With fine wine and food served, the guests disregarded everything else and began to eat to their hearts' content.
Accompanied by a large entourage, Zhou Qingyang and his wife went from table to table toasting.
The younger ones would inevitably make things difficult for the newcomers, but after being persuaded by others, they would only give them a small token of respect.
Taking this opportunity, everyone got together to chat, laugh, and strengthen their bonds.
There were also those who were generous and uninhibited, who, as they drank, got into high spirits and started playing drinking games, making the banquet atmosphere very lively, with laughter and joy filling the room, making it exceptionally festive.
Around 12:30, the bride's family members finished eating and drinking and left the table, followed by the other guests.
The Sheng family stayed to help for a while. After everything was tidied up, it was getting late, so they said goodbye to the Zhou family.
“My dear in-laws, we came down from the forest farm in a motorcycle. We have pigs and chickens at home, and we really can’t leave them behind.”
That's all for today. You guys get back to work. We'll get together again another time when we have the chance." Sheng Liancheng said, shaking Zhou Mingyuan's hand.
"Oh dear, you're leaving so soon? Look, I've been so busy today, I haven't even had time to chat with my in-laws for a while."
"Why don't we stay here for the night? We can have a few more drinks tonight, you two brothers." Zhou Mingyuan wasn't just being polite.
"No, no, maybe another time. We came down from the forest farm in a motorcycle. Secretary Zheng just said he had some business to attend to and asked us to meet at the forest railway station before four o'clock."
It's getting late, so we'll head back now. When you have time, your in-laws can stay at the forest farm for a few days.
Sheng Liancheng politely declined Zhou Mingyuan's offer with a smile, and left the government canteen with his wife and children.
Sheng Xiping and Zhou Qinglan did not go back with their parents, but stayed in Songjianghe for another two days.
After Zhou Qingyang and his wife returned to their parents' home three days later, Sheng Xiping and his wife took their child back to Qianchuan Forest Farm.
After returning to the forest farm, Sheng Xiping went up the mountain to work, while Zhou Qinglan and the others packed their bags and went back to school.
Sheng Xinhua and Sheng Xinyu are probably used to their mothers coming back for a while and then leaving again. Now, when they can't find their mothers, they cry for a bit, but then it's over.
March arrived in the blink of an eye, and news came from the bureau that the original secretary, Zhao Yongsheng, had reached retirement age, and Director Xu became the new secretary, while Zhou Mingyuan was promoted to director.
Afterwards, provincial leaders visited the Songjianghe Forestry Bureau, inspecting the fiberboard factory, decorative panel workshop, paper mill, and other units, and affirmed the development of the Songjianghe Forestry Bureau.
Around March 20th, several grassroots units, including Shuguang Forest Farm, Funan Forest Farm, and Qianchuan Forest Farm, were selected as "Advanced Units in Learning from Daqing".
April arrived in the blink of an eye, the logging task for this year was over, the frontline workers were withdrawn, and Sheng Liancheng carried his luggage home.
Sheng Xiping also has to take a commuter bus up the mountain every day to coordinate and direct loading and transportation.
On April 10th, Sheng Xiping suddenly received a phone call from Hou Yashuang.
On the other end of the phone, Hou Yashuang said that the general manager of the timber company had taken a salesman to Songjianghe, saying that he was going to purchase a batch of timber.
Sheng Xiping and Hou Yashuang have always kept in touch. Before the Lunar New Year, Sheng Xiping sent Hou Yashuang some special products from Northeast China, and Hou Yashuang also sent a lot of things back to him.
Hou Yashuang had originally mentioned in his letter that he would come after the New Year to discuss the purchase of timber this year.
"Brother, did your son Mingliang come along?"
Sheng Xiping didn't pay attention at first, assuming that Hou Mingliang had come with their company's general manager, so he casually asked.
"No, no, my son Liang didn't come with us. It was General Manager Peng who led another salesperson there," Hou Yashuang denied on the other end of the phone.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xiping immediately understood what was going on.
The manager of the timber company probably wanted to get rid of the Hou family and his son and come here to open up the supply channels on this side.
"Brother, if you have time later, bring Mingliang over so we can sit down and discuss some things."
Sheng Xiping didn't say anything else, only chatted with Hou Yashuang for a few words, and then hung up the phone.
A few days later, Sheng Xiping received a call from Zhou Mingyuan.
"Xiping, two people from the south have come here. They say they're from a timber company and were our clients before. They want to buy a batch of timber from our bureau."
Old Wang, the gatekeeper, stopped them immediately because their conversation seemed incoherent.
"These two came several times, but Lao Wang turned them away each time. Later they said they knew you."
Old Wang then told me, "I was thinking of calling you to ask what happened."
Zhou Mingyuan was a little confused. Why were they buying timber without going through a middleman and just barging into the bureau? Who knew who they were?
"Dad, those two people are from a timber company in the south. They want to bypass the middleman and buy timber themselves."
"Tell Grandpa Wang to ignore them, let them learn their lesson first," Sheng Xiping explained simply.
Zhou Mingyuan understood immediately. "Okay, then I know how to handle it."
"You little rascal, your wings haven't even fully grown yet, and you're already thinking of getting rid of the middleman, hiding it from everyone, dreaming so brightly."
The father-in-law and son-in-law chatted for a few minutes before hanging up the phone.
Sheng Xiping thought for a moment, then called Hou Yashuang again and told her about the situation.
“Brother, if you have time in a while, come to the Northeast. Let’s talk about something.”
"Okay, okay, I was just planning to go to the Northeast anyway. I'll come find you once I've settled my work." Hou Yashuang readily agreed.
After hanging up the phone, Sheng Xiping didn't dwell on these matters and continued to focus on his work.
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