Siheyuan: There are three little cats at home

Chapter 404
In Xu Qing's house, people were crowded, old and young, crowded together, all looking at the groom Guan Fengming and the bride Xiujuan.

Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat and asked the newlyweds to bow to their elders and parents according to past practice.

First came Grandpa and Grandma, followed closely by Tang Nianguo and his wife.

After all, Tang Nianguo and his wife were juniors in front of Xu Qing's grandparents.

The foreigners who were invited came with cameras in their hands and kept snapping pictures of this scene, hoping to record it.

Silly Zhu, who had not been able to enter Xu Qing's house, stood outside the door with his two apprentices, looking at the foreigners taking pictures, holding a cigarette in his mouth and thinking to himself:
"Good guy! Feng Ming's wedding was even more lively than last year's Patriotic one. The cameras in the hands of those seven or eight foreigners almost never stopped. I dare foreigners to like the prosperity too."

Er Mazi and his wife crowded around Shazhu, stood on tiptoes and looked into the room. However, they were blocked by the tall foreigners. They heard laughter and laughter in the room, but they were stunned to see everything. Not seeing him, I feel a little disappointed.

There is no way, now in Xu Qing's house, there are a bunch of officials, a bunch of seniors, plus those foreigners and the elders of Xu Qing's family, the rest can't squeeze in at all.

Even Yu Li, Yan Jiecheng, Xu Damao, Qin Huairu, Qin Jingru and Liu Guangfu in the courtyard could only stand at the door and look around.

The house is so big, and the number of people it can accommodate is limited. Everyone wants to get in, but there is nothing they can do if they can't get in. They have to lie down at the door of the house with three floors inside and three floors outside to watch.

Fifteen minutes later, Yi Zhonghai asked Xu Fengming, the old director of the factory, to finish his congratulations to the newcomers, and then motioned for everyone to go to the courtyard to have a meal.

At this time, tables, chairs and benches had already been set up in the front, middle and back courtyards. Silly Zhu asked Auntie and the others to start taking out the food. As soon as everyone sat down, they started to sit down.

The weather is hot in summer, so Shazhu cooks more cold dishes than last year when Aiguo and Guangfu got married, and the "eight big bowls" are indispensable.

Because the space in the courtyard is limited, there are still many people here today, so Shazhu prepared sixteen dishes for each table, eight cold and eight hot.

There are four meat and four vegetable dishes in the cold dish, and four meat and four vegetable dishes in the hot dish.

Whether foreigners are used to it or not is not his concern.

The night before yesterday, Silly Zhu told Xu Qing about this matter, and Xu Qing just said, do what we want.

Therefore, Silly Zhu didn't want to engage in foreign food. Besides, his specialty was Tan's cuisine and Sichuan cuisine. He didn't know how to cook foreign food, and he didn't have any in the Knife and Fork Garden.

It's just that in these years, foreigners who can come to China are subject to extremely strict censorship. They are all very fond of and interested in domestic culture. Don't look at them, all of them are blond and blue-eyed, sitting at the table, picking up chopsticks to pick up food. Don't fall behind.

Silly Zhu stood under the eaves of his house and saw the foreigner using chopsticks in a decent manner. He smoked a cigarette in surprise and said to the two apprentices:

"You guys, look at those foreigners."

After hearing this, Ma Hua looked over and frowned: "Master, what's so good about foreigners? They're not like us. They carry one head on their shoulders. There's nothing strange about that."

The fat man is fat and has many evil intentions. He reached out and poked Ma Hua and whispered: "Look at that fat girl. She has yellow hair and blue eyes. Look at her breasts. They are really big."

Seeing his apprentice Fatty staring at her breasts, Silly Zhu raised his hand and slapped the back of Fatty's head, "What are you looking at? You haven't seen a woman in your eight lives, have you?"

The fat man turned to look at Silly Zhu and said with a dissatisfied look on his face: "Master, if I take a second look, she can lose two kilograms of meat. If you don't look at it, Ma Hua and I are not allowed to look at it. It's true!"

The fat man was not very willing to come today. He just received another slap from the stupid pillar and said: "Master, the food for the wedding banquet is ready. If there is nothing to do, I will leave first. I have something to do in the afternoon."

Silly Zhu didn't hold back. Knowing that the fat man was full after tasting the food, he took out a dollar and handed it to the fat man and said: "Take it, this is the wedding money given to you by Qingzi. Don't think you have lost money today. You have been busy all morning." After a meal, there are still people helping you, how can you make money by following others?!"

The fat man got the money, and the dissatisfaction on his face disappeared instantly. He smiled and said: "Master, I don't feel any loss. It's MCA. He doesn't want to come."

Silly Zhu snorted and raised his hand to tell the fat man to leave quickly so as not to disturb his eyes.

As soon as the fat man left, Shazhu turned around and handed Ma Hua another dollar.

Ma Hua waved his hand and said: "Master, didn't you agree that Fatty and I will come to help? I don't want the money."

