Chapter 4 fourth quarter

The formal meeting is after the back meeting.The back meeting is carried out quietly at the woman’s home, and the formal meeting ceremony is held at the man’s home. Relatives and friends must be treated. When relatives and friends come, they must bring gifts, a ready-made garment or a piece of fabric. Serious. The fourth sister followed the second aunt to Lu's house to attend the meeting ceremony. The ears of wheat seedlings came out, and the ears of wheat swayed in unison, hitting people's chests.The sun was red, and the fourth sister felt that her body was hot and dry, and fine beads of sweat oozed from her face.

"When you meet an old man, you should call him Dad or Mom. Don't be so stubborn and talk to people for nothing." The second aunt told her, "I recently learned that this family pays attention to etiquette and strict family laws. Let people say that we mountain people don't understand etiquette when they meet for the first time." "Yeah." Fourth Sister replied, feeling agitated in her heart.Last time I saw that she was the host and he was the guest, this time she is the guest, and it was actually for the Lu family and their relatives and friends to see what kind of daughter-in-law their third child would like.Oh!I heard that the Lu family has a large population, a large family, and many relatives and friends. How embarrassing it must be to be watched by others...

"Be safe, don't panic!" Second Aunt said, "Everyone has this difficult time, and when it's over, it's over." Three days ago, according to the date agreed by Liu Hongyan, the second aunt accompanied her to Xi'an to pull cloth with Lu Jianfeng and Liu Hongyan, this time accompanied by Lu Jianfeng's second sister-in-law.After arguing with each other, Liu Hongyan told the second aunt that the man would pay 200 yuan to pull the fabrics, no matter how much you buy or how little you buy, and the quality is good or bad, the limit is 200 yuan.The five of them followed, and took a bus into Xi'an, passing through a department store and then another department store. After buying a few clothes, the second aunt quietly reminded her to pick up two valuable materials. There are so many sisters-in-law, and you need to add another piece of good clothes when you go to the house in the future. Not to mention that adults are reluctant to spend money, but just saying that sisters-in-law bite you and you can't bear it. This is the most simple truth.It is necessary to buy a few good clothes cruelly when getting engaged, and the man will have to suffer even if he suffers.The fourth sister is worried, isn't it agreed to be two hundred yuan?The second aunt said she was stupid, it was just a wall made of paper, if you want to buy it, he has to buy it, if you don't buy it, they are first afraid that the marriage will collapse, of course, they can't do it without a distance.

The fourth sister, Mao Sai, suddenly realized, and bravely walked towards the woolen counter. She caught sight of the curly-haired serge, and stood still. "Let's go, Fourth Sister." Liu Hongyan didn't step forward, but called from a distance. Fourth Sister stood still, stroking the fur serge cloth roll. "Fourth sister, go to Beidajie. A department store has just been built there, and the goods are all good." The second sister-in-law stepped forward and said. Fourth Sister deliberately did not look at her and stood still. The fourth sister heard Liu Hongyan and the second sister-in-law discussing in secret.She is still standing, if she insists on buying, how will they continue to play tricks?The second aunt also whispered to her to encourage her: "No! This is what I want!"

Liu Hongyan, her second sister-in-law and Lu Jianfeng all surrounded her.It was Lu Jianfeng's turn to speak, and he was the person in charge: "It's too expensive, don't talk about it!" Fourth sister said: "I just like this fabric." Lu Jianfeng said: "I like you to buy it, but I won't!" After that, he turned around, stuffed the leather pocket into the second sister-in-law's arms, and walked away. The fourth sister seemed to be insulted, she turned around, pulled the second aunt, and said, "Uncle Liu, let me go too!" Liu Hongyan hurriedly grabbed Simeizi's arm.

The second sister-in-law dragged Lu Jianfeng over from the stairs. "I agree with this idea! Buy it!" The second sister-in-law said, "Sis sister likes this material, so she buys it if she likes it. It's not worth it to argue about this. Buy it, buy it!" A piece of serge material was torn off. Lu Jianfeng frowned and took out the money, the boss was not happy. The fourth sister felt very sad when she thought of this.When I looked up, I suddenly saw a group of older girls and younger daughters-in-law at the entrance of the village. Several young girls were singing the name of the fourth sister. They stopped her at the entrance of the village to see her...

