Chapter 95: Captain Hu’s Promotion

The news spread quickly through the entire village.

The head of the production brigade, Old Hu, was being promoted to the grain depot in the commune, where he would serve as deputy manager.

That piece of news left everyone in the village utterly stunned.

A grain depot, for heaven's sake, the very place that mattered so much to every farming family, and their brigade leader was simply being transferred there?

As soon as they heard, people rushed to the brigade leader's house, all talking at once:

"Uncle Dashan, is it true? Are you really going to the grain depot?"

"If it is true, then won't the brigade leader's post be vacant?"

"Brother Shan, the brigade leader's post..."

Old Hu was radiant with joy, grinning from ear to ear. "Yes, yes, I've been transferred to the grain depot."

"As for the brigade leader's post, I don't know. The higher-ups didn't say."

He answered what he could, and then took out a pound of fruit candies to hand around, treating it as a celebration of his promotion.

That was hardly out of line. As for how the Hu family chose to celebrate behind closed doors, that was their own affair.

What Tang Banxia had not expected, however, was that the Hu family's celebration would also invite her and Wen Mubai.

After thinking it over, she did not refuse. She fetched a bottle of peach wine she had made herself, along with a plate of mung bean cakes, took Wen Mubai with her, and went to the banquet.

When they arrived, they received the highest level of welcome the Hu family could offer.

Old Hu greeted them at the door in person. Aunt Hu served sweet brown sugar egg tea, Sister-in-law Hu shoved a great handful of peanuts and melon seeds into their hands, Second Sister-in-law Hu brought candies and pastries, and Third Sister-in-law Hu hurried to bring over stools.

For an occasion like this, Hu Chunhua, the married daughter, was naturally there as well. Her belly was already showing, and she sat in a chair, smiling as she greeted Tang Banxia.

"Comrade Tang."

Tang Banxia went over and checked her pulse. "You're doing all right. Eat more nutritious food."

Hu Chunhua smiled and agreed.

Not long after Tang Banxia and the others arrived, the feast officially began.

For this celebration, Aunt Hu had truly spent extravagantly.

There was sauerkraut stew with big pork bones, braised pork, fried small fish, fried crispy twists, and they had even specially slaughtered a big rooster to stew with potatoes.

"And here it is, mapo tofu!"

In all, there were six dishes, most of them meat dishes, which showed just how pleased they were.

"Comrade Tang, Comrade Wen, don't stand on ceremony. Make yourselves at home." Old Hu raised his enamel mug.

Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai naturally would not refuse the gesture and lifted their cups as well. Only Wen Mubai's mug held plain water, while Tang Banxia drank the peach wine she had brought. The women at the table were all drinking the same.

Aunt Hu took a sip and said, "I have to say, Little Tang's peach wine really is surprisingly good. Sweet and tart, not the least bit harsh, and it even tastes of peaches."

"Little Tang, do you have any more of this peach wine?" Sister-in-law Hu asked after one sip, clearly liking it a great deal.

Unfortunately, "None left," Tang Banxia said with a helpless shrug.

Not only Sister-in-law Hu, but Second Sister-in-law Hu and Third Sister-in-law Hu were also somewhat disappointed.

"Never mind them, Comrade Tang. I owe you thanks." Old Hu raised his cup again. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had such good fortune."

Because of that handbook incident, not only their village but also the commune had made a name for itself higher up, and that was why he had landed such an excellent position.

That was the grain depot, the very best kind of post. So many people in the commune had strained every nerve and still could not get in.

Thus, his gratitude toward Comrade Tang was beyond words.

"There's no need for more talk. It's all in the drink." Old Hu downed the grain liquor in his mug in one gulp.

Aunt Hu laughed and scolded him, "Ignore him. Give him two taels of cat piss and he won't even know his own ancestors."

"Come, Comrade Tang, eat. Eat." As she spoke, she picked up a big bone and put it in Tang Banxia's bowl. "Try it and see how my stew turns out."

"Then I won't be polite."

It had to be said that Aunt Hu had stewed those bones to perfection. The meat came clean off with one gentle bite; after eating the meat, one could take a bite of the sauerkraut, and after that, suck the marrow from the bone. It was sheer bliss.

