Mr. Ding was very satisfied with his son-in-law Li Chu in all aspects, except that he felt Li Chu sometimes spent money too extravagantly.
He went to work that day, and only found out when he came back that his son-in-law had given him some cigarettes and alcohol.
When he opened it, wow, it had Daqianmen, Mudan, and a carton of Zhonghua cigarettes with filters. Could a worker like him smoke these?
The most expensive cigarette he usually smokes is Beihai, which costs two cents a pack.
There were also liquors—Fenjiu, Xifeng, and even Wuliangye and Moutai, and more than one bottle of each. It made his liver tremble.
Then look at what he's drinking; it's mostly bulk liquor. He's practically celebrating the New Year by drinking Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).
What is this son-in-law trying to do? Is he not going to marry her?
He didn't want to say anything in front of his son-in-law and brother-in-law today because he didn't know if his son-in-law had given it only to him or if his brother-in-law had some as well.
But after sitting here chatting for a while, looking at the peanuts, melon seeds, and candies on the stone table, and then at the good tea leaves brewing in the teacup, Ding's father finally couldn't help but say, "This isn't how you live!"
"Ahem," Ding's father cleared his throat and looked at Li Chu, saying, "Little Chu, we ordinary people have to live our lives slowly and steadily."
Ding's father pointed to the things on the table and said, "It's not Chinese New Year, why did you buy these things? We're all family, this is such a waste."
"Dad..." Li Chu was interrupted by Ding's father waving his hand before he could finish speaking.
"And also, that day you..." Ding's father paused, looked at Wang Ziwen, and hesitated.
Wang Ziwen immediately understood what Ding's father wanted to say from his expression and began to finish what he was saying.
"Uncle Ding," Wang Ziwen smiled and said, "You mean the cigarettes and alcohol that Xiao Chu gave you a few days ago? I know about that."
When Ding's father saw that Wang Ziwen knew about this, he was visibly relieved. It was good that he knew, but he was worried that if he had spoken out rashly, it might have caused some conflict between his son-in-law and his brother-in-law.
"Ziwen, since you know, I'll just say it outright."
“Xiao Chu, those cigarettes and alcohol you took over, do you think I, an ordinary worker, could afford to use them? I don’t care about these things. Your mother and I just hope that the two of you can live your own lives well. Why spend money on these things that don’t fill your stomachs?”
After Ding's father finished speaking, Wang Ziwen immediately spoke up to explain on Li Chu's behalf.
"Uncle Ding, it's like this. The cigarettes and alcohol that Xiao Chu gave you weren't bought with his own money."
Ding's father was stunned when he heard Wang Ziwen's words. No money? It came from the wind?
“Uncle Ding, your son-in-law is really capable. Those things were gifts he received from people he treated. He has now quit smoking and drinking, and he’s sharing these things with you and me.”
"Oh, I see. Ziwen, isn't it wrong for Xiao Chu to collect these things in secret?" Upon hearing this, Ding's father thought to himself, "Wow, having a skill really makes a difference."
Li Chu sat beside him and listened without saying a word. There were some things he couldn't say, because saying them would always give people the feeling of showing off.
But if it comes from the brother-in-law's mouth, then the father-in-law will only be happy for his son-in-law.
Wang Ziwen picked up his teacup, took a sip of water, and continued, "No problem, Uncle Ding. Besides, Xiao Chu has stopped all his side jobs because of a job adjustment."
slkslk.
"Job adjustment? How was it adjusted?" Ding's father put down the teacup he had just picked up and asked hurriedly.
Wang Ziwen glanced at Li Chu, and seeing that he didn't react, she continued, "Your son-in-law is now doing an extra job in his department, and he earns three hundred yuan a month."
"Oh my!" Dad Ding slapped his thigh. "This is great news! Haha, Ziwen, Xiao Chu doesn't drink now, so have a couple more drinks with me later. Let's celebrate for Xiao Chu."
"Okay, Uncle Ding, I'll have a drink with you later."
At this moment, Ding Qiunan came out of the kitchen and called out, "Li Chu, bring the dining table out to the yard. The dishes are ready."
