Chapter 112: Lin Nanjiang lacks great virtue.
Although they were looking forward to good news from their hometown, they didn't have time to pay attention to it. They just watched the gossip for a while and quickly put it aside.
There's no other way, they are too busy. Not only do they have to work on their careers, but they also keep busy at home. In October, a beautiful autumn season with clear and cool weather, their family even attended four housewarming parties in a row.
The protagonists of these housewarming celebrations are Ahui, Amin, Li Liang, Li Hong, and Afeng.
Among them, the houses of Ahui, Amin and Afeng were bought at least half a year ago and have undergone a period of intensive decoration and layout. Liu Suqin was mentally prepared for their move, but she did not expect that Li Hong would come from behind and catch up with this wave of excitement.
Because Li Hong only started arranging time to look at houses after her family returned from a trip to Yunnan Province, Liu Suqin also took time out to accompany her to look at houses several times during those two months, and gave her a lot of pertinent advice. It was Liu Suqin who was there when she finally signed and paid.
After witnessing the important moment when her good friend almost burst into tears, Liu Suqin thought that since she valued this pre-marital property so much, she must have cleaned and arranged it well before moving.
The purchase of this house almost drained Li Hong's fortune, and she also owed a considerable amount of foreign debt. However, the creditor was her best friend and boss, and the terms she offered were incredibly generous: only the principal had to be repaid, and no interest was charged. The principal could be repaid in installments, with no time limit. Half of Li Hong's salary would be deducted every month to repay the debt until it was paid off.
With Li Hong's current income, even if half of it is deducted, she will still earn more than in her previous job. This repayment plan does not put any pressure on her. Not only does it not affect her quality of life, but she can also save a lot of money every month.
After all, the high salary is earned by Li Hong's own hard work. She puts most of her energy into work. The higher her income, the less time she has to spend money. She works hard every day.
Therefore, Liu Suqin believed that even if her friend did not have the time and money to renovate her home, it would be more than enough for her to redecorate her own home and purchase practical furniture and appliances.
But she never expected that Li Hong would give up the house out of the blue and quietly move her luggage into the new home. Less than half a month after the transfer of ownership, she happily invited her friends to her new home.
As the first distinguished guest invited, Liu Suqin was stunned and dazed. She sat there for a long time to digest the information, but she still couldn't understand. "No, you work under my nose every day, and you only have one day off in the past two weeks. Even if it's just cleaning and moving things, one day is far from enough. Or have you grown superhuman powers behind my back?"
"Hehe." Li Hong took her friend's confusion as the best affirmation of her ability. Her already excited smile turned into a smile. "I don't have much luggage, so I usually go to the new house early after get off work to clean it, and move the things I don't use often over there. It's like ants moving house, and it's done in a few trips."
"Really? I don't believe it." Liu Suqin half believed and half doubted, but she lied casually and it really worked out. Li Hong's eyes flickered, "Okay, I admit that Zhang Guoliang also helped a little."
Liu Suqin suddenly understood, but was a little speechless. "You two are a serious couple, so asking him for help is only natural. Why are you feeling so guilty?"
Li Hong and Zhang Guoliang confirmed their relationship around the time she officially bought their house. Before that, she felt that although they weren't yet in a relationship, they had a tacit understanding and were getting to know each other with the goal of getting married. Now that she had decided to borrow money to buy a house for herself before marriage, it was bound to affect their post-marital plans, and hiding it from him seemed a bit unkind.
She asked Liu Suqin for her opinion. Liu Suqin also felt that Zhang Guoliang had the right to know, and it was also a good test, which could give her the opportunity to see whether the other party was a good man worthy of trust.
Although it is human nature to seek benefits and avoid harm and to calculate gains and losses, marriage is a messy matter that cannot be sorted out. If a man starts to calculate the respective contributions and gains and losses before marriage, then as his other half, after marriage, you will most likely have to do the laundry and cooking, give birth to and raise children, and at the same time be able to make money to support yourself, because once you lose your source of income, no matter how well you manage the home, men will regard you as a useless person who stays at home and eats for free, and they will completely deny your value.
