"Sure, I will fry them for you every day," said the Ruanlin Family matriarch with a laugh. After hanging all the clothes to dry, she looked at Ruan Jianguo and asked, "Are you going to wait for Shu Jiao to return before holding the housewarming party?"
Shu Jiao’s letter had been received last month, and she had replied a week later.
Logically speaking, Shu Jiao should have already received the letter. She might not reply, but she should be on her way back by now, at the latest by the end of August. Otherwise, school would start in September.
At these words, Ruan Jianguo paused for a moment.
He indeed wanted to wait for Shu Jiao to return before moving into the new house. He wanted the whole family to live in the new building to truly feel the joy of a happy home.
However, the new building had been completed a while ago, and they had already finished the interior decorating and bought the furniture. Even the electrical wiring was all set up, just waiting to be connected to power. If Shu Jiao came back this month, it would be fine, but if it were really to be delayed until the end of August, they would have to wait a very long time.
Moreover, he had to accompany Ruan Hao to the city at the end of August to prepare for his high school enrollment. Ruan Jie was starting middle school, Ruan Jiaojiao and Xiu Xi were beginning elementary school, and on top of that, with the shop to tend to, he was afraid they would be unbelievably busy.
Without a word from Ruan Jianguo, the Ruanlin Family matriarch understood the implication.
The smile on her face faded as she walked inside the house.
Seeing the Ruanlin Family matriarch turn serious, Ruan Jianguo thought for a moment and then beckoned Ruan Jiaojiao, asking her, "Jiaojiao, do you want to move into the new building right away?"
Ruan Jiaojiao blinked, watching the Ruanlin Family matriarch’s receding figure. Naturally, she was more inclined towards the Ruanlin Family matriarch, having never seen or even remembered her own mother. She nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! Jiaojiao wants to live in a tall building."
"Alright then, let’s move in at the end of this month!" Ruan Jianguo decided on the spot.
"Really?" Ruan Jie’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Ruan Jianguo. Once Ruan Jianguo nodded, Ruan Jie ran off like the wind to tell the Ruanlin Family matriarch. He had long coveted that building.
He had originally thought they would really have to wait for Shu Jiao’s return before they could move in, but now they could do so immediately.
Boys have a tendency to show off, and Ruan Jie was no exception. His family would be the only one in the entire village to own a building, which would greatly enhance his status among his peers. Now that they were finally moving in, he was naturally thrilled.
Moving was a significant event and, of course, required consulting Qian Xiabai to choose a favorable day.
When they learned that the 21st of the month was an auspicious day, Ruan Jianguo decided that they would host a banquet then.
They had their own livestock at home, and there were even two wild boars kept in the backyard of the new building. Ruan Jianguo picked a day and, at four in the morning, had the wild boars taken to town, where a butcher helped slaughter them. When they were brought back in the morning, it was said they had been purchased.
The Ruan Family’s living standards had been improving steadily, so when people saw this, no one questioned it. At most, a few might make envious comments, but soon they forgot about it.
For the banquet, Ruan Jianguo invited chefs from the factory kitchen with whom he had good relations, and together with Ruan Jianjun and the Ruanlin Family matriarch, along with Wu Le and Du Qing, there was no need to hire anyone else.
Still, to ensure that the Ruanlin Family matriarch would not be too exhausted, Ruan Jianguo hired a few aunts from the village with whom they had good relationships to help.
The people from their brigade had been curious about the Ruan Family’s building for a long time, and they all came early to the feast to have a look.
The Ruanlin Family matriarch didn’t want others to see the livestock in the backyard, so on the evening before, she had Xiu Xi drive them all to the back hill.
In the countryside, there was plenty of land, so the building and its yard covered a good three or four hundred square meters. A large yard lay both in front and behind it, all enclosed by a wall.