Chapter 59
In the countryside at that time, when someone was admitted to a university, a banquet would naturally be held.
The next day, Zheng Mei got up early and went to look for a family in the village who were actually cooks.
When holding a banquet in the countryside, the stove in the kitchen is not enough. You have to pick up bricks and wood to build a few earthen stoves. Since it is an earthen stove, it is difficult to control the temperature. If you have no experience in hosting a large banquet, you may burn the dishes and ruin the banquet.
Zheng Meixun's country chef has been working part-time as a banquet host in the village for at least 20 to 30 years. When he heard that it was a graduation banquet, he immediately agreed: "This is the first college student in our village! Even if you don't invite me, I will come."
So they discussed for a long time which women to invite to help in the kitchen and how many people to invite. What main dishes to choose, how to match the chicken, duck, fish, meat and side dishes, whether to borrow grain and oil coupons... Zheng Mei and others talked about each one with great joy, and Chen Lanjun smiled beside them, acting as a mascot. When she was asked to run errands, she would run errands.
After the younger sister's initial excitement wore off, she was assigned many tasks. She became exhausted after running around for so long that she secretly said to Chen Lanjun, "Sister, hosting a graduation banquet is as tiring as reviewing for an exam."
Chen Lanjun rubbed her hair and said, "You won't feel tired when it's time to eat."
In the past, Chen Lanjun might have told Zheng Mei that holding a banquet was too much trouble. But now she understood a little bit. As a mother, Zheng Mei's feelings were probably like a factory director who saw his exclusive product won a big award. He would have to hold a few meetings to express his joy of a big harvest to everyone.
In a sense, this graduation party is half held for the parents.
Chen Lanjun turned her head and looked at Zheng Mei who was talking about slaughtering a few pigs.
As a mother who graduated from junior high school, seeing her daughter admitted to university, she must have felt the joy of having her unfulfilled dream come true, right?
Chen Lanjun knows very well that the three sisters have been able to persist in their studies and have never dropped out of school even during difficult years, all thanks to Zheng Mei's strong support.
Put the unfulfilled dream on my daughter... Chen Lanjun thought thoughtfully.
"We can go to the next village to buy the missing pig." Zheng Mei stopped and asked Chen Lanjun, "Why are you always staring at me? Is there a mosquito on my face?"
As she spoke, Zheng Mei raised her head and touched her cheek. There was no mosquito.
Then, she heard her daughter say something very magical: "Mom, if you want, why don't you also take the college entrance examination and go to college."
"What did you say?" Zheng Mei suspected that she had misheard, "Who is going to take the college entrance examination?"
The aunt who had discussed matters with Zheng Mei before laughed: "Amei, your second sister asked you to become a college student too, haha."
"Go away," Zheng Mei glared at Chen Lanjun and said in a tone like chasing chickens, "If you have nothing better to do, go treat your classmates to a drink tomorrow! Are you kidding your mother?"
"I'm not kidding," Chen Lanjun said, "Really, the conditions didn't allow it before, but now I'm grown up. If you really want to, go study, take the exam, and fulfill your dream."
The old lady beside him wanted to laugh after hearing this. She was already so old, and her children were already so grown up, but she still wanted to study and take the college entrance examination? It was ridiculous.
But Chen Lanjun said this in a very natural way, without any joking intention, and in a relaxed tone, as if she was telling her mother, "This skirt is very beautiful, do you want to buy some material to make one?"
This didn't make the aunt laugh anymore.
Zheng Mei blinked and smoothed the hair around her ears: "What are you talking about? I'm almost fifty years old. I'm already very satisfied that you can become a college student."
Chen Lanjun thought about it and realized that her mother only said it was because of her age, but she did not object to her going to college. So, she still had some hope in her heart, right?
She looked up and said to Zheng Mei, "What does age have to do with it? There's no rule that says you can't study or take the exam if you're over the age limit. There were older candidates at the exam last year. Besides - your daughter is a college student, and you are a college student. The two are not the same."
Zheng Mei was speechless for a moment, and could only say: "What? I've never heard of such a thing. I still have to support you and your sister, where can I go!"
"Don't worry about money, I can earn money." Chen Lanjun said, "It won't take much, I'll be a millionaire."
The auntie who had been listening at the side with her ears perked up finally couldn't help laughing out loud: "Hahahaha, Alan, you are really ambitious. Ten thousand yuan household, tsk, this term sounds new to me. If a person can have 10,000 yuan, then he really doesn't have to worry about anything."
The aunt teased Zheng Mei, "What do you think, Ah Mei? When your sister becomes a millionaire, you will go to college? Come to think of it, you were always ranked first in your grades at that time."
"Don't follow her and make trouble." Zheng Mei rolled her eyes and pushed Chen Lanjun out. "Little ancestor, don't make trouble here. I'm busy here. Go, go and invite your classmates."
After pushing the man out of the door, Zheng Mei turned around and said to the aunt, "I don't know what's wrong with you."
Just as I was about to get back to the pig, I suddenly saw another head pop out of the door:
"Really, Mom, please think about it carefully."
“Get out, get out!”
Chen Lanjun smiled and said "roll away".
He quickly got on his bicycle and rode away to find Cao Hongyao and Liu Li.
Cao Hongyao was very happy to see her, but Liu Li punched her directly: "Hey, you still remember to come back?"
The hit was very light, but Chen Lanjun pretended to be in pain and took two steps back.
"Hey, are you okay?" Liu Li looked very nervous.
She went forward to support Chen Lanjun, but saw that Chen Lanjun was laughing. She immediately reacted: "Okay, the crime is even more serious." Then she started to tickle Chen Lanjun.
Chen Lanjun smiled and hid behind Cao Hongyao: "You take care of her."
After laughing and joking for a while, I heard someone outside shouting, "Old popsicles - so sweet -"
"Alright, alright, let's call for a ceasefire." Chen Lanjun smoothed her hair, stood up and said, "I'll go buy some popsicles."
Each of them held a popsicle in their mouths and finally spoke politely for a while.
Like Chen Lanjun, Cao Hongyao and Liu Li were also admitted to prestigious universities. They were the three best students in the school.
Like Chen Lanjun, Cao Hongyao was admitted to Mingde University, but she was admitted to the Economics Department. As for Liu Li, he was admitted to a higher education institution in Beijing.
"There are many people from our class who were admitted this time." Cao Hongyao said, "Including those from junior colleges, there are about ten in total."
Liu Li took a bite of the popsicle and said casually, "The principal was so happy that her face never turned pale. If you go to the school gate, you will see that the big red banner is still hanging there! I don't think she will take it down until the New Year."
Chen Lanjun heard this and said, "It's too late today. I'll find a chance to go back to school and see the principal before I leave."
By the way, maybe we can talk about business, Chen Lanjun thought.
It was getting late, so Chen Lanjun said to Cao Hongyao and Liu Li, "You must come to my graduation party tomorrow."
"Of course," Cao Hongyao said, "I'll come over early in the morning to help you with something."
Liu Li patted his stomach and said, "I'm different. I don't eat early in the morning. Hey, you can prepare more dishes."
"Don't worry, I'm just afraid you can't eat it."
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