47
Zheng Nanle suddenly understood why Xie Jianhua had looked at her hesitantly a few days ago, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Because I was going to have a whirlwind marriage with her sister, I didn't know how to tell her. In the end, I couldn't bear it and just told her that she must come home this week.
I suspect there's something unspeakable about his marriage with Daya.
Otherwise, people who normally date and get married, or who are in a relationship and get married, would want to announce it to the world.
Was it a calculated marriage, or a marriage of convenience?
A series of scenarios of marriage before love flashed through Zheng Nanle's mind, but she quickly put them out of her mind.
Reality is not a novel.
Zheng Daya did not stay at the Zheng family's house, but instead stayed at the Xie family's house.
The banquet will be officially held tomorrow.
They held a wedding banquet during Xie Jianhua's break.
The family must have been notified beforehand. Although the banquet was held hastily, all the preparations were complete and there were no oversights.
When Zheng Daya and Zheng Nanle arrived home, they also went back to the Zheng family home to inform them.
Judging from the surprise and bewilderment on the Zheng family's faces, they probably kept this matter a secret from Zheng Nanle as well.
Zheng Dahu gritted his teeth, his gloomy gaze fixed on Daya, "I do not agree to this marriage."
Zheng Dahu's face was bruised and purple, his hands were in a sling, and one foot was clamped by a wooden board. He had obviously been beaten up. Zheng Nanle guessed that it was Zhang the Butcher who did it. Zheng Dahu had made Zhang the Butcher lose face so badly that he couldn't retaliate against Zheng Nanle, so he directed all his anger at Zheng Dahu.
Standing next to Zheng Daya was Xie Jianhua. Xie Jianhua was expressionless, but his strong physique made him very intimidating. Zheng Dahu, who was originally glaring angrily and ready to beat people, only secretly glared at people under Xie Jianhua's gaze.
Zheng Daya calmly said, "The 1950 Marriage Law clearly declared that 'freedom of marriage will be realized and arranged and forced marriages will be abolished.' I can decide my own marriage. The marriages you arrange for me are all arranged and forced marriages, and can be declared invalid."
"Don't think that just because you're my brother, you can interfere with my freedom to marry, even if you were my parents or grandparents."
Zheng Nanle chimed in with a grin, "Brother, you're supposed to be a high school graduate, yet you don't even know the most basic laws and regulations. All those years of schooling have gone to waste? Your family has worked so hard to support your education all these years, and you're not even moved? If you'd known you were just going to mess around, you should have saved up all that money so you could get a few hundred more when the family splits up."
As soon as Zheng Nanle said this, both Zheng Laoda and Zheng Laosi looked up at the same time.
Zheng Lao Si hadn't really thought about Zheng Da Hu going to school, since his eldest son's family was also supporting his education. But when Zheng Nan Le mentioned that dividing the family property would give him a few hundred yuan more, Zheng Lao Si suddenly felt like his own flesh was being cut off by his elder brother's family.
He shouted, "Dahu has studied for so many years and doesn't understand anything. He's just wasting the family's money. I think Sanhu shouldn't study either, so he won't end up like his brother, whose education is as good as no education at all."
When his own interests were at stake, Zheng the eldest was no longer going to back down. "Fourth brother, what do you mean by that? My son Da Hu got into high school on his own merit. It's not even certain whether your son Er Hu can get into high school. So who is really bad at studying?"
"I see that none of your family members have the brains to study. You should come back, so as not to waste money."
Old Zheng was furious and said, "You're supposed to be Erhu's uncle, how can you curse people like this? If Erhu doesn't get into high school, it's all because of your curse. I'll take Erhu to your house for meals every day and make you support Erhu for the rest of your life."
No wonder Zheng Laosi was so nervous; high school is quite difficult to get into. When Zheng Dahu and Zheng Daya, a brother and sister from the Zheng family, both passed the high school entrance exam, it shocked the village for a long time. Everyone sighed that the Zheng siblings would be able to work for the government and wouldn't have to toil in the fields like they did.
Although he didn't end up getting a government job, being a high school student made all the difference in the village.
He desperately hoped that Erhu could also get into high school.
Therefore, after Erhu returned home, he never let Erhu go out to work, and he spent most of his time reading in his room, keeping him out of the Zheng family's messy affairs.
Zheng Laoda realized he had spoken out of turn and lowered his head again.
