I'm back in 1990

Chapter 353: This child is teachable.

After everyone sat down, Zeng Lijuan noticed someone was missing and asked Zheng Aiying, "Yu Min isn't home?"

Zheng Aiying smiled and said to Zeng Lijuan, "Yu Min has a boyfriend, and the two of them went out to see a movie. They won't be back for dinner."

"Hurry up and start eating, the dumplings are getting cold. Let's eat and chat," Old Yu urged everyone to start.

Zheng Aiying's dumpling filling preparation skills were among the best in the entire residential compound. Huang Xiaochuan hadn't had any for a long time, and as soon as he heard the word "start eating," he unceremoniously stuffed seven or eight dumplings into his mouth.

Yu Xiang quickly placed a bowl of dumpling soup in front of Huang Xiaochuan: "Eat slowly, no one will take it from you."

After swallowing the dumpling in his mouth, Huang Xiaochuan said, "I've been busy all this time just for this! Besides, I haven't had it in ages!"

Zheng Aiying smiled and said, "There are plenty of dumplings, eat slowly, and have a few more drinks with your two dads."

Zeng Lijuan looked at Yu Xiang and found her agreeable no matter how she looked at her. But when she looked at her second daughter-in-law, she felt a little uneasy.

According to Qingjiang custom, everyone starts by drinking two cups of wine in front of the door (except for Lao Huang, who only needs to drink two sips).

After the initial toast, the toasting ceremony began.

"Uncle Yu, it's been a long time since we drank together. Let me borrow your wine and toast you twice!" Huang Erhe took the initiative to raise his glass to Old Yu.

Old Yu pressed his hand down: "Sit down and drink. There aren't so many rules at home."

After Huang Erhe sat down, Lao Yu clinked glasses with him and drank two cups.

Zheng Aiying then greeted Zeng Lijuan and Fan Yingrong.

"Lijuan, let Xiao Fan eat more. I don't know if it suits her taste."

Then, smiling at Fan Yingrong, he said, "Make yourself at home, don't be shy. Your mother-in-law said you don't like our food, so I thought I'd make some dumplings! Oh, and some vinegar too. This is aged vinegar that my comrade-in-arms, Lao Yu, gave him. Would you like to try it?"

Zeng Lijuan and Lao Huang are both from the South and don't know how to make noodles very well, so whenever the Yu family made dumplings when they were young, Huang Xiaochuan would always be there.

Fortunately, Fan Yingrong was quite accommodating to Zheng Aiying and ate quite a few dumplings with aged vinegar.

Huang Xiaochuan sat down next to his father and advised, "Dad, it's terribly hot. Why don't you have some beer?"

Although Lao Huang isn't a big drinker, he should at least have a couple of drinks tonight for the sake of Moutai! Beer is so boring, and besides, Zeng Lijuan is very strict at home. Even though her son has brought her a lot of good wine, she just won't let him drink it. Who can he complain to?

"It's been a long time since I've had a drink with your Uncle Yu. I'll have a few drinks with him tonight."

Zeng Lijuan glanced at Lao Huang with displeasure upon hearing this: "I think your son is right. Why don't you have some beer?"

Old Huang pretended to have intermittent deafness and acted as if he hadn't heard Zeng Lijuan's words. Zeng Lijuan didn't want to argue with him in front of so many people, so she had no choice but to let him be.

It's hot, and the air conditioning can't be used for the time being, so we can only rely on electric fans to cool off.

Zeng Lijuan complained, "I don't know when they'll get the wiring fixed. The air conditioner we installed is now just for show. It made my sister-in-law so hot that she ran back to her parents' house."

"Alright! Just bear with it for a few more days. We've already negotiated with the power company, and the construction team will start work this week. We estimate that the capacity upgrade will be completed this month. Once the air conditioner is working, you can go and bring Jiang Rong back." Old Huang comforted Zeng Lijuan.

After dinner, Yu Xiang helped her two mothers clean up the dishes. Fan Yingrong was too hot to stand, so Huang Erhe took her downstairs to go home after dinner. At least the Huang family lived on the first floor, which was a bit cooler than the Yu family's house.

After Yu Xiang finished her work, Huang Xiaochuan accompanied her downstairs for a walk, as Yu Xiang hadn't been back for a long time and wanted to stroll around the compound.

There were many people outside the compound seeking respite from the summer heat. These people were not only Lao Huang and Lao Yu's colleagues but also their neighbors. Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang kept greeting and exchanging pleasantries with these people.

"Hello, Uncle Bian and Aunt Mu!"

"Oh my! Isn't this Xiao Chuan and Yu Xiang?"

"Hello, Grandma Chen!"

"Hello, Aunt Liu!"

"Oh! Good, good, Yu Xiang is growing more and more beautiful."

"Yu Xiang! It's been two or three years since I last saw you. Are you a doctor now?"

"Not yet, Aunt Liu, I haven't graduated yet!"

"Huh? You haven't graduated yet? It seems like you've been in school for several years, right? The eldest son of the Fu family went to junior college in the same year as you, and he's been working for several years now."

