Huang Shao met all his relatives in Huanshi, and two days later, he set off for the capital. He was accompanied by four girls from the Huang family, yes, four.
When Wenxia heard that his eldest and second sisters were going to the capital with his fourth uncle, he picked up his precious juice and handed it to Huang Shao, saying flatteringly, "Fourth Uncle, I also want to go to the capital to see the Chairman."
Huang Shao took the juice with a smile and pinched Wen Xia's nose lovingly: "Of course you can go to the capital, but I don't have the ability to meet the Chairman."
After hearing this, Wen Xia's little face immediately blossomed into a bright smile:
"Hey, it doesn't matter. As long as we can go to Beijing, that's fine! Our teacher said that everyone who goes to Beijing will take a photo in front of Tiananmen Square!"
"Okay, Fourth Uncle will take a few more pictures for you then. Go pack your things."
Wen Xia saw that his goal had been achieved, and ran back to the room cheering, shouting as he ran:
"Sister, come and help me pack my luggage."
Xu Mengyao was standing aside and noticed Xiaomei's envious look. After thinking for a moment, she said:
"Xiaomei, come with us too. Fourth Uncle and I have things to do when we get to the capital, but Big Sister is going to shoot a commercial, so you can accompany her. Wenxia is still young and can't do much."
Xiaomei's eyes flashed with surprise when she heard this, but then dimmed again:
"This...this isn't good. There are already enough of you."
Huang Shao saw this and laughed heartily: "It's okay, the car can seat five people, and adding a little girl like you is just right, it will make the journey more lively."
Xiaomei finally breathed a sigh of relief when Huang Shao spoke. She looked at Xu Mengyao happily and ran back to her room happily to pack her luggage.
On the day of departure, the Huang family courtyard was bustling with activity. Huang's grandmother stood aside, pointing to the two jars in the trunk and introducing them to Huang Shao:
"This jar is the watermelon jam made by your eldest sister-in-law. It tastes so good. No one in the surrounding area can make it better than her. This jar is the sour beans pickled by your third sister-in-law. They are very appetizing. When your mother has a poor appetite, add some to her porridge. And this bag of millet is freshly ground grain. It is for your father and children to eat. It is good for their stomachs..." Grandma Huang kept chattering.
Huang Shao respectfully thanked Huang Nai: "Thank you, Auntie. I will definitely pass on your message."
Huang's mother also put in a basket covered with straw and said, "Fourth brother, these salted duck eggs are pickled just right. I guarantee that each one will be oily. I've wrapped them well so they can't be knocked."
At this time, grandma also trembled and took out a large bag of prepared food and water, and said:
"Kids, thank you for your hard work. Here are some rolled dough and fried skewers wraps. Eat them if you get hungry on the way."
Huang Shao nodded repeatedly, agreeing to his family's instructions. The car slowly drove out of the family compound. Xu Mengyao then pulled Wen Xia back, who had almost half of his body leaning out of the car window to say goodbye to his family.
"Okay, Fourth Uncle is going to drive. Don't stick your head out again. It's dangerous."
Wenxia reluctantly withdrew her gaze and sat back in her seat with a pout.
Huang Shao had few worries along the way, and his mood had become relaxed. Occasionally, he would stop to rest at scenic spots. Along the way, several young girls sang and chatted, and from time to time, Wen Xia's exclamations of surprise could be heard, her excitement and curiosity infecting everyone.
Huang Shao sighed inwardly. His family was full of naughty boys, and he had never experienced the feeling of having so many well-behaved nieces. Brother Weimin was truly blessed, having three daughters with very different personalities. Although they could be a bit noisy, they were still much more likable than those naughty boys.
In the afternoon, they had a quick meal in the car. As the sun began to set, the girls' spirits began to wane. The youngest, Wenxia, fell into a deep sleep first, and occasionally her quiet snores could be heard.
"Wenxia is so young and still snoring?" Huang Shao asked Wen Rong in the passenger seat curiously.
Wenrong chuckled and replied, "She's the most restless sleeper. She uses the millet pillow my mom sewed for her so she won't snore. I've already packed it up for her."
After saying this, she looked back at her sleeping sister lovingly.
At around 4 p.m., Huang Shao drove into a small town, slowed down, and woke up the girls in the car.
Wen Xia rubbed his sleepy eyes and asked, "Fourth Uncle, are we there yet?"
Huang Shao smiled and replied, "Not yet. Let's stay here for one night and continue our journey tomorrow. Fourth Uncle will take you to eat something delicious."
Hearing this, Wen Xia's eyes lit up instantly and her sleepiness disappeared instantly. She couldn't wait to jump out of the car, took Huang Shao's hand, and followed him happily.
After booking three rooms in the guesthouse, everyone went to the restaurant together.
Huang Shao called out, "Come, try these local specialties. You will probably like them."
As each dish was served, the aroma that filled the air was mouth-watering: the melt-in-your-mouth tofu, the rich beef broth, and the crispy pastry.
Every dish was enjoyed with gusto by everyone present. The last dish served was the mouth-watering braised chicken, its skin golden and shiny, emitting a rich aroma of braised meat, and the plate still dripping with juice.
Huang Shao first picked up the chopsticks, gently tore off a chicken leg and placed it in the bowl in front of Wen Xia.
"Try this and see if your fourth uncle is lying to you."
Wen Xia couldn't wait to take a bite, mumbling incoherent praise: "Wow! This is so delicious! This chicken skin is completely different from what I've eaten before. It's simply a delicacy!"
Seeing this, Xu Mengyao divided the meat from the other chicken leg into two halves, gave one to Xiaomei and one to her elder sister, and then picked up a chicken wing for herself and Huang Shao respectively.
As she ate, she nodded and praised: "This chicken is really delicious. The five spices are boneless, the meat is firm and not dry, and it is soft and tasty."
Xiaomei also agreed: "Yes, even the bones are soft and they break with a light bite."
Huang Shao saw this and smiled and explained to everyone:
"Haha, you're in for a treat! This is their famous braised chicken, and it's said that even Emperor Kangxi ate it. The chicken is fried first and then stewed over low heat for four or five hours. I like to dip it in sesame oil and chili oil, it's even more delicious!"
As he spoke, he demonstrated by dipping it in some sauce and tasting it with relish.
After dinner, we went for a walk to help digest the food. We turned a corner and arrived at the nearby lake. The sun was setting, tinting the lake with a shimmering orange-red hue. The shimmering water was breathtakingly beautiful. The afterglow of the setting sun gently bathed everyone's face. The beauty of nature always makes one forget their worries, filling their hearts with tranquility and beauty.
Wen Xia suddenly sighed, "I feel so happy."
Wen Rong couldn't help but sneer when he heard this and asked, "Why? Aren't you happy at home?"
Wen Xia shook his head and said seriously, "It feels different. I'm happy every day with you guys. But now it's so beautiful, so beautiful that my heart is filled with joy."
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