Chapter 18 Calculation

Li Aiyun sent Old Dai away. Her two daughters-in-law came out of their respective rooms and came to her side and asked, "Mom, is the third daughter-in-law sure?"

Li Aiyun glanced at the two of them and said, "When someone came to our house just now, you two were hiding in the house and didn't even come out to greet them. Fortunately, Aunt Dai is not a talkative person. If it were someone else, as soon as they left this room, they would say that my two daughters-in-law in the Zheng family have no manners. Others would also say that I, as your mother-in-law, didn't teach you well."

The eldest brother's wife smiled awkwardly, "Mother, look at what you said. I was just thinking that since Third Brother's matchmaking is such a big deal, I have to listen to you and father. I won't get involved until it's confirmed, right?"

The second son's wife also said: "Yes, mother, if it is decided, I promise to do it without any ambiguity."

Besides, if you guys get together to talk about betrothal gifts, betrothal gifts, or something like that, would you let us hear it? They'd just send us back. Is it shameful to be glared at by your mother-in-law in front of everyone else? They wouldn't come here to cause trouble.

Besides, when Old Dai came, my sister-in-law was already in the yard, but she didn't call anyone. Later, when she returned to her room from the yard, she passed by the living room and didn't hear her call anyone. You're not afraid of people saying your daughter has no manners, but you're criticizing us?

Li Aiyun thought about how she had indeed said before that neither the eldest family nor the second family should interfere in finding a wife for the third son. She had her own considerations.

Previously, the second son’s wife wanted to marry her younger sister to the third son, and the eldest son’s wife wanted to marry her younger cousin to the third son, but she refused both times.

What a joke! She's the head of the family, and she's letting you sisters gang up on her to take her power? Even though her two in-laws are okay, that won't work either.

In the absence of a division of the family, only she can maintain the balance of the family by being the head of the household.

Fortunately, the two daughters-in-law were quite sensible and not too arrogant. Since she refused, they didn't bring it up again.

Thinking of this, she looked at the big bellies of her two daughters-in-law, and her face brightened a little. These two had brought new members to the Zheng family as soon as they came home. The eldest daughter had already given birth to a son and a daughter, and it was unknown whether the third child in her belly was a boy or a girl. The second daughter's first child was a daughter, so she hoped that the one in her belly would be a son.

Moreover, the timing of these two people's pregnancy was not bad. Although they missed the grain distribution this autumn, the baby would be born next spring and would not delay the wheat harvest.

"Mom knows you two are good people. I just want to remind you to be more discerning and active, and not be lazy."

"I understand, mother."

The eldest of the families asked, "How was your conversation with Aunt Dai?"

Li Aiyun shook her head. "I haven't said that yet."

The second son's wife said, "The Xie family doesn't agree? Or are their demands too high?"

"The Xie family said they would stay for a few more years and not marry during these years."

The eldest daughter-in-law was surprised: "You won't even marry into our family?"

"No matter who it is, I won't marry her. Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Aunt Dai will help the third son find another girl. My third son is so capable, isn't it easy for him to find a wife?"

The eldest daughter-in-law smiled and said, "Mom is right. There are many girls who are eager to marry into our family."

The second son's wife agreed: "That's right, the third son is capable, and mother is also a good mother-in-law. Such a family is hard to find, you can't pick one out of a hundred."

Li Aiyun gave them an admiring look. Isn't that right!

In her heart, she blamed the Xie family for being ungrateful. They met such a good family but didn't know how to actively try to seize the opportunity. They deserved that their family couldn't live a good life.

She was attracted to Xie Yun because they were all in the same brigade and knew each other better. Xie Yun was handsome, tall, good-tempered, educated, capable, and hardworking. He came from a small family with little to do.

Zhang Ruifeng was a well-behaved person, and the child she raised would not be a bad person. Moreover, given her personality, she would never allow her daughter to take things from her husband's family back to her parents' home.

The third child is away from home all year round, so he needs a wife with good character and who can stay at home, so that she won’t have to stay in an empty house for a long time after getting married and develop some inappropriate thoughts.

Besides, she was the one who took the third son's allowance, which was spent by the whole family. She also had to save up a dowry for her daughter so that she could marry into a good family, preferably in the city. In that case, she would have to pay more for the dowry, otherwise her daughter would be looked down upon by her husband's family.

Therefore, the third brother's money would have to stay in her hands for at least the next few years. He had only been in the army for six years, and his first three years were relatively low. Only after he was promoted to platoon leader did his salary increase. The money he had sent back over the years was spent on building a house and raising a child, so he had already spent most of it, leaving him with very little left. The next few years would be the time to really start saving money.

A newly married daughter-in-law should be sensible and not have any objections to this.

But you must never marry someone who is too strong and causes trouble for the family.

I originally thought that the marriage with the Xie family was a sure thing, but I didn't expect that the Xie family would disagree.

It seemed Zhang Ruifeng didn't really love her daughter that much. What did she mean by asking her to stay a few more years? Wasn't it just to let her work a few more years and help her and Xie Shen more? It sounded nice, but she didn't think about what good things her daughter would find in a few years when she was older.

Men with good conditions usually get married early. When she wants to get married, those of her age who are still unmarried must be in very poor conditions. Who would be willing to marry an older wife if they are younger than her and have better conditions?

Li Aiyun felt a little better after thinking about it. Never mind, Xie Yun was just unlucky.

She waved her hand and said, "You two go look after the kids. I'll think about making dinner later."

"Why."

The two daughters-in-law agreed and left.

The second eldest daughter returned to her room and took her daughter to her eldest sister-in-law's room to chat. The eldest son of Zheng Laoda was already six years old. He ran out and went crazy. Only the three-year-old daughter was left in the room.

The second son's wife put her own child and the eldest daughter's daughter together and let them play together. She chatted with her eldest sister-in-law while sewing shoe soles.

"What do you think Old Dai can find for Old Third?"

The eldest daughter-in-law, also holding a needle and thread, was patching her son's pants. Upon hearing this, she curled her lips and said, "Who knows? It would be best if she was an honest girl who listens to our mother and us. She's diligent. If she marries us, we can have a little easier time as sisters-in-law."

The second son's wife laughed and said, "That's right, the strong ones are not good enough. The lazy ones are even worse."

"Our mother is very ambitious. I think she is still thinking about marrying my sister-in-law to the city. I'm sure we have to save up a dowry for her in the past few years. We can't actually spend much money on the third brother."

"That's right, it's mainly our parents and sister-in-law who help us. We can only get a few bites of food from them. We can get some of the meat coupons sent by the third brother, but we don't get any other coupons."

After a pause of one second, the second son's wife smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, wait four or five years, when the younger sister-in-law is married, isn't it time to save money for the eldest son's wife? Then there will be your Erni and my Da Ni, they will also have to save money for dowries. How much can we expect to save by digging for food in the soil? We still have to rely on their third uncle."

The eldest daughter-in-law smiled and said, "As long as we don't split up, mother will naturally take care of these things. They are all her grandchildren, she can't just ignore them."

The two smiled at each other, each with their own thoughts in mind.