Zhang Guoqing seated Zhou Jiao next to his sisters-in-law. Since everyone at the table was familiar, he wasn't worried about anyone getting angry at his wife. He took his three brothers, who were determined not to embarrass Grandpa, and went to the front.
"Have a glass of water to warm yourself up first. Where did you go? You must have been freezing outside. My sister-in-law and I have been looking for you for a long time."
Zhou Jiao took the cup Lin Juhua handed her and smiled at them, "I just happened to run into an acquaintance and chatted with them for a while."
"Jiaojiao, have you seen Yuanyuan's wedding quilts?" Huang Cuilan lowered her voice. "I was stunned by them just now in the new house. One red, one green, one thin, one thick, four quilts and four covers, all with soft satin covers. And that doesn't even include the blankets, towels, and other miscellaneous items. I heard her family spent four years preparing them."
"It makes me shudder. You're talking about spending money on a daughter's education and asking for such a large dowry. Who can afford to raise a daughter? I'm even worried about what's going to happen to Mai Miao in the future."
What a shallow-eyed person!
Zhou Jiao's mouth twitched when she heard this.
Lin Juhua was separated from Huang Cuilan by Zhou Jiao. Her voice was so soft and there were many people chatting around her that she didn't know what Huang Cuilan said for a moment. However, judging from her sister-in-law's expression, it was probably not a good thing.
Seeing this, she smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, no matter how much you like Jiaojiao, you can’t ignore us, right?”
The young wives at the table immediately joined in the joke and for a moment they lost their previous restraint.
Zhou Jiao echoed a few words absentmindedly, glancing at the four men in front of her. She didn't know what they were saying, but they were laughing and having a great time.
…
"This time you're coming back to celebrate the New Year before leaving, right?"
Zhou Jiao shook her head. "I'm leaving tomorrow and have to rush back to work."
"What a pity. Then next time you come back, be sure to come to my house. I live near your courtyard, you should still remember where it is?"
Zhou Jiao smiled faintly and nodded.
"Jiaojiao, come with Auntie." Cheng Hongli had come to her side without her knowing when. "You two sisters should chat first. I'll borrow someone first."
Zhou Jiao glanced at the hand she was holding, smiled helplessly, and could only follow her away. The ceremony was about to begin, so why would anyone need her help?
As expected, Cheng Hongli pulled her to the front to sit down. "Let's go to the front so we can see Yuanyuan clearly. Your mother-in-law and your Aunt Zuo are waiting for you there."
Zhang Guoqing, who was seated over there, waved when he saw her coming over, then lowered his head and said jokingly to a young man in his thirties next to him, "Comrade Lao Yu, Comrade Zhou Jiao is here."
"I knew my sister was coming a long time ago. Do I need you to remind me?" The other party glanced at him.
"You are so arrogant, my hands are itching."
"Come on, I'm not afraid of you now. Last time you cheated me and gave me a headache for two days, so be careful. I'll see if I can't get you drunk to death."
Zuo Lin was nearby, and upon hearing their familiar conversation, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. According to his research, the team leader wasn't from the capital.
At the same time, Zhou Jiao, who was approaching, was also very curious. While greeting everyone present, she approached Zhang Guoqing and looked around.
"Don't look for it anymore, your sister-in-law didn't come."
Zhou Jiao took a step forward and asked in a low voice: "Why haven't I heard that you were sent here because you made a mistake?" Of course this was a joke. You could tell by the fact that he was invited as a VIP.
Yu Shihai winked at her and said softly, "Besides me, your other brothers are also working in various places. We can talk when we get home."
Hehe...but when it comes to buddies who have a close relationship with Zhang Guoqing, everyone is used to teasing him, so Zhou Jiao has many brothers, and Zhang Guoqing naturally has many self-proclaimed "brothers-in-law".
Zhou Jiao winked knowingly and secretly nudged Zhang Guoqing. "They must be investigating the team. They don't want to avoid suspicion, yet you're still chatting so enthusiastically."
Zhang Guoqing gave her a soothing smile. Unlike his wife, who avoided things, he preferred to take the initiative. He knew it was the only way he would expose their relationship. This was to prevent any future accidents here, and him coming back to his hometown to plead for mercy.
He even thought of an excuse - you see, the other party is still my buddy, but he still doesn't show any mercy, it's useless for me to find someone else.
Haha... Zhang Guoqing doesn't believe that these people can be arrested even though they are guaranteed not to be wrongfully accused. They really haven't committed corruption and abuse of power to enrich themselves.
Even though there was a lot of laughter and conversation around, the table was full of smart people, and Zhou Jiao, as a woman, didn't want to have too much contact with Yu Shihai.
Especially since Yu Shihai and his wife have always taken good care of her, she doesn't want anyone to use her to get close to Yu Shihai.
…
Dishes began to arrive in the cafeteria one after another: a plate of braised pork liver with cabbage, a plate of pork belly stewed with beans, a plate of sweet and sour spare ribs, a plate of braised river fish, and a large bowl of mutton offal soup.
There were four dishes and a soup, and each table had a basket of steamed buns made from two grams of flour.
Unlike autumn, when fruits and vegetables are on the market, it is now the twelfth lunar month, and it is a big deal to still have such standards.
For example, many of Zhou Jiao’s colleagues found it very easy to get married.
Before getting married, you apply for a wedding house and move out of the dormitory; then you get a double bed and tables and chairs from the company. The house and furniture still belong to the company, and the usage fee is deducted from your salary every month.
The so-called wedding quilt is the quilts of two people put together. If the conditions are good, one or two new quilts can be made. The dress worn on the wedding day is the same as the one worn on ordinary days, which is washed and ironed. There is no need to go to a restaurant or invite people to dinner, but just give out some wedding candies in the form of tea to sweeten people's mouths.
As the food arrived, a young man wearing glasses appeared in the open space in front of the Chairman’s portrait hanging high, and started playing the accordion, playing the familiar melody of "The East is Red".
"The bride is coming..."
Amidst the noisy laughter, a group of young people surrounded the grinning Zhang Yuntao and the blushing Zhao Yuanyuan.
Zhou Jiao glanced at the three brothers who were sitting obediently beside her and clapping with the elders, then glanced at the group of children who were squeezing in and smiled.
When the melody of "The Helmsman is the Key to the Voyage on the Sea" sounded, Cheng Hongli's eyes were already red when she saw her daughter in front of her. She only woke up and smiled when her mother Zhang beside her clapped her hands.
The wedding officially begins only after the bride is picked up.
Li Qinglin's father Li Aiguo served as the witness, and Zhao Yuanyuan and her husband stood in front and took the oath holding the marriage certificate that looked like an award certificate.
"Always be loyal to the Chairman, adhere to the socialist path..., unite and help each other, work hard to support our families, learn from each other, and make progress together..."
After the solemn ceremony, Li Aiguo withdrew, and the couple, who had become a real couple, became the object of everyone's ridicule, and the traditional cigarette-loading ceremony was moved to the evening when they returned home.
"Love will eventually marry." This wedding banquet was both grand and lively. It was already evening when it ended. Except for the guests who stayed overnight, everyone gradually dispersed.
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