At this moment, Aunt Liu's daughter explained to her, "Mom! Yu Xiang studied medicine for eight years."

"My goodness! It takes this long to go to university?" Aunt Liu's eyes widened in shock when she heard that it would take eight years to go to university.

"Ogawa, you should have graduated by now, right?"

Huang Xiaochuan smiled and said, "I've graduated!"

"So, which unit were you assigned to?"

"No job assignment, and I still have to pursue a master's degree."

"A graduate student? Impressive!"

"Look how well these two kids match!"

Just as the two were exchanging pleasantries with their neighbors, Yu Min's boyfriend, Yue Zhiyuan, rode his bicycle to bring her back.

Huang Xiaochuan, with his sharp eyes, spotted it immediately. He nudged Yu Xiang with his elbow and said, "Yu Min and her boyfriend are back."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiang immediately widened her eyes and looked around.

Sure enough, Yu Min was seen sitting on the back of a bicycle with her arm around a boy's waist, looking very happy.

Huang Xiaochuan thought to himself, "Isn't it hot?"

Yu Xiang waved and called out, "Yu Min!"

Yu Min looked in the direction of the sound, quickly released Yue Zhiyuan's waist, and jumped off the back of the bicycle.

"sister!"

Upon hearing that it was his sister-in-law, Yue Zhiyuan quickly got off his bicycle and respectfully greeted her, "Sister!"

Huang Xiaochuan, acting like a sly wolf, walked up to Yu Xiang and said, "Hey, hey, hey! What about me? Why didn't you greet me?"

Yu Min rolled her eyes at Huang Xiaochuan and introduced him to Yue Zhiyuan, saying, "This is my older sister's boyfriend, Huang Xiaochuan!"

Then he said to Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang, "My boyfriend is Yue Zhiyuan."

Yue Zhiyuan quickly propped up the bicycle and took the initiative to extend his hand to shake hands with Huang Xiaochuan.

"Hello, brother-in-law!"

Huang Xiaochuan was so happy that his back molars were showing. He's a promising young man.

Hello, hello!

Yu Min rolled her eyes in anger, but couldn't say anything. Actually, Yue Zhiyuan was about the same age as Yu Xiang, so Huang Xiaochuan should call him "brother," but now Yue Zhiyuan had to call him "brother-in-law."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Yu Xiang invited, "Xiao Yue, why don't you come in for a bit?"

Yue Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no! I haven't prepared anything today, so I won't bother you. I've already discussed it with Yu Min, and we'll pay a formal visit to your parents in the next couple of days."

Seeing that Yue Zhiyuan spoke and acted very appropriately, Yu Xiang was very satisfied with her future brother-in-law.

After seeing Yue Zhiyuan off, the two sisters walked back arm in arm, and Huang Xiaochuan followed behind, listening to their conversation.

It didn't take long to figure out Yue Zhiyuan's background.

Yue Zhiyuan is a junior reporter at Qingjiang Daily. He is the second of two brothers. His father works at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, his mother is a leader in the local government, and his older brother works at a mint in Nanjing, where he is married and has children.

Huang Xiaochuan thought the two "twos" were a good match. He thought Yue Zhiyuan's personality was quite good; after all, he was a journalist and was very steady in his dealings with people.

After arriving home, Yu Xiang gave the gifts she had brought back to Yu Min.

"Are these all for me?"

Looking at the pile of gifts, Yu Min's eyes sparkled.

Clothes, bags, cosmetics, and shoes are all things that girls like.

Yu Xiang pointed at Huang Xiaochuan: "These are all things your brother-in-law asked me to bring for you."

Yu Min happily thanked Huang Xiaochuan: "Thank you, brother-in-law!"

Huang Xiaochuan touched his nose. "Well, you only call me brother-in-law when there's a gift. You call me by my name when there's no gift."

In response to being called "brother-in-law," Huang Xiaochuan decided to be generous this time.

"Yu Xiang, why don't you give that set of jewelry to Yu Min too?"

Yu Xiang asked in surprise, "Wasn't that meant for your second sister-in-law?"

Huang Xiaochuan originally intended to give the Cartier jewelry set to Fan Yingrong, but he changed his mind. Besides, he hadn't heard of the custom that a brother-in-law must give a gift to his sister-in-law.

Huang Xiaochuan chuckled.

"I think that set of jewelry suits Yu Min's temperament quite well. We can give it to Second Sister-in-law later."

Yu Xiang immediately understood Huang Xiaochuan's intentions. Well then! After all, it's a matter for the Huang family, so let's listen to Huang Xiaochuan!

After Yu Min opened the exquisite jewelry box, her mouth remained agape.

"Wow!"

"Sis! Help me out."

Yu Min happily put on the necklace, earrings, and ring, and also changed into the new dress that Yu Xiang had given her. Then she ran to Zheng Aiying.

"Mom! Is it pretty?"

Unfortunately, she went to the wrong person and all she got was, "Aren't you hot? Go change quickly."

"Hmph!" Yu Min didn't get the praise she wanted from Zheng Aiying, so she went back in a huff.