Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The Origin of the Engagement
Shu Chengzu was an old Chinese medicine doctor who had been practicing medicine during the Republic of China period. He also participated in the War of Resistance Against Japan. After the founding of New China, he returned to his hometown and opened a small clinic to treat folks from all over the village. Because of his good medical skills and affordable medical services, he not only treated people for free but also gave them herbal medicines, even to those who were really poor. In Shen County at that time, there were countless villagers who had received his kindness.
Also because he had many good friends, he was able to escape disaster under the protection of the chairman of the Revolutionary Committee during the destruction of the Four Olds, and was spared the pain of being posted with big-character posters and being criticized and struggled against.
However, from then on until the early days of reform and opening up, in order to protect himself, Shu Chengzu lived an honest life as a farmer and never treated anyone again.
After the reform and opening up, Western medicine began to prevail and there were clinics in the village. Gradually, the fact that Shu Chengzu knew medical skills was slowly forgotten.
However, Shu Chengzu would still go up the mountain to collect herbs, and carefully wash them, dry them in the sun or in the shade, and then prepare them into small pills. When Shu Niannian was a child, she didn't know what Shu Chengzu was doing.
All I knew was that every once in a while, Shu Chengzu would take all the pills and disappear for a few days. When he came back, he would bring delicious food for Shu Niannian, such as White Rabbit milk candy, egg cakes, fragrant meat buns, and sometimes even chocolate.
And their family's tight days will soon become a little easier.
Later, Shu Niannian learned from the conversation between Li Guifen and Shu Guodong that although his grandfather was no longer treating patients at home, he was treating patients outside, and his patients were very rich and powerful.
That's how Shu Niannian's engagement came about.
That year, Captain Lu, who had been in contact with Shu Chengzu, suddenly found Shu Chengzu and said that his son suddenly became paralyzed on one side of his body and asked Shu Chengzu to save his life. Shu Chengzu gave Captain Lu's son acupuncture for three days. Captain Lu's son recovered as before. He was extremely happy and wanted to become related to Shu Chengzu. Unfortunately, Shu Chengzu's two sons were already married, so he finally set his sights on their two pregnant daughters-in-law.
The two families agreed that if the children born were of the same gender, they would be married as sisters or brothers. If they were of opposite genders, they would be engaged to each other and would be married when the two children reached the age of 18.
I don’t know if the two old people read too many picture books and learned this kind of romance with a sense of the underworld, so they so hastily tied Shu Niannian and Lu Jianjun together.
Let’s not talk about whether the younger generations are happy or not, but the two old people have loved each other for 18 years.
Since then, Captain Lu introduced Shu Chengzu to a group of old comrades. Who among those who came down from the battlefield with such glorious military exploits was not covered in injuries? Shu Chengzu was a skilled doctor and he stunned the old men with just one treatment. From then on, Shu Chengzu became their personal doctor.
During the years when the domestic environment was not good, Shu Chengzu relied on the care of Captain Lu and his comrades to support his family safely.
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Early in the morning, after finishing breakfast, Shu Niannian said hello to Li Guifen, then went to find Shu Chengzu and explained her purpose to him.
Shu Niannian: "I want to go to Haicheng with Grandpa to broaden my horizons."
Shu Chengzu was very surprised: "You are going to get married at the end of the year. Wouldn't it be better for you to stay at home and learn how to cook? Why do you suddenly want to come with me to broaden your horizons?"
Shu Niannian: "I have to broaden my horizons only after I get married. What if my in-laws treat me badly after I get married, or if Lu Jianjun has an affair with me and wants to divorce me, I can't come back to cry to you, right?"
Shu Chengzu smiled and said, "That's impossible. Others dare not say it, but I have watched Jianjun grow up since he was a child. I have seen what kind of temper he has. Look at how often he has come to our village in the past two years. It is obvious that he has you in his heart. Even if he treats you badly, as long as I tell his grandfather, his grandfather will break his legs! Do you believe it?!"
Shu Niannian smiled bitterly, thinking that Lu Jianjun came so often because he was secretly dating other women under the guise of visiting her. What did it have to do with her? !
But she couldn't say this now. Since ancient times, when catching a thief, one must catch his dirty laundry; when catching an adulterer, one must catch both of them. Before she had solid evidence of Lu Jianjun and Shu Meilan having an affair, she couldn't say anything to avoid alerting the enemy.
So Shu Niannian pulled Shu Chengzu's arm and acted like a spoiled child, saying in a different way, "I believe it! Of course I believe it! Brother Jianjun treats me the best, and Grandpa loves me the most! But my family is farmers, and theirs are officials. The difference in status between our two families is too great. I'm afraid that if I marry into their family, their family or their relatives will look down on me. To tell you the truth, Grandpa, I took out my high school books yesterday to review them, and I'm going to take the college entrance exam next year.
When I get into university and make a career, I will feel confident. Grandpa, this marriage, after all, is a case of us marrying above our station. ”
Shu Chengzu looked at Shu Niannian deeply and sighed, "You are right!"
How could he not know what Shu Niannian said?
With no one in her natal family, she can no longer stand on her own. Even if she marries into a wealthy family, she can only live a humble life.
Shu Chengzu touched Shu Niannian's head lovingly. It was not easy for a girl to stand up straight. "It's hard for you!"
Shu Niannian smiled and shook her head, her eyes full of excitement, "No, you don't know how lucky I am."
Only then will you have this opportunity to start over and strive early!
After Shu Niannian had reached an agreement with her grandfather, she went home and told Li Guifen about it. She happily hugged Li Guifen's neck and boasted, "Mom, when I become successful in the future, I will build you a big house and buy you a pair of big gold bracelets. When the time comes, when you stretch out your hand, others will be able to see it, blinding their eyes and making them all envy you!"
Shu Niannian was talking happily, and Li Guifen giggled. Even though she knew that what Shu Niannian said was unreliable, she just liked to listen and was happy to support her: "Yes, then I will wear the big gold bracelet that Nian Nian bought for mom, and walk around the village when I have nothing to do, and let them all envy me! Hahahahahahahahahaha!"
Nine Ha's, with real emotions, each Ha showing its happiness, each Ha's decibels higher than the other, almost overturning the two shabby doors of their house.
"Well, I also bought her new clothes, letting her wear a set every day, and never repeating the same set. I also bought her a lot of old hens, so that she can drink chicken soup every day!" "Yes, mother will drink chicken soup every day in the future, so that she can stay healthy and plump."
Shu Wenhui was helpless as he watched Shu Niannian and Li Guifen go crazy. Li Guifen was usually steady and bold, but she was helpless when it came to Shu Niannian. She believed whatever Niannian said was the truth and everything Niannian said was right. She didn't even think about how expensive gold is. A big gold bracelet costs so much money, so why buy two? !
He just wanted to work and earn money to buy a silver bracelet for Li Guifen!
He felt that it would be more realistic for them to buy silver bracelets.
Shu Niannian had had enough of the quarrel with Li Guifen, so she told her about the trip to Haicheng. "It's getting cold, so you need to dress warmly. You can wear the monkey cotton suit I made for you this year. It's warm and good-looking. I'll also prepare some food coupons for you, so that if you see something you want to eat on the street, you won't be left staring blankly."
While Li Guifen was chattering, Shu Niannian remembered something: the old friend who saved her from danger in her previous life was also in Haicheng.
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