Chapter 175
"Ailian, is it okay for me to cut the meat into this thickness for you?" asked a woman who was helping to cut vegetables in the kitchen.
There is still a shortage of meat in rural areas today, but meat is indispensable for weddings and banquets. In order to make the dishes look better, people cut the meat into thin slices and put it on the top. In fact, the meat underneath is all vegetarian.
The aunt who cuts the meat knows this principle very well, and cuts the Jiang family's braised meat into thin and beautiful pieces.
Jiang Ma didn't know that the aunt from the first wife had such excellent knife skills. After all, the first and third wives were separated by the second wife, one at the head of the village and the other at the end, so they were far away from each other and didn't interact with each other normally.
Another washer, carrying a basket of vegetables, said, "Ailian, there is no well in your yard. It happens that your home is close to an old well. I will fetch you some water from the old well for washing vegetables!"
"Ailian, how about making these lotus roots into candied lotus roots, making six cold dishes, and stir-frying lotus root slices?"
"Okay! You are better at cooking than me, I will learn from you!" Most of the time, Jiang's father cooked the meals. Jiang's mother was not good at cooking, and the aunts knew much better than her. Soon, the cooking was taken over by these aunts and ladies from the fourth room. Jiang's mother became a handyman. Occasionally, when new relatives came and she was needed to entertain them, the aunts would enthusiastically urge her to go out.
A lot of guests came, and the gifts they gave were 30% higher than usual. Of course, in order to make up for the cost, these people basically had their entire family come together. If the Jiang family’s house wasn’t so big now, eight tables could be placed in the main hall alone, and Grandpa Jiang’s room on the left was empty, so three tables could be placed there. The large room at the back with the aisle could also accommodate four more tables. There would not be enough seats for all the people who came that day.
Later, three more tables were added to the area upstairs that was originally used as a reception room to accommodate unmarried young men and women, and only then was it possible to accommodate all the visitors.
The ingredients that the Jiang family originally prepared were far from enough, but after Jiang Guotai returned to the neighboring city on the second day of the Lunar New Year, he sent him half a pork leg and many other side dishes on the fourth day, which barely made the banquet look decent. As soon as the plates of meat were served, they were immediately snatched up by the people at the table, especially the elderly who had experienced the famine years. They didn't care about their decency and only cared about filling their mouths. So as soon as each dish was served, they quickly put it into their own bowls or the bowl of their little grandson squatting beside them.
The old people still like to talk loudly and spit a lot. Of course, the middle-aged men at the table, some drinking, some playing finger-guessing games, try to get close to Jiang's father and talk about how high-spirited he was in the past.
The fighting power of the women was also unambiguous, especially at the table of Jiang Ma's brother and sister-in-law, which was also divided into men and women.
Jiang's father, with a beaming face, took Jiang Ning and Jiang Bai to toast everyone. Jiang Ning was fine as she had no problem being shown off like this. However, Jiang Bai was very uncomfortable. Facing all kinds of compliments from so many people, he just smiled and nodded shyly, unable to say anything. Jiang Ning was the one doing all the polite words.
She treats everyone in a friendly and attentive manner, treating them like outsiders at all. If you don't know her, you might think they are not distant relatives whom she hasn't seen for many years, but close relatives and neighbors with very close blood ties.
But Jiang Ning's warm and polite words made everyone who came specifically for her and Jiang Bai feel like they were in spring breeze. They felt very comfortable in their hearts, and the smiles on their faces became more genuine, and their flattering words became more exaggerated.
When the toasts were presented to the tables of Jiang Ma's family members, they couldn't even recognize Jiang Ning and Jiang Bai when they saw them. These two were actually the two little guys who followed Jiang Song when he was a child and whom they couldn't see at all?
The cousins trembled in fear when they saw Jiang Ning and Jiang Bai, the two cousins. They were very intimidating.
That is the natural fear and admiration that the poor students have towards the academic genius.
Jiang Ma's sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law also praised Jiang Ma: "Ailian has suffered for so many years, and finally the hardship has paid off."
