Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1295 Welcome Banquet

Wang Jihong checked the time and said, "Brother Wu, you go ahead and do your work. I'll show them around."

Xiao Wu said, "It's okay, my job today is to keep you company. Are you hungry? Why don't you go take a shower? It's less crowded now, and after you shower, you can take a walk around. I bet Uncle Wang and Uncle Zhang will be here soon."

In rural Northeast China, there are no public bathhouses. People bathe in the river or boil water at home to wipe themselves down. It would be a lie to say that you're not dirty.

So the family put their things away, grabbed their change of clothes, and headed to the bathhouse. It was just a short walk, on the southeast corner of the food factory, next to the auto repair shop.

Wang Xiuli craned her neck to look up at the building: "Wow, it's so tall! How many floors does this building have?"

Xiao Wu said, "Thirty-three. I don't know now, but it was the tallest in Fengtian when it was first built. I'll take you up there to see it after you take a shower."

Wang Xiuli asked, "Are there even higher ones now?"

Xiao Wu said, "We built a few more, all bigger and probably taller than this one. Over there are shopping malls and office buildings and the like."

The aroma wafted from the food factory, and Wang Xiuli sniffed a few times: "It smells so good."

Xiao Wu said, "Have you ever tried the cakes and bread from Full House? They're all made here. I'll get you some to try later."

Wang Xiuli's eyes lit up: "Really? I don't believe it. You're lying. How did someone else's cake become yours?"

Xiao Wu said, "That shop is owned by us. We produce bread here and deliver it there. Look over there, do you see that? That's a delivery truck." Several bread trucks were parked on the side of the road, covered with pictures and text of "Full House" (a popular Chinese romantic comedy).

Wang Jihong accompanied his father, while Wang Xiuli pulled his mother inside to take a shower. Xiao Wu arranged everything and then sat in the lobby smoking and waiting. His task for the afternoon was indeed to accompany Wang Jihong's family; they were newcomers and needed someone to accompany them.

This bathhouse is run internally, and the manager is a woman in her thirties who used to work in the general affairs department. She came over and teased Xiao Wu, "Wu, is that your little wife?"

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes: "I wish I could. That's Sister Xuemei's in-laws."

The two exchanged a few words, then the manager went off to work, leaving Xiao Wu alone to smoke and drink water in solitude. Now his standards had risen; he looked down on all the waiters here and was only interested in the ones in the offices upstairs.

More than an hour later, Wang Jihong and his father came out, their faces flushed from washing. Xiao Wu called someone to bring them tea and told them to sit on the sofa and rest. After waiting for another half hour, Wang Xiuli and her mother finally came out.

After drinking some water and resting for a while, Xiao Wu took his family out for a visit. They tried some cake and bread, then went upstairs to Xiao Wei's office to enjoy the view. It was almost five o'clock by then.

The family, their faces filled with emotion, went downstairs to the cafeteria.

Xiao Wei's dad was already waiting here. Uncle Wang and Xia Maosheng were walking back on the road. Just as they introduced Xiao Wei's dad, Geng Hui, carrying a small bag, walked over with Aunt Wang.

After a brief introduction, everyone sat down on the sofa and chatted. Since the food factory moved out, the area has been rearranged; the canteen has been expanded, and a rest area and some indoor recreational and sports facilities have been added.

When Uncle Wang and Xia Maosheng arrived, everyone sat down at the table and ordered the kitchen to serve the dishes.

Xiao Wu was about to leave when Uncle Wang stopped him. He treated these young boys like his own children, disregarding the distinction between inside and outside, and they sat down to eat together.

After clinking glasses and picking up their chopsticks, Uncle Wang said, "Our girl has suffered since she was a child. She has a lot on her mind and is incredibly weak-willed. She keeps everything to herself, including her grievances."

These past few years, my husband, Lao Zhang, Lao Chen and his wife, and the three brothers Xiao Wei, Xiao Hui, and Mao Sheng—the whole family has been worrying about her, but we can't really say anything. Sending her to Kyoto this time was also meant to give her a change of scenery and help her relax.

