Chapter 25
The man who spoke to Bei Bitang looked to be in his twenties, the youngest among the workers in the market.
The man who spoke to Bei Bitang looked to be in his twenties, and was among the youngest workers in the vegetable market.
She had been working here for a while, but she felt she had little to talk about with the older colleagues. Suddenly, she saw Bei Bitang, who was about her age, and she said, "Are you new here? No wonder I haven't seen you before? You're an educated youth, right?"
Bei Bitang swallowed the grains of brown rice in her mouth and said, "Well, I'm an educated youth who returned to the city."
The person who approached me asked again, "Where did you work as an educated youth?"
Bei Bitang said, "Northwest."
The person who approached me smiled and said, "The Northwest is a great place! There are vast grasslands and sheep. When I was traveling, I wanted to go to the Northwest, but unfortunately my friends wanted to go to Beijing, so I had no choice but to listen to them."
Bei Bitang had a calm expression on her face, but she felt bitter in her heart. If you really go, you won't have such thoughts anymore.
The person who approached me asked again, "How is it? You worked half a day. Are you adapting well? I felt like my legs were going to break at that time."
Bei Bitang said, "It's not bad. The work is much easier than when I was an educated youth. It's mainly dealing with people, which I'm not used to. When I was an educated youth, I was just working hard."
When reclaiming the land, everyone was assigned to a large area, so large that no one could be seen in front or behind. Some people even didn't know they were dragged away by a sudden pack of wolves.
The person who approached her handed his lunch box to Bei Bitang and said, "Try my food."
Sweet and sour pork ribs, stir-fried winter melon, and vegetable and meatballs.
Before Bei Bitang could refuse, she was about to pick up some food for her.
Bei Bitang blocked it with her arm and said, "No, thank you. I only have soaked rice and pickles, I feel embarrassed to exchange dishes with you, let's share."
The person who strikes up a conversation doesn’t mind saying, “It’s okay, just try mine.”
Bei Bitang continued to block the lunch box. The man who was trying to talk to her changed his expression. He realized that he was disgusted by Bei Bitang's saliva, so he threw the sweet and sour pork ribs he had taken out into his own lunch box, turned his back angrily, and stopped talking to Bei Bitang.
Bei Bitang once again felt like a failure, unable to communicate or interact with others, and pretentious in everything she did. The more people she met as she started working, the more likely she was to experience this same thing again.
Bei Bitang finished her meal in a depressed mood, went to the bathroom to wash her lunch box, and returned to the fish stall to guard it.
Someone walked to the fish stall, but Jin Jianghai had not come back yet. He had finished his meal, but still wanted to take a break and brag.
Bei Bitang shook the water off her hands and saw that it was a young girl. She smiled and asked, "Comrade, what do you want to buy?"
The young girl looked a little confused and said, "Fish."
Bei Bitang's smile remained unchanged as she spoke gently, "What kind of fish? We have crucian carp, carp, grass carp..."
The young girl still looked confused. She said, "I don't know either."
It turned out that the young woman was a medical student who could not help but secretly use the fish her mother had bought for dissection practice. After she had torn the fish to pieces, she realized what was happening, destroyed the body, and hurried out to buy a similar fish before her mother returned.
Bei Bitang's tone was still gentle. She said, "How about you describe the fish to me? For example, is its mouth raised? Is it white or yellow?"
The young girl's eyes lit up and she said, "It's not white. The fish is about twenty centimeters long and its color is dark blue, but not as dark as ink."
Bei Bitang grabbed a grass carp and asked, "Does it look like one?"
The young girl shook her head and said, "The color is a little lighter again."
Bei Bitang put down the grass carp in her hand, picked up a black carp, and asked, "What about this one? Is fried fish your favorite at home?"
The young girl nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes."
Bei Bitang said with a determined look, "So this is the kind of fish you're talking about. This one I caught is also about twenty centimeters long. Do you want this one?"
The girl looked a little impatient, probably because she was in a hurry to buy fish. She lived not far from a small vegetable market, and people in this area liked to use black carp when making fried fish.
The young girl didn't hesitate. After thanking Bei Bitang, she paid the money and left with the fish.
After this visitor, Lin Bilan's mood improved a little, and she felt that she still had some good points.
I walk to work and take the bus back home after get off work.
Bei Bitang returned to the alley. As dusk fell, a mobile car mechanic started his business in the alley with just a piece of grey work cloth, a small stool and a small toolbox.
