Zhang Hongmei pulled the two of them to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed), feeling both the joy of reunion and deep emotion.
A short while later, someone delivered the items.
Lu Jing looked at the dishes in the kitchen and was quite satisfied. The rice was already steaming, and the vegetables were a given.
Cabbage and pork slices, potato and pork slices, stir-fried shredded radish, scrambled eggs, spinach soup!
An hour later, it was almost 2 a.m. before everyone finally got to eat.
Li Cuihua and Hu Aifen both went back, using the excuse that they were preparing something delicious for Hongmei.
Because she was hungry, Zhang Hongmei picked up her bowl and started eating. Zhang Shouyi served her food, so she didn't have to do anything herself. However, she felt something was off. The food tasted quite good, but it was just not quite right.
I don't care about these things anymore. I ate two bowls of rice before putting it down.
"Wife, would you like some more soup?"
Zhang Hongmei shook her head, "No, I don't want any more. I feel like I want to eat candied hawthorns. Brother Er Lengzi, when you have time later, take some people to the mountain to pick hawthorns and have Grandma make me some candied hawthorns."
"Sure, no need to call anyone, I'll be back in a bit. Just take it directly to Great-Grandma's house, you can wait there."
"Okay, why don't you go first? I really want to eat."
"Okay, it's rare for my sister to want something to eat, I'll definitely make it happen."
After everyone finished eating, Zhang Hongmei went into Gu Chuanming's room and gave the two of them some water.
"Grandpa, Dad, I want to go to Great-Grandma's house."
“Let’s go, let’s go together.” Gu Chuanming stood up first, someone he hadn’t seen in over twenty years.
“I’ll go see him too! It’s been years since I last visited the old man.” Zhang Xingguo wanted to come along as well.
"Auntie, can I go see the Ancestor?"
"Let's go, our whole family will go."
Zhang Hongmei asked Lu Jing to prepare two bolts of cloth, as well as a gift that had already been packed for the old lady.
Gu Chuanming and his two sons each brought gifts. The group set off.
Zhang Hongmei walked ahead, and Zhang Shouyi could tell from her increasingly quick pace that his wife was eager to get started.
They were all new houses, so they were really hard to find, but I knew the general location. And Hu Aifen was waiting at the door.
Zhang Hongmei rushed into the yard and saw the old lady sitting on a small stool, basking in the sun, just like before.
"Grandma, I'm back!"
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to wait for you." The old lady gently patted her back.
Everyone stood in the courtyard watching the two of them. Only when Zhang Hongmei had finally calmed down did she get out of the old lady's arms.
Liu Aimin brought out benches and invited everyone to sit down. Gu Chuanming approached the old lady.
"Old boss, I've come to see you."
"I saw you a while ago. You've gotten younger, haven't you?"
"Hehe, that's right, I'm getting younger as I get older."
Zhang Hongmei quickly helped the old lady sit down, and then moved a stool over for Gu Chuanming to sit down as well.
Zhang Xingguo, Zhang Shouyi and his son, and Liu Jingsong also came over.
"Old commander, I've come to see you. It's been several years. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine! I have to be fine while waiting for my daughter. You two, sit down."
"Ancestor, Jinsong has come back to see you."
"Good boy, be a good boy and listen to your aunt."
"Yes, I will be good."
Zhang Hongmei also asked Zhang Xingguo to sit down. Then she moved over a small stool and sat down next to the old lady, close to her.
Liu Aimin and his wife brought out a table and placed it in front of the group, then made tea for them.
For the past two hours, Zhang Hongmei had been excited, but now that she was sitting next to the old lady, she felt much more at ease.
The old lady and Gu Chuanming had a lot to say to each other, and everyone else listened as the two elderly people reminisced about the past. Even at their age, the two still started playfully bickering as they talked.
The younger generation didn't dare to interrupt, so they just listened with smiles on their faces.
Liu Changhe's family brought out peanuts, melon seeds, and some undried red and sour dates.
Zhang Hongmei's mouth watered at the sight of the sour dates. She grabbed a handful and sat down to eat them with great relish.
He offered one to the old lady, but she refused. "I only have these few teeth left. If I eat any more of these sour dates, I won't be able to eat anything at all."
"Grandpa, Dad, do you want some? It's not sour, it's sweet, and it's especially delicious."
"You eat it yourself. We're old and our teeth aren't up to par."
Zhang Shouyi took one from her hand, put it in his mouth, and almost spat it out immediately. What was this? It tasted bitter and sour. If he weren't so well-mannered, he would have spat it out right away.
But seeing my wife eating with such relish, it's really hard to imagine what she meant by "delicious."
Zhang Hongmei then sat down next to Liu Changhe's family.
"Grandma, my brother Er Lengzi went up the mountain to pick hawthorns. Can you make me some candied hawthorns later? I really want to eat them."
"Okay, I'll make it for you as soon as Er Lengzi gets back. I guarantee you can have it tonight."
Hu Aifen seemed to understand a little, but wasn't sure. "Hongmei, when did you become able to eat such sour food?"
"You just want to eat it? Is there a time limit for this?"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged a glance. "Come on, let's go back to the room. There's something good for you at Grandma's."
"What delicious food is there?" Zhang Hongmei asked, but she still followed the two inside.
"This girl can only be so carefree when she's home; she can easily be tricked into giving away delicious food." Gu Chuanming found Zhang Hongmei's behavior quite amusing.
"What are you saying? This is my daughter."
"Yes, yes, it's yours." Gu Chuanming didn't give anyone face, but he showed genuine respect to his old leader.
Zhang Shouyi was getting restless, but he was too embarrassed to go inside. After struggling for a minute, he finally stood up.
"Grandma, I'm going in to check on Hongmei."
"You're just going to wait here. Do you think my family will get lost? Do you think you'd be following them around like that?"
Zhang Shouyi had no choice but to sit down, but he did so facing the door.
Zhang Shouyi thought to himself, "In this world, there are only four people who can criticize me and give me attitude."
When Zhang Hongmei entered the living room, she found that the building was really well designed. The living room looked grand, although the ceiling wasn't high enough. But by today's standards, it was high-class.
"Hehe, you little rascal, you've never seen what the houses in the village look like, have you?"
"That's right, I just habitually went into the old house."
"Hongmei, sit down." Hu Aifen pulled Zhang Hongmei to sit on the sofa.
"Auntie, this sofa is quite comfortable."
"This was bought by your brother Jingze. He said it was a foreigner's chair from Shanghai. I don't find it very comfortable. It sinks in as soon as I sit down. It's not as comfortable as our wooden chairs."
"Hehe, I'm used to sitting on the sofa, it's comfortable."
Liu Changhe's family member sat on the other side of Zhang Hongmei.
"Hongmei, did you consummate your marriage with Shouyi?"
Upon hearing this question, Zhang Hongmei's face immediately turned red.
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