After Lin Hui left, Lin Tao took the cloth that Lin Changhai brought back today and went to Aunt Fang's house.
It was getting late, so Lin Tao took a flashlight, said goodbye to Lin Changhai who had already gone to bed, and set off.
Their home is only about ten minutes away from Aunt Fang, which is not far.
As we got closer, we saw that the kerosene lamp was still on in Aunt Fang's house.
Inside the house, Lin Manman was reading a book under the kerosene lamp, and Aunt Fang was also weaving a bamboo basket under the kerosene lamp.
Lin Manman is Aunt Fang's daughter. She is sixteen years old this year and should be in junior high school.
But since the movement began two years ago, the school has been on strike, and Lin Tao, who was in high school at the time, and Lin Manman, who was in junior high school, both returned home.
When Lin Manman saw Lin Tao, she quickly put down the book in her hand, stood up from her chair, and said happily: "Sister Tao is here, come and sit down, I'll go get you some water."
When Lin Tao was little, Lin Changhai had to work and take care of the children, so he was a little overwhelmed. Old Mrs. Lin was not someone she could rely on, so Lin Tao often went to Aunt Fang's house when Lin Changhai was at work.
Speaking of which, Aunt Fang also had a miserable life. Her husband died of illness when Lin Manman was only three or four years old.
Lin Manman and Lin Tao share the same suffering, grew up together, and are as close as sisters.
Seeing Lin Tao coming over, Aunt Fang continued working, but with a smile on her face: "A Tao is here, has your dad told your grandma about that? What did your grandma say?"
Lin Tao told Aunt Fang that Lin Hui was going to marry Shen Guobin and that she would be given the chance to attend the social dance.
Aunt Fang said, "Actually, what Lin Hui said is true. It's better to find someone yourself than to be introduced by others. Aunt Fang is an experienced person, and I won't hide it from you. Aunt Fang married Manman's father through a matchmaker. Our marriage was a typical 'blind marriage' at that time. We only met two or three times before the marriage."
"But things are different now. This is the new China and the new society. If you have the opportunity to find someone you like, it's better than someone introducing you to someone. Your father is a grown man and doesn't understand the mind of a little girl. Your grandmother is unreliable. I suggest that you take advantage of this social dance to get to know the factory workers. If you can marry into the city, it won't be a bad thing."
In fact, Lin Tao also thought so in her heart. Instead of waiting for a matchmaker to introduce someone, it would be better to find someone she likes.
Aunt Fang's words confirmed Lin Tao's inner thoughts.
"Aunt Fang, you're right. I'll go then."
Lin Manman quickly poured a glass of water for Lin Tao and said, "Sister Tao, I have finished reading the book you borrowed from me last time. I will give it to you now."
"Don't worry. This time I came here, I also wanted to borrow your sewing machine. My father brought me a piece of cloth and I want to make a skirt for myself." Lin Tao said.
"Okay." Lin Manman nodded, picked up the kerosene lamp and placed it next to the sewing machine.
This way, Lin Tao can see more clearly when making clothes.
When she was at home, Lin Tao roughly measured the cloth. Such a large piece of cloth could be used to make two skirts, and the remaining cloth could be used to make one for Lin Manman.
While Lin Tao was making clothes, Lin Manman sat beside her reading a book, and the two of them got along very well.
Lin Tao learned the skill of making clothes from Aunt Fang. She is smart and learns things quickly, so she could make her own clothes a few years ago.
Aunt Fang trusted Lin Tao, so she didn't ask her if she needed help.
When Lin Tao cut out the cloth, Aunt Fang had already finished weaving the bamboo basket in her hand. She had been weaving this bamboo basket for two days and could sell it at the market when the market was full.
She was not idle either. After finishing her work, she went back to the kitchen.
It's simmering on the stove over low heat, and as soon as you open the lid, the aroma fills your nose.
Lin Tao kept moving her hands and asked with a smile, "Aunt Fang, what smells so good?"
"It's pig's heart." Aunt Fang replied. She held two small bowls in her hands, each containing a few pieces of pig's heart and half a bowl of soup, sprinkled with some green onions, which made it even more appetizing.
She handed a bowl to Lin Tao and Lin Manman respectively, and said, "The neighboring commune just slaughtered a pig today, so I went there specially to buy some. Pig heart replenishes the blood, you can bring some back to your father later."
Lin Tao did not refuse and ate a piece of pig heart. It had a chewy texture but did not have the fishy smell that is typical of liver. It was very delicious.
"Thank you, Aunt Fang."
"Why are you saying thank you? It sounds so formal." Aunt Fang said angrily and took an aluminum lunch box to pack the pig heart.
Indeed, they say they are two families, but in fact they have long been as close as one family.
For example, regarding the fabric, Lin Tao knew very well that her father deliberately bought more for Lin Manman.
After the fabric was cut, it became easier to make, and two skirts were made in no time.
The two skirts were similar in style, but Lin Tao was taller than Lin Manman, so her skirt was longer. She picked it up and compared it to herself. It seemed to fit her just right.
He handed the remaining one to Lin Manman: "Manman, compare the lengths."
Lin Manman looked up from the book with a surprised expression: "Sister Tao, why did you do it for me?"
"This fabric is just right for making two skirts, go and compare them," said Lin Tao.
Lin Manman listened to her and compared the skirt. The length was just about to reach the calf, which was just right. The fabric was blue with white flowers, which matched the skin color, which was perfect for the two girls.