Zheng Erhu was a 15-year-old boy, about 1.75 meters tall, the tallest among his uncles and brothers.
He kept his head down and didn't speak, appearing quite shy.
Zheng Nanle ignored him.
When Zheng Erhu was young and immature, he bullied Er Ya, but after he went to school for a few years, he stopped bullying her. Of course, he never apologized or made amends for the past. He probably felt that Er Ya was not worth his time and effort.
Of course, there wasn't much family affection either.
"Alright." Old Zheng tapped his pipe on the table. "Da Ya is right. Marriage is free now. Since marriage is free, the family won't be giving you a dowry. You'd better take care of yourself from now on."
Old Man Zheng may seem to be granting Da Ya's wish, but he is actually angry with her. He raised her all these years and sent her to school. He wasn't doing charity work. In the end, Da Ya got married without a word, acting first and informing the family later. All his investment over the years has gone down the drain. How could he not be angry?
In this era, a woman's maternal family is very important. Without the support of her maternal family, whether a woman lives well in her husband's family depends entirely on the conscience of her husband's family, and this is something that is always hard to say.
Humans naturally enjoy bullying the weak. When there are no consequences for bullying others, they will continue to do so, even if it brings them no benefit.
For example, Er Ya from before.
Old Man Zheng made it very clear: Da Ya had made her own choice in marriage, so the Zheng family had nothing to do with her anymore.
Da Ya's eyelashes fluttered, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
But she doesn't regret it.
Without a word, Zheng Dahu pulled Zhang the butcher into his home to arrange a meeting, implying that he was going to sell her off. She didn't want to experience this kind of situation again, where she was treated like a commodity with no autonomy.
She is a human being, with her own joys and sorrows.
She wants to take control of her own life.
Just like Er Ya.
She glanced at Zheng Nanle, then turned and left the Zheng family.
Xie Jianhua nodded to Zheng Nanle, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes, then greeted the elders, including Old Man Zheng, and politely took his leave.
As soon as Zheng Daya left, Zheng Nanle also slipped away and went to the cowshed.
Inside the cowshed, Lu Guangbai was giving acupuncture to the elders inside. When he saw Zheng Nanle peeking out from under the mat, he looked away and said, "Nanle, wait a moment."
Grandpa Lu went to wash his hands and said to Lu Guangbai, "Let me do it. You young people can talk."
Lu Guangbai hesitated for a moment, but did not refuse. "Okay."
Wash your hands thoroughly with the medicine in the sink.
Zheng Nanle went in, greeted the people in the cowshed in a generous manner, and then left with Lu Guangbai.
Reaching the haystack, she eagerly pulled Lu Guangbai to sit down and asked, "Guangbai, has Xie Ronghua ever told us how his brother and my Da Ya got together?"
Zheng Nanle was really curious. Da Ya was only a few months older than her. When Xie Jianhua went to join the army, Da Ya was just a little girl. After Xie Jianhua came back, Er Ya was studying in the county town. The two of them didn't have much contact. Why were they suddenly getting married?
A week ago, Da Ya had no plans to get married, and Xie Jianhua also seemed determined to remain single forever.
A week later, Daya wanted to get married, and Xie Jianhua became her husband. Xie Jianhua had a crush on Daya.
There was no such sign.
Judging from Xie Jianhua's behavior recently, he doesn't seem to have any interest in Daya.
Lu Guangbai knew that Xie Ronghua wasn't a gossip, but everyone has a desire to share and complain. Xie Ronghua loved to share interesting things with Lu Guangbai. A couple of days ago, Xie Ronghua ran over with a shocked look on his face, saying that his brother and Da Ya had already gotten their marriage certificate.
The family members all guessed that the two had been tricked into sleeping together, but his brother said no.
His brother doesn't lie. If he were truly being plotted against, he would change the subject rather than give an answer, so it really wasn't an accident.
"This is so strange," Xie Ronghua said to Lu Guangbai, still incredulous.
Xie Jianhua said it was suitable. He was getting on in years and should get married. The only woman in the village he could find acceptable was Daya. Her temperament, appearance, and education were all to his liking.
"As for why we got married so quickly, it was your sister's request."
Zheng Nanle pondered for a moment and guessed that it was probably Da Ya who took the initiative to find Xie Jianhua and make the request. Xie Jianhua thought that he was getting old and should get married, and that acquaintances were always better than strangers.
