Chapter 226: Chapter 230: Mutual Admiration and Respect Chapter 226: Chapter 230: Mutual Admiration and Respect “This matter is settled then,” the two were busy chatting when the firewood under the pot burned out. Sheng Laosan reminded, “Quickly add some more wood; we can start eating soon.”
“Oh, oh…” It was a rural clay pot built with cement. Sheng An sat on a small stool, adding firewood while continuing to try to persuade them, clearly not willing to give up.
In the end, all of his ideas were vetoed by Sheng Laosan.
“Why is it taking you so long to cook a dish?” Shen Luhua’s voice came from the doorway.
Sheng An quietly breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that they had reached an agreement. He wondered how the negotiation went.
In the evening, Xu Qigang returned home amidst the evening glow. Because he had drunk half a bottle of white liquor with Sheng Laosan at noon, his handsome face carried a flush.
Before he reached his home, Xu Xianxiong and Zhao Lanzhi stood at the doorstep eagerly waiting.
Xu Yingshan also waited, hands tucked into his sleeves.
“Our son is back!” Zhao Lanzhi saw him from afar and immediately greeted him.
“How did it go? Did they agree?”
Xu Qigang’s eyes twinkled with mirth, his demeanor fundamentally different from when he was sober. He lacked his usual sternness and instead seemed somewhat naive.
Zhao Lanzhi’s heart softened at the sight, silently sighing. Her excellent son was about to get married.
“They agreed!” Xu Qigang revealed a big smile; his white teeth nearly dazzled Xu Yingshan’s eyes.
“Brother, look how silly happy you are.” He had never seen his cousin this elated before!
Xu Qigang casually ruffled Xu Yingshan’s head, turning the hefty and tall fellow completely disheveled. His hair quickly transformed into a bird’s nest.
“You’re asking for a beating, I see.”
“So, when are you getting married?” Xu Xianxiong asked eagerly. He had married late and hadn’t expected his son to also marry so late. Others his age in the village were already holding grandchildren.
“In another two years.” Xu Qigang had been drinking, yet his gaze was clear. Mentioning the wedding date, his handsome face turned a little red, but luckily, the alcohol had already given him a bit of a flush, or it would have been obvious.
“Xiao Ning is still too young; we have to wait until she has matured.”
Zhao Lanzhi said regretfully, “That’s the downside of marrying a young wife. My son, you’re almost thirty, and we can’t afford to wait.”
“Cough, cough…” Xu Qigang coughed softly. “Mom, are you implying that I’m too old?”
Xu Yingshan, ever quick to speak, gleefully teased, “Brother, aunty is saying you’re like an old bull with a young calf!”
“You scoundrel, what nonsense are you talking about?” Zhao Lanzhi twisted Xu Yingshan’s ear.
“Aunty, I’m wrong, I apologize! Please let go with your esteemed mercy.” The villagers always said aunty was like a tigress, and they weren’t wrong.
“Next time you spout nonsense, I’ll skin you alive.”
“Aunty, I wouldn’t dare! You are our family’s Empress Dowager Cixi…” Xu Yingshan knew how to charm with words, and soon had Zhao Lanzhi beaming from ear to ear.
Xu Xianxiong spoke earnestly, patting Xu Qigang’s shoulder, “Son, I am the lesson from the past for you.”
Father and son shared a knowing look, a sense of mutual sympathy passing between them.
The two-day holiday passed in a flash. Sheng Ning had been so busy learning how to knit sweaters from Zhang Hongmei that she nearly became obsessed.
She was naturally skillful with her hands and, as she was diligent and hardworking, learning to knit wasn’t too difficult for her.
What intrigued her more was creating even more beautiful patterns.
With everyone else gone from the dormitory, Sheng Ning sat on the floor doing a split while her hands rapidly knitted with the wool.