When buying furniture this time, Li Chu specifically bought a larger dining table, which can comfortably seat ten people.
Wang Ziwen helped Li Chu set up the table in the yard and then told the three children to wash their hands.
As dish after dish was served, the three little ones' eyes lit up, and they couldn't stop drooling.
Everyone sat around the table. Li Chu opened a bottle of Moutai and filled the bottles for Ding's parents, sister, and brother-in-law. He, Ding Qiunan, and the three children drank Beibingyang soda.
Seeing that everyone was seated, Wang Ziwen looked at Ding's father and said, "Uncle Ding, today is your daughter and son-in-law's housewarming day. Would you like to say a few words?"
Ding's father laughed and said, "Oh dear, I'm just a roughneck and don't know how to talk. I just wish them both a better and better life in the future."
"Aunt Ding, please say a few words as well."
Aunt Ding hurriedly waved her hand: "I won't say anything. How could I, a mere woman, possibly discuss such matters?"
Li Qin spoke up from the side, "Aunt Ding, we're all family here today. As an elder, please say a few words."
“Yes, Mom, please say a few words,” Ding Qiunan chimed in from the side.
Li Chu and Ding's father both looked at Ding's mother, and the three children also turned to look at her.
Seeing that everyone at the table was waiting for her, Ding's mother had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "I... I just hope that Nannan will give me a big grandson soon so I can hold him/her."
As soon as he said that, everyone at the table burst into laughter.
Ding Qiunan blushed at her mother's words: "Oh, Mom, why are you bringing this up today?"
"Aunt Ding is right, Xiao Chu, Qiu Nan, you two need to work harder!" Li Qin said with a smile.
"Mom, does pushing make it easier to give birth to the baby?" Wang Jiayuan's question made everyone burst into laughter.
Li Qin looked at her daughter and said with a smile, "Go on, kids shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking."
Embarrassed, Ding Qiunan put her hand under the table and pinched Li Chu's inner thigh.
Li Chu's leg was in excruciating pain, but he dared not change his expression and kept smiling.
At this moment, Wang Ziwen raised his glass and said, "Since Uncle Ding and Aunt Ding have both said so, let's raise our glasses and clink them together, wishing Xiao Chu and Qiu Nan a happy and harmonious life together in the future."
Everyone clinked their glasses together before picking up their chopsticks to start eating.
The three little ones felt like they didn't have enough mouths to eat, so they wolfed down their food.
Little Black also experienced the New Year today, lying under the table gnawing on bones with a crunching sound.
Wang Ziwen accompanied Ding's father as they drank and ate.
The portion of food today was huge, and it was all eaten up.
Even the oily soup in the plate was eaten by dipping steamed buns in it, as if it had been licked by a dog.
Several people were sitting there holding their stomachs, unable to move.
Li Chu and Ding Qiunan tidied up the table and poured everyone a glass of water.
The three younger ones had already taken Little Black away to play.
After chatting for a while, Mr. and Mrs. Ding got ready to leave to catch the bus.
Wang Ziwen suggested that they stay a while longer and that she would arrange a car to take them back, but Ding's father disagreed.
Mr. Ding felt uneasy riding in his boss's car, considering himself just an ordinary worker. Besides, he didn't want to cause trouble for his son-in-law's brother-in-law.
Seeing that Ding's father and the others were determined to leave, Li Qin decided to leave with them.
Seeing that he couldn't dissuade them, Li Chu ran to the kitchen, packed the prepared pig heads, and gave one to each of the two families.
Looking at the large pig's head in her hand, Aunt Ding asked, "Xiao Chu, where did you buy all this stuff?"
"Mom, Li Chu had the hospital cafeteria buy this directly from the meat processing plant. You can't buy it anywhere else right now," Ding Qiunan explained to her mother before Li Chu could even speak.
This time, Mr. Ding didn't say anything. If his son-in-law wanted to be filial to his father-in-law's family, he couldn't stop him.
Everyone accompanied Mr. Ding's family to the bus station and watched them board the bus before the brother-in-law's family left.
After they all left, Li Chu and Ding Qiunan strolled through the streets of Beijing in the autumn.
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