He also said to Jiang Ning and Jiang Bai: "It's not easy for your mother to raise you all these years. Now that you have made it, you must be filial to your mother in the future."
Wang Ailan said to Jiang Ning: "We were all raised by your mother. She has been both your sister and your mother since we were young. When she was a teenager, she went to work on river embankments and river dams. People outside say she is capable. She really has suffered a lot. She originally thought that she would finally live a good life after marrying your father, but she didn't expect that such a thing would happen after just a few years of good life. Now that you have become successful, your mother can finally take a break. Don't let your mother worry about you. Feel sorry for her."
Jiang Ning smiled but said nothing.
Wang Ailan looked at her niece's smiling but silent expression. She knew very well that her sister had hurt the child's heart over the years.
Yes, the girl was only fourteen or fifteen years old, with such good grades, and was admitted to No. 1 Middle School. Many people would be so happy that she sent Ningning to work in her brick factory.
It is true that working in a brick factory can make money, but you can tell how tiring the work is just by looking at her cracked hands over the years. She was a strong laborer in her twenties or thirties, but she had suffered a lot. Not to mention that Ningning was still a child at the time. No matter what, she was only twenty-four or twenty-five years old when she went to the brick factory, and her body had already grown up. Their Shijian Township was extremely poor, and they really couldn't find any place to make money, so they had to go to the brick factory. There was no other way.
But Jiang Ning was a natural talent for literature, yet her mother was willing to let her daughter, who had not yet fully grown up, work in a brick factory. Other parents, if given such a well-behaved and intelligent daughter, would love her very much, but they would not do such a foolish thing!
But her elder sister could do such a stupid thing.
It was because those years were too difficult. If her sister didn't find a reason to vent her suffering, she would never be able to survive the huge debt that seemed to have no end in sight in this lifetime.
Jiang Ning and Jiang Bai were just polite, their attitude not making them feel alienated but also maintaining a sufficient attitude. They drank warmly with their uncles, aunts, uncles, cousins, and then went upstairs.
Wang Ailan thought about her niece's attitude and sighed in her heart. After thinking about it, she decided to persuade her elder sister to be nicer to Ningning. What happened in the past is over. Ningning is so successful now. If she continues to treat the child the same way as in the past, wouldn't she be pushing her away?
When you are old and bedridden, unable to move, do you still expect your daughter-in-law to take care of you?
As Jiang Ma's eldest brother from her mother's family, his brother should sit at the main table, so he is not here.
Her younger brothers and sisters, as well as their children and eldest uncle's grandchildren, although not socially anxious, were all sensible and sat in the room on the right behind the main hall. After all, there were six families, plus the two families of eldest uncle's two daughters, a total of eight families, and they came in an orderly manner. They alone occupied three of the four tables in the back. Those who were sensible went to the kitchen to help Jiang Ma.
Wang Ailan went to the kitchen to find Jiang Ma.
During the most difficult years, Jiang's mother relied entirely on her maternal family for support. After all, her maternal family was her strength. Her father was once the captain of Tanshan. Her brothers and sisters often came to Jiangjia Village to bring her gifts and support her, especially her youngest brother.
Uncle Jiang is ten years younger than Mother Jiang. His child is only four or five years old now. He is a very gentle and introverted child who follows Uncle Jiang timidly.
The child was born weak and often fell ill. Uncle Jiang had only this one child and he worried a lot about him.
Mother Jiang felt sorry for her younger brother, so when no one was paying attention, she pulled Uncle Jiang into the room and secretly slipped five hundred yuan into his pocket.
Uncle Jiang refused to take it. Mother Jiang glared at him angrily, "I didn't say no when you stuffed the money into my pocket. Now that our family debts have been paid off, life isn't as hard as before. You can take it without worry!"
Uncle Jiang really needed money now, so he didn't refuse when he heard it.
Jiang Ma asked him again: "Did I tell you to find a train station to sell lunch boxes?"
