In the large kitchen of the county town courtyard, Lin Lishan finished wrapping the buns, checked the ti, and said to Cheng Hongli, "Hong Li, your Yuanyuan should be out of school now. Go take her and her second brother to co here for dinner. It’s a good chance for our two families to get together. Go early and co back soon, and bring a head of cabbage. Don’t bring anything else, we have plenty of vegetables here. Tomorrow Brother Zheng and Old Zhao are going up the mountain, so I won’t be coming to the county; I’ll stay in the village and be with Jiao Jiao. Even if you bring more, we won’t be able to finish it, and it’ll just go to waste. Go ahead, go early so they don’t start cooking too soon."
Cheng Hongli placed a pot of seafood on the table, nodded after considering for a mont, "Alright, I’ll go call the kids over now. You’re not used to this rustic stove; wait for to co back before you cook anything."
As Lin Lishan watched her leave the courtyard, she thought there was nothing left to do in the kitchen, so she turned and went to the main room to find Zhou Xiaozheng to see what he was up to. She also wondered who was going to take all those large and small baskets in the kitchen. They were taking up space and should be given away or stored in the cellar.
Zhou Xiaozheng was lounging on a recliner, sipping the tea Jiao Jiao gave him, humming a little tune. When he saw his wife co in, he spoke softly, "Are you tired? Sit down and have so tea. This is the Tieguanyin our daughter devotedly prepared. It’s fragrant and llow, the aroma lingers, and it’s refreshing to the mind—it’s top-grade. Just anyone wouldn’t get to drink this; like wasting peony on a cow. Did Hong Li leave?"
"’Green leaves with red edges, the seventh brew still fragrant’ refers to Tieguanyin tea, it’s good stuff. At the core, our Jiao Jiao is a literary person, haha, I bet she spent quite a bit on this. Where did she get the money? The last ti she brewed it for her grandfather, it wasn’t this good." Lin Lishan sat down and made herself a cup.
Zhou Xiaozheng, watching her warm the pot, place the tea, awaken the tea, and brew it again, her actions natural and graceful, smiled knowingly.
When he heard the gentle words coming from her mouth after that, he was speechless, "You’re engaged in such elegant affairs, yet your mouth is full of vulgar things—the contrast is quite stark. It’s like seeing soone from behind on the street who looks 18, but when you see their face, it’s actually 81."
Lin Lishan burst into laughter, "Ti has worn away my elegance, turning into a vulgar person. Nowadays, going to Beijing or Moscow for so milk tea or coffee, I have to think about the price. Our Jiao Jiao says, ti is like a knife that slaughters pigs."
"That’s a good saying. Where did our daughter get such insight from? We truly are getting old; ti really is a knife that slaughters pigs, carving lines in the experiences and paths of our past. Ti is ruthless, rciless, erasing everything, making things that were familiar now foreign, making everything once there no longer exist, softening deep love or hate. But I’m lucky I t you, you’re still the sa as before," Zhou Xiaozheng sighed.
Lin Lishan smiled gently, "I also feel lucky to have t you."
"Of course, luckily I t you, and had such an excellent daughter, Jiao Jiao. Among your friends’ and family’s younger generation, there isn’t one who can compare. Aren’t you proud?"
Lin Lishan shot him a look, then changed tone when speaking of her daughter, "We can’t boast ourselves, or people will laugh. There’s no need for our Jiao Jiao to compare with others; as long as she’s comfortable in her own life, that’s fine. I don’t want her to accomplish too much; as long as Zhang Guoqing protects and spoils her for a lifeti, that’s all that matters. What’s the use of a strong woman? Our daughter doesn’t lack food or clothes, why change for worldly things? Just follow your heart."
Zhou Xiaozheng nodded seriously at her words, "Jiao Jiao takes after , but her disposition is too easily satisfied. Luckily, she’s a daughter; if she were a son, it wouldn’t work, being too steady."
After a while, he looked outside, "Did Cheng Hongli return for sothing?"
"No, I told her to bring the kids over for dinner. They’ll be here later, and she’ll bring a head of cabbage."
"No need to worry about vegetables; when Xiao Wu cos back later, he’ll definitely bring wine and dishes. Our son-in-law is very observant. Be sure to tell Jiao Jiao we’re having dinner here with Zhao Dashan. Our daughter is soone who arranges everything well," Zhou Xiaozheng said nonchalantly. His Jiao Jiao was thorough; everything would be organized without needing him to ask.
"I just regretted not telling Xiao Wu to bring over so cabbages and bacon. Brother Zheng, when do you think to have Jiao Jiao and the family move over? Everything at ho is tidied up. No matter how enthusiastic the Zhang Family is, it’s still inconvenient. Besides, people co and go at his house every day. Let’s stay here; it’s more free," Lin Lishan suggested.
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at the drying fabric outside the study window, "Going up the mountain tomorrow, back the day after tomorrow at the latest, and we’ll move the day after that. First, pack up the clothes for Jiao Jiao and the three kids, especially the child’s clothing and milk powder. Anything else left behind can always be fetched later. Keep the stove in this courtyard burning. If I’m not around, make sure to check in often. This area is safe, so no need to worry about the things here, keep the money on you."
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