Chapter 144: Gathering Dinner
Jiang Cheng looked helplessly at Principal Wang and Manager Guo, who were sincerely planning for her future.
"Would you two calm down for a bit and listen to me, okay?"
Principal Wang and Manager Guo exchanged glances.
That glance aligned them on the same front.
Jiang Cheng was speechless.
Could you two at least pretend to consider my presence? I’m still here, you know?
"Principal, it’s not that I won’t go to the big city, it’s just that I don’t want to go right now."
As soon as Jiang Cheng finished speaking, Principal Wang and Manager Guo’s piercing gazes shot towards Shen Que.
It must be because of this brat!
Dating really hinders progress!
Shen Que also looked up.
Though he was head over heels, he didn’t think Jiang Cheng was doing it for him.
Jiang Cheng wouldn’t let herself do that.
She has bigger goals and a broader mindset.
Jiang Cheng followed Principal Wang and Manager Guo’s line of sight, both amused and annoyed.
"It’s not Shen Que! Please don’t let your imaginations run wild."
"Wait, let me finish."
Jiang Cheng watched as Principal Wang was about to interject and continued, "Principal, it’s not that I’m not going, I just want to wait two years."
"With my intelligence, don’t you think I’ll be even more impressive in two years?"
"Besides, I currently have a collaborative project with the food factory. After returning from the village, I have a proposal for collaborating with the machinery factory, and I have ideas for the textile, ceramic, and bamboo factories."
"I want to take advantage of my youth to try everything I can do, want to do, and am capable of doing."
"I believe that, for now, my impact by staying can be greater than by leaving."
After she finished, Jiang Cheng spread her hands, waiting for Principal Wang and Manager Guo’s rebuttal.
But the two of them exchanged glances for so long that Jiang Cheng thought they might fall in love.
No way, that thought is too terrifying!
Jiang Cheng pulled her thoughts back.
"Are you two stunned by my impressive speech?"
Principal Wang and Manager Guo snapped back to reality, each with their own expressions looking at Jiang Cheng.
Principal Wang sensed the determination in Jiang Cheng’s words and could only pretend to be disdainful, "Alright, alright, let’s leave it at that, but you have to accompany me to the night school in the provincial capital—"
"Hey, hey, hey, hey—this isn’t fair! Using me and then discarding me? I just helped persuade you, and this is how you repay me!"
Manager Guo was unhappy.
Principal Wang reasoned logically, "Don’t make it sound so harsh! Besides, you didn’t succeed in helping, so what kind of repayment do I owe you?"
Manager Guo was temporarily at a loss for words, angered by Principal Wang’s sophistry.
Frustrated, he looked directly at Jiang Cheng.
"Jiang Cheng! You handle this!"
Jiang Cheng really wanted to respond with a dramatic facepalm and a bitter smile.
"Manager Guo, when is your commendation ceremony?"
Right after asking, Jiang Cheng saw Principal Wang’s unwilling expression and shifted the question, "Principal Wang, when are you going to the provincial night school?"
Manager Guo: "October 22nd."
Principal Wang: "October 20th."
Jiang Cheng looked at the two with a ’do I even need to say anything?’ expression and said, "So, I can attend both, can’t I?"
Attend both?
Principal Wang and Manager Guo awkwardly lowered their heads, having forgotten about this.
"Ah..."
"Being too talented is truly a burden!"
Jiang Cheng got up triumphantly, asking with a cheeky grin, "Who’s paying for the travel expenses?"
Principal Wang and Manager Guo exchanged a glance.
"He will!"
Their rivalry ignited again.
Jiang Cheng shook her head, chuckling, ignoring the mock-seriousness between the two, anticipating the joyful time ahead.
The big courtyard became lively with Jiang Cheng’s silly reindeer and the Flying Dragon.
Shen Yue took away Flying Dragon’s beautiful feathers, and Grandma Shen found a few coins to make a shuttlecock with them.
A group of children kicked it around in the courtyard, jumping and cheering with pure joy.
The entire reindeer was lavishly used by Jiang Cheng.
A large black pot was set up outside, with steam billowing out, carrying the delicious aroma of meat.
Shen Que, dressed in an apron, successfully took on the role of the main chef.
There was braised venison, spicy stir-fried venison pieces, and venison stewed with noodles.
The three reindeer dishes went into the pot one after another, sweet, spicy, and savory.
It was impossible to stop saliva from forming.
Jiang Cheng joined the lively cooking scene, secretly fed a piece of meat by Shen Que.
The two of them shared a sneaky laugh, the meaty aroma even sweeter.
Grandma Shen was in charge of the Flying Dragon stewed with mushrooms.
That aroma... it was simply irresistible, making one want to attach their head to the pot.
Even the little grown-up Shen Xing couldn’t help but ask: When will it be time to eat?
He had just bought sodas, but wasn’t as happy, all because he was preoccupied with the lingering home-cooked aroma, his stomach grumbling in protest.
The dishes were almost ready, and everyone lent a hand moving tables and grabbing stools.
The Shen family’s bowls and chopsticks weren’t enough, so the Li family and Sun family’s tables, stools, bowls, chopsticks, plates, basins—everything was brought over.
Soon, three tables were pushed together to form one long table.
The variety of bowls and chopsticks assembled created a strange harmony.
Once the table was set, it was time to serve the food.
The Li family made braised tofu and a stir-fried cured meat dish.
You could tell they must have used all their meat for it.
The Sun family brought braised fish, and even added a big bowl of fruit cocktail.
Each dish was divided into two or three portions, spread evenly across the long table.
Once the dishes were set, Jiang Cheng uncovered the pot of meat soup made separately outside.
Inside were the bones left from the venison, and plenty of sliced venison meat.
The savory meat aroma filled the air, a sprinkle of green onions or cilantro on top—perfection!
"Everyone, come have some soup. I don’t have much, but it’s enough for one bowl per family."
Jiang Cheng called out to the courtyard residents.
"Oh my, there’s even enough for us!"
"This is so kind of you!"
"Why is there so much meat in it?"
"Exactly, serve us some meat and keep the rest for yourselves."
The residents exchanged polite refusals before accepting the offer.
Grandma Shen, Granny Sun, Uncle Sun, and a few others came over; after some persuasion and conversation, they went home to get bowls.
The courtyard housed thirteen families in total. There was a large bowl of meat soup for each family, excluding the Sun, Shen, and Li families, and subtracting the Lin family.
Nine large bowls of rich meat soup were carefully carried back home by the steadiest hands of each family.
After the soup was divided, Jiang Cheng and a few others returned indoors, taking their seats one by one.
Jiang Cheng stood up, holding the bowl in her hand.
"I’m such a small person..."
With one line, Jiang Cheng captured everyone’s attention.
"Hahaha! Just kidding."
"No need for more words, let’s just dig in!"
"I’m really happy we could gather for a meal today. I hope everyone enjoys themselves."
Jiang Cheng raised her bowl, and everyone followed suit, sipping on soda and a bit of alcohol.
After Jiang Cheng sat down, everyone awaited Grandma Shen, the oldest, to take the first bite, then they all dug in.
"Oh wow, this Flying Dragon meat!"
"Oh my goodness, who needs alcohol when you can eat more meat!"
The room was filled with warmth, laughter, and joy.
Jiang Cheng secretly looked across at Shen Que, raising her bowl.
Receiving the signal, Shen Que picked up his bowl of alcohol and drank it all in one go under Jiang Cheng’s gaze.
Jiang Cheng: She wanted some soup... to mix with her rice.