Chapter 64: then translation of title

These two can't just say they have family matters and not go.

After all, Lu Yuan, this good fellow, is already a Fifth-Rank Forging Worker at twenty-one; who knows, he might later get promoted, become a cadre, a leader.

What if Lu Yuan gives us a hard time then?

Forget it, forget it, just chalk it up to bad luck—I went out today without checking the almanac.

In the end, the two could only agree and then leave with an awkward smile.

And Su Liyan in Lu Yuan's arms was dazed—hold a banquet?

Before Su Liyan could ask anything, a voice of female workers came from afar:

"Yo, finally have time to pick up your wife and bring her home?"

Lu Yuan turned his head and saw Sister Liu leading a group of female workers out.

Seeing Sister Liu and her group come out, Lu Yuan also smiled and greeted:

"Sister Liu, hello."

As for Lu Yuan, before that commendation meeting, everyone really thought he was good-for-nothing.

But after the commendation meeting, everyone thought…… the man Su Liyan found is really capable.

Twenty-one years old, Fifth-Rank Forging Worker.

From now on, Su Liyan following Lu Yuan will truly have a good life.

Furthermore, this isn't the end; each year when they take the rank exam, Su Liyan can also be promoted, and Lu Yuan can continue to rise.

This couple can surely earn over a hundred per month?

At first everyone pitied Su Liyan, but now they're actually envious.

Seeing this group of Sister Liu, Lu Yuan didn't lag behind, immediately smiling and saying:

"Sister Liu, this coming Sunday, I and Liyan are preparing to hold a banquet; you all come, no need to bring money, just bring some auspicious words."

Lu Yuan said that, but actually, not bring money?

"Impossible!"

Lu Yuan understood these female workers; they were comparing themselves in their hearts.

Furthermore, these female workers are young and have very good family conditions; the more you tell them not to bring things, the more they insist on bringing.

As expected, after Lu Yuan finished speaking, Sister Liu immediately glared and said:

"We can't do without your three melons and two dates?"

"You little brat also have a conscience; earning money, you didn't forget to make up a banquet for Liyan."

Sister Liu thought Lu Yuan was using yesterday's bonus to hold the banquet; Lu Yuan chuckled and didn't explain.

And Sister Liu then raised her eyebrows and said:

"This Liyan is my proper apprentice; we're like family, so I'll definitely give you a gift, but you must properly hold a banquet for our Liyan."

"If there are missing tables or dishes, you'll be a big shot in our factory, and I'll also hold a banquet for you!"

Sister Liu truly has money; not counting her natal and marital families, her own treatment in the factory is also that of a Level 7 Worker.

Moreover, her husband passed away early years ago, and she has no children.

Furthermore, Sister Liu's appearance really doesn't attract men; even with good conditions, no one takes interest, so she has indeed saved a lot of money.

Immediately Lu Yuan grinned and said:

"Where would I dare, Sister Liu? Rest assured, it will be absolutely splendid; at that time you'll sit at the main table."

After chatting a while longer with Sister Liu and her group, Lu Yuan then held Su Liyan and headed back.

On the way, Su Liyan looked at Lu Yuan with a face full of curiosity and said:

"Brother, why are we holding another banquet…… we already held one before?"

Su Liyan felt that the previous banquet held in the village was already sufficient; she never dreamed she could have such a banquet.

Su Liyan also didn't think that not holding it in the city would lack any regret.

People from the village, where do they get all these particularities?

Furthermore……

The money spent on the previous banquet……

Lu Yuan knew his wife was starting to worry about money again, and immediately said:

"This time, the people in our courtyard will help us hold it, and we won't spend a penny."

"Eh?"

Hearing this, Su Liyan looked at Lu Yuan somewhat astonished, the people in the courtyard helping to hold it together??

Seeing Su Liyan's astonished expression, Lu Yuan grinned and said:

"Who made your husband popular in the courtyard? Everyone is volunteering."

……

After Lu Yuan brought Su Liyan back to the courtyard, he saw Third Grandfather already waiting at his doorstep.

Third Grandfather is a private tutor; simply put, it's a village school. Nowadays it gets dark early, so classes usually end around three in the afternoon, and Third Grandfather naturally returns early.