Such a person is certainly not worth spending your life with.
It is actually a good thing to see one's true nature earlier and stop losses in time.
After getting support, Li Hong found Zhang Guoliang to explain the situation and told him her intentions and plans frankly. After discussing and analyzing with her friends, she also realized her own intentions again. The decision to buy a house would not change. If the other party could not accept it, then they should part ways amicably and neither of them would have to compromise.
After thinking this through, there was nothing to worry about. Li Hong told him everything openly and frankly. Unexpectedly, the other party didn't care at all. Instead, his eyes were full of admiration. He said that she was a girl who dared to think and do such things. She was so strong, hardworking and special. He couldn't help but admire her.
Li Hong: ???
As a result of the conversation, the two not only did not part ways amicably, but instead went a step further and confirmed their relationship on the spot.
My girlfriend was too busy at work and had no time to arrange the move, so her new boyfriend stepped forward to help her.
Li Hong said that he helped a little, but he was really too modest. Zhang Guoliang opened his own auto repair shop, hired employees, and took in several apprentices. He had no shortage of time and financial resources. He was good at hands-on work, and he was in the passionate period of love, so he put in a lot of enthusiasm to help his girlfriend take care of the house.
In just half a month, the house had been completely transformed, and Li Hong was very happy.
But because they had just confirmed their relationship and hadn't formally introduced him to her friends, she couldn't help but flicker her eyes and make small movements whenever she mentioned her boyfriend, looking very sneaky.
This wasn't the first time Liu Suqin had teased her. Seeing her friend's shy expression once again, she expressed satisfaction and returned to business. "Since you've packed yourselves, we can go to your house for a meal that day. By the way, is there anything you need at home that I can give you as a housewarming gift?"
Li Hong shook her head and waved her hands frantically, saying that she had everything at home and didn't need to prepare anything, as long as everyone showed up.
"Then I'll bring two barrels of oil and rice. It's a good omen, and there's no need to worry about it going bad. You can keep it and eat it slowly."
Li Hong also thought it was a good idea, both a good idea and practical, and she replied with a smile, "I do think I'll cook for myself in the future, so I've got all the pots, pans, and utensils."
Liu Suqin also expressed her anticipation, "That would be great, I can still go to your house for dinner after work. The Sichuan cuisine you cook is just as good as the ones in the restaurant."
"Come on, I'm going to show you my cooking on moving day. If you want anything to eat, you can pick it up now."
As they talked about the dishes to serve to the guests, the two became more and more talkative. Liu Suqin listed a series of dishes without hesitation. While joking with her friend, she made up her mind that rice and oil were just gifts that followed the crowd. Given their increasingly inseparable relationship, she should give something more meaningful and memorable.
Finally, she found time to go to the mall and bought the set of gold and jade jewelry that Li Hong had looked at again and again during their last shopping trip but ultimately couldn't bear to buy. She asked the clerk to pack it up and tie a bow around it. The day before Li Hong moved, she called her aside after get off work, gave her a gift, and told her to dress up well the next day, wear this set of jewelry, move into the new house beautifully, and start a new life.
When Li Hong saw the complete set of necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings, she was so surprised that she couldn't help but scream, almost throwing herself at her. "You're so arrogant, sister! With you, why would I need to find a partner? It would be so wonderful to live my life with you, enjoying the best food and the most luxurious clothes."
Having said that, on the day of moving, Li Hong was the first to introduce her boyfriend to her friends.
Liu Suqin had heard of him for a long time, and seeing him for the first time couldn't help but look him up and down carefully. Zhang Guoliang, who had been busy running around in his girlfriend's house early in the morning and regarded himself as half the host, was embarrassed by her straightforward eyes and began to scratch his head awkwardly. It was his cousin Chen Jiaming who broke the awkwardness and asked Liu Suqin with a smile, "What do you think, my brother is quite handsome, right?"
Liu Suqin then retracted her gaze and gave him a thumbs-up without hesitation, "Brother Jiaming has always had the best taste. When Uncle Chen introduces a date to my cousin in the future, I'll have to trouble you to help me choose one. It's best to follow this standard."
