dognovel Chapter 34 Zhao Yuan's Family Dinner
Chapter 34 Zhao Yuan's Family Dinner
Then Zhao San came running in, breathless.
Upon hearing Zhao San's voice, Zhao Yuan put down the vegetables he was chopping and walked out of the kitchen.
Tu Chenglong and Lin Fangfang also followed to the main entrance.
Following the direction Zhao San pointed, a 212 Jeep slowly drove into the front yard of Zhao Yuan's house, followed by three 28-inch bicycles, village secretary Zhao Jianguo, accountant Zhao Haiyan, and the team leader of the third team Zhao Bin.
As soon as the car came to a stop, Zhao Jianguo immediately went to greet him.
The passenger door opened. County Head Yang stepped out of the car.
"Hello, County Chief Yang, I am Zhao Jianguo, the Party Secretary of Zhaojia Village."
County Chief Yang shook hands with Zhao Jianguo and greeted him.
"County Chief Yang, welcome, welcome."
Zhao Yuan quickly went to greet them and led them into the house.
Knowing that guests would be coming to her house today, Lin Fangfang had already cleaned the main room, set up a tall square table, brewed fennel tea with all the teacups in the house, and placed a plate of melon seeds, a plate of paper-wrapped candy, and a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes on the table.
"Fangfang, this is County Chief Yang."
As soon as they entered, Zhao Yuan introduced County Chief Yang to Lin Fangfang.
"Hello, County Chief Yang, please, please have a seat."
Lin Fangfang stood in the main room, greeting everyone nervously. This was the highest-ranking official she had ever met since birth, so it was natural for her to be nervous.
"County Chief Yang, this is my child's mother, Lin Fangfang."
Zhao Yuan then introduced Lin Fangfang to County Chief Yang.
"Hello, brother and sister-in-law."
County Chief Yang greeted Lin Fangfang.
Then I greeted Secretary Tian, Zhou Jiefang, Gong Xianjin and others, arranged for them to sit down, and offered them cigarettes one by one.
Zhao Yuan couldn't tell who the commune cadres were, and he didn't usually interact with them, so he simply invited them all to the table without bothering to greet them individually.
Zhao Yuan hadn't expected so many people to come so suddenly; he didn't have that many teacups at home.
"Uncle Jianguo, come out for a moment."
Zhao Yuan called the village party secretary, Zhao Jianguo, to the next room and whispered something to him.
Knowing something was wrong, Zhao Haiyan and Zhao Bin followed.
It turned out that there weren't enough teacups and bowls/chopsticks at home.
It's inconvenient to carry bowls and chopsticks, and there won't be so many people eating there. A table can only seat a maximum of eight people, so it was decided that Zhao Haiyan would go to the village office to get a few teacups as a temporary measure.
As Zhao Haiyan walked out of Zhao Yuan's house, many villagers were still watching the commotion. Upon seeing Zhao Haiyan, they all surrounded her and asked:
"Accountant Zhao, is that the county magistrate?"
"Yes, yes, everyone, please disperse."
He then jogged off to the village office.
"There probably aren't enough vegetables."
Zhao Jianguo asked.
"There are enough vegetables. I bought extra and cooked extra."
Zhao Yuan answered.
"Uncle Jianguo, go and greet the guests for me. Zhaobin, you help me out."
Zhao Yuan added.
"Ok."
"Ok."
Zhao Jianguo went to the main room to drink tea and chat with County Chief Yang and the others.
Zhao Bin then went to the stove to start the fire.
Lin Fangfang moved Zhao Nana's cradle into the room. She then changed Zhao Nana's diaper, fed her, and coaxed her to sleep.
The distance from Zhaoyuan's home to the village office is less than 50 meters.
Soon Zhao Haiyan returned from the village office, carrying a basket containing six enamel teacups.
Zhao Haiyan quickly took out a teacup, washed it again, brewed fennel tea, and served it on the table.
Zhou Jiefang sat at the table but couldn't get a word in edgewise. He also went to the kitchen to help chop vegetables and hand out seasonings.
As the last piece of hand-torn cabbage was added to the pot, Zhao Yuan said:
"Dinner is ready."
Zhao Jianguo and the cadres of Chijiaopen Village helped clear the table, while Zhao Haiyan and Lin Fangfang set the bowls and chopsticks on the table.
Lin Fangfang brought two bottles of wine and wine glasses from the room and placed them on the table.
Zhao Yuan plated up all the braised pig's feet and braised pork bones.
Zhou Jiefang helped serve it to the table.
Zhao Yuan cooked all the pig's feet and bones he bought, intending to save some for dinner. However, plans changed, and suddenly there were a few more people, so there wasn't enough food. He couldn't prepare anything on the spot, so he served everything.
Two large bowls of braised pig's feet, two large bowls of pork bones, one large bowl of braised pork belly, one bowl of steamed roasted fish, one bowl of steamed pork with chili powder, one bowl of cold seaweed salad, one large bowl of hand-torn cabbage, and one bowl of seaweed and egg soup.
Ten large bowls—this is definitely a luxurious banquet.
When the dishes were served, everyone was stunned.
