Siheyuan: There are three little cats at home

Chapter 398: Very busy years ago
Aiqian's mother smiled bitterly and said to Xu Qing: "Xiaoqing, don't be surprised, your uncle is just such a person, he has a bad temper, he can't turn corners when he speaks, he goes straight, and he has a loud voice. He only knows how to lead soldiers with guns all day long. Since I got married to him, I have to take care of everything by myself."

Xu Qing sat upright and said, "Auntie, thank you for your hard work!"

"It doesn't matter if you don't work hard. None of my daughters can make me worry."

Aiqian's mother sighed and finished speaking. She turned around and glanced at the girls standing beside her. Her eyes finally stopped on the little girl Liu Aiqian. She stretched out her hand and pulled Aiqian to sit aside. Then she looked at Xu Qing and Xu Aiguo. road:
"Xiao Qing, I heard from Aiguo that your parents are no longer here. I know that you, Aiguo, and your four siblings are all hard-working children. Auntie, I didn't mean to mention this. It's just a matter of Aiqian and Aiguo. Oh, auntie, I'll tell you the truth. , I am not against it, but the main thing is that your family has no old man to take care of it. If my daughter gets married, I will be afraid of her."

Liu Aiqian's mother sighed again mid-sentence.

Xu Qing knew what she meant, and to put it bluntly, he was still a little reluctant.

I just don’t know whether it’s out of testing for family background or because I feel that I don’t look down on someone from a small family.

Thoughts were running in Xu Qing's mind, and he secretly felt that he was afraid that his family would have no money.

After all, no parent is willing to let his daughter marry a pauper and suffer hardship for the rest of his life.

As for paying attention to being well-matched, I should have no opinion on this aspect.

It was only a few years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, 30 years ago, and during the war, Liu Aiqian's family was also poor and had nothing to live with.

If it was really a rich family, it should have been rejected directly when they knew that their second brother and Aiqian had started dating.

What's more, these days, who pays attention to the right family, isn't it the opposite of the "ten years" that just ended.

According to the situation of Liu Aiqian's family, such low-level mistakes should not be made.

Not to mention the matter of children.

After thinking about it, Xu Qing said directly: "Auntie, don't worry, my parents are indeed dead, but with my daughter-in-law and my younger sister, Aiqian will definitely not let her suffer if she gets married. I will never say that your daughter Aiqian will suffer in our house, I can assure you of this."

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he glanced at his second brother next to him, then turned back to Liu Aiqian's mother and said:

"Auntie, my second brother works at the main factory of our Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. You should have heard of his current position before. I asked him, my third brother, and my sister to finish college a few years ago, so that they can all finish college in the future. After each of you gets married, don't let your wife and children suffer, your family's Aiqian will marry into our family, you can rest assured!"

As Xu Qing said, he reached out and took out the 200 yuan money he had prepared, and put it in front of Liu Aiqian's mother, "Auntie, do you think the gift of [-] yuan is worth it?"

Liu Aiqian's mother was shocked when she saw Xu Qing handing out two hundred dowry gifts at once.

In recent years, the wedding gifts for ordinary people have increased slightly, but I have never heard of them exceeding one hundred.

And when the children of cadres living in the city get married, the dowry will only cost 200 yuan to the sky.

Of course, there are also individual cases where a lot of betrothal gifts are given.

But the amount Xu Qing gave was not inferior to those from the families of high-ranking cadres.

Liu Aiqian's mother and Liu Aiqian's sisters looked at the [-]-dollar gift on the red lacquer coffee table and thought secretly in their hearts.

Xu Qing continued: "Auntie, if you think it's too little, then you can discuss the amount with my uncle, and our family will never pay it back."

When Xu Qing left home today, he took a 400-yuan gift with him. He knew that Aiqian came from a high-ranking family, so he did not prepare the gift as ordinary people would.

But he didn't take out all 400 yuan at once.

If 200 yuan can be finalized, it is best, why pay more.

The money didn't come from the wind, it was Xu Qing who gave the food stamps and oil stamps accumulated over the years to Xu Damao several times after Xu Damao resumed his old business this year and made a living as a second-hand dealer, and exchanged them for money one after another.

But it's not all 400 yuan, which includes Xu Qing's salary last month and the money saved by the family.

Xu Qing has the ability to 'split into two'. Xu Qing buys the rice, flour, rapeseed and other things at home every weekend when he has free time. If he divides what he buys according to his ability, he will spend less money. Naturally, you can save money.

Not to mention that Xu Qing still had a pension that had not been touched much since his parents passed away.

Today, let alone four hundred, even if Liu Aiqian's family asked for a gift of 600 yuan, he could still afford it.

