After Zheng Yu presented the gift, the family members took out their own gifts.
Old Man Zheng and Old Lady Zheng gave a small silver lock that can be hung on the chest. Zheng Xiu accompanied Old Lady Zheng to the silver shop to choose it. It was very delicately made, heavy, and slightly expensive. Because it was Xue Shao's first birthday at home, they bought this.
Zheng Ren gave a set of books and a set of copybooks. Xue Zhi gave a hand-made peach wood sword, which can not only be used for sword practice, but also symbolizes exorcism. It not only caters to Xue Shao's favorite number, but also fits the occasion. Zheng Xiu didn't know what to give, so she asked Xue Zhi, who asked him to make something for Xue Shao, saying that Xue Shao was so old, but he had never used anything made by his family.
Zheng Xiu gritted her teeth and went ahead, making a pair of socks and a purse for him. She originally wanted to make shoes, but time was too tight and her skills were not up to par, so she hurriedly made socks and a purse. The socks were made of ordinary white cotton cloth that absorbs sweat the most, and the purse was made of aqua-green brocade with a small section of bamboo embroidered on it. It looked about the size of an ordinary person's palm, but it really took Zheng Xiu a lot of effort, especially the small section of bamboo, which she embroidered after tracing the pattern and also took the two sides apart before embroidering it. Fortunately, God will not let down those who work hard. This purse is the only most decent and presentable thing Zheng Xiu has made in all these years.
Xue Shao couldn't let it go as soon as he got it. He played with it for a while and then hung it directly around his waist.
Zheng Yu's eyes widened when he saw it. However, because it was a birthday gift from his sister to Xue Shao, he was very sensible and didn't say anything. He only decided in his heart that next time it was his birthday, he must ask his sister to make one for him!
After giving the gifts, the family happily sat at the table to eat.
Xue Shao was particularly happy that day. As soon as he opened his eyes in the morning, Zheng Xiu brought longevity noodles with poached eggs and chicken legs to his bedside and accompanied him to finish eating. Then Zheng Xiu tied five-colored silk threads for them and let them follow the adults to the river to watch the dragon boat race. There were too many people on the river, shoulder to shoulder, and the two children couldn't see at all. His father picked up one in each hand and let them hold his neck and sit on his shoulders. It was so fun to watch. When he came back, he received a bunch of gifts and had a sumptuous meal with everyone. He has never been happier than today since he grew up! After
the busy Dragon Boat Festival, Zheng Xiu began to choose a date to invite Bai Liaohu to dinner at her home.
She had mentioned it to Xue Shao before, and it was not something she would just say.
Firstly, she wanted to consolidate the friendship between Xue Zhi and him, and secondly, she wanted to let Bai Guafu know that she didn't want Xue Zhi, and that Xue Zhi could live a comfortable and fulfilling life with her now that he was with her.
Thinking of how Bai Guafu deliberately announced the good news that day in order to distance herself from Xue Zhi, Zheng Xiu felt furious.
She didn't know what Xue Zhi was making a fuss about, and he seemed reluctant to invite Bai Liaohu to a drink, but he still did what she said.
When Bai Liaohu heard that Xue Zhi wanted to invite him to Zheng's house for a drink, he wanted to refuse at first, but then he thought that he didn't go to the wedding, and if he didn't go this time, he would really be alienated from Xue Zhi, so he agreed immediately.
After Xue Zhi came back, he said that he had asked Bai Liaohu to come the next day.
Zheng Xiu began to think about what dishes to prepare.
Xue Zhi thought it was unnecessary to go through so much trouble, so he said, "Just buy some brined meat, brined pig ears, and some side dishes to go with the wine."
Zheng Xiu wanted to save face for Xue Zhi, so she got up early the next day, bought some brined vegetables, pork bones for stewing, a rib for braised ribs, a live fish for sweet and sour fish, and strolled around the market to buy some seasonal vegetables.
Although she was married and had a bun, she still felt the strange looks of some people in the market when she went out. Zheng Xiu was open and honest, and even though they were looking at her, she just bought her own dishes. If she met one or two familiar people, she would also greet them with a smile.
After buying vegetables, she returned home. Aunt Qian arrived at Zheng's house and saw that Zheng Xiu had already bought all the vegetables. She was surprised and asked, "Why did you get up so early?"
Zheng Xiu smiled and said, "There are guests at home today, so I went to the vegetable market early."
"Then you should have told me yesterday so that I could come earlier to help."
Zheng Xiu said, "I'm just going to buy some vegetables. It's not a big deal."
As she spoke, Aunt Qian rolled up her sleeves to help prepare the ingredients, and Zheng Xiu began to prepare breakfast.
Soon, other people in the family also got up one after another, and Zheng Xiu's breakfast was also ready, and the whole family ate it together.
After breakfast, Zheng Ren and the two children went to the academy or to the school.
Xue Zhi went into the kitchen to help, but was chased out by Zheng Xiu as soon as he entered. The kitchen was not big, and it was just right for her and Aunt Qian. With Xue Zhi, it was difficult to turn around.
Xue Zhi touched his nose and said, "Then just call me if you have something."
Zheng Xiu couldn't help but laugh and said, "You feel uncomfortable without work, right?"
