Chapter 103: The Guests Are Stuffed
Chapter 103: The Guests Are Stuffed
At most wedding banquets, the newlyweds rarely have the chance to sit down and eat. They usually grab a few bites at the start of the meal, then hurry from table to table to serve tea to the guests. By the time they finish, the guests are already well into their meals.
At this point, the newlyweds have to start seeing the guests off.
It’s only after most of the guests have left that the newlyweds can finally sit down to eat.
But today, at the Deng family’s banquet, Deng Shirong had kept the best dishes for the end and reminded the guests to slow down and enjoy the upcoming delicacies. This made the guests take their time, savoring the dishes while they waited for the next course.
As a result, when the newlyweds finished serving tea and sat down to eat, not a single guest had left early.
After greeting all the guests, Deng Shirong walked with his eldest daughter to the table reserved for the family.
“Dad, you’ve worked so hard today. Sit down and eat, I’ve already served you some rice!” Zhang Xiuping adjusted the distance of the stool for her father-in-law and smiled.
Deng Shirong waved his hand and laughed, “It’s no trouble. You’ve been busy too, so sit down and eat. We’ll have to see the guests off soon!”
Zhang Xiuping nodded and sat down properly, ready to enjoy her first meal with her new family.
Seafood delicacies have always been renowned, and the flower crab, large shrimp, and mudworms, prepared with Deng Shirong’s exceptional culinary skills, were truly a feast for the senses. Even his own children couldn’t help but praise the dishes.
“Dad, the mudworms are incredible. They’re so fresh and crunchy. Our country’s cuisine is amazing. Who would have thought that something so unappealing could be cooked into such a delicious dish?” Deng Yunheng said, savoring another bite.
Deng Yunzhu chimed in, “I prefer the spicy crab. The level of spiciness is just right, and the flavor gets better with every chew.”
Deng Yunsong added, “I love the pan-fried large shrimp. The mouthful of succulent shrimp meat is both fragrant and sweet, with an excellent texture. The more I eat, the more I want.”
Deng Yunzhen smiled and asked, “Sister-in-law, which one do you like best?”
Zhang Xiuping swallowed her food and replied, “They’re all delicious. Dad’s cooking is truly exceptional. Every dish he makes is a culinary delight.”
People who are skilled in the kitchen love to hear that their food is delicious, and even a man who has lived two lives like Deng Shirong is no exception.
Hearing the praise from his children and his eldest daughter-in-law, he felt very pleased and said, “If you like it, eat more. From today on, we’re one family. Don’t be shy, eat whatever you want, okay?”
Zhang Xiuping nodded, “Dad, I understand!”
...
“Burp...”
At the table for the bridesmaids, Zhang’s Fourth Auntie let out a belch. She looked at the empty plates that had once held the spicy crab, pan-fried large shrimp, and steamed mudworms, and smiled awkwardly, rubbing her stomach. “I couldn’t help it; I got stuffed again. I reminded myself several times not to overeat like last time, but I just couldn’t control myself!”
Zhang’s Seventh Auntie patted her round belly and chuckled, “Fourth Sister, you’re not the only one. I’m stuffed too. Father-in-law’s cooking is just too good. How could anyone resist such delicious food?”
The Third Auntie nodded, “Exactly. The other dishes were already great, but these three seafood dishes were even better. Even though my stomach was already full, I couldn’t stop eating. Now my belly hurts from being so full!”
The four Zhang brothers were so stuffed they felt like they were going to burst.
If they had only eaten the vegetables, they wouldn’t have been this stuffed, but those three seafood dishes were hard to resist. Especially the spicy crab and steamed mudworms, which went so well with the rice that the four brothers had let loose and eaten to their hearts' content.
Now, they were so stuffed that they didn’t dare move. They felt that if they bent over, they’d definitely throw up.
Most of the other guests at the table were in the same boat, and even those who hadn’t overeaten were at least fully satisfied.
This wasn’t just the case at their table; it was the same at the others. Out of ten guests, at least eight were stuffed to the brim.
This was a common occurrence, given that most rural people in this era had a tough life. It was normal to go a month without eating meat. This wedding feast wasn’t just about meat; it also included high-end seafood. With Deng Shirong’s exceptional culinary skills, the dishes were a feast for the senses, and with generous portions, who wouldn’t have eaten their fill?
As a result, something rare happened at this wedding banquet: the newlyweds were sitting there, fully satisfied, but no guests wanted to leave.
To cover their awkwardness, the guests chatted about all sorts of topics, waiting for about fifteen to twenty minutes before they started to get up and bid farewell to the hosts.
The newlyweds, who had been ready, then continued their duties by seeing the guests off.
In this era, it wasn’t customary to take leftovers home from a rural feast.
There was no precedent for it. A feast with such a variety of dishes like the Deng family’s was something no one had seen before. In most families, the food was usually all gone after the guests had their fill, leaving nothing to take home.
Deng Shirong had considered suggesting that his relatives and friends take the leftovers home. After all, with so much food left, his family would take months to finish it, and without a refrigerator, it would spoil quickly.
However, the customs of the time were different. He wasn’t sure how people would react to taking home leftovers.
After much consideration, Deng Shirong decided not to bring it up with his general relatives and friends. Instead, he thought he could suggest it to his closer relatives, such as his sister’s family and his late wife’s two brothers.
So, Deng Shirong found his sister and said, “Sister, don’t leave yet. After I’ve seen off the other guests, I have something to talk to you and your family about.”
Deng Shilan nodded. “Alright, I understand. You go ahead and take care of the guests!”
Deng Shirong then went to his two brothers-in-law and said the same thing.
Once he had arranged this, Deng Shirong, along with his son and daughter-in-law, started seeing the guests off.
As the number of guests on the groom’s side dwindled, the guests from the bride’s side also began to leave.
“Xiu Ping, we’ll be going now!”
“Sister Ping, live well here. We’re off!”
“Sister Ping, we’ll chat more when you come back in three days.”
“Sister, we’re leaving!”
“...”
In this era, a bride’s heart wasn’t too heavy with sorrow during the wedding because of the presence of family. However, the real emotional moment came when her family and closest friends said their goodbyes after the feast.
Just like now, as Zhang Xiu Ping saw her family and best friends bid her farewell, tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.
Today is the 24th of the ninth lunar month, which is the author’s 40th birthday. Dear readers, please give a chapter vote to celebrate! ^_^ Thank you very much!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
