Siheyuan: Start with a Truck Driver

Jia Zhang's face flushed with anxiety, and she racked her brains to think of an excuse. "Second brother, listen to me. I really had my reasons at that time. I thought your illness was not serious and you would get better soon. I didn't expect it to be so serious. Besides, I wanted to help you later, but I never found the opportunity."

Jia Niu didn't listen to her explanation at all. "Sister-in-law, you don't have to say anything more. I won't attend Xiaodang's wedding, and don't come to see me again."

Jia Zhang was panicked. She quickly grabbed Jia Niu's arm and begged bitterly, "Second brother, you can't be so heartless. I was wrong back then. Isn't it enough for me to apologize to you? Just for Xiao Dang's sake, go to the wedding.

Xiaodang is your niece. It would be such a pity if you, her second uncle, didn't attend her wedding."

Jia Niu shook off Jia Zhang's hand and said, "Sister-in-law, I don't accept your apology. I have decided not to attend the wedding. Please go."

Seeing Jia Niu's firm attitude, Jia Zhang was unwilling to give up, so she simply sat on the ground and started to act like a spoiled brat. "Second brother, if you don't agree to attend Xiao Dang's wedding today, I won't leave. You can't be so heartless, what happened in the past is in the past, can't you be more generous?"

Jia Niu looked at the unreasonable Jia Zhang and felt annoyed. He took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "Sister-in-law, stop making trouble. I said I won't go, and you can't change my decision."

Jia Zhang ignored her and continued to cry: "If you don't go, Xiao Dang will be so sad. She has been looking forward to you, her second uncle, to attend her wedding. Just have pity on the child."

However, Jia Shan no longer paid attention to Jia Zhangshi. He knew that this old woman was not a reasonable person. No matter how much he explained, she would not believe it.

When Jia Zhang saw that Jia Niu did not agree to attend Xiao Dang's wedding, she was filled with anger and helplessness and had no place to vent. After thinking about it, she found no other way, so she directed her anger at Jia Shan. So she turned around and ran to the courtyard, opened her mouth and started to scold Jia Shan.

"Jia Shan, you are such a heartless person. Xiaodang is your niece, and you didn't even come to attend such a big event as her wedding. Do you still have any family affection? Are you so cruel to watch Xiaodang's wedding being so deserted? Don't you think about it? We are all a family. How can you be so heartless?"

Jia Zhang cursed and danced at the same time, and her angry look attracted the attention of people around her.

When the staff of the commune heard the noise, they all came out to check what was going on. Seeing Jia Zhang throwing a tantrum and cursing, they all frowned. Someone stepped forward to persuade Jia Zhang: "Auntie, stop cursing here. If you have anything to say, just talk it over."

But Jia Zhang was not going to listen. She continued to curse: "Jia Shan is a bastard. He just can't stand seeing our family doing well. Does he think that if he doesn't come to the wedding, we can't do anything? I tell you, he is a selfish person."

The staff looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

Jia Zhang's cursing became louder and louder, as if she wanted to vent all her dissatisfaction.

She completely ignored the opinions of the people around her and just kept cursing Jia Shan.

Jia Zhang thought that those people would sympathize with her, so she stood in the courtyard of the commune, yelling more and more vigorously, as if she had suffered a great injustice. She was sure that as long as she made such a fuss, someone would stand up to speak for her and accuse Jia Shan of wrongdoing.

However, she didn't expect that her reputation had already been ruined. People around her just looked at her curiously at first, and gradually, some people began to whisper about her.

"Isn't this Jia Zhang from the Jia family? Why is she making trouble here again?" a staff member whispered.

"That's right. I heard that she is notoriously difficult to deal with in her village. She makes a big fuss over trivial matters and doesn't listen to reason at all." Another person echoed.

"What is it about this time? It sounds like she is scolding about something at the wedding." Someone asked curiously.

"What else could it be? It must be for money again." An older staff member shook his head. "I heard that when there is something wrong at home, she will go around asking for money, and make a scene if she doesn't get it. This time, I guess she wants people to attend the wedding so that she can get a gift money."

As the discussions grew louder, people began to accuse Jia Zhang more and more.

"This Jia Zhang is really too much. She must have her own reasons for not attending the wedding. How can she scold me like this?"

"That's right. And judging from the curse words she used, she has no manners at all."

"I think she just wants to take advantage and thinks everyone has to go along with her."

