Chapter 111 Mid-Autumn Festival Reunion Dinner

Ye Annian and Jiang Zhu stopped and saw Ye Xiaomei walking over quickly carrying a fresh carp and a moon cake wrapped in paper.

　　"There have been a lot of guests these days, and you, Brother Wei, and I don't have time to spare. I thought I would go back to the village to see you after the festival tomorrow. I heard people who came to the restaurant say that there are many people queuing up to buy lanterns in Clay Figure Lane. "It's a young couple selling it, I guessed it was you," Ye Xiaomei said with a smile.

　　"A few days ago, I saw people selling lanterns on the street, and I wanted to sell some. So today we took advantage of the festival to set up a stall here." Jiang Zhu also smiled.

　　"It saves us from running back to the village." Ye Xiaomei said, handing the things in his hand to Jiang Zhu, "I got them for you. This carp is very fresh, and this sesame oil mooncake, made by Brother Wei, you guys Taste it."

　　Jiang Zhu took it and put it in the car. Ye Annian said: "Just in time, we have something for you. Jiang Zhu also made some mooncakes and thought about getting some for you, as well as the lanterns I made."

As he spoke, he pulled out a lotus-shaped lantern from the cart, opened it, lit the candle inside and handed it to Ye Xiaomei.

　　This lotus lantern is made of silk cloth and bamboo strips. Once the candle is lit, the warm red candlelight will reflect the petals in a beautiful light pink color. The stamens in the middle are the flickering candlelight. In the dark night It looks dazzling and dazzling.

　　"It's so beautiful." Ye Xiaomei liked it very much. She turned it over in her hand and looked at it. "I will hang it in the house when I get back."

　　"We have arranged to have dinner with the owners of the two shops next door. Do you want to invite your brother-in-law to come with us?" Ye Anyian asked.

　　"No, my mother-in-law is still waiting for us to go back for dinner." Ye Xiaomei shook her head, "Let's get together again when your shop opens."

　　"Okay, second sister, please go back early."

　　"Wait a moment, I'll get the mooncakes." Jiang Zhu said.

　　The shop was just a few steps away, and he quickly returned with the wrapped mooncakes. After giving them to Ye Xiaomei, he and Ye Anian pushed the cart back to the shop.

　　The night was dark, and the bright moon hung high in the sky.

　　At the entrance of the food shop on West Street, Granny Qian and Qing Niang have worked together to merge the two tables outside the shop and moved out a few stools.

　　Fu Zai and Ding Qiu carefully cleaned the tables and stools and set out the dishes. Qing Niang and Granny Qian were busy preparing meals. When they saw the two return, Granny Qian greeted them warmly.

　　"You're back. The food is being prepared. We'll eat soon."

　　Jiang Zhu rolled up his sleeves neatly: "Is there anything else you need my help with?"

　　"You two have been busy for a long time, just sit and wait for food." Granny Qian smiled, "I made dumplings stuffed with pickled vegetables and meat, and steamed the crabs you brought; Qing Niang's specialty is roast duck and glutinous rice lotus root , still doing it."

　　"I really have nothing to do. Go and cook this fish." Ye Anian took the carp that Ye Xiaomei brought for them from the wooden cart and handed it to Jiang Zhu.

　　"Okay," Jiang Zhu took it with a smile, "Do you want steamed or sweet and sour? Or braised?"

　　Ye Anyian didn't hesitate: "Sweet and sour."

　　"Grandma, let me lend you your pot and stove."

　　"Use whatever you want." Granny Qian looked at the young couple with a kind smile.

　　When Jiang Zhu carried the fish in, he took Ye Anyian and sat down at the table outside: "Let them go to work and let's take a rest."

　　Ye Annian took the opportunity to take out the lantern and handed it to Granny Qian: "This is for you."

　　"Oh," Granny Qian was a little surprised, "Old lady, I haven't hung up lanterns in many years."

　　What Ye Anyian gave to Granny Qian and Qing Niang were relatively traditional hexagonal lanterns with paintings of flowers, birds, landscapes and poems on them.

　　Once the candle is lit, the lantern will cast shadows, illuminating the paintings on the lamp surface, making them look lifelike and beautiful.

　　After Granny Qian finished wondering, she immediately hung it at the door.