"Zhaoyuan, your house is way too high-end."
County Chief Yang said with a smile.
"County Chief Yang, Secretary Tian, Director Tu, and all the cadres of the commune, I couldn't invite you all to my home for dinner. Today, thanks to Educated Youth Gong, I'm able to invite you all to my humble abode. Of course, I'll treat you all to a good meal."
Zhao Yuan also sat down at the table.
Zhao Jianguo stayed for dinner, while Zhao Haiyan and Zhao Bin said goodbye to everyone after finishing their work and went home.
Lin Fangfang was still in her postpartum period, so Zhaoyuan gave her some vegetables without chili peppers to eat in her room.
Including the driver, there were 10 people at the table eating and drinking together.
Director Wang Hailong poured 10 glasses of wine, but the driver, who doesn't drink, replaced them with 9 glasses.
"Today is a joyous occasion. Let me first raise a glass to everyone to welcome County Head Yang, Secretary Tian, Director Tu, and all the leaders to my humble abode. I have prepared some wine and snacks. I hope you enjoy your meal and wish you all a better life, good health, and that you grow younger with each passing year."
Zhao Yuan stood up first and raised his glass to toast everyone.
County Chief Yang also stood up and said, "Why don't we celebrate in a more meaningful way?"
Director Tu chimed in, "Yes, why don't we raise a toast to the county's development? May our county prosper under County Head Yang's leadership."
Upon hearing this, Secretary Mu immediately understood the leaders' meaning. He raised his glass, smiled, and said, "Alright, let's raise a glass together for our common home and for the prosperity of the county!" Everyone raised their glasses, and the atmosphere became even more lively.
"It's getting better and better."
Everyone stood up and clinked glasses.
County Magistrate Yang sat down first and took a bite of the braised pig's trotter.
"Wow, this is so delicious! You guys should try it!"
As he spoke, County Chief Yang took another bite of the braised pig's trotter.
Upon hearing what County Chief Yang said, everyone took a piece of braised pig's trotter, and the bowl of braised pig's trotters was quickly emptied.
"It's so delicious."
"It's so delicious."
"It smells so good."
"Pig's feet can be this delicious."
A chorus of exclamations followed.
"Zhaoyuan, did you make this?"
County Magistrate Yang asked.
"Yes, I made it."
Zhao Yuan said.
"These pork bones smell delicious, everyone should try them."
Everyone was busy picking up pork bones.
"Zhaoyuan, your cooking skills are amazing."
County Chief Yang gave Zhao Yuan a thumbs-up while gnawing on a meat bone.
"Yes, you should try the other dishes, they're all delicious."
Secretary Tian also gave Zhaoyuan a thumbs up.
Everyone tasted all the dishes before they started toasting each other.
......
County Head Yang introduced the commune cadres to Zhao Yuan one by one and praised Zhao Yuan extensively. After a few rounds of drinks, County Head Yang recounted what Zheng Ziqi had told him about Zhao Yuan's business dealings with the foreigners. Secretary Tian and Director Tu also praised Zhao Yuan highly.
Zhao Jianguo and Lin Fangfang were completely dumbfounded.
They had no idea when Zhao Yuan's English had become so fluent that he could even act as a translator.
However, this foreign language was of little use to them, and they didn't know what the translator was doing, so they didn't think much of it.
But the commune cadres and Zhao Jianguo understood that County Chief Yang had a very high opinion of Zhao Yuan.
After offering the required toasts, Gong Xianjin suddenly stood up and said...
"Brother Zhao, I'd like to take this opportunity to toast you for saving my life. I'm very grateful for your help to me and Zhou Jiefang. I'm heading back to Beijing now. Please take good care of Zhou Jiefang. I'll definitely see you in Beijing sometime."
“Gong Zhiqing, why do you say that? I haven’t helped you at all. I haven’t helped Brother Zhou much either.”
Zhao Yuan said, looking completely bewildered.
"Without the pound of candy and the bag of rice you gave Zhou Jiefang, we don't know what would have become of us. We've been surviving on these things you gave us all this time."
Gong Xianjin spoke with tears in his eyes.
"I won't thank you enough, I'll do it."
Zhou Jiefang also toasted Zhao Yuan.
County Chief Yang and Director Tian praised Zhao Yuan again.
All the food on the table was eaten, even the soup was completely gone.
In those days, everyone's life was difficult, and even cadres' families couldn't afford to eat much meat. What's more, Zhaoyuan had prepared so many delicious dishes today, such as braised pig's feet and braised pork ribs, which they had never eaten before. They were extremely satisfied with the meal.
"Zhaoyuan, we will never forget this meal you gave us."
County Chief Yang said, half-jokingly.
“Then County Chief Yang should come to our Zhaojia Village more often in the future, and I will definitely cook for him myself.”
Zhao Yuan answered with a smile.
After finishing the meal.
Zhou Jiefang and Zhao Yuan tidied up the table together.
Lin Fangfang brewed fennel tea and served it on the table, then filled a plate with peanuts and paper-wrapped candy and served it on the table, and also brought out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes.
Zhou Jiefang helped wash the dishes, while Zhao Yuan invited everyone to drink tea and smoke.