"Keep your head up and walk, no one cares about you." The second aunt said. The fourth sister followed the second aunt and walked through the chattering and laughing alleys until Liu Hongyan led them into the Lu family's courtyard. Liu Hongyan led the fourth sister, walked into the upper and inner rooms first, pointed to an old man and said, "This is your father." The fourth sister did not dare to look at it, and gently squeezed out the word "dad" from her mouth.Liu Hongyan pointed to another wife and said, "This is your mother." The fourth sister called again, "Mom." Liu Hongyan led her to the main living room again. : This is your elder sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, elder brother, second elder brother, aunt, uncle, elder aunt, elder uncle, second aunt, second uncle... She called them one by one, and those people responded embarrassedly when they heard her call Then, Liu Hongyan handed her over to Lu Jianfeng and asked him to lead her to a secluded mansion.

He led her, pushed open the door of the Xiamen house, and beckoned her to sit on the chair.He poured a glass of water from the thermos, handed it to her, and said, "Drink some water." Fourth sister didn't look up, she caught the water glass. When he handed the teacup to her, he tilted his head and said softly, "At your house that night, you didn't even give me a cup of water." The fourth sister looked up and saw his eyes pretending to be angry, and immediately argued, "It's poured water!" "The second aunt poured it for me, not you," he said.

"Anyone is the same, as long as they are not thirsty for you," she said. "No—the same!" he said in a drawn-out, solemn tone, and then he bent down, his eyes flashing with enthusiasm, "No matter what, I am completely and completely for today. You serve." He gave her a funny smile and walked out the door. The fourth sister is sitting in the small building, her heart is beating differently. This strange home is her future home. Stirring the spoon in the pot, living the sun and the moon in a yard.He didn't seem to be the foolish impression he left on her when he turned his back, but became a bit like another person.Yes, in their house, he was lively when he came in and out, and his talk was a bit funny, even remembering that she didn't pour him tea with her own hands, but he would only say "no problem" that night...

In this small hut, there is an earthen kang, on which is covered with coarse home-woven sheets, and the quilt is also black and white checkered home-woven fabrics, and there are two or three piles on the table and on the ground under the table. The dismantled iron casing of the motor, red-purple enameled wires, screws, awls, pliers, etc., mixed with the smell of engine oil and gasoline filled the small building.Although the fourth sister was not used to the smell, she had a mysterious feeling towards the owner of the house. The sister-in-law came in and took her to eat. Breakfast is glutinous rice noodles. I heard from my second aunt that people in Guanzhong eat glutinous rice noodles for breakfast on weddings and weddings.She sat at the same table with those relatives, and the second aunt sat on the same bench next to her. Lu Jianfeng ran back and forth to deliver meals to the table.He first delivered a bowl of Xaozi noodles to Liu Hongyan who was sitting at the top, then to the second aunt, then to the fourth sister, and then to other relatives in a clear order.Fourth Sister remembered what he said about not pouring water for him.He went out again with an empty tray.

