101. 101 Banquet
"Mom, who are you writing to?" Ping An peeked over mischievously, his feet twitching backward as if he were about to run away at any moment.
Su Yu glanced at him coldly, then lowered her head and continued writing.
"Those two little brats tricked us into applying to universities in Northeast China. I was so angry I couldn't sleep half the night... Oh, they were complaining to their dad." Ping An chuckled and said in a strange voice, "Mom, don't get fooled again. The three of us are all in Harbin. My dad will be happy to know."
Su Yu caught a glimpse of his smug and self-satisfied demeanor out of the corner of her eye. With lightning speed, she reached out and grabbed his collar, pinning the tall man to the table before he could react. The letter, having accomplished its purpose, was crumpled and floated to the ground.
"Hey, you little brat, you're getting cocky after winning one round. You've fallen into my hands, haven't you?" Su Yu laughed, gritting her teeth as she pressed the man down on the table. She ripped off her cloth shoes and slapped his buttocks repeatedly, the dust from the soles landing on his pants and dissipating into the air with each slap.
Ping An's ears turned red with shame and indignation. He had never been spanked when he was a child, but now that he was seventeen, he was being beaten while pinned to the table. He covered his bottom with his hands and begged for mercy, "Mom, you can pull my ears, just don't spank my bottom."
Su Yu dodged his hand and targeted the areas he couldn't cover, chuckling sinisterly, "You shameless brat, you don't learn your lesson from pulling my ear. I'm letting you off this time, but if you dare to provoke me again, I'll pull off your blanket and beat you while you're asleep."
Ping An felt the pressure on his back lessen, so he grabbed her hem, stood up, and broke free. Once she was steady, he released her, took two large strides, and ran outside, facing inwards to prevent the people inside from chasing him out again. He patted the dust off his bottom; it felt numb. He dared not be sarcastic anymore. Glancing at the person putting on their shoes inside, he paced back and forth in the yard, feigning weakness, saying, "It really hurts, Mom. You really hit me? We considered applying to this university for a long time. I even asked the teacher about the major I chose, and he found me relevant books to read. I thought about it for a long time before deciding to come here. You weren't the deciding factor."
"Pooh."
Ping An: "..." He couldn't fool him anymore, so he stopped trying to talk about anything else. Anyway, his university was already decided, and he was very happy. He was so excited that he couldn't sleep for half the night.
"Xiao Yuan, stop hiding in the house pretending to be dead. Come on, let's go out and play. I'll take you to see my school." He shouted into the house, glancing at the faces of the people in the main room from time to time.
Xiao Yuan peeked out of the bedroom, saw the two people locked in a stalemate inside and outside the house, chuckled twice, and ran to the front door in a flash. He didn't resist when Ping An grabbed his neck, and obediently let him do as he pleased.
"Pah, you little brat." Su Yu spat at the empty courtyard, took out paper from the drawer, picked up the pen on the ground and rewrote the letter. Ning Jin was the most pitiful. His son had already received his university admission notice, but he knew nothing about it. He just eagerly sent money here whenever he had it.
When she went out to mail a letter, she tore up the half-written letter of complaint on the ground and threw it into the stove hole.
In Pingqiu Town, letters were delivered to the cannery by the postman. Ning Jin, returning from his truck trip, went straight to his office and immediately asked, "Is there any mail for me?"
"Yes, it's been three days already."
Ning Jin took the letter from him, opened it on the spot, and couldn't help but laugh after reading just the beginning. He chuckled and scolded, "You little rascal, you really kept it a secret."
"Good news?" Old Wang asked, peeking out with his food from the cafeteria, while also placing Ningjin's portion on the table.
"Good news! Both of my sons have been accepted into universities. Xiao Yuan is even going to the same school and major as his mother, and Ping An is going to a university not far from here." Ning Jin was overjoyed, her gums showing as she smiled. She took Lao Wang's lunchbox and said, "Come on, I'm treating you to dinner and drinks today. We won't eat in the cafeteria."
"Really?" Old Wang threw down his chopsticks, snatched the letter from Ning Jin's hand, quickly scanned it, and his envious eyes turned red. "If this were my son, I'd be happy even if I worked myself to death."
A letter circulated throughout the office, making everyone incredibly envious. A family of four, three of whom were college students. Ning Jin's good fortune made people feel envious, and they wanted to pin him to the ground and beat him up to relieve their envy.
"Come on, let's go drink and eat meat. Let's all go, and let Ningjin treat us." Old Wang pushed Ningjin out the door. "Wait, give me the letter. My father-in-law hasn't read it yet." Ningjin went back, took the crumpled letter from his colleague, stuffed it into his pocket, and led his colleague to the small restaurant with a smile.
Ning Jin drank from dusk till midnight, staggering home while humming a made-up tune. He pulled out his key from his neck, opened the door, and went into the dark house. Without even washing his feet, he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.
When he woke up in the morning, the smell of alcohol in the room had not yet dissipated. Remembering that Su Yu was a clean person, he got up and took a shower with the cold water in the water tank. He also took off the sheets and blankets and soaked them in the basin. He took the quilt out and hung it to dry in the sun.
