After drinking it, Wu Yaqing frowned. “Eh? Why is it a little bitter?”
“Is it bitter?” Ge Lihua finished the bowl of beer in one gulp. “1 think this is the flavor and essence of beer.” She looked at Chu Qingzhi. “Qingzhi, am 1 right?”
Chu Qingzhi smiled slightly. “That’s right. Beer has a hint of bitterness. Some people are not used to it, but some people like it.”
When Wu Yaqing heard this, she tried to take another sip. Her brows relaxed. “Qingzhi, is this your new product?”
Chu Qingzhi nodded. “Why?”
An idea appeared in Wu Yaqing’s mind, but it was not well-conceived. “Nothing. 1 was just asking.”
Li Qingyu waved at everyone. “We’re done drinking. Let’s go eat.”
“1’11 go get another jar of beer to drink during dinner,” Chu Qingzhi said.
“Master, let me go.” Yuan Hongjun rushed into the warehouse first.
The food was already on the table.
Li Qingyu did her best to prepare an extremely sumptuous dinner. There were fried, roasted, steamed, and braised dishes. The largest dish, the roasted pig, attracted everyone’s attention.
Li Qingyu gave the best pork belly to Chu Qingzhi. “Qingzhi, try it. 1 specially learned this dish from an old master.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled and nodded. “Mother, you eat too.”
“Ok.” Li Qingyu picked up another piece for Tang Jinghong. It was also the best pork belly. “Jinghong, thank you for taking care of Qingzhi during this time.”
Tang Jinghong said, “Qingzhi took care of me more.” The northern border was filled with danger. If not for Qingzhi, he might not have been able to return safely.
Li Qingyu smiled and said, “You should take care of each other and support each other. That’s what a husband and a wife should do.”
Tang Jinghong nodded. “1 understand.”
Li Qingyu called out, “Pick up your chopstick, everyone, eat. Don’t stand on ceremony. Yaqing, Lihua, make yourself at home. Don’t be restrained. If you have any requests, you can tell me.”
Wu Yaqing and Ge Lihua replied together, “Yes, Auntie.”
In their impression, peasant women were calculating and mean. However, Li Qingyu and Granny Chu weren’t like that at all. They were especially approachable.
…The warm dinner was slowly coming to an end.
Ge Lihua put down her chopsticks and looked at everyone. She said gratefully, “Grandpa Chu, Granny Chu, Uncle Chu, Auntie, thank you for your hospitality. I’m going to the government office tomorrow to be a constable. Then, I’ll find a house in the county city to stay. I won’t be back for a while, but when 1 take a break, I’ll come back to see you.”
The dining room instantly fell silent.
“Lihua, you became a female constable?” Chu Qingzhi asked in surprise.
Ge Lihua nodded. “Previously, when 1 went to collect the reward money, 1 saw a post recruiting constables. Then, I convinced the county magistrate to accept me. He agreed.”
“Lihua, stay here. It’s more lively here. It’ll be too lonely if you live alone.” Chu Qingzhi thought of Ge Lihua’s tragic experience and felt that it was too lonely for her to live alone in the county.
“Qingzhi, thank you for your kindness. I…” Ge Lihua also liked the atmosphere in Chu Qingzhi’s house, but she was an outsider after all.
Chu Xujin interrupted Ge Lihua. “Miss Ge, don’t reject it. It just so happens that I’m also working at the government office. It’s good to have a companion to travel back and forth with me.”
As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere instantly changed. Everyone looked at him.
Seeing this, Chu Xujin could not help but tense up. His expression also became unnatural. “W-Why are you looking at me like that?”
Chu Xuhua patted Chu Xujin’s shoulder meaningfully and smiled. “Nothing. We just feel that you’re exceptionally handsome today.”
Chu Xujin looked at everyone in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Li Qingyu waved at him. “Nothing, don’t mind us.” She looked at Ge Lihua. “It’s not safe for a girl like you to live alone. You can just stay at our house. It’s not troublesome at all.”
Her third son was obviously interested in Lihua. As his mother, she naturally had to help.
Ge Lihua hesitated. “Auntie, is this really a good idea?”
“There’s nothing not good about it.” Li Qingyu asked intentionally, “Or do you think Auntie’s place is bad?”
Ge Lihua quickly shook her head. “No, no. Auntie, don’t misunderstand. 1 just feel that 1…”
Li Qingyu interrupted her. “I have the final say in this matter. Just stay.”
Ge Lihua looked at Chu Qingzhi, who nodded at her. She thought for a moment and said, “Auntie, I won’t freeload. I’ll give you the money for food and accommodation.”
Li Qingyu wanted to say that there was no need, but Chu Qingzhi touched Li Qingyu’s leg under the table. Li Qingyu changed her words. “Alright, let’s do that.”
It wasn’t that she wanted Ge Lihua’s money, but only after talcing the money would Ge Lihua agree to stay. Moreover, even if they took Ge Lihua’s money, they could still give it back to her in one way or another.
For example, Li Qingyu thought that she would keep the money first. In the future, if Ge Lihua wanted to leave, she would give the money back to her. If they were lucky enough to become a family, she would return it to Lihua as a dowry.
This matter was settled.
Chu Xujin lowered his head and continued eating. The corners of his mouth subconsciously curled up, and he felt that the food seemed to be even more fragrant.
The Tang family.
The family of three was also eating.
Zhang Xiuqin suddenly put down her chopsticks and said, “Tang Shan, do you know that Tang Jinghong has taken a post in the army?”
Tang Shan was shocked and immediately looked up. “Who did you hear that from?”
“The village elder’s granddaughter-in-law. She said that it was Chu Tai who said it.” Zhang Xiuqin was actually a little suspicious, but Tang Jinghong had been in the army for more than ten years. He might have obtained an official position.
Tang Dengping clenched his chopsticks and said sourly, “Tang Jinghong has already been chased out by Father. Even if he’s an official, it has nothing to do with us.”
“What do you mean by it has nothing to do with us? He’s your father’s biological son.” Zhang Xiuqin’s eyes darted around. No one knew what she was thinking.
Tang Shan smiled proudly. “Dengping, your mother is right. Jinghong is my biological son. Even if I chase him out of the house, he’s still my son.”
“Father, Tang Jinghong is not the kind of person who will listen to you. Stop dreaming.” Tang Dengping continued to eat. He suddenly felt no appetite.
“What do you mean?” Tang Shan glared at Tang Dengping unhappily. “I’m his father. He’ll do whatever I ask him to do. It’s the same even if he’s the emperor.”
Zhang Xiuqin calculated in her heart. “Tang Shan, go and tell Tang Jinghong to arrange a position for Dengping in the army. How can selling ice cream bars be as promising as being an official?”
Tang Shan thought that If Dengping also took a post in the military, wouldn’t his family have two officials? This would definitely bring glory to the Tang family..
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