After putting Little Sun into the box for making paper figures, the big man lit an oil lamp, re-examined the six boxes, straightened the crushed gold bar back to its original square shape, and carefully patched up the broken paper figures with saliva.
He refilled the empty wine jars with water, checked them one by one, and then locked the six boxes again.
The big man sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed), looked at the six boxes, and sat quietly and motionless until dawn.
When the first ray of sunlight came out, it shone on the burly man again, and he came to life, jumped to the ground, and immediately called for the other three burly men to wake up.
The sound of firecrackers came from the gate. The wedding procession arrived, and before they even entered, the cheerful sound of suona horns rang out. The groom rode a tall, black horse with long, glossy mane, wearing a black fox fur octagonal melon-shaped hat, a red cotton robe, and a white jade belt around his waist. He looked quite dashing.
Behind them followed a covered mule cart to pick up the bride, and finally a mule-drawn cart, which was obviously to carry the betrothal gifts.
Xiaoyue, Lu Xiaomei, and Li Qianqian stood in front of Ge Erlin's door, watching the groom marry his bride from a distance. The three of them were watching the groom with great interest and commentary.
Unlike the previous life, the groom did not dismount when he entered the courtyard. The driver of the mule cart stopped at the gate of the courtyard. When the second mule cart arrived in the courtyard, the driver shouted, and four burly men came out of the west wing.
The four burly men carried the box, and when the village lads saw that the box was quite heavy, they offered to help, but the men waved them off.
Two people lifted the box onto the flatbed cart, and two people stood on the flatbed cart to catch the box.
The last two men were carrying a box, and it seemed like the lock was broken. Just as they were loading it onto the vehicle, the lid of the box opened a corner, revealing a piece of gold twill brocade.
Ge Erlin, who was standing in the group, witnessed an unbelievable scene and immediately jumped out, saying to the burly man in the car, "Our family wants to see what kind of betrothal gifts we have prepared for Ge Erping?"
At this moment, Ge Sanlin also helped the old lady Ge out of the crowd.
"As the older brother, I also want to see it."
Ge Sanlin supported Old Lady Ge, who smiled and said, "Yes, that's right. Let the neighbors in the village see, so that others can see that Erping married into a good family."
When Ge Erlin stepped out, Xiaoyue sensed something was amiss. She glanced at Ge Sanlin, who also came out to speak, but Xiao Sunshi did not.
On such a joyous day, it was impossible for Madam Sun to be absent.
Xiaoyue and Lu Xiaomei exchanged a glance, and Lu Xiaomei asked in confusion, "Where is Second Sister-in-law, Xiao Sunshi?"
Xiaoyue took Lu Xiaomei's arm and looked at the six large boxes with a smile.
Whenever there's a happy occasion in someone's family, people like to join in the fun. The villagers started teasing, "Look!"
Everyone wants to see Ge Erping's betrothal gifts.
"Let's see. Let's see what they prepare for a wedding in town."
The lively chatter immediately enlivened the atmosphere.
Just then, Ge Erping, dressed in red and supported by Ge Dalin, came out and stood down in front of the six boxes on the mule cart. He said to the groom on horseback, "Open them for the villagers, let them see, let them see."
At this moment, Yan Wu, his forehead covered in sweat despite the freezing winter weather, said, "We're running late, we have to go."
Ge Erping hesitated for a moment, looked at Ge Erlin, and then at Ge Sanlin. At this moment, Ge Sanlin said, "Let Dalingzi see how well my sister has married."
A faint blush rose on Ge Erping's dark face, and a smile appeared in his triangular eyes. He looked at Yan Wu for help and said, "Just open one box."
Yan Wu was following on the flatbed cart when the man tying the ropes said, "Pick the top one, open it for them, just take a look, then tie the ropes and leave. Otherwise, the time will be over."
The man standing on the cart took out a key and opened the lid of the top box, revealing a box full of gold bars.
The villagers all looked on with envy, but Ge Erlin and Ge Sanlin exchanged a glance.
Ge Erlin stepped forward again and said, "Take one out and let me see if it's real or fake?"
Xiaoyue frowned and whispered, "Such a statement is very disrespectful to the man, but look at that big man, he doesn't seem displeased at all."
Xiaoyue looked at the big man and casually tossed one into Ge Erlin's hand, "This is for my second brother-in-law and my third brother-in-law."
After saying this, he tied the rope and called out as he left the yard.
With Ge Dalin's help, Ge Erping arrived at the courtyard gate. He looked back at the courtyard where he had lived for seventeen years, hugged his thin mother, and wanted to say a few words to his second and third brothers.
Finally, urged by Yan Wu, who was riding on horseback, we boarded the carriage. Old Madam Ge was from Shuangju and couldn't go with us. Only a few of her sisters-in-law were left. The eldest sister-in-law of the Li family hadn't returned at all, and the second sister-in-law, Xiao Sunshi, was nowhere to be found.
The third sister-in-law still doesn't know who she is. Originally, Ge Erlin and Ge Sanlin were thinking of going with her to escort the bride, but what happened yesterday was too strange, and the two brothers didn't dare to go, so they didn't go.
Ge Erping got into the car and left alone.
When Grandma Ge saw the box of gold bars, she smiled so broadly her eyes disappeared. Meanwhile, Ge Sanlin and Ge Erlin went into the main room, placed the gold bar on the table, and stared at it intently.
When Ge Daming came to find his mother, the old lady Ge realized that her second daughter-in-law had not appeared all along.
Ge Daming climbed onto the table and reached for the gold bars on it, but Ge Erlin pushed him aside and sternly reprimanded him, "Get out!"
Grandma Ge looked at Ge Sanlin, "What's wrong with the second son?"
"Mother, this is very strange, I haven't figured out how to tell you yet."
He then stared intently at the gold bars placed on the table.
Grandma Ge smiled at Ge Sanlin and said, "Give me the gold, and I'll keep it for you."
As she spoke, the old lady Ge, who had been harboring wicked thoughts, reached out to take it, but Ge Erlin slapped her hand away.
"You unfilial wretch, I don't want to live anymore, my life is so miserable!" she said, throwing a tantrum.
She pounded on the kang (a heated brick bed) and kicked her legs, but no one paid any attention to her. She cried until she couldn't cry anymore, then grabbed Ge Daming and went to cook.
The sun sets early in winter; it was already down by 4:30. Ge Erlin and Ge Sanlin watched as the gold bars turned into the paper folding sticks they had seen in the box that night.
Ge Sanlin and Ge Erlin slammed their fists on the table and stood up. The two of them went to the cowshed, hitched up the oxcart, and went to see Ge Erping that very night.
...
When Xiaoyue returned home, Xu Fanyuan came back from town and gave Xiaoyue the indentures of Li Qianqian and Li Lei.
Xiaoyue then handed it to Li Qianqian, saying, "You and your brother can keep it. It was originally meant to protect you from your father. As long as there's a record in the government office, it's fine."
Xu Fanyuan then said earnestly to Li Qianqian and Li Lei, "You and your brother must not cause trouble. If you do, it will implicate Xiaoyue. Xiaoyue is all alone and has no backing, so if you make a mistake, it will be difficult for her to escape."
Just then, Liang Qi pushed the door open and came in.
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