Chapter 33: Wedding Feast

Stacks of firewood were piled in the corner, supported by wooden planks underneath to create a gap, preventing them from getting wet by accumulated rainwater on the ground.

Mingming and Goudan had a pile of dried peanuts in front of them. These were grown by Aunt Zhu in her yard. The two children sat on small stools, peeling the peanuts.

Wang Shuning went to the kitchen and washed the chestnuts, keeping a small portion for chestnut chicken, and drying the rest for candied chestnuts.

Looking at the abundance of produce in the space, the wooden house was already overflowing with various things.

Wang Shuning frowned, feeling for the first time that plants growing too fast wasn’t a good thing. She couldn’t harvest them all. To sell everything in the wooden house, she’d have to go to the county.

At noon, the team that went to town to deliver public grain returned, and the villagers of Dafeng Village seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

He Haiming looked at the mountain of grain piled up in the village committee’s warehouse, his face tired but also with a hint of joy. He turned to He Huiliang and He Mingliang and instructed, “It’s up to you two now. Calculate the numbers quickly and distribute the grain.”

He Huiliang nodded. “Understood, Village Chief. Mingliang and I will work overtime these two days. At the usual speed, we can distribute the grain the day after tomorrow.”

He Haiming confidently walked away with his hands behind his back. He Huiliang was the village accountant, and He Mingliang was the village scorekeeper. Before distributing the grain, these two were the busiest. After everything was calculated, the village chief and the three production team leaders would double-check it before the grain could be distributed.

He Daniu’s wedding banquet was lively. Wang Shuning was neither a relative of the groom nor the bride, so she wasn’t invited.

But the village didn’t mind. On the evening of the 25th, Guo Jingyi cooked the food, but only those who helped were there to eat.

A large iron pot was set up outside, and the aroma wafted far away. Wang Shuning could smell it at the gate.

She hadn’t planned to go on the 26th, but Zhang Meili dragged her along.

“Jingyi said it’s okay even if you’re not a relative. Villagers like lively events. As long as you bring a gift, you’re not eating for free. There’s meat at the wedding banquet, and a 10-cent gift can get you over 20 dishes. I think it’s a good deal.”

Zhang Meili walked too fast, and Wang Shuning was almost dragged along. “If it weren’t for Guo Jingyi cooking, you wouldn’t be so enthusiastic.”

Zhang Meili, whose thoughts were guessed, didn’t hide it. “Who wouldn’t want Jingyi’s delicious cooking? I haven’t eaten meat for days. Today, I’m going to eat my fill.”

Wang Shuning didn’t want to discourage her. Once the dishes were served, she would know. The village aunties were incredibly fast, especially at wedding feasts. Zhang Meili probably wouldn’t be able to compete with them.

When they arrived at the gate, they found He Daniu’s yard filled with people. Guests were already seated at the tables, afraid of losing their seats.

He Daniu’s son and daughter-in-law stood at the entrance to greet guests, and someone else was recording and collecting gifts.

He Qianghai had just written down a note and looked up to see Zhang Meili and Wang Shuning standing in front of him. He Daniu probably didn’t invite them, but even those who weren’t relatives came to celebrate and join the fun. It was so prestigious.

Zhang Meili took out a red envelope from her pocket and put it on the table. Wang Shuning came unexpectedly and hadn’t prepared a red envelope, so she took out two dimes from her pocket and put them on the table.

The bride’s younger sister, who was helping, smiled and took the money. “My brother is getting married today. Have a good time, sisters.”

He Qianghai recorded their gifts. Unmarried girls giving two dimes was generous. Many of He Daniu’s extended relatives only gave a dime, and they brought a child, afraid of not getting their money’s worth.

“Congratulations, congratulations,” Wang Shuning smiled, her eyes curving. This was her first time attending such a lively wedding banquet, and the atmosphere was thick with joy. Everyone present had smiles on their faces.

Zhang Meili led Wang Shuning through the crowd to a corner. Lü Beichu saw them and quickly stood up to wave. “Why are you so late? Several groups of people came to grab seats. If I hadn’t held on tight, there wouldn’t be any left.”

Zhang Meili pushed Wang Shuning onto a stool. The dishes hadn’t been served yet. “How long until it starts?”

“Half an hour.”

Many aunties passing by would glance at them. They knew the unmarried girls in the village well, and the new female educated youths were all here. It was quite rare.

Hearing that it would be half an hour, Wang Shuning wanted to sigh.

She took out a handful of peanuts and put them in Zhang Meili’s hand. So many people came, and there weren’t even any melon seeds or peanuts on the table.

It made sense. There were probably hundreds of people. No matter how many snacks were put out, it wouldn’t be enough. The cost of this wedding banquet had skyrocketed because of Guo Jingyi’s cooking skills. She wondered if He Daniu could recoup the cost with the gifts.

Zhang Meili’s eyes lit up at the sight of the peanuts. She immediately started peeling and eating them. These were freshly fried by Wang Shuning yesterday. She had intentionally fried them until slightly yellow, making them even more fragrant than those sold outside.

A table should have seated ten people, but several high stools had been added, making it fifteen. Worried about their seats being taken, everyone could only sit at the table and wait for the wedding feast to begin.

Wang Shuning and Zhang Meili peeled peanuts under the table, but with their mouths moving, they were embarrassed to ask for more when people looked over. Only a child sitting next to Wang Shuning called out to his mother, “Mom, I want peanuts too.”

Wang Shuning immediately handed a handful to the child. “Call me pretty sister, and I’ll give them to you.”

The child opened his soft little hand and said, “Pretty sister, you’re so beautiful. You’re the most beautiful sister I’ve ever seen.”

Wang Shuning laughed and put the peanuts in his hand. There were so many that they almost fell out of his palm. The child quickly covered them with his other hand to prevent them from falling on the ground. “Thank you, pretty sister.”

“You’re so sweet. You’ll be charming many girls when you grow up.” Wang Shuning pinched his chubby little face.

After eating two handfuls of peanuts, the sound of the suona suddenly rang out. It was loud enough to be heard for miles.

Then the dishes started to be served, starting with the cold dishes.

As soon as the firecrackers went off, the table near the gate was filled with gunpowder smoke, and then people came with plates of hot dishes.

Chopsticks flew on the table, and there were even two pairs of chopsticks reaching for the same piece of meat.

Wang Shuning didn’t eat her first bite. She filled her bowl first before enjoying the food.

When Zhang Meili finished gnawing on a bone and looked up to pick up more food, the plate was almost empty, only some vegetables left. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

In the blink of an eye, over ten dishes were gone, like butterflies flying away?

Her heart ached. She reached for the remaining vegetables, her chopsticks still carrying the scent of meat, but it was already a thing of the past.

She thought everyone was the same, but when she looked down, she saw Wang Shuning next to her eating happily, her bowl full, though not all meat, there were still several pieces.

“How did you grab them?”

Wang Shuning took a bite of bean sprouts, crisp and refreshing. “Whatever you get into your bowl is yours.” Guo Jingyi’s cooking was really good; even the bean sprouts in the big pot were delicious.

Zhang Meili sighed. She was naive. She didn’t expect that villagers eating at wedding feasts were like bandits. In the blink of an eye, not even meat scraps were left.

Zhang Meili at least got one piece. Lü Beichu, a man who cared about his face, didn’t dare to snatch, and didn’t get a single piece of meat. He could only fill his stomach with shredded potatoes. Fortunately, Guo Jingyi’s cooking skills were superb, and the vegetarian dishes were also delicious.