Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"Dinner's ready!"

At Huang Lanzhi's shout, the men who were still drinking tea and chatting in the hall got up with smiles and walked out in twos and threes to help set up the benches and distribute the bowls, plates and chopsticks on the table.

Chen Zaiguang, the head chef of the county meat processing plant, was busy cooking the last big pot of vegetables inside. His wife, Lin Ruiqing, glanced outside and then said to Chen Zaiguang, "Remember, you have to toast your cousin Dongzi a few more times later. Don't just sit there eating like a silent gourd."

"He's going to open a processing plant in our Lianzhai. Once the plant opens, he'll definitely need to set up a kitchen to feed the workers. As his cousin, you'll have to become the head of the kitchen, so I can have face when I go back to my parents' home. Otherwise, it'll be you who loses face, and the Chen family as well."

"Did you remember? I'm asking you a question," Lin Ruiqing said, kicking her husband as he continued to vigorously wield the spoon.

"Why did you kick me? I heard everything you said," Chen Zaiguang said without turning his head. He reached for the seasonings and quickly mixed salt and other ingredients into the pot, continuing to stir-fry.

"Wow, Third Brother, it smells so good! What are you cooking?" Lin Ruiqing wanted to say a few more words, but Chen Zaixing walked in to serve the dishes. He smelled the aroma and couldn't help but ask, so he went over to ask.

Chen Zaiguang scooped up some ingredients with a spoon and brought them to Chen Zaixing's lips, saying, "You're here just in time, try it and see if it's salty."

When Chen Zaixing saw that the spoon contained stir-fried beef slices with kale, with a few bright red chili rings not on top, he immediately picked up a slice of beef with his hand and started eating it, giving his third brother a thumbs-up while hissing without saying a word.

Chen Zaiguang wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel draped over his shoulder, picked up a bowl, thickened the sauce, poured it in, stir-fried it a few more times, and then plated it up and took it out of the wok.

"Here it comes! The meat processing plant chef's specialty: stir-fried kale with tender beef!"

Chen Zaixing playfully carried the plate, carefully avoiding the mischievous monkeys running around, and placed it on the main table. Chen Xianhai looked at the stir-fried beef on the enamel plate and couldn't help but praise, "Zaiguang's cooking skills are getting better and better. It's a waste for him to work in the meat processing plant. He should go work in a state-run restaurant."

Lin Ruiqing, who was also carrying a plate, heard this and leaned over to say, "Uncle, what you said makes sense, but unfortunately my husband doesn't have that kind of influence. You can't just walk into a state-run restaurant like that."

Chen Zaiguang was also carrying a plate and a large bowl in his hand, which he had left for his second brother, Chen Zaisheng. He just smiled and didn't say anything when he heard what his wife, Lin Ruiqing, and his third uncle, Chen Xianhai, were saying.

"The only problem is that he's too tight-lipped and doesn't understand social etiquette," Chen Xianfu added.

"As long as the food is delicious, that's all that matters, Second Uncle," Lin Ruiqing said, glancing at Chen Dong, who had also been pulled to sit at the main table. "Besides, isn't Uncle Dong going to open a processing plant in our Lianzhai? Will Uncle Dong care about whether Guang can speak properly or understand social etiquette?"

"You agree, right, Uncle Dong!"

Chen Dong just smiled and didn't respond to Lin Ruiqing's words. Chen Xiangui quickly changed the subject, "Alright, now that all the dishes are served, let's all find our seats and get ready to start the meal."

There were six tables in total, including the hall and the courtyard. Two were for men, and the other four were occupied by a mix of women and children, who chattered incessantly.

As the clan head, Chen Xiangui stood up, holding a small cup that came with a bottle of Moutai liquor, and said loudly, "Everyone here is a member of our Chen family. I won't say any nice words. Today's feast is for two reasons: first, to welcome Lianxiang back from the hospital; and second, because some of you were absent when Zai Dong returned to the clan last time, so today is a second celebration!"

"good!"

Everyone applauded. At the women's main table, Huang Lanzhi pulled at the elderly Wei Shufen, "Mother, would you like to stand up and say a few words?"

Grandma Wei Shufen waved her hand, "No need, no need, let the men talk, this old woman won't get involved."

Zhang Yi was listening to Xiao Chenhui's instructions at the moment, "Mommy, I want to eat that, and I also want to eat this, oh, I don't want to eat vegetables."

"You can't not eat it," Zhang Yi still put the kale into Xiao Chenhui's bowl. Xiao Chenhui glanced at his great-grandmother next to him, then picked up the kale with his chopsticks. "Great-grandmother, this is so delicious. You should eat it. I'll get you more if you want more."

Zhang Yi was so angry she laughed. She tapped his forehead and said, "I told you to eat, not to serve Grandma. Don't try to fool me."

Wei Shufen smiled broadly and handed the bowl to Xiao Chenhui's chopsticks, saying, "Good, good, Chicken Rice is so thoughtful, Grandma, have some."

At the main table, Chen Dong toasted his uncles and cousins, his face slightly flushed. He had only taken a few bites of food when Chen Zaiguang, under the intense gaze of his wife Lin Ruiqing, reluctantly carried his bowl over to the main table and came to Chen Dong's side.

"Dongzi, come, let me toast you," Chen Dong said, having been eating and not noticing Chen Zaiguang approaching. Hearing the voice, he put down his chopsticks, stood up, and said, "Brother Zaiguang, it's my turn to toast you."

The other cousins, seeing that the usually taciturn third brother Chen Zaiguang had actually come over to toast people, all had smiles on their faces. Their wives were not stupid, and they all saw the way Lin Ruiqing, the third brother's wife, raised her eyebrows.

They quickly gestured with their eyes, signaling them to go and toast Chen Dong as well. Now, several cousins ​​with bowls were standing in front of Chen Dong, waiting to take turns toasting him.

Zhang Yi frowned immediately upon seeing this from afar. Old Mrs. Wei Shufen promptly spoke up, "So you're all trying to get Zai Dong drunk like this? Come on, come on, this old woman will drink with you!"

As he was about to get up, Chen Xiangui stood up and looked at his nephews with displeasure. "You're all toasting each other. You're all family. Why are you taking turns toasting each other? If word gets out, people will think you're trying to get them drunk. What kind of behavior is this?"

Everyone then came to their senses and realized that it did seem like they were lining up to be forced to drink Chen Dong's wine. They had no choice but to listen to Chen Xiangui and raise their bowls together to toast him. After drinking, they immediately returned to their seats to avoid their uncle getting angry and yelling at them later.

This little incident at the banquet did not affect everyone's continued eating and drinking. Chen Dong drank a few glasses, and fortunately, he had a good alcohol tolerance. His face was slightly hot, but he was still very sober.

After the banquet, the men sat with their legs crossed at the coffee table in the hall, drinking tea and smoking, while the women began to clear away the dishes, putting the leftovers into large bowls so that they could be divided up and taken home by each family.

Zhang Yi was still being held back by Wei Shufen, who wouldn't let her help. So she took the fruit she bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, washed it in a basin, peeled it, cut it into pieces, and put it in three large bowls. She had Xiao Chenhui take one portion to the hall, one portion to the sisters-in-law who were still tidying up, and the other portion was already being eaten by the children.

"Hey, this is heavy!" Little Chen Hui, though small, carried the large bowl with difficulty, exclaiming "Hey!" with each step. The uncles and elders sitting around laughed and made way for him.

"Chicken Rice is amazing!"