Silly Zhu grinned and said, "Ma Hua, you are better than the fat guy, but you can keep the money and take it back to buy something for your parents."

When Ma Hua heard his master say this, he put the brand new dollar into his pocket.

Everyone in the courtyard was still eating. Shazhu and Ma Hua were tired all morning. They had nothing to do now. They lay on the kang and fell asleep.

Xu Fengming and his wife Xiujuan toasted the wedding in the courtyard. They didn't see Shazhu's master and apprentice. When he asked Ma Jiefang, it turned out that Shazhu had returned to the house, so he went into Shazhu's house to toast.

Si Zhu had just fallen asleep when he saw Feng Ming coming. He hurriedly sat up from the kang and reached out to shake Ma Hua beside him. The master and apprentice drank Feng Ming and Xiu Juan's wedding wine one after another.

At around three o'clock in the afternoon, people in the courtyard left one after another, and the foreigners were the last to leave, following Tang Nianguo and his wife.

Xu Qing took his younger brother, sister, daughter-in-law, son, second father Xu Guangjin and two aunts to see off Tang Xiujuan's parents and those foreigners. As soon as they left the compound, Yanbu Gui, who was writing the gift list, chased him out and shouted to Xu Qing in a low voice. A sound.

Xu Qing returned to Yan Bugui and asked, "Third uncle, what's the matter?"

Yan Bugui pointed at the backs of those foreigners and lowered his voice: "Xiao Qing, they didn't give Feng Ming and Xiu Juan any gifts."

Xu Qing explained with a smile, "Third uncle, it's okay. Those foreigners, their country doesn't like followers, they all give gifts. My sister-in-law, Xiujuan, brought those things as a dowry, and their gifts are among them."

Yan Bugui said, "I have learned a lot. It turns out that foreigners are so particular about getting married."

After Xu Qing handed the third uncle a cigarette, he caught up with his second and third brothers and continued to escort Tang Nianguo and his wife and the foreigners out of the alley.

Standing at the entrance of the alley, Xu Qing watched them leave, waved to Tang Nianguo and his wife, and then walked back to the courtyard, preparing to clear away the tables, chairs, benches, and bowls and chopsticks in the courtyard.

At this time, Qin Huairu and Qin Jingru had already taken the initiative to help clean up in the middle yard, and Yan Jiecheng and his wife also started to take action in the front yard.

In the backyard, the second aunt and her daughter-in-law were taking the dishes and chopsticks off the table and washing them in a large enamel basin nearby.

However, Liu Guangfu's daughter-in-law looked reluctant. She felt that her mother-in-law liked to worry about things blindly, and it was not her family's wedding, so why should she help?

And she didn't know that her mother-in-law had lived for most of her life, how could she not know this.

The problem is, living in a large courtyard, surrounded by neighbors, no one needs anyone else. If you don't help others today, how can you have the nerve to ask others if something happens to your own family in the future?

What's more, Xu Qing's family is now the most prestigious in the compound, especially as Xu Qing is the director of the factory and has the highest official position in the compound. Today Fengming got married and last year's patriotic wedding, most of the guests who came to the compound were not Being an official is the status of a cadre.

Why did those people come? It was not because of Xu Qing's face. If people from other families were getting married, there would be no such honor.

In the past few years, whether it was Yan Jiecheng, the four brothers and sisters getting married, or Xu Damao and Liu Guangtian marrying wives, it was considered to be a top priority for them to have the status of cadres.But Xu Qing married two younger brothers, and almost all of them were cadres.

There were also quite a few people at the level of section chiefs and directors, and several branch directors of the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill were present both times.

Although the second aunt is uneducated, she has decades more life experience than the younger daughter-in-law.

Just from the pomp of these two weddings, it can be seen that Xu Qing's family will definitely be the most arrogant in the compound in the future.

Seeing that her daughter-in-law was not happy, the second aunt said in a low voice while washing the dishes: "Don't be so upset. People from other alleys and courtyards want to come over and clean up, but they haven't had the chance yet. Look towards the middle courtyard. Are Qin Huairu and Qin Jingru also helping?"

Liu Guangtian's wife squatted in the backyard, turned her head and glanced towards the middle courtyard, glanced at it and said, "Mom, what you said is true. Auntie and Auntie Zhang are also helping."

The second aunt responded: "You see, it's not just our family. Mom is telling you that right now Xiaoqing's family, not to mention holding a wedding banquet in the compound, even going to a restaurant on the street outside to have a banquet, that means just go. , why did you choose to hold it in the compound? That’s because people in your heart miss the neighbors in our compound.

I'll help you clean up what's going on today. If you can ease the relationship with the Xu Qing family and open your mouth when something happens in the future, our family's huge troubles may be resolved.

There is such a person in our compound. If we don't build a good relationship with him, might other families take advantage of him in the future? "

Liu Guangtian's wife fell silent for a moment, holding the bowl in her hands and washing it quietly in the water, thinking deeply about her mother-in-law's words.

When Xu Qing returned to the courtyard, he saw that everyone in the courtyard was helping to clean up, and he quickly thanked him.