Six or seven people surrounded him, some came to repair their bicycles, and some came to watch others repair their bicycles.
Bei Bitang looked closely and saw Feng Guangmei among the group watching the car repairs. Bei Bitang was a little surprised. Feng Guangmei liked watching cars being repaired? This was a very niche hobby.
Bei Bitang dragged her legs, which were both sore and numb, over and gently patted Feng Guangmei on the shoulder, calling softly, "Guangmei."
Feng Guangmei turned around and saw Bei Bitang, a smile appeared on her face. Then she remembered that Bei Bitang was at work today, so she quickly asked, "How is work? Is your supervisor easy to get along with?"
Feng Guangmei had told Bei Bitang more than once that having a good master was more important than a few extra dollars in bonus every month, and she asked her to have a good relationship with her master.
Bei Bitang nodded and said, "They are all pretty good. My master is a person who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside."
Hearing Bei Bitang say this, Feng Guangmei felt happy for her and said, "I just happened to run into you. It's your first day at work, so I'll treat you to some popsicles. I'll go to the small shop at the entrance of the alley and buy some."
As she was about to go buy it, Bei Bitang quickly grabbed her hand and said, "Guangmei, no need. I'm a little tired and want to go home and rest."
Feng Guangmei didn't care about Bei Bitang's refusal and said understandingly, "Then you should go back and rest. I'll watch for a while. I'll owe you the popsicles."
Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei agreed to play together during their next break and then said goodbye.
As if she felt someone was staring at her, Bei Bitang raised her head as if she knew something. Looking up, she saw an elderly man standing in front of the dim attic window, sticking his head out.
In less than two seconds, Bei Bitang recognized the man as the newcomer she met that day.
I don’t know if he was looking at her or just looking downstairs?
Bei Bitang couldn't help but frown. The chill seeped up through her wet shoes. She rubbed her arms, quickened her pace, and passed through the area.
Only when she reached the downstairs of her house did Bei Bitang feel at ease.
She glanced over and saw Huang Dashan mixed in with the chess-playing group, with Xue Guizhi standing next to him.
Xue Guizhi was wearing a vest and shorts, and she turned her head to look at Huang Dashan from time to time with a smile on her face.
Bei Bitang pretended not to see Huang Dashan, lowered her head, and walked upstairs.
Miao Xiuxiu was the only one at home. Lin Bilan must have taken the little one out to play.
There was a small white porcelain plate on the dining table, and on the plate were a dozen bright red bayberries with water droplets on them.
Miao Xiuxiu put one foot on the bench she was sitting on and stuffed a red bayberry into her mouth. The next second, her whole face wrinkled, which showed how sour it was.
But no matter how sour this bayberry is, it is still a rare thing.
Bei Bitang asked in surprise: "Where did the bayberries come from?"
When will our family be able to afford to eat bayberries?
Miao Xiuxiu squinted her eyes, savoring the unique sour taste of the bayberry, and replied, "He's."
Bei Bitang wiped her face and asked doubtfully, "Which He family?"
Miao Xiuxiu opened her eyes and said, "He Zhiguo's family, the production director of the Bilan Textile Factory."
Bei Bitang suddenly realized, "Oh, so it's the He family."
My eldest sister asked my mother to curry favor with the old lady, and she became friends so quickly? Is her relationship so close that she can even give her expensive fruits?
Miao Xiuxiu picked up a bayberry, shook off the water on it, and handed it to Bei Bitang.
Bei Bitang put down the towel, waved her hand and said, "I don't want to eat."
Miao Xiuxiu immediately withdrew her hand and stuffed the bayberry into her mouth. She stopped trying to persuade him and said, "I don't know how to enjoy my blessing even if I have it."
Bei Bitang said nothing, went to get her spare clothes and toiletries, and prepared to go to the bathhouse.
Miao Xiuxiu added, "I left the food on the stove for you, why don't you eat it?"
Bei Bitang said, "I'm so tired and don't want to eat. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed."
Miao Xiuxiu said, "You didn't eat the food I left for you. It's a waste, and you didn't even tell me in advance that you didn't want to eat it."
Bei Bitang walked out weakly.
After taking a shower, Xu Zeli drank a bowl of mung bean soup cooked by Xu Huiqiu, went to bed early, lay down and read a book.
When he heard the aunt who answered the phone come to call him, knowing that someone was calling him, he couldn't help but feel a little happy.
Thinking that it was Bei Bitang calling, Xu Zeli strode to the street telephone booth and answered the call.
