Chapter 991: Chapter 864: Don’t Buy Things Recklessly

Leaving the basement, National Day noticed there was still some time before getting off work, so he quietly climbed onto the roof to clear the chimney and checked the fireplace and the heated kang bed-stove.

"We just took down the kang last year, everything’s fine. Sit down and rest for a bit. What do you feel like eating tonight? Mom will make it for you."

"Whatever Mom makes is delicious." National Day said with a big smile, "Dad, I’m going to say hello to Big Brother and Second Brother, and we can have a drink tonight."

"Sure, don’t go buying unnecessary stuff."

National Day chuckled and nodded.

Driving around the county twice, he finally bought some ice from the meat processing plant. He couldn’t help but sigh that the county was still too small; big cities have designated places for this.

In and out of the house, Mr. Zhang couldn’t figure out what his youngest son was up to. Anyway, judging by his actions, he likely won’t sleep well without spending some money.

After agreeing on a gathering with Brother Guofu and his siblings, National Day thought it over and decided to first swing by to see Zhao Dashan. Though the recent class strikes were unrelated to him, he planned to offer some advice out of gratitude for past support. Besides, his good buddy Zhang Yuntao was Zhao Dashan’s son-in-law, saving National Day from having to find time to see that pair.

As for Zuo Lin, after bidding farewell to Zhao Dashan, he also visited the Zuo Family. With too many eyes on them, he couldn’t say everything clearly, but he figured even a hint about staying in the county should be understood by them.

After handling these miscellaneous tasks, when National Dayreturned home, both of his sisters and their husbands had already arrived.

"Uncle, why didn’t you tell me when you were arriving? Where’s Aunt?" Zhang Ziwen rushed over as soon as he saw him, causing the kids to flock to National Day.

"I was passing by on a business trip, your Aunt still has to work. How’s work going? Nobody’s bullying you, right?"

Zhang Ziwen laughed, "My eldest uncle is Xiao Wu, who wouldn’t know?"

"Brat!"

"Uncle, you haven’t asked me yet."

National Day patted Zhang Ziwu on the forehead, "Ask what? Your Aunt said she really liked the gifts from you brothers. Don’t waste money in the future, save it for marrying wives."

Shi Tou giggled, "Uncle, a matchmaker already came looking for eldest aunt."

National Day picked him up and weighed him, "Not bad! Our Little Stone has grown up!" He still remembered when he first saw his nieces and nephews so thin they could barely hold up their necks.

Zuo You brothers walked up to him slowly, saying in unison with a laugh, "Uncle."

National Day patted the brothers, "Seeing you guys grow so tall, every time Uncle feels like he’s getting old."

"You’ve remained the same for ten years, like my Aunt, never showing any signs of aging."

"Uncle, have you seen my big brother?"

"Haven’t had time to go over there, miss your brother?"

Xiao You shook his head, "Last time he came back, he mentioned you."

"I’ll visit him tomorrow."

Mother Zhang saw them gathered in the yard and waved, "Aren’t you all hungry? Let’s eat first."

Near the corner of the yard, a small vegetable plot was filled with fruits and vegetables, lush green beside a chicken coop, with various dried vegetables hanging along the corridor.

Mr. and Mother Zhang were able to keep the youngest from depleting their stock because of the substantial supplies these provided.

How could summer pass without rice wraps?

Savory and simple!

You just need to cook some rice and stew some egg paste, grab some green onions from the garden, cut them with a knife, sprinkle onto vegetable leaves, apply paste, place on rice, roll up and eat!

Mother Zhang usually wasn’t willing to cook rice; it’s just the youngest son returned.

At this moment, the living room table was also set with bowls of corn porridge, accompanied by quartered salted duck eggs, steaming bacon, and a colorful array of dipping vegetables.

Seeing this, those who couldn’t bear just having a simple bite due to the unbearable heat of the summer kitchen were now drooling, not to mention the kids.

Little Liu Taozi, well-behaved, sat on the kang, sucked in his drool with a "zing," stared at the food on the table, and excitedly shouted, "It’s great Uncle is back, there’s meat to eat."

Zhang the Second jokingly scolded, "Brat! Last night’s braised pork, your brothers and sisters couldn’t bear to eat it, almost all of it ended up in your belly."

"I still want to eat more."

National Day watched the kid’s greedy expression and found it amusing, teasing him, "Next time you want meat, cry hard. If you don’t get meat, don’t let your dad go to work."

Little Taozi looked at his dad, then at his mom, shook his head at National Day, "Mom will hit."

"Don’t listen to his nonsense. This year, the family can buy meat every month, and Shi Tou and the others spoil him enough, he’s not lacking."

National Day smiled at his second sister-in-law. He believed it. His mother had saved quite a bit, and if the grandson were so craving, even the elderly couldn’t resist.

The temporary large table was filled with women and juniors, while National Day and his father and brothers, along with the two brothers-in-law, started drinking at the living room’s eight immortals table.

Unlike ordinary households, Zhang Family drank only good wine. Besides the nourishing wines National Day had stored for his father, Zhao Chuan Guang and others would also gift them during holidays.

Good food and wine, the whole family gathered together, and no one mentioned serious topics, especially since some children were young; they wouldn’t bring up sensitive topics.

At the women’s table, they busied themselves taking care of the grandma and kids, while the men discussed whose household, which colleague made a fool of themselves, or something funny happened?

During the conversation, second brother-in-law Chen Xiaobin sharply noticed something, recalling a topic he heard his buddies talk about.

For this reason, he glanced at his brother-in-law up and down, especially at the new red star cap badge and red collar tabs.

National Day would certainly notice, poured good wine for his father, and smiled at his second brother-in-law, "This is the new Type 65."

"Why haven’t the soldiers here changed uniforms?"

Being from the General Logistics Department, National Day was well aware of this, "You first need to exhaust the existing stock, and new ones are being made gradually, expected to complete full army uniform changeover in two years."

Big brother Guofu rubbed his chin, "I wanted to ask about it earlier. This grass green looks better than the old one, especially the red star cap badge and red collar tabs."

Having touched it earlier, Zhang the Second chuckled happily, "How come none of you noticed Xiao Wu has four pockets and distributing’s brown sandals?"

Surprised, Zhang Guofu looked at his younger brother, "Even sandals are allocated?"

National Day nodded with a smile. It’s true, were it not for allocation, he wouldn’t wear them back here at the hometown, being too eye-catching might not be a good thing.

Not to say they found it appealing, even Yi Jiefang had just received it and wasn’t willing to take it off. This classic winter-summer regular suit was made of cotton, all with stand-up collars, and the jacket’s buttons were five-smooth ones. These cadre dresses had four pockets, and chest pocket buttons hidden inside, perfect for holding tickets and such. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

In summer, paired with these brown sandals felt fantastic. No doubt, there was a certain feeling of standing out.

However, among their family’s three military members, the best dressed wasn’t him or his mother-in-law, but his father-in-law. That aura—completely impressive.