　　Not long after, Qing Niang came over with the cooked roast duck and glutinous rice lotus root. She nodded and smiled when she saw Ye Anyian, and sat down next to Granny Qian without saying much.

　　She was still wearing the plain dress, and even on an occasion like today, she still wore the white silk flower.

Ye Annian glanced at her. For some reason, he always felt that her eyes were light and emotionless.

　　Fuzai and Ding Qiu put the mooncakes they brought and the sesame oil mooncakes Ye Xiaomei gave them on two plates and put them on the table.

　　As a tangy aroma came, Jiangzhu's sweet and sour fish was also cooked.

　　The fried carp has a golden and crispy skin, and is cut neatly and beautifully. The fried fish meat is turned outwards, making it fresh and tender. It is also topped with orange tomato juice and garnished with chopped green coriander, which will make people move their index fingers.

　　"The dishes are ready." He placed the sweet and sour fish on the table and sat down next to Ye Anian.

　　Six people, adults and children, gathered around a table.

　　On the table are plump crabs, golden moon cakes, fragrant roast duck, sweet glutinous rice and lotus roots, tempting sweet and sour fish, plus a steaming pot of freshly cooked pickled cabbage and meat dumplings. This meal is a real one. Very rich.

　　At this time, the bright moonlight was shining on West Street. Compared with the hustle and bustle just across the alley, the place seemed peaceful and full of fireworks.

　　"West Street has never been so popular in a long time." Granny Qian sighed with emotion.

　　"When our shop opens in the future, many people will come and it will be lively." Ye Annian said.

　　"If that's the case, that's fine." Grandma Qian didn't know what she thought of and sighed.

　　The atmosphere at the table was so good that no one noticed this detail.

　　After chatting for a while, several people started to move their chopsticks without restraint.

　　When she was enjoying her meal, Qing Niang took out a jar of sweet-scented osmanthus wine and poured a cup each for Granny Qian, Ye Anyian and Jiang Zhu.

　　He said softly: "I brewed it myself. It tastes sweet and not intoxicating."

　　The mellow aroma of the sweet-scented osmanthus brew made Ye Annian want to drink it. He subconsciously glanced at Jiang Zhu and saw that he didn't respond, so he picked it up and took a sip. It tasted really good.

　　Seeing how seriously he was tasting the wine, Jiang Zhu couldn't help but curl up a smile on his lips and didn't stop him.

　　Stuffed osmanthus warms the stomach and dispels cold. Drinking less will not hurt your health.

　　After three rounds of drinking, the food on the table was almost wiped out, especially the plate of glutinous rice cooked by Qing Niang, which had been devoured by Fu Zai and Ding Qiu. Sweet and glutinous things are indeed very popular with children.

　　"Hiccup~" Fuzai patted his bulging belly and leaned against Ye Anyian, with a satisfied look on his round face.

　　Granny Qian teased him: "Does Fu Zai like the dumplings made by grandma?"

　　"I like it," the child nodded honestly, "the dumplings made by grandma are so delicious."

　　"What about the sweet and sour fish I made?" Jiang Zhuye asked him.

　　"It's delicious, sour and sweet." Fu Zai blinked his big watery eyes.

　　Ye Anyian's cheeks were flushed, and he looked at Fu Zai with his chin in his hands: "What about the glutinous rice lotus root made by Qing Niang?"

"Hmm...I like it very much." Xiaotuanzi glanced at the taciturn Qing Niang sitting opposite him, "Aunt Qing's glutinous rice lotus root is sweet, soft and non-sticky to the teeth. It's delicious."

　　This evaluation was higher than Jiang Zhu's sweet and sour fish. Jiang Zhu snorted: "Smelly kid, are you tired of eating my food?"

　　"But it's really delicious." Fu Zai hugged Ye Anyian's arm and looked at Jiang Zhu without showing any signs of weakness.

　　Grandma Qian laughed when she saw this: "Qingniang's glutinous rice lotus root is indeed a masterpiece. She has been making it for more than ten years. Since I opened this umbrella shop, I have also been enjoying it, and I can eat it every Mid-Autumn Festival. "

　　"Just do whatever you want." Qing Niang smiled faintly and seemed to have no intention of taking up the topic.

　　The atmosphere suddenly cooled down. Ye Annian saw the loneliness in her eyes and stood up at the right time: "This wine is a bit overpowering. I have to get up and move around to sober up."