Uncle Jiang smiled bitterly and said, "You know the skills of Hongling and I. We made a little money at the beginning, and then my second brother found out about it and opened a shop next door."
Although the food cooked by Jiang's second uncle and his wife was not clean and they just cooked and sold it carelessly, his second aunt was a great cook. It didn't matter if the food was not clean, the dishes were delicious and she was willing to use more oil. The migrant workers coming and going from the train station all liked to eat at her place.
What makes Uncle Jiang angry is that there are so many train stations in the world, but his second brother would not go anywhere else and instead comes here to steal his business. Now he and his second brother don't even say a word to each other, and the two families have fallen out.
Uncle Jiang also spoke with confidence: "If guests don't come to your house for dinner, what can I do? If I don't make the money, won't it be made by outsiders?"
But that's what I said, but it's not logically true.
Uncle Jiang was already having a difficult time, and being backstabbed by his own second brother made him even more uncomfortable. This year, he had a bitter look on his face, and the Adam's apple on his thin neck became more prominent.
Jiang's mother was also helpless about these conflicts with her brothers from her mother's side. There was not much age difference between her second uncle and Jiang's mother. Although she was the one who raised him when he was young, younger brothers and sisters were born soon. Naturally, her energy was focused on the younger brothers and sisters. Over the years, among these brothers and sisters from her mother's side, the ones she interacted the least with were her second brother and fourth sister.
Jiang Ma advised him: "Why don't you stay here for a few days and learn from your brother-in-law for a few days. If you can't do it, you can go to Shenzhen with me and learn the skills from your brother-in-law first, and then go find a stall to set up."
Thinking of the bad things that happened between him and his second brother, Jiang Xiaojiu was tempted, but he was afraid that his brother-in-law would not agree: "Will my brother-in-law agree?"
Jiang's mother rolled her eyes. "Why does he disagree? It's not a big deal. We don't set up stalls in the same place!"
Mother Jiang did not comment on the character of Second Uncle Jiang, but she knew Youngest Uncle Jiang very well. During the most difficult years for her, no matter how difficult his own life was, he never forgot his elder sister.
Uncle Jiang really had no intention of competing with my sister and brother-in-law for business, but he came here for another reason.
Jiang's mother was stunned when she heard this: "You want Ning Ning to hug Xiao Long?"
Uncle Jiang nodded a little embarrassedly, touched his quiet son in his arms, and said, "Our Ningning is the reincarnation of Wenquxing in the sky. I wanted Ningning to hug Xiaolong, so that Xiaolong can get some of Wenquxing's blessings. Even if he can't get his sister's blessings, it would be good if he can get some of his sister's literary spirit." He touched the soft hair on his son's head, "Xiaolong will definitely not be able to do farm work. In the future, he can only go to college like Ningning. It would be best if he can eat government food. If not, he can learn accounting or something in the future. It's also a skill, so he won't starve to death no matter what."
Uncle Jiang has always been worried about his son's future. Knowing his son's weak physique, he has never thought about what kind of physical work his son will do in the future, so he can only go to college.
Mother Jiang had a complicated look on her face.
At this time, there was a knock on the room door. The room door was locked and the key was taken out, so the person outside could not come in and could only knock on the door.
All the cash they brought back and the gifts from relatives and friends were locked in this room, and of course the door had to be locked.
There was a loud knock on the door. Jiang's mother opened the door and asked, "Knock, knock, what are you knocking for?"
Father Jiang said anxiously: "Why are you still in your room at this time? So many relatives and friends are coming to have a drink, and you are the one who is going to entertain them!"
He and Uncle Jiang were entertaining the men, so the women needed Mama Jiang. Mama Jiang was talking to Uncle Jiang and forgot about this for a moment, saying, "Here we come."
Seeing that his brother-in-law was also inside, Jiang's father asked, "What's going on between the two of you that you can't tell anyone outside, and why are you talking about it behind closed doors?"
Mother Jiang glared at Father Jiang, paused, then avoided his gaze and whispered awkwardly, "Aidang said he wants Ningning to hug Xiaolong."
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