In the courtyard of the Meng family, a sumptuous dinner is ready, cold dishes are served, hot soup pots are gurgling on the stove, and the rich aroma of wine and meat makes everyone salivate.

A large pot of pork bones stewed potatoes, white radish, and tofu were also put in to cook one after another, and a basket of washed tender yellow cabbage was prepared, braised pork, braised chicken with mushrooms, steamed sausages, ham meat, beef jerky, and a big bowl of fried soybeans.

Zhou Shi'an, Captain Bao and two other cadres of the brigade were invited to drink, they first went to see Meng Jinniu, condolences, and then came to the hall, everyone sat down to eat.

The wine and food are really rich and excessive, if it is placed in normal times, the captain of the Bao Brigade must not be trained, and educate young people to always remember the hardship and simplicity, and not to be greedy for enjoyment. But today the golden bull came back from the hospital, and in two days the educated youth will go back to the city for the New Year, presumably they saved up for a long time to save this table, and the captain of the Bao team will not be disappointed, pick up the wine glass and say a few words about the scene, everyone drinks one, and then moves the chopsticks to eat.

Meng Jinniu ate in his room by himself, left him a kerosene lamp, and the meals were all the same, but there was no wine, and he couldn't drink now.

Zhou Cuiling also came, sitting with Meng Tao, there were a lot of people, and the two of them shrank in the corner and whispered while eating.

The leaders and elders are here, everyone is decent, but fortunately, Captain Bao is very knowledgeable, and knows that the young people are different from them, eat a full meal, drink a few glasses of wine, and leave.

Now it is much more casual, the atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became lively, and after a while, young people from the village came in, went to see Meng Jinniu, and then came to the hall to drink, six or seven young men came one after another, Lin Dagang and Lin Erhu's cousins were also among them, Meng Tao and Qian Xiaoyun went to the kitchen to steam two more bowls of sausages, cut some ham meat, and fried a big bowl of soybeans.

Xu Guoliang bought four bottles of wine before, and he drank almost everything, so he would go to the consignment store to bring back four bottles of wine.

After that, three girls came, but they didn't go to the table, but each grabbed a handful of soybeans and chewed them, and watched the excitement and laughed around the drinkers.

Among the three girls, Zhou Cuimei, her eyes were always staring at Meng Tao, Meng Tao thought she was going to talk to herself, and deliberately walked to their side to greet them, but Zhou Cuimei didn't say anything as if she was fine.

Meng Tao was puzzled, and saw that Zhou Cuimei's expression was not very good, she was not more lively than before, and she seemed to have lost a little weight, so she secretly asked Zhou Cuiling, and Zhou Cuiling said: "The family matter has not been negotiated, she likes the man very much." ”

"Is it because people don't look down on her?"

"It's good that I can't look at it, but people are also interested in her at the beginning, and the two of them also met and talked twice at the commune fair, watched the movie, and had feelings. But then it didn't work, the man immediately talked about a girl from the neighboring village, and I heard that she was getting along quite well, and Sister Cuimei must have felt very uncomfortable. ”

"If both sides are interested, why can't it be done?"

"Because of Zhou Cuilian."

Zhou Cuiling pouted: "Zhou Cuilian is a scum, she was harmed, and my other cousin's family affair was not negotiated." Zhou Cuilian said that she went to the city to join her aunt, a lie! She really went to work in a carton factory as a temporary worker, and I don't know how to do it, but she lives with a married man, just that Liang Tiezhu!

The two rented a house and lived like husband and wife, and were found by Tian Xianglan, what kind of character does Tian Xianglan have? It was a fuss on the spot, and I heard that Liang Tiezhu's job was directly lost, and Liang Tiezhu was also stubborn, claiming that he wanted a divorce, so he didn't come back with Tian Xianglan, and took Zhou Cuilian to be a blind stream. Tian Xianglan ran back to the village like crazy, and went to Zhou Cuilian's house every day to make trouble, scolding so much that it stinks...... After Sister Cuimei's family knows, can she still take a fancy to Sister Cuimei? Straight off. ”

Meng Tao was speechless for a while.

But Zhou Cuimei always looked at her, which meant a few things: "Why did Zhou Cuimei look at me with such strange eyes?" ”

Zhou Cuiling listened and looked over, Zhou Cuimei immediately turned her eyes, and Zhou Cuiling said, "I guess it is, didn't her brother want to talk to you before?" You refused. ”

"What is the reason for this? It's not suitable and still not people refuse? ”

"Don't worry, I'll talk to Sister Cuimei when I go back later."

The food and wine were all eaten and drunk, and a group of young people were still sitting around chatting and laughing, until ten o'clock.

Zhou Cuiling originally wanted to stay, but promised to talk to Zhou Cuimei, so she followed.

The three female intellectuals cleaned up and washed the dishes and chopsticks, Meng Tao took the basin and made hot water, and wanted to bring it to the golden cow to scrub, but Jiang Xiaodong snatched it, Zhao Ming said: "We will take care of the golden cow, you don't have to worry." ”

Meng Tao apologized: "I've caused you trouble." ”

Zhao Ming smiled: "It's okay, who hasn't encountered difficulties?" ”

When the golden bull couldn't move in the hospital, Zhang Fu took care of it, and now when he gets home, he is on a splint and can move himself on crutches, but he still can't go outdoors in terms of toileting, Zhao Ming found an old wooden barrel to hold some grass and wood ash, put it in the corner of the house for him to use, take it out and pour it out and clean it every day, and it won't be very smelly.

Late at night, Jiang Xiaodong came out of the house and saw Zhao Ming washing his face and brushing his teeth by the small flower garden, so he walked over and said, "I don't plan to go back during the Spring Festival this year." ”

Zhao Ming: "Why?" Didn't you say that your grandfather was sick, and the family also sent you the travel expenses. ”

"Peach Blossom is inconvenient to take care of the Taurus."

"You stay for this? It's not necessary, Peach Blossom can solve this problem in the hospital, and now that she's back, there are many people in the village, what is she embarrassed about? Believe it or not, if we don't live in her house, she will immediately spend money or exchange things for it, and she will be able to find one, two, or even more, and take turns to accompany the Taurus. ”

Jiang Xiaodong: "......"

This is really what Meng Taohua will do.

Zhao Ming said again: "If you stay, everyone will see your thoughts." ”

Jiang Xiaodong: "Can't I have this thought?" ”

"Yes. But since you are left to take care of the golden bull for the sake of the peach blossoms, you must confess decisively and not be ambiguous. ”

“…… I don't know the bottom in my heart, and I think Peach Blossom may not accept it. ”

"So why take the risk? Just like Xu Guoliang said, when the time comes, you won't even have to be a friend, so why bother? This matter is not in a hurry, you see that Peach Blossom is busy: the matter of the Golden Ox, the upcoming guest, that is an old friend who had worked with her grandfather, and she is now thinking about what needs to be prepared, how to receive these elders and distinguished guests...... Who is in the mood to accept your pursuit? Ninety percent of you want to be rejected, so you'd better take it slowly. ”

Jiang Xiaodong was silent for a while, then nodded: "You're right, I also thought about it like this, but I was worried that something would change." ”

Zhao Ming: "......"

In life, changes can happen at any time, and he can't predict this.