Chapter 2. Song Zhao was deeply moved upon hearing this.
Huazhi Lane was especially lively today. Everyone gathered around to hear about the good news from the Nie family. The Nie family was also handing out wedding candies, including White Rabbit candies, which tasted delicious. Who wouldn't want to receive some? It was a lively and festive occasion, and everyone was happy to hear about it.
Nie Qingqing, her mother, and her sister-in-law went from one end of the alley to the other, and every one of the sixteen households in Huazhi Alley received a gift.
Grandpa Liu asked for the third time, nagging, "Is the man Qingqing is going to marry really the new factory director of the electronics factory? Not the old one?"
Tang Guizhi, in high spirits, laughed and answered him again: "The old factory director has retired and is too old, how could it be him? It's the new factory director, seven years older than Qingqing, with a daughter. Qingqing has a son and a daughter, so they won't fight."
Brother Chen handed a piece of wedding candy to his wife, but he was still somewhat incredulous and suspicious: "His family is so well-off, why did his ex-wife still want a divorce?"
Brother Chen's sister-in-law was understanding; she called out for wedding candy, though her words were somewhat unclear.
"The new factory director is outstanding, and his ex-wife is probably outstanding too. Outstanding people don't pursue the mundane things we ordinary people worry about every day. They pursue something called spiritual communication, which we don't understand. Anyway, didn't Qingqing say that his ex-wife remarried her first love and went to pursue love?"
Brother Chen didn't like hearing about love and complained, "What kind of love is more important than braised pork? What are you thinking?"
His wife scolded him for being unromantic: "What are you talking about? How can love not be important? Without love, how can two people live together?"
Nie Qingqing handed them a large handful of wedding candies, using them to resolve their argument. She smiled broadly and said, "You're both right. Braised pork is important, and so is love. You can't do without either."
...
After comforting Brother Chen and his wife, Nie Qingqing felt a sweet warmth in her heart. She had also worried about Brother Chen's questions last night. The new factory director was so well-off, so it was hard to understand why his ex-wife wanted a divorce.
So she talked to Song Zhao alone and asked him why he divorced his ex-wife. She couldn't believe she could meet such a good man in her second marriage and wouldn't have dared to agree to the marriage if she hadn't asked.
Song Zhao's words were quite reasonable; he didn't blame his ex-wife indiscriminately, which made his words seem more credible.
He said, "I also had my faults in the divorce. I was too rational and didn't understand romance. I couldn't remember our wedding anniversary. On my wife's birthday, I gave her a washing machine instead of what she wanted. She thought it wasn't romantic, and the small conflicts piled up. Later, her first love came back, and the two of them met up a few times. My ex-wife said that she only found love with her first love, so she asked me for a divorce. I felt that since our hearts were not together, forcing it would only make the conflicts bigger and bigger, so I agreed."
Nie Qingqing didn't understand the reason for the divorce. Giving a washing machine would save so much trouble in winter, washing thick clothes and quilts without lifting a finger. Isn't that romantic?
If she tries to be considerate of others, but they don't appreciate it and even propose divorce, then she, like Song Zhao, will agree.
Nie Qingqing was secretly delighted. Her ex-wife thought Song Zhao was unromantic, but she thought Song Zhao was great. He gave her a washing machine, and she was so happy that she ate an extra bowl of rice.
She told Song Zhao, "After we get married, you don't need to change anything. Giving me a washing machine is a very practical thing, and I really like it."
When she said this, Song Zhao smiled; that man had a really handsome smile.
Thinking about this, Nie Qingqing's cheeks flushed. She was so lucky to have met such a man in her second marriage.
She also asked Song Zhao, "You are a college student who has been abroad on a government scholarship. Why would you choose me for your remarriage? I am not highly educated and have little experience. After marriage, we probably won't have any common topics to discuss except for the mundane things in life."
She loved listening to what Song Zhao said. Song Zhao said, "I like to listen to the everyday stories of family and friends after get off work. They're very real and a good way to clear my head."
When he answered like that, Nie Qingqing immediately made up her mind: he was the one.
...
Originally, it was agreed that since it was a second marriage, there would be no banquet. However, the next day, Song Zhao actually sent over a large amount of betrothal gifts, including cigarettes, alcohol, pastries, and half a pig.
These gifts are worth a lot of money and are given to the bride to distribute to her relatives, friends, and neighbors. Such generous gifts are even more prestigious than a first wedding.
Nie Qingqing's mother couldn't stop smiling. She was very generous, keeping two jin of the half-pig for herself and distributing the rest to relatives and neighbors as a congratulatory gift, showing off quite a bit.
In addition to these, Song Zhao also gave a bride price of 600 yuan, which was only possible because of his high salary.
Nie Qingqing has finally found a good man in her second marriage.
Her mother and brother prepared the dowry, including a sewing machine, a bicycle, quilts, and a washbasin, spending almost all of the 600 yuan bride price.
Nie Qingqing felt a sweet warmth in her heart: "Mom, you spent all the bride price on me, and the family didn't get anything in return."
Tang Guizhi scolded, "Mom isn't that short-sighted. You married well and found a good son-in-law. How can you say you didn't get anything? During holidays, does your son-in-law not bring meat when he comes to see me?"
Nie Weibin never thought of keeping his sister's dowry. He said, "My family is poor. When I don't get paid, I can't even afford fifty yuan. Otherwise, I really wanted to buy you a radio so we could have three turns and one ring."
A radio is prestigious, but not practical. A sewing machine allows you to make your own clothes; a bicycle is even more essential, making it convenient to go anywhere. These two things are enough to make you look respectable and glamorous.