As soon as there were more people, within an hour, the courtyard was cleaned and returned to its former appearance.

Xu Qing took out a few cartons of cigarettes left at home after marrying Feng Ming, and gave one to the third uncle, second uncle, and first uncle each.

To others, giving away a cigarette is giving money to others.

But Xu Qing had the ability to split the items in two, so Xiyanlong bought ten items in total. He divided the items with his ability and made twenty items. It wouldn't be a problem to give away a few items.

Who asked the neighbors in the courtyard to help out today?

People in the courtyard do things beautifully and meticulously, so Xu Qing is naturally more dignified and meticulous.

The wedding wine was arranged by Xu Damao without even asking for any money, saying it was a gift to Feng Ming to celebrate his wedding.

Xu Qing also gave him a pack of cigarettes, which were not as valuable as those boxes of wine.

Silly Zhu is in charge of the wedding banquet today, and Xu Qing gave the wedding money early in the morning.

However, Shazhu didn't want it himself. At noon, he gave it to his two apprentices.

But this is Silhu's own business. Xu Qing is busy with his third brother's marriage today and doesn't know about it.

After delivering cigarettes to Yi Zhonghai, Xu Qing carried two kilograms of pork to the Jia family, and then carried a bottle of wine and a pack of cigarettes into the Silly Pillar House.

Silly Zhu slept all afternoon and was sitting in the room, drinking tea to wake up. When he saw Xu Qing coming, he hurriedly asked him to sit on the kang.

Xu Qing put the cigarettes and wine on the edge of the kang. Silly Zhu immediately refused and said, "Qingzi, what are you doing with these? I'm not with my brother anymore?"

Xu Qing smiled and said: "Brother Silly Zhu, how can this be an outsider? You have been helping other people's affairs outside these years. When did you come back and get wedding money, wedding cigarettes, and wedding wine? We are brothers. How can I, my brother?" Can do errands."

Silly Zhu grinned and said, "If it works, brother, I will accept it."

Silly Zhu put the cigarettes and wine into the cabinet, turned around and sat down on the edge of the kang, took out the economical cigarettes from his body, handed one to Xu Qing, and said: "Qingzi, Aiguo and Fengming, everything you saw has come true. Is the burden on your shoulders lighter now?"

Xu Qing nodded, took the flue and said, "I have now completed the task assigned to me by my grandparents."

Silly Zhu grinned, struck a match, lit Xu Qing's cigarette, then lit the cigarette in the corner of his mouth, took a puff and said:

"You two brothers don't need to worry about it anymore. Xiaoya's partner also came to our compound last year. She doesn't need you to worry about being an eldest brother. But I am still alone now. Why don't you help me think of a solution?"

Xu Qing smiled when he heard this and said: "Brother Silly Zhu, as for you, just wait for good things to come to your door."

Silly Zhu was confused. He stretched out his hand and scratched his hair and said, "Qingzi, don't tease me about my brother. How can I be so lucky?"

Xu Qing smoked a cigarette and looked at Shazhu and said: "Brother Shazhu, you really have it."

"How lucky am I?" Silly Zhu sighed with disbelief:
"Brother, I'm jealous when I see Feng Ming getting married today. You said Jinghong is about to give you a second child. Brother, I still haven't found a wife yet."

Xu Qing smiled and said nothing. He knew clearly that after the change of weather was over and the country was reopened, Lou Xiao'e would come back.

By then, how could Shazhu not have a wife, and his son would be able to see her.

"Brother Silly Zhu, do you remember Lou Xiao'e?"

Xu Qing nodded to Sha Zhu. Sha Zhu was stunned, looked at Xu Qing, and asked after a long pause:

"Qingzi, what do you mean?"

Xu Qing said: "Brother Silly Zhu, times have changed, won't Lou Xiao'e come back?"

Silly Zhu crossed his legs, took two puffs of cigarette, tilted his head, thought for a moment, and grinned at Xu Qing:

"Hey, I'm talking about Qingzi, what you said seems to be like this. When Lou Xiao'e left with her parents, something happened because of something unexpected. Now everything is fine and she has to come back."

Xu Qing saw that Silly Zhu understood a little bit, so he said: "Brother Silly Zhu, just think about it slowly. I'm going back first. My third brother and his sister-in-law will go to their wedding room later. My second father My aunt and I are also going to the small courtyard, I’m still busy today.”

Upon seeing this, Silly Zhu sent Xu Qing out of the house and sat on the threshold of the door, smoking alone and thinking.

At the end of the sky, the sun was setting, and the heat in the air was gradually fading away. Silly Zhu thought of the bracelet and letter Lou Xiao'e left for him, and felt mixed emotions in his heart. He turned around, stood up, and entered the house. He closed the door and put the girl under the kang. He took out the yellowed letter, sat on the edge of the kang, and read it quietly again. In an instant, he felt indescribably uncomfortable.

But then he thought of Xu Qing's words just now, and deep in his heart, Silly Zhu couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

Maybe he could see her again.

(End of this chapter)