Seeing how much Tang Banxia enjoyed it made Aunt Hu indescribably happy. She did not forget Wen Mubai either, giving him a big bone as well.

"Comrade Wen, you eat too."

Though Aunt Hu had not been far from the village all her life, she had her own quiet wisdom.

Her old man had been transferred to the grain depot, and his immediate superior was said to be related to Comrade Wen. He might well need a bit of favor from him, so there was no way she would slight Comrade Wen.

"Thank you, Aunt Hu." Wen Mubai smiled.

Aunt Hu's eyes went momentarily straight. Goodness, this Comrade Wen was truly handsome, and even more so when he smiled. No wonder all the young women and married girls were so fond of him.

Hu Chunhua's gaze also stirred, but she patted her belly and quickly pressed down the ripples in her heart.

It was all in the past. She was already married.

"Banxia, try this mapo tofu." Sister-in-law Hu ladled a spoonful of tofu for Tang Banxia.

Tang Banxia tasted it. "Delicious."

Sister-in-law Hu was immediately delighted. "I made it according to the way you taught me."

"Your cooking is excellent, sister-in-law," Tang Banxia praised her.

"Comrade Little Tang, you're truly my lucky star!" Old Hu's face was already flushed from drink, his eyes a little unfocused, but he still insisted on toasting Tang Banxia again.

There was nothing Tang Banxia could do but accompany him.

By the end of the meal, the plates were empty and the bowls clean, yet the brigade leader still refused to leave the table. He had to hold Tang Banxia there, rambling on with words of gratitude:

"Li-Little Tang, from now on, y-you're Uncle's own daughter. Whenever you need Uncle, just say the word. I-I won't brag about anything else, but in this village, my words still carry weight."

Tang Banxia, too, was a little flushed at the corners of her eyes from the drink. "All right, then I'll be counting on Uncle Hu to look after me."

"No problem, absolutely no problem!" Old Hu thumped his chest with a bang.

Aunt Hu pinched him hard from the side. "Enough already. Aren't you embarrassed?"

"You—don't mind me!" Old Hu brushed her hand away. "I'm happy today. I want to drink my fill!"

"Fine, fine." Aunt Hu chided him. "Drink yourself dead for all I care. With your deputy manager post, you can be deputy manager down below too."

Old Hu glared at her in displeasure. "What nonsense are you spouting, you old woman?"

Wen Mubai added from the side, "It's getting late, Aunt. I'll take Banxia home first."

Tang Banxia was a little tipsy by then, but still fairly clear-headed. She cooperated and stood up. "Uncle, Aunt, let's meet another day. I'm heading back first."

With that, she staggered around to turn, and Wen Mubai caught her with quick reflexes.

Tang Banxia tilted her head and smiled at him. "Let's go."

Seeing her rosy eyes and that silly, drunken grin, Wen Mubai felt an itch in his heart. "Let's go home."

They made their way home in a stumbling, unsteady line.

Once inside, Wen Mubai first pressed Tang Banxia down onto a stool. "I'll make you a cup of honey water. Otherwise, your head will hurt tomorrow."

Tang Banxia was obedient. "Okay."

Seeing her like this, Wen Mubai found it impossible not to love her fiercely. He bent down and gave her soft, moist lips a heavy peck before turning away.

"Stop right there!" Tang Banxia grabbed him, stood up, and pounced onto his back. "Trying to act like a hooligan, are you?"

Wen Mubai refused to admit it. "I'm with my own wife. What hooliganism?"

Tang Banxia would hear none of it. "I want some too."

"Want some what?" Wen Mubai asked.

Tang Banxia slipped into his arms, her arms looping around his neck. "Hooliganism!"

As she spoke, she kissed him hard, biting and sucking at him, and Wen Mubai's gaze gradually deepened. "Wife, are you drunk?"

Tang Banxia pulled back slightly and shoved him onto the table. "Isn't that perfect? Drunken passions, doing this and that?"

Her eyes were like silk, and with her flushed cheeks and dewy lips, she was simply irresistible.

Wen Mubai suddenly understood. "That does make sense."

Having said that, he scooped her up in his arms. "Then I'd better be obedient."

Tang Banxia burst into delighted laughter.