Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 339 Dragon Boat Festival Banquet
Yan Jiekuang explained to He Yuzhu the reason for the dinner, and He Yuzhu stopped pestering him and asked if he needed any help.

Yan Jiekuang said, "No need, Brother Zhuzi, my apprentice will be here soon."

He Yuzhu turned around and walked away with his hands behind his back. Yan Jiefang took Shi Xiaoya and Ji Lian to the next door to borrow two round tables and some chairs.

Yan Jiekuang had already asked his apprentice to bring the bowls and chopsticks from the restaurant, so there was no need to borrow them.

At about ten o'clock, Wei Xiaobao came with two kitchen workers. The van couldn't get in, so they parked outside the alley. Xiaobao came here often and was thoughtful. He brought a cart and transported the things to the kitchen in the front yard of the west wing in two trips.

Wei Xiaobao smiled and told his master about the recent situation of Chunfeng Tower. He also specifically mentioned the farm in Fangshan, which was already half built and would be officially put into use by the end of July.

Yan Jiekuang listened patiently and said, "We are inviting our neighbors to dinner today. You will be the chef and I will be your assistant to see if your cooking skills have improved."

"Okay, Master, just take a look." Wei Xiaobao happily took the kitchen workers to work.

Yan Jiekuang wrote six appetizers: spicy milk melon slices, pickled chili peppers, seeded winter bamboo shoots, five-shredded agar-agar, mustard duck feet, and spicy quail; six main courses: fresh abalone in its shell, roasted partridge, stir-fried sand prawns, shredded chicken and bean sprouts, pearl fish balls, and lotus leaf chicken; one main course: Cantonese-style rice dumplings; and one soup: braised fish lips in a pot.

Yan Jiekuang started working in the kitchen with his apprentices and cooks. The eldest and second brothers, with Shi Xiaoya, Ji Lian and Yu Li, were busy in the backyard. Yan Bugui and Yang Ruiping were picking strawberries and cherries in the glass house. The children were all helping their grandmother.

Yan Jiekuang didn't know who Yan Bugui had notified, so he prepared four tables. After a while, He Xiao ran over and found Yan Jiekuang and said, "Third uncle, my father asked me to tell you that we may have to add one more table. Those who don't usually come back have all come back, even Zhou Zhiping has come back with his wife and children, and the Jia family has also come back after hearing the news."

Yan Jiekuang calculated in his mind that four tables were not enough, so he added another table temporarily.

He Xiao went to the backyard to find Yan Yongqing and did not go home. After a while, Jia Xiaobao also came, and the three of them went to the pavilion in the back garden to play poker.

It was almost noon, and the Jia family arrived first. Jia Zhang was the first, followed by Jia Dongxu and his wife, Jia Geng and his wife, and Tang Yanling also brought Jia Weiguo. As soon as Jia Weiguo came in, he asked Yan Jiekuang, "Third uncle, where is brother Shi Lei?" Yan Jiekuang pointed to the backyard and said, "In the backyard, go find them." Jia Weiguo ran to the backyard.

Yan Bugui then invited Jia Zhang to the main table. It was Yang Ruiping who specifically reminded Yan Bugui that Jia Zhang was good at stirring up trouble, and that we should not make trouble over who was the host or not. Jia Zhang went to the main table with a smile on her face.

Then the He family came. He Yuzhu and He Yumei brought their daughter-in-law and He Rui, followed by the Zhou family, Widow Wang and Grandpa Sun, Zhou Zhiping's family and Sun Xiaolong's family. The backyard became lively. Yang Ruiping and his daughter-in-law served fruits and melon seeds to each table. Everyone chatted and ate fruits. The children were playing in the back garden. Even Zhou Zhiping's and Sun Xiaolong's children went there. It sounded like they were playing hide-and-seek.

After a while, Yi Zhonghai and his wife came over with the Chang, Xu and Liu families from the backyard. Yan Jiekuang saw that most people were there and started to instruct Wei Xiaobao to cook.

When the six appetizers were served, He Yuzhu exclaimed, "Old Third Yan is really particular. These are all royal court dishes. Look at the presentation. This apprentice's skills are not low."

Everyone then suddenly realized that the Yan family had put a lot of thought into inviting them to this meal. Then, the dishes were served one by one. When they were halfway through, the eldest and second sons of the Yan family began to pour wine and drinks for everyone.

Yan Bugui stood up and said, "It is said that a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. We have been neighbors for decades. I did something wrong some time ago, so I would like to apologize to everyone. On the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival, I will have a meal with everyone. I will definitely correct my mistakes. Thank you for your support. Let's have a drink."

When everyone heard this, they started to make a noise and had a drink together. Then they began to eat and chat. The most awkward person at the table was Liu Guangqi. His two sons didn't come at all. Liu Guangqi was at the same table with He Yuzhu, and no one at the table paid any attention to him except Xu Damao.

