binnovel Chapter 152 Parents
Chapter 152 Parents
Wen Qing planned to expand the winery, and she had higher requirements for the winemaking process and wine quality.
Wang Jianguo took two more apprentices, one was Tang Lin, who had traveled with him on a business trip last time, and the other was a young worker selected from the workers. The two followed him to learn how to brew wine and make koji.
His nephew Jin Zicong now manages the warehouse. He has learned to drive and sometimes goes out to deliver goods. He does not often make wine.
Seeing that his nephew did not like brewing wine, Wang Jianguo had no intention of forcing him. He selected two new apprentices and officially became a master.
Wang Jianguo has a low level of education, and teaches his apprentices mainly by words and deeds. He lets his apprentices follow him all day long, and teaches them step by step how to make koji, how to judge the heat of steaming grain dregs, how to match grains, and teaches them how to taste wine and judge the quality of wine.
Wen Qing felt that her own winemaking skills had improved after Wang Jianguo took in an apprentice. This must be the legendary teaching and learning from each other.
In autumn, Wang Jianguo began to make a large amount of koji. As the temperature was relatively low in winter, it was relatively difficult for the koji to ferment, so all the koji to be used in winter needed to be made in advance.
The two apprentices followed him to pick hot polygonum, grind barley and peas, add some koji bought from Sichuan Province, and lead the workers in the winery to tread the koji.
Wang Jianguo learned how to step on the ball from others, and arranged the workers in order according to their weight, stipulating how many times each person had to step on it.
He explained that this was to make the hardness of different parts of the koji block different, so that more microorganisms could grow inside. Does this make sense? Wen Qing didn't know, but brewing wine was something that couldn't be explained clearly by science.
Time flies and it is soon the end of the year. Wen Qing is at work now and has no time to deliver the goods to Zhao Wei in Nankun, so she has to arrange for Liu Quan to deliver the goods and bring along a TV, the prize for last year's five-star dealer.
It is troublesome to bring things, but buying a TV requires connections, which is not so easy. It is difficult for ordinary people to get it, so Zhao Wei is very happy to get a TV.
During the Spring Festival of this year, Zhuang Xian proposed marriage again. They had been dating for three years and Zhuang Xian was almost 29 years old. He didn't want to delay it any longer.
Wen Qing said, "We can't hide it from our family. I'm going to go home. You can come with me to meet my parents."
Although she does not have a good relationship with her family, it is a social consensus that marriage matters must be informed to her parents. She cannot be too independent, otherwise public opinion will not be on her side.
After telling Zhuang Xien about his idea, the two of them bought train tickets, joined the Spring Festival travel rush, and squeezed together back to central Hubei.
Wen Qing and Zhuang Xien were wearing patched clothes and carrying two worn-out backpacks. These two backpacks were the ones they carried when they first went to Kyoto. They were filled with rice, corn, bacon and sausages.
Zhuang Xien looked at Wen Qing's actions and felt a little amused. "If we go back to your house like this, will your parents agree to you marrying me?"
Wen Qing said: "Why? Are you worried now?"
After getting off the train, I took several buses before I arrived at the steel plant’s staff quarters.
Wen Qing walked towards her home. The neighbors she met along the way didn't recognize her anymore. They could tell from their looks that they were from the countryside.
Now, most of the educated youth have returned to the city, and those who have not returned are probably those who have no hope of returning to the city.
It has been ten years since Wen Qing left home. She pushed open the door of the slum, walked through the narrow passage, and saw that the doors of their two rooms were open.
Turning back to greet Zhuang Xien, the two walked to the door, looking at Su Mei at the door, Wen Qing called out: "Mom, I'm back."
Su Mei, who was picking vegetables, was stunned when she heard the words. She looked up and recognized the person. She stood up and grabbed Wen Qing: "Xiao Qing, where have you been these years?"
Then he looked at Zhuang Xien, "Who is this?"
Wen Qing put down her backpack and said, "Mom, let's drink some water first."