It’s just that I will be nervous about organizing the patriotic wedding later on.

But no matter what, I have to book the marriage for my second brother Aiguo first, otherwise there will be no future.

When Liu Aiqian's mother heard Xu Qing's words, her doubts were finally dispelled.

I was able to take out a 200 yuan gift without batting an eyelid, and even said that if it was too little, I could add more.

Liu Aiqian's mother naturally understood that the conditions of Xu Qing's family were really good. When her daughter got married, she didn't have to worry about living a frugal life. She said with a smile on her face:
"Xiaoqing, you and Aiguo sit down and drink some tea. I'll tell the nanny at home to cook a few more delicious dishes for dinner, and you two will stay at home for a meal."

Hearing this, Xu Qing was overjoyed, knowing that Liu Haiqian's mother had let go and agreed to the engagement between her second brother and Aiqian, she also breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Aiguo had been trembling just now, fearing that the matter would fail, and it would be ruined. At this time, he also heard the meaning of the mother-in-law's words, and looked at his elder brother gratefully. At the same time, he put down his tense thoughts and hanging hearts, and turned to face The object sitting opposite Aiqian, the two looked at the object affectionately.

The matter of the two of them has been settled, the child in their womb can be kept, and there is no embarrassment, so I am very happy.

During Xu Qinghe Aiguo's dinner at Liu Aiqian's house, he saw the food of high-ranking officials' families.

It's really different, chicken, duck and fish are all available, don't look at the shortage of meat these days, ordinary people want to eat, they have to squeeze their heads to buy it in state-run stores, supply and marketing cooperatives, and department stores.

But like this kind of family who have contributed to the founding of the country, the country allows them to enjoy special treatment, and they can eat whatever they want.

People exchange their lives for a good life, and it is only natural to eat better.

Xu Qing and Aiguo had dinner at Liu Aiqian's house and sat there for a while before leaving at almost ten o'clock in the evening.

On the road, snow was falling in the dark night sky. Xu Aiguo sat on the back seat of his bicycle, with his hands spread out and his heart full of joy. He ignored the cold wind and blew the snow flakes into his mouth, and said loudly and quickly:

"Brother, thank you for being here today, otherwise Aiqian and I really don't know what to do. Aiqian said, tomorrow night we will invite you, my sister-in-law, Fengming, Xiaoya, and our family to go outside. Go to the restaurant."

Xu Qing held the cold bicycle handlebars with both hands, turned slightly sideways and said:
"You two don't mess around these few days, stay at home honestly, I have a kiss for you today, and the wedding day is also chosen, hurry up and prepare for the wedding."

Xu Aiguo put down his outstretched hands, and said humbly: "Then I will listen to elder brother. I will call Aiqian tomorrow and tell her."

Tonight's snow fell heavily and fiercely. When Xu Qing and Aiguo returned to their compound by bicycle, they had already become snowmen.

Ma Jinghong, Xiaoya, and Feng Ming ran out of the house. Seeing that they were covered in snow, they were both shocked and distressed. Jinghong hurriedly took photos with Xiaoya, and at the same time asked Feng Ming to come in and sweep the feather duster and kang sweeper. Take out the broom.

While patting the snow on her man's body, Ma Jinghong hurriedly asked:
"Brother Qing, how about patriotism?"

Xu Qing bent down and patted the snow on his body and said: "We have made the engagement, and we have received two hundred as a bride price. It is not much, and the wedding day is set on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, which is the Little New Year's Day."

Xu Xiaoya at the side heard the elder brother's words, patted the snow on Aiguo's back with her hands, and said with a pretty smile:

"Second brother, are you happy now?"

Xu Aiguo smiled naively, raised his hand and hit his sister on the head, "You dare to tease me, your second brother."

Xu Xiaoya was still a girl who had not left the court. She stuck out her tongue and spit it at her second brother, and said playfully:
"Second brother, when your child is born next year, you can see how I bully him."

Xu Fengming held the broom for sweeping the kang in his left hand and the feather duster in his right hand. He came out of the house, handed the broom to his sister-in-law Jing Hong, and then used the feather duster to dust off the snow on Xu Aiguo's body. He bared his teeth and said with a smile:
"Second brother, I guessed a long time ago that you and eldest brother must have made an appointment for you. If you haven't come back after eight o'clock, you must have been left for dinner. Guess what, our sister insisted No, I said that my second sister-in-law's family made things difficult for you and elder brother."

Xu Xiaoya rolled her eyes at Feng Ming, "Third Brother, you are the only one who talks too much!"

Xu Fengming looked indifferent, holding a feather duster and continuing to sweep snow for Aiguo.Two or three minutes later, the snow on Xu Qing and Aiguo's bodies was swept away, they stomped their feet, and brought their younger siblings and daughter-in-law Jinghong into the house.

