It was time to leave Penny's family home and head to Hangzhou. Even though we couldn't communicate thru words - I really liked Penny's mom, grandma and dad. They are happy, loving, and hardworking people. The extended family is physically close by and the emotional and material support they provide each other is very evident and enviable.
On the way out of town we stopped at the local police station and picked up my registration papers for THAT part of Hangzhou.
We drove through some more beautiful country and stopped for a night in FuYang at Penny's aunt apartment. We had dinner at a fancy restaurant that has single rooms for your party. The room even had its own bathroom. Enough dishes for an army which was appropriate because our hostess brought her best friends family whose son is now attending the same military university that I taught at in 2011. I provided a chance for the soldier/student to practice his English. Interesting tidbit I learned .....He told me that most of the soldiers do not wear their uniforms off duty because if they happen upon an disturbance or problem they are required by their service to act.
There is always lots of toasting at these kinds of dinners, I am just lucky that the beer is a lot weaker over here so I can keep up with the locals. I just have to make sure they stick to beer and not the moonshine stuff that Penny's father makes from berries. (Penny's mom, and maternal grandma drink at least 3 oz. of that strong stuff @ every meal- Penny and her sister did not inherit that talent.)
After dinner, we had a lovely visit with Tony, one of her BFF's from high school. Tony, who works at a bank, was able to give us the new and rare 10 yuan coins that have just come out.
