Weddings naturally involve celebratory banquets, but this is a military base where alcohol is prohibited.
So Xiaojiu prepared Coca-Cola, two cans per table.
Because at that time there were no large bottles, they were all small cans, or even just aluminum cans.
But as soon as it was placed on the table, it attracted everyone's attention because it was very expensive.
It was available in China after the reform and opening up, but a bottle sold for 2.5 yuan.
Back when domestic beverages generally cost 15 or 20 cents, this one sold for 2.5 yuan a bottle, so it only sold 25 bottles in its first month.
Xiao Jiu isn't stupid or rich; she would like to prepare more, but the amount of money is terrifying!
Anyway, it's all for the festive occasion, and everyone wants to try something new. There is some alcohol on the leader's table, but it's just a mainstream brand of baijiu.
I didn't dare prepare anything too elaborate, for fear of causing trouble.
As the banquet was drawing to a close, Xiaojiu's family members led a group, following behind the head cooks, to distribute the small gifts that Xiaojiu had prepared.
The gifts are in red paper bags and are only given to guests who have helped them, regardless of whether they are from the same family or not. As long as you come, you will receive one.
Some military spouses even brought their daughters to help, because the list was specifically compiled, so the distribution was just right at the end.
"Young comrade, what is this? Why don't we have it?"
"Sister-in-law, these are small gifts that the bride prepared for the guests who came to help."
"Help? Help with what? Hey, Qiu, what are you guys doing here to help?"
"I called you to make dumplings, didn't I? You said you had something to do and didn't come."
"I was just helping my mom wash and prepare the vegetables, brother, does that count?"
"Of course, Dr. Tao said that as long as you come, you get a share."
The little girl wasn't really thinking about it; she happily thanked them and then opened the bag to take a look.
"Wow, so many candies! They're so pretty! Mom, there are also cookies with animal patterns, they're so cute."
At this moment, the other military spouses also opened their bags, and inside the red paper bags were colorful candies and snacks of various sizes.
Although the pastries were sold in bulk, they were wrapped in oil paper, making them look exquisite and beautiful as soon as they were taken out. Many of them were things I had never seen before.
Those with children in the family immediately took the items and showed them off to each other.
The children who had eaten began to compare their differences, and those who hadn't started to cry.
Fortunately, the banquet was nearing its end, and even though they cried and made a fuss, they didn't get a single serving, because the quantity had been prepared in advance, and there weren't any more.
But when those leaders and their families left, they were carrying large and small bags, clearly a custom-made social etiquette by Zhou Yue and his wife.
"Who says there isn't any? Look at what they're carrying, it's clearly even better than this, there must be more, right? Go ask us for some!"
The cooks gave them a deep look before making an excuse and leaving: "Sorry, we have other things to do."
But after stopping for about ten minutes, he ran over and started shouting.
"Dr. Tao's family just said that anyone who stays to help will receive a gift."
After the dinner party, there was a lot of trash to clean up. With so many people at the division headquarters, we couldn't expect the cooks to handle it all.
Xiao Jiu came up with this idea, and the military wives who had previously regretted not getting any advantage immediately responded with their children.
Unfortunately, when they left, they didn't receive a candy and snack set, but instead a three-pound bag of bread crumbs (scraps).
Although they weren't very happy, the children took a bite and said it was delicious. The adults didn't believe them at first because some of them didn't look appetizing, but when they tasted them, they were amazed by the texture of the bread crumbs.
Not to mention the sweet ones, there are hard and crispy ones, soft ones that melt in your mouth, and even some dipped in jam and sauce.
In short, this three-pound bag of scraps was quite a generous amount, and all the effort their family put in was worthwhile.
Furthermore, if a family comes to help and there are members over ten years old, they will receive an extra portion; those under ten years old will not be counted.
When the cafeteria closes around 3 or 4 pm, not only are the tables and chairs put away and the floor wiped clean, but the kitchen is also spotless, as if it had never been touched.
He didn't bring the remaining food and drinks, and instructed the kitchen to provide extra meals for the soldiers that evening.
They went home. "Starting today, I have a fifteen-day vacation."
This is definitely a wedding leave. Xiao Jiu considered that her brother, sister-in-law, sister and brother-in-law had limited vacation time, so she asked Zhou Yue to book tickets for them in advance.
She originally wanted them to travel together by plane, but everyone was used to being frugal and thrifty, and no one was willing, not even Tang Cuimei.
"We were in a rush to come here, so we splurged on a plane. It will be much more relaxing to go back. Besides, the train journey offers different scenery along the way, which is great. My brother-in-law can just book sleeper berths for us."
Since everyone was saying that, Xiao Jiu couldn't say anything more, but she insisted on paying for everyone's sleeper tickets on the return trip.
The Tang sisters knew Xiao Jiu's capabilities and didn't refuse. Tao Changyi and Zhao Lingli from the Tao family also knew their daughter was wealthy.
With the couple making the arrangements, their four sons shamelessly accepted the favor.
After the second day of the Lunar New Year, everyone gradually started their return journey. Since the journey takes three days, they wouldn't get home until around the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
I plan to rest for two more days before gradually returning to work. There's really no time to linger any longer, and despite my reluctance, we have to part ways.
Xiao Jiu picked them up when they arrived, and the couple saw them off when they left.
On the return trip, everyone basically took the same route. Those who needed to transfer planned to do so once they reached Los Angeles or West Los Angeles.
The four sons of the Tao family did not leave first; instead, they went with their parents to Liaoning Province to pay respects to their uncle.
Fortunately, they lived relatively close to each other. The sisters took the bus on the evening of the second day of the Lunar New Year, while they were scheduled to leave on the morning of the third day.
The military guesthouse only had one room left. After all the trouble over the past few days, Tang Cuilan was exhausted.
While Xiao Jiu and the others went to Liaoning Province to pay their respects, she could finally think carefully about what path to take in the future.
The journey of 800 kilometers will take more than ten hours.
Tao Changyi boarded the train at eight in the morning, having bought a hard seat ticket. He felt there was no need to take a sleeper berth for such a short distance, especially during the day, so he saved money and bought a hard seat.
Unexpectedly, after all this trouble, they didn't arrive in Dan City until the early hours of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.
When we got off the bus, everyone was stiff, but the outdoor temperature was noticeably lower than in Heilongjiang Province.
Exhausted, the group booked six rooms at a guesthouse near the train station.
"Go to sleep, get enough sleep before you talk, otherwise you won't have the energy to ride in the car."
Heavy snow has blocked roads, making many sections difficult to travel. In addition, martyrs' cemeteries are generally located in the suburbs, not in the city center.
If there's a bus, it's alright, but if there isn't even a bus stop nearby, then you'll have to walk the rest of the way.
As Xiao Jiu lay on the small bed in the guesthouse, she turned to look at Zhou Yue, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'm so tired. It feels like I'm in a war. What have I been living these past few months?"
Thankfully, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, otherwise I would be exhausted!
Zhou Yue liked the phrase very much. He leaned his tall body over and pulled the person into his arms.
"Shouldn't I be the one who suffers the most? With so many people from your family here, we didn't even have a wedding night!"
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