Rebirth in the 60s: A Path to Counterattack-Chapter 374. Graduation Banquet

The parenting abilities of the Lian family being so recognized naturally left Lianshan and Shuzhen overjoyed as parents.

But they were busy, busy to the point where they were running like headless chickens.

Even preparing a graduation banquet for their two newly minted college students was rolled into the same category as the opening of Chenchen’s Universal Carton Factory, wishing Lian En’s art exhibition success, and smoothly completing the initial school procedures.

They hurriedly arranged Chenchen and Xinzhi’s graduation banquet, finishing up the work at hand.

The couple still had to reach an agreement with Xinyue, Lian Xi, and Xinqing, the three siblings.

To let them choose whether to stay with their uncle, second uncle, or aunt and uncle’s house for a while.

There was no other option; Lian En’s art exhibition was scheduled to start at the end of August in Beijing and move to Shanghai in early September. By the time it reached the final destination, the Liu family village, it was already September 10th.

For their eldest son’s first personal art exhibition, they as parents certainly couldn’t bear to miss it.

The twins also threw a fit, saying when their big brother went to university back then, their parents accompanied him. Now it was their turn, and their parents certainly couldn’t play favorites.

Xinyue would be in high school soon, and Lian Xi was moving on to middle school.

They obviously couldn’t miss ten days of classes to attend the art exhibition or accompany their brother and sister-in-law to school.

Figuring out how to convince them to agree to stay became one of the couple’s headaches.

Fortunately, as Lian En, Chenchen, and Xinzhi grew older, they became more considerate and particularly adept at helping them solve problems.

It’s hard to say what exactly they said to their sister, but they managed to turn the previously sullen faces, with little smiles, into sunny ones.

Xinyue, who dotes on her little cousin, decided she would stay at her uncle’s house, while Xinqing was ready to fall into the arms of her most adored second aunt.

Lian Xi, on the other hand, unhesitatingly chose his aunt’s place.

Lianshan was surprised, "Weren’t you more in sync with your cousin Lian Rui from your second uncle’s house?"

Lian Xi nodded, with an air of righteousness, "That’s true, but considering my second aunt’s enduring austerity despite years of affluence, I think I’ll pass!

After all, I’m still growing; I can’t do without proper nutrition.

If I carelessly end up short, where would I cry then?"

Even though his aunt’s cooking isn’t the best, to make up for it his uncle long ago hired a professional chef to manage their meals, haven’t they?

Everyone fell silent, dumbfounded at this kid who lost five pounds from intense studying, yet still had a faint double chin visible.

Gluttony might be a problem, but if someone isn’t going to seek treatment, what can you do?

Anyway, with the kids settled, Shuzhen and her partner breathed a sigh of relief.

They then put all their energy into planning the graduation banquet. The local customs for celebrations involve setting up a banquet with continuous feasting and building a stage for performing opera.

In the past, there were outdoor movie screenings, but since a cinema was built in the village a few years back, that method lost its attraction.

The couple decided to cut out the movie screenings.

They hired professional chefs from the restaurant, and found some hardworking young women and wives from the village to help.

They planned three days of continuous banquets and hired performers. They sang some traditional duets and pop songs to add to the festivities.

Of course, the organizing style was pretty much the same.

But the quality of food and hired performers significantly set apart a mediocre event from an outstanding one!

After all, it was a joyous occasion for the favored apprentice scoring on the top list; Old Yang would not accept anything less.

He insisted that celebrating one of the four happiness moments in a person’s life must be grandly managed. If they were short on money, he was there to support them as a master.

As if keen to have them admit financial trouble, he was eager to step in on behalf of his precious student...

Truly, he was as infuriating as he was cheeky!

Shuzhen was so exasperated she wanted to lay out her treasures one by one in front of Old Yang to demonstrate what it meant to not lack money.

Humph, what was so great about being a capitalist?

In the past, the Liu family was also a well-known wealthy landlord in the region, with significant ancestral roots!

It was Chenchen who noticed his mother’s displeasure and privately advised, "Old people, old children, my master, you see, the older he gets, the more his temper reverts to childlikeness.

It’s all about his full support for his son, mom, just try to accommodate him for this, don’t take him seriously, okay!"

"Go, do you think your mom is someone who doesn’t know good from bad?" Shuzhen huffed, particularly prideful.

Yet, at night she couldn’t help whispering to Lianshan, mentioning how Chenchen had grown up, matured, and considered everything more thoroughly.

Yes, the little eagles have each grown up and are ready to leave the nest!

Lianshan held Shuzhen in his arms with full comfort, "Don’t worry darling, they can fly their own way, but we still have four beside us, right? Even if their wings become strong, you still have me! No one is parting us till death do us part."

Reflecting on how in a past life he left the world earlier than her by over a decade, Shuzhen felt no comfort!

Instead, she thought to find time to buy some ginseng extract or the like to boost his health; after all, what about growing old together? What’s with talking about leaving halfway?

The past life was past, in this life, she vowed to take care of his health well.

Shrimp, crab, roast duck, stewed beef shank, roast suckling pig, and a plate of assorted cold dishes for six cold dishes; sweet and sour fried meat, fried pork with hazelnut mushrooms, Kung Pao chicken, braised cuttlefish, braised hairtail, and spicy clams for the six hot dishes; plus six stews like braised lamb with potato, stewed chicken with monkey head mushrooms, skillet rabbit, ribs with corn, clear stewed venison, and squirrel fish.

Eighteen major dishes in total, except for the slightly green assorted cold dish added especially to avoid it being excessively greasy during the hot summer, there wasn’t a single dish anyone could say a word against.

Specially acquired suckling pig, deer, chickens, and rabbits from the village breeding base, Lian En and his brother drove to the provincial city to purchase seafood.

Combined with the culinary expertise of professional chefs, the flavors were indescribably good.

While enjoying such a feast, accompanied by performances from a troupe specially invited from the provincial city.

It was simply a triple treat for the eyes, taste, and hearing; no one could find a single fault in the Lian family’s graduation banquet.

Of course, there were those who, in the midst of eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves, remarked on the couple’s lavish spending, suggesting it was overly extravagant.

Yet, such remarks would promptly invite mockery: a pair of them going to Qing University, in the past at minimum equivalent to the status of a scholar or successful candidate in the imperial exams. Having even one from a family would mean the ancestors’ graves were smoking, a fortune accumulated over eight generations.

The two Lian family children achieved this, oh wait, just Lian En’s college entrance exam scores could have gotten him into Qing University or B University.

With a family of three talented kids, what parents wouldn’t want to have a grand celebration and enjoy the moment?