Chapter 164: A Happy Day

After a while, several more guests arrived, led by a man in his sixties.

The man was dressed in a dark blue outfit and wore a matching hat, with a beard that was turning white.

As soon as Cheng Jingmo saw the man, he went up to greet him, “Third Great-Uncle, you’re here.”

It was clear that Cheng Jingmo had great respect for this man.

“Jianwa!” Third Great-Uncle looked up at Cheng Jingmo, who was more than a head taller than him, and exclaimed, “You’ve done well for yourself! Third Great-Uncle almost didn’t recognize you!”

Cheng Jingmo replied modestly, “I haven’t done much. How’s your health?”

Third Great-Uncle said as he walked, “Still sturdy.”

Seeing Yu Xiangnian, he nodded approvingly, “Jianwa’s wife is quite a beauty!”

Yu Xiangnian nodded, “Thank you for the compliment, Third Great-Uncle.”

By around two in the afternoon, most of the guests had arrived.

The courtyard was filled with six tables of men. Including women and children, there were about nine tables in total.

As Yu Xiangnian and Cheng Jingmo walked in, they saw Cheng Shuanchun and Zhang Hongli standing by the door of the room where Yu Xiangnian and Cheng Jingmo were staying, whispering to each other.

Yu Xiangnian thought to herself, those two women better not be rummaging through her things! She had over 200 yuan in cash in her bag.

But then she remembered that Xiao Jie was home.

If they went in, Xiao Jie would definitely come and tell her.

The guests had filled the tables, and Cheng Jingmo told Yu Xiangnian that they would eat after the guests left.

“Jianwa! Jianwa!” someone in the crowd called out, “It’s your big day. Aren’t you going to bring the bride and toast everyone?”

Cheng Jingmo replied, “You all go ahead and eat, we’ll come over in a bit.”

Cheng Jingmo wasn’t a good drinker and only occasionally had a small glass with his comrades.

He was stalling for time, planning to toast only when most of the guests had left and he couldn’t avoid it anymore.

As Cheng Jingmo and Yu Xiangnian passed by Cheng Shuanchun, she suddenly said, “Brother Jianwa, you came back with your wife this time, but didn’t bring anything for the family?”

Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.

She had been unfriendly earlier, and Yu Xiangnian didn’t want to bother with her. But now, in front of everyone, it seemed like she was trying to embarrass her.

Yu Xiangnian replied without much emotion, “You’re a married woman. Whether I bring things back or not is none of your business!”

Cheng Shuanchun sneered, “It’s not my business, but I’m asking on behalf of my parents. They raised Brother Jianwa with so much effort!”

Yu Xiangnian retorted, “It’s not you who raised him, so it’s not your place to ask!”

At this moment, Yu Xiangnian felt a bit disheartened towards Cheng Jingmo’s family.

To question her in front of so many people was to publicly embarrass Cheng Jingmo!

Even though Cheng Jingmo wasn’t biologically related to them, he still sent them money every month without fail!

This was the first time the two sisters-in-law met, and it was already tense, with the guests waiting to watch the drama unfold.

Cheng Jingmo stepped in front of Yu Xiangnian and said, “Shuanchun, we brought things, but they are still on the way and haven’t arrived yet.”

Cheng Xianzhu pulled Cheng Shuanchun aside and scolded, “There are so many guests today, what are you causing trouble for?!”

Just then, a man at the door asked, “Is this Cheng Huazi’s house?”

Cheng Xianzhu turned and replied, “Yes, it is!”

The man said, “Can two people come out to carry something? It’s a big box!”

Cheng Xianzhu called a man to help carry the box.

Yu Xiangnian guessed it was their things arriving.

She raised her eyebrows at Cheng Shuanchun, thinking: just you wait!

In no time, Cheng Xianzhu and the other man struggled to carry the heavy box inside.

“Dad, what’s in here? It’s so heavy, it must be fifty or sixty pounds!” Cheng Xianzhu asked.

Cheng Huazi replied, “How would I know!”

Cheng Jingmo and Yu Xiangnian both recognized the box. Cheng Jingmo said, “Looks like the stuff we brought has arrived. Shuan Zhu, open the box.”

Curious, everyone gathered around to see what was inside.

When the box was opened, the first things they saw were two boxes of liquor and two boxes of tea. Underneath these were a large assortment of dried fish, shrimp, and squid, emitting a salty aroma.

Ping County was an inland area, and the people here had neither seen nor tasted seafood before.

Someone in the crowd remarked, “Is this seafood? I’ve heard it’s more expensive than pork!”

“So much of it, and it’s dried, how much would that cost?”

“Shipping this from so far away must have cost a lot!”

Yu Xiangnian had initially brought these for Cheng Jingmo’s family, but seeing everyone eyeing the seafood hungrily, she decided to make a point.

She smiled and said, “It’s not that expensive, just the seafood cost three to four hundred yuan.”

Everyone gasped at the amount.

Yu Xiangnian turned to Cheng Huazi and said, “Dad, please arrange for some to be cooked for everyone to taste. After it’s gone, I’ll have my parents send more.”

Although Cheng Huazi was reluctant, he couldn’t refuse in front of so many people. He instructed the cook to take some to the kitchen.

The cook, having never prepared seafood before, asked Cheng Jingmo, “Jianwa, how do you cook these?”

Cheng Jingmo replied, “First soak them in hot water to rehydrate, then you can steam, boil, or fry them with seasonings.”

The meal paused as everyone waited to try the seafood.

Cheng Shuanchun’s face turned pale.

Third Great-Uncle, among the onlookers, inspected the liquor and tea, “This white liquor and tea are top-quality.”

With this, everyone shifted their attention to the liquor and tea, having been previously focused on the seafood.

Someone literate read the labels aloud, and the crowd gasped again.

The liquor and tea were nationally renowned, items they had only heard of but never seen.

Seeing this, Cheng Huazi beamed with pride. He took out the liquor and tea for a closer look, though he couldn’t read.

He then passed them around for everyone to see.

Third Great-Uncle examined them closely, “These are special supply items, not available for purchase.”

The crowd was stunned.

Jianwa managed to get special supply items?! He must be an important official!

Cheng Shuanchun’s face alternated between pale and flushed as she looked at Cheng Jingmo, fists clenched.

Seizing the moment, Yu Xiangnian added, “Oh, my parents also prepared two ginseng roots. Cheng Jingmo, could you fetch them?”

Cheng Jingmo went to the room and soon returned with two boxes.

He handed them to Cheng Huazi, “Dad, we planned to give everything to you once it all arrived.”

Eagerly, Cheng Huazi opened the box, revealing a light yellow ginseng root, as thick as a chicken leg, with long strands extending from it.

“Wow! Ginseng!” someone exclaimed.

Cheng Huazi presented the ginseng to Third Great-Uncle for inspection.

Third Great-Uncle examined it and nodded, “It’s authentic wild ginseng, about six to seven years old.”

Cheng Shuanchun scoffed, “Hmph! Just six or seven years old? My dad raised Brother Jianwa for seventeen years!”