On New Year's Eve, Zheng Juan brought her mother and younger brother to Zhou's house early in the morning and brought some gifts.
"Sister Zheng, come as soon as you come. If you have anything else to bring, bring it back to me after the New Year's Eve dinner later." Li Suhua said when she saw what Zheng's mother was holding.
"It's Chinese New Year, so it's not a good idea to bring it empty-handed. It's not a valuable thing, so it's just for good luck." Mother Zheng put the gift on the table with a smile.
In the past three years, with the help of Wang Gang and Li Suhua, the Zheng family's life has been much better, and they also have a surplus during the New Year.
Zheng's mother is a grateful person. She wants to repay Li Suhua when she has the opportunity. Sometimes she will give her some scarves and gloves.
Over time, Zheng's mother and Li Suhua, the future in-laws, called themselves sisters. Zheng's mother was older, so Li Suhua would call her Sister Zheng.
"Sister Suhua, do you need help for the New Year's Eve dinner? Let Juan'er help you." Zheng's mother took Zheng Juan's hand and said to Li Suhua.
"Okay, we are all outsiders. Let Juan'er help me prepare two dishes. The dishes she cooks are more delicious than mine." Li Suhua said with a smile.
The woman was cooking in the kitchen outside, so Wang Gang took Zheng Guangming to the back room and introduced Zhou Zhigang to her.
When Zhou Zhigang saw Zheng Guangming, he didn't show any shame. Instead, he enthusiastically pulled him onto the kang and gave him the prepared melon seeds and peanuts.
Although Zheng Guangming cannot be seen, his mind is actually more delicate than anyone else's. He noticed in the bathhouse yesterday that Zhou Zhigang didn't seem to like him very much, so he felt a little restrained and uncomfortable today.
Wang Gang suggested: "Dad, do you want to play chess with Guangming?"
Zhou Zhigang asked: "Can the Illuminati play chess?"
Wang Gang smiled and said: "Yes, I can't defeat him."
Zhou Zhigang's eyes lit up, so he took out the chessboard and placed it on the Kang table.
Zheng Guangming can't see it. His way of playing chess is a bit special. He can only talk through his mouth and ask his opponent to help place the chess pieces.
Zhou Zhigang adapted quickly, and the fight with Zheng Guangming was quite intense.
Wang Gang taught Zheng Guangming chess to pass the time when he was bored.
Not only chess, but also Go was taught by Wang Gang.
Zheng Guangming quickly learned the basic chess moves and reached the level of an amateur chess player in less than two years, playing back and forth with Wang Gang.
Zhou Zhigang's chess level is even worse than that of an amateur. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is a bad chess player.
Zheng Guangming was a man of sincerity and did not know how to give up the chess. Instead, he lost his armor and lost three games in a row to Zhou Zhigang.
"No, no, I just made the wrong move." Zhou Zhigang moved a chess piece roguely.
"Dad, why are you ruining the chess piece?" Wang Gang couldn't stand it anymore and said.
"I'm old, I misjudged the chess pieces, no way!" Zhou Zhigang said with a blushing face.
"Brother Bingkun, it doesn't matter. Let uncle regret his move." Zheng Guangming sat cross-legged on the Kang and said with a smile.
Zhou Zhigang looked at the chessboard, scratched his head, and thought hard, not knowing how he got into a desperate situation.
Wang Gang, who was watching the chess game from the sidelines, just wanted to laugh. Zhou Zhigang is really good at playing and loves to play. His level is clearly far behind that of Zheng Guangming, but he refuses to admit defeat.
Although Zheng Guangming could not see, he had already reviewed the chess moves in his mind. He even thought about the next move and three moves to figure out all the chess moves that Zhou Zhigang could take. How could Zhou Zhigang remain undefeated?
"No more, no more, I'm not in good condition today, I'll try again tomorrow." Zhou Zhigang finally flipped up the chessboard and acted like a rogue.
Wang Gang laughed loudly and said: "Dad, haven't you always been known as the master of light word chess? How come you can't even play with a child?"
Zhou Zhigang blushed when Wang Gang said it, but his view of Zheng Guangming changed a lot.
He originally thought that Zheng Guangming was blind and destined to be a burden to his son in the future.
But now he has completely changed. Except for some defects in his eyes, Zheng Guangming is better than normal people in every other aspect.
"Guangming! How come you are so good at chess?" Zhou Zhigang put away the scattered chess pieces on the kang and asked.
Zheng Guangming said modestly: "That's what Brother Bingkun taught me well."
Zhou Zhigang looked at Wang Gang and said in surprise: "Did you teach Guangming chess?"
Wang Gang nodded and said: "It was indeed me who taught him at the beginning, but later on, the bright future became brighter than the blue, and I couldn't even defeat him.
Although bright eyes cannot see, they can see through a person's chess moves more easily than normal people."
Zhou Zhigang said: "Not everyone can play blind chess, it requires a strong memory."