Chen Jiaming, who was listening to the compliments with great pride, said: "...You really know how to ask for too much. It's not easy to find a guy like my cousin who has both the ability and the good looks."
Liu Suqin was really surprised. Chen Jiaming was too modest when he said that his cousin had thick eyebrows and big eyes. It was obvious that he had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He also had a good figure and the tough temperament of a former soldier. In short, he was a good match for her sister. She began to look forward to the children they would have in the future.
Since Chen Jiaming was so reliable as a matchmaker, Liu Suqin, who also had a pair of single siblings, certainly wouldn't let him go. She spared no effort to flatter him. Lin Nanjiang and Lin Quansheng also cooperated tacitly and together they carried the people up. Before they even started to toast at the table, Chen Jiaming was already feeling elated. Finally, he patted his chest and said, "Okay, your siblings are my siblings. Leave it to me."
Li Hong and her husband are together, and seeing that good things are about to happen, Chen Jiaming's relationship with them has become closer, and this time he also brought his girlfriend He Yaohua with him.
Her boyfriend was almost fooled by them, and He Yaohua couldn't stand it anymore, so she called Liu Suqin aside to discuss clothes and bags.
They had met several times and even made plans to go shopping together. Although they had very different backgrounds and experiences, He Yaohua still recognized Liu Suqin's aesthetic taste and liked to ask her for advice on makeup, skin care, and matching.
However, this girl's workplace requires her to dress neatly and cleanly, and her parents are also strict at home. She envies and yearns for those fashionable and bold girls on the street, but she can only dress dignifiedly and virtuously, and has no chance to put on makeup. At most, she draws her eyebrows and puts on some lipstick. She feels so depressed that she likes to ask people about related topics to satisfy her cravings and vent her troubles.
This time was the same. As they chatted, He Yaohua unconsciously complained about her parents' strict control over her. Their biggest disagreement recently was related to marriage.
Of course, Chen Jiaming has visited the He family several times and has made the He family's parents quite satisfied. The two families have already agreed on a time for the elders to meet. If everything goes well, the wedding will be completed before May Day next year.
More than half a year of preparation will pass quickly. He Yaohua is already thinking about what to wear for her wedding. Her mother said that local people all wear dragon and phoenix gowns. Of course, a red skirt with a red coat is also acceptable, as it is prosperous and has a good meaning. However, the wedding dress she wanted to wear the most was rejected by one vote. He's mother asked her sternly at the time that she was not allowed to wear a white wedding dress, as it was pale, unlucky, and not solemn. Most wedding dresses sold outside were off-shoulder and backless, and the older generation said they were an eyesore.
He Yaohua was used to being submissive in front of her parents, and she was very unwilling to give in. Marriage was a big deal, and this time she didn't want to compromise easily. But Chen Jiaming was at a loss. His father-in-law and mother-in-law were too strong-willed, and no matter how eloquent he was, he didn't dare to force them. What if he accidentally interfered and ruined the wedding?
Besides, he is a man and doesn’t care what he wears. As long as he can successfully marry his wife, that’s enough.
He Yaohua was very distressed, and in desperation she turned to Liu Suqin for help.
Liu Suqin: "Auntie, aren't you being too one-sided? Wedding dresses come in white and pink, and not all styles are revealing. If that doesn't work, you can pair them with a shawl and lace gloves, which will be both elegant and dignified."
He Yaohua instantly felt like she had found a confidant. She nodded repeatedly in agreement, then continued with a gloomy face, "But she only believes in her own ideas. It doesn't make sense, it doesn't make sense at all."
"If you can't convince me, just don't. Just take me to the store. I have a few new styles and a lot of choices. You can come to me and try them on. Then do some makeup and let me see how beautiful you look in a wedding dress. Maybe she will change her mind."
"Really?"