Everyone was very polite and courteous, greeted each other, gave way, and no one moved their chopsticks first. Only Liu Hongyan took the lead and made the first loud sound of sucking noodles, followed by a burst of sucking. The sound of the noodles, the sound was like tearing cloth, sizzling - sizzling - the fourth sister was the last to grab the chopsticks and gently stir the noodles, trying not to make any noise... Just after eating, the fourth sister was ushered into the building by the sister-in-law, and she had already met once when she met her back, so she was no stranger to her.The elder sister-in-law is thick and thick, with big nose, big eyes and wide mouth, and she speaks completely like a master: "Fourth sister, look, what did your son-in-law pile up in the house? You can understand it at a glance, my third brother He's a smart guy!" There was a burst of creaking laughter outside the door, and the sister-in-law rushed out to welcome her out.The fourth sister saw from the door that a group of girls and daughters-in-law had rushed into the room, looking at the cloth.Those cloths pulled back a few days ago are now placed on the table in the upper room for people to appreciate. Thinking of the entanglement that occurred over the serge when the cloth was pulled that day, she still feels awkward in her heart, and he just walked away with a wave of his hand!In order to save dozens of dollars, he would rather blow with her!Is she worth the wool serge? Those daughters-in-law and girls had seen enough and talked about it enough, they flooded into the mansion like a flood, admiring her.They all stared at her with strange eyes, laughed and whispered, and someone called out from the door: "What a beautiful man!" They all burst out laughing.They didn't sit down, put each other's shoulders, held hands, and just stared at her from head to toe.The fourth sister was uncomfortable and couldn't avoid it, but no one made fun of it. The second aunt said that nonsense is not allowed when you are engaged. Let it be seen! This group of girls and daughters-in-law had seen enough, and went out laughing and discussing, another group of daughters-in-law and girls rushed in to watch... A whole noon, the stream was endless, the fourth sister and the clothes she bought were exhibited here , for the women of Lvjiabao to appreciate, criticize and laugh, until the morning banquet was set, those women dispersed in an uproar.The fourth sister was dragged to the dinner table by her sister-in-law again, and she lost her appetite.She suddenly realized that the scene of engagement was a form of public opinion, announcing to all Lujiabao villagers and Lu Kejian's old and new relatives and friends that Lu Jianfeng had engaged this daughter-in-law, and if he regretted it in the future, he would bear the public opinion Bar! After lunch, some people came to continue watching.The fourth sister couldn't take it anymore, and quietly urged the second aunt: "Go back!" The second aunt advised her to be patient, saying that this is the custom here, and no girl can avoid this time, even though they look at others, they will one day To be seen, to be admired. Until the sun was setting on the west mountain, the fourth sister and the second aunt came out surrounded by Lu Jianfeng's family and relatives.The two old men stopped at the door.Several relatives also stopped walking in the streets and alleys. The eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law accompanied them to the entrance of the village, and then apologized, saying that they did not entertain the guests well, and then told them to drive slowly on the road.After leaving the village, the fourth sister let out a long breath, shaking off all the thorns on her body.She couldn't help but said, "Uncle Liu, you should come back too." Liu Hongyan laughed: "My task is not yet complete!" Lu Jianfeng was the last one, with a big red bundle on his arm, and said, "Uncle Liu, let them take it home..." "Nonsense!" Liu Hongyan widened her eyes, "There's no reason for people to take it back by themselves? This is a dowry gift from your son to his fourth sister, and you have to send it to see sincerity. You only want to be simple, even The rules are also lost..." Ten days later, Liu Hongyan stepped into the second aunt's house again, while the family was having dinner.Liu Hongyan brought the proposal from the Lu family: get married on May 1st.Just out of a very practical consideration, if you get married before the summer harvest, you can share a ration, and summer wheat is the main ration for a year.Liu Hongyan put herself in the shoes and said: "Actually, this is also good. The Lu family will share an extra ration, which will reduce your burden here. Fourth sister lives with you, and she can neither share rations nor earn work points. Boss Lu would rather Be considerate, sooner or later it will be a family..." "Let Simeizi talk first." The crippled uncle said stubbornly, declaring that he did not dislike his wife's niece eating his rations, "It doesn't matter if there is more or less food in our family, Simeizi will eat whatever we eat. Can I see you? The fourth sister is in our house, so she is our baby!" "It's too fast!" Aunt also issued a statement, "It's only been a few days since the engagement..." "What do you think?" Second Aunt looked at Fourth Sister. "Gu...you can figure it out..." Fourth Sister lowered her head. "You can tie it up if you say so, and we won't tie it up if you don't want to." The second aunt was straightforward, "Anyway, I've lived in our house for a year or so, and I have your food and clothes. Your uncle just said..." The fourth sister thought, anyway, sooner or later she would go to Lu's house, and she would get a share of rations there, and she would be a member of Lu's castle, and she could go to the land to earn work points.Living in the second aunt's house, although my aunt and uncle will not be afraid that she will eat food, is not a long-term solution.Although the food in Guanzhong is richer than that in northern Shaanxi, it is also distributed according to the population ratio, and no one has three stones or five stones in storage.Some leftover grains were quietly sold to grain dealers as if they were treasures. A catty of wheat was sold for more than fifty cents, and a catty of corn was sold for twenty-eight cents.If she lived for three and a half years, how much would the food she ate be sold for? Although "May Day" marriage is a little urgent, it will always happen.She didn't raise her head, but said firmly, "Just do what Uncle Liu said." Liu Hongyan hurried to Lu's house again to answer the question. The crippled uncle stood up and said with great emotion: "Since this is the case, that's fine. It's good to end the knot early and enjoy the sun and the moon with peace of mind. Both ends are fine." He also specifically said to the second aunt, "Didn't the Lu family give three gifts?" The second aunt nodded. The fourth sister didn't know what my uncle was doing with the gift money, and was taken aback for a moment.That is two hundred and forty yuan, one is eighty yuan, exactly three.A unit specially used for engagement in Guanzhong, one gift is equal to eighty. "Don't keep any of these gift money, all of them will be used as a dowry for the fourth sister." The uncle said, "The fourth sister is our niece, and she is far away from the second elder, so let's make it decent for the baby, don't make people laugh!" , went to the farm. The second aunt looked affectionately at the crooked figure of the uncle going out of the door, and suddenly burst into tears, hugged the fourth sister's shoulders, and said emotionally: "Did you see? Your uncle has bad legs and good intentions. Auntie This is the blessing..."