69novels Chapter 1064 - 937: Do You Know Who?
Chapter 1064 - 937: Do You Know Who?
After the sun set in the evening, Zhang Guoqing decided to change things up a bit. He wasn’t keen on staying home idle, so he took his parents out for a ride in the newly acquired carriage from the team.This guy was concerned about compromising his soldier image, so he got Zhang Qingshan to issue a certificate for him, proving what? Proving that their family was visiting relatives.
Relatives, my foot!
He just wanted peace and fun right now.
He directed the carriage straight towards the provincial city. Yes, in that direction, but not actually to the city. He said he was taking them to see the lotus flowers.
Mother Zhang remarked that her youngest son was just being a fuss. There’s a pond with lotus flowers right in the village; why go so far? You can’t even see the flowers clearly in the dark.
It made sense, which sent the family into fits of laughter.
Where there are people, there are privileges. During this time when everyone is shouting and fighting, there were still private restaurants, like Master Fatty’s "black shops" back in the day.
Zhang Guoqing never fought battles he couldn’t win. When he got wind of this message, he couldn’t wait to bring the whole family along for a feast.
After circling around and finally arriving, even at night, a large pond of lotus flowers was visible. The lotus blossoms were a lush green, filling the entire pond with layers of leaves.
A gentle evening breeze brought a refreshing fragrance to them. Of course, they weren’t just there to admire the lotus; there was a grand lotus banquet too. It’s said that every part of the lotus is precious, and eating lotus in summer has the effect of expelling heat.
From Mother Zhang’s point of view, they were here to enjoy and have fun, noting that the few tables occupied hinted at the refined tastes of the patrons.
Lotus leaf tips, lotus leaf steamed eggs, lotus blossom pastry, fish-scented lotus rolls, pond lotus shoots, lotus-scented steamed lotus ribs, lotus lion’s head meatballs, first-class lotus delight, lotus-scented black fish...
The chef was exceedingly skilled, on par with an Imperial Chef.
Not to mention other dishes, just the lotus blossom pastry itself—
Fresh lotus blossoms, after being fried, blended their fresh taste with a crispy aroma. The dry, fragrant crunch, lightly coated in sugar, was akin to a lingering pleasure.
Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao had tasted numerous lotus banquets, maybe not a hundred, but plenty in their lives. Yet, compared to this place, they felt a little lacking in flavor.
Breathing in the lotus fragrance, savoring the lotus banquet, sipping lotus wine.
If it weren’t for the current circumstances, Zhang Guoqing would have considered offering a high salary to bring the chef home, seeing how much joy it brought his little wife.
"Ahem, ahem." Two coughs echoed behind Zhang Guoqing, causing him to turn his head, almost covering his face in disbelief. Indeed, what a twist of fate.
No, the term didn’t quite fit here.
"Godfather, we’re really meant to be father and son, meeting by chance like this. When did you and Uncle come? Come on, I’m just here with the whole family; let the kids greet you."
Zhao Chuan Guang nodded subtly, "Ah, you’ve come back and haven’t stopped by home first. Your godmother was just talking about when you and Jiao Jiao would arrive tonight."
"Godfather, my bad, but leave your son-in-law a bit of face." Zhang Guoqing joked playfully, also casting a funny glance at Uncle Huang.
"We were just wondering who would be so noticeable to come in a carriage until your godfather heard from Master Li that it was a family. He guessed it might be someone familiar. He knows you well."
Zhao Chuan Guang gently tapped Zhang Guoqing’s head, laughing, "I guessed it was you from the last time we talked about this place. I didn’t expect you’d venture here first."
"I came back the day before yesterday. Planned to drop by your place for a meal, but remembered you and godmother were working. Be sure to tell godmother, I’m coming over this weekend—I want stewed old hen."
"Do you want the chicken’s tail?"
"Isn’t it usually the women run the household in our family?"
Uncle Huang looked enviously at the rapport between godfather and son. Indeed, as his sister said, they were like real family, even more intimate.
"Brother-in-law, it’s almost time; shall we take Xiao Wu over?"
Zhao Chuan Guang discreetly gestured to his brother-in-law, and Zhang Guoqing immediately waved his hand, "You go ahead, let’s meet this weekend."
"Do you know who they are?"
"No, and I don’t want to know. Uncle, please spare me. Meetings with your friends are always the same speeches."
Zhao Chuan Guang let go, laughing, "Alright, your uncle and I are off. You rarely get to take a vacation, go and spend time with my daughter and grandson, order more goodies, it’s on your godfather."
"Remember to visit when you can, the old man still thinks about the three kids." Uncle Huang remarked with a backward glance as Zhao Chuan Guang urged him along.
Watching their two fading figures, Zhang Guoqing stood for a while, then left shaking his head with a smile. Some people you could avoid even in Beijing, but would still run into here.
As Mother Zhang saw her youngest son coming in, she immediately waved, "Have you paid? It’s getting late, time to go."
This was exactly what he thought. Zhang Guoqing had just handed over half his month’s wage without concern, nodding with a smile, "Just packed some things to bring back. They’ll be delivered soon, and then we can head out."
Waiting for the delivery of two jars of wine and packed food, Mother Zhang didn’t inquire about the price until they reached the carriage: "How much in total?"
"Mom, not much at all, see? There were hardly any patrons." Zhang Guoqing fibbed, "Just bits of leaves and few meat dishes—all scooped straight from the lake."
"Oh, you joker, do you think your mother hasn’t seen the world? But I must say, cooking these flowers and leaves sure brings out some flavor. I might try it sometime."
"Great idea, let’s innovate. There might be no flowers outside, but our village never lacks blossoms. Summer for a lotus feast, autumn for a chrysanthemum banquet, winter we’ll take a break, and spring we host a hundred-flower banquet, it’s settled."
"Wow, the way my youngest says it, it actually sounds workable."
"Absolutely necessary."
From dusk till full nightfall, the sky grew darker and the streets through the villages quieter, as villagers dispersed from cooling off. The surrounding frog chorus became more prominent.
Not only could they see a sky full of twinkling stars, but they also glimpsed the Milky Way faintly, with bright shooting stars occasionally streaking and vanishing across the sky. Fireflies flickered in and out of the grass on either side of the road.
This scene captivated the well-fed twins, as they softly discussed the dazzling sky and distant views, occasionally seeking their elder brother’s opinion.
Mr. Zhang, cradling Liu Yi and May 1st, laughed heartily, "See, your daddy sure knows how to make your granny laugh all evening."
"Granny likes daddy, I like daddy too."
"Our granny is wonderful, we’ll be filial to grandpa and granny when we grow up."
Mr. Zhang laughed cheerfully.
Watching his son drive the carriage while chatting with his wife, seeing the well-behaved daughter-in-law, eldest grandson, and the pair of playful grandsons nestled in his arms, Mr. Zhang couldn’t feel happier.
Recently, he often reminisced about the past, wondering how he had endured those years. Who would have thought, in his later years, he’d see such wonderful days?
It seemed like from the moment his youngest son was born, life started to turn around, getting better day by day, especially after marrying such a good daughter-in-law, it was so fulfilling that he could happily report the good news to his father in the afterlife.