As soon as the door was closed, Xu Qing took off his gloves and scarf, and sat in front of the stove in the front room. He and Aiguo warmed up by the fire while holding Jinghong's tea mug filled with hot water.

On the hot bed, the little guy Xu Hongzhi fell asleep early. He didn't have to worry about anything. After finishing dinner at home and eating a roasted sweet potato, he got into bed and lay on the bed for a while and read comic books. Go to sleep.

Ma Jinghong turned her head and glanced at her son, stretched out her hand to tuck the quilt, sat on the edge of the kang and whispered:

"Brother Qing, if Patriotic got married on the day of the new year, it will be very cold today, and it will only take more than half a month. It's too rushed."

Xu Qing took a sip of hot water from the tea vat, looked at his second brother, and said in a low voice:

"The belly of love is getting bigger every day. If they don't let them get married sooner, if it is delayed until the beginning of next year, when relatives, friends and neighbors see it, it will have a bad influence on the two of them."

Ma Jinghong thought so, nodded, and said after a while:
"Then from tomorrow, Xiaoya and I will dress Aiguo in new clothes, and then prepare the quilt and mattress."

Xu Qing hummed, put the teapot in his hand on the stove lid, took the cigarette from his third brother Feng Ming, lit it, took two puffs and said:
"You have to hurry up. The relatives and friends who should be notified have to be notified as soon as possible." Xu Qing raised his head and said to Xu Aiguo: "You tell your colleagues in the main factory tomorrow."

"Here at home, Feng Ming, take some time tomorrow at noon to send a telegram to your grandparents and second dad in the countryside. Wait until the 20th of the twelfth lunar month to hire a car and bring them to the city."

Xu Fengming held the flue in his hand and said, "Okay, big brother, I'll go to the post office tomorrow."

In the courtyard outside the house, the snow had not stopped, and it kept falling from the dark night amidst the howling of the cold wind.

Early in the morning, when Xu Qing got up, he saw that Xu Damao, who also lived in the backyard, had woken up very early and was already standing in the yard smoking a cigarette. Under the barely bright sky, he stepped on the thick ground in the yard. Layer of snow walked over.

"Brother Damao, there is something that I need you to pay attention to."

Xu Damao was wearing a gray woolen overcoat, which he bought from someone who didn't know where he bought it, and smoked and said:

"Qingzi, what's the matter? Just tell me."

Xu Qing then said: "Brother Da Mao, my second brother is going to get married that day, please help me ask about the alley not far from our compound, which compound has a house for rent, the price is not a problem, if there is such a The small private courtyard is the best, let’s forget about the one in front of us, I’ll ask Feng Ming to ask about it.”

When Xu Damao heard Xu Qing's words, he was surprised, and his face was full of joy: "Hey, Qingzi, marrying a patriot or marrying Feng Ming. A few days ago, I heard people from our hospital say, you go to Lao Mo and marry Feng Ming." I'm engaged, did I listen to you just now?"

Xu Qing shook his head, "Brother Damao, it's about patriotism, not Fengming. I asked Fengming last night and he said there's no rush and he'll wait until after the beginning of autumn next year."

Xu Damao looked doubtful, stretched out his hand and scratched his head and said: "Patriot? When did he get engaged? Why didn't I hear you tell me about it? No one in our hospital mentioned this to me. Who is the girl that Patriot is dating?" Have you passed our compound?"

Xu Qing smoked a cigarette and said, "Brother Da Mao, don't ask me, just help me find the house first."

Xu Damao frowned and took two puffs of cigarettes, "Okay, it's just about the house, and I'll leave it to my brother."

After Xu Damao finished speaking, driven by curiosity, he couldn't help but ask again: "Qingzi, why are you in such a hurry to get married patriotic? Can't you wait until the New Year is over and the weather gets warmer?"

"no!"

Xu Damao snorted and didn't ask any more questions, but said with a bad smile on his face: "Qingzi, it's not like him to get married in such a hurry."

Xu Qing smiled and said to Xu Damao: "Brother Damao, no matter how impatient my second brother is, he can't compare to you. When you were not married, you didn't dare to do anything without a single stroke of your horoscope."

Xu Damao knew what Xu Qing was going to say next, so he quickly raised his hand to stop him and said, "Qingzi, hey, let's stop here, brother, I'm a hero, I won't talk about being brave back then, those things are in the past, let's not talk about the patriotic wedding room, Leave it to me and you can rest assured."

Standing in the cold courtyard, Xu Qing finished his business with Xu Damao, chatted for a few words, and hurried back to the room to warm up.