"Don't worry, as long as it's a style in my shop, you can try it on, and the makeup is free." Liu Suqin said generously, and then suggested, "I know about the dragon and phoenix gown you mentioned. When we go out to do makeup, many brides actually wear this. The cost is much more expensive than a wedding dress. The wedding dress is embroidered with gold thread and paired with a complete set of pure gold phoenix crowns. It is really gorgeous and stunning, each with its own beauty. Anyway, some of our clients have to listen to their families and wear the dragon and phoenix gown on the wedding day, but they will take a set of wedding photos in advance and hang them in the bridal chamber. Some brides wear wedding dresses when they are picked up, and change into the dragon and phoenix gown when they toast. This way they can directly meet the wishes of themselves and their elders."
He Yaohua had indeed never thought that it could be done this way. Her eyes suddenly lit up, as if the door to a new world had opened. She clenched her fist to indicate that she would follow her suggestion and try her best to go back and ask her parents for it.
Chen Jiaming couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief after hearing the conversation between the two. "This finally solves a big problem. I don't have to be caught in the middle anymore."
In order to express his gratitude to Liu Suqin, he decided to book her house directly for the wedding photos and makeup and photography for the wedding banquet.
Liu Suqin didn't say much, but just smiled and promised to give them the best service, which would definitely be worth the money.
A month later, He Yaohua brought her mother to Liu Suqin's shop to try on wedding dresses. By then, the parents of both families had already met and compared their horoscopes. Unsurprisingly, the wedding was scheduled for the May Day holiday, which happened to be one of the auspicious days calculated by the Feng Shui master.
Liu Suqin first sent her blessings, and then began to remind, "There are many people getting married on May Day. If you have time, you can come early after the New Year to take wedding photos. This way you will have enough time and we can make it well."
He Yaohua and her mother both said they would consider her proposal.
He's mother is strong in front of her family, but she is quite considerate outside. Liu Suqin had no plans today, so she accompanied He Yaohua to try on wedding dresses and personally did her makeup and styling. During the time, she chatted with He's mother about a lot of family matters, and most of the time it was the other party who brought up the topic actively. She looked like a kind and amiable aunt.
After trying for a few rounds, He's mother decided to order a set of wedding photos, and asked Liu Suqin with a smile what she thought. She thought the wedding dress made her daughter look bright and dignified. If she asked her son-in-law to wear a suit and tie, and the two of them stood arm in arm, they would definitely look like a talented man and a beautiful woman.
Liu Suqin strongly affirmed her aunt's vision.
This time, they didn't choose a wedding dress for the wedding day. He's mother meant that they had to go back and discuss it with the family. However, she was the one who agreed to take wedding photos. It was a small gain for He Yaohua, and she was not discouraged. When she left, she secretly told Liu Suqin that she would continue to fight for it when she got back. If it didn't work, she would wear two sets. Anyway, she must wear a wedding dress when she got married.
Liu Suqin is also looking forward to it. The two sets of makeup and hair for the wedding have different prices.
Brothers should settle accounts clearly. She can provide the best service, but she cannot refuse to pay. This is the principle.
However, when Liu Suqin went back home to attend her brother-in-law's wedding during the Chinese New Year, she had to break her principles and provide a service for free.
That’s another story.
At that time, Liu Suqin received a call from her hometown. Her mother-in-law told her proudly that her youngest son's wedding was set for the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month. "You can just come back for the wedding. Don't worry about the family affairs. Your sisters-in-law and I will take care of it."
Liu Suqin didn't expect the good news to come so quickly. Hearing that her mother-in-law was in high spirits, she spared no effort to praise Lin Nanhe again and again. After Lin's mother hung up the phone contentedly, she continued to concentrate on her work.
When she returned home in the evening, she first told Qian Juxiang and Aunt Zhang about this, and asked them to tell Lin Nanjiang the good news when they saw him.
As the year draws to a close, the couple are busy making money, their work and rest schedules are perfectly staggered, and they are back to sleeping in the same bed but not touching each other. Lin's mother calls the store directly to tell her the good news, thinking that informing her is equivalent to informing the third child, but she doesn't know that Liu Suqin still needs to find another mouthpiece.
But this time she had something on her mind. When Lin Nanjiang returned home, Liu Suqin also woke up slowly and announced the good news immediately.