　　As he spoke, he was about to clear the table, but Granny Qian stopped her: "The lantern festival is in full swing right now. You two go and watch it. Qing Niang and I are here."

　　"How can that be done?" Ye Anyian was a little embarrassed.

　　"It's okay. I go to the lantern festival in this town every year and I'm tired of it. You two go ahead. After cleaning up, Qing Niang and I will take the two children to put out the river lanterns. Let's meet at the Tianshui River. go."

　　"Then I'll trouble you and Qing Niang."

　　Saying goodbye to the two of them, Ye Anyian and Jiang Zhu left West Street holding hands.

　　The two of them walked through Clay Figure Lane, and before they reached the main street, the lively atmosphere on the street had already surrounded them tightly.

　　On both sides of the street are various stalls selling lanterns, Lord Rabbit dolls, Rouge jewelry, pastries and snacks. Pedestrians are also in groups, holding lanterns and laughing.

　　Ye Annian felt a little dizzy and staggered a bit. Jiang Zhu hugged his shoulders: "Are you okay?"

　　Ye Anyian looked away. He only drank two glasses of wine. The wine glass was not big, and it was gone in two or three sips.

　　However, he now feels a little light when walking, and he is a little restless, always wanting to do something with his hands.

　　Being pulled by Jiang Zhu to walk through the crowd, Ye Anyian rubbed his swollen temples and stopped: "How about we go back."

　　Jiang Zhu also stopped and saw the blush on Ye Anyian's face and his eyes filled with moisture.

　　"There is a lantern festival ahead. There are many beautiful lanterns. Don't you want to see them?"

　　Ye Annian shook his head: "There are still a lot of Rubik's Cubes that I haven't done at home. I want to go back and do them."

　　Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhu knew that he must be drunk.

　　Ye Anyian couldn't take any time off when he was drunk. He had to do something. He had already learned the lesson last time and took people out for a walk in the middle of the night to sober up.

But they were in Tianshui Town now. Fuzai and Dingqiu were still with Granny Qian and the others, and they couldn't leave the two children and go home on their own.

　　He thought for a while and said, "We can do the work tomorrow. Let's go find Granny Qian and the others, okay? Let's put the river lanterns down."

　　Ye Anyian was confused at the moment. When he heard what he said, he nodded. Jiang Zhu took him to the Tianshui River.

　　"Hey, Quedenlou is holding a carving banquet again! It seems like there are new people attending this time!"

　　"Let's go! Go and have a look. It seems that he is from Anxing County."

　　"What is the topic this time? I heard that the lottery ticket is a luminous pearl, as big as a fist!"

　　"Then I have to go and take a look! Give way! Give way!"

　　"Excuse me! Please step over to the side!"

　　As the two were walking, a group of people suddenly came from the side and pushed them towards the Quedeng Tower.

　　Jiang Zhu frowned and held Ye Annian in his arms. Despite the crowd, he couldn't squeeze out. He was surrounded by the crowd and arrived at the open space in front of Quedeng Tower.

　　Five tables had been set up before Que climbed the stairs. Each table was covered with a red cloth, and a large, juicy white radish was placed on it.

　　The Carving Banquet, as the name suggests, involves carving various shapes with radish, and competing to see whose knife skills are more exquisite. It is usually attended by the chefs in this town.

　　However, the prizes in Quedenlou are all gold and jade jewelry, so many skilled people would also like to try it.

　　Jiang Zhu hugged Ye Annian and was squeezed to the front unknowingly. He saw that four of the five tables were occupied by people behind them, and only the last one was empty.

　　A middle-aged man with a bun on his head and dressed as a steward knocked the gong a few times. After everyone onlookers calmed down, he said:

　　"There's still one person left! For those of you who are watching, is there anyone who can come?!"

　　"What is this year's topic?" someone in the crowd asked loudly.

　　"The flowers are full and the moon is full," the boy replied.

　　The crowd immediately exploded, and everyone started talking about this year's topic.

　　This flower has a full moon, which is related to the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'm afraid it's not easy to have flowers and a moon at the same time.

　　The steward asked three or four times, "Is there anyone else attending?" but no one answered.

　　He raised the gong mallet in his hand and was about to knock it down when Ye Anyian suddenly broke away from Jiang Zhu's hand and fell forward.

　　"I come!"