Chapter 43

When Wang Yong returned home, it was clear that everyone was somewhat surprised. The frown that had been etched on his face for so long had relaxed, and the smile on his face was no longer the professional, formal one. It seemed as if he had been reborn. The few elders who had been worried about him let out a sigh of relief, never expecting that today's events would free this stubborn young man. Uncle Er, delighted, shouted that he would drink a few more cups in the evening.

When Wang Yong proposed that he would be responsible for the evening banquet, Auntie and his aunts readily agreed, pleased. Since most people had returned home for the Mid-Autumn Festival, only Uncle Da's family, Uncle Xiao's family, Yuan Yuan's family, and Uncle Er and Aunt Er were left at home. Uncle Er had been dragged to the county town by Cao Peijie to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with them and had already left.

Wang Yong looked at the leftovers in the kitchen from lunch. There was quite a bit left, but he didn't plan to use them. He decided to use the vegetables from his small world to prepare the evening meal. This was to celebrate his rebirth and to express his apologies to the elders who had cared for him over the years.

First, he stir-fried a large plate of "Three Delicacies of the Earth" (a dish made with eggplant, potato, and green pepper), as he had promised Wang Qian at lunch. This time, he made a large plate so she could eat her fill. The eggplant and potato in the "Three Delicacies of the Earth" needed to be deep-fried. After frying them, Wang Yong took the opportunity to fry two carp, each weighing over three pounds, which he had caught from his small world, preparing to make sweet and sour fish later.

Time flew by, and as the sky began to darken and the moon was about to rise, Wang Yong's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was complete. Dishes like cucumber salad, "Three Delicacies of the Earth," stir-fried river shrimp, steamed crabs, braised pork ribs, sweet and sour carp, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and stir-fried meat with scallions were served one by one, each dish a feast for the eyes, nose, and taste buds.

For a moment, laughter and joy filled the entire courtyard, and the moon in the sky also peeked out, watching this happy and harmonious family. Of course, during this time, congratulatory messages and calls kept ringing, especially from Yuan Yuan's parents. From this, it was clear how much these two old teachers were loved by their students. One of the oldest students was already in his forties, a student from when Tian Fanyu was first assigned to the city's junior high school, only five years younger than him. The youngest was just fifteen, a freshman at the city's No. 1 High School. Wang Yong also received greetings from a few classmates and friends, but the strangest thing was that Uncle Xiao, who held a high position, didn't call at all, which was very unusual!

Wang Yong kept looking at Uncle Xiao with the same puzzled expression. When he found out the reason, Uncle Xiao straightforwardly told him, "I've handed my work phone to my secretary, and my personal phone is with Auntie. My most important task today is to celebrate the festival with you all. Since I married Auntie, we haven't celebrated a festival together. I'm busy with work, and Auntie is even busier. She used to be a journalist, traveling all over the country. Now, after I moved to the capital, she transferred to the radio and television bureau. Finally, we can settle down."

Hearing the conversation between the uncle and nephew, Auntie Xiao added, "Wang Yong, why don't you and Yuan Yuan come back to the capital with us and stay for a few days? Visit our home, and let Wang Gang and Wang Qian show you around the city. What do you think?"

Wang Yong didn't answer immediately but turned to look at Yuan Yuan. Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, he finally said to Auntie Xiao, "Alright, we'll go with you when you leave."

Uncle Er had been watching Wang Yong all along. When he heard this, he raised his glass and drank it all in one go. Wang Guoliang was delighted! Ever since the death of his second son and daughter-in-law, Wang Yong had been in a daze. He was determined to be independent and strong, which was right, as he had always taught him. But the boy refused to accept help from relatives and friends, which was too extreme. The once lively and mischievous boy had become as refined as a young lady, lacking any vitality. He was polite to everyone, but his personality had become timid and weak, lacking confidence in his words and actions. The way he spoke to Auntie Xiao and the change he showed after coming down from the mountain in the afternoon made Wang Guoliang realize that the boy had finally emerged from the shadow of his parents' death.

The dinner lasted from 5 PM until 8 PM when the Mid-Autumn Festival gala began. The older generation, including Uncle Er, Aunt Er, Auntie, Uncle Da, and Yuan Yuan's parents, went inside to watch TV and chat. The younger generation, however, had no interest in the formal gala and gathered in the courtyard, chatting casually.

"Ugh! Boring. What should we do for the rest of the time?" Wang Qian, feeling bored, poked the lazy black and white dogs lying on the ground after a full meal.

"How about we take a walk around the village?" Wang Gang suggested, as he was very interested in Ban Shan Village but hadn't had the chance to explore it.

After receiving a bunch of middle fingers from everyone, the suggestion was rejected. It was dark and there was nothing good to see.

"Or we could have a barbecue in the courtyard?" Wang Liang's suggestion immediately brightened everyone's eyes.

"Great! I agree!" Wang Han raised both hands high in agreement. She loved barbecue, whether it was grilled lamb skewers, grilled steamed buns, grilled sweet potatoes, grilled fish, grilled eggplant... she loved anything grilled.