Lin Nanjiang hurriedly showered and sat down on the edge of the bed after hearing this. He asked happily, "Is the bride the girl my brother-in-law mentioned? I didn't expect him to actually get her. He's really accomplished."
"The shop was packed, so I didn't ask in detail. But seeing how excited Mom was, I guess it was pretty close. She also mentioned that they had to leave very early that day to go to the county to pick up the bride. Bicycles wouldn't work, so we'd have to borrow at least a row of motorcycles." Liu Suqin recalled Lin's mother's exact words. "Mom also said she specifically set the date so that we could have the wedding banquet together, so there was no need to rush. We'd still have time to go back after finishing business. She and her sisters-in-law would take care of the banquet and other trivial matters, so I didn't have to worry about it."
Lin Nanjiang nodded thoughtfully, "Then we just need to go back and attend the wedding banquet?"
Liu Suqin smiled and said, "Yes, everything at home has been done, aren't we just waiting to eat the ready-made food? But as a brother, you can't just not show any appreciation at all. Why don't you think of a gift for the newlyweds?"
Lin Nanjiang had married before, so he knew how tedious the process was. There were few supplies in the countryside, and even if the family was not short of money, preparing food in advance was a big project. The house also had to be cleaned and decorated inside and out, and every corner had to be washed and scrubbed. For such a big occasion, basically all the brothers and sisters in the family would be mobilized, and the children would have to be ordered around. The main person would be overwhelmed, and both adults and children would not be spared.
But when it came to his younger brother's wedding, not only could his family not go back to lend a hand, but his mother had to take time out of her busy schedule to help clean the house. The small house hadn't been lived in for almost two years, and cleaning would only make it more difficult. Lin Nanjiang felt ashamed just thinking about it. After hearing his wife's suggestion, he thought about it seriously for a while, and finally asked tentatively, "Since we need a car to go to the city to pick up the bride, why don't we just drive back?"
They had not planned to drive back to their hometown before. After all, there were too many people to go back in one car. Instead of traveling separately, it would be better for everyone to take the train together. Lying on the train berth all the way would definitely be more comfortable than taking a car.
Not only are the road conditions bad these days, but long-distance driving is also not very safe. The route is also a big problem. Without navigation, Liu Suqin can't understand the map herself. She doesn't want to drive by herself from the bottom of her heart.
She tactfully reiterated these points, and it turned out that Lin Nanjiang had actually done his homework privately, and told her confidently that safety and routes were not a problem, because he was introduced to a long-distance bus driver, who knew that the road from Shenzhen to their county could be followed behind by a bus. They had paved the way, and it was both convenient and safe to follow behind.
Once you enter the county, you don’t need a guide anymore. You can drive home with your eyes closed.
Liu Suqin: "...Is this also okay?"
"Of course I can. As you always say, there are always more solutions than problems."
Lin Nanjiang had been secretly researching, hoping to convince his wife to drive back herself. Now that he had a ready-made excuse, he strongly recommended the advantages of self-driving. "Don't you always regret that your cousin married far away, so you only see her twice a year and can't even talk to her? This time, if you drive yourself, you can go directly to your cousin's house to see her. If you two want, you can also go shopping in the county together, see a movie, and relive the days when you first came to Shenzhen."
Liu Suqin: Oh no, I’m getting more and more excited.
Seeing her excitement, Lin Nanjiang continued to add, "You can also go see my second brother's new house sooner. My father went back during the summer vacation and praised it highly."
Liu Suqin was already wavering, but she didn't resist to the end. She just emphasized at the end, "My parents can take the train back with Liu Ping and Xiangxiang. There's nothing to worry about with them as a group. But Fangfang must come with us, and we must ensure her safety on the road."
Lin Nanjiang raised his hand and swore: "I promise!"
In order to ensure the safety of his wife and children, Lin Nanjiang did something immoral. He then used all means to persuade Lin Quansheng to go back to his hometown with them.
Yes, there was only Lin Quansheng. His wife, children and mother-in-law all stayed in Shenzhen to celebrate the New Year.
Liu Suqin: ...You know that I lack virtue?
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