"Zheli, I want to tell you something."
What came from the other end of the phone was not Bei Bitang's gentle and considerate voice, but Zeng Linlin's condescending tone of notification. The joy in Xu Zeli's heart disappeared, and a strong sense of crisis ignited.
Xu Zeli tried his best to soften his tone and said, "Linlin, what's the matter?"
Zeng Linlin said, "Didn't I tell you last time that my mother is back from England?"
Xu Zeli nodded and said, "Yes, that's right. Didn't I agree? I have no objection to Auntie attending the wedding. After all, she gave birth to you and gave you life."
Zeng Linlin said in a low voice: "Zheli, our wedding plan cannot be carried out on time."
Xu Zeli's heart trembled. Combining Zeng Linlin's previous and subsequent words, he asked, "Why? Is Auntie dissatisfied with me in some way?"
Zeng Linlin said: "No, you are fine."
Xu Zeli asked impatiently, "Why is that? Linlin, you won't give up on our relationship, will you?"
Zeng Linlin laughed and said, "Zheli, what are you thinking about? I'm talking about postponing the wedding, not breaking up with you."
Xu Zeli's complexion improved, and his tone calmed down. He asked, "Why postpone it?"
Zeng Linlin replied, "My mother just returned from abroad. She feels sorry for me, her daughter, and hasn't fulfilled her motherly responsibilities all these years. So she wants to make it up to me. Especially after finding out where our wedding banquet will be held, how many tables we'll have, and what the dowry will be... she feels she's not worthy of me. She wants to overturn everything that was already decided and reorganize it herself."
"My mother is the kind of person who would be fine if she didn't do it, but once she does it, she has to do it to the best of her ability. If it's not a complete mess, she won't be satisfied. So there's definitely not enough time, so we can only postpone the wedding."
After hearing this, Xu Zeli remained silent. No wonder he felt that Zeng Linlin had a difficult temper and was not like an approachable father-in-law. It turned out that the root of the problem was here, like the mother-in-law who appeared out of nowhere.
Seeing Xu Zeli remained silent, Zeng Linlin asked with a smile, "Zeli, are you angry?"
Xu Zeli said, "Uncle, do you have any objections?"
Most of the ideas regarding the banquet, dowry, and guests were from Zeng Linlin's father.
Zeng Linlin said, "How can my father, a grown man, argue with my mother, a little girl?"
Xu Zeli frowned. From what Zeng Linlin said, this was going to be a grand event based on the existing ones.
Bei Bitang owed her a thousand yuan, and she was pressing her too hard, so she couldn't go back on her word again. Otherwise, Bei Bitang would really do something desperate. This made the family's finances even tighter, and they had to borrow money from others.
Zeng Linlin added, "My mother felt sorry for me and thought the wedding was too simple. I'll only be a bride once in my life, so of course it has to be grand. Besides, my family can afford it."
"Zheli, don't worry. I will definitely be your bride in the end. You don't have to worry about me running away. It's just a little later than expected. That's it. I love you. I'm hanging up now."
Xu Zeli quickly said, "Linlin! I'm not worried that you don't want to marry me. It's just that..."
Zeng Linlin said in a dull tone, "But what? Tell me."
Xu Zeli said grimly, "Linlin, my family can't compare to yours. My father has been ill for years, and all the money at home and my parents' pensions have gone into it. We finally saved enough for our wedding, but now everything has changed. My family has done everything we can to give you the best wedding possible."
Zeng Linlin laughed crisply and said, "Zeli, you're so vulgar. It's okay on ordinary days, talking about how much this is and how much that is. But this is our wedding, it's sacred and pure, and it shouldn't be measured by vulgar money. You have to change this bad habit from now on and stop talking about money all the time."
Xu Zeli clenched his fists tightly, his face turning purple.
Xu Zeli deeply annoyed Xu Huiqiu, who was always obsessed with money and calculating. But because Xu Huiqiu was his mother, he could only endure it. He never imagined that one day, Zeng Linlin, whom he despised from the bottom of his heart, would use the words he had said to Xu Huiqiu in his heart to criticize him.
After Xu Zeli had been silent for a while, Zeng Linlin continued, "Zeli, don't worry. How could I not know whether your family has money? My mother said that she will pay for everything, including the wedding and banquet, and your family doesn't have to contribute a penny. She doesn't want me to live in poverty and go hungry after marrying into her family."
Xu Zeli felt embarrassed and humiliated, but also deeply relieved.
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