Chapter 101 A Lively Scene
After returning home, Yao Fanghua began packing her things.
He urged Wu Peng to hurry up and pack, so as not to forget anything important.
Then he urged Wu Peng to buy a suitcase.
Yao Fanghua even packed up the big red flower washing machine from the laundry room; if there's space in the car, she'll take it with her.
Wu Peng: "Once we're in Shenzhen, will we still lack washing machines?"
Yao Fanghua glared at him, "What are you thinking? This is for you to look at, not for you to use." She couldn't bear to see the washing machine suffer; she just used it as a decoration to add color to the room.
"When our first washing machine rolls off the production line, you have to put a big red flower on it too, and display it!" He wanted an even bigger red flower, placed in the best spot. Ideally, it should be displayed on a table like those for champions and runners-up.
"Alright, alright, go buy a suitcase." Even when eating poop, they always have to be the first to get what they want.
Yao Fanghua categorized her belongings: the items in the safe, hidden compartments, and handbags would definitely be taken with the vehicle; the rest—her books, her tools—would also be taken. She also carried her personal luggage and identification documents.
Pack up the rest that's not important and ship them later.
A few days later, with the wedding date drawing ever closer, Wu Peng's long-awaited car finally arrived.
The young man who delivered the car brought not only the car itself, but also gifts from everyone. Because of the long distance, Yang Liu decided that everyone should give red envelopes as a token of their goodwill.
The young man would definitely attend the wedding before going back together. He had been to Beijing with Yang Liu before, so Wu Peng didn't need to worry about him much. He knew the place well and stayed at the courtyard house. In his spare time, he could watch the people there organize their inventory. After meeting Zhong Er, he followed behind Zhong Er, helping to manage the wedding.
Wu Peng washed the car inside and out in the yard, and then he and Yao Fanghua opened the red envelopes in the study, one opening and the other registering them.
Zhong Er has been running around here frequently these past two days. He's arranged everything—the courtyard, the restaurant, the wedding procession—and even volunteered to be the wedding emcee. Whenever he has a moment to catch his breath, he comes to report to Wu Peng.
Today, he even brought a large bag of decorations, balloons, stickers, and other items, along with several helpers, to decorate the yard.
"Brother, is Sister Huahua staying in the tenement the night before she got married?"
"No way," Wu Peng immediately rejected. "We don't have that many formalities. I'll send Hua Hua there early that day, and pick her up when the auspicious time arrives. You keep an eye on things at the tenement, while I'll take Wang Huaizhi, Liu Zi's brother, and the wedding procession you arranged to pick her up. Spread candy, give out cigarettes, keep the music playing, make it lively and grand, don't skimp on anything," he said. He and Hua Hua weren't short of money these days.
"I know, I know, you've told me several times, brother." Zhong Er completely renovated the two rooms in the center of the Yao family's house, which were Li Chunying's bedroom and the main room.
With tight deadlines and heavy workloads, money was no object, and it was spent like water.
He gave it to him, and the air conditioning blew him away; he was so broke from spending money. When he was left alone, he couldn't help but slap his own hand hard, wondering how he could have spent so much.
The walls were repainted, the floor was tiled, and the exterior walls were also tiled. All the furniture, inside and out, was replaced with new ones. Even the bedding for Li Chunying and her husband was changed. He even prepared their clothes for the day.
Several groups of people worked there every day, and others came to watch the excitement. The courtyard was bustling with noise, and people from far and near all knew that a happy event was going to be held there.
Li Chunying only sold steamed buns at night, spending her days overseeing the renovations. Watching the house change daily, she could only marvel at her son-in-law's extravagance. However, with that 2,200 yuan ring as a foundation, Li Chunying stopped complaining about the wastefulness; it was better than buying a flashy but impractical ring. She simply considered it a gift from her two children. As the house transformed and furniture was gradually moved in, Li Chunying's mood improved day by day. She walked with a beaming smile.
Nowadays, the two rooms in the center of the Yao family's house make the two rooms on either side look like inferior houses.
Zhang Xiuxiu clicked her tongue in amazement. Seeing Zhong Er, she immediately asked how much it cost. She was treating her two daughters better than before, feeling that daughters weren't all a financial burden. Look at her sister-in-law, she really brought honor to her mother-in-law, who lived in a tenement. Zhang Xiuxiu gave Li Chunying a thumbs-up, saying, "Good life!"
