Being too polite will only alienate people. Zhao Qingshan and Zhao Youtian have a good relationship, so there is no need to be polite about a meal.
Besides, Zhao Qingshan had no intention of going to Zhao Youtian's house for lunch. He still knew the proper etiquette. Zhao Qingshan was also thinking that after lunch at Zhao Youtian's house, he would call General Zhou! In the entire Zhaojiagou, only the brigade headquarters under Zhao Youtian's control had a telephone installed.
Seeing that Zhao Qingshan agreed to have lunch at his home, Zhao Youtian quickly said goodbye happily.
Zhao Youtian felt very honored to be the first person to invite Zhao Qingshan to dinner.
Zhao Youtian planned to go home and ask his son to go to the town to buy another piece of meat. It was rare that the old secretary had become a city dweller and did not treat him, Zhao Youtian, as an outsider!
After Zhao Qingshan saw Zhao Youtian off, he turned around and was about to enter when a familiar voice sounded behind him.
"Uncle Qingshan, he's at home!"
Zhao Qingshan frowned and stopped.
Zhao Qingshan recognized that the person who spoke was Zhao Hongsheng.
According to Sanhe Town customs, when a man and a woman marry, the man usually has to take the initiative to propose marriage. Regardless of how willing the woman is, she must make some arrangements before agreeing to the marriage. Before the marriage is finalized, the woman's elders will not visit the man's home.
Zhao Hongsheng came here so rashly, is there any harsh conditions he wants to put forward?
It's no wonder Zhao Qingshan thought this way. The "big gift" he received upon entering the village was still fresh in his memory. Five thousand yuan was a betrothal gift—Zhao Qingshan had never heard of a family spending so much on a bride.
However, Zhao Qingshan wasn't one to be manipulated. If Zhao Hongsheng was just talking nonsense, Zhao Qingshan suggested that General Zhou put the marriage proposal aside for now. Zhou Jiasheng and Zhao Xiaocao were still young, so it wouldn't be too late to wait three to five years.
Zhao Qingshan had already thought of a way to deal with this in a flash. He turned back and said indifferently, "Ah! It's Hongsheng. What a rare guest."
"Uncle Qingshan, I haven't seen you for many years. How are you?" Zhao Hongsheng greeted him with a smile on his face.
"It's okay. It has old arms and legs, but it still works for now." Zhao Qingshan waved his hand and replied lightly.
"Uncle Qingshan, my mother asked me to ask if the house is clean enough. If you are not satisfied, I will ask Xiaocao to come and clean it up again." Zhao Hongsheng thought for a moment and came up with this excuse.
"It's fine. I trust your mother to do her job." Hearing Zhao Hongsheng mention Aunt Gu, Zhao Qingshan couldn't help but think of what Zhao Youtian had just said to him, and he felt a little disgusted with Zhao Hongsheng. Zhao Qingshan really looked down upon unfilial descendants.
Zhao Hongsheng saw that Zhao Qingshan's face was a little gloomy. He thought that Zhao Qingshan was angry because of the rumors in the village. He quickly moved closer and said, "Uncle Qingshan, I'm so sorry. My wife was so happy yesterday that she told a few close friends about our two families getting married. The betrothal gift and other things were just jokes made by Qiulian. I didn't expect people to take it seriously."
"Hongsheng, please sit inside!" Zhao Qingshan offered his hand. A guest is a guest, and Zhao Qingshan had no intention of standing at the intersection and arguing with Zhao Hongsheng about their children's marriages. For Zhao Xiaocao's sake, Zhao Qingshan was willing to give Zhao Hongsheng some face.
"No, no, let's talk about this when Uncle Qingshan comes to my house." Zhao Hongsheng said this, and fearing that Zhao Qingshan didn't understand what he said, he vaguely reminded him: "The child's mother and I are people who love children and will not treat Xiaocao as a cash cow."
After finishing speaking, Zhao Hongsheng didn't dare to look at Zhao Qingshan's face and quickly left. The matter had already been said, and there was not much point in Zhao Hongsheng staying any longer.
During the initial stage of the marriage negotiation, Zhao Hongsheng, as the girl's parent, didn't dare to enter the Zhao family's house. Otherwise, the villagers would surely think that Zhao Hongsheng was desperately trying to marry his daughter off to the Zhou family. Such behavior was a taboo, the kind that would earn the villagers lifelong contempt.
After Zhao Qingshan returned to the house, his mind was still a little confused.
He had just figured out how to deal with the high bride price, so why did Zhao Hongsheng back down? Could this be his new trick of retreating before advancing?
It's no wonder Zhao Qingshan thought this way. Zheng Qiulian's reputation as a money-grubber was too strong. She could scold the old man for money, and she probably wouldn't care about the reputation of "selling her daughter" for money.
However, since Zhao Hongsheng had "thought it through," Zhao Qingshan didn't dwell on the matter any further. Marriage isn't enmity, so it's fine if everyone just takes a step back.
With Zhao Hongsheng's deliberate concession, the marriage between Zhou Jiasheng and Zhao Xiaocao went unexpectedly smoothly.
That afternoon, Zhou Jiasheng and Zhao Xiaocao's status as engaged couple was confirmed.
Of course, Zhao Qingshan would not really give nothing. For the sake of face for both families, Zhao Qingshan gave Xiaocao a betrothal gift of 888 yuan according to the marriage standards of Kyoto City, and privately gave Xiaocao a red envelope of 1,000 yuan, which made Zheng Qiulian smile from ear to ear.
Zhao Hongsheng also secretly congratulated himself on his wit. Fortunately, he had bowed to Zhao Qingshan first, otherwise, such a good marriage might have flown away.
Zhou Jiasheng was so happy that he almost couldn't keep a straight face. He still pretended to be cool for several hours under Zhou Yuanyuan's "murderous" gaze.
Zhao Xiaocao had been hiding in Aunt Gu's room. Firstly, it was customary for a girl to hide when a man came to propose marriage, as a sign of her modesty. Secondly, Zhao Xiaocao was busy!
After Zhao Qingshan and the others entered the house, Zhou Yuanyuan found Zhao Xiaocao and gave her a pill, saying that it would be good for Aunt Gu's health.
Aunt Gu was in very weak health, and even on this happy day, she was unable to get up to meet guests.
After Zhao Xiaocao finished giving Aunt Gu medicine, she sat beside her bed and listened to her chattering.
That night, Zhao Qingshan and Zhou Jiasheng were in a good mood and slept soundly.
Zhou Yuanyuan quietly went to Daqing Mountain to practice.
Every time she returned to Zhaojiagou, Zhou Yuanyuan couldn't help but wander around the Daqing Mountains. Even if she wasn't hunting, just looking at the plants and trees in the Daqing Mountains was a pleasant experience for her.
The moon tonight is exceptionally round, casting a clear light across the forest.
After Zhou Yuanyuan had breathed in and out for two full cycles, a long-lost voice rang out: "Master."
"Xiaoyu, are you awake?" Zhou Yuanyuan exclaimed in surprise.
"Master, I have been promoted." Xiaoyu's voice was full of joy.
After absorbing the jade spirit energy from a jade mine, Xiaoyu's body became much stronger. If before absorbing the jade spirit energy, Xiaoyu possessed the energy of a basin of water dried up into a single drop, now Xiaoyu possessed the energy of two drops of water.
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