Jia Zhang heard the people around her talking and felt flustered. She didn't expect that these people not only didn't sympathize with her, but also blamed her. She stopped scolding and looked at the people around her with wide eyes.

"What do you know? I'm doing this for my Xiaodang. Xiaodang's marriage is a big event, how can they not come as relatives?" Jia Zhang said loudly.

"Hmph, that's just nice talk. Everyone knows you just want people to give you a gift." A young staff member said mercilessly.

"You're talking nonsense!" Jia Zhang's face turned red with anger. "I sincerely hope that they will come to Xiaodang's wedding and give him their blessing."

"Come on, if you really mean it, you wouldn't be cursing here." Another person said, "You just want to use the wedding as an excuse to ask for money, and everyone knows what you're thinking."

Jia Zhang opened her mouth but didn't know how to refute. She was angry and anxious, thinking that these people didn't understand her. She glared at the people around her and turned to leave.

But at this time, people refused to give in.

"Don't go. Aren't you very right? Keep on scolding." Someone started to make trouble.

"That's right, people like you should be taught a lesson."

Jia Zhang was so angry that she was shaking all over. She had never thought that things would turn out like this. She had wanted to arouse everyone's sympathy by scolding Jia Shan, so that everyone would help her blame Jia Shan, but now everyone was blaming her.

She gritted her teeth and said, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not doing this for money. I'm doing this for Xiaodang's happiness."

"Happiness? If you really care about Xiaodang's happiness, you wouldn't be making a scene here." A staff member said, "You're only going to embarrass Xiaodang more."

Jia Zhang was shocked. She had never thought that her behavior would embarrass Xiao Dang. She stood there in a daze, not knowing what to do for a moment.

Seeing that she was silent, the people around her continued, "Don't you think about why others should give you a gift? How do you treat others normally? Don't you know it yourself?"

"That's right, you always try to take advantage of others, who would want to deal with you?"

Jia Zhang didn't expect that those people not only did not help her, but also scolded her. She had no choice but to leave the commune.

After returning home, Jia Zhang told Qin Huairu what happened in the commune. Qin Huairu sighed helplessly.

"Mom, why are you doing this? Now everyone knows about our family's affairs. How can we live in the village in the future?" Qin Huairu said.

Jia Zhang also felt that she had gone too far, but she didn't want to admit her mistake. "I did it for Xiaodang. Xiaodang would be so sad if they didn't come to the wedding."

Qin Huairu shook her head. "Mom, you're only going to make things worse. Let's think of another way."

Jia Zhang frowned, "What else can we do? Jia Shan and Jia Niu are unwilling to come, what should we do with this wedding?"

Qin Huairu thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we go ask other relatives. Maybe someone is willing to attend Xiaodang's wedding." Jia Zhang hesitated for a moment and nodded. "Okay, that's the only way. I hope there are relatives willing to attend Xiaodang's wedding, otherwise this wedding will be really deserted."

In the following days, Jia Zhang contacted several more relatives, but those relatives knew the situation of the Jia family and said they would not attend the wedding.

Jia Zhang had no choice but to accept this reality.

Time flies and it's the weekend.

  Early in the morning, Yan Jiefang came to Jia's house in a brand new Zhongshan suit and rode his bicycle.

The handlebars of the bicycles were tied with red ribbons, and the back seat was also decorated with red cloth to create a festive atmosphere.

The yard was already bustling with activity.

Xiaodang was wearing a red cotton jacket and a red flower on her head. Her face was rosy, full of shyness and joy.

Although Jia Zhang was usually aggressive, she was all smiles on this happy day and was busy greeting everyone.

Qin Huairu had tears in her eyes as she looked at the beautiful Xiaodang, her heart full of emotion.

As soon as Yan Jiefang entered the yard, he was surrounded by a group of children who were laughing and making noises, asking for wedding candy.

Yan Jiefang cheerfully took out a handful of candy from his pocket and threw it to the children. The children laughed and scrambled for it, and the yard was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Witnessed by their elders, Yan Jiefang and Xiao Dang held a simple and solemn ceremony.

They bowed three times to the heaven and earth, and then bowed to Jia Zhang and Qin Huairu. Jia Zhang took out a red envelope and handed it to Xiaodang, saying words of blessing.

Afterwards, Yan Jiefang took Xiaodang's hand and helped her onto the back seat of the bicycle.

Xiaodang tightly grasped the corner of Yan Jiefang's clothes, with a happy smile on his face.

A group of people followed behind, talking and laughing as they walked towards the Yan family.

