It was lovely to get out of the city for the day, to escape the smog and to see some of China that isn't quite being carried along with the brutally rapid development obvious in Zhengzhou. This just made the kind hospitality of Susan's family all the more touching: we were treated to a real feast, even though only Susan could speak English and we had only the most basic Chinese.
There was so much food! They prepared two of everything, some twenty dishes. The grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, mother and sister sharing a table, and just me, Anna, Susan and her father on the other. Every time we thanked them for the lovely food but, really, we can't manage anymore, they'd bring out something else, dumplings, another round of noodles or sweet potato soup.
Uncomfortably full, I was glad of the chance to walk off lunch with a tour of the farm from the cousins who were overjoyed to have some foreigners to show around/ show off to the neighbourhood - especially a blonde one!
Photos below.
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