"I have no objection," Wang Qiang immediately followed, clearly very interested in the idea, probably because he had done this a lot to please Wang Han when they were young.

"I agree too. I want to grill fish, steamed buns, and eggplant..." Wang Qian also supported the idea.

"Agree, agree, let's grill fish, grill fish!" The usually quiet Diao Zhu also chimed in.

"Alright, let's start. I'll get the grill. You girls go get the ingredients, and the rest of you get the charcoal," Wang Yong began assigning tasks.

He took the barbecue grill from the side room. This grill was specially made by his father for Wang Han, who loved barbecue, along with over a hundred steel skewers. The grill was about ten centimeters wide, over a meter long, and had a frame made of steel bars about 1.3 meters high. It was welded from thick iron plates, making it very sturdy and heavy, weighing about a hundred kilograms. For Wang Yong, who had undergone physical enhancement and was constantly absorbing spiritual energy, this weight was nothing.

After Wang Yong set up the grill in the center of the courtyard, Wang Qiang and the others each carried a bag of charcoal over. Wang Yong left the task of lighting the fire to them and went back to the kitchen to prepare the barbecue seasonings: oil, salt, chili sauce, five-spice powder, and cumin, of which there wasn't much left. He shouted to Wang Liang, "Li, go to the supermarket and buy some cumin. We don't have enough at home."

After hearing Wang Liang's response, Wang Yong brought the prepared seasonings to the table outside, where a lot of meat and vegetables were already laid out. Seeing the three of them still bringing more dishes to the table, Wang Yong started to feel dizzy. They had just finished dinner, and there was so much food. However, seeing the excitement of Wang Qian and Wang Han, and Yuan Yuan's enthusiastic participation, as well as the busy little figures of Xiao Keli and Diao Zhu, Wang Yong couldn't bear to dampen their spirits. He decided to let them have their fun.

After washing and drying the skewers with a clean towel, everyone started skewering their favorite ingredients. Just as they were having fun, Xiaohei and Xiaobai suddenly perked up their ears and barked fiercely at the door.

"Xiaohei, Xiaobai, you're not being good!"

Everyone recognized the voice. It was Gao Mingming, the quirky kid from Ban Shan Village, who was running quickly towards Xiaohei and Xiaobai. Having lived in the small world for a long time, Xiaohei and Xiaobai had both strong bodies and high intelligence. They wouldn't let anyone get close to them, except for Wang Yong or if Wang Yong ordered them to. Xiaohei and Xiaobai ran in front, and Mingming chased after them, making the courtyard lively.

"How did you bring this little troublemaker? Do Gao Hui and the others know?" Wang Yong asked Wang Liang after taking the cumin from him.

"They know. Gao Hui will come to pick him up later. When I mentioned we were having a barbecue at his family's supermarket, this little guy insisted on coming, and no one could persuade him. His father said he listens to you and Wang Qian more than anyone else. You take care of him, and Gao Hui will come to pick him up after he finishes his work."

Wang Yong looked at Mingming, who, after being persuaded by Wang Qian, stopped chasing Xiaohei and Xiaobai and was learning to skewer meat from Wang Qian.

Finally, Wang Qiang got the charcoal burning, and the barbecue began. Lamb skewers, fish, shrimp, leeks, garlic, eggplant, sweet potatoes, potatoes, chestnuts... a pile of ingredients, everyone could skewer and grill whatever they wanted. Of course, the skills varied, and the results were vastly different. Wang Han, being clumsy, either undercooked or overcooked her food. After being teased by everyone, she ran back inside and dragged Uncle Er out to help.

"Grandpa, please grill for me. I want to eat grilled meat, grilled eggplant, grilled potatoes, grilled fish..." Wang Han counted the items on her fingers, making everyone laugh.

Auntie, who came out with her, also laughed and said, "How old are you, girl? I was already married to your father at your age. You're still so immature. Don't you feel ashamed?"

After that, the people inside stopped watching TV and joined the barbecue. Auntie and Auntie Xiao even set up another table with mooncakes, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sugar, dates, apples, bananas, and more. The family enjoyed the barbecue and moon viewing in the courtyard.

Little Mingming gave the fatty parts he didn't like to Xiaohei and Xiaobai or forced them into Xiao Keli's mouth. As for Diao Zhu, he was happily eating peanuts on the table. After hearing the story of Diao Zhu and Xiao Keli from Wang Qian, Auntie Er was particularly fond of the little guy. She didn't eat much herself but kept peeling peanuts and sunflower seeds for Diao Zhu. Diao Zhu, in return, jumped onto Auntie Er's shoulder, waiting for her to feed him the peeled peanuts or sunflower seeds.

They played until around 10 PM before everyone went to rest. The boys stayed in Wang Yong's animal bed, and the girls took over Wang Yong and Wang Liang's rooms. Yuan Yuan's parents and Uncle Xiao and Auntie Xiao slept in the guest room, while Uncle Da and Uncle Er returned to their own homes, taking the sleepy Mingming with them. Half an hour later, the courtyard was quiet, with only the bright moonlight silently shining on it, as if reminiscing about the joyful and harmonious scene that had just taken place.