"Fourth brother..." Seeing Ding Youtian's sour face, Lao Liu didn't dare to say anything else, nor did he dare to stand up. He turned his gaze to Jian Ning.
Jian Ning smiled slightly, then gave Xiaoyu a look. Xiaoyu understood, greeted Ding Youtian, called him "Fourth Brother", and then followed Jian Ning to the east room.
After the two of them left, Ding Youtian glared at Lao Liu and said, "If it were my temper, I would kick you out! You're not a child anymore, how come you can't tell the priorities? If Sanniu hadn't come back in time to report the news, would you have cried so hard with that irritable girl that you could have brought your wife home?"
"The first thing you should have thought of is to borrow money to bring the person back."
"They've been preparing for it since morning and are waiting for you. You're just being so angry and not thinking about it. If they really keep waiting, they'll be laughed at by the whole village. How will your fourth sister-in-law and I deal with the Ma family in the future?"
"If you really don't want to ask for money, you can just send Erniu and Sanniu back to tell us. You can't think of any of this. Your brain is just a decoration, isn't it?"
Lao Liu was so scared that he didn't dare to breathe.
"Fourth Brother taught me that I lost my temper and didn't consider the consequences. It was my fault. I did mess up the rules that day and it almost got out of control."
"It's good to know you're wrong. I think Oda is a good woman. From now on, treat her well and work together to run the inn well. Now that you're married, you have to learn to support your family and use your brain more. If you're unsure about something, ask Oda's uncle. If he knows, your fourth sister-in-law and I will know too."
"Your fourth sister-in-law and I will help you if we can."
"Yes." Lao Liu just took what he said as true. He had something to tell Ma Fuquan, and Ma Fuquan would tell them when he came back.
"Let's go there early after saying hello to Aunt Oda."
The sixth brother came out as expected, met Tian, and took the return gift that Jian Ning had prepared for them. Before leaving, his eyes were red. "Fourth sister-in-law, tell my fourth brother that when Baoer goes to the county to study, we will definitely take good care of him. Let him just rest assured."
Jian Ning smiled and said, "We are relieved to have his uncle and aunt looking after us."
After Third Master Ding drove them off, Tian said to Jian Ning, "My eldest brother is so happy now. On the day Xiaoyu got married, he and my eldest sister-in-law rushed back to the county town and brought a brood of chicks with him. I don't know what's so good about the county town. I used to envy my second brother for being able to work there. This time, he's really benefiting from my eldest niece. His mouth is almost hanging from his ears."
“People go to higher places, and water flows to lower places. The county town is naturally better than the countryside.”
"I just think the countryside is good, and so does my father. My second brother wanted to take my parents to the county town to live there in their old age, but my father refused to do it. He just loved staying in the countryside and looking after his two acres of land."
"The escort agency's business has grown, and your family has bought a house in the county town in the future. Will you also go there? Are you really willing to let Brother Ma and the kids live in the county town while you stay alone in the countryside?"
"Oh, that won't do. If we really bought a house in the county town, why would they all live there and leave me alone in the countryside? I won't do that."
Ding Yang jokingly said, "Are you afraid that my brother Ma will marry a second wife and you will have to go and look after him?
"You little bastard, be careful or I'll tear your mouth apart."
Seeing Tian Shi smiling, as if she wasn't too upset about Ma Fuquan marrying a second wife, Jian Ning couldn't help but ask her, "If that day ever comes, won't you be angry?"
"Hey." Tian's eyes flashed with loneliness, but then she smiled and said, "If my family can really buy a house in the county town, it means that the escort business is growing. If the business grows and the family becomes rich, many men will marry three wives and four concubines. What can we women do? It's up to them."
"Otherwise I would say the countryside is better. I don't expect to settle down in the county town."
Jian Ning sighed inwardly. The slogan of gender equality had been shouted for thousands of years, but where was true equality? Even in modern times, not to mention the powerful, even ordinary men would secretly find a mistress if they had a few coins in their pockets.
Marriage and divorce are like child's play. In ancient times, there were at least seven grounds for divorce for men. But nowadays, it is common for couples to part ways simply because of a personality incompatibility.
Why did you do that when your personalities don't match?
Or we treat marriage too casually. Although many modern women have achieved economic freedom and have independent and complete personalities, they are still at a disadvantage compared to men in the final analysis, and men still occupy a dominant position.
Regardless of whether it was ancient or modern times, women were always at a disadvantage. This made Jian Ning very dissatisfied and secretly made up her mind. No matter what others did, beating her was not an option! If Ding Youtian dared to make a move on his three wives and four concubines, she would leave immediately without any room for negotiation.
The days passed by in a dull manner.
That afternoon, the riverside base was suddenly bustling with activity. After studying day and night and failing countless times, the craftsmen finally managed to generate electricity and make light bulbs.
Jian Ning and Ding Youtian also rushed over after hearing the news. She hadn't been here for a while. From a distance, she saw several large windmills whirring away. As she approached, Huo Jincheng greeted her with a broad smile, "This truly is a testament to the hard work of God. It's finally done. Come inside and take a look. This is a hundred times brighter than candlelight."
Because it was daytime and the lights couldn't be seen outside, the bulbs were hung inside the tent. Jian Ning and Ding Youtian went in and saw a triangular wooden stake inside the tent with the bulbs hanging from a tripod. Wei Dong stood next to the tripod, pulling a strap. He pulled it once, and the light came on. He pulled it again, and the light went out.
The craftsmen all looked pleased.
Huo Jincheng said, "Brother Ma is truly an extraordinary man. This switch was made under his guidance, and he has also figured out solutions to many other difficult problems. He's truly remarkable."
"It's good, but the cost of gold wire is too high." Jian Ning thought it might be difficult to popularize it among ordinary people. After all, gold is not cheap.
"Brother Ma said we could use wires instead, and that wires are not impossible to make. He also said that these lights can be lit without a windmill, just iron and wires. Anyway, it's not too late to talk about it later."
Ordinary people could not afford the gold thread, but the imperial palace could afford it.
In the evening, the lights in the tents by the river were lit up, and villagers from many nearby villages came to see the wonder. The riverbank was crowded with people, and it was as lively as watching lanterns during the Lantern Festival.
The lamps and glass were finished, and the wine Huo Jincheng had ordered was brewed. He and Weidong were preparing to lead the team back to Beijing. At a farewell party for them at Jian Ning's that evening, Huo Jincheng remembered that Ding Youtian would also be going to Beijing to take the imperial examination in two or three months. He suggested to him and Jian Ning, "I have a spare room in my house in Beijing. Why don't you and your family come with us? Even if Brother Ding doesn't pass this time, wouldn't it be better for you to open a winery or a clinic in Beijing instead of staying in the countryside?"
Ding Youtian glanced at him and said, "How do you know I won't be able to pass the high school entrance exam?"
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