Arriving at Yan's house, it was another lively scene. The yard was filled with tables and chairs, and on the tables were melon seeds, candies, and tea.

Relatives and friends gathered together to celebrate the wedding of Yan Jiefang and Xiaodang.

After the wedding, the guests left, and Jia Zhang and Qin Huairu sat in the room and began to count the gift money. Both of them had a little excitement on their faces. As the stacks of banknotes were sorted out, the numbers gradually became clear. At the last count, they actually earned a total of fifty yuan.

Qin Huairu looked at the money, thinking about how tight her family had been, so she said carefully, "Mom, the wedding is over. Our family hasn't been doing well lately, so I want to take the twenty dollars as living expenses."

When Jia Zhang heard this, her eyes widened and she immediately hugged the money tightly in her arms, "No! This money is all mine, no one can take it away. Twenty dollars? Don't even think about it!"

Qin Huairu looked embarrassed and continued, "Mom, our family really needs money. The children also need to eat and go to school. Twenty yuan is not much, just consider it as a subsidy for the family."

Jia Zhang was not moved at all. "Humph, I am in charge of the family's money. If I say no, then I won't give it. I have a use for this money, so I can't give it to you."

Qin Huairu sighed helplessly, "Mom, can't you be flexible? We have to make a living as a family."

Jia Zhang held the money tighter, "No! I said no and it means no. Don't think about this money anymore."

Qin Huairu looked at Jia Zhang's resolute expression and knew that it was useless to say anything. She was full of disappointment and helplessness, but there was nothing she could do. She could only get up silently and clean up the mess after the wedding, thinking about how to live in the future.

Jia Zhang looked at the money in her arms proudly, as if the money was her treasure and no one could take it away from her.

The guests gradually dispersed, and the bustling courtyard gradually became quiet.

Xiao Dang looked at the mess in the room, but she was thinking about the gifts. She knew that many of them were from her and Yan Jiefang's colleagues, and they would have to be returned in the future.

Xiao Dang hesitated for a while, but finally mustered up the courage to walk up to Jia Zhang. "Mom, um... I want to ask you to return some of the gift money." Xiao Dang said a little embarrassedly.

When Jia Zhang heard this, her face changed immediately. "What? You want the gift money back? That won't do. These gifts are for our family, how can I give them to you?" Jia Zhang said firmly.

Xiao Dang explained hurriedly, "Mom, that's not the case. Many of these gifts were given by me and my colleagues from Jiefang, and we have to repay them in the future. Please give me some, otherwise how can we repay them in the future?"

Jia Zhang was unmoved. "No, I have to keep the gift money. Our family also needs money. You and Yan Jiefang should find a way to return the gift."

Xiaodang looked at Jia Zhang's resolute expression and felt wronged. "Mom, how could you do this? This is a gift from our colleagues, we should take it." Xiaodang's voice was filled with tears.

Jia Zhang said impatiently: "Why are you crying? I said no and it means no. If you dare to mention this matter again, I will never let you go."

Xiao Dang stood there helplessly, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to quarrel with Jia Zhang, but she felt very wronged. She wanted to ask Qin Huairu for help, but she didn't know if Qin Huairu would stand on her side.

Just when Xiaodang was at a loss, Yan Jiefang came over. He saw Xiaodang's aggrieved look and felt distressed. "What's wrong, Xiaodang?" Yan Jiefang asked softly.

Xiaodang told Yan Jiefang about the incident, and Yan Jiefang frowned. He looked at Jia Zhang and said, "Mom, Xiaodang is right. Some of these gifts are from our colleagues, and we should take them so that we can return the favor later. Please give us some."

Jia Zhang glared at Yan Jiefang and said, "You are on her side too? I said you can't give the gift money. You can find a way by yourselves."

Yan Jiefang was also a little angry, "Mom, you can't be so unreasonable. We should have taken the gift money. If you don't give it to us, how can we return the gift in the future?"

Jia Zhangshi didn't care, "I don't care, I just won't give it to you. You can do whatever you want."

After saying that, Jia Zhang turned around and walked into the house, closing the door with a bang.

Xiaodang was so angry when she saw how unreasonable Jia Zhang was that she almost cried.

Yan Jiefang held her hand and said, "Xiaodang, don't worry, it's just a small amount of money. I'm working in the new workshop now, with a salary of 50 to 60 yuan a month. I can earn all the money back soon."

Xiaodang nodded heavily.

(End of this chapter)