Wang Gang said: "Guangming has a very strong memory, which can be said to be that he never forgets. He can recite many convoluted Buddhist scriptures after listening to them once. Aunt Zheng even said that Guangming is the reincarnation of Bodhisattva."
"Oh, what a pity." Zhou Zhigang sighed.
Wang Gang knew what Zhou Zhigang was regretting. For a child as smart as Zheng Guangming, if he were a normal person, his future would be extraordinary.
Regarding his eyes, Wang Gang also took Zheng Guangming to the hospital for examination. The doctor said that his eyes were caused by congenital optic nerve malformation, which could not be cured by medicine. Even with surgery, the success rate was less than 10%.
After Zheng Guangming learned about it, he was depressed for several days. However, he had a high emotional intelligence and recovered within half a month. On the contrary, he was more cheerful than before.
"What are you talking about? The food is ready, come out to eat!" Li Suhua entered the room and saw Zhou Zhigang and Wang Gang, father and son, sitting on the kang with heavy faces and not talking, which was strange.
"Okay, let's go out for New Year's Eve dinner." Zhou Zhigang cheered up and invited Wang Gang and Zheng Guangming to go out for dinner.
Li Suhua, Zheng Juan and Zheng's mother prepared a large table full of dishes, which surprised Zhou Zhigang.
"So many dishes? Are there fish, meat, and beef?"
Li Suhua smiled and said: "Your son brought these dishes. He said that this year it is rare for you and Bingyi to come back, so we will have a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner."
Zhou Zhigang patted Wang Gang on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for your hard work!"
Wang Gang knew that Zhou Zhigang's words were not only talking about the New Year's Eve dinner, but also about the care he had given to Li Suhua and the family over the past three years.
"Dad, this is what I should do."
Zhou Zhigang nodded with satisfaction, and then said to the others: "Everyone, please take a seat. Today is the Chinese New Year, so don't be so polite."
Everyone sat down happily, Zhou Zhigang said a few festive words, and then the New Year's Eve dinner officially began.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! At the dinner table, Zhou Zhigang has been observing Zheng Juan's family and found that they eat very well, eat in a polite manner, and look well-educated.
On the contrary, Wang Gang and Li Suhua, perhaps because they were in their own home, ate a bit worse. Although they were not as voracious as they were, they were not as good as the Zheng family.
After three drinks and five dishes, Zhou Zhigang put down his chopsticks and said to Mother Zheng: "Sister Zheng, this time I invite you to come to my house to celebrate the New Year. In addition to getting to know you, I also want to discuss the marriage of my child."
Mother Zheng quickly put down her chopsticks as soon as she got to the point.
Zhou Zhigang continued: "I think this way, since Bingkun's eldest brother has already got married in the Corps, it will be Bingkun and Zheng Juan's turn next.
I only have a vacation every few years, and I don’t know when I will come back next time, so I want to take advantage of this time to get my child’s marriage done.”
Zheng's mother was very happy when she heard this and said: "Okay, everything will be done as you said."
Zhou Zhigang said: "In these special times, weddings are not as grand as they should be, but they cannot be without rules. How much do you think we should give as a bride price?"
"What more betrothal gifts do you want?" Zheng's mother quickly waved her hands and shook her head and said, "We just choose a day and get things done. Our family doesn't want any betrothal gifts."
Wang Gang said: "Madam, the betrothal gift is a form and a rule. You have to give more or less."
Zheng's mother wondered: "Bingkun, just don't dislike our Juan'er. Besides, you also know the situation of our family. The dowry is nothing, so how can you ask for a bride price?"
Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua looked at each other and felt that the in-laws were really good at getting along. Although their family conditions were not very good, they at least understood the truth.
"Okay, since Sister Zheng didn't ask for the bride price, I think I'll give it eighty-eight, which can be considered a lucky draw."
"It's too much. Eighty-eight is too much. Otherwise, eighteen would be fine." Mother Zheng shook her head quickly.
The betrothal gifts became less and less, and Zhou Zhigang couldn't help but laugh.
"It's eighty-eight. Let Suhua buy some wedding stuff for Zheng Juan tomorrow." Zhou Zhigang agreed.
Wang Gang smiled and said, "I've already bought the wedding stuff, I just have to choose a date."
Zhou Zhigang laughed and said: "It seems that I can't wait for a long time."
The whole family laughed, especially Zheng Guangming and Zheng's mother. Only Zheng Juan lowered her head shyly.
The New Year's Eve dinner gradually ended with laughter, and the two families also agreed that the date would be set on the second day of the first lunar month, and it would be arranged as soon as possible, Zhou Zhigang's train would arrive on the fifth day of the lunar month.
Getting married in this era is very simple. You just need to decorate the new house, put a few happy words on it, prepare a set of red quilts, washbasin towels, etc., and then you can get married.
The ceremony is simple and lively. The whole family sits down to have a meal during the banquet, and just distribute some wedding candies to neighbors and friends the next day.
If it weren't for Zhou Zhigang's lack of vacations, which lasted only a few days in three years, Wang Gang would have wanted to make the wedding more lively.