Xue Zhi smiled and nodded, then went to the yard to practice boxing.
Aunt Qian saw this and teased Zheng Xiu, "Auntie is so good to you. She looks careless, but she is really attentive to you."
Zheng Xiu blushed slightly, but she agreed with Aunt Qian's words in her heart. Xue Zhi is really good.
Before lunch, Bai Liaohu and his wife came to Zheng's house with a jar of wine and a box of cakes bought in the town.
Although Xue Zhi said that he would invite his family to have a drink, Bai Liaohu still did not bring his own children, fearing that it would cause trouble for them.
Zheng Xiu invited them in. Bai Liaohu and Xue Zhi walked in front, and she and Bai Liaohu's family walked behind.
"Sister-in-law, why don't you bring all the children here? We have two children at home, so it's just right for them to have some fun together."
Bai Liehu's wife laughed helplessly, "Those two naughty kids are restless at home, let alone outside. I dare not take them out, so I let my sister-in-law take care of them at home, so that I can save some time."
Zheng Xiu asked, "Sister Bai is going to become a nun soon, right? She should have a lot to do."
Bai Liehu's wife smiled bitterly and didn't say much.
At that time, Bai Guafu was afraid that her brother would pair her with Xue Zhi, so she agreed to the marriage with Zhou Daniu, and acted first and then asked for permission. Until now, Bai Liehu is still very unhappy and has no good face towards Bai Guafu and Zhou Daniu. Their wedding was to be held next month, but Bai Liaohu didn't help them with anything and just let them do it themselves. Zhou Daniu's family was very poor, and they were afraid that the situation would not be good at that time.
After saying this, the whole family went into the house.
Zheng Xiu served them tea and asked Xue Zhi to talk with them first, while she went to work on the stove. Bai Liaohu's family also wanted to go and help, but was stopped by Zheng Xiu, who said that there was an aunt helping on the stove at home and she could handle it.
Xue Zhi and Bai Liaohu hadn't talked properly for a while, especially when it came to hunting, it was like they opened up their conversation.
While listening to them talking, Bai Liehu's family began to look around the Zheng family's house. He had been to the Zheng family in Huaishu Village before, and thought that such a big brick and tile house was very nice, but he didn't expect that they would move to the town and live in such a house. The family also hired people to help. If it weren't for the simple family, it could be considered a wealthy family. However, to be able to live in such a house, the Zheng family must have enough money to hire a few servants.
They chatted for a while, and the dishes on the stove were almost ready.
Zheng Xiu and Aunt Qian helped to serve the dishes.
There was fish and meat on the table, as well as bone soup, and two delicious seasonal vegetable side dishes.
Not long after, Zheng Yu and Xue Shao also came home from school, and they ran into the house one after the other. When they saw the table full of sumptuous food, they cheered together and rushed to wash their hands and eat.
Zheng Xiu took off her apron and scolded them with a smile: "There are guests here, so be quiet." Then she called Old Man Zheng and Old Lady Zheng to come out for dinner.
Zheng Yu stuck out his tongue, pulled Xue Shao to sit next to him, and sat at the table.
Zheng Xiu sat with Xue Zhi and greeted Bai Liaohu and Bai Liaohu's family: "There is nothing good at home, so don't dislike it, brother and sister-in-law."
Bai Liaohu said: "My sister-in-law is thoughtful. The dishes are already very good." They are even better than those at home during the New Year.
There were several brined dishes in front of Bai Liao Hu and Xue Zhi, which were for them to drink with.
Zheng Xiu did not let Xue Zhi use the plum wine at home to entertain the guests, but bought a small pot of the best Nv'erhong in the town. Although the amount of wine was not much, it was good wine for adults, and a small pot of wine was worth half a tael of silver.
Bai Liao Hu and Xue Zhi drank and chatted, and Zheng Xiu only entertained Bai Liao Hu's family, and occasionally used the public chopsticks to pick up food for her.
The two children and the two elders finished eating one after another.
Zheng Xiu sent the two children out, and the two elders went back to the house to rest.
Zheng Xiu was actually full, but she still accompanied Bai Liao Hu's family to eat at the table for a while.
Xue Zhi and Bai Liao Hu were eating and drinking, so they were naturally the slowest. After Bai Liaohu's family finished eating, Zheng Xiu stood up and collected the empty plates and bowls, and invited Bai Liaohu's family to come into the house to talk, and let the two men drink slowly outside.
Zheng Xiu and Bai Liaohu's family were not familiar with each other, and they had said almost all the pleasantries they could, so they were speechless for a while.
Bai Liaohu's family saw the needlework basket on the table, so he took one of the patterns to look at it. Seeing the fine stitches, the delicate color matching, and the lifelike flowers, he couldn't help but praise: "Sister-in-law, your embroidery work is really good. You can even sell it."
Zheng Xiu couldn't help but blush and said: "I bought it from Madam Su in the town. How can I embroider such things."
Bai Liaohu's family was also a little embarrassed for a moment . Embarrassed, she said: "The house is very clean. It must be very tiring to keep such a big house. The new furniture in the house is really bright and shiny."
Zheng Xiu added: "The house is also swept by Aunt Qian who helps at home. The furniture in the house is new, and it is usually cleaned by my family, so I don't have to do it."
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