"Uncle Ning, you're back!" Er Ya bumped into Ping An's father pushing a stroller as she went out. She immediately asked, "Have Xiao Yuan and Ping An's college entrance exam results come out yet?"
"It's out! The admission notices have arrived. Xiao Yuan is in the same school as his mother, and Ping An is in a university not far away." Ning Jin wished he could use a megaphone to announce it. He saw that there were people in the alley and shouted, "Er Ya, you should also study hard and get your admission notice by this time next year."
Hearing Ning Jin's words, the father of the second child paused for a moment, then turned into the kitchen, intending to wait a while before going out.
"Little Wu, have both of your children been admitted to university?" Aunt Wu asked.
"Yes, she's been accepted. The admission notice was sent directly to Su Yu's school. The three of them, mother and sons, live in the same city. Xiao Yuan and his mother even attend the same school and major." Ning Jin raised his head and introduced loudly, his face beaming with joy.
"Wow, that's great, all three college students from our alley are now living at your house."
"Xiao Wu, it's time to hold a banquet. Both of your sons are in college now, so we should have a big celebration."
"Xiao Wu, are you selling your house? Sell it to my family, and you can go to the Northeast with us." Someone had their eye on the house; the feng shui was too auspicious.
"Whether we hold a banquet or not is up to Su Yu. I'll send her a letter later to see if she can come back. As for the house? The house isn't for sale. It was left to me by my grandparents. It's considered our Ning family's ancestral home. We can't sell it. If we do, we'll have nowhere to live when we come back." Ning Jin spoke enthusiastically to everyone, answering every question. After showing off enough, and filled with the envy and jealousy of his neighbors, he rode his bicycle out of town and headed to Xinhe Brigade.
"Dad, don't go herding sheep yet. Su Yu wrote a letter. Xiao Yuan has been admitted to university safely." He jumped off the car, leaned the bicycle against the wall, and quickly ran over to hand the letter to his father-in-law.
Old Su smiled and handed the sheep-driving whip to his son-in-law. He held up the letter and read it carefully, saying, "I knew long ago that Xiao Yuan and Ping An would be fine and would definitely go to university. Look at you making such a fuss. It's not like no one in our family has ever gone to university. My youngest son was the first to go to university, and I didn't see you shouting all over the place about it."
Ning Jin smiled awkwardly, not taking his father-in-law's dissatisfaction to heart. He was happy that Su Yu got into university, but his happiness was mixed with worry. If he had shouted like this back then, countless people would have advised him to keep Su Yu at home.
"Let's hold a banquet. It's a rare and joyous occasion, even more so than when the child gets married. We must hold a banquet to give the child face." After reading the letter, Old Man Su put it directly into his pocket, with no intention of returning it.
"I'll write to Su Yu first. If she can come back, we'll hold the banquet." Ning Jin still insisted on consulting Su Yu's opinion, prioritizing her availability.
"Isn't there a telegram? Sending a telegram or a letter back and forth would take until she gets back, and school will be starting soon." Old Man Su thought of something, took out the letter and read it again.
"Xiao Wu is here? I think I heard you say that my two grandsons got into university?" Yu Anxiu came out and asked.
"Yes, Mom, you heard me right."
"Hey, Xiao Wu, why does this letter say Su Yuan? Did the youngest son make a mistake?" Old Man Su asked his son-in-law, somewhat excited and suspicious.
“Xiao Yuan changed his surname. Su Yu changed it a year ago when she came back from school. Su Yu left the day after he changed it, and I left too. I didn’t have time to tell her. It wasn’t a big deal, so I forgot about it.” He didn’t expect that the two elders didn’t know. It seemed that the two children didn’t take it seriously either.
Old Man Su and Old Woman exchanged a glance. He clenched his fist, then relaxed and clenched it again. He slapped Ning Jin and complained, "How can it not be a big deal? To me, my grandson has become my grandson, how can that not be a big deal?"
The elderly couple were filled with excitement, even more so than when they learned that their two children had been admitted to university.
"Whether it's Xu Yuan or Su Yuan, isn't he still Xiao Yuan? The child is still the same child, and the grandson and granddaughter are still him. Mom and Dad, don't take it too seriously. Xiao Yuan and his mother didn't take it to heart." Ning Jin was afraid that the old couple would get upset again, so she kept persuading them.
Old Man Su glared at him, quite dissatisfied with his nonchalant tone. He would only have the right to speak so casually if Ning Ping'an changed his surname to Su.
Ningjin left, and Old Man Su led the sheep back into the house. He went into the bedroom, and the old lady followed him in.
“Su Yuan got into university, so we grandparents have to show our appreciation. How about we give him a 200 yuan red envelope?” He pulled out the money from the bottom of the box and counted it again. The rice and flour he had been eating over the years were either distributed by the village according to work points or given to him by his daughters. Every year on his birthday and during festivals, his four daughters would give him money. He had been saving it up but hadn’t used it. Last year, he spent some money to buy four sheep. Now he had 800 yuan left. After selling the sheep at the end of the year, he would earn more than 100 yuan.
