“Grandma, if we don’t order enough of these tables and chairs, they won’t let us order, so I ordered a few extra sets. Could you please help me sell one set? We can still sell two more sets for Chenming’s courtyard house.” Ye Huiguo walked up and said to Grandma Yan with a smile.
Grandma Yan didn't understand: "Nan Nan, did Chen'er's father tell me to eat the table and chairs? Why do I need to digest this?"
Yan Xiaonan hugged Grandma Yan tightly: "Grandma, Uncle Ye meant for us to take a set back, not for you to eat it."
Sheng Lijuan smiled and said, "Grandma, you are the best grandma I have ever met, without a doubt. Tonight, Huiguo, Chen'er, and I are moving in. We'll be having dinner here later. I've prepared a lot of Shanghai dishes."
"Okay, okay, I'll eat here, but I have to give a gift, something like a housewarming gift." Grandma Yan started taking money out of her pocket and generously counted out twenty yuan and handed it to Sheng Lijuan.
Sheng Lijuan took a ten-yuan note from Grandma Yan's hand: "Grandma, this is enough. I have to return the favor later, so you can't refuse."
Grandma Yan smiled broadly, "We're all family, no need to return the gift, don't be so formal."
Ye Huiguo, Ye Chen'er, and Yan Xiaonan and her father went to help carry the luggage. Cuihua let Grandma Yan sit on the chair with the umbrella and enjoy the scenery, while she and Sheng Lijuan went into the kitchen.
Yan Xiaonan helped Ye Chen'er roll up all the bedding and blankets she and her parents had used, tied them tightly with a rope, and put them into the basket that Yan Xiaoqiang had prepared. He then let Yan Xiaoqiang carry the load over first, and the three of them each took two suitcases, locked all the doors of the houses, and went to the two-courtyard house.
Ye Chen'er guessed that Yan Daqiang and Xue Ying might come back, so she specially put a note on the door: "We are in the new house."
Sure enough, just as the two girls had finished making their bedding and putting away their luggage in the west wing, Yan Daqiang's loud voice came from outside: "Household festivities! I've come to join in the fun."
Everyone rushed out to greet them. Three or four men unloaded a lot of things from the car, including a bicycle, a sewing machine, a television, a radio with two speakers, and boxes of pastries and candies.
Grandma Yan knew that her eldest son had come to deliver betrothal gifts today, but it was not appropriate to make a fuss about it at the moment, so she used the excuse of housewarming gifts to subtly change the subject.
After the items were moved, Baoguo saw the men out and then stood guard at the hanging flower gate. After Yan Daqiang and the others sat down, Xue Ying took out a pair of Rolex watches and 1,800 yuan from her bag.
"My dear in-laws, this is just a small token of our appreciation. We hope that the two children can grow old together and make progress together."
Ye Huiguo generously accepted the betrothal gifts. When Ye Chen'er gets married, these things will be taken back as part of her dowry, and he will also add some more to them.
Yan Aidang rushed over from outside. He knew that his parents would be giving betrothal gifts today on the occasion of moving to a new house, so he went to his best friend's place to get the ring. It was a diamond ring that had just become popular in Hong Kong.
She took out a red velvet box from the inside pocket of her suit. When she opened the box, two diamond rings sparkled under the light. Ye Chen'er stood up, her eyes slightly red.
"Chen'er, I hope our marriage will be as brilliant and steadfast as a diamond. You will never regret marrying me."
Yan Xiaonan couldn't help but recall an advertisement from her past life: "A diamond is forever."
Ye Chen'er nodded repeatedly: "Nan Nan is right, diamonds are forever, a diamond is forever. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the gifts. Thank you, Brother Aidang, for your kindness. Thank you, Nan Nan, for your blessings. I am very lucky to have married into the Yan family."
Yan Xiaonan led the applause, and everyone followed suit. A new couple was about to be born, and today was a wonderful beginning. The road ahead was long, and the two of them would hold hands and stand shoulder to shoulder to face all the happiness and hardships together.
Sheng Lijuan, Cuihua, and Xue Ying got busy, running between the kitchen and the courtyard. Yan Daqiang, Yan Xiaoqiang, and Ye Huiguo also helped set out the dishes. The most important thing was the wine. Ye Huiguo brought out a bottle of red wine, but it was met with a cold shoulder. Red wine was not as fragrant as white wine. Xue Ying glared at him and said that they had to drink red wine today.
Yan Xiaonan smelled the aroma of sweet and sour pork ribs, pine nut fish, and pickled seafood. She quickly took out a handkerchief to cover her chin so she could wipe away any drool she might drool.
The dishes were laid out, the wine was poured, and everyone looked happy, especially the two soon-to-be-married couple, who were full of hope for the future.
Grandma Yan called Bao Bao to come over for dinner, but Bao Guo refused. "What a joke! Today is the day the leader proposes marriage. Why should I join in?" Yan Daqiang went to the kitchen, filled a large bowl with rice and vegetables, and sent it out. "This child is so loyal to me. I can't let him go hungry."
Aside from Ye Huiguo, Sheng Lijuan, Ye Chen'er, and Yan Aidang, who took a couple of sips of the red wine, almost no one touched it anymore. Yan Daqiang thought that red wine was for women, since it was only a dozen degrees alcohol, and even mouthwash tasted better than red wine.
Cuihua carefully savored each dish. She had eaten Shanghai cuisine before, and her master liked to cook things like Grandma's Braised Pork. Sometimes, children would catch eels by the river, and her master would buy them and cook them into dishes like Chestnut Eel Tubes. The taste was really delicious.
Chen'er's mother's cooking skills were good today, but slightly inferior to the chef's. Perhaps the stove and pot can affect the color, aroma, and taste of food. Thinking of the chef, Cuihua couldn't stay calm: "Chen'er, when are your grandma and aunt coming?"
"Tomorrow, it'll be there by noon tomorrow, Auntie. I almost forgot if you hadn't asked. Nan Nan, could you ask for leave for me tomorrow? I need to go to the train station to pick up my grandma and aunt." Ye Chen'er tapped her head.
Cuihua quickly said, "I'll go tomorrow too. Your grandma is my teacher, how can I not go? Also, come to my place for dinner tomorrow, I'll get up early to prepare the food."
Yan Xiaonan quickly agreed to help Ye Chen'er ask for leave the next day. She felt a little sorry for her mother, who had to cook so many dishes by herself. She thought it would be great if there were a big restaurant where everyone could just go out for a meal at mealtimes, saving time and effort.
"I'll bring some vegetables over tomorrow and we can cook together," Sheng Lijuan quickly said. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were coming, so how could she not make something of herself?
Cuihua nodded quickly. It was quite tiring to cook for the whole family by herself, and the main problem was that there wouldn't be enough time tomorrow. If Xuemei were here, that would be great. Cuihua missed Xuemei's efficiency immensely.
After a satisfying meal, Ye Chen'er and Yan Xiaonan helped clear the table, while Sheng Lijuan and Cuihua busied themselves washing dishes and boiling water. Yan Aidang diligently swept the courtyard. Yan Daqiang and Yan Xiaoqiang, having drunk too much, wanted to sleep, so Baoguo helped Yan Xiaoqiang, and Xue Ying helped Yan Daqiang walk home.
Just as they reached the door, Cai Min's cold laughter rang out: "You two certainly know how to enjoy yourselves. You've been drinking to your hearts' content, leaving your second brother and sister-in-law at the door. And there's a sign saying it's in the new house. Where's the new house? They're not even married yet. Are they already sleeping together?"
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