"So beautiful, thank you Sister Tao." Lin Manman likes this skirt very much.
When Lin Tao left, Aunt Fang handed her an aluminum lunch box wrapped in a piece of cotton cloth and said, "Wrap it tightly, don't let the fragrance leak out, and cause gossip."
Lin Changhai and Aunt Fang, one is a widow and the other is a widower. People in the village have long been spreading gossip about them, so Aunt Fang is even more cautious.
"I understand, Aunt Fang, Manman, you guys go into the house, I'll be back." Lin Tao nodded.
"Drive slowly on the road," Aunt Fang instructed.
Only when Lin Tao disappeared from view did the mother and daughter go into the house.
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The current weather is hot during the day and cool at night.
After Lin Tao returned home, she took out the aluminum lunch box, poured the pig's heart into a bowl, and covered it with a lid so that it would not go bad even if left overnight.
When Lin Tao got up the next day, she cooked some homemade rice noodles and heated up the pig's heart from last night to eat it as a sauce.
Lin Changhai went to bed early last night and had a good sleep. He felt refreshed and not so tired anymore.
When I woke up in the morning, I smelled the fragrance coming from the kitchen. I walked over and saw Lin Tao heating up the food.
He sniffed and asked, "What did Ah Tao burn today that smells so good?"
"Dad, why are you awake so early? Why don't you sleep a little longer?" Lin Tao turned around and glanced at Lin Changhai, and replied, "This is stewed pig heart. Aunt Fang asked me to bring it back for you last night to replenish your body. You can eat it after heating it up."
"Did your aunt Fang do this? Okay, I'll go wash my face." Lin Changhai said.
While having breakfast, Lin Tao also told Lin Changhai about the social dance.
Lin Changhai naturally supported this matter, as the girl was old enough to get married.
Go to the social dance and see if it works out. Whether it succeeds or not, it's better to go than not to go.
However, Lin Changhai was also very curious about the fact that Lin Hui gave Lin Tao the spot for the social dance. His niece actually took the initiative to help Tao? Could it be that the sun was rising from the west?
Lin Tao had no way to answer Lin Changhai's questions.
She could only guess that it was her grandmother who asked Lin Hui to do this. After all, Lin Hui was planning to marry Shen Guobin, so the spot for the social dance would be wasted, so it would be better to give it to her. After all, if she went and it worked out, her grandmother could still make a profit from the betrothal gift.
Judging from the fact that her grandmother planned to let her marry a man with three children and become a stepmother just for a dowry of 200 yuan, it can't be wrong.
How could she know that the Lin Hui today was not the same Lin Hui as before, and what evil plan she had in mind?
*************************
On the other hand, Mrs. Lin didn’t sleep well the whole night.
My heart aches whenever I think about Lin Hui’s inability to have children.
She lamented that her eldest granddaughter had such a miserable life. How could she not have a child when she was such a good girl?
How come the person who can’t give birth isn’t Lin Tao?
But even though she was sad, she still went out early the next morning and went to Matchmaker Zhang's house.
Without beating around the bush, he spoke directly about wanting to replace Lin Tao with Lin Hui.
Matchmaker Zhang said with some embarrassment: "Auntie, aren't you deliberately making things difficult for me? Last time, I sent the photo of your younger granddaughter directly to the man's family, and they agreed only after seeing the photo. Now you are telling me that you want to replace the younger granddaughter with the older granddaughter. This is a marriage, a major event in life, not a trivial matter like buying vegetables and replacing cabbage with radishes. How can you be so casual?"
"How could Auntie be deliberately making things difficult for you? In the nearby communes, everyone knows that you are the best at matchmaking. With your clever mouth, you have made so many matchmakers and connections. Is there anything you can't do?"
Old Mrs. Lin stuffed the bag of peach cakes in her hand into Matchmaker Zhang's arms and said, "Besides, I won't make it difficult for you. When you go there again, tell them that my granddaughter's life story is unlucky. Her mother died while she was pregnant with her, and she was taken out of her mother's belly by a doctor after she was in the coffin."
"Is this true? Auntie, why didn't you tell me earlier? It's really scary." Matchmaker Zhang was shocked when she heard this. She suddenly felt a chill at noon. "How can this person have children if she's dead?"
Old Lady Lin: "Yes, that child has a hard life, which is unlucky."
Matchmaker Zhang thought it was unlucky, but you still asked me to arrange a marriage for her without telling me in advance. Isn't this harming people?
But she didn't show it on the surface, she just said: "Okay, then I know what to say. Aunt, did you bring the photo of your eldest granddaughter? If it's someone else, I have to let the man see the photo, right?"
"I've brought her here. Here she is. My granddaughter has been beautiful since she was young. If it weren't for her..." Old Lady Lin almost let the cat out of the bag, "if it weren't for her seeing Captain Shen's photo and falling in love with him at first sight and being willing to marry him and become his stepmother, I wouldn't have been willing to let her go."
Matchmaker Zhang took the photo and took a look at it.
She thought that the eldest granddaughter was not as pretty as the younger granddaughter, but the eldest granddaughter was not bad looking if she was alone. It was just that she looked at the younger granddaughter's photo first, and then looked at the eldest granddaughter's photo, and she was a little dissatisfied.
How does that sentence go, pearls and jade and so on.
Matchmaker Zhang had not received much education, so she gave up when she couldn't remember anything.
He put the photos away and sent Mrs. Lin out: "Then, auntie, just wait for my good news."