Chapter 27: Wedding
Zhou came out in response, and her face turned even darker when she saw the person coming.
The people who came were none other than Xie Jiabao's parents.
These two people came in person and brought a young man they had never met before. Combined with the news they had just received, the old couple suddenly had an ominous premonition in their hearts.
Seeing the old couple's expressions, Xia Daohua didn't want to go back to the fourth room anymore. She quietly slipped back to the old couple's room. Fortunately, everyone was quite excited at the moment, so no one was distracted to take care of her.
The visitor barely even bothered to exchange polite words. He walked into the room and threw the things in his hands on the table.
The old lady of the Xie family, with a pale face, thin cheeks and a pointed chin, grabbed Zhou's hand without any hesitation and began to cry:
"Sister Zhou, why is my life so miserable!"
The old man of the Xie family, who was as skinny as the old lady of the Xie family, also grabbed the hand of old man Xia and sighed, with three "sighs" in each sentence:
"Alas! Alas! I don't know what sin my Xie family has committed!"
The behavior of the two left the old couple of the Xia family a little confused.
Could it be that Xie Jiabao is dead?
But looking at their attire, they don't have any signs of mourning...
Furthermore, according to the customs of Beiguan Town, families experiencing funerals are not allowed to go to other people's homes casually.
Even relatives were not allowed to do so. Those who went to announce the death could not walk into the house directly, but could only ask someone to pass the message. It was absolutely impossible for parents to go to someone's house in person to announce the death of their son.
But, if nothing happened to Xie Jiabao, why would the couple act so mournful?
The old couple of the Xie family cried for a long time, talking about this and that, but they couldn't get to the main topic.
This time, not only were the old couple of the Xia family confused, but even the young man who came with them began to get impatient.
He was too lazy to listen to the old people's chattering and stated his purpose directly:
"My cousin was ambushed a few days ago and fell into an ice hole.
My cousin couldn’t swim, and as soon as he opened his mouth to call for help, he swallowed a belly full of cold river water.
Fortunately, he was rescued by a kind passerby.
But my cousin had such a shock and had been immersed in ice water for so long that his body could not stand it. Although he drank a large bowl of thick ginger soup, he still had a high fever that night.
When my cousin fell ill, my uncle and aunt were extremely worried. They hired several doctors in succession, and money flowed out like water. I don't know how much bitter medicine they gave my cousin, but he didn't get better.
Seeing that their cousin's illness had not improved, he was getting thinner and thinner, and lying on the kang all day long in a daze, the old couple went to Huangtao Village and asked for help from Hu Banxian.
Hu Banxian exorcised the evil spirit and then said that it was not enough to just exorcise the evil spirit, and that happiness was also needed to make things better.
We selected a burial site for my cousin, bought a fine coffin, and used the finest brocade and satin to make old clothes for him.
But my cousin still looked half-dead and couldn't get up from the kang.
Later on, I couldn't eat, and these days I couldn't even eat porridge or water.
He couldn't even swallow the bitter medicine soup.
He was so thin that he was just skin and bones. He looked so pitiful!"
At this point, the crying of the old couple in the Xie family suddenly became louder.
After their excitement had subsided a little, the young man continued:
"My cousin was so ill and obviously wasn't going to make it, so my family felt that we should arrange the marriage for him.
After all, this is the only thing left to do among all the things to do to bring good luck.
With this blessing, my cousin might get better!"
When the young man explained his purpose, the old couple of the Xie family did not say a word from beginning to end.
The old lady of the Xie family just held Zhou tightly, crying and wiping her tears and snot with Zhou's sleeves.
The old man of the Xie family also kept holding on to the old man of Xia's arm tightly and refused to let go, just saying "Ah", "Ah", "Ah" over and over again.
The old couple were angry and helpless.
The Xie family really gave them a big problem.
If they refused to do so, they would be treacherous and would not help their daughter. But if they agreed to do so, they would be pushing their own daughter into the fire pit!
Both the old couple love their children very much.
Seeing how pitiful the old couple of the Xie family looked, they couldn't say a direct refusal.
But if they were to agree, they couldn't say such words that would harm their daughter.
Seeing the old couple in a dilemma, the young man from the Xie family said:
"After all, this marriage is between my cousin and his wife. I have to ask my cousin what he thinks. Let him have the final say on whether to marry or not!"
After hearing this, Mr. Xia and Mrs. Zhou's faces suddenly became extremely ugly.
Is he starting to force Yujiao because he sees that I haven't expressed my opinion?
Xia Yujiao's face was filled with pain, tears rolling down her cheeks. She closed her eyes, clenched her teeth, and with a determined look on her face, she was about to open her mouth to speak.
Xia Daohua was quick-eyed and quick-handed. She picked up a frozen persimmon on the table that had a layer of white frost on it and stuffed it into Xia Yujiao's half-open mouth with a "puff".
Xia Yujiao was startled by the sudden coldness and sweetness. The word "I" that was already on the tip of her tongue was choked in her throat. She could not say anything but only whimpered a few times.
In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Xia Daohua's face.
Xia Daohua asked in confusion:
"What are you all looking at me for?
My brother, your cousin is sick, why don’t you take him to see a doctor, but instead give him a happy wedding?
You don't really want to cure him, do you?
Otherwise, knowing that his illness is difficult to cure, why don’t you go find Doctor Wang?
Look at the back of my head, there’s such a big hole, and it hasn’t healed yet!
At that time, everyone said that I was going to die soon.
As a result, my grandparents sent me to Pujitang, where Doctor Wang saved my life.
My family didn’t even ask me to just celebrate the occasion!”
The young man's face flushed red, and he glared at Xia Daohua with gnashing teeth, angrily scolding her: "How can you be so mean at such a young age? You are slandering me!"
Xia Daohua looked puzzled:
"I asked you to find Doctor Wang to treat your cousin, how come you are slandering me?
Or do you really not want to cure your cousin?
Anyway, without your cousin, your uncle and aunt will have to rely on you, and the family property will have to be given to you, right?"
"You!" The young man was so angry that he rolled up his sleeves and wanted to rush over and beat Xia Daohua up.
Xia Daohua looked frightened and hid behind Xia Yujiao, only sticking her head out:
"Hey! Are you thinking of killing someone to silence him because of what I said?"
Today is the Lantern Festival. Have you eaten Lantern Festival dumplings? Happy Lantern Festival!
(End of this chapter)
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