Chapter 73: Godfather and Godmother

Zhao Jinming and his wife were waiting for us to go. Old Zhao was teasing a big black dog with his grandson. Zhao Yu'er was two years old, with red lips and white teeth. Seeing me, he stretched out his hands and wanted me to hold him.

On the shrine in the main hall, two red candles were placed, a dish of salt, tea, rice, and grain, and two small red envelopes were placed on it, seemingly in the posture of worshiping ancestors.

We entered the house together, sat down, and drank a cup of thunder tea. Old Zhao took his grandson out to play first, leaving me, Xue Bing, Xiaoqin, and Zhao Jinming's couple. Old Zhao knew Xiaoqin and was very happy about her arrival, giving her a wink to call Xiaoqin out together. Xiaoqin pretended not to see, lowered her head, and drank the remaining tea in the cup.

After a silence, Zhao Jinming stammered, "Secretary Chen, there is something I want to discuss with you, you consider it."

I thought he knew Jin Ling's intention and wanted to play matchmaker for me and Xue Bing, so I was naturally full of joy. I said, "Director Zhao, don't be an outsider, just say it."

He said that Old Zhao was taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission some time ago, and he and Jin Ling took their son to the county seat for two days, but couldn't find a way and never saw anyone. In a hurry, seeing a fortune teller on the side of the road, they took their son to have his fortune told. The fortune teller first calculated Old Zhao's matter, told them everything would be safe, and then gave Yu'er a divination, saying in surprise that Yu'er was destined to have bad luck and had to be fostered under someone else's name to be safe.

At first, the two didn't believe it, paid the fortune-telling money in a depressed mood, and when they left, they were still grumbling that the fortune teller's words were all lies and not credible.

A few days later, Old Zhao really returned unscathed, and the couple believed the fortune teller's words. After Old Zhao returned, Yu'er had more illnesses, not headaches or brain fevers every day, and sometimes cried in the middle of the night without stopping until dawn. The couple was worried, sought medical advice, but saw no improvement.

Jin Ling remembered the fortune teller's words, and the couple thought about who to find for fostering. They thought about all the aunts and uncles, but none were suitable, and they screened the people in the township government, but still none were suitable. Finally, Jin Ling came up with an idea, saying let Chen Feng be the son's godfather. Zhao Jinming expressed at the time that it was not enough for the son to have a godfather, he also had to have a godmother. Chen Feng didn't have a wife, so it wouldn't be appropriate to be the son's godfather.

Jin Ling told about me and Xue Bing, saying that we were a perfect match, and besides, the man was unmarried, the woman was unmarried, and we were in love. A talented man and a beautiful woman, it couldn't be better to be the son's godfather. Zhao Jinming couldn't find a reason to oppose it, and Old Zhao also strongly agreed, so Zhao Jinming's couple invited us to dinner.

Jin Ling spoke straight to the point, "My sister Bing'er will be my son's godmother today, and you will be the godfather."

Hearing this, I was surprised for a long time. There was no information beforehand, and suddenly this happened. I didn't know how to express my position.

Xue Bing kicked me quietly with a blushing face. I looked at her and didn't dare to express my position for a long time.

Pan Xiaoqin giggled and said, "Sister-in-law Jin Ling, why don't you call me to be the godmother? I also want to be a godmother."

Jin Ling twisted her and said, "Little girl, you haven't even grown up, and you want to be a mother, aren't you ashamed?"

Xiaoqin said sternly, "Sister-in-law Jin Ling, look at where I haven't grown up."

Jin Ling smiled and hugged Xiaoqin's shoulder, "Sister, sister-in-law is talking about business. Wait until you get married to be Yu'er's godmother, okay?"

Xiaoqin wouldn't give up, shouting that she wanted to be one now, took out one hundred yuan from her body, stuffed it into a red envelope, and looked everywhere for Yu'er to give it to.

Everyone laughed. Xiaoqin's actions were purely childish in our eyes, so we didn't find it strange, and told her that Yu'er had gone to the vegetable garden with his grandfather, and let her go find him.

Zhao Jinming saw that I didn't express my position, got up, refilled our cups with tea, and said, "I'm really sorry, Secretary Chen, Yu'er recognizing you as godfather is climbing high."