Nie Qingqing said, "This is more than enough. We'll save the remaining money for a banquet at home."
...
On the wedding day, the family used the remaining dowry money to buy meat and vegetables, and hired someone to prepare a banquet, which was held at home. It was both lively and economical.
Meanwhile, Song Zhao held a banquet at a restaurant owned by the electrical appliance factory.
A day in advance, both sides got busy. Nie Qingqing got up early to get ready, while Song Zhao got up even earlier. She was nervous and even more so than on her first wedding.
Song Zhao was also on his way to pick up his bride.
They had originally agreed not to have a wedding banquet, but to simply get a marriage certificate and start living together. However, that very night, he had a nightmare.
In her dream, the couple constantly clashed and argued after marriage. Nie Qingqing always said that when they got married, they didn't even have a banquet. For more than ten years, relatives and neighbors on both sides complained that he was a factory director and had the means to do so, so why didn't he hold a banquet? This made her feel resentful for more than ten years.
Upon waking up, Song Zhao not only decided to hold a banquet, but also made up for all the other formalities: half a pig, sweets and pastries, and fabrics—everything a first marriage should have, a second marriage should have too.
The bride price was exactly six hundred yuan, and judging from the mother-in-law's smile, she must have been very satisfied.
Nie Qingqing's mother, brother, and sister-in-law were indeed good to her. They used all the betrothal gifts as part of her dowry. She was deeply moved by their family affection and was glad that she had made the right decision after the nightmare.
As he was about to leave to pick up his bride, Geng Changlin instructed him, "Ah Zhao, you must manage this marriage well. I think Xiao Nie is a good match, so make the most of it."
Song Zhao also wanted to live a good life.
It's a little embarrassing to admit, but he had seen Nie Qingqing at the bus stop and remembered her. When he went to her house for a blind date that evening and found out that she was the one he was supposed to meet, he was actually very happy.
So after having that nightmare, even though it was just a dream, he felt there was some truth to it. He was determined not to let what happened in the dream happen. He was determined to prepare a generous dowry and marry Nie Qingqing in a grand and glorious way, so that she would have no regrets.
The wedding procession was scheduled for 8:08. Since it was a second marriage, they wouldn't really stop them. After handing over a few red envelopes, Song Zhao came in and personally helped Nie Qingqing put on her red wedding shoes.
Nie Qingqing was even happier than on her first marriage. Suddenly, she realized that she was a person who judged by appearances, and she preferred good-looking men. With that thought, she unconsciously covered her face, and everyone thought she was just being shy.
Song Zhao actually drove a jeep to pick up the bride. Her brother carried her out. The people who came to see the bride praised her and Song Zhao for being a perfect match, and said that they couldn't tell that it was her second marriage at all. The wedding was so grand that it didn't matter whether it was her first or second marriage.
Nie Qingqing glanced at the man she would be spending her life with from now on. The man's eyes were fixed straight ahead. Hmm, his profile was just as handsome. He was also very steady and much more reliable than her ex-husband. She lowered her head in satisfaction.
...
The bride's dowry, brought from her family, was gradually moved out of Huazhi Lane. First came the bicycles, followed by the sewing machine, and then the quilts, one by one, were carried out. They were red and green, all made of good cotton, and looked very generous.
The neighbors were very envious, chattering among themselves: "The Nie family gave Qingqing a sewing machine and a bicycle as part of her dowry!"
"Where would her family get that kind of money? It was Factory Director Song who gave the bride price. This second marriage is even more extravagant than the first!"
The neighbors in Huazhi Lane are all very nice, and they all know the inside story.
Grandpa Liu said, "Guizhi is also good. She gave all the betrothal gifts to Qingqing as part of her dowry. Guizhi treats her son and daughter equally, which is truly enviable. Unlike my family, they scheme against each other like enemies."
The wedding car and the tricycle carrying the dowry drove away. Nie Qingqing could no longer hear the noise of her neighbors who had been with her since childhood, but with a bicycle, she would definitely come back often. Despite the noise, they were all people who had watched her grow up, much closer than distant relatives.
At noon, the bride's family hosted a banquet for relatives and friends, and the Song family did the same. Including the factory workers, they set up more than a dozen tables at the restaurant.
Nie Qingqing barely recognized any of the children, but she could tell that none of them were girls around ten years old; they were either a little older or a little younger, not matching the age of Song Zhao's daughter he had mentioned.
Tangyuan didn't come today. Mom said that Tangyuan is too young and keeps chattering and making a fuss, so she and Song Zhao couldn't sleep together on their wedding night. She told them to bring her over tomorrow. What about Song Zhao's daughter?
As the two went around toasting each other at the table, Nie Qingqing asked him, "Where is your eldest daughter? I haven't seen any girls who are the right age."
Song Zhao explained, "We have the same idea as your family. Tangyuan will stay at her maternal grandmother's house, and my child went to my paternal grandmother's house. We'll pick him up tomorrow."
Nie Qingqing felt a sweet warmth in her heart. Tonight would be just the two of them. But then she thought, it would be too hurtful for a sensible child like her to not be able to come home on her father's wedding day.
She felt that Song Zhao's arrangement was inappropriate and said, "My Tangyuan heard that we are looking for a stepfather and said that he wants to choose a handsome dad, not an ugly dad who can feed him meat and is heartless. It doesn't matter if we bring him over in a day, but your daughter is eleven years old. If we leave her alone at her grandma's house, she will feel uneasy. We will go to pick her up together tomorrow and we must bring her back."
Song Zhao was deeply moved upon hearing this. He felt that he had found the right person in his second marriage, and that spending the rest of his life with her would be very fulfilling.
A note from the author:
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