Chapter 666: Housewarming Gathering

No need, you just have to let Li Ming and He Qing come over; that's right, Xiao Shitou drives, drives the company's best car.

I know your older brother Li Ming is someone who cares about face. I said on the phone.

I understand, brother, I'll arrange it well. Zhao Xiaohua said.

Okay, nothing else, Xiaohua, go get busy. I said and hung up the phone.

I knew Li Ming wanted to return home in glory, so I reminded Zhao Xiaohua to arrange a high-end car for Li Ming,

That way, after Li Ming returns, he will have face.

It can satisfy his vanity.

Everyone has vanity; it's normal, I understand Li Ming's psychology.

Leaving Niushiling, he drifted outside for half his life; the result is that when he reached middle age and went back, he had nothing, so he certainly didn't want to go home.

Only by making it look like he's successful can he willingly go home.

I thought Li Ming had gone ahead.

That way Li Ming will happily come back.

Li Ming came back, and Qian Niang was even happier.

I hurried to the Niushiling restaurant,

and ordered a big table of dishes.

Returning from the restaurant, Shi Yong had already bought daily necessities.

Now, as long as you have money in hand, buying anything is very convenient.

The dining table Shi Yong bought was small, so I had him exchange it for a slightly larger one.

Qiao Jie also came over from home, her face showing a satisfied smile; it seemed she was very satisfied with the villa.

Jianqiang, you're back. Come on, let's go home and have a look.

Qiao Jie said that and pulled my arm to leave.

I hurriedly said, "Qiao Jie, wait until later when you have time, I'm busy stir-frying dishes now; Li Ming and Xiao Long will be back soon to eat."

Perfect, you're here, help me tend the fire, and I'll stir-fry the spicy chicken.

Qiao Jie, upon hearing that,

sat down in front of the stove,

"Jianqiang, as soon as I see this wood-burning stove, I feel so affectionate I can't help myself."

"Back when we burned this on Beishan, I thought, someday I'd live like city folk, no need to burn wood for cooking."

"When we truly got to the city and lived like this,"

"yet I miss the days of burning the wood stove. People are really strange."

Listening to Qiao Jie's nagging,

I laughed ha ha,

"Qiao Jie, this is just memory. When we have memories, it shows we've all grown old. Now the feeling of burning the wood stove is different from back then. You'd agree, right?"

Qiao Jie nodded.

At this moment, Qian Niang invited the deities back.

Shi Jinhe hurriedly set off firecrackers to welcome the deities.

Qian Niang offered the deities in the small room,

arranged the offerings, and began kowtowing to the Bodhisattva,

"Namo Amitabha, Great Compassion Guanyin Bodhisattva, bless our family with peace and safety, bless our family with health."

I also followed Qian Niang in kowtowing. Although I don't really believe in these, people seek psychological comfort.

Actually, whether worshipping Buddha or praying to gods, it's just a kind of psychological comfort.

Qian Niang wanted to burn incense for the Bodhisattva; she had to wait for the incense to burn out before she could leave the room.

So I returned to the kitchen to continue cooking.

Actually, it's just this dish; the other dishes I ordered from the restaurant.

I stir-fried this spicy chicken with care.

The chicken in the pot made a papapa sound as it fried.

The aroma spread everywhere.

Qiao Jie, while tending the fire, praised my cooking skills,

"Alas, Jianqiang, it's been how many years since I last ate your cooking; I thought I'd never get to eat it again in this lifetime."

"I never expected that, even in old age, I could still eat it."

I smiled and didn't respond to Qiao Jie's words.

The wood stove's fire is strong, so the stir-fried dish turns out the same,

I can clearly see the chicken in the pot quickly turning golden yellow.

Quickly add the seasonings, making the chicken fragrant,

then add the chili peppers, toss a few times in the pot, and the dish is done.

Just as the dish finished cooking,

Shi Yong returned with the exchanged table.

He placed the table properly. Qiao Jie began washing the bowls, chopsticks, and utensils. Everything was brand new.

