Soon, the sound of people being called out to arrange the banquet came from outside, and the female educated youth were also called out to go out and eat.
Only Wenyan remained in the room to keep Zhao Huanhuan company.
"Huanhuan, are you hungry? Do you want me to get you something to eat? There's so much delicious food today, all you can smell outside is the aroma of meat."
“We also set up a table in our room for Hu Doudou and the other female educated youth.” Wen Yan poured herself and Zhao Huanhuan a cup of hot water, and the two sat down to talk.
"Oh, sit down. I'm not hungry. My mom fed me a bowl of dumplings before I left, and now I feel like there are dumplings standing up in my stomach!" Zhao Huanhuan shook her head. She really felt that the dumplings hadn't been digested yet and were still pressing against her stomach.
Wen Yan was taken aback, then burst into laughter, "Your words remind me of the image of dumplings standing up inside your belly."
Zhao Huanhuan laughed along with her.
As the two were chatting and laughing, Lin Yuan came in, carrying a small wooden tray with two bowls of food on it.
"Brother, what are you carrying?" Wenyan immediately jumped up.
"A bowl of braised pork and a bowl of stewed ribs, for the two of you," Lin Yuan said with a smile, placing them on the table before turning to look at Zhao Huanhuan.
Zhao Huanhuan quickly shook her head, "I don't want to eat, I'm still full."
"How many dumplings did you eat?" Lin Yuan smiled helplessly.
"One bowl, a dozen or so." Zhao Huanhuan shook her head, feeling embarrassed to say no as her mother fed her.
"Then Yan Yan, you can eat. I'll go make you a pot of tea." Lin Yuan smiled and went to make her some tea.
Soon Lin Yuan returned with a pot of tea, followed by a little girl carrying a washbasin.
"Huanhuan, this is your second uncle's younger sister, Lele. She's here to bring you water to wash your face," Aunt Chu said with a smile as she followed her in.
The two families of my uncles had been arguing about the quota for fetching the water to wash faces. My maternal uncle's family also had a younger sister who wanted to participate, but seeing the cruelty of the Lin family, they were hesitant to speak up.
Zhao Huanhuan smiled at Lele and thanked her, then reached into the basin to wash her hands symbolically. She took the towel Lele offered and dried her hands, then pulled out her suitcase, took out a red envelope, and handed it to her. "Thank you, Lele. How old are you this year?"
"Sister-in-law, I'm nine years old this year!" Lele said happily, showing her little white teeth as she received the red envelope from her sister-in-law.
"You're quite tall! Your sister-in-law thought you were twelve or thirteen!" Zhao Huanhuan said with a smile.
Zhao Huanhuan noticed that the Lin family members were generally tall, and several of her cousins were also very tall.
"Hehe, thank you, sister-in-law. Everyone says I'm tall," Lele replied happily to Zhao Huanhuan.
"Are you still in school?" Zhao Huanhuan asked.
Upon hearing this, Lele pouted and shook her head, "No, I haven't been to school."
Zhao Huanhuan was taken aback upon hearing this and looked at Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan gave her a look, "I'll tell you tonight."
Zhao Huanhuan understood and didn't ask any more questions. She then took a few orange candies from the suitcase and handed them to Lele.
Lele happily thanked her sister-in-law and brother with the red envelope and candy, then ran off.
Zhao Huanhuan put two brand-new one-yuan bills in the red envelope; they were bright red and festive.
"Huanhuan, Lin Yuan said you don't want to eat that meat? Or do you want to go out for a banquet? What do you want to eat? Tell Mom, and Mom will prepare some for you. You and Lin Yuan still have to toast the elders later." Aunt Chu came in to see Zhao Huanhuan and asked with concern.
"Thank you, Mom, I'm not hungry now!" Zhao Huanhuan shook her head.
"Alright, then eat whenever you're hungry." Aunt Chu then instructed Wenyan to go out for the meal.
Wenyan shook her head, "I'm not going either. I don't want to sit with them. I'll just eat what Brother Lin Yuan brought back for me. I want to stay with my sister-in-law."
Aunt Chu could only smile, and after instructing Lin Yuan to get her some other things, she hurried off to entertain the guests.
After Lin Yuan got her some more staple food and dishes, he sat down next to Zhao Huanhuan and drank a few cups of tea with her.
"Should we go offer toasts now?" Zhao Huanhuan asked Lin Yuan after feeling better from drinking some hot tea.
In the original book, the telegram arrived during the lunch banquet. Zhao Huanhuan wondered to herself if the postman would arrive soon.
"Okay, let's go!" Lin Yuan glanced at her watch; it was 1:30, time to go and offer toasts.
Wenyan had finished eating by then. She cleared the table and went out with them.
The Lin family has quite a few guests today: villagers, relatives, and Lin Yuan's classmates.
Ten tables were set up in the greenhouse in the courtyard, and two tables were arranged inside the house. The wedding banquet was held in the house of Lin Yuan's parents, while the female educated youths were seated in the house where Zhao Huanhuan and Wen Yan lived.
After toasting the elders and relatives, Lin Yuan introduced Zhao Huanhuan to a group of her classmates and shared a drink with them.
The group of classmates were all boys, and Lin Yuan didn't invite any female classmates. Everyone clamored for them to have a drink with Zhao Huanhuan.
Lin Yuan didn't want Zhao Huanhuan to drink, worried that she couldn't hold her liquor and would feel unwell if she drank, so she offered to drink for her.
Zhao Huanhuan sniffed it, shook her head, and said to him, "I'll have a drink with you guys, then you can drink with your classmates. I'm going back to rest for a while."
Lin Yuan was relieved to see that she could drink it, nodded, and personally poured her a small cup.
"Thank you for coming to my wedding with Lin Yuan. I can't hold my liquor, so I'll just have a drink with you all as a token. Welcome!"
Everyone was pleased to see Zhao Huanhuan being so accommodating. They all stood up, praised her for her generosity, and clinked glasses with her, wishing Lin Yuan and his wife a happy marriage and a long and happy life together!
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