "But if I bring my dad along, will it cause trouble for you? Can your second grandfather's house accommodate him? And my dad eats a lot. How about I tell him that I can take him over, but he has to pay for his food?"
At this moment, Shi Yue, who was standing behind Shi Qiushui and listening to every word she said, said:
My daughter, you are really my good daughter!
"Cough cough." Shi Yue coughed twice.
Shi Qiushui turned around when he heard the voice, laughed guiltily and said, "Hey, Dad, you're here."
Shi Yue: "I'm here, aren't I? If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have heard you making up stories about me behind my back."
Shi Qiushui glanced at Shi Yue quietly, and after making sure that he was not really angry, he smiled and said, "Hey, Dad, you misunderstood. I didn't frame you. I just wanted Zhao Ran to take us to his second grandfather's house to celebrate National Day."
Shi Yue: "Oh? Going to Second Grandpa Zhao Ran's house to celebrate National Day?"
Shi Yue didn't hear what was said before, and didn't know what was going to Zhao Ran's second grandfather's house.
Seeing this, Shi Qiushui took the initiative to explain to Shi Yue: "Dad, this is what happened. Zhao Ran said he wanted to go to his second grandfather's house..."
Shi Qiushui recounted to Shi Yue what Zhao Ran had just said, focusing on the delicious food he could eat at Zhao Ran's Second Grandfather's house. Then he excitedly asked Shi Yue, "Dad, do you think Zhao Ran's Second Grandfather's house is really good?"
Shi Yue: "Well, it's true what you said."
"Is that so?" Hearing Shi Yue say this, Shi Qiushui became even more excited. She pulled Shi Yue's sleeve and acted coquettishly: "So, Dad, this National Day, let's not go to the Ming Tombs. Let's go to Second Grandpa Zhao Ran's house, okay?"
Shi Yue gently tapped the little girl's forehead with his fingertips and said, "It doesn't matter whether it's good or not. What I say is useless. The key is whether your Grandpa Zhao and Zhao Ran's second grandfather can agree."
In fact, when Old Zhao learned that Shi Qiushui and Shi Yue wanted to go to the countryside with their family, he happily agreed. He said, "You guys want to visit my hometown too? Sure, let's go together."
He also didn't think that Shi Yue and Shi Qiu Shui going to the countryside with their family would cause them any trouble. The situation was different now. Everyone was better off, and having two more guests would just mean adding two more pairs of chopsticks. Besides, the countryside was big, so there was room for Shi Yue and his daughter to stay.
But he still called in advance and told his brother.
Mr. Zhao Er, Old Zhao's younger brother, thought the same as Old Zhao. When he learned that his brother's family was going to bring two more guests, he warmly welcomed them.
So, early in the morning of the National Day holiday, Shi's father-in-law and daughter carried two cans of milk powder and followed the Zhao family on a bus to the suburbs.
Shi Yue wanted to bring the milk powder to Zhao Laoer's family. After all, he was going to visit someone and felt embarrassed to go empty-handed. He asked Old Zhao about it and learned that Zhao Erye's daughter-in-law had just given birth to a child last month, so he went to the department store to buy it.
When Old Zhao saw Shi Yue carrying out two cans of milk powder, he said that he was being too polite and was wasting money, and wanted Shi Yue to take the things back. However, Shi Yue was wary of this trick, as he had specially bought milk powder for infants.
He took this stuff back, but no one at home drank it.
When Old Zhao saw the words "For Infants and Young Children Only" on the milk powder can, he was speechless and could only agree to let Shi Yue take it.
The bus left the city, got on the highway, and drove north. After about three hours, it finally arrived at Miyun County.
However, this is still some distance away from Old Zhao’s hometown.
Shi Yue and Shi Qiu Shui, father and daughter, followed Old Zhao down the bus. As soon as their feet touched the ground, they saw an old man who looked somewhat similar to Old Zhao standing under the bus stop sign. He was smoking a pipe.
Old Zhao stretched out his arm and waved in the man's direction, shouting, "Second Brother!"
When the man heard Old Zhao's voice, he immediately put down his pipe. He also waved towards Shi Qiushui and the others and shouted, "Big Brother!"
After shouting, he took two quick steps and came in front of Shi Qiushui and his group.
"Brother, sister-in-law, Huizi, Huizi's wife." He smiled and greeted each of the Zhao family members one by one. When he saw Zhao Ran, he said in surprise: "Hey, this is little Zhao Ran, right? I haven't seen you for a few years. You've grown so big? Little Zhao Ran, are you in elementary school now?"
Zhao Ran: "Well, Second Grandpa, I'm in the first grade of elementary school now."
Mr. Zhao Er touched Zhao Ran's head and said to Old Zhao, "Time flies by so fast. Little Zhao Ran is already in elementary school. I remember when I saw him two years ago, he was still a little boy."
