Sun Lixia and Zhao Xiaojuan went to the kitchen to help Su Wanyu prepare dinner, while Jiang Changhai’s three brothers sat on the stool nearby, discussing various matters about the factory and the fields. The family chatted and laughed harmoniously.
Because it was Jiang Changhai’s birthday, Su Wanyu had gone out early in the morning to buy a lot of groceries. With the help of her sisters-in-law, they quickly prepared a lavish dinner table.
The younger children each received a bottle of soda. Zhiwen and Zhiwu, the two brothers, saw the soda and immediately cheered, taking several big gulps.
"Drink less so you won’t be too full for dinner," Sun Lixia reminded her two silly sons who couldn’t stop drinking the soda.
The Eldest Branch had prepared so much meat and vegetables; it would be such a waste if the two of them filled up on soda and couldn’t eat the meat.
"We know, Mom," Zhiwen and Zhiwu replied.
Da Ya and the other girls had never tasted soda before. As they tried the bubbly drink, they sipped it very preciously. The novel taste of the soda immediately captivated the girls’ taste buds, no wonder Zhiwen and Zhiwu liked it so much. It really was delicious.
When the Jiang family members saw the sumptuous spread of dishes, they all involuntarily swallowed their saliva.
After Jiang Changhai made some formal remarks and Jiang Dashan picked up his chopsticks, the Jiang family members then grabbed their chopsticks and started to devour the meats and vegetables so fast that they didn’t have time for conversation.
After dinner, the Jiang family sat contentedly on the sofa, savoring the memory of the meal they had just enjoyed.
Jiang Changhai brought out the black and white TV set that he had bought first from inside the house. Zhang Guihua, with her sharp eyes, noticed he had brought out another TV. She quickly straightened up and asked in surprise, "Eldest, why do you have another TV?"
He placed the TV on a stool in the living room, "Mom and Dad, I bought this TV a few days ago at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Now that Mianmian has made another color TV, you can take this black and white one back home to watch."
"What? For us?" Zhang Guihua asked in astonishment.
Even the usually composed Jiang Dashan showed a look of surprise on his face.
Upon hearing such good news, the Third Branch couple was overjoyed. Sun Lixia now wished she could go and move the TV into her house immediately, fearing any mistake might occur.
"Yes, Mom, take this TV back home to watch. You and Dad have worked hard all your lives; it’s time you enjoyed some comfort. Mom and Dad, I promise, once you take this TV home, everyone in our village will be envious of you for having such an accomplished son, such an impressive granddaughter, and such a virtuous daughter-in-law like Wanyu," Jiang Changhai boasted.
"Yeah, Grandma and Grandpa, take the TV back home. From now on, you can watch the news, operas, and dramas every day, how great is that?" Jiang Mianmian also chimed in teasingly.
Since Jiang Changhai mentioned giving the TV to her, the old lady had a smile on her face that never faded.
Jiang Dashan’s smile also never faded. His heart swelled with pride and contentment knowing his son and granddaughter were succeeding in life and remembered to honor their elders.
"Oh dear, Eldest, you are really too filial. When you were little, I could tell that you were a very devoted and good boy! Now you’re buying us a TV to honor your father and me. Since you all say so, Mom will move the TV back home later," Zhang Guihua said happily.