Early on the morning of the 8th, while it was still dark, Yao Fanghua put on her wedding dress, and Wu Peng, dressed in a suit, drove her to the tenement.
Zhong Er quietly opened the gate to the courtyard.
Li Chunying got up early, dressed in her best clothes, and put the handkerchief containing the gold bracelet into her pocket. Half of her earnings for the year had gone to this bracelet.
When Yao Fanghua entered the main room, Li Chunying was already waiting.
This was the first time the mother and daughter had met since that day.
Both of them seemed a little awkward and avoided eye contact. Yao Fanghua simply lowered her head and remained silent.
Li Chunying pulled Yao Fanghua into the bedroom. "Sit down, sit down quickly. You must be tired after a long day. This dress looks good on you." These are things she, as the mother, should have been worrying about and preparing. Li Chunying felt a pang of sadness. It should be her who was taking care of preparing for her daughter's wedding; the more she thought about it, the more distressed she became.
Seeing this, Zhong Er quickly helped Li Chunying up, "Auntie, are you feeling bad? The daughter you raised is getting married. Don't worry, my brother Peng will treat Hua Hua very well. If Hua Hua ever suffers any injustice in the future, wherever Hua Hua points, Wei Min and I will definitely fight."
Li Chunying wiped away her tears, laughed and scolded, "You, always following your brother Peng around, never stopping talking about brother Peng, how can Hua Hua count on you?"
“Auntie, I grew up in the same courtyard as Sister Huahua. In my heart, I am definitely closest to Sister Huahua.”
Soon, the outside became noisy and bustling.
Li Chunying composed herself and took out the gold bracelet.
"Mom knows you don't need this now,"
"Who said that?" Yao Fanghua sat on the edge of the bed, smiling as she looked at Li Chunying. She reached out and took the gold bracelet, putting it on directly. It fit perfectly and was engraved with patterns.
Anyway, whether she accepts the bracelet or not, can she really not care if her mother needs anything in the future? If she gets sick or old, even if she doesn't take care of her, can she at least not pay for it? It's better to accept it, so that both of them will feel more at ease.
Her relationship with Comrade Li Chunying was somewhat distant, like that of a mother and daughter. But they were still family, hoping each other would live well.
"Thank you, Mom."
Sure enough, Li Chunying smiled. "Mom spent a lot of money. Mom worked from dawn till dusk, putting in most of her savings for the past six months. This is real money. Mom watched the master craftsman make it, and he didn't skimp on anything."
"Yes, thank you, Mom." Yao Fanghua touched the bracelet. "It's very beautiful." She wanted to say that she liked it very much, but she didn't say it.
Looking at the gold bracelet on her daughter's arm, paired with the gleaming 2,200 yuan on her finger, the bracelet, being larger, was not overshadowed at all; in fact, the two complemented each other beautifully. Li Chunying was delighted and happily went outside to busy herself, serving everyone melon seeds and candy.
As the newly decorated car drove into the alley, a honk of the horn brought the atmosphere to a climax.
Before Wu Peng could even get out of the car, it was surrounded.
These days, cars are a rare sight. Knowing it was for picking up the bride, a group of children surrounded the car, touching everything in sight. Wu Peng opened the window and showered the car with candy and red envelopes before finally managing to open the door.
The courtyard was packed with people, both inside and out. The main room and bedrooms of the Yao family's house were also crowded with people, all there to see the bride.
In front of everyone, Wu Peng took out two heavy, dazzling gold bracelets and, amidst gasps of surprise from women of all ages, put one on Yao Fanghua's wrist and the other on her wrist.
When Wu Peng saw that there was a bracelet on his left arm, he was stunned. He hadn't seen it on his arm when he left home that morning.
Yao Fanghua smiled at him, then looked at Li Chunying.
Wu Peng immediately understood, and then put both heavy bracelets on Yao Fanghua's right wrist.
When the two men looked over, Li Chunying stiffened. Compared to the two burly, nouveau riche-looking gold bracelets, the one she had given them was thin and weak, and paled in comparison.
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