Of course, it must have been something that moved Xie Jianhua during the negotiations between Daya and him, otherwise Xie Jianhua would not have given in.
Once it's clear there aren't any dramatic storylines, like love at first sight or a hero saving a damsel in distress, things become a bit dull. The events unfold too normally, lacking excitement.
After giving Lu Guangbai a quick, perfunctory kiss, Zheng Nanle got up and prepared to go back.
Lu Guangbai reached out and pulled Zheng Nanle back, pressing her against the stack of rice and kissing her tenderly, as if she were eating some delicious food, sucking, licking and licking. At first, Zheng Nanle indulged him, opening her mouth and dancing with his tongue, but later she complained that it was taking too long, turned her head away and pushed Lu Guangbai away.
She tilted her head back, panting and taking deep breaths of fresh air, unaware that this action brought her neck to the man's lips. The man buried his face in her neck and slowly licked it, holding her body as he calmed his breathing.
Zheng Nanle gazed at the bright moon above, feeling the heat of holding Lu Guangbai's body. Her own body, which had been cool and smooth, began to heat up. The evening breeze carried the lingering heat of the day, and sweat dripped from Lu Guangbai's forehead onto her. Zheng Nanle pushed Lu Guangbai away in disgust, saying, "It's hot."
Lu Guangbai released Zheng Nanle. "It's hot. Have you finished the herbal tea bags? Bring some more up tomorrow."
"Yes, I've finished drinking it. I'll brew one packet every morning." Zheng Nanle looked at Lu Guangbai, tilted her head and smiled, "Dr. Lu, you'll be a very skilled traditional Chinese medicine doctor in the future."
Lu Guangbai laughed.
He wasn't sure or dared to think about it before, but now he can.
After marrying Zheng Nanle, he will become the safest poor peasant, and he will be eligible to apply for the position of health worker or take the barefoot doctor exam.
He will not waste the ancestral medical skills he has learned over the years.
“I think so too. My grandfather said I have great talent.” Lu Guangbai moved closer to Zheng Nanle, sitting shoulder to shoulder with her, wanting to lean on her.
Zheng Nanle pushed him away, "It felt like a steamer, let's go back."
Lu Guangbai reluctantly shook Zheng Nanle's hand, and let go before Zheng Nanle could show her disgust.
Zheng Nanle wiped the sweat from his palms on his clothes. Although he didn't say it aloud, the action clearly showed his disdain. Lu Guangbai saw this and chuckled softly.
The playful bickering and teasing between lovers is all part of their flirting; this little bit of annoyance is part of the fun.
The wedding officially began at 12:18. Zheng Nanle and his family arrived at the village chief's house at 12:00, first paid their respects to the accountant, and then found an empty seat to sit down.
Zhang Yu and the other educated youth sat together, waving frantically at Zheng Nanle.
Zheng Nan was pleased to see Lu Guangbai there, so he walked over. As for Lu Guangbai's grandfather and the others from the cowshed, they were neither qualified nor eligible to attend the wedding banquet.
In the past, Lu Guangbai would usually give a monetary gift but not attend the banquet. However, now that he is about to marry Zheng Nanle, his identity is no longer so secretive. Sitting at the village banquet, no one will gossip.
Because of Zheng Nanle, the educated youth changed positions; Zhang Yu was to Zheng Nanle's left, and Lu Guangbai was to his right.
The banquet was set with melon seeds, peanuts, and wedding candies. The quantity was not large, but there was a handful of melon seeds and seven or eight pieces of candy, which was considered a generous offering.
It's clear that although the wedding was rushed, the Xie family did not treat it perfunctorily.
Although Zheng Nanle went home almost every week, Zhang Yu had to go to work, and Zheng Nanle was always clinging to Lu Guangbai. The two of them hadn't had a chance to sit down and eat snacks and gossip for a long time. Even when they did chat, it was usually because she was using Xie Ronghua's connections to eat Lu Guangbai's food and they would talk about village gossip during the meal.
How could Zhang Yu possibly have enough time to say all that?
As soon as Zheng Nanle sat down, Zhang Yu eagerly gave her two chocolates, grabbed a handful of melon seeds, and started chatting with her.
Zheng Nanle continued, her gaze falling on Zhao Shu, who was so thin he was almost skin and bones, and asked, "What happened to him recently?"
Why does your face look different?
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