Chapter 186: with translation of title

Perhaps it's because he's getting older, but Lao Mo feels his heart growing softer and softer.

Suppressing his irritable temper, he gave each of the two apprentices two bowls of fish ball soup.

Anyway, he made plenty of fish balls—enough for six tables.

He's putting in both money and effort, cooking special meals for his own apprentices—who could complain?

Dahai called his brother over, and the two brothers both felt grateful to Master Mo.

Since their mother died, the brothers have hardly ever had a full meal.

A few days ago, they came to the Guoyingfanguan with a tentative attitude, looking for work.

Who would have thought Master Mo actually took them on!

Compared to working as a porter on the dock, hauling sandbags and having wages docked by the foreman, Master Mo may bark fiercely, but he's actually kind-hearted.......

"What are you staring at? Hurry up and eat!"

"After you eat, you'll have energy to work—I'm not raising you two for nothing, so you'd better be sharp later......"

Lao Mo gave the two half-grown lads a glance, then continued bare-armed, pounding garlic with a steady thump-thump-thump.

At ten o'clock he starts preparing the banquet; by eleven-thirty everyone should be here, so we can serve the dishes and get started!

Today the head table will surely be reserved for Section Commander Duan and the signal corps.

As for the liquor, we'll have to rely on Jiang Ye.

He and Zhou Yan don't have any extra liquor coupons between them.

The only one who can get liquor coupons is Jiang Ye.

Sigh, holding a wedding banquet costs a few hundred dollars, and Zhou Yan has been bustling about at home, buying all sorts of things for women, which also cost quite a bit.

According to Zhou Yan, he even gave the bride two hundred dollars as a betrothal gift.

Four or five hundred dollars is all the savings Zhou Yan has accumulated over the years!

Even now, he's still a little worried.

Damn, not paying attention, for the first time he sliced his own finger!

Watching his bleeding finger, his unease spread even more......

Supply and Marketing Cooperative——

The cashier remembered Shen Man, as well as the man who had helped them at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Seeing the two enter, he immediately broke into a welcoming smile.

But soon the cashier's smile faded, he stepped back to the counter and stood at attention.

A middle-aged man wearing a striped short-sleeve shirt and black-rimmed glasses, looking somewhat aged, walked in.

His sharp gaze gave him an aura of authority without anger, exuding a natural pressure.

The middle-aged man strolled around the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, his gaze sweeping past the customers to linger on the cashier behind the counter; he gave a slight nod, then walked into the back office with his hands behind his back.......

Shen Man could feel that the cashier visibly relaxed after seeing that man leave.

Huh?

Wasn't the previous president doing just fine?

How come that middle-aged man just now seemed even more imposing, like a new president inspecting his territory?

"Buy two packets of brown sugar to give to Brother Zhou, keep two packets for you and your sister-in-law to make brown-sugar tangyuan, and we can drink brown-sugar water—how does that sound?"

Jiang Ye ignored everyone else, keeping his distance as if it were none of his business.

Taking care of his own wife is his main duty; he also looks after his sister-in-law so that his big brother-in-law, that oaf, won't be looked down on and come crying to his house, which would be annoying.

"I'll take anything, but I also want honey—do you have any honey?"

Shen Man's attention was drawn back, and she bluntly stated what she wanted without hesitation.

"Let me have a look,"

Jiang Ye took it in, scanning the shelves with a glance, and right there he saw several glass jars of honey.

Seeing this, the sales clerk asked the customer how many bottles she wanted and offered to fetch them.

Shen Man tugged at the man's sleeve and reminded him:

"First buy two bottles; today we still have to attend the wedding banquet, so it's inconvenient to carry too much."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

Jiang Ye looked like a beaten puppy, just in time for Section Commander Duan, who had come to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy a wedding gift, to catch him in the act.

He curled his lip, thinking, "Look at what this kid is capable of."

But this kid's ill fate all ended in that big mountain.

After coming out, this kid's fate turned out splendidly.

Perhaps it's a case of 'first bitter, then sweet'—that's exactly this kid's destiny.

Shen Man turned around and saw Section Commander Duan smiling at them; she quickly greeted him:

"Section Commander Duan, hello."

"Hey, Manman, what are you buying? I'd also like to discuss what new-marriage gift to give little Zhou."

Section Commander Duan replied in a good mood, then walked over with his hands behind his back.

"We're buying honey, but I'm just craving something sweet."

As for little Zhou's wedding gift, we've prepared a homemade egg cake and two catties of brown sugar for him.

Shen Man felt a bit embarrassed explaining to Section Commander Duan, who is an elder to both her and Jiang Ye's older brother, and chatting with him caused her no psychological burden.

"You're pregnant—it's not you who's craving, it's the two little ones in your belly; if you want something, buy it, and if Jiang Ye this guy won't get it for you, just tell me and I'll buy it for you."

Section Commander Duan looked at Shen Man with satisfaction—what a fine young lady.

If Jiang Ye this kid doesn't treat her well, he'll—well, he'll have people line up to beat Jiang Ye, to vent his anger for the young lady.

You must not upset the little girl—her belly still holds his precious grandchild.

"Thank you, Section Commander Duan, but Brother Jiang Ye treats me very well."

Shen Man still protects her own man, not wanting the elders to misunderstand.

"All right, all right, look at you two lovebirds, each more protective of the other than the last—I'm the bad guy, I won't say anything."

"You picked two packs of brown sugar, so I'll buy two jars of honey."

Section Commander Duan pursed his lips, stopped teasing the young couple, smiled, and had the clerk fetch two jars of honey, then carried them to the checkout to pay.

The clerk, upon hearing the old man's title, flushed with excitement.

She felt honored to serve the commander—what a great honor!

Jiang Ye escorted his wife to the checkout to pay, then counted a stack of alcohol coupons, bought a case of old baijiu—twelve bottles, two per table, enough.

Fortunately, Section Commander Duan had been driven here by the communications officer, so no moving equipment was needed—he was taken straight to the back seat of the Jeep.

As for the two jars of honey he bought for his wife, they were naturally placed separately and covered with something.

It wasn't that he was overly cautious; it was just force of habit.

Public and private are distinct; even if they're close privately, now that they're married, the women might not see eye to eye.

Just in case, it's best to avoid any possible misunderstanding.

"Manman, how's your health lately? Are the kids giving you trouble?"

Section Commander Duan and Shen Man sat separately in the back seat, with the two jars of honey he bought between them.

Hearing Section Commander Duan's concerned words, Shen Man answered obediently:

"I'm fine; the kids aren't bothering me, I have no morning sickness or vomiting, I'm doing well—it's just that sometimes I crave this and that, which tires Brother Jiang Ye."

"It's no problem; this is what he should do. Don't feel sorry for him—just make good use of him."

Section Commander Duan said with a smile, and as soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Ye opened the car door and sat in the front passenger seat.

Their eyes met, and for some reason he felt a little guilty........