After Shengnan returned home, she prepared lunch. After Liu Xiu came back and finished eating, she told Liu Xiu the results of the discussion at Zhang's house today, which made Liu Xiu very happy.
Liu Xiu said excitedly, "It's still early, I'll give Accountant Li and his wife a red envelope to thank them. If there's still time, go tell your second mother and ask her to work at the tofu shop on my behalf for the next three days!"
"Mom, wait a minute! Our family has saved so many cloth coupons. I want to make a new piece of clothing for Zhang Wanlin to wear when he gets married!" Shengnan asked shyly, pulling Liu Xiu's arm.
Liu Xiu looked at his little daughter Shengnan, smiled, and said, "It's time to make her some new clothes. He's not well-off at home, and the Zhang family probably won't prepare anything for him. I've saved up fifteen feet of cloth coupons for your wedding. I'll borrow a few more from your eldest and second uncles, so you and Wan Lin can each make a new dress!"
"Mom, if you don't have one, forget it. Just make one for Zhang Wanlin!" Shengnan said.
"Besides, come with me to ask. If there is any, you can bring it back and add the cloth coupons at home, and go to the supply and marketing cooperative to get the cloth back. The cloth coupons at home are in the big box in my room where I keep clothes, packed in a wooden box. Forget it, I'll get it out for you, and I'll ask for money?" Liu Xiu hurried back to the room before he finished speaking.
Ever since Liu Xiu discovered the affair between Zhou Bing and Shengnan last year, the family's financial power has been controlled by Liu Xiu.
Liu Xiu handed the money and ticket to Shengnan and said, "Let's go!"
Liu Xiu and Shengnan later borrowed three feet of cloth coupons from Wang Shuihua, and Shengnan now had eighteen feet of cloth coupons in her hands, which was enough for each of them to make a piece of clothing.
After Liu Xiu left for work, Shengnan went back to the old house and told Grandpa Liu and Grandma Liu in detail about their visit to Zhang's house. It was already past three o'clock when Shengnan returned home. She grabbed the cloth and money and was about to borrow a bicycle from next door when Liu's father arrived.
…
Xuemei and Han Chen had a relatively smooth journey and had a good rest. The train arrived in the provincial capital at 8 o'clock in the evening on the twelfth day of the first lunar month. After getting off the train, they went directly to the guesthouse next to the train station. They had dinner on the train and each bought a hot lunch box.
The next morning at six o'clock, the two skipped breakfast and hurried to the bus station with their luggage to buy tickets. After buying tickets for the 8:30 a.m. bus back to the county town, they saw that it was still early, with the bus leaving in an hour, so they went to the state-owned restaurant near the bus station for breakfast. As soon as they arrived at the restaurant, Xuemei and Han Chen ran into Mingzheng and his three companions who had just finished their meal.
Xuemei ran forward in surprise and said, "Second brother, second sister-in-law, He Jing, Mingwu, you are back too. When did you arrive in the provincial capital?"
"We arrived in the provincial capital yesterday afternoon. How about you?" Ming Zhengwen said, carrying a backpack and holding He Wanting with one hand.
"I just bought a ticket at the bus station at 8 o'clock last night. You also have a ticket back to the county town at 8:30 in the morning, right?" Xuemei asked.
"Yes, we bought the tickets yesterday afternoon!" Mingwen replied.
Han Chen saw that time was a little urgent, so he pulled Xuemei's arm and said, "Second brother, second sister-in-law, time is a little urgent. Xuemei and I will go in to eat first. Why don't you go to the bus station first?"
As soon as Han Chen said that, Xuemei also reacted and said anxiously, "That's right, second brother, let's go eat first. We'll talk on the way!"
Han Chen and Xuemei each had a bowl of vegetarian noodles at the state-owned restaurant, bought a few vegetarian buns made of multi-grain and two boiled eggs, and hurried back to the station.
The two of them put their things in the car and sat down before they had time to catch their breath. Mingwu and He Jing had helped to reserve the seats with their things, otherwise, there would be no seats left when Xuemei and Han Chen arrived.
Xuemei and her group arrived at the county bus station around three o'clock in the afternoon. Then Xuemei went to the post office to make a phone call, and Liu's father sent Shengnan to borrow a tractor from the village to come to the county to pick up Xuemei and the other six people.
It was exactly four o'clock when Shengnan drove her tractor to the county bus station. Mingwu was the first to spot Shengnan. He raised his hand, jumped up, and shouted, "Sister Shengnan, we are here!"
Shengnan drove the tractor in front of Xuemei and the others, reversed it, and then got out. As soon as she arrived in front of Xuemei and the others, she said, "Eldest sister, brother-in-law, second brother, second sister-in-law, He Zhiqing, you are all here today. Did you discuss this in advance?"
"No, we happened to arrive in the provincial capital on the same day, and then took the same bus back to the county town," Xuemei explained.
"That's such a coincidence. It's good that you came back today. I was afraid that you wouldn't come back on my wedding day!" Shengnan said.
"Get married!" Mingwu shouted loudly, and the others looked at Shengnan in surprise.
Xuemei and the others looked at each other in surprise. They had only been away from home for twelve days and Shengnan was about to get married.
Mingwu thought about it and felt that Shengnan was lying to him, then said: "Sister Shengnan, your joke is not funny at all!"
"I'm not kidding. Get in the car first and I'll tell you in detail when we get home!" Shengnan explained.
Mingwu still didn't believe it, so he chased after Shengnan and asked, "You really didn't lie. If you tell me you're lying, give me five dollars!"
Shengnan turned around with a helpless look on her face, put her hands over Mingwu's face and said, "My partner's name is Zhang Wanlin, from Yangshu Village. My grandparents, my eldest uncle, my eldest aunt, my second uncle, my second aunt, and everyone else in the family know about it. The wedding is on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and it was my eldest uncle who went to the Yang family's home in Yangshu Village to arrange it."
After hearing what Shengnan said, Xuemei and Han Chen looked at each other and both knew that what Shengnan had just said was true.
Xuemei quietly pulled Han Chen, and Han Chen bent down and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Are you tired?" Xuemei leaned close to Han Chen's ear and asked.
Han Chen was a little confused, but still shook his head.
Xuemei then continued, "Then can you drive the tractor later? I want to ask Shengnan something. I'm so curious!"
Han Chen was also very curious and wanted to listen, so he nodded.
Han Chen is already very skilled at driving and can react very quickly to any emergencies.
Seeing Han Chen agreed, Xuemei walked up to Shengnan and said, "Shengnan, let your brother-in-law drive later. You sit in the back with us and talk about you and your partner!"
The others also nodded. Everyone was very curious about what kind of guy made Shengnan decide to get married in such a short time.
Shengnan thought for a moment and said, "Okay, wait for me for a moment. I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some cloth, and then we'll go home together!"
When Shengnan came back with the cloth and got on the tractor, Xuemei couldn't wait to ask him about his girlfriend. Then, Shengnan told Xuemei and others about what had happened during this period.
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