Chapter 112: Finding Fun
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Chu Qingzhi took the plate and gave a piece to everyone.
The fried crispy meat was really delicious. They clearly hadn’t had enough of it. Seeing this, Granny Chu suggested making it on their own. Soon, the fragrant smell floated out of the kitchen.
When it was almost noon, Grandpa Chu came out with a stack of bowls and poured some yellow wine. “Come, everyone has to take a sip to avoid illness.”
This was the custom of the Dragon Boat Festival every year. Everyone had to drink it.
Chu Qingzhi had drunk all kinds of spiritual wine, but she had never drunk mortal wine. Now that she drank it, she did not expect it to have a different flavor. It was quite delicious.
After drinking the yellow wine, it was time for lunch.
Needless to say, it was a feast today.
The women at home worked all morning and made a lot of dishes. Everyone helped to bring the dishes to the table.
The rectangular table that Chu Qingzhi had asked Chu Rong to make was already done. They had originally planned to use it in the new house, but it was a special occasion today, so they took it out to use.
There was a layer of cloth on the table. There were sixteen chairs, and dishes were placed on the table.
Mushroom roasted chicken, braised pork, meatballs, pork with preserved vegetables… There were more than ten dishes. Of course, rice dumplings were indispensable.
Everyone took their seats.
Grandpa Chu smiled brightly. “Everyone, eat. Jinghong, Yuting, don’t stand on ceremony.”
Tang Jinghong smiled and replied, “Okay.”
Ning Yuting also nodded.
They carried him out to eat. Otherwise, he would be lonely in the room on such a joyous occasion.
Today, he was wearing that green and white robe, making him look even more elegant and genial.
At noon, everyone in the Chu Village had a sumptuous meal, and the happy chatter and laughter came out of every house.
Chu Xuyao nibbled on a fried chicken drumstick and licked his fingers as he said, “This year’s Dragon Boat Festival is the best we ever had.”
Chu Xuyuan immediately agreed. “I remember that we only had one bite of meat at the Dragon Boat Festival last year. Compared to now, it was too shabby back then.”
Li Qingyu looked at his two sons. “Then you have to thank your Fifth Sister. Otherwise, we would still be living in poverty.”
Chu Xuyao said seriously, “Of course. I’ll always be grateful to Fifth Sister.”
Chu Xuyuan hurriedly said, “Me too.”
Everyone knew that they had what they had today because of Chu Qingzhi.
Ning Yuting looked at Chu Qingzhi, who was his savior, and thought to himself that she was really capable.
Chu Qingzhi smiled and said, “The best way for you two to thank me is to study well.”
The two children nodded in unison. “We definitely will.”
In the past, after dinner, everyone would go to the river to watch the dragon boat race. Flowever, this year, there was a drought and the water level in the river had decreased greatly, so the county magistrate canceled the dragon boat race. However, finding fun was not difficult for Chu Qingzhi.
She took out a chessboard and two boxes of chess pieces from the room. “Everyone, let’s play Gomoku.”
No one had ever heard of Gomoku, so they were very puzzled.
“Fifth Sister, what’s Gomoku?”
“Never heard of it.”
“Is it fun?”
When the items were placed on the table, everyone gathered around. Chu Qingzhi said with a smile, “One person is holding the white chess piece, and the other is holding the black chess piece. No matter if it’s horizontal or diagonal, as long as the five chess pieces are connected into a line, it will be considered a win…”
After she finished speaking, she looked around at everyone. “Who wants to play first?”
Everyone looked at each other and felt a little restrained. No one replied. Tang Jinghong walked to the opposite side of Chu Qingzhi. “I’ll play the first round with you.”
Chu Qingzhi sat on the chair. “Do you understand the rules? If you don’t, I’ll tell you again.”
Tang Jinghong smiled faintly. “1 understand. Who’s going to make the first move?”
Chu Qingzhi pushed the chess box containing the black chess pieces to Tang Jinghong with a smile. “The one with the black chess pieces makes the first move.”
Tang Jinghong reached out and placed a chess piece on the chessboard.
After the chess piece was placed, the atmosphere in the central room changed. It was quiet and tense. The onlookers could not help but hold their breaths, as if they were doing something serious.
Ning Yuting, who had grown up in the capital, was quite knowledgeable, but he had never seen anyone play chess like this, so he watched seriously.
After Tang Jinghong placed his chess piece, Chu Qingzhi also placed a white chess piece.
Tang Jinghong continued to place his second chess piece…
Ten minutes later, the chessboard was filled with black and white chess pieces, but there was still no winner.
Chu Qingzhi touched the chess piece box. “There are still three left. I’ll definitely beat you with these three.”
Tang Jinghong looked at the chessboard and frowned. He placed a piece.
Chu Qingzhi smiled confidently and placed a piece.
Tang Jinghong watched as Chu Qingzhi placed her piece a little further away from the cluster of chess pieces and was a little puzzled as to why she did this. However, when he looked at the overall situation on the chess board, he quickly realized something and said, “I lost.”
Other than Ning Yuting, the others were all confused.
Chu Xuyuan tugged at Tang Jinghong’s sleeve and hurriedly asked, “Brother Jinghong, how did you lose?”
Tang Jinghong smiled and placed another piece. “You’ll know in a while.”
Chu Qingzhi placed another piece.
Tang Jinghong had one last piece left. After placing it, he waited for Chu Qingzhi to explain to everyone.
Playing Gomoku was very simple. Everyone could understand it, but they did not understand how Chu Qingzhi had won. At this moment, they were staring at the chessboard and guessing.
Chu Qingzhi picked up the chess piece with her slender fingers and placed it in a position.
“Wow…” Chu Xuyao exclaimed. “You actually connected five pieces horizontally and vertically at the same time. Fifth Sister, you’re amazing.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled at Chu Xuyao. “Do you want to try?”
Chu Xuyao said humbly, “Let Brother Yuting try first.”
Tang Jinghong stood up from his seat and walked to Chu Qingzhi’s side. Ning Yuting was eager to try, so he did not stand on ceremony. He sat opposite Chu Qingzhi and placed the black chess piece on the chessboard.
Chu Qingzhi maintained an elegant smile and placed her piece calmly. She gave people a feeling that she would not frown even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of her.
Chu Xuyao went to get some snacks for everyone. “Everyone, eat some. It’ll be fun to watch while eating.”
Chu Qingzhi glanced at Chu Xuyao and smiled.
After a round of exchanging moves, Ning Yuting lost without any suspense. His chess skills were not bad, but when he encountered Chu Qingzhi, he still lost.
Ning Yuting said humbly, “Miss Chu is well-versed in this field. There is no way we can’t beat her.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled. “You are exaggerating it.” She moved aside. “Eldest Brother and Third Brother, play a round.”
The two of them also wanted to try, so they did not refuse. They walked to the side of the chessboard and started playing.
Everyone watched with relish and waited for their turn to play.
Grandpa Chu said excitedly, “Aiya, he’s going to lose.”
Granny Chu glanced at Grandpa Chu. “Be quiet. Don’t speak and disturb people’s thoughts.”
Grandpa Chu immediately covered his mouth and stopped making a sound..