HCB Chapter 228 Reunion Dinner
Chapter 228 Reunion Dinner
The Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th is also the anniversary of Mr. Ye’s death and the day when all the grandchildren of the Ye family have completed their mourning period.
On the evening of August 14, Erlang hurried back to Shanglin Village from Yizhou Prefecture.
Early in the morning, the descendants of the Ye family went to the Sickle Mountain with the offerings they had prepared in advance, as well as sacrificial items such as incense, candles, paper money, and firecrackers.
According to the custom in Yuzhou Prefecture, on the anniversary of the death of the deceased, filial sons and grandsons will come to the deceased's grave and light incense, paper money and firecrackers to commemorate the deceased. The more incense, paper money burned on the anniversary of the death, the more the deceased will receive in the underworld, and the lives of filial sons and grandsons will become more prosperous.
After kneeling and worshipping, Ye Xiaolian, the married daughter, and her grandchildren took off the plain clothes they had worn for a year, indicating that they had officially ended their mourning period.
Coming down from the Sickle Mountain, all the children and grandchildren of the Ye family walked towards the Ye family courtyard.
The processing workshop, which was bustling in the past, is now quiet today as it is closed for holiday.
As I entered the yard, I smelled the fragrance coming from the kitchen.
"Brother, can we eat meat today?"
Wu Lang, who was running in the front, smelled the fragrance coming from the kitchen, turned around and looked at Ye Changyan with anticipation.
Hearing Wu Lang's question, Da Lang, Er Lang and Si Lang all turned to look at Ye Changyan.
"You are the only one who is greedy. We have already offered sacrifices to grandfather. Grandfather knows that you are sensible and growing up, so of course he agrees that you can eat meat today."
"Great!"
Wulang jumped up and cheered, while Dalang, Erlang, Silang, as well as Da Niu and Er Niu all had smiles on their faces.
The person who cooked for lunch today was Fang Xiaomei. Her cooking skills are now on par with Erniu's.
Near noon, Zhong Yunfeng's carriage stopped outside the Ye family's yard. Zhong Dingyi and Luo got off the carriage, while Zhong Yunfeng was holding large and small boxes of gifts.
Not long after, Li Baolin also came with Li Rongxu, who was also carrying several gift boxes of different sizes.
Ye Xiaolian felt a little strange. Putting aside the old man's death anniversary, today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, which should be a day for the family to reunite. Why would the Zhong and Li families come to visit?
Ye Xiaolian didn't know how to ask, but Li Baolin's eldest son looked very handsome, and she didn't know if he was engaged. Ye Xiaolian looked at Sun Yitong beside her, then at Li Rongxu, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
Today the Ye family prepared a sumptuous meal, with four tables in total.
Except for Ye Xiaozheng's brothers and Lian's sisters-in-law who were still in mourning, everyone else had already ended their mourning period, so more meat was prepared on the table.
The men sat at two tables in the main hall, and the women sat at two tables in the small flower hall.
There were two tables in the main hall, with the elders sitting at one table and the younger generations including Ye Changyan sitting at another.
When Li Baolin and his son visited for the first time, they were arranged to sit at two different tables. They seemed a little awkward facing the Ye family.
"Brother, this is what pickled fish tastes like. It's really delicious."
Wu Lang picked up a piece of pickled fish, put it into his mouth, and after tasting it, he couldn't help but praise it.
"Wulang, don't talk while eating fish. Be careful of fish bones."
As soon as Wu Lang finished speaking, he heard Ye Xiaozheng's voice coming from the table of elders behind him.
Wu Lang chuckled twice, then lowered his head and started eating with relish.
When several cousins heard Wulang say that the golden pickled fish was delicious, they also stretched out their chopsticks.
"Rong Xu, except for cousin Yiming, you are not very familiar with the people here, but you are familiar with the brothers and cousins. Don't be polite when you are at home, you can try it too."
Seeing that Li Rongxu felt a little awkward, Ye Changyan quickly greeted him.
At the table of elders, Mr. Cai stretched out his chopsticks, picked up a piece of authentic Mapo Tofu cooked with bean paste and minced meat, and put it into his mouth with an expression of enjoyment on his face.
The peppers grown by the Ye family are growing well this year. Ye Changyan tried to make some bean paste with the broad beans and peppers he grew, and unexpectedly it was very successful.
Ye Changyan and Zhong Yunfeng discussed that next year, most of the land under Zhong Yunfeng's name would be used to grow peppers. At the same time, they would mobilize villagers from surrounding villages to grow peppers as well. When the time comes, Zhong Yunfeng would be responsible for purchasing all the peppers grown by the villagers.
Subsequent dishes cooked with chili peppers will become a series of dishes that Yunfenglou will focus on.
During the meal, Zhong Dingyi was seen looking at Ye Xiaozheng with a smile.
"Brother, Erniu has finished mourning today, so the marriages of these two children can be decided. I wonder if you have any requests. I will go to Jinguang Temple in the city to ask the master to choose an auspicious day so that I can formally propose marriage."
Everyone in the old house and Sun Youde and his son all held their breath and pricked up their ears.
From what Zhong Dingyi said, it seemed that he was seeking Ye Xiaozheng's opinion and was preparing to bring Zhong Yunfeng to formally propose to Ye Xiaozheng and ask to marry Erniu. It seemed that both parties had already agreed on the marriage between Zhong Yunfeng and Erniu.
Such news shocked everyone in the old house and the Sun family father and son.
Li Baolin and Li Rongxu, father and son, were also very surprised. No wonder Zhong Yunfeng and the Ye family had such a close relationship. It turned out that they were almost becoming a family.
Ye Xiaozheng became a little nervous, his face began to turn red, and he smiled and shook his head.
"Brother Zhong, the child's mother and I don't have any requirements. As long as Yunfeng treats Erniu well and you can treat Erniu as your own daughter, we will be satisfied."
Zhong Dingyi smiled and agreed immediately.
"Of course. I only have two sons, Yunfeng and Yunhai, and we have been looking forward to having a daughter for so many years. Don't worry, brother. We will treat Erniu as our own daughter. If Yunfeng treats Erniu badly, I will be the first to disagree."
Hearing Zhong Dingyi's statement, Ye Xiaozheng nodded in satisfaction, while Zhong Yunfeng beside Ye Changyan blushed with embarrassment.
Then Zhong Dingyi turned to Mr. Cai again and spoke to him respectfully.
"Mr. Cai, after thinking it over, I think you are the most suitable person to be Baoshan. I would like to ask you to be the matchmaker for Yunfeng and Erniu. I hope you can agree."
Zhong Dingyi's action surprised everyone at the scene, but if you think about it, Mr. Cai is knowledgeable and of noble status, so he is a good candidate to be the matchmaker.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Mr. Cai burst into laughter.
"I have been in Wanshou County for a year. I originally planned to take Sanlang and his two brothers back to Shengjing after he was out of mourning. Sanlang originally planned to wait for Yunfeng to formally propose marriage before leaving. Today, the Zhong brothers asked me to be the matchmaker. It seems that I have decided to drink the wine for the proposal! Hahaha..."
Hearing what Mr. Cai said, Zhong Dingyi and Ye Xiaozheng were very happy. Zhong Yunfeng quickly stood up, picked up the wine glass, walked to Mr. Cai, and respectfully toasted him.