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

"Please be quiet for a moment and listen to what I have to say!"

The twenty-odd seats in the courtyard were already full of people, all talking quietly to each other. When Chen Xiangui shouted, everyone quieted down and turned to look at him.

"Fellow villagers, dear relatives and friends, and our most distinguished guests today," Chen Xiangui's voice was loud and clear, full of energy, "Today is a joyous day for my eldest grandson, Rongfei, who has been admitted to Jiangsu University of Political Science and Law. I am honored that you all have the honor to be here to drink this celebratory toast. On behalf of my entire family, I, Chen Xiangui, raise a toast to you all!"

Wishing everyone good health and all the best!

"good!"

Everyone raised their glasses, and cheers erupted from the open-air pavilion. Just then, Cai Gensheng lit the string of firecrackers hanging on a bamboo pole outside the pavilion.

The deafening crackling of firecrackers instantly resounded throughout the entire village, and red paper scraps danced in the air, pushing the festive atmosphere to an even greater climax.

As the firecrackers went off, Chang Liangming shouted loudly, "Serve the dishes!" Several women invited from the village carried trays and moved through the crowd like butterflies among flowers.

The first dish served was a braised platter. The braised water was a century-old braising liquid that Chen Zaiguang specially obtained from his master, Ye Daqiu. After being prepared by the master chef Chang Liangming, the original pot of old braising liquid was transformed into a large pot. Once this pot was boiled, it would be moved back to the kitchen of Nanyuelou. From then on, if these people wanted to eat such authentic braised dishes, they would have to go to Nanyuelou.

Chen Dong smiled, picked up the serving chopsticks, took a piece of lion-head goose meat, and put it into Fang Rusong's bowl. "Principal Fang, have a taste. My older brother called last night to have it freshly killed and delivered. It was made by two master chefs. See if it suits your taste."

Fang Rusong was flattered and picked up his chopsticks. Since such a wealthy man as Chen Dong was personally serving him food, he dared not be presumptuous. After quickly taking a bite, he repeatedly praised, "The meat is fatty yet tender, leaving a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth. The meat is excellent, and the braising liquid is even better. The chef's skill is truly superb!"

Chen Zaiguang got up and put meat into the bowls of the other three teachers as well. "Eat more if you like it. Don't be shy, everyone. Come on, Teacher Liu, Teacher Zheng, and Teacher Liu, eat up."

"Okay, we can serve ourselves," Liu Xueliang and the others nodded politely.

When the second dish, boiled shrimp, was served, Chen Rongfei picked up his drink and said to the four teachers, including Fang Rusong, "Principal, teachers, I'd like to propose a toast to all four of you. I wish you good health and all the best!"

"Alright, alright," Fang Rusong stood up, raised his glass and clinked it with Chen Rongfei's. Of the other three, only Teacher Liu didn't drink alcohol; she drank a celebratory beverage like Rongfei, and she also finished her glass.

When the third dish, steamed grouper, was served, Chen Zaiguang and Chen Dong, along with Chen Rongfei, began toasting the people at each table. Chen Xiangui, on the other hand, was entertaining Fang Rusong and his group of four alone. As the plate of grouper, with its vibrant green scallions and glistening soy sauce, was placed on the table, Chen Xiangui gestured for the teachers to begin eating. Fang Rusong couldn't help but exclaim, "This fish is steamed to perfection! Truly excellent cooking!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangui immediately used serving chopsticks to place the tenderest part of the fish's belly into Fang Rusong's bowl. Fang Rusong took a bite, his eyes lighting up instantly. He exclaimed again, "Incredibly delicious, it melts in your mouth! This skill is comparable to that of the big restaurants in the provincial capital!"

Chen Xiangui laughed and said, "Principal Fang is clearly a gourmand, hahaha!"

"I'm just a glutton, I'm not really a gourmand," Fang Rusong said with a smile, waving his hand.