Old Zhao said, "Children are like this. When you can't see them, they grow taller. Isn't your Zhao Xin the same? I felt like he only graduated from high school a few days ago, but now he's a father and has his own family."
Mr. Zhao: "Really, that's true."
He exchanged a few pleasantries with Old Zhao, his eyes falling on the somewhat unfamiliar Shi Yue and Shi Qiu Shui. Old Zhao took the initiative to introduce them to him: "These are the two guests I told you about coming today. This is Shi Yue. This is his daughter, Shi Qiu Shui. You can just call her Xiao Qiu."
Mr. Zhao: "Well, welcome Shi Yue, welcome Xiao Qiu, and welcome both of you to be our guests today."
Shi Yue smiled at him and walked forward with the milk powder can in his hand: "Second Master Zhao, I heard from Uncle Zhao that your daughter-in-law just gave birth to a child. This is a little gift from me, just as a full moon gift for the child."
It was only then that Master Zhao saw what Shi Yue was holding. He was surprised for a moment and quickly refused: "No, no, you are a guest brought by my eldest brother. I can't accept your things. Take it back and drink it yourself."
Shi Yue: "Second Master Zhao, please accept it. This is milk powder for infants and young children. I can't drink it if I take it back myself."
Old Zhao also said: "Yes, Lao Er, you should take it. No one can drink it if you take it back."
Mr. Zhao rubbed his hands and said, "How can I feel so embarrassed..."
He grinned and said, "Things are so expensive these days, even infant formula. If you ask me, it doesn't matter who you feed it to, isn't it still formula?"
Even so, he still accepted the gift. After receiving it, Mr. Zhao's smile became brighter, but it wasn't because of the gift. To be honest, he really didn't need that much. He was in a good mood because of Shi Yue's sincere heart to give him the gift.
Uncle Zhao pointed to the tractor next to him and called out, "Come on, come on, big brother, big sister-in-law, and Shi Yue, all of you come on, get in the car, let's go home. I'm telling you, we have to go back quickly, my wife is stewing chicken right now, chestnut stewed chicken."
He smiled and said, "I'm not exaggerating, but my wife's stewed chicken with chestnuts is a real specialty. Let's just say that whenever she makes chicken, all the dogs in our village will line up at our door."
At this point, he kept the question a secret: "Do you know why the dogs line up in front of our house?"
Shi Yue and Shi Qiu Shui shook their heads in agreement and asked, "Why?"
Master Zhao: "To eat the bones left over from our family!"
Shi Qiushui exclaimed slightly: "Wow, so amazing?"
Mr. Zhao: "Of course, my wife's cooking skills are amazing. Her family has a tradition. Her father, my father-in-law, is the most famous chef in our area. It was because of this that many people were attracted to my wife back then."
Shi Qiushui: "Wow, how did Second Madam fall for you?"
Mr. Zhao: "Because of love, my wife and I fell in love at first sight. We..."
Once Mr. Zhao started talking, the rumbling sound of the tractor could not stop it. In this way, accompanied by Mr. Zhao's hoarse voice, the tractor drove all the way into the village.
Rural areas are well developed these days. For example, the village where Mr. Zhao lives is paved with cement roads. There is a small square made of cement at the entrance of the village, with some fitness equipment on it, making it look quite presentable.
Mr. Zhao drove his tractor along the cement road until it reached his doorstep before he pulled the handbrake. At this time, an old lady with curly hair walked out of the yard.
She smiled and said, "As soon as I heard the rumbling sound of the tractor, I guessed you were back."
Mr. Zhao: "This tractor is a bit too noisy. It's okay. Let's save some money. When we have enough money in two years, we can buy a car. It's quieter."
Instant Noodle Roll, also known as Aunt Zhao, gave Uncle Zhao an elbow and said, "This guy has a little money, but he burned you out and bought you a car. He stays in the village all day and doesn't go anywhere. Why did he buy a car? Is he showing off?"
She rolled her eyes at Mr. Zhao Er, not wanting to bother with the arrogant man. She turned to look at Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Lu and said, "Brother, sister-in-law, you're finally here! I've been looking forward to your arrival for a long time!"
Old Zhao had a good relationship with Second Master Zhao, and Aunt Lu also had a good relationship with Aunt Zhao, her sister-in-law. She held Aunt Zhao's hand affectionately and said, "Well, I've wanted to come to you for a long time, but I couldn't let go of my family matters!"
Aunt Zhao shook Aunt Lu's hand and said, "It's good that you're here now!"
The two sisters-in-law talked affectionately for a while before turning their attention to other people. Like Mr. Zhao, she was also surprised that Zhao Ran had grown so big, and then she noticed Shi Qiu Shui and Shi Yue.