Su Mei put down the dishes, let the two of them into the house, took two cups, poured boiling water and placed them on the table.
Wen Qing picked up the cup and took a sip. "Mom, how have you been these years?"
Su Mei: "It's OK. Your father is now the workshop director. Your brother was transferred to the purchasing department of the steel rope factory and is now the deputy section chief. Your sister got married last year."
Wen Qing said: "Why didn't you write to me?"
Su Mei said, "Who told you not to write to us? Have all the educated youth in your area returned to the city?"
Wen Qing said: "Most of the educated youth have returned to the city. Mom, can you find me a job?"
Su Mei said carefully: "Your sister used to work as a temporary worker in a street factory. She was afraid that her boyfriend's family would look down on her, so I gave her the job. Don't blame me."
Wen Qing had not been home for a long time and actually didn't remember where her mother worked.
She pulled Zhuang Xien over and said, "Mom, this is my partner."
Zhuang Xien stood up and said respectfully, "Hello, Auntie. My name is Zhuang Xien. I am from Xijiang. I have been a soldier for three years. I am 28 years old this year. I am now repairing bicycles in the town."
Take out a bag of candy, a bag of fruit and a bottle of wine from the backpack.
Su Mei took the thing and frowned unconsciously.
She smiled and said, "You guys take a break, I'll go cook first."
Wen Qing went to the next room to greet her grandparents. When she opened the door, she didn't see the two old people. She turned to Su Mei who was busy in the kitchen and said, "Mom, grandparents don't live with us anymore?"
Su Mei said: "Life in the countryside has improved over the past few years. Your second uncle and his family built a new house. Your father gave 3500 yuan to let your second uncle build a room for your grandparents. Now that your grandparents have returned to the countryside, they have more space to live in."
Uncle Wen lived in the countryside not far from central Hubei.
He added, "The room is now occupied by your sister and brother-in-law. There is not enough space for your brother-in-law's family. Wen Yu will still live at home after she gets married."
Wen Qing didn't say anything, and Su Mei said unhappily, "You're not at home anyway."
Wen Qing deliberately said: "We educated youth in the countryside can only return to the city with help from our families. No matter how we return to the city, there must be a reason."
Su Mei said nothing.
Soon, Wen Qing's father, sister and brother-in-law all came back, and her sister was pregnant.
When her father Wen Dayong saw Zhuang Xien, he asked, "Wen Qing is back? Who is this...?"
Wen Qing introduced Zhuang Xien again, and Zhuang Xien stood up and bowed to Wen Dayong, "Uncle Wen, I am sorry for being so rude to come and visit you this time."
He spoke in a very elegant manner, and Dad Wen felt embarrassed to show him a bad face.
Wen Yu said, "Sister, what did you bring back?"
Wen Qing took out food and sausages and bacon, and Wen Yu said coquettishly: "You haven't given me a gift for my wedding? Sister, you have to make it up to me." She said it seriously while joking.
Then he introduced the man next to him: "This is your brother-in-law, Yan Kuang, who works in a department store."
After saying that, the two returned to the next room.
When Wen's mother saw Wen Yu leave on her own, she had to say that her pregnancy was very tiring and she needed to rest.
Wen Qing asked Zhuang Xien to stay in the house and chat with Wen's father, while she went to the kitchen to help Wen's mother cook.
Soon, the food was served and Su Mei invited everyone to eat. Only then did Wen Yu and Yan Kuang come out of the room.
After dinner, it was already dark.
Wen's father said, "Wen Qing, you see there is really no room for you two at home, why don't you stay at the guesthouse and come back tomorrow night for the New Year's Eve dinner."
Let Wen Ma take them to the guesthouse.
Wen Qing smiled and said, "It seems that I was right not to come back. There is really no room at home now."
I took my luggage and went to a small guesthouse two streets away with Wen's mother.
Su Mei walked to the door of the guesthouse and said, "This is it, go and register."
After seeing the two of them register for the room, he sent Wen Qing and the others to the door and said, "You have worked hard on the journey, rest early."
After that, he turned around and left.