On Chen Dong's side, the three of them each held a wine glass and began to toast each table. When everyone saw Chen Dong, Chen Zaiguang, and Chen Rongfei arrive, they all stood up with smiles. Chen Zaiguang raised his glass and said, "Dear friends and relatives, I wish you all good health and prosperity today as you grace us with your presence to celebrate my son's college entrance exam. Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Please continue eating and drinking, don't be shy with me," Chen Zaiguang said after toasting the guests. He then moved on to the next table and, after going around the table, arrived at the table of Zhang Yi and the other women. Before the three of them could get close, Gu Ying and Wu Fangru stood up with smiles.

"Wow, Uncle, your cup isn't even full," Wu Fangru said jokingly, pointing at Chen Zaiguang's cup. Zeng Xia quickly chimed in, "Nonsense, it'll overflow if you pour any more in."

"Grandma is feeling sorry for Uncle, hahaha!"

"Uncle Dong, your cup isn't full either, pour some more," Wu Fangru said after talking about her uncle Chen Zaiguang, and then she started talking about Chen Dong. Old lady Wei Shufen laughed and scolded, and was about to hit Wu Fangru on the head with chopsticks, "You're drunk without even drinking, and Dong's cup isn't full."

Zhang Yi chimed in, "Wu Mu is just talking nonsense; I can see it's all full."

Chen Zaiguang and Chen Dong raised their glasses with smiles and said to the women, "On the occasion of Rongfei's joyous admission to higher education, I wish you all eternal youth!"

"Very well! I'll take your kind words to heart, Uncle!"

After the three finished toasting, they were about to leave when Grandma Wei Shufen stopped Chen Dong and instructed him, "Dong, don't let Guang drink too much. Just a moderate amount is enough."

"I know, don't worry," Chen Dong nodded with a smile.

After Chen Dong and his group returned to the main table and sat down, the fourth dish, fish maw soup, was served. As Chen Dong and his group were drinking the fish maw soup, the brothers Chen Zailong and Chen Zaiguang came to the main table and toasted Fang Rusong and his group.

"Principal Fang, teachers, my brother and I would like to toast the four of you. My nephew Rongfei owes his success today to the careful guidance of the school's teachers. I'll drink this first as a sign of respect, and you four can drink as you please." After saying this, Chen Zailong tilted his head back and drank the white wine in his glass in one gulp.

Fang Rusong, of course, couldn't just drink it casually, so he also downed it in one gulp. His face started to turn red. Seeing this, Chen Xiangui roughly understood Fang Rusong's alcohol tolerance and began to advise him to eat more food and drink less alcohol.

After toasting the main table, Chen Zailong and Chen Zaiguang began to go around toasting the other tables, exchanging drinks with the relatives at the other tables. Chen Zailong, along with his third brother Chen Zaiguang, went from table to table, and laughter filled the air.

The most lively time came at Chen Zailu's table. Cai Gensheng, who had boasted earlier, now had his small wine glasses overflowing. Chen Zailu joked to Chen Zailong, "Fourth brother, you have no idea how much Gensheng was bragging just now."

"You say one pound is the minimum, two pounds will be gone, and three pounds will be under the table. Come on, I'll finish this first and let me see if your 'one pound minimum' is true or just bullshit."

"Fourth Brother knows my drinking capacity best. I, Cai Gengsheng, never play games when it comes to drinking," Cai Gengsheng chuckled, showing no stage fright. He picked up his glass, downed it in one gulp, slammed the glass on the table, and declared loudly, "On such a good day, it's worth it even if I pass out!"

The people at the table cheered in unison. Chen Zailu also downed a glass in one gulp and filled Cai Gensheng's glass again. The young men at other tables, seeing that there was something to watch, gathered around and started making noise, dragging Chen Zailong and Chen Zaiguang, who had come to offer a toast, into the conversation as well.

Chen Zaiguang saw it from afar, shook his head with a smile, and said to Chen Dong beside him, "These drunkards have found their match again."