I placed the chicken on the table.

The whole house was filled with the aroma of spicy chicken, and I was very pleased with my cooking.

In the past, Zhou Wei liked to eat my stir-fried dishes. Zhou Wei is still sleeping in the city hospital now.

Sigh, how wonderful it would be if she could wake up.

When Fang Rui arrives, ask her what Zhou Wei's condition is now and whether he can be discharged.

Just as I was thinking that, Xiao Long came in carrying Fang Rui.

Xiao Long saw the big villa and was overjoyed.

He said to me, "Grandfather, this villa is truly beautiful. My grandmother will surely like it."

I said to Xiao Long,

"Xiao Long, this is thanks to Uncle Jinhe. Later, be sure to thank him properly."

Xiao Long then said to Shi Jinhe, "Uncle Jinhe, I'll bring you two cups of wine later to thank you for building such a fine villa."

Shi Jinhe replied happily, "Alright, Xiao Long, bring as much as you like; I'll drink whatever you bring."

"What about Uncle Yong? I'll thank him too," Xiao Long said.

"Your Uncle Yong is sitting in the house sulking because I won't let him drink," I said with a laugh.

"By the way, Uncle Yong's health has just recovered, so he really shouldn't drink. Let's give Uncle Yong tea instead," Xiao Long said.

"I won't drink, and you all won't either; brother, you have to understand my feelings. Seeing you all binge drink would drive me mad," Shi Yong answered from inside the house.

"Alright, Shi Yong, I'm not letting you drink for the sake of your health. Xiao Long, go check on your grandmother," I said.

Xiao Long nodded and took Fang Rui to the room to visit Qian Niang.

When Fang Rui first saw Qian Niang,

she happily shouted, "Grandma, you've moved to a new home; I bought you a little gift. I hope you'll like it."

Qian Niang, seeing Fang Rui arrive, stood up joyfully,

and grabbed Fang Rui's arm,

"Fang Rui, you're here, wonderful. No need to buy me gifts; I lack nothing. Look, your grandfather has furnished the house completely, all brand new. Let Grandma give you a tour of the rooms."

Fang Rui nodded,

and then followed Qian Niang to tour the villa's rooms.

The restaurant quickly delivered a table full of dishes.

I took out my phone and checked the time,

Since I finished the call with Zhao Xiaohua, Li Ming should have arrived at Niushiling by now; why hasn't he shown up yet?

I said to Xiao Long, "Your father will be here soon. Go to the alley entrance to welcome him."

After I finished speaking, Xiao Long didn't set off right away.

He only said, "My father is also coming back."

I nodded,

"Your grandmother is moving; he can't not come back."

"He's returning to his own home, and still needs to welcome," Xiao Long said.

Xiao Long didn't want to go meet Li Ming.

It seemed the conflict between father and son ran deep.

I didn't ask Xiao Long to meet Li Ming again.

So I stepped out of the villa alone, stood in the alley, waiting for Brother Li Ming's arrival.

Let him see the villa I built for Qian Niang,

let him see how I feel about him,

right here, we have gotten drunk many times before.

I hope he can remember.

Our past times.

I stood at the alley entrance, smoking, thinking of those old days.

At that moment, in the distance of the alley, I saw a luxury car moving slowly, and a person walking ahead of it.

He held a cigarette, and whenever he saw someone, he would hand them a cigarette, light it, exchange a few polite words, and then keep walking.

When I looked closely, the person was Li Ming.

He was showing off on purpose.

He let the luxury car follow him,

so that everyone in the village would know he's doing well now—smoking fine cigarettes and driving a luxury car.

This return is a triumphant homecoming.

I watched Li Ming's performance in my mind, and could only smile.

This scene reminded me of the TV drama "Ma Dashuai," the moment when Fan Debiao returned home.

Li Ming's display is not second to Brother Biao.

Fine, as long as Brother Li Ming is happy, let him show off.

His face shines, so he can come home often and visit Qian Niang frequently.