Xu Damao clicked his tongue and patted his chest forcefully.
"Da Bao, what you're saying is an insult to me, Xu Damao. No matter how much of a grudge I have with Sha Zhu, I certainly can't fight him while drinking here. You're the kind of person who gives face to everyone. The fact that you're saying this to me is a sign that you're giving me face."
Look at what Xu Damao said; it turns out Wang Dabao is giving him face.
There's a reason why Xu Damao is successful and rises quickly in the drama.
Wang Dabao laughed: "Da Mao, that's enough. Save your rhetoric for someone else. Let's not use that on each other. Just give me face. Tell me about the wedding ceremony later."
Speaking of the wedding process, Xu Damao became interested: "Dabao, let me tell you, you must eat a full breakfast on the morning of the wedding day. That's the most important thing, otherwise the day will be unbearable. As for setting off firecrackers to welcome the bride and kowtowing to swear brotherhood, there's no need to mention those. They're all done according to the proper procedures."
"Okay, think about it again when you have time, and let me know what points are worth noting."
Wang Dabao thought for a moment and then said, "There are also things we should pay attention to on the woman's side. Why don't you write them down on paper? I'm afraid I'll forget them after a while."
The two drank a pot of tea and then went out.
Wang Dabao went straight to Sha Zhu's place and knocked on the door. Sha Zhu was heating up food on the stove.
"Hey, Da Bao's here! How about we have a drink tonight?"
Sha Zhu has been in excellent spirits lately, and he and Lou Xiao'e are currently enjoying a very close relationship.
Wang Dabao didn't care who Sha Zhu was with; let him do what he wanted, it wasn't his business. He had too much on his plate to worry about others.
After sitting down, he handed Sha Zhu a pack of cigarettes and told him that he had asked him to cook for his wedding. Sha Zhu immediately patted his chest and guaranteed that he would cook the dishes to everyone's satisfaction. If they weren't satisfied, he would take his head and go see Wang Dabao.
"Alright, with you saying that, Zhu Zi, I'm relieved. You're the walking advertisement for this area." Wang Dabao waved his hand. "We'll start the banquet at six. Come over then. Xu Damao and the others will be there too. Just don't start drinking and fighting."
Sha Zhu immediately shook his head: "No way, even if he insults me, I won't talk back. You're having a happy occasion, and as your older brother, I can't cause you any trouble."
“You’re the head of security. If we start fighting, just arrest us. I promise I won’t complain.”
"Alright, I'll go back and get things done." With that, Wang Dabao got up and prepared to leave.
Sha Zhu quickly helped Wang Dabao down, then took out five yuan from the small box by the bedside: "Dabao, don't think it's too little, I can't afford more. I told Xu Damao last time that I would never be stingy when you get married, so take this money. I know you won't be short of money for your wedding, consider it a lucky charm for you."
"Okay, I'll keep it."
Wang Dabao stuffed the money into his pocket and went out the door.
After Wang Dabao left, Sha Zhu quickly took the dishes off the stove, thinking he might as well pick some out and send some over to the old lady.
Giving Wang Dabao five yuan as a wedding gift made Sha Zhu feel very proud. Anyway, he didn't lose out, because when he got married, Wang Dabao would definitely have to give him a gift in return.
However, when drinking at night, he would eavesdrop on how much others gave as a gift, and then subtly undermine them with his words.
Although Sha Zhu has been doing well in love lately, no one in the courtyard is willing to talk to him. Yan Bugui likes to chat with him, but only to find out about his girlfriend.
Yan Bugui's nickname as the goalkeeper wasn't given for nothing. He might not know what was going on in other courtyards, but he had to be very clear about what was happening in his own.
After returning home, Wang Dabao locked himself in his room and went for a stroll in the Space Farm.
The housekeeper was helping to cook: braised pork, spare ribs, and stewed cabbage with tofu—six hot dishes in total, plus peanuts and cucumber salad. It couldn't be hotter than that.
With this kind of dish, I guarantee Yi Zhonghai's family won't even be able to afford it during the Chinese New Year.
Once the housekeeper finished, Wang Dabao took it out, and that was it.
Recently, Wang Dabao has been coming here whenever he has free time, but he won't be able to come here as often after he gets married.
The two dogs have grown quite a bit and occasionally run around in the woods behind the house, but always under the housekeeper's supervision.
Otherwise, Wang Dabao wouldn't feel at ease, as several large animals had been newly added to the area.
Liu Haizhong and his group arrived right on time.
There was no way around it; if Wang Dabao said six o'clock, they really wouldn't dare arrive at five forty. That was the intimidation that came with the position of head of the security department.
Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui and his son, Yi Zhonghai, Lao Zhou from the front yard, Xu Damao, and Sha Zhu—none of them came empty-handed; they brought either food or wine.
Liu Haizhong was going all out, having an older woman fry three eggs and bring them over. Yan Bugui brought his signature dish, peanuts; Yi Zhonghai brought a bottle of wine; and Old Zhou from the front yard also brought out his treasured wine that he was reluctant to drink.
Xu Damao brought a cold dish of pig's head face, which was quite impressive.
Sha Zhu is fine too, a plate of chicken, even if it's leftovers, it's still something picked out.
Wang Dabao had already moved the table inside, making it warm and cozy, with a table full of food and drinks.
"Alright, let's not stand there any longer. Forget the tea, let's just get to the table."
Wang Dabao was the first to sit down, and then the others found their seats. There weren't enough benches, so Lao Zhou and Sha Zhu sat directly on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).
Wang Dabao went to the west room and brought Yan Jiekuang a bottle of soda. When the others saw it, they exclaimed, "Wow, no wonder this kid insisted that his dad give him ten yuan. Dabao really spoils him."
Yan Bugui looked at the dishes on the table and his mouth was practically watering. It was too lavish. He never dreamed that he would be able to sit at such a table one day.
No one hosts a wedding with this much food! After eating this, I won't want to eat meat for a month!
"Eat up, everyone. Have a couple of bites first, then we'll pour the drinks."
Seeing the eager expressions on Yan Bugui's, Liu Haizhong's, Lao Zhou's, and others' faces, Wang Dabao didn't rush to offer them drinks, but directly told them to start eating.
However, since Wang Dabao, the host, didn't touch his chopsticks, they didn't dare to either. Even Yan Jiekuang didn't touch them, just watching Wang Dabao expectantly.
Wang Dabao first picked up a piece of braised pork with his chopsticks and put it in Yan Jiekuang's bowl: "Eat!"
Yan Jiekuang chuckled, picked up a piece of braised pork and took a small bite, "Delicious, it still tastes the same. Uncle Dabao, I love your cooking so much."
When Sha Zhu entered the house, he was dumbfounded when he saw the dishes on the table.
This seems to taste and look even better than his. Something's not right. Wang Dabao has this skill?!
He picked up a small piece of pork rib and savored it, then felt an urge to cry: "Brother Da Bao, did you make all this food?"
"What's wrong, Pillar? Is there a problem?"
No, no.
Sha Zhu quickly waved his hand, "I mean, this is so delicious, it tastes even better than what my dad makes."
Liu Haizhong swallowed hard, ate a piece of braised pork, and smacked his lips vigorously: "It's so delicious! Sha Zhu wasn't lying. Da Bao, your cooking skills are even better than He Daqing's."
"Hey, as long as you use less oil, the flavor will come through." Wang Dabao chuckled. "Put on lots of oil, and the dish will be incredibly fragrant!"
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