When the last dish was served, two people came in through the door. Everyone fell silent. Everyone saw that it was Qin Jingru and a man walking in. Yi Zhonghai asked Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu, "What's going on? Who is that?"

Jia Dongxu and his wife shook their heads in confusion. Qin Huairu said, "I don't know either. I haven't even seen that man."

Qin Jingru seemed very satisfied with everyone's reaction and said loudly: "Oh, how come my family is left out of the neighbors' gathering? Let me introduce you to my husband, Huang Weiren, the Hong Kong manager of the Hong Kong University Textile Factory."

Yan Jiecheng did not go to the main table. He was sitting at the second table. Everyone at the second table looked at Yan Jiecheng, because Yan Jiecheng was the technical director of that factory. Yan Jiecheng nodded helplessly, and this confirmed the authenticity of this person.

Yan Jiekuang just came out, and when he saw Qin Jingru and the others, he said, "Hurry up and sit down. It's better to be left behind than to leave anyone behind."

Yan Jiekuang glanced at Huang Weiren and felt that he looked more and more familiar. He suddenly remembered that he had a concrete company in Shenzhen and the manager Huang Gongwang looked very similar to this man. Yan Jiekuang did not ask about the man and pretended not to know him. He thought about going back to ask Huang Gongwang.

This eased the atmosphere. Xu Damao looked at Qin Jingru and her husband and became more and more displeased with them. He drank more and more. Liu Guangqi and Jia Geng beside him were trying to persuade them to stop. Yan Jiekuang did not go to the main table either, but sat at the second table with his apprentice.

This neighbor's dinner reached its climax halfway through. At the main table, Jia Zhang and Yang Ruiping boasted about their high status in Qianmen, which was known to everyone; Liu Haizhong complained to Yi Zhonghai and Yan Bugui with tears in his eyes.

Xu Damao at the second table talked a lot about how powerful he was in the south and how his business was going smoothly; He Yuzhu and Yan Jiefang were drinking non-stop to see who was better; Yan Jiekuang was listening to Liu Guangqi talking about the pros and cons of the factory reform. Liu Guangqi was talking a lot, a bit like Xiong Zhi who wanted to be the boss.

The ladies at the third table were all listening to Qin Jingru's boasting of wealth. Later, the guys couldn't stand it anymore, so they took the wine and food to the backyard, and the others went to the pavilion to drink.

The fourth table was the calmest, with Li Cuilan patiently listening to Zhao Yue'e and Xu's mother's complaints.

The children at the last table were the most interesting. I don’t know who took the lead, but they started playing rock-paper-scissors to drink soda.

The meal was a lively and chaotic one, and in the end Xu Damao and Qin Jingru and a few other people who were good at organizing things were running around from table to table.

When the party was about to end, the people at the main table agreed to observe the newcomer for a while first. If he really didn't suit the neighbors' taste, Yan Bugui would resolutely terminate the lease.

The banquet did not end until three o'clock in the afternoon. Most people left, only Li Cuilan and Zhao Yue'e stayed to help clean up the mess. Yi Zhonghai also stayed and chatted and drank tea with Yan Bugui.

After Yan Jiekuang cleaned up the kitchen, he asked Wei Xiaobao and the kitchen workers to go back as the restaurant would open in the afternoon.

Yan Jiekuang took Ji Lian out in the car. Yang Ruiping ate the rice dumplings and found them delicious, so he asked the couple to send some to his grandfather's house.

Sanyuan Village has changed a lot now. The residential area in the village has been built, and each household has its own door and yard. Each house is a small Western-style building. It can be seen that Sanyuan Village has made a lot of money since the reform and opening up. Vans and Lada cars can be seen everywhere. In the distance are neat rows of greenhouses. The village committee is also very luxurious, with a three-story building and a large yard in front of it. On the left is the village clinic, and on the right is the village supply and marketing cooperative. The whole village gives people a clean, tidy and grand feeling.

Yan Jiekuang first parked his car in front of the supply and marketing cooperative. Yan Jiekuang went to the supply and marketing cooperative to inquire about where Yang Yiqing's home was. When the supply and marketing cooperative heard that they were asking about the village party secretary's home, they enthusiastically pointed the way and asked if they wanted to take them there. Yan Jiekuang waved his hand and said that he could find it. After saying thank you, Yan Jiekuang drove straight to Yang Yiqing's home.

As soon as the car stopped, Yang Yiqing looked out from the yard. When he saw someone getting off the car, he shouted, "Old woman, come out quickly, San'er is here."

With just this shout, my eldest brother-in-law's family and my second uncle's family all came out. Grandma also walked out of the house and walked quickly towards the gate of the courtyard.

Yan Jiekuang quickly walked a few steps and supported his grandma and grandpa. Both grandma and grandma were over 80 years old, so they couldn't afford to make any mistakes. Grandma hit him and said, "I don't need you to support me. Come in, granddaughter-in-law, come in."

