When the Qi family woke up, they found that Wang Fang had already left, leaving a letter telling no one to deliver it, as if she were already dead. The atmosphere in the house became extremely tense.
But that didn't stop the New Year from arriving. The day before the holiday, Wei Xigun asked for leave and packed his luggage. His coworkers asked, "Xigun, where are you going?" "To your brother-in-law's house again!" "Hey! I have to say, Shuqing really married the right person." "Your family has had the best life these past few years. You didn't even go hungry during the famine!" Everyone chattered around.
Wei Xigun smiled and said, "It's not that good. They're in a difficult situation too. It's just that my in-laws are kind and righteous. I'll be going now!" With that, he picked up his bundle and left.
One of them whispered, "It's strange about this family. Wei Shuqing has been married for so many years, how come she hasn't gotten pregnant at all?"
"Why are you so nosy? There's been no trouble, and her in-laws haven't complained. They've brought home plenty of gifts for holidays."... The workers gossiped, truly proving the old saying: "The white clouds themselves are without intention, yet they're drawn out by the strong wind!"
Wei Xigun got on Zhao Dahu's bicycle and the two hurried home. As soon as they entered the door, Zhao Aiguo greeted them, "Uncle, Uncle!"
"Hey! Aiguo! Come on in, your uncle bought you some good food." Once inside, he saw Zhao's mother busily setting the table. Wei Xigun politely said, "Hello, Auntie!" Zhao's mother smiled and nodded, saying, "Please sit down, one more dish and it'll be all ready!"
Wei Xigun took out two jin of White Rabbit candy and two jin of calcium milk biscuits from his bag and handed them to Zhao Aiguo.
After receiving the package, Zhao Aiguo happily thanked Wei Xigun. He placed it on the cabinet and chatted with Wei Xigun for a few minutes. Then, Zhao's mother brought in a basket of steamed buns, and Zhao's father brought in a pot of stewed silver carp and tofu. Wei Xigun quickly stood up and said, "Uncle, I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Mr. Zhao chuckled and said, "Don't be so polite, we're all family, please sit down!"
Wei Xigun then took out two bottles of Moutai and handed them over, saying, "Uncle, I don't have much to give you, please don't mind."
Mr. Zhao's smile faded. "Shuqing's older brother, this is so mean..." Mrs. Zhao nudged Mr. Zhao and changed her smile. "Brother-in-law, your uncle means we're all relatives, so let's not do these useless things. These two bottles of wine cost ten yuan, which is almost half a month's salary for you. You can't spend money like this. Please sit down."
Mr. Zhao nodded and said, “It’s not easy for you young people to make a living, and you don’t have anyone to help you at home. It’s too painful to spend this money. Do you think your uncle is someone who needs something? You can’t do this again, understand?”
Wei Xigun quickly nodded, promising not to do it again, but his heart was filled with gratitude, and his eyes welled up with tears. Zhao's father glanced at the candies and biscuits on the shelf and sighed. The Wei family were grateful people; Wei Xigun had spent more than half a month's salary on these things, and they feared he would have a hard time making the New Year. He didn't say anything more.
Zhao Dahu, having overheard the conversation outside, came in after washing his hands and exclaimed, "Oh my, oh my! Good food and good wine! What are we waiting for? My brother-in-law brought some good wine, let's open it. It's been so long since I've had any of this, really!" He opened a bottle of Moutai, smelled it, and nodded, "Just the taste. If you don't drink, and I don't drink, what's the point of having our country's best wine? Don't just sit around doing nothing!" He then pushed Wei Xigun onto the kang (heated brick bed) and poured him three full cups. Realizing something was amiss, he gave one cup to his mother, saying, "Mom, you have to have a cup of this good wine!"
Zhao's mother raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Shall I have a drink?"
Zhao Dahu glared at the outside and said, "We absolutely have to drink it! This is such good wine, and it was bought by my brother-in-law!"
Zhao's mother nodded and said, "Alright, alright, what is Shuqing doing? Why isn't she here yet?"
Zhao Dahu chuckled and said, "Coming right away." Just then, Wei Shuqing came in, and Zhao's mother quickly invited her to sit down.
Zhao Dahu poured Wei Shuqing a glass and said, "Wife, let's have a glass of Moutai that my brother bought for us. You and Mom, each of you have one glass, but don't drink too much." Looking at Zhao Aiguo, he said, "What are you staring at so longingly? Want some more wine?"
Zhao Aiguo shook his head, picked up his special large tea mug from the ground, and said, "Grandma prepared this for me a long time ago. It's a beverage made with ten years of craftsmanship, Zhao Aiguo's special drink."
Zhao Dahu chuckled and said, "Look at my son, he's such a suck-up. He made my stomach medicine taste like it's on par with Moutai. Is that supposed to be a ten-year-old process? I've been drinking it since I was a kid."
Then he raised his glass and said, "Come on, let's all have a drink together. Ladies, feel free to drink as you please, but we men will drink it all. We're men who live by the Yongding River, so drinking is like drinking soup to us! Cheers!"
The meal ended amidst laughter and chatter. Zhao Dahu and Shuqing were packing their things to take home when Zhao Aiguo sneaked in. Zhao Dahu chuckled and said, "What's up? Are you coming to sleep with your old man tonight?"
Zhao Aiguo took the candy and biscuits that Wei Xigun had brought from inside his coat and whispered, "My uncle bought these. We don't need any of these things at home. Take them back for my two older cousins!"
Zhao Dahu took it and said, "You told your uncle? You don't need this?"
Zhao Aiguo shook his head. "How could I say that? We men, whether we're rich or poor, have to save face. How could I embarrass my uncle? I accepted it and even thanked him."
Zhao Dahu patted Zhao Aiguo on the head and said with a smile, "Alright, good lad, that's right. You'll sleep in my room?"
Zhao Aiguo ran off quickly, shouting, "My grandma's calling me!" Zhao Dahu shook his head and said, "That brat, he's not close to us anymore!"
Wei Shuqing glanced at him sideways and said, "You're even jealous of your parents!"
Zhao Dahu said helplessly, "How could that be! By the way, don't always scold our son, or he'll become stupid! Look how smart he is, and how well he knows how to handle people!"
Wei Shuqing ignored him and added the things Zhao Aiguo had brought: four catties of sugar, four catties of melon seeds, two catties of peanuts, and five catties of biscuits. Zhao Dahu said, "Brother spent more than half a month's salary on these things. Let's give him eighty yuan for the New Year this year! Sister-in-law will need to buy some things after the New Year, and she will spend a lot of money."
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