Wang Xiaoqi was very obedient to his mother; otherwise, Wang Da Niang wouldn't have liked her youngest son the most.
Wang Xiaoqi nodded and said:
"Mom, I'll definitely listen to you, not my wife. She's always an outsider; we're the real family!"
"Mom will have to work hard to teach her how to be a good daughter-in-law. If she is disobedient and unfilial, Mom will tell me, and I will beat her!"
Aunt Wang said with satisfaction:
"That's my good son! Come on, I'll take you to Hongxing Farm. Let's try to settle this before the new year so you and your fourth brother can get married together!"
The thought of soon having a wife filled Wang Xiaoqi with energy. Together with Aunt Wang, the two of them, with their short legs, moved quickly and arrived at Hongxing Farm in less than an hour.
As soon as Aunt Wang arrived at Hongxing Farm, she went to Wang Erlaizi's house. Aunt Wang and Wang Erlaizi's family were distant relatives.
As soon as Aunt Wang entered the house, she greeted Er Laizi's mother:
"Sister-in-law, Xiaoqi and I have come to see you. Are there many mountain products this year? How many work points does Erlaizi get per day during the autumn harvest?"
Erlaizi's mother's mouth was practically turned to the sky. She had never seen anyone so stingy and so tactless!
When you visit someone's home, you can't go empty-handed. Even if you only bring a plate of peanuts or a few potatoes, it's still a token of your appreciation!
She immediately asked about Erlaizi's work points, as if her son could earn work points.
Whether Erlaizi earns money or not, what business is it of hers? Does he eat her rice? Or is he being supported by her?
Besides, she only has one son. She and Erlaizi's father are both capable. Even if her son is a bit lazy, she can still support him!
When she was young, people laughed at her for not being able to lay eggs, saying she only had one and then never had another.
Now they're making fun of her son for not earning work points. They say there's no way she's like this, going to someone's house to bully them!
Erlaizi's mother said with a long face:
"Eight work points, how many does your little Qi earn?"
This question was obviously asked on purpose. Everyone knows that Granny Wang dotes on her youngest son. Her sons all earned ten work points during the autumn harvest, but Wang Xiaoqi, who was in the same group as the children and the old lady, only earned six work points!
How dare you laugh at her son? The thing she dotes on herself isn't even as good as her son!
Aunt Wang chuckled awkwardly:
“Xiao Qi’s brothers all dote on him. His health isn’t as good as theirs. Besides, there are so many strong men in the family, we won’t miss Xiao Qi!”
Erlaizi's mother blocked her way, saying:
“Our family doesn’t rely on Erlaizi at all. He’s our only son, and his father and I are capable. Whatever we earn will be his!”
"Unlike families with many sons who can't even afford to get their sons married, our family doesn't have to worry about that!"
Aunt Wang retorted, unconvinced:
"It would be too much of a burden to support my parents in their old age if I only had one son. Unlike me, I have many sons, and each of them gives me enough to eat. It also makes the burden on the young couple lighter!"
Erlaizi's mother chuckled and said:
"Oh dear, sister-in-law, your third son is still so obedient to his wife?"
"That's true. The mother is too biased. She doesn't even treat everyone equally. She's practically pouring water from other bowls into the last one. I wouldn't want that either!"
If Aunt Wang didn't have something to ask of her today, she would have turned around and left right now!
Even hitting someone in the face is acceptable; how can you expose someone's shortcomings like that? How can we continue the conversation like this?
Thinking of the delicious meat that was already in her mouth, Aunt Wang suppressed her anger and changed the subject:
"Sister-in-law, I have something I need your help with today. If it works out, I'm not a stingy person, I'll give you exactly what's due!"
Erlaizi scooted two spaces closer to the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), looking wary, and said:
"My family is broke. Erlaizi is getting married soon, and we're really short on money!"
"I don't have many cloth coupons either. This garment of mine was made two years ago. I don't have any fabric to lend you!"
Aunt Wang's smile was about to fade. She hadn't asked for money or anything. How could Er Laizi's mother be so tactless!
Aunt Wang smiled apologetically:
"Sister-in-law, you're overthinking it. I don't want to lend you money; I just want you to act as a matchmaker for Xiaoqi!"
Erlaizi's mother said with a horrified expression:
"Your little Qi already has a boyfriend? What girl is so blind!"
Originally, Aunt Wang wanted to say that she had taken a liking to Zhong Wanwan, which was why she wanted Erlaizi's mother to act as matchmaker!
However, after being ridiculed by Erlaizi's mother, Wang Da Niang's vanity was also aroused.
Anyway, it's not her son's reputation that's being ruined; saying the two are dating makes her son seem more capable!
Moreover, Aunt Wang thought very darkly that if this happened, Zhong Wanwan's reputation would be ruined. Not only would the marriage not go through, but she wouldn't even have to pay a penny of the bride price, and she would have to give up a lot of dowry!
Aunt Wang proudly raised her head and said:
"That's right! The two kids are willing, and I'm an open-minded mother-in-law, so I'll just go along with their wishes!"
"I'm just asking you to go through the motions, but the matchmaker's gifts will still be given in the normal manner!"
Aunt Wang looked at Erlaizi's mother with an attitude that said, "I'm giving you a great deal, don't be ungrateful."
Erlaizi's mother didn't care about the matchmaker's gift. Given how poor and stingy Wang Da Niang was, what good things could she possibly give?
She was mainly curious: which girl was so blind that she could fall for Wang Xiaoqi?
She'd rather have her own son, Erlaizi, than Wang Xiaoqi.
Although Er Laizi is unreliable, she and Er Laizi's father are reliable. She's not the kind of mother-in-law who torments her daughter-in-law. Isn't that better than marrying Wang Xiaoqi?
Thinking of this, Erlaizi's mother's eyes lit up. She decided to steal this girl and give her to Erlaizi!
If someone could even set their sights on Wang Xiaoqi, their eye for talent must be pretty bad. The fact that she managed to snatch her away from the girl is like saving her from a terrible situation!
Although marrying into her family's lazybones was a bit like being in a fire pit, at least the pit was much smaller than that of Aunt Wang's family!
Besides, Erlaizi is incapable of working; he's a scoundrel with a foul mouth.
But not to brag, but her son at least has decent values and a sense of right and wrong.
Wang Xiaoqi obeys his mother's every word all day long, and his mother has such a terrible personality. If this girl really marries into that family, her life will be as miserable as falling into a well!
For my daughter's happiness for the rest of her life, and also, well, to sell her own son off—if I can, I'll steal him away!
With this ulterior motive in mind, Erlaizi's mother asked Granny Wang solicitously:
"Whose daughter is she? Tell me in detail, and I'll go and talk to her for you!"
Aunt Wang raised her chin and said:
“They’re not girls from your farm, they’re educated youth from elsewhere.”
"This girl is fair-skinned and has big, bright eyes. She's taken a liking to my Xiaoqi and says she won't marry anyone but my Xiaoqi..."
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