As a result, without any warning, we ended up going up against Jiwei. Brother Wang and sister-in-law, you have no idea how happy our families are. Old Zhang and I drank together twice just for this.

This girl is the daughter of all three families; she's like an older sister to all three of them. Everyone dotes on her and is happy with her. Now things are perfect. Once she and Jiwei get married and have a child, everything will be perfect.

Come on, Brother Wang, let me toast you.

We've known Jiwei for a while now. He's a good kid, reliable and honest. We originally planned to bring him to the company after he was discharged from the military, and now it's great, we're practically family now.

The two old Wangs shared a drink.

Aunt Wang pulled Wang Ma and Wang Xiuli aside to talk: "We have Xiu'er in our family, that girl is so clever and quick-witted, and now we have Xiuli, she's pretty too. Eat your food, don't be shy, we'll be family from now on, your brother has to call me Mom."

"This is Geng Hui, call her sister-in-law. She and Xia are family. Xia is my Xiao Wei, and so is Chen Hui. The three of them have been together for many years, running this company together. They're doing quite well, quite successful, they've even opened a branch in Beijing."

"From now on, you two should get along well. Don't hesitate to speak your mind if anything comes up. In our family, nothing is a big deal. Study hard, get into university in Kyoto, and keep Xiu'er company. If you want to work in the government, go for it; if not, come work for the company."

Wang Xiuli blinked her big eyes and asked, "Auntie, is Xiaowei your son?"

Aunt Wang said, "That's my son-in-law. That's Xiaowei's dad, and his mom's in Kyoto. This Uncle Wang and I are family. My daughter's name is Xiaohong, Wang Xiaohong. She's pregnant and will give birth in September. They say she'll give birth in Kyoto, so you'll see her when you go there."

Wang Xiuli then asked Geng Hui, "Sister, do you have children?"

Geng Hui nodded and said, "Yes, they're running all over the place, playing with Yan'er in Kyoto."

Wang Xiuli then asked, "Brother Xia, where do you work?"

Geng Hui said, "It will be built in the provincial capital and will be under the jurisdiction of Uncle Wang."

Wang Xiuli asked, "Then, um, where's Sister Xiaohong?"

Geng Hui said, "Xiao Hong works in the provincial government, in the general office. I manage the finances at the company, and Chen Hui is the general manager. Chen Hui's wife is named Chen Xiao, and she doesn't do anything right now except take care of the child. They both live in Beijing. Their family situation is different; Xiao Hui is their only child."

Zhang Bing walked over with his puffed-up cheeks: "Are you not going to take me anymore? I almost ate at my uncle's house."

Xiao Wei's dad said, "Then let's eat there. What difference does it make where we eat? Your uncle won't feed you, will he?"

Zhang Bing pulled up a stool and sat down: "This food doesn't smell as good as this. Dad, I want to go to my second brother's place."

Xiaowei's dad said, "Go ahead, it's not like we're stopping you. You weren't on holiday before your mom left. This is Uncle Wang, Aunt Wang, this is your brother Jihong, and this is Sister Xiuli. They are your brother Jiwei's parents and siblings."

"Your brother Wei is getting married to your sister Xuemei, so he'll be your brother-in-law. This is my third son, Zhang Bing, a high school sophomore, always causing trouble."

Zhang Bing greeted everyone one by one, blinking as he asked, "Is my sister Xuemei getting married? To Brother Jiwei? Brother Jiwei, what incredible luck!"

Geng Hui said, "What? Do you have any other thoughts or opinions?"

Zhang Bing sighed, "Sigh, forget it, it's no use me saying anything. The key is, right? My sister is too beautiful, I feel like no one is good enough for her. No way, if I go there I'll have to extort a beating from Brother Jiwei, I just can't stand it."

He paused for a moment, then looked at Wang Xiuli: "How old are you?"

(End of this chapter)