CHAPTER 127: CHAPTER 102: A JOYFUL GATHERING’S END (PART 2)

Mother Zhang couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Although there were many things, if they were divided according to Xiao Wu’s way, there would be no way to make cured meat. When spring comes and there’s a shortage of meat during the busy farming season, they would be ready; the cured meat could be stored in a small warehouse afterwards.

Xi Zi called Zhang Guoqing over. Zhang Guoqing checked the time, which seemed about right, so he ran to the kitchen and used fire tongs to pick up a mud ball, checking to find it indeed cracked open.

He smiled at Xi Zi, "The little guys are really familiar with it. Here’s a task for you, right now! Immediately! Serve the wine to your grandfather, your dad, and your second uncle! Then come back quickly."

Xi Zi happily saluted him, "Yes, sir. Just a moment, Commander. I’ll be right back." He grabbed three bowls and ran to the living room to set them up.

Mr. Zhang saw him running over, "What are you doing, no rush, be careful not to fall."

"Grandfather, my little uncle gave me a task, serving the wine. I’m going to call my dad and second uncle."

Xi Zi made a round trip back to the kitchen. Zhang Guoqing had already cracked open the clay to reveal the chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, smelling delicious. The wild chicken had mushrooms and cured meat stuffed inside, four plates in total were placed without being cut, he casually sliced one plate and handed it to his eldest sister-in-law to take it along with the pig tails to the main room.

"Xi Zi, this plate is sliced for you all; you and the little brothers and sisters eat together. You take it to the main room and call them. Once little uncle cuts all this, I’ll mix up some Milo to drink with the wild chicken. How does that sound? Living the life, right?"

Xi Zi gave a thumbs-up, "Awesome, really awesome."

Zhang Guoqing watched him take it and run, quickly calling after him, "Have your grandma and mom come over."

Mother Zhang heard his shout from afar and returned to the kitchen with Huang Cuilan.

Zhang Guoqing saw his mother and eldest sister-in-law already back, picked up two plates of chicken, "Mom, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, all of you go to the small parlor in the west wing and have a drink with my mother-in-law. Go, go. Remember to bring your bowls and chopsticks."

Mother Zhang and the two sisters-in-law laughed heartily, "Okay, you go ahead, we’ll prepare a bit more meat to bring over."

Zhang Guoqing carried two plates of chicken and quickly ran to the room. After some thought, he decided to put them on the table in the inner room, took out the red wine Jiao Jiao had fetched before, opened it and placed it on the table, then took out a bottle of white wine, and said to the curious pair of mother and daughter, "Today is a happy day. We men are drinking in the main room, and Mom, my mother, and my sisters-in-law are drinking here. Enjoy yourselves. Jiao Jiao, I’ll make a cup of Milo for you, enjoy it while soaking up the atmosphere. This is called beggar’s chicken; I’ll slice it up."

He quickly grabbed a can of opened Milo from the cabinet, noticing a few more cans inside, pointing at them with a grin, "Life is pretty good, since Mom came, the stock is growing, and supplies are getting more abundant."

He made a steaming cup of Milo and said, "I’ll make Milo for the little ones to have with the beggar’s chicken when my mom and the sisters-in-law arrive." He watched them come over happily with plates, bowls, and chopsticks, "Mom and sisters-in-law, come in quickly. The table is set in the inner room, play by yourselves, I’m off now."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at Jiao Jiao, who was staring pitifully at the meat on the table with her eyes gleaming, "Jiao Jiao, have the Milo with the wild chicken."

With that, he quickly left, fearing he might soften. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t let her eat; the meat was just too salty. He carried the Milo and took bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen, quickly heading to the main room. When the kids saw their little uncle indeed bring over Milo, they shouted with joy, making him feel happy too, "Little ones, just a moment, the Milo will be ready soon, enjoy it with the chicken meat, how about that?"

Mr. Zhang and the others watched as he played with the kids, all looking on cheerfully.

"It’s ready, one cup each, no more than that, or there’ll be a laugh if anyone wets the bed. This can of Milo will be managed by Brother Xi Zi. You can ask him for some to drink later. Xi Zi, once you’re done drinking, take it back to your room, one cup a day if they want to drink. Remember, when making it, find an adult; boiling water is very hot. That’s an order!" Though it was ready, Zhang Guoqing cautioned Xi Zi particularly.

Xi Zi immediately stood up and saluted him, "Yes, sir, Commander, task will be completed."

Zhang Guoqing solemnly handed him the can, the two of them playing very earnestly, which made Mr. Zhang and the others laugh heartily.

Mr. Zhang, seeing them done playing around, watched as Zhang Guoqing sat down and took a swig of wine, smiling, "Is your mom and the others drinking too? You’re not letting them drink white liquor, right? It’ll be fun if they get drunk later."

Zhang Guoqing held up his cup and clinked it with his elder and second brother, "I left red and white wine in the room, let them choose themselves. Hehe, secretly telling you, if they mix both and drink, the effect will surely knock them out."

"You naughty boy, what red wine, I thought you prepared fruit wine?" asked the curious eldest brother Zhang Guofu. He didn’t ask where the wine came from, thinking perhaps it was brought by his mother-in-law.

Zhang Guoqing said, "Red wine is just famous, foreign women drink it, available at the provincial Friendship Mall. Not as tasty as fruit wine. If they’re not used to it, they’ll definitely come looking for fruit wine later."

Zhang Guofu nodded, "The candy Xi Zi brought back last time, what’s it called, cris? I tried it; it’s perfectly good candy but tasted bitter, strangely Western. Western stuff is just all jumbled up."

The second brother Zhang Guoqiang shook his head and laughed, "Bro, you forgot, it’s called chocolate. And then there’s that long bread; I ate it, and it wasn’t as good as our white bread loaf. I heard Xi Zi say it’s a foreign baguette. Why does bread have to be so long?"

After the drinking was over, it was already past 8 PM. Everyone happily dispersed to their own rooms to rest.