Chapter 153 No Comparison, No Harm
Many people came to pick up the bride, including Xu Jinnian.
A group of people rushed in with Zhang Daikui. Sheng An was squeezed into a corner and pressed against the quilt that was part of her dowry. Then a large hand appeared around her waist and steadied her.
Upon looking up and seeing Xu Jinnian, Sheng An immediately breathed a sigh of relief and quickly moved closer to her: "Why are there so many people here?"
Xu Jinnian led her slowly toward the door, pushing a few troublemaking boys outside: "My uncle knows a lot of people, so they came to join in the fun."
Sheng An glanced at the crowded room, then pulled Xu Jinnian to block the doorway, preventing the people behind from squeezing in: "Marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so it's nice to have it lively like this."
Those who just stir up trouble should be left alone; we absolutely cannot let them go in and cause trouble.
The couple, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, exuded a unique charm. Standing at the door, they kept the noisy crowd at bay, leaving the onlookers to observe them from inside the main room.
Some of Zhang's relatives who didn't recognize them asked Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang, "Who are these two people? They're so close together, are they a couple?"
Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang revealed the two men's identities, and the relatives suddenly realized: "Your son-in-law looks very rough and rough, but we never expected his cousin to look like a fairy from a painting."
"A man who is big and burly is a compliment," Zhang's parents said with a smile, not minding at all. "Da Kui's cousin is a scholar. Scholars are elegant and handsome."
Upon hearing this, the relatives were immediately filled with envy:
"It's actually a scholar! Such a young scholar, his future is bright. He came to pick up the bride because he has a good relationship with your son-in-law. He will definitely help your son-in-law when he becomes successful. Zhao Di is so lucky!"
Mr. and Mrs. Zhang were pleased to hear this.
If a daughter and son-in-law have a relative with a bright future, even if the relative becomes successful and is unwilling to help them, the mere existence of the kinship relationship can reduce unnecessary trouble for the daughter and son-in-law.
The couple standing at the doorway could faintly hear the surrounding chatter, but they paid no attention to what they were saying.
Not long after, the door opened from the inside, and surrounded by the crowd, Zhang Daikui led Zhang Zhaodi out to bid farewell to Zhang's parents.
Aunt Zhang couldn't control her emotions and covered her mouth to cry.
This scene touched many women with daughters, especially the aunts and uncles who had watched Zhang Zhaodi grow up. While comforting their sister-in-law, they couldn't help but tear up.
Sheng An couldn't help but put herself in Xu Jinnian's shoes, and shook Xu Jinnian's hand, saying in a low voice, "If our daughter, whom we've raised for over ten years, were to marry into another family, I might cry even more than Aunt Zhang."
Xu Jinnian considered the possibility for a moment, then pursed her lips and frowned slightly: "Then I won't marry him."
Upon hearing this, Sheng An couldn't help but chuckle: "Your daughter's all grown up now, whether she gets married or not is not up to you to decide."
Thinking about how she was already saddened by the thought of her daughter getting married even though she hadn't even given birth yet, she was speechless with herself: "Forget it, it's hard to say whether we'll have a daughter in the future, so let's not make things difficult for ourselves here."
Xu Jinnian's gaze unconsciously fell on Sheng An's lower abdomen, and his heart stirred slightly: "If An An likes it, then she will have it."
Sheng An was even more speechless: "Can't we at least have a chance to see you?"
Xu Jinnian misunderstood and lowered her voice, saying, "I will try my best."
Sheng An: "..."
The villagers, watching Zhang Zhaodi dressed in a bright red wedding gown with a pair of gleaming gold bracelets on her wrists, couldn't help but whisper among themselves:
"The Zhang family's wedding was much grander than the Liu family's the day before yesterday. Forget about the wedding dress, even the red veil was just a piece of old green cloth. She was taken away with a small bundle."
"Sigh, the Liu family's daughter is no match for Zhao Di. Her husband is not as good as the one in front of us either. On the day of the wedding, she was dressed very old and came in an oxcart. When she went back, a bunch of relatives crowded around the Liu family's daughter."
"There was nothing we could do. Although that man was a scholar, his family was very poor. They were lucky to have an oxcart. We couldn't let the Liu family's son walk there."
"The woman from the Liu family is better looking and has a better figure than Zhao Di, but she was blinded by greed and married a poor scholar. Her hard days are yet to come."
"That's not right. If the scholar were to succeed in the imperial examinations, wouldn't her good days begin?"
"What a happy day! I heard that the Liu family used underhanded means to get engaged to that scholar. This sudden visit home was to force him to marry her. No wonder he won't care about her."
"Yes, yes, on the day of her return visit, Liu Huazhi looked terrible, like she hadn't slept for three days and three nights. She must have been tormented by her in-laws."
"..."
Sheng An overheard this and nudged Xu Jinnian with his elbow: "It's a bit strange that Xu Huaining is willing to let Liu Huazhi marry into the family ahead of time. Could it be that he has something on Liu Huazhi that he has no choice but to marry her?"
Xu Jinnian nodded: "That's possible."
Sheng An scratched his face: "What could it be? Should we have the brothers Atu and Ashui keep an eye on it?"
If Liu Huazhi really has something on him, digging it out might come in handy someday.
Xu Jinnian pondered for a moment and thought it was feasible: "Then let them give it a try."
After bidding farewell to her parents, Zhang Zhaodi was carried onto the bridal sedan chair by her younger brother, Zhang Baobei.
Zhang Daikui rode on the little donkey beside him, a bright smile on his honest face, his white teeth dazzling in the sunlight.
The other members of the wedding party carried the dowry onto the carts, and Xu Jinnian and Sheng An also rode in their own donkey cart. The group headed towards the city in a grand procession.
As Sheng An passed by the Liu family's house, he saw the Liu family members standing at the door looking around.
The Liu family members also saw her, and all four of their faces showed expressions of hatred and anger.
But no one dared to rush up and hit them, for fear that someone would sneak into their house at night and break their legs.
Sheng An smirked, glanced at them as if they were trash, then looked away and left with the donkey cart.
Kong Dazhuang cursed loudly, "Rebellious daughter! Rebellious daughter! She should have been strangled back then!"
Peng Chunlan said impatiently, "Alright, what's the use of just talking? Let's hurry up and think of a way to get some grain. All we have left are a few sweet potatoes!"
Liu Zhuzi watched the departing procession with deep regret: "If I had known the Xu family were all poor, I shouldn't have listened to Huazhi and made her get engaged to that Xu family. If we could have found a city person like Zhang Zhaodi, we wouldn't have to worry about food at all."
Liu Shitou, however, thought more deeply: "The Zhang family gave Zhang Zhaodi so much dowry. If you come to propose to her after the Liu family breaks off the engagement, this dowry will be ours."
Liu Zhuzi thought it made sense and immediately slapped his thigh in frustration: "Why didn't I think of that!"
As he spoke, he turned and scolded Liu Shitou: "Why didn't you say so sooner?"
Liu Shitou curled his lip: "You're the one who thinks Zhang Zhaodi is dark-skinned and doesn't look like a woman. If I said that, you'd probably punch me."
Liu Zhuzi was speechless, and in a fit of rage, he punched Liu Shitou: "You wouldn't say anything before, so what are you talking about now!"
Liu Shitou wasn't about to take it lying down, so he raised his fist and retaliated: "You're useless and can't get a wife, so why are you taking your anger out on me!"
In an instant, the two brothers were locked in a fierce fight, exchanging punches and kicks.
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