Zhou Shixun looked at Sheng An Ning helplessly, then greeted the villagers.
Sheng An Ning followed him with an obedient smile on her face, but she was very happy in her heart. She found that the older elders in the village all affectionately called Zhou Shixun "Changsuo".
Just like Zhou Shixun, they call him Shixun or Lao Er.
The younger one is the second brother.
After hearing the last part, Sheng An Ning actually felt that Changsuo was the most intimate.
It wasn't until Zhou Shixun brought her to a small courtyard that Sheng Anning realized, "Whose house are we going to? Don't we need to prepare some gifts?"
Zhou Shixun said he was not eating at home, so he probably ate at someone else's house. He hadn't been back for so many years, so it would be bad to go to someone else's house and eat empty-handed.
Zhou Shixun glanced at Sheng Anning and said, "No, we'll just come over to take a look, then go to Third Uncle's house for dinner and go to the store at the entrance of the village to buy something."
Sheng An Ning said "oh" and followed Zhou Shixun into the courtyard.
The yard was much smaller than Zhou's, but it was kept clean. An elderly woman, wearing patched clothes, was sitting in the sun sewing shoe soles. When she saw Zhou Shixun, she immediately put the things in her hands into the bamboo basket beside her and stood up: "Second brother, when did you come back? I heard from the villagers yesterday that you were back."
When Sheng An Ning saw the woman's face clearly, she was no longer surprised. This should be Luo Caixia's mother. Luo Caixia looked very similar to her and should have been a gentle and beautiful woman when she was young.
Along the way, Zhou Shixun did not introduce Sheng Anning to the neighbors. But when he saw Luo Caixia's mother Wang Ying, he introduced her: "Aunt, this is my wife Sheng Anning. Anning is Aunt Wang, Caixia's mother."
Sheng Anning didn't understand what Zhou Shixun meant by this introduction, so she smiled and greeted Wang Ying obediently: "Hello, auntie."
Wang Ying was stunned for a moment, looked at Sheng An Ning carefully for a few times, then smiled and nodded: "Okay, okay, hurry up and sit down, I'll go pour you some tea."
Zhou Shixun stopped him: "No, we still have to go to my third uncle's house."
Then he took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Wang Ying: "Here is some money, use it to repair the house, so that it won't leak again when it rains."
Wang Ying was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hands: "No, no, Lao Er, what are you doing? You give me money every time you come back. You said I saved you once, so you don't have to be so polite."
Zhou Shixun insisted on putting the money on the windowsill: "This is what I should do."
Sheng An Ning's mood suddenly improved as she looked at him. It seemed that this dull man had nothing to do with Luo Caixia.
If the two of them were really dating, he wouldn't have come so openly to give her money, and Wang Ying wouldn't have refused so politely.
After all, he is a man who has ruined his daughter's youth for several years. How could he be so polite when meeting her?
If the two have no relationship, then why is everyone saying that they dated and that Zhou Shixun should marry Luo Caixia?
Sheng An Ning's clever mind worked for a while, and he immediately understood that all of this was probably told by Luo Caixia.
Or maybe it was obvious that Zhou Shixun wanted to repay Wang Ying for the gift, so Luo Caixia took it out and refused to explain it when others asked her about it.
After a long time, people will naturally misunderstand each other.
Sheng An Ning sighed in her heart, looking at the gentle and lovely Luo Caixia, who also had such a white lotus attribute? Then she met the silent Zhou Shixun.
So what she said is what it is?
Wang Ying was a little anxious: "You are always so polite, kid."
She still felt a little regretful. She also liked Zhou Shixun, a child she had watched grow up. He was quiet but thoughtful, and he was relaxed and responsible.
She once wanted Zhou Shixun to be her son-in-law. When everyone was talking about Zhou Shixun dating her daughter, she also asked her daughter indirectly, but Luo Caixia just said a few perfunctory words.
So she always thought that Zhou Shixun and Luo Caixia would be together, until the villagers came to ask Zhou Shixun if he was going to get married, she found out that they were not in a relationship, and she resented Zhou Shixun for a while.
Zhou Shixun said nothing more and left with Sheng An Ning.
Wang Ying even chased to the door and said, "If you are not in a hurry to leave, come over for dinner tomorrow night. Caixia brought back a message saying she will be back tomorrow."
Zhou Shixun didn't agree: "Let's talk about it later, we have to go out tomorrow."
Wang Ying looked disappointed: "Okay, take your time, and bring your wife over to sit with you when you have time."
Sheng An Ning followed Zhou Shixun to the shop at the entrance of the village. It was not called a shop but a grocery store. The light inside was dim and the air was filled with the smell of soy sauce, vinegar and groceries.
There is a full range of items, including biscuits, candies and meat.
Zhou Shixun weighed three pounds of pork belly and two pounds of white wine. The salesperson at the station obviously knew Zhou Shixun and joked with a smile: "Changsuo, are you taking your new wife to visit relatives? Don't forget to hand out the wedding candies?"
