"Bringing a son-in-law into one's family" is a marriage custom that refers to families with only daughters who do not allow their daughters to marry out of the family, but instead allow the daughters to "marry" their sons-in-law into their own home.
A son-in-law who is called a "son-in-law who supports his wife" not only has to change his own surname to that of his wife, but also his children have to have the same surname as his wife. The most representative examples of this are Niu Yonggui and Niu Guang, who both have the surname Niu Aihua.
There is also a type of semi-marriage where the son-in-law does not need to change his surname. He simply lives in the woman's family home. The first son born to him takes the woman's surname, while the others can take either the man's or the woman's surname.
If a woman's husband dies and she does not wish to remarry, but instead takes in a new husband, this is commonly known as "duiqiangtou" or "zuomenzhaofu." In this case, the man does not need to change his surname; he simply serves as a strong laborer to help the woman support her children.
Liu Gaifeng's parents came up with the idea of having their daughter find a husband to support her in her old age.
However, they were aware of the bond between their daughter and the second son of the Wang family.
Even before Liu Baobao died, they tacitly approved of or even encouraged it.
Liu Baobao had no brothers. When Gai Feng married into the village, Wang Erhu and even the Wang family became Liu Baobao's support.
"Dad, although the Wang family has two sons, I'm afraid Erhu's mother, that blockhead, won't agree to let Erhu be our son-in-law in our old age!"
The couple huddled together to discuss the matter of succession. Gai Fengniang felt that Erhu's family would definitely not agree to their son, whom they had raised with great care, changing his name and surname to become their son-in-law in old age.
Actually, this is easy to figure out. Most men who are willing to be sons-in-law in old age are men with poor personal conditions. Either they are old, short, and ugly and have no ability to make money, or their family conditions are so poor that they can't even find a wife.
After all, the Chinese tradition of men being in charge of the household has lasted for thousands of years, and supporting one's son-in-law in old age should be a lifelong disgrace for a man.
Think about Wang Erhu's family. His parents are in their prime and capable of working. With two strong laborers, Dahu and Erhu, his family's life is among the better middle in Lijiabo.
How could Wang's parents agree to let Erhu become their son-in-law in their old age?
Gai Feng's father said in a deep voice, "That boy is completely infatuated with our daughter, like he's eaten bee droppings. He follows Gai Feng around like a puppy every day. Let Gai Feng talk to him about this!"
The head of the household makes the final decision.
It's just that it's easier for the mother to talk to her daughter about this.
Gai Fengniang personally made a bowl of egg tea, gritted her teeth and cracked in two local eggs, stirred them with chopsticks, and then poured boiling water over them to make egg flowers. She even dipped her chopsticks into the sesame oil bottle and then stirred the egg tea a few times.
Holding a large bowl of egg tea brimming with sesame oil flakes, Gai Fengniang twitched the corners of her mouth, revealed a smile, and pushed open the door to her daughter's room.
"Squeak—"
The wooden door made a sound, and Gai Feng, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, trembled in fright.
Because her father went out to chat with a young widow, her mother got angry and beat her, pinching her with her fingernails and pricking her with a sewing needle. After beating her, she would hug her daughter and cry, lamenting her miserable life, the death of her son, her husband's infidelity, and that she had left no bloodline in her life, and that she would be lonely and helpless for the rest of her life.
At first, Gai Feng felt heartache, anger, and resentment, but now she is numb.
Her father squandered all the family's money, and her mother didn't dare utter a sound. Her father became the laughing stock of the surrounding villages, but her mother still treated him like a treasure.
Why shouldn't she be considered her parents' blood relative?
Wasn't she born to her parents?
She can also take care of her parents for the rest of their lives!
Gai Feng couldn't understand it, she really couldn't understand it.
Her parents always said that a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl; once she's married, she's no longer a member of the Liu family. Every meal they give her now, every piece of clothing they give her, she'll repay a thousandfold in the future.
But!
Why can Li Zhen go to university? Why can Liu Lanhua and Li Guoling live a proud life in the village? And why are there so many girls in the village who go to school? Why aren't other people's daughters born to be troublemakers?
These things kept swirling in Liu Gaifeng's mind. She didn't understand, she was indignant, she just couldn't understand why her mother could so confidently ask her for "house money"!
Ten months of pregnancy, the money for the house in her mother's belly!
Gai Feng stood up abruptly. Gai Feng's mother was completely unaware of her daughter's wariness and distance. She placed the egg tea on the cabinet and said to her daughter affectionately, "Feng'er, you're a young lady now. Have you thought about your marriage?"
Liu Gaifeng became even more wary. She didn't speak, but shook her head.
Gai Fengniang pouted, "Isn't Erhu a good friend of yours? He'd bring you delicious food every day, wouldn't he?"
As she said this, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous and resentful. These damned men, all they could see were young sluts!
She thought resentfully that among these little vixens were Lu Jiannu and Liu Gaifeng.
Liu Gaifeng remained silent.
Gai Fengniang was getting impatient with her daughter's pretense. She hardened her face and said bluntly, "Your brother is gone, so our family will have to rely on you to carry on the family line. Your father and I have discussed it, so go and ask Erhu if he'd be willing to come and be our son-in-law in our old age!"
Liu Gaifeng was shocked and, disregarding everything else, hurriedly asked, "Mother, how could Erhu be willing to become a live-in son-in-law!"
"Then your father and I will find you a man who is willing to be your son-in-law in your old age!"
This won't do!
Ignoring her embarrassment, Gai Feng hurriedly said to her mother, "Even if I marry into this village, it will still be convenient for me to take care of you and Dad!"
"fart!"
With the air of a hero, Gai Feng's father kicked the door open and shouted, "If you get married, who will inherit the Liu family name! Are you trying to wipe out the Liu family line?"
......
Standing in front of Wang Erhu, Liu Gaifeng's mind was filled with the curses her parents had hurled at her.
Wang Erhu pushed the dried red-legged shrimp forward again, "Eat up! Xiang Dong and Guo Qing caught these in the sea, they're delicious!"
Looking at the brightly colored dried shrimp, still the size of a palm after drying, Liu Gaifeng shed two lines of clear tears.
Gai Feng was a native country girl. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she was in the prime of her youth, and her unique girlish charm was undeniable.
At that moment, tears fell and streamed down her thin, gaunt face, and Erhu felt a pang of heartache, as if he had been pricked by a needle.
Wang Erhu hurriedly wiped away Liu Gaifeng's tears, "What's wrong? Why are you crying for no reason? Did your mother hit you again?"
Once these words were spoken, Gai Feng could no longer suppress the grievances in her heart, and she hugged Wang Erhu and began to wail loudly!
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