Mr. Zhao introduced them to her quickly. She knew that there were two guests coming back today, but she didn't react at first. After Mr. Zhao introduced them to her, she greeted them warmly: "Shi Yue, Xiao Qiu, right? Welcome, welcome to my home."
After greeting everyone one by one, Mr. Zhao led everyone into the house: "Come on, come on, everyone, come in, let's eat."
Aunt Zhao: "Yes, let's eat. I have stewed the chicken and put it on the table. Come in and eat quickly."
Shi Qiu Shui had already smelled the stewed chicken with the fragrance of chestnuts in the air. When he heard Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao greeting him, he walked into the house with everyone with bright eyes.
As soon as she entered the house, she was almost overwhelmed by the strong smell of food.
She sniffed rapidly. It smelled so good.
Several adults tried hard to hold back their laughter as they watched Shi Qiushui sniffing around like a puppy. Aunt Zhao couldn't help but chuckle. To prevent Shi Qiushui from noticing anything unusual, she coughed softly and said, "Sit down. Let's eat, everyone. You've been sitting in the car for half a day, you must be hungry."
That’s not wrong.
Shi Yue and his friends left home before seven in the morning, but they took the bus for more than three hours, and then changed to Mr. Zhao's tractor and spent more than half an hour. By now, it was already past eleven, almost twelve o'clock, and they were indeed hungry.
Everyone sat down one by one. Old Zhao noticed that his nephew and his wife had not come out yet, so he asked with concern: "Where are Zhao Xin and his wife? Why don't they come out to eat?"
Aunt Zhao: "Oh, Zhao Xin's wife is in confinement after giving birth and can't be exposed to the wind, so I didn't ask her to come out. Zhao Xin is staying with her in the room. They can't eat the dishes we prepared today, as they are all heavy in oil and salt. I cooked a separate meal for them and let them eat their own food in the room. We can also eat ours."
Old Zhao: "Oh, that's it."
Zhao Lao Er: "Well, let's eat, everyone."
He picked up the chopsticks and picked up a piece of chicken for Old Man Zhao: "Brother, come here, try this chicken. This is the chicken my wife raises in the orchard. It's delicious. This chicken is delicious."
He said to Shi Yue, who was sitting a little further away, "Well, Shi Yue, Xiao Qiu, you guys should eat too. Eat more chicken."
Shi Qiushui didn't need his invitation. He picked up his chopsticks and shoved at the chestnut-braised chicken in the middle. The tender chicken was fragrant with chestnuts, and the more he chewed, the more delicious it became. In the chestnut-braised chicken, not only was the chicken delicious, but the chestnuts were also delicious. The chestnuts were stewed until they were powdery and had a strong meaty aroma, but at the same time, they still retained their natural sweetness. It was delicious.
After indulging in the chestnut stewed chicken, Shi Qiu Shui reached for the chestnut stewed spare ribs on the side. Although they were both stewed with chestnuts, the spare ribs tasted a little different from the chicken. The spare ribs themselves had more fat than the chicken, and the stewed oil also contained more. This caused the chestnuts in the stewed spare ribs to taste oilier and less sticky.
But Shi Qiu Shui also likes the taste.
She squinted her eyes and ate with relish.
After a whirlwind of discussion, Shi Qiu Shui and Shi Yue collapsed in their chairs, burping.
The other people at the table were about the same. Even Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao were encouraged by the big group to eat a lot more than usual.
Mr. Zhao: "Hey, Shi Yue, are you and your daughter going to take a nap? I've cleared out a room for you. Why don't you go take a nap? We have activities later this afternoon."
Shi Qiushui was curious: "What other activities are there?"
Mr. Zhao: "Go pick chestnuts!"
Shi Qiushui: "Picking chestnuts? Isn't that picking chestnuts?"
Mr. Zhao laughed heartily at this remark: "Picking chestnuts? Chestnuts grow on trees and have thorns. How do you pick them?"
Shi Qiushui's eyes widened: "Chestnuts, with thorns?"
All the chestnuts she had seen were round with smooth skin, and she had never seen one with thorns?
Zhao Ran, who also lacked life experience, also quietly raised his head and looked over curiously.
The adults were stunned, and then they all burst into laughter.
Shi Yue also laughed so hard that he fell backwards. Although he was a rich young man in the Dayu Dynasty, he had followed the housekeeper to the farm and had seen chestnuts growing on the trees. He knew that they had shells.
Amidst everyone's laughter, Shi Qiushui pursed his lips and asked in confusion, "What are you laughing at?!"
Shi Yue: "Hahahaha, I'm just laughing at your lack of knowledge."
Shi Qiushui: "Dad!"
Shi Yue: "Hahaha, wait a minute, let's go out to the mountain and you'll see for yourself. The one you saw before is not the chestnut growing on the tree."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