Yan Jiekuang said, "My mother asked me to bring you some rice dumplings. Xiaohu, come and help me carry the things." As he spoke, Yan Jiekuang opened the trunk, which contained a large basket of rice dumplings, some dried abalone and sea cucumbers, and a box of Jiannanchun. Except for the rice dumplings, the rest were the ones that Ji Lian suggested taking.

Several people moved the things to the kitchen. Grandma took Ji Lian's hand and said, "Why haven't you come here for a while?"

Ji Lian smiled and said, "Grandma, I have too much work to do at the company and my children are still in school. I really don't have time. I will definitely come more often in the future."

Grandma and Ji Lian started chatting and asked about family matters.

Yan Jiekuang was drinking tea and smoking with his uncle, second uncle and grandfather in the main hall. After a while, Xiaohu and Nannan came in. Yan Jiekuang talked about the recent family affairs. Xiaohu was smoking beside him and didn't say anything. Nannan kept pushing him. The uncle saw it and asked, "Old man, just say what you want to say. Why are you mumbling?"

Xiaohu looked at Yan Jiekuang and said, "San'er, I'm sorry. The share of vegetables given to your restaurant is getting smaller and smaller. I have no choice. As the village party secretary, if I don't give the high-priced ones and give the low-priced ones, the villagers will be dissatisfied. Moreover, it's not just one family. They go to the village committee to make trouble every day. Only the one with the highest bid can win."

Yan Jiekuang waved his hand and said, "It's okay. This is the law of the market. It's just that you informed me in advance so that I can be mentally prepared."

Xiao Hu said, "There was a meeting in the village, and we voted by raising our hands. After the decision was made, the vegetable vendor organized the villagers to load the vegetables and take them away that day. I didn't have time to inform you, and then I felt embarrassed to see you, so I kept putting it off until now."

The eldest uncle immediately got angry and shouted, "What a bunch of short-sighted people, they have forgotten who provided the technology in the first place, and who found the plastic film, what an ungrateful bunch of people." The second uncle also followed suit and started shouting indignantly.

The uncle asked Xiaohu, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Nan Nan said, "How dare we? With your and my dad's tempers, we would have fought. San'er is here, and we have no choice but to speak out. We have no choice either. The village has been putting pressure on us."

Yan Jiekuang understood what was going on as soon as he heard it. That vegetable merchant monopolized all the vegetables in the township, including those from Shijia Village. No wonder the vegetable prices in Sijiucheng had risen. He had connections above him.

Yan Jiekuang said, "It's okay, uncle, uncle, let's not talk about this. This matter is really not something we can solve, and neither can they."

When the eldest and second uncles heard this, they calmed down. Grandpa said, "It's easier to get things done if you have someone in the court. Something will happen sooner or later."

Yan Jiekuang laughed and said, "Grandpa is wise!" Grandpa also laughed when he heard it.

The eldest uncle, the second uncle, Xiaohu and Nannan understood it all at once and stopped talking about it. They all knew that this matter was not that simple.

Grandpa asked, "Are we going to have dinner here tonight? I know today is the Dragon Boat Festival, are you going to have a family gathering tonight as well?"

Yan Jiekuang said, "I hosted a banquet for the neighbors at noon because of some things. I guess we'll just have some drinks in the evening. Otherwise, my mother wouldn't object if I celebrated the festival here."

Grandpa said, "If she dares, I'll spank her." Everyone laughed when they heard it.

Yan Jiekuang said: "I'll cook tonight and make a good meal for everyone."

Xiaohu has recovered now and said quickly, "That's great. Hurry up, Nannan, tell Lele that he will have a good meal today. Oh, and bring the child here so that his uncle can see him."

Yan Jiekuang and his wife stayed. After a while, Yan Jiekuang went into the kitchen and his two aunts also went there to help.

Yan Jiekuang prepared a large table of dishes, mostly home-cooked dishes, but he also prepared braised abalone, scallion-fried sea cucumber, and squirrel fish.

The whole family gathered around the big table, and grandma treated Yan Jiekuang and his wife with her treasured old wine. The eldest uncle said enviously, "I usually don't get to drink my own father's wine."

Grandpa ignored him, and my second uncle said jokingly: "If you drink, there will be no more wine in the house in a few days."

Yan Jiekuang sat next to his grandfather, and Ji Lian sat next to his grandmother. They drank and talked about the village. They were all sighing about the changes in the village. Hu Zi kept pestering Yan Jiekuang and asked, "When will Brother Lei and the others come? We haven't seen each other for a long time."

Yan Jiekuang said, "It's almost holiday time, let them stay here for a few days." Only then did Hu Zi calm down.

Everyone in my grandpa's family was very happy during the meal. The little ones refused to leave the table no matter what, until they finished eating the squirrel fish and the sea cucumber with scallions.

Grandpa sighed again: "San'er's cooking skills have reached the pinnacle. This meal will be remembered for several days."

Everyone kept nodding. Yan Jiekuang felt a little embarrassed by the praise and quickly raised his glass to toast.

(End of this chapter)