Erhu and Xiao Shuan, who were chatting with the men from the two families in the courtyard, heard movement from Chen Lan's side. They turned their heads and saw that Chen Lan and her two daughters had opened the main hall door of the main house. They immediately stopped their conversation and said, "Brother Dali, Brother Lei Zi, my brother and I will go in first and chat later."
After saying this, seeing that the two men did not object, they immediately turned and followed Chen Lan and her two daughters into the main hall, planning to take a closer look inside before returning to report to the elders at home.
Actually, an empty house wasn't much to see! No matter how clean it was, there would still be a layer of dust after a long time. Moreover, because the house had been closed up for so long, there was a strong musty smell.
However, it wasn't easy to come back, so no matter what! They had to come in and take a good look, to see if the house leaked rain, or if there was any damage over time that needed to be repaired.
Chen Lan didn't feel any sense of belonging to the old house. So she couldn't help but think that even if she returned here in the future, she probably wouldn't live here again! But this was, after all, the old house, and her mother-in-law's beloved home. After all, as people got older, they always had the idea of returning to their roots.
Therefore, among the group, only Chen Lan seemed uninterested. Erhu and Xiao Shuan, however, were deeply moved. After all, this was where the two brothers were born, and it held many beautiful childhood memories for them.
Perhaps it was due to their blood relation! Chen Lan didn't expect that the sisters Jia Hui and Jia Yu were also very interested in the old house. When Jia Hui heard Chen Lan say that she and Jia Yao were born here, she couldn't help but feel emotional.
The group looked around each room carefully and found that each room was indeed still in relatively good condition! To be preserved like this after thirty years showed that the two families had indeed put in effort!
Since no repairs were needed, the group didn't want to delay any longer! They planned to go out together.
Chen Lan stopped Erhu and Xiao Shuan and gave the two brothers six hundred yuan, asking them to give three hundred yuan to each of the two families later. As for how to convince the two families to accept it, Chen Lan left that matter to the brothers to handle!
As they walked out the door, they saw that neither of the two families had entered the house, but were still waiting for them in the courtyard.
Chen Lan asked Jia Hui to quickly lock the door, then took the main door key that Jia Hui handed her and returned it to Song Chuntao, naturally saying words of thanks.
Song Chuntao smiled shyly and said, "Xiao Lan, it was just a small favor. Climbing up and down is nothing for the children! You don't need to thank the children for these things! If anyone should be thanked, it should be us, the two families, who should thank your family for your kindness in lending us the house to live in." Sudancheng novel network
Lei Zi's wife, who lived in the east wing, also nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, that's right. It should be us, the two families, who should thank your family."
Chen Lan smiled and waved her hand, saying nothing more! Chen Lan was the least adept at this kind of thing! Her personality was more suited to being an unsung hero.
At this time, Erhu and Xiao Shuan had already gone to talk to the men from the two families in the house separately!
Chuntao and Lei Zi's wife enthusiastically invited Chen Lan and her two daughters to come inside and sit. Just then, the old village head happened to walk into the courtyard. As soon as he entered, he saw Chen Lan and her two daughters.
So he called out, "Auntie Lan, where are Er Hu Zi and Shuan Zi? Your aunt has already prepared food at home! Your aunt specifically stewed chicken soup for you today and asked me to call you to eat at home. Where are those two boys? Aren't they here?"
Chen Lan and the others turned to see the old village head and quickly turned to greet him.
Erhu and Xiao Shuan heard the voices from outside and came out of the house with the men from the two families.
The four of them shouted in unison when they saw the old village head, "Uncle Chunwang, Uncle Village Head."
The old village head nodded and said, "Er Hu Zi, Shuan Zi, let's go! Your aunt has prepared food! She sent me to find you and bring you home to eat."
After waving goodbye to the two families, Erhu had the old village head sit in the driver's seat and drove Chen Lan and the others back to the outside of the village head's courtyard.
After parking the car outside the village head's courtyard gate, Chen Lan and her two daughters, along with Xiao Shuan, each carrying a bag, got out of the back of the car.
As soon as they entered the main hall, they saw the old village head's entire family waiting for them.
When the village head's wife saw Chen Lan and the others enter, she immediately instructed, "Qiang Zi's wife, quickly ask Da Shan's wife to bring out the chicken soup from the kitchen."
Qiang Zi's wife happily agreed, "Yes! I know, Mother, I'll go right away."
After instructing, the village head's wife looked back at Chen Lan and the others, who were still carrying bags into the house. She immediately blamed them with a playful scolding, "You children are really something! Coming to Auntie's house for a meal, being so polite is a bit too much!"
Chen Lan immediately explained with a smile, "Auntie, these are not things we specially bought for the family. We bought a lot of things, and the supply and marketing cooperative gave them to us as a gift!"
The village head's wife asked with disbelief, "In this day and age, are there such good things? You can buy things at the supply and marketing cooperative and get gifts?"
Chen Lan felt a chill run down her spine, thinking, that was close! She almost slipped up! Fortunately, after the village head's wife asked, she didn't pursue the matter further!
Because the chicken soup had already been brought out from the kitchen, some of the younger children were already drooling at the fragrant chicken soup, shouting that they wanted to eat meat.
The old village head's family was already four generations living together, so there were already many people eating. With Chen Lan and her group of five, there were even more people eating!
Therefore, lunch today was divided into two large tables and two small tables for dining.
The children cheered that there was delicious food today! They were going to have meat and steamed egg custard!
Chen Lan noticed that the children's small table did not have chicken soup, but only a large bowl of stewed potatoes and cabbage. The vegetable bowl contained a few thinly sliced pieces of preserved meat, a large bowl of steamed egg custard, and a bowl of soybean paste, with nothing else.
Chen Lan couldn't help but sigh. She turned around, found the bag she had brought in, reached in, and took out a bag of braised chicken legs, a large piece of braised beef, a whole braised pork knuckle, a braised chicken, a large piece of braised pork, as well as braised eggs, braised kelp, braised dried tofu, and other side dishes, and placed them on the large table.
Then she looked up and said to the sisters Jia Hui and Jia Yu, "I remember there was a box of sorghum wine in one of the bags. It should be in the snakeskin bag that Jia Hui is carrying. Jia Hui, go and help your mother find it, so that Uncle Er Hu and Uncle Xiao Shuan can have a drink with your Village Head Grandpa at noon."
Jia Hui and Jia Yu happily replied, "Okay! Mother, I'll find it right away."
The old village head's entire family was stunned by Chen Lan's actions! Everyone froze for a moment, and no one could immediately refuse.