"Give Xiaoyuan two hundred, and Ping'an fifty? That's quite a difference." The old man was conflicted. He was reluctant to give Ping'an one hundred, but he felt that giving Su Yuan one hundred was too little.
The old lady sat to the side without saying a word. The old man had previously discussed with her that he would give her 100 yuan for her biological grandson and 50 yuan for her step-grandson. Now that Xiao Yuan had changed his surname to Su and was born to her own daughter, she wouldn't mind if the old man gave her 500 yuan.
"Give Xiaoyuan two hundred, and Ping'an one hundred. Anyway, Ping'an's biological mother is dead, so he's my grandson with a different surname." Old Man Su gritted his teeth and divided up three hundred yuan.
On the other side, after receiving the telegram, Su Yu went to the school to say hello to her classmates who were also staying on campus instead of going home. Then she took the two soon-to-be college students and took the train back to her hometown. The house had already been bought and transferred. She planned to take the train from Ningjin when she came back and bring Xiao Hei and Xiao Hua, who were being cared for by the elderly couple.
Ning Jin took leave to shop at home. He found out from a colleague about a good chef and arranged a date with him the day after Su Yu and her two sons arrived home.
"Brother Qiu and Brother Yu, why didn't you bring your wives and children?" Su Yu led the two children to greet them and took them to Aunt Wu's house next door. The house was small, and with the stove and pots already wrapped up, there was no room to put a table, so the meal was placed at the neighbor's house.
“They can’t come. If they all come, my family can fill a whole table.” Qiu Fuli took out two red envelopes from his pocket and slapped them on Xiao Yuan and Ping An. “Goodness, you’re really promising. Here, here are red envelopes for you two. Use them for school. Don’t give them to your mom.”
"Thank you, Uncle Qiu."
Yu Yuan'an also took out two red envelopes and handed them to them, patting them on the shoulder and saying, "Keep studying hard, you're lucky to be born in such a great era."
"Thank you, Uncle Yu."
"Don't worry about us, we're all old acquaintances. You're the busiest people today, so hurry up and go out, lest guests come and can't find their hosts," Qiu Fuli said.
After watching the three leave, Qiu Fuli took the kettle on the table, poured himself a bowl of water, and listened to the commotion outside. He said enviously, "I can't count on my two sons anymore. Now I'm just hoping my little girl can pass the exam, and then my grandson. I'll throw a big banquet for anyone who passes."
Yu Yuan'an remained silent. His eldest son and second daughter were promising students, but they were getting old; the children were almost ready for elementary school. He had tried desperately to persuade them to take the college entrance exam back then, but by the time he came to his senses, the college entrance exam system had gradually improved and now had age requirements. His third daughter and youngest son, who were of age, were both stubborn and only wanted to work in the orchard, so it seemed their chances of going to university were slim.
"Mom and Dad, you've arrived. Did you walk here?" Su Yu asked.
"Hmm, Su Yuan and Ping An are really promising. Here, this is a red envelope from your grandpa. Continue to study hard in college and contribute to the country's development after graduation." Old Man Su ignored his youngest daughter and handed the red envelopes directly to the two children.
Su Yu glanced at the two red envelopes and noticed that they were different thicknesses. She immediately reached out and stopped them, saying, "You and my mother are old and don't have the ability to earn money. The sentiment is enough. There's no need to give them red envelopes."
"Why not? I raise sheep. I can keep two this year and sell four more." Old Man Su refused and insisted on giving money. Su Yu wouldn't let him, and with a push and pull, the red envelope was transferred to her hand. Once it was given out, Old Man Su immediately went inside, afraid that his youngest daughter would try to give it back to him.
Su Yu clutched the red envelope and said, "What a stubborn old man. Xiao Yuan is safe and sound. Do you think Er Ya is looking for you two?"
Er Ya saw Xiao Yuan looking over and immediately waved.
The two boys walked over, and Su Yu turned around and went back into the house. She opened the red envelope and clicked her tongue, saying, "That's really generous, more than I gave in total." She and Ning Jin each gave twenty yuan, and she took money out of the cabinet and stuffed another hundred yuan into Ping An's red envelope.
"Here, your grandparents gave it to you." She went out and gave the red envelopes to the two of them.
"In the end, it'll still be yours, so you can keep it," Ping An said.
"Just to indulge in the pleasure of counting money."
Seeing that no one was coming, Ping An tucked the old book Er Ya had given him under his arm, opened the red envelope, clicked his tongue in surprise, and turned to Xiao Yuan to ask, "Mom, you didn't give the wrong red envelope, did you? Xiao Yuan, how much is yours?"
"two hundred."
"Grandpa and Grandma made a fortune? Mine is two hundred too."
“Your grandparents are happy because they’ve divided all ten of their sheep equally between you two. When I got into university, your grandpa didn’t give me a single penny,” Su Yu said sourly.
"Hehe, old people love children. Mom, you're getting old, no one likes you anymore." Ping An couldn't keep his mouth shut when he was happy, and even if he said something wrong and got his ear pulled, he was still happy.
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