50s: Starting with a storage ring

Chapter 703 A Casual Chat About the "Meeting Banquet"

Fortunately, Sun Zhiwei drove to the platform today; otherwise, with so many large packages, it would have been difficult for Tong Jiajia to get out through the passenger passage.

Today he was driving a white Polish-made Warsaw 230, an older model that used to be considered too low-class, but now it's fine.

In recent years, China has become wealthier and has imported a lot of cars for official use.

In diplomatic circles, the main vehicles used, besides the domestically produced Hongqi, are the Russian ZIM and Volga, as well as the bulletproof ZIS-115.

He couldn't easily drive a three-row Hongqi, and there was no need for an armored car, so he drove out in a relatively low-key old Warsaw.

Amidst the strange looks from the crowd at the station, the two managed to stuff several large packages into the back seat with great difficulty, and then hurriedly drove away in a disheveled state.

On the way, Sun Zhiwei asked Tong Jiajia while driving:

"Jiajia, what did you bring back? Such big packages, three of them at once."

"Hehe, let me tell you, there's a package full of good cigarettes and liquor."

"Mom said that Dad has been coughing a lot lately, so he won't be allowed to smoke or drink anymore. I emptied out the cabinet where Dad kept his cigarettes and alcohol."

As she said this, Tong Jiajia was gesturing wildly, looking very excited. It seemed that she had wanted to do this for a long time, and this time she finally got her wish.

Well, I wonder if he'll get beaten up when he goes to Qingdao in a few days. A father-in-law might not be willing to hit his daughter, but he certainly won't hold back when it comes to hitting his son-in-law.

"What about the other two packages?"

"There's also a bag full of unusual seafood, all the fresh ones have been frozen solid, and there's also a lot of dried goods."

"Mom said that there's not much seafood in Beijing, so she told us to bring some seafood as gifts."

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhiwei activated his spatial ability and glanced at the seafood package.

The package contained many frozen sea fish that he had never seen before. Apart from one large piece of fish that looked like tuna, he didn't recognize most of the others.

He did recognize quite a few dried goods, including delicacies such as abalone and sea cucumber.

Although seafood is not very expensive now, abalone and sea cucumber have been considered the eight delicacies of the sea since ancient times, and these things have never been cheap in any era.

After all, the father-in-law is in that position, so even if he doesn't accept gifts, he can't very well refuse some food from relatives and friends.

Thinking about how long his father-in-law had been saving up this huge bag of seafood, and how it had all been snatched away by his daughter, Sun Zhiwei felt a little smug.

After he finished celebrating, he suddenly remembered that his daughter was also getting married.

Will Sun Hongying, like Tong Jiajia, try to take advantage of him in the future?
Thinking about it, it's not impossible. Once a girl gets married, she'll have her own little family, and if she has children later, her parents' status will be even more secondary.

The more he thought about it, the less interesting it seemed. Even the joy of seeing his wife faded considerably. Sigh, no wonder fathers-in-law in the world usually don't have a good look at their sons-in-law.

After returning home for lunch, Tong Jiajia had a simple bowl of noodles. In the afternoon, she went shopping with Yang Guihua.

In recent years, China has been gradually implementing a dual-track pricing system for means of production, with many products now having two prices: one is the planned "flat price," and the other is the unplanned "negotiated price."

In 1981, approval was granted to export crude oil produced beyond the base production quota at international market prices. In 1983, approval was granted to sell excess oil and coal at a premium.
In 1984, it was approved that excess production of industrial production materials could be sold at a price increase of up to 20%. This year, price restrictions were lifted, and excess production is allowed to be sold at market prices. This is the origin of the current "unplanned materials" permits. Many middlemen with connections and influence made their first fortune by transferring these permits.

The dual-track pricing system is not only reflected in the industrial sector, but is also gradually being opened up for agricultural products.

The "negotiated grain" counters that started appearing a few years ago are a microcosm of the earliest dual-track pricing system for agricultural products.

Tong Jiajia and her friends went out to buy ingredients to prepare for tomorrow's "meeting banquet".

When children are dating and have reached the point of discussing marriage, the first meeting between the in-laws is not as simple as just having a meal.

This meal was about saving face, discussing sentiments, and setting the tone for future interactions between the two families.

If you get along well, there will be fewer conflicts after your children get married; if you don't get along well, the seeds of conflict may be sown before they even enter the family.

The Book of Rites says, "Courtesy demands reciprocity; to give without receiving is impolite; to receive without giving is also impolite."

When in-laws meet for the first time, etiquette is paramount. Understanding the rules and knowing one's place are essential for a pleasant and harmonious meal, setting the stage for a successful marriage.

First, don't start by talking about money or conditions; start by building rapport and building a connection. There's a saying, "Even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains," but marriage isn't a business transaction; feelings are more important.

It was the first time both sides had met, so the focus was on getting to know each other, chatting about the fun things their children had going through, and talking about everyday things between the two families, trying to rekindle the feeling of being "relatives".

Even if you end up discussing dowry and wedding house, wait until the atmosphere is warm and say with a smile, "Let's discuss the children's affairs together, it's all for their own good." That way, everyone will feel comfortable.

Sun Zhiwei's family didn't care about financial issues; Xiao Qihang's father was a teacher, so the family's conditions wouldn't be bad.

Therefore, Sun Zhiwei is not worried about his financial situation. On the contrary, he tries to keep it a secret and not flaunt his wealth, lest he scare his in-laws.

Secondly, don't always praise your own child; praise the other person's child more. As the saying goes, "Don't hit someone in the face, and praise someone properly." Give the other person enough face, and the relationship will be closer.

After all, the Sun and Xiao families will be getting along for a long time. If the relationship between the two families is established from the beginning, the children will not be caught in the middle and put in a difficult position later.

There's an old saying, "Don't hit a smiling face, and don't expose someone's shortcomings." Praising someone's child is actually giving them a way out and is also a way of acknowledging their child.

You praise his child for being sensible, and he praises your child for being capable. After a while, you both feel comforted.

If you always praise your own side and belittle the other side, how can the other person feel comfortable? How can you remain relatives in the future?
Secondly, drinking is inevitable at the dinner table, but when it's the first time the in-laws meet, they should drink in moderation.

Don't show off or urge others to drink. As the saying goes, "A full glass of wine shows respect, a full cup of tea is an insult," but too much will damage harmony.

When drinking, the worst thing is being pressured to drink more. Saying things like, "If you don't drink, you're not giving me face," or "What man doesn't drink?" will immediately create an awkward atmosphere.

In short, the first meeting between in-laws is ultimately for the sake of their children's happiness. Knowing the proper etiquette is not just being polite, but showing respect; speaking well is not just being slick, but being sincere.

Lower your stance, value relationships more, think more about the other person, and worry less about your own gains and losses.

If this meal goes well, the children's marriages will go smoothly, and they can get along well as relatives in the future. This is truly a case of everything going smoothly.

(End of this chapter)