Return to the small mountain village in 1986

Chapter 117

The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the new year, and the spring breeze brings warmth into Tusu. Thousands of households always exchange new peaches for old talismans—this is the seven poems of "Yuan Ri" written by the sage Wang Anshi.

Now that time flies, during Chinese New Year, people no longer use peach talismans on peach boards, but directly paste red paper Spring Festival couplets, and then set off a string of firecrackers, which is enough for the New Year.

During the Chinese New Year, every family has fish and meat on the table, and even the poorest people will buy some for display. In addition to meat, there must be tofu and radishes.

Gao Mingcheng celebrated the New Year at his parents' house. Although the family had been separated, he and Duomei hadn't officially married yet, so his father asked him to come back for the New Year.

So he came back for the New Year with a big wild boar head and ten catties of wild pork. In addition to his parents' house, he also gave gifts to Grandma Xiao, Duomei, Gao Shouwang and others.

Because of these meats, Gao Mingcheng had a pretty good year this year, no one made him unhappy, and he was happy with each other every day.

The days went by and it was the sixth day.

Early in the morning, Gao Zhuang got up and began to toss himself.

He first boiled water to take a bath and wash his hair, then put on brand new cotton clothes, and then put on face cream, his whole body was full of energy.

Not only him, but Grandma Xi has also carefully dressed up, looking clean and appropriate.

The table in the main room is full of melon and fruit snacks, including apples, oranges, grapefruit, rice candy, sesame slices, walnuts, red dates, fried peanuts, fried melon seeds, etc.

In the big iron pot in the kitchen, there is a large pot of pork ribs stewed, and in the earthenware pot next to it, a chicken is stewed. This chicken was raised by Grandma Xiao herself, and it doesn’t lay much eggs anymore, so I just stew the soup for drinking .

Gao Mingcheng is also here, helping to clean up the yard inside and out.

Today is the day when He Xiuman visits the man's house. If there is no problem this time, the next thing is to talk about marriage.

At around 10:30 in the morning, there was movement outside, and Gao Zhuang's tense body stiffened. It was Gao Mingcheng who dragged him to the courtyard gate to meet him.

There were a total of eight people who came, pushing four old and new bicycles. Except for He Xiuman, her parents and uncle, the other four were the tall and strong aunt's family.

His aunt was going back to her mother's house to pay New Year's greetings, so they made an appointment together.

"Xiuman." When Gao Zhuang saw He Xiuman, his face turned red, but he still greeted him, and then hurriedly called He Xiuman's parents and uncle.

"Uncle, Auntie, it's cold outside, come in for a cup of hot tea and something to eat." Gao Mingcheng helped entertain and led a group of people to the main room.

He Xiuman's parents are about 45 years old, not tall, with dark complexion, and look old.He was wearing a half-worn cotton coat, but fortunately it was clean.

As soon as they entered the yard, their eyes did not fall on the person, but looked around, looking around, looking at the whole yard, seeing how many houses there were, how many chickens were raised, and so on.

At a rough glance, it is quite satisfactory.

Gao Zhuang's family is considered good in the whole Gaojia Village. The only shortcoming is that they have no parents and no labor.

After hearing the movement, the grandmother in the kitchen immediately brought over the prepared tea, each with a cup.

Seeing this, Aunt Gao Zhuang immediately said, "Mom, you stay here with the guests, and I'll go to the kitchen to cook."

As she said that, she also dragged her youngest son into the kitchen to light the fire. When she got to the kitchen, Aunt Gao Zhuang took a look at the prepared dishes and knew what to do, so the sound of ding ding dong dong sounded from the kitchen.

He Xiuman sat on the bench beside the table, watching the food spread all over the table, she was also very happy in her heart, she felt that this was a sign that Gao Zhuang valued her.

She glanced at Gao Zhuang, with a smile in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth were raised high, and when Gao Zhuang met her gaze, he became shy at first.

The interaction between the two of them was seen by Gao Mingcheng. He knew that Gao Zhuang had been eaten to death by this girl.

He Xiuman's parents were also very satisfied with the items on the table, they both reached out to grab the food and secretly stuffed it into their pockets.

He Xiuman's mother said regretfully, "It would be great if I brought your brother with me!"

With so many delicious foods, my youngest son must be very happy!
When He Xiuman heard this, she lowered her head subconsciously, hiding the sneer in her eyes.

When lunch was ready, I removed the similar fruit snacks and replaced them with a table full of good meals and dishes.

He Xiuman's parents were even more satisfied when they saw the stewed ribs, stir-fried rabbit meat, stewed chicken, tofu and radish stew, braised fish and other dishes served in sea bowls. Of course, they regretted not bringing their youngest son here .

After a meal, the stomachs of the guests who ate were round.

After the meal, He Xiuman's father drank tea and said: "We Xiuman are hardworking, capable and good-looking. I don't know how many people have taken a fancy to her! But if she likes your family's tall and strong, then let's go Her will is done."

He Xiuman's father first raised his daughter's worth, and then said: "I don't want too much gift money, take an auspicious number, give it eight hundred and eight, grandma, what do you think?"

Grandma Xi was already prepared to bleed heavily, but she was still a little embarrassed when she heard the other party ask for eight hundred and eight.

Her family is short of labor, she is old, and before Gao Zhuang was young, she didn't earn much money. Years ago, she took more than a hundred yuan to buy a bicycle. Now the only cash left in the family is seven or eight hundred.

Most of the money was compensation for her son falling to his death.

Seeing that Grandma Xi was silent, Gao Zhuang's aunt smiled and smoothed things over: "Father Xiuman, you're just joking. Which family needs [-] as a gift? It would be nice to have three or four hundred!"

He Xiuman's father said: "Three or four hundred is the old calendar! Now who doesn't start at six hundred?"

Gao Zhuang's aunt immediately said: "That's okay, give me six hundred and six, what do you think?"

He Xiuman's father's face turned down, he was not happy.

At this moment, He Xiuman spoke. She looked at her father and said, "Dad, come out."

Her father didn't know what the daughter was up to, and didn't want to talk to her, but he was afraid that she would say something bad in public, so he had to follow He Xiuman to the corner of the yard.

In front of her father, He Xiuman asked directly: "Will you buy me a dowry for the gift money given by his family?"

Her father's eyes were wide open, he looked at her incredulously, and blurted out: "How is it possible?"

"Oh." He Xiuman's expression was indifferent, and she was not surprised, but she had her own way, and she said like a fool: "I just like Gao Zhuang. Even if he doesn't give the gift money, I will marry him! If you don't agree, just marry him." Don’t agree, anyway, the country advocates free marriage!”

"If you don't let me marry, I will just eat rice at home and do nothing!"

He Xiuman's back was straight and her eyes were firm. When she met her daughter's eyes, her father's heart skipped a beat. He knew that this daughter could really do it!
So, 1 minute later, her father returned to the main room in despair, and left a sentence: "Six hundred and six is ​​six hundred and six, it's quite auspicious!"

"Hey, good! Good!" Seeing that the in-laws let go, Grandma Xi also heaved a sigh of relief, and quickly agreed with a smile.

So the two sides talked about other gifts, such as new clothes, snacks, wine and so on.

After He Xiuman returned to the main room, she stopped talking and quietly pretended to be a lady. However, she was thinking in her heart how to get the gift money from her parents.

Want her to marry empty-handed?
no way!

(End of this chapter)