Five days later, on the weekend, the sky was clear and snowless, the air was dry and cold, and the sun high in the sky did not give any warmth.

Xu Damao said to Xu Qing:

"Qingzi, I asked you a few days ago that there are two vacant houses in our area, but they only have one room, and the houses are relatively small, about the same size as your small house. It turns out that It’s a place for storing sundries, so it’s okay for people to live in it, but it doesn’t have a kitchen, so to cook, you have to build a stove at the door of the house.”

Xu Qing stopped directly and said, "Brother Da Mao, that won't work. The room is too small and I can't cook. What do I want it for? Besides, there is no such kind of hut in our courtyard. Brother Shazhu's house in the middle courtyard, where Yushui lived before he got married If that hut is not idle all the time, why should I let you look for it outside."

Xu Damao shrank his body and said: "Then there will only be a small private courtyard with a high asking price, three tile-roofed houses, and the yard is not big, this number."

Xu Damao opened his hand and put it in front of Xu Qing, "One month, three five."

"15 yuan?"

"Ah."

Xu Damao nodded.

Xu Qing looked at Xu Damao without saying a word. Xu Damao said hurriedly: "Qingzi, don't look at me like this. The owner of the house said the price. Brother and I didn't do anything."

"Brother Da Mao, do you think there is something to talk about?"

"It should be. I asked a few people nearby, and they said that the small courtyard has been empty for more than two years, and no one is willing to rent it. They all think the price is outrageous."

Xu Qing thought about Xu Damao's words and said after a moment: "Brother Damao, how about this? When Patriot comes back later, he and I will go over with you to take a look."

Xu Damao held the cigarette in his mouth and said: "Okay, brother, I haven't been doing much trouble lately, so I have nothing to do. Then when Patriot comes back, I can take you two over and take a look."

At 02:30 in the afternoon, Xu Aiguo and Xu Fengming came back on bicycles. Xu Qing did not follow them to buy furniture in the morning, so he asked:

"Feng Ming, how do you and Patriot Furniture look?"

Xu Fengming sat tiredly in front of the table in the front room, grabbed the enamel tea mug, poured hot water for a while, and said: "I have seen a lot, and the new furniture now has a lot of tricks, compared to when you married my sister-in-law. I don’t know how much more, but the price is not cheap. My second brother took me to the old furniture place again. The cheap ones there, many of them are old things from the past, but they are too old and not suitable for marriage. But it looks interesting to me, and I'm going to buy a few of them myself."

Seeing that the third brother could not hear a useful word from his mouth, Xu Qing turned to look at the second brother and said:

"Patriotic, you are getting married, forget about the old furniture, you have to use new ones for the wedding, don't worry about the money, there is a big brother and your sister-in-law, we can buy what we should buy, you take a break with me and Da Mao Brother, go to see the house, let Feng Ming wait for you Jiefang Brother and Wu Yuemei to come and let them buy it for you about the furniture."

Ma Jinghong sat on the kang and held the wedding quilt with her sister-in-law, and echoed: "Aiguo, listen to your elder brother. My younger brother is here. I asked him and Feng Ming to help you buy furniture. You only get married once in your life. How can you use it?" You don’t like the old one, and your wife doesn’t like it?”

Xu Aiguo looked at his eldest brother Xu Qing, then turned to his sister-in-law Jinghong and said:

"Actually, I think that being married is living a life. Old furniture or new furniture are used the same. There is no difference."

Ma Jinghong put the needle and thread on the slippery red quilt, and said with a smile: "Patriotic, you think the same, your wife, your mother-in-law and your old man, they don't necessarily think so."

Xu Aiguo stopped talking, and the third mother and first mother who came to help said:
"Patriotic, if we are your mother-in-law, we come to your house and see your old furniture, we must take your daughter-in-law back. You listen to your sister-in-law and your elder brother. In this matter, don't be stubborn. You have to save money." Put some flowers on it, but this is not a place to be spared.”

Xu Aiguo still lowered his head and said nothing.

He understood the truth, but when he thought about it, he gave 200 yuan as a bride price a few days ago. In the past few days, he has spent a lot of money without buying anything.

Life at home is easy, but when he gets married, he is no longer like Liu Guangfu, who lives in the backyard, and can empty out his family.

And just when Xu Aiguo looked sad, Xu Damao walked into the room:
"Qingzi, Patriotic, let's leave now. I see that the weather is not very good today. Just now the radio said that there will be snow today. Let's go early and return early."

Xu Qing stood up and patted his second brother, "Aiguo, don't think about the furniture now. Let's go see the house."

Xu Aiguo silently followed the eldest brother out of the house, pushing Feng Ming's bicycle, and the three of them went out of the compound together.

(End of this chapter)