Riding the wind of rebirth

"Boss, can you lend me your apron?" The Jiachuan tofu pudding shop usually has a connected kitchen and storeroom, and the boss's apron is hung on a wooden rack next to the seasoning table. Zhou Zhi greeted him and took one down and put it on Mai Xiaomiao.

In the eyes of the people in Jiachuan, Mai Xiaomiao's current outfit looked like a theatrical costume, but it was much more beautiful than ordinary costumes. They had never seen such a thing before, so all the diners focused their eyes on her.

"Take as much as you want. It's prepared for you." The boss said with a smile, "Some customers have expensive clothes and are afraid that the condiments will get on them. Are you going to have a banquet at the Licheng Hotel at noon? Congratulations!"

The Jiachuan dialect was strong, and Mai Xiaomiao was confused and didn't understand. Zhou Zhi smiled and said, "They are hosting the banquet, and we are the best men and bridesmaids. Otherwise, how can we sneak out and take care of your tofu rice?"

"Then try harder, little brother!" Seeing that the couple in front of her were somewhat fond of each other, the proprietress came over to join in the fun and asked, "Do you want to add the seasoning yourself? Or do you want me to do it for you?"

"Well, help yourself. We want two servings of tofu rice, a plate of steamed pork intestines, and a plate of braised pork."

Black tofu pudding is actually made by adding some black beans to yellow soybeans to make black soy milk. The color is slightly different from the tofu pudding that Mai Xiaomiao often eats in Lianhe Township, which makes Mai Xiaomiao very curious.

Mai Xiaomiao had never seen the steamed pork with rice flour, a specialty of Jiachuan, before. However, every time the proprietress put the pork on the plate, it would bring out a charming aroma, especially a taste that was a little different from the ordinary steamed pork with rice flour: "What kind of spice is this? It's a little different from the steamed pork with rice flour we make at home?"

"This is the tail of the wine. White wine was added when the pig intestines were marinated. Most of it ran away when they were steamed, and the rest blended with the flavor of the dish."

“Then why didn’t you add it when you cooked it?” Mai Xiaomiao got to the bottom of it.

"This... the corn wine from Lianhe Township is different from the sorghum wine here. It lacks aroma and is not very suitable for use as a seasoning."

"Also, the concentrations are different, and I can't figure out the dosage."

"Delicious!" After the two sat down, Mai Xiaomiao started with the pig intestines. She had eaten steamed pig intestines with rice flour several times, but this kind of steamed pig intestines with the aroma of wine was the first time she had eaten it: "Your hometown has so many delicious foods!"

The lady boss was speaking Mandarin to the girl, who was very interested. She grabbed a large basin of chives and asked as she picked them: "Where are you from? Why are you speaking Mandarin?"

"Students from other provinces, it's vacation time now, why not come and have some fun with us?"

"College students! Are you having your day off so early?"

"Not all schools close early. Some universities have early and some have late holidays." Zhou Zhi answered while eating.

"The little girl looks lovely, but she doesn't seem to understand our dialect very well?" asked the proprietress.

"It's OK if you speak slowly." Zhou Zhi nodded: "She can't quite understand what you are saying now."

"Girls from other provinces are so well behaved... So, young man, hurry up and cultivate a good relationship with this little girl." The proprietress continued to speak in dialect at a speed as fast as popping beans: "It would be great to give birth to a baby who speaks Mandarin!"

Zhou Zhi was shocked by such a simple view of love and marriage, so he could only smile shyly and said, "Strive, strive..."

Fortunately, more and more diners came, and the boss and his wife started to get busy, so they let Zhou Zhi off.

After a cheap and delicious breakfast, the two got up and headed for the hotel. Mai Xiaomiao was still a little unaccustomed to the looks from people around her, so she walked beside Zhou Zhi with her head down. When they were about to enter the hotel, she muttered, "I understand."

"What?" Zhou Zhi didn't understand. "I understand what the boss lady said to you just now." Mai Xiaomiao said.

"I'm sorry, Xiaomiao." Zhou Zhi felt a little embarrassed: "My hometown is relatively closed, and people who speak Mandarin will feel new to them. I didn't mean to offend you."

"I know." Mai Xiaomiao raised her head and looked at Zhou Zhi: "I just said that I understand."

"And your answer!" After saying this, Mai Xiaomiao quickly ran into the hotel.

This was just a small episode. Today's task was very tight, and Zhou Zhi didn't feel comfortable explaining more to Mai Xiaomiao, so he just threw himself into work.

What followed was the long process of welcoming guests. Guests came one after another. Yang He and Feng Xueshan did not know many of them, and needed their parents to help introduce them and greet them.

At this time, Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao's job was to hold a candy gift box tray and a cigarette tray respectively, asking guests to accept the gifts. Yang He would offer cigarettes to the male guests who were smoking, and Feng Xueshan would light them up.

The guests will then be guided to the gift list tables for the bride and groom, pay the gift money, and write the lists.

The eldest aunt also rushed over early in the morning, but she did not come to see the bride and groom, but to see Zhou Zhi and the little girl Zhou Zhi brought back.

Naturally, he pulled Mai Xiaomiao to praise Zhou Zhi and even told some embarrassing stories about Zhou Zhi's childhood, which made Mai Xiaomiao laugh and made Zhou Zhi very embarrassed.

While Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao were busy, she didn't go far away. She and her grandmother each pulled a chair and sat behind the gift money table. The two of them looked at Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao's backs and whispered, but no one knew what they were talking about.

What’s even funnier is that after little sister six and mom had some free time, they also joined in, standing next to eldest aunt and grandmother, gossiping together.

However, Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao really didn't notice it because the best man and bridesmaids were really busy at the wedding.

When most of the guests have arrived and the wedding ceremony begins, Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao will accompany the bride and groom into the venue and participate in many etiquette.

For example, when offering tea to his daughter-in-law, Mai Xiaomiao should follow behind and hold the teacup.

For example, when wearing a ring, Zhou Zhi has to help pass and receive the ring box.

After the ceremony, toasts will be given. Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao will hold wine, glasses and plates filled with mineral water and toast at each table.

There is a small mechanism in the wine pot and two holes on the lid, one for water and the other for wine, which is controlled by Zhou Zhi. When there are cunning guests who want to check whether the bride and groom are fake, Zhou Zhi will quietly change the water into real wine, and the secret will not be exposed along the way.

Because there were quite a lot of guests, after a round of toasts some of them started to leave and everyone had to rush to the hotel entrance to see them off.

Only a part of the guests left, because the banquet was scheduled for noon and evening. After lunch, the relatives and friends in the city had tea in the hotel's teahouse and played cards in the mahjong room, and there was another meal in the evening.

Originally, the bride and groom could have taken a break at this time, and matters such as entertaining the guests could have been left to the parents of both sides. However, Feng Xueshan was strong-willed and also took Yang He's face into consideration, so she left the Feng family's guests to her parents to entertain. She, together with the old Yang family, played the role of a virtuous daughter-in-law from head to toe, and recognized all of the Yang family's relatives one by one.

Zhou Zhi asked Mai Xiaomiao to go and rest, but Mai Xiaomiao refused to go. I wonder if she wanted to learn how to be a Chinese daughter-in-law from Feng Xueshan, so Zhou Zhi had no choice but to accompany her. (End of this chapter)