Chapter 61: with translation of chapter title

Two grown men brought a little kid who still reeked of milk, and they ran wild all through the village.

"Yo, Lao Er bought a motorcycle!" Li Quezi poked his head out, shouting while cracking melon seeds.

"Yeah, I bought a motorcycle."

Li Quezi shook his head, walked back into the shop, and sighed softly, "Too showy."

Ye Cheng rode around a few times, and basically the whole village knew he'd bought a motorcycle; everyone greeted him enthusiastically, but after he passed, their faces changed and they started muttering behind his back.

"This Ye Lao Er, he's showing off, buying a motorcycle and acting all smug."

"Exactly, as if it were something rare; even Li Yong's family bought a car and aren't as smug as he is."

"Young people, when they have a little money they can't hold onto it, they just want to spend it, sigh."

"They even said they'd introduce him to my family's college student; good thing they didn't, or with his attitude he'd sooner or later ruin the family."

"A village loafer is just a village loafer; even if he makes a bit of money, he can't change his nature."

Ye Cheng didn't care what they said; after riding around a bit and having his fun, he directly rode back to his older brother's house.

He told Xiao Hu to go home and say one thing: come over tonight to eat hot pot together.

After entering, Dou Dou rushed into the kitchen with an excited face, telling his own mother about the joy of riding the motorcycle; his little mouth couldn't speak clearly, but he just wouldn't stop, and Ye Cheng called him several times but he ignored Ye Cheng.

No choice, Ye Cheng could only open the KFC, take out a chicken wing and nibble two bites.

Hey, this kid, his nose is truly sharp; he smelled the fragrance right away, didn't even brag to his own mother, came running out, saw the fried chicken in Ye Cheng's hand, his eyes lit up, and he couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

"Uncle Second, what is this?"

"KFC, I just called you and you didn't come out, so I could only eat it myself." Ye Cheng took a big bite, the fragrant tender chicken burst with delicious aroma, making little Dou Dou a bit unable to resist.

"Uncle Second, I want to eat too."

"Want to eat? Next time I call you, you'd better listen, understand? I've called you several times and you didn't hear." Ye Cheng shoved the fried chicken box toward Dou Dou.

Dou Dou turned his head and glanced at Jiang Yunxiang, seeking his mother's opinion.

"No need to look at your mom; Uncle Second said you can eat, so eat; if it gets cold later it won't taste good."

Jiang Yunxiang turned her head with a speechless expression, nodded slightly, then softly said, "Dinner's coming soon, eat a little less, or you won't be able to eat the meal later."

"No problem, we're having hot pot today, no rice." Ye Cheng scooped up his little nephew into his arms and handed him a chicken leg.

Watching a kid eat is truly a pleasure; he bites down and won't let go, and while eating his face can break into laughter.

Ye Cheng played with Dou Dou for a while, then Ye Guowei came home from work looking exhausted.

"A Cheng's here, let's eat dinner together at home tonight."

"Big brother, I've bought everything, brought the pot; today I'll treat you guys to a meal, okay?" Ye Cheng gave his big brother a glance, then walked in without looking at anything.

"Huh? You bought vegetables?" Ye Guowei finally looked up and saw the hot pot already set on the table, the base ingredients already added.

"We're having hot pot." Ye Guowei was a little excited; although supplies are plentiful now, for him hot pot meals are still few and far between.

Jiang Yunxiang came out of the kitchen, set bowls and chopsticks on the table, and said, "Mm, A Cheng bought lots of meat and tripe; go to the vegetable patch and pull a couple handfuls of greens, then we can eat."

"Okay, I'll go get some fresh veggies." Ye Guowei wasn't tired anymore and headed out to pull greens.

It's all from our own vegetable garden; Ye Guowei pulled in four or five cabbages in just a few moves.

"Brother, pull a bit more; Xiao Hu is coming later."

"Then you help too; don't just sit there like an old gentleman." Ye Guowei gave him a glance.

Ye Cheng proudly lifted Dou Dou in his hand, saying, "I'm not serving your young master, am I?"

"Our Dou Dou isn't a young master either; he doesn't have that fate." Ye Guowei said, turned and went out again to pull a few more greens, bringing in a full basin.

After waiting for the vegetables to be washed and brought to the table, Xiao Hu finally arrived late, swaying slightly, holding two cases of beer and two bottles of drinks.

"Xiao Hu, if you're here to eat, just eat; why bring stuff?" Jiang Yunxiang said politely.

Xiao Hu pursed his lips at Ye Cheng, saying, "Sister-in-law, I'm not bringing anything; later Big Brother Cheng will complain about me, I'm annoyed."

"Annoying me? Ma de, you're annoying me and I'm annoying you; hurry up, stop dilly-dallying."

The three men sat down, Jiang Yunxiang holding Dou Dou, and dinner officially began.

Ye Cheng raised his cup, looking at Ye Guowei, "Brother, say a few words?"

Ye Guowei laughed embarrassedly, "I'm just a laborer, what would I say? Lao Er, you say it."

"Alright, then I'll say it." Ye Cheng had been waiting for this; it had been a long time since he'd spoken as a leader.

"Um..."

Before Ye Cheng could finish speaking, Ye Guowei already clinked glasses with Xiao Hu and downed his drink in one gulp.

Ye Cheng:...

"Is this how you respect a leader?"

After they finished drinking, they realized Ye Cheng was still holding his cup; Ye Guowei slipped a piece of meat into it, "Lao Er, you haven't drunk yet, hurry up, we've all finished."

Ye Cheng looked helpless; well, he couldn't be the leader after all.

"Then let's drink."

Ye Cheng also downed his drink; the beer Xiao Hu bought was ice-cold, going down smooth and cool straight to the stomach, so refreshing.

"Drink slowly, you're not in a rush." Jiang Yunxiang reminded softly, then began swirling beef slices in the clear broth pot for her son.

Ye Cheng wasn't polite either; first he tackled the tripe, this stuff is good.

He had just picked up a slice, placed it in and swished it gently, but Xiao Hu directly grabbed five or six slices and threw them in.

"Damn, Xiao Hu, are you stupid? This stuff gets worse if it cooks too long."

"Brother, what's the difference? It's all the same, just chewy."

"Get lost, then don't waste it; you eat your beef, I'll keep the tripe."

"Brother, you've got more and more stuff to do, just like your wife." Xiao Hu muttered dissatisfiedly.

While muttering, his hand didn't stop; he grabbed a chopsticks' worth of beef, about two liang, and shoved it down.

Seeing Ye Cheng, his face was speechless.

Just about to educate him, Ye Guowei already lifted the money belly and threw in a third; the pot, originally not very deep, was instantly filled up, and even the gurgling sound disappeared.

Ye Cheng finally realized that the two were in cahoots, completely devoid of any romance.

Beside, Dou Dou was going toe-to-toe with the vermicelli, biting it with great relish.

Sister-in-law Jiang Yunxiang ate more refined, having some beef and dried tofu, and began to focus on the vegetables.

At the table, nobody spoke, and even Ye Cheng was convinced.

Only after three rounds of drinks did Ye Guowei have eaten enough to have a base, and then he suddenly blurted out a sentence.