Chapter 43: Heading to Lumen Island Again
After returning to the village, Zhang Ze smelled the rich aroma of bone soup before even entering the house.
It’s no wonder that the bone soup tasted as appetizing as pork. After being busy all day and not having a full meal at noon, his stomach immediately started to growl.
Maybe the smell was too strong and it attracted a group of people nearby.
When Zhang Ze walked into the house, he saw a neighbor lady who didn't have much contact with his family.
"Huihong, what kind of meat are you cooking? It smells so good."
"There is no meat at all, just some meatless bones. This thing is not worth money without a ticket. The children's uncle has a friend who sells pork. These bones were not sold yet, so I asked him to bring some over. I cooked them for the children to satisfy their cravings."
Zhang Huihong said with a forced smile. She was standing at the door, looking like she was blocking the door and not letting anyone in.
"Can bones be boiled so deliciously? Can you give me some? My daughter-in-law is pregnant now, and I don't know what nutritious food to give her. This bone soup should be good."
"Next time I have a chance I'll make some bones to make soup and send some to you."
The neighbor lady seemed to be speaking with embarrassment, but in fact she was being very blunt and taking it for granted that she was asking for things.
Zhang Ze sneered when he heard this. Even though pork ribs are cheap and free of charge, rural people are reluctant to buy them just because there is no meat.
The neighbor lady said this, isn't she just trying to get something for nothing?
Hearing the laughter, they both looked at Zhang Ze at the gate of the yard.
Zhang Huihong saw him coming back and hurriedly greeted him: "Aze, you're back? Hurry up and wash your hands and go eat. Our family is poor, and we finally made some bone soup. Go in and drink it quickly so that others won't worry about you."
Zhang Ze nodded. The neighbor aunt’s mother could handle it, so he went into the house to cook the yellow croaker.
When the neighbor heard this, her face darkened immediately. She looked at his back and said, "Huihong, Aze is already 20 years old, it's time to ask someone to find a matchmaker!"
"Why, do you have someone to introduce?" Zhang Huihong would not tell anyone that her son was going to Lumen Island for a blind date tomorrow.
This is not something that has been completely confirmed yet, and if you tell others about it, something unexpected might happen.
"Well, I do have several nieces, and they are old enough. But your family..." The neighbor auntie deliberately frowned, "My nieces are too skinny to work. If they fall in love, it will only cause trouble for your family. With one more mouth to feed, you may not even be able to drink bone soup in the future. Forget it!"
"That's better than my daughter-in-law being pregnant and not being able to get any nutritious food, and having to go to other people's homes to beg for food." Zhang Huihong rolled her eyes and slammed the door shut.
Before, she was a little concerned about the neighbor, and she didn't want to make it too embarrassing, but in the end, he was getting on her nerves. Did he really think she was an easy person to talk to? If the bone soup hadn't been too strong and attracted the attention of the neighbors around, she wouldn't have needed to open the door to deal with the neighbors who came to ask about it, and make up a story.
Otherwise others would think that their family had done something secretly to be able to eat meat, and then report them.
After all, Zhang Ze was indeed engaged in speculation and profiteering, and Zhang Huihong was really afraid that someone would do something bad.
When the neighbor lady saw the door was closed, she pouted and walked away angrily.
Zhang Huihong walked into the house and her eyelids twitched when she saw her son pouring a lot of oil to cook the yellow croaker.
"Oh my goodness, son, can't you be more careful? You poured so much oil to cook a big yellow croaker, but if the fumes came out, people would think it was New Year's Day at our house."
"We've been cooking oil residue and chicken for a while now, and today we're boiling bones. If we keep going like this, we'll be careful that one day the captain and a few enemies will come to our house to investigate!"
Zhang Ze was stunned when he heard this: "Is it that serious?"
Zhang Huihong sighed: "Alas, there are only a few families in the village who often eat such good food. Our family is poor, and it is impossible for others not to be jealous of such a big change!"
"Okay, I'll be more careful next time." Zhang Ze sighed when he heard that. It was too difficult. He didn't want to stand out. He just wanted to have a good meal.
It is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. After experiencing the environment in the future, it is indeed difficult for him to return to the present and eat coarse vegetables.
But that’s all in the future. Tonight’s meal is still quite delicious.
The soup had been on the table for most of the day and was now lukewarm and not so hot anymore.
The soup has the sweetness of radish and corn. The radish is soft and the corn is crispy, tender and sweet. It is very delicious. Unfortunately, I have to be more low-key next.
It’s better to eat seafood in the future. Eating meat often does seem a bit ostentatious.
Zhang Ze cannot move to the county town yet, mainly because next year the land will be distributed according to the household contract responsibility system, and it will be hard to predict what will happen if his family leaves the land.
Moreover, it is a hassle for rural people to move to the city because it is difficult to know where the money comes from, even for renting a house.
Early the next morning, Zhang Zexian went to the beach and found eleven lobsters.
The harvest from the five shrimp cages was not as much as expected, and one was even empty.
But at the moment he has no better place to put the shrimp cage, so he can only make do with it for the time being.
When he returned home, Zhang's mother urged him to change his clothes because he was going on a blind date today.
Zhang Ze didn't have any good clothes, so he could only wear the only one without patches.
Fortunately, he looks good and seems energetic.
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After having breakfast and resting for a while, around eight o'clock, Aunt Fang came to his house and took him to a blind date.
At this time, the Tong family was also making preparations.
Lu Man combed her daughter's hair herself today. Looking at her charming face in the mirror, she sighed, "I never thought that our fifth daughter would get married in the blink of an eye."
Tong Shuyao was a little shy: "Mom, what are you talking about? Today is just a blind date, not my wedding!"
"That will be soon. Although your father and I have never met Aze, your brother said he is a good kid. He can help your brother make money, and he should make a lot of money himself. Your life will be better if you marry him in the future."
In this era, blind dating and marriage are more straightforward. Basically, as long as both parents are satisfied and the boy is satisfied, the matter is settled, and the girl's opinion is not important.
However, most girls listen to their parents, even if they are unwilling in their hearts, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many cases of forced marriage.
Tong Shuyao also listened to her parents, but at least she had met Zhang Ze and learned some about the situation, so she did not feel aversion to him.
Time slowly came to around ten o'clock, and Zhang Ze followed Aunt Fang to Tong's house.
The first thing he saw were three men at the door, one of whom was Tong Yuanhang.
Zhang Ze was stunned when he saw this, then he stepped forward with a smile: "Ah Hang, what's going on with you guys? You made me think I was here to seek revenge."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Tong Yuanhang walked up to him and patted his shoulder unhappily, then introduced his two younger brothers to him respectively.
Zhang Ze smiled and greeted the two of them, handing them the gifts he bought: "I bought some things. Last time I heard that you have two little ones, so I bought some egg cakes, peach cakes, and milk candies."
"You're coming here for a blind date as if you were visiting relatives. Why are you buying so many things?" Tong Yuanhang said.
But when he saw the big piece of fat meat weighing at least three pounds and various snacks, the smile on his face became even brighter.
The movement at the door attracted the attention of the people in the house. Lu Man hurried out of the door and saw that people had arrived. He immediately welcomed them into the house warmly.
After entering the room, Zhang Ze saw Tong Shuyao, who was shyly lowering her head. The girl had just glanced at him secretly, but when she noticed his gaze, she was frightened and immediately lowered her head, which made him laugh.
There was a more mature young woman sitting next to her, probably her sister.
Finally, there is the head of the Tong family, a dark-skinned man with a fierce look and short stature.
(End of this chapter)
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