October 1st is a good day, with the whole nation celebrating and most people having a day off. Moreover, because of the blessing of national fortune, even bad things can be overcome, so many people will hold weddings on this day.
The Xiang family was already on high alert.
As soon as the sun rose in the early morning, Zhang Jidi took Xiang Meimei and several other children to grab the freshest vegetables and meat.
"I want a whole chicken, preferably an old hen. Meimei, go and queue up to buy it. I want pork belly, with a nice color. If you don't have that, try beef. Liguo, bring the ticket and money..."
She made clear arrangements for all the children in the family, even the youngest, Xiang Mianmian, was not spared: "Look at that fresh lettuce and buy two pounds, and pick some vegetables as well."
The whole family came out.
Xiang Hongqi, who works a reversed day and night cycle, was catching up on his sleep at home. As the cold weather arrived, the workload at the steel plant gradually increased, and as he was the backbone, he couldn't take a vacation.
With concerted efforts, the seven people soon returned with a full load.
All the vegetables bought early in the morning were fresh. Zhang Jidi used all his skills and made ten dishes, a soup and a cold dish, making a total of twelve dishes.
"Wow, braised pork, old hen soup, beef with green peppers, and steamed fish. I love this sour beans and minced meat, it goes really well with rice. What a feast today!"
Xiang Lihua and his younger children couldn't sit at the table, so they ate the dishes specially prepared by Zhang Jidi in the kitchen, their faces bubbling with happiness.
While eating, Xiang Lihua suddenly sighed: "It would be great if Big Brother could marry a few more wives~"
Xiang Meimei's food was stuck in her throat, and she immediately hit him on the head with a chestnut: "You are stupid, China has monogamy, do you think this is the old society and you are a landlord?"
Xiang Lili was also speechless towards this fellow brother: "You might as well urge your third brother to marry us a third wife. No wonder you got beaten for messing with those pretentious things."
"Why are you bringing this up with me? I'm only 14. After all, my second sister got married first. You can still have a good meal by the end of the year." Xiang Lidang blushed and immediately shifted the blame elsewhere.
Xiang Meimei blushed when she was told this and lowered her head silently.
She got married earlier than her elder brother Xiang Liguo. Who could wait while Chen Wei couldn't?
Xiang Mianmian also chimed in: "Yeah, a delicious meal at the end of the year. There will definitely be one for my eldest brother's wedding next year. If we also add the full moon banquet and the first birthday banquet for the baby..."
Several children were overwhelmed by the series of wedding banquets and stared at Xiang Meimei with bright eyes.
"What are you talking about, little sister? You have no shame. I won't tell you anymore. I'll go back to my room and eat by myself." Xiang Meimei picked up some dishes in embarrassment and ran back to her room.
Xiang Mianmian was urging her to get married and have children. When she saw the eldest, Xiang Meimei, running away, she immediately stared at Xiang Lidang and said, "Third brother, you too! There are so many good girls in the factory, don't you like any of them?"
Xiang Lidang, who is 14 years old in actual age and 15 in lunar age, is actually old enough to get married. He will be 16 next year and is considered an adult and can get married.
Xiang Lidang was more shameless: "Why worry about me? It will take at least two years for us to get to know each other, and the process will also take another year or two. Just wait."
The children at this table enjoyed their meal, and the adults were not bad either.
Wang Chunting sat shyly next to Xiang Liguo, and the two of them passed food to each other.
Ming Erni brought her son Wang Chunsheng to dinner: "Chunting's father died early, and the eldest brother is like a father, so I asked Chunsheng to come with me."
Zhang Jidi consoled her and asked, "My dear, my second daughter, Meimei, is getting married on the 26th of this year. When do you think it would be a good time for Liguo and Chunting to get married?"
"Since our sons and daughters can't get married in the same year, then the sixth day of the first lunar month or the first day of May next year, I think both are auspicious dates. What do you think, my in-laws?"
"The sixth day of the New Year, this kid is already quite old, and he's been waiting for his wife to come home and take care of him."
Ming Erni nodded in agreement: "Okay, Chunting is the only one left to do at home. The sooner we complete it, the better. They can get married and that will put my last worry to rest."
The two of them chatted and laughed as they set the date.
After the big issue was resolved, the food on the table was quickly cleared away.
"This is a small gift I prepared for my eldest daughter-in-law. Chunting, do you think you like it?" Zhang Jidi stood up and took out the gift box from his pocket.
Wang Chunting was surprised. Wasn’t she preparing gifts for her in-laws at this time?
Ming Erni gestured for her to accept it.
Wang Chunting finally dared to take it and opened it. "Wow, what beautiful pearl earrings! Auntie, these must be very valuable. I can't..."
As soon as she refused, Zhang Jidi immediately smiled and comforted her: "I dare not refuse the elder's gift. I have prepared it for my daughter and daughter-in-law. You just keep it well."
When Ming Erni saw the ring on Zhang Jidi's hand, she thought that the Xiang family, with such a big house, could indeed afford a pair of earrings, so she asked Wang Chunting to accept it.
"I'm sorry to have cost you my in-laws so much. My daughter is the youngest and has been spoiled at home, so she's never had shoes made before. She's not very good at sewing, so I'm sorry to show you what I made. I made a long-sleeved shirt. Please take a look and see if it fits. If not, I can alter it."
Ming Erni and Wang Chunsheng gave the gifts they brought to Zhang Jidi, including wedding cakes and eight pieces of clothing.
The style of the clothes is a round-neck long-sleeved shirt worn in autumn. The size was enlarged when it was made so that it can be worn over a cotton coat in winter to prevent dirt.
"This will cost a lot of cloth coupons. Chunting is so thoughtful." Zhang Jidi looked at his dark blue dress and smiled happily.
Shoes take time to make, but clothes require a lot of fabric. These eight pieces, big and small, take at least fifty feet of fabric.
Ming Erni smiled and said, "No ticket is required for this. I bought this inferior product from the fabric counter at the department store. It has some minor mold spots, but I was able to avoid them when I was cutting the clothes."
She was honest, so Zhang Jidi wouldn't mind. He looked at the clothes over and over again and found no flaws. Besides, if he wanted to buy a defective item, he couldn't do it without connections!
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