Upon seeing Lu Yuan, Third Grandfather hurriedly said:

"Hey, where have you been running off to? I've been waiting all afternoon."

Just as Third Grandfather got home, he heard his wife, Third Grandmother, talking about today's events.

Upon hearing it, Third Grandfather and everyone were shocked—could this really be done?

First give gifts, then hold the banquet?

"What a good fellow, Third Grandfather feels he really learned something."

Third Grandfather's family has three children, plus an unmarried son; Third Grandfather this time wants to learn from Lu Yuan, and later he also wants to do the same.

After Lu Yuan held Su Liyan and got off the horse, he picked up the seven‑jin big fish and said:

"Going fishing!"

This left the third elder dumbfounded—… how does Lu Yuan catch such a big fish every day!

Such a big fish isn't cheap—one costs more than a dollar.

"Here, wife, today we'll pan‑braise‑stew‑pan‑fry tofu."

Lu Yuan casually passed the fish to Su Liyan beside him.

Su Liyan's beautiful, captivating eyes curved like crescent moons as she repeatedly nodded and said:

"I know~ brother~"

Holding the fish, Su Liyan went to the kitchen with a happy smile; this man of hers is truly capable—whenever he goes fishing, he never comes back empty‑handed.

After Lu Yuan and the third elder entered the house, the two sat in the main hall.

The third elder also took out his notebook, began listing the names, and would come door‑to‑door to collect money later.

However, now that everyone in the courtyard knew Lu Yuan had returned, they didn't need door‑to‑door collection; they all secretly came over to pay.

And they discussed it together.

Anyway, Gao Xushi doesn't get along with Lu Yuan and never comes to the rear courtyard, so nobody fears her seeing them.

When this person arrived, Lu Yuan didn't be stingy; he opened a pack of cigarettes and handed them out to those nearby.

Everyone took Lu Yuan's cigarettes, muttering inwardly, this kid really can cobble things together.

Everyone smokes dry tobacco, packing an old pipe, drawing hard until their cheeks hurt.

This kid's got it good—though he barely has two coins, he smokes rolled cigarettes every day.

"If you want to smoke, go outside."

After handing out the cigarettes, Lu Yuan added, "Don't make the whole house reek."

Everyone said nothing, clipping the cigarettes behind their ears.

At that point, everyone who owed money paid up; after paying, they went out to light up and discuss the day after tomorrow's plans.

"I say, why spend money on a cook? We've got someone right here in the courtyard—just let the two gentlemen from the Kou family come, right?"

When an old woman in the courtyard heard the third elder say hiring a cook would cost five dollars, she immediately spoke up, somewhat displeased.

After the old woman finished, the surrounding residents all nodded in strong agreement.

Exactly—since we have the two gentlemen from the Kou family, why spend money to hire? Save those five dollars and buy five roosters instead.

Everyone's pretty sharp.

The third elder slapped his thigh and quickly said:

"Right, the Kou family folks."

Everyone looked around and didn't see the two Kou gentlemen, whereupon an old woman said:

"I guess they're sleeping at home; tonight they still have to go to the restaurant, their household has no woman, and nobody's told them about today's affair,"

Immediately the third elder turned to Lu Yuan and said:

"Then you go talk to the Kou family."

"Talk about what?"

Lu Yuan blinked, hesitated… "Old Man Kou Yang would probably agree, but the Kou family doesn't follow his word—it's his father who decides."

But Kou Yang's father, Kou Zhi Guo, is the sort who won't budge unless you show him a rabbit—tough enough to win over.

Lu Yuan pondered, then suddenly said:

"Fine, but, ladies, you have to come with me; if Kou Zhi Guo refuses, you'll have to help me persuade him."

This scheme is a 'drive the donkey to swallow the horse' ploy—quite clever.

"You dare refuse, Kou Zhi Guo?"

"Let you taste what moral coercion is, what it means to go against the will of the working people, what it means to defy women's wishes!"

(Well, this chapter was mistakenly posted early anyway; let's just treat it as the third update—sniffle, my draft's gone)

(End of chapter)