Font Size:
Ever since Song Xiaoni found her family and returned to Song Family Village, Zhu Yushan had not seen her again. When he suddenly saw her, he couldn’t express how happy he felt.
The Zhu family members who were following Zhu Yushan and carrying chairs became curious and gathered closer when they saw him talking to someone.
Seeing Song Xiao Ni, the Zhu family members couldn’t immediately recall which family’s girl she was.
Zhu Yushan’s mother, Wu Shi, looked at Song Xiao Ni’s rosy face and then glanced at her own silly eldest son, who was smiling like a fool. In just a few moments, she walked over to Song Xiao Ni and asked Zhu Yushan, “Who is this girl? Why don’t you introduce her?”
Wu Shi stared at Zhu Yushan with frustration, thinking, “This foolish child, don’t think I can’t see that he’s so infatuated with this girl that his eyes are practically glued to her. Why doesn’t he use his brain and say a few more words!”
At first, Zhu Yushan wasn’t blushing, but with his family’s teasing comments from left and right, even a man like him couldn’t help but turn red in the face.
He reached out to pull his mother, who was constantly inching closer to Song Xiao Ni, and apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, Miss Xiao Ni, my mother means no harm.”
Oh, look at that, she even called her ‘Miss,’ how endearing!
The curious gazes of the Zhu family members were almost becoming tangible.
Song Xiao Ni could feel the intense, almost tangible, fiery gazes of the Zhu family members, and her head was practically hanging down.
She didn’t dare to linger any longer and quickly found an excuse to turn around and head back to the courtyard.
As for outside, not many people were left to set up the tables; Yu’an and the others were enough.
Song Xiao Ni fled as if escaping, and the Zhu family members, after setting up the tables, sat on the chairs and began to ‘interrogate’ Zhu Yushan.
Returning to the courtyard, Song Xiao Ni thought about helping with the cooking, but her face felt as hot as if it were on fire. Unable to bear it, she washed her face with the freshly drawn well water.
All the families that had come here had marked their belongings, so when it was time to leave, they would know which items belonged to their own family.
Due to the arrangement of the Shen and Zhang families for setting up the banquet, Shen Yu’an had given the workers in the workshop a day off.
The families who brought tables and chairs were quite cooperative and followed the arrangements of Shen Yu’an or Zhang Wendong, placing the tables on both sides of the road, leaving a clear path.
Most families had brought tables and chairs since it required some effort, and there was money to be earned. This was a rare opportunity. Plus, it was practically impossible to find any work, even if you were searching with a lantern.
Moreover, every household had several people, so sitting together was just a matter of moving tables and finding a spot for their own family to eat.
Top of Form
They had all arrived early, and the people in the courtyard hadn’t had a chance to prepare the meal yet.
Outside, these folks pulled out some sunflower seeds from their pockets and began sharing them while sitting on their stools. They chatted, occasionally glancing towards the courtyard.
“What are they cooking in there? It smells so good, and they haven’t even brought the food out yet, but the aroma is wafting for miles.”
The delicious scent made everyone’s mouths water, and they couldn’t focus on their conversations. They kept peering into the courtyard.
In the courtyard, the people were busy, and soon, one dish after another was brought out.
Once the dishes were served, everyone lost interest in everything else.
Why?
Well, it’s because they were captivated by the dishes placed in front of them. They eagerly picked up their chopsticks and couldn’t stop themselves from indulging.
Just as the food was being brought out, Ji Xun returned with two people, an elderly gentleman who appeared vigorous and a young man.
The elderly man leaned on a cane and had a kind expression on his face.
Top of Form
Observing the lively scene outside the Shen family’s compound, Ji Xun approached someone sitting at the outermost seat and asked, “What’s going on here? Why is there such a grand setup?”
He had been away for a while, and he wondered if he had missed something significant.
Just then, Shen Ming came out carrying a tray of dishes. When he saw Ji Xun standing there, he placed the dishes on the table and said, “Ji, my boy, you’re back! What are you doing standing around? Come inside, come inside.”
“Sure, Uncle Shen. But what’s happening here in our family?” Ji Xun turned and assisted the elderly man, taking the opportunity to voice his curiosity.
“Well, it’s because the boys, including your eldest brother, have all passed the provincial exams, so we thought of hosting a grand celebration to invite everyone,” Shen Ming explained.
Ji Xun smiled broadly; at this point, it was no surprise that his elder brother and others had passed the exams.
Seeing that Ji Xun had brought two unfamiliar individuals with him, Shen Ming inquired, “Who are this elderly gentleman and young man?”
Ji Xun guided the elderly gentleman inside as he replied, “Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain.”
Top of Form
As they returned to the courtyard, it was bustling with cooking and preparing dishes.
Upon seeing Ji Xun return with the elderly gentleman and the young man, everyone, without concerning themselves with who the newcomers were, hurriedly greeted them and asked, “Have you had lunch yet?”
Ji Xun, along with the elderly gentleman and the young man he had brought, exchanged polite greetings with everyone.
Ji Xun mentioned that they hadn’t eaten yet, and Song Shi suggested that he take his guests to sit at the table where the elderly gentleman and the others were.
Ji Xun didn’t hesitate and led the two individuals to sit at the Shen family’s table.
Ji Xun’s return didn’t attract too much attention, as everyone was busy with their tasks and had little time to worry about when a few more people had arrived.
Dish after dish was brought to the table, and the villagers began eating at a slower pace.
The Shen family’s meal was generous in both portion and variety, so there was no worry about not having enough to eat.
The meal lasted for over an hour, and everyone’s stomachs were comfortably full. They sat on their stools, not wanting to move a muscle.
However, as they looked at the remaining uneaten dishes on the table, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret – such waste was truly a pity.
Top of Form
Just as everyone was thinking of taking a few more bites to avoid wasting such delicious food, Song Shi came out and suggested that they could pack up the remaining food to take home, but they would need to use their own bowls and plates for the leftovers.
Given that most of the people sitting at each table were from the same household, they arranged for two people from each family to go home, get containers, and come back to pack the remaining dishes. The others remained seated, waiting.
Once everyone was full and at ease, their conversations picked up, and they chatted about various topics.
After all, it’s easier to talk when your stomach is full, and people engaged in lively conversations about various subjects.
In truth, the praise for the Shen family flowed naturally in their conversations. It wasn’t insincere, as both the Shen and Zhang families had a good reputation in the village.
The people who had gone home to get bowls and plates quickly returned, and some even brought jars. They didn’t care about the specific contents left on the tables; they just mixed everything together. It was all leftovers from their own families, so there was no aversion to it.
Besides, when you’re still hungry, you don’t mind such things!
Without waiting for the Shen family to say anything, these folks proactively started cleaning the area outside the courtyard.
People didn’t distinguish between whose family was whose; they gathered the plates and bowls from the tables and began washing them in the courtyard. Some even brought their brooms from home to sweep the area clean, taking care of all the garbage.
The elderly man who had come back with Ji Xun looked at this scene and smiled warmly. He said, “The Shen family has certainly won the hearts of the people in this village.”
Ji Xun replied, “It’s all thanks to Miss Shen. It’s the person you asked me to find, and she shared the papermaking recipe, which led to the establishment of the workshop and benefits for the villagers…”Top of Form