Actually, my heart was churning. Yu'er was my son. According to their statement, Yu'er must be my biological son. Recognizing my biological son as my godfather, I was dumbfounded.

Of the four people present, three knew it. Only Xue Bing was kept in the dark.

Jin Ling smiled apologetically and said softly, "I've wronged you."

I smiled and said, "Nothing of the sort." After saying this, I sighed. This play really left me at a loss.

Two red envelopes, Xiaoqin took one, Jin Ling asked Zhao Jinming to take another one out, each red envelope was filled with one hundred yuan, the red candles on the shrine were lit, a long bench was placed under the shrine, I and Xue Bing sat upright, Zhao Yu'er knelt in front of us and performed the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows, Jin Ling gave us the red envelopes. We took the money out of the red envelopes, put in three hundred yuan, and gave it to Yu'er. The ceremony of worshiping the godfather and godmother was officially completed. From then on, Zhao Yu'er became my godson in a justified way.

As soon as we stood up, Xiaoqin sat down, shouting for Yu'er to worship her, saying that no matter what, she had to recognize this godson. The child also felt it was fun, and worshiped again according to the appearance just now. Xiaoqin laughed and hugged Yu'er, kissing him hard, shouting in her mouth: "Son, son, my son. Come, call godmother."

Everyone laughed, Xiaoqin didn't care, tilted her head and said, "I recognize a godson, what are you laughing at."

Zhao Yu'er also cleverly leaned against her and wouldn't come down, hugging her neck and calling godmother.

Next was eating. Old Zhao insisted that I and Xue Bing sit in the upper seat, saying it was the rule. Just like we packed red envelopes just now, what does three hundred represent? The Taiji Bagua of Taoism says, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, three gives birth to all things!

On the left were Zhao Jinming and his wife, on the right was Old Zhao, Xiaoqin was originally sitting at the end, but later moved to sit with Old Zhao, saying that she was also Yu'er's godmother and couldn't sit at the end.

After a meal, Old Zhao talked about some things in the Discipline Inspection Commission, which made my heart jump. ===== CHAPTER 74 =====

Huang Qishan smiled and took up the conversation, saying, "It's not that you're being dragged into this; it's fated."

Next came the procedure for the godparent ceremony. Xue Bing went out to find Lao Zhao and the others, leaving only me and Huang Qishan in the main room.

Huang Qishan glanced at me and said apologetically, "I've wronged you."

I smiled and said, "Not at all." After saying this, I let out a long sigh; this play was truly leaving me at a loss for what to do.

There were two red envelopes. Xiaoqin took one, and Huang Qishan asked Zhao Jinming to take out another. One hundred yuan was placed into each envelope. The red candles on the shrine were lit, and a long bench was placed beneath it. Xue Bing and I sat upright, and Zhao Yu'er obediently knelt before us to perform the three-kneel, nine-kowtow ritual. Huang Qishan presented the red envelopes to us. We took the money out of the envelopes and put three hundred yuan back in to give to Yu'er. The ceremony for becoming godparents was officially complete. From then on, Zhao Yu'er had rightfully become my godson.

As soon as we stood up, Xiaoqin sat down, clamoring for Yu'er to bow to her, saying that no matter what, she had to acknowledge this godson. The child also found it fun and bowed again just as he had before. Xiaoqin laughed happily, scooped Yu'er up, and kissed him vigorously, shouting, "Son, son, my son. Come, call me godmother."

Everyone laughed, but Xiaoqin didn't care. She tilted her head and said, "I'm acknowledging a godson, what are you all laughing at?"

Zhao Yu'er also obediently clung to her, refusing to get down, wrapping his arms around her neck and calling her godmother.

Next was the meal. Lao Zhao insisted that Xue Bing and I sit in the seats of honor, saying it was the custom. It was just like when we packed the red envelopes earlier; what did three hundred represent? According to the Daoist Taiji Bagua, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things!

To my left were Zhao Jinming and his wife, and to my right was Lao Zhao. Xiaoqin had originally been sitting at the lower end, but later she moved to sit with Lao Zhao, saying that she was also Yu'er's godmother and couldn't sit at the very end.

Over the course of the meal, Lao Zhao talked about some things at the Discipline Inspection Commission, which made my heart race with fear.