Sheng An Ning then remembered that Zhou Shixun did ask her to buy candy, but she forgot.
Zhou Shixun also bought two kilograms of fruit candies whose wrappers had worn off. He grabbed a few and gave them to the salesperson, who took them with a smile and said, "You won't get a toothache if you eat wedding candies. I wish you two a happy marriage and a son soon."
Sheng An Ning didn't know what expression the new bride should have at this time, so she said thank you generously and followed the taciturn Zhou Shixun out.
There was a group of children playing in the mud in front of the agency. Zhou Shixun shared some of the candy in his pocket with everyone before leaving with Sheng An Ning.
By lunch time, everyone in the village knew that Zhou Shixun had brought back a new bride and was handing out candies at the entrance of the village. The new bride was beautiful, just like the one in the painting.
Sheng Anning didn't quite understand why Zhou Shixun went through this process? They wouldn't stay in the village for long anyway, and they might get divorced after returning.
When thinking about divorce, Sheng An Ning's thoughts were no longer so strong.
Following Zhou Shixun, we arrived at a house in the middle of the village, which was also a low mud house. Firewood was piled up around the yard, and there was a water pressurized well in the middle of the yard with a small square table next to it.
The yard is about the same size as Zhou's, but it is very tidy.
When Zhou Shixun brought Sheng An Ning into the yard, a small yellow dog started barking and wagging its tail.
Soon an old man came out of the house holding a child. He was stunned for a moment when he saw Zhou Shixun and exclaimed, "Is Changsuo back?"
Zhou Shixun nodded, with a gentleness on his face that Sheng Anning had never seen before: "Third Uncle, I'm back, where's Third Uncle?"
The third uncle's wife was a little excited, and she hurried over, dragging the child with her. "Hurry up and sit down, hurry up and sit down. I heard from the villagers yesterday that you came back with your wife. Your third uncle said that you would definitely come in the next two days, and he went to the mountain to catch rabbits early in the morning."
As he said that, he put the child aside, wiped the stool with his sleeve and gave it to Sheng An Ning: "Changsuo's wife, please sit down quickly. You are really good-looking. There is another girl."
Sheng Anning took the stool with a smile: "Thank you, Third Uncle, I can do it myself."
The third aunt asked Zhou Shixun and Sheng Anning to sit down, and was busy pouring tea: "Our place in the countryside is poor and dirty, please don't despise it."
In their eyes, city people are superior, just like the educated youth who came here in the past two years, many of whom look down on them.
Sheng An Ning smiled and said, "It's good. My third uncle's wife is a diligent and clean person. She keeps the yard very clean."
The third uncle's wife was embarrassed by the praise: "What's so hardworking about it? I just do it when I have nothing to do at home."
She brought out two bowls of boiled water and the sugar jar, and scooped a large spoonful of sugar into each bowl. The two-year-old kid next to her was so greedy that he held on to his grandmother's legs and refused to let go.
Although Sheng An Ning had just arrived, he knew that sugar was a scarce commodity in this era and was in limited supply. Even if you had money, you might not be able to buy it.
Therefore, adding so much sugar is the standard for entertaining distinguished guests.
Zhou Shixun didn't need to say anything. He just picked up the cloth bag on the table, took out a few fruit candies and stuffed them into the little guy's pocket: "Little boy, do you want to eat this candy?"
She originally wanted to say "Auntie gave you candy", but it seemed that this title was not appropriate.
The third aunt smiled and bent down to pull the little great-grandson's arm: "Xiao Zhu, go quickly, the second aunt gave us some candy, take it quickly."
Xiao Zhu looked at Sheng An Ning, grabbed the candy from her hand, and timidly hid behind his uncle's legs, sticking out his little face and looking at Sheng An Ning shyly.
After finishing her work, the third aunt sat down, pulled Xiao Zhu to lean against her bosom, invited Sheng An Ning to drink sugar water, and said to Zhou Shixun: "This is Changdong's son, who is almost three years old. When his mother was pregnant with him, Changdong went to the coal mine in the north to make money. The coal mine collapsed and he never came back. His mother also left after giving birth to him."
Zhou Shixun was a little shocked: "Changdong is gone?"
The third uncle sighed, "Yes, this person is unlucky. He has been gone for three years, leaving behind a poor child."
Zhou Shixun frowned, obviously unable to accept the bad news.
The third uncle touched Xiao Zhu's head and said, "Leave this poor little thing behind. He is almost three years old and still can't speak."
Xiao Zhu lowered his head and peeled the candy clumsily, not paying any attention to what the adults were saying. He stuffed the fruit candy into his mouth and smiled happily at his uncle's wife with his little mouth wide open.
Sheng An Ning felt overwhelmed with sympathy when she heard this. This child was really pitiful. After observing carefully, she found that Xiao Zhu could hear sounds. Whenever a puppy barked, he would turn around and look smartly.
Looking at the third aunt: "Can I see Xiao Zhu?"
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