Chapter 300
“So just relax and be yourself,” Jiang Xinyue assured with a smile. “Be exactly who you are in your family back in Shanghai. If we’re committed to bringing home a swan, we’re definitely not going to place the same demands on you as other families might on their daughters-in-law.”
Su Xiaoxiao laughed, feeling her heart warm at Jiang Xinyue’s promise.
They continued chatting about family and future children until Aunt Guo and Hua Shoucheng came in, carrying freshly washed vegetables. They first removed the nearby charcoal brazier, then set up a pot over it, arranging the vegetables close by to keep them from freezing in the winter air.
Before long, Jiang Yexun and Su Hongchen returned as well. Jiang Yexun had a basket on his back, filled not only with various vegetables but also four hunting rifles.
“I booked soft sleeper tickets for tomorrow at 2 p.m.,” Su Hongchen said. “But with only four bunks per compartment, we’ll have to split up when we sleep.”
“No problem,” Jiang Yexun replied easily. “We can just have Xingzhi sleep in the other compartment.”
After all, as a bachelor, it didn’t matter much if Xingzhi slept in a neighboring carriage.
“Then you all should head out early tomorrow. Have lunch at my place,” Jiang Xinyue said with a smile.
Still, Jiang Xinyue couldn’t help but feel a bit curious. Xiaoxiao had mentioned that her brother was a company commander, yet as far as she knew, officers at the company level could only buy hard sleepers. Soft sleepers usually required a higher rank.
But Jiang Xinyue just kept her thoughts to herself, feeling it would be a bit too forward to ask directly.
As the red hotpot base began to boil, Aunt Guo hurried everyone to start eating the meat.
The lid was lifted, and the steam carrying the spicy aroma of the hotpot wafted out, making everyone eager to dig in. The fresh wild beef and lamb tasted exceptional, and the cabbage cooked to a soft texture was perfectly delicious, making it easy to eat as much as one wanted without feeling greasy.
The six of them eagerly enjoyed the hotpot, each taking turns to add meat to the pot. They were so absorbed in eating that they ended up completely full.
Afterward, they leaned back in their chairs, rubbing their stomachs as they recovered from overeating. Jiang Yexun and Su Hongchen were the first to regain their composure. They cleaned up the pots and bowls, moved the coal stove back to the room, and made sure the embers were completely out before escorting Jiang Xinyue and Hua Shoucheng back home.
Once they saw the lights come on in their house, Su Xiaoxiao and the others headed to the state-owned restaurant. Su Xiaoxiao was initially worried they’d be too late and that Uncle Wang, who was responsible for the cart, might be upset. However, when they arrived, they saw that the restaurant was still brightly lit despite being past nine o’clock.
As they approached, they heard the cheerful laughter of men inside and their lively conversation. When Su Xiaoxiao tried to lift the thick cotton curtain, both Jiang Yexun and Su Hongchen reached out to help.
The cold north wind rushed into the warm restaurant, causing a shiver for those seated closest to the door. Everyone turned to look at the entrance, making Su Xiaoxiao feel a bit uneasy. The state-owned restaurant was filled with men, with not a single woman in sight.
In the center of the restaurant was a radio playing a commentary on the Three Kingdoms. Each table had five or six men, with a pot of liquor and a plate of peanuts. The scene was quite relaxed.
Su Xiaoxiao had never encountered such a scene before, which was beyond her expectations. Meanwhile, Jiang Yexun and Su Hongchen seemed quite familiar with the setup.
Their eyes fell on Uncle Wang and Luo Shanzhu. Uncle Wang quickly got up, took the remaining peanuts from the table, and put them into his pocket. He drank the last of the liquor in one gulp and approached Su Xiaoxiao.
Before Uncle Wang could say anything, Luo Shanzhu spoke up, “Why are you back so late? It’s already nine-thirty. You’ll get back to the team around midnight.”
“Is twelve o’clock really late?” Jiang Yexun’s expression instantly turned cold, his gaze towards Luo Shanzhu devoid of warmth.
Luo Shanzhu then realized his mistake. They used to hunt in the mountains until two or three in the morning, so what was a midnight return?
“Brother Ye…” Luo Shanzhu hurriedly tried to explain.
Jiang Yexun ignored him and turned to leave. Luo Shanzhu, face stiff, followed behind. He glanced at Su Xiaoxiao and Su Hongchen as he passed, but they didn’t even spare him a glance, making him feel humiliated.
Even if Su Xiaoxiao was aware of Luo Shanzhu’s feelings, she chose to ignore him, furthering his sense of shame.
Once they were on the cart, Jiang Yexun ensured Su Xiaoxiao and his mother were wrapped up warmly in blankets before jumping onto the cart himself. He also took out the rifles, with the three men each holding one. Jiang Yexun and Su Hongchen also held flashlights, adding a sense of security to the dark night.
“How much did these rifles cost?” Luo Shanzhu asked, admiring the finely crafted weapons.
“Three hundred each,” Jiang Yexun replied coolly.
“What? Three hundred! So four rifles cost twelve hundred?!”
Luo Shanzhu was shocked. He had taken a thousand yuan for work, but was now spending twelve hundred on rifles. He wondered if they were still brothers.