After seeing Qian Rao and his wife leave, Qian Duoduo went into the state-run restaurant and asked the waitress who was wiping the table, "Sister Qiao, are you busy? Is Comrade Wang here?"
When the waitress saw Qian Duoduo walk in, she immediately smiled and said, "Yes, I'm in the kitchen. Please wait a moment!" Then she walked towards the kitchen.
Not long after, Fatty Wang and Master Nan came out. Seeing Qian Duoduo, Fatty Wang said with a smile, "Oh my, who is this? Isn't this our little Qian girl?"
Qian Duoduo said with a smile, "Uncle Wang, are you making fun of me?"
Fatty Wang laughed and said, "It's almost Chinese New Year, what brings you here?"
Qian Duoduo smiled and said, "I came to discuss with Uncle Wang that my family wants to hold a banquet and we need to buy vegetables and such. You know how it is in our rural area, some things are not easy to buy, so I wanted Uncle Wang to help me see if he could get some meat."
Fatty Wang laughed: "That's not a problem. What kind of banquet are you hosting? Is your third brother getting married?"
Qian Duoduo shook her head and said, "No."
Fatty Wang looked at Qian Duoduo suspiciously: "It can't be you getting married, can it? How old are you!"
Qian Duoduo laughed: "Uncle Wang, no, it's like this, I took the college entrance examination a while ago and got into Northeast Agricultural University in our province. My dad is so happy that he insists on throwing a banquet to entertain our friends."
Upon hearing this, Fatty Wang and Master Nan looked at Qian Duoduo in surprise, sizing up the young girl they had known for quite some time but who left a deep impression on them. After all, every time they met, this girl would bring some surprises, and now she was even a college student.
Master Nan smiled and said, "Young lady Qian, congratulations! I never expected that I, Old Nan, would know a college student!"
Fatty Wang nodded in agreement, smiling as he said, "That's right, it's something to be proud of!"
Qian Duoduo said with a smile, "It's only because our country resumed the college entrance examination that we have this opportunity."
Fatty Wang laughed and said, "Okay, what day do you plan to hold it?"
Qian Duoduo said, "On the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, I wonder if Uncle Wang and Master Nan will have time to grace my humble abode with their presence and attend my graduation banquet?"
Fatty Wang laughed and said, "Of course I have time, Master Nan. Can you leave?"
Chef Nan said, "I'm not the only chef in our kitchen. I'll definitely go when the time comes."
Fatty Wang laughed: "Then let's go together."
Qian Duoduo smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll sweep up the dust at home to welcome you!"
Fatty Wang laughed and said, "Look at this college student, he's really something else. He speaks so eloquently. Just now it was 'You've graced my humble abode,' and now it's 'We've swept the floor to welcome you.' It sounds so satisfying!"
Master Nan nodded in agreement, and Qian Duoduo said, "Uncle Wang, I'll tell you what dishes we need when I come to the county market on the day before the Lunar New Year."
Fatty Wang nodded: "Okay, that's no problem!"
Master Nan asked, "Is there anything else you need later?"
Qian Duoduo said, "I'm going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things later. Then I'll go to the post office to mail letters to my older brothers."
Master Nan nodded and said, "Come over in a bit, I'll make you some braised pork!"
Qian Duoduo laughed and said, "Master Nan, if you put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony. Your braised pork is something I crave after not having it for a while!"
Master Nan smiled and pointed at Qian Duoduo: "Even if you wanted to eat it, I didn't see you come to eat it!"
Qian Duoduo sighed and said, "Master Nan, you're wronging me. I've been studying every day during this period, studying like crazy, as long as I don't die. How could I have time to come to the county to eat braised pork? Back then, even if you gave me a clove of garlic, I wouldn't be able to taste the spiciness!"
Master Nan sighed and said, "Young lady Qian, it takes your drive to get into university. Among the people around us who take the college entrance exam, very few can pass. I think what we lack is your drive!"
Qian Duoduo smiled and said, "The college entrance examination is like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge. Some people make it across, and naturally some people fall into the river! I just worked a little harder and was a little lucky!"
After leaving the state-run restaurant, Qian Duoduo arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative. Seeing the huge crowd inside, she immediately felt reluctant to go in. She was afraid that if she went in, she wouldn't be able to get out, and she was turned away.
She turned and walked towards the post office, where she saw two people walking towards her angrily. She looked up and exclaimed, "Oh, isn't this Fourth Brother and his wife? What's going on?"
She went to greet him: "Fourth Brother, what's wrong?"
Qian Rao smiled and said, "What are you doing here?"
Qian Duoduo said, "I made an appointment with Uncle Wang at the state-run restaurant. I just went to the supply and marketing cooperative, and wow, it was packed with old people! I didn't dare to squeeze in with those elderly folks, so I thought I'd go mail a letter to my older brothers first." She glanced at Wen Yugui, who was silent with a sullen face, and said, "Let's go to the post office first!"
The other two nodded and followed behind Qian Duoduo. Wen Yugui was still uncomfortable, and Qian Rao also sighed helplessly. Aunt Wen was quite good to her nephews and nieces, but it was true that Uncle Wen valued his own nephews and nieces more. The two of them had brought gifts to the door, but they were still being treated rudely and bossed around. Seeing his wife being mistreated there, he was also unhappy, so he immediately took Wen Yugui away.
At the door, Wen Yugui told her somewhat embarrassed Aunt Wen to take care of herself and that she would come to see her again in the future, and then left.
Qian Duoduo didn't know what had happened at the Wen family's house, but she could tell from her fourth sister-in-law's expression that things weren't going well.
Sending the letter at the post office was quick. After the three of them came out, Qian Duoduo said, "Let's go, forget about being unhappy. Someone's treating me to braised pork. You guys are so lucky!"
Upon hearing this, Qian Rao immediately asked, "Who invited you?"
Qian Duoduo smiled and said, "Master Nan!"
Wen Yugui's thoughts were diverted by Qian Duoduo: "Master Nan's braised pork is a specialty in the county town, and he rarely makes it himself anymore."
Qian Duoduo said, "That's right, don't you know who I am? Master Nan and I are close friends despite our age difference!"
Qian Rao said with a smile, "Since it's so rare, let's go and try it!"
The three sat at the dining table, looking at the plate of braised pork in front of them. Qian Duoduo said, "Chef Nan truly deserves to be the top chef in our state-run restaurant. The aroma and the color are top-notch. I can't resist anymore, I have to try a piece first!"
Master Nan leaned against the wall and watched Qian Duoduo eat like a little hamster. He smiled and said to Fatty Wang sitting next to him, "This little girl is quite interesting. Watching her like this makes me happy."
Fatty Wang snorted: "That's just how you are. If you like someone, you'll find even their heels nice. If you don't like someone, you'll complain about the smell of a flower!"
Master Nan rolled his eyes at him, as if you weren't that kind of person!
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