After Chen Ou finished speaking, Zhou's mother immediately agreed, "I'll take a leave in two days."
"Thank you! Thank you Aunt Jiang!"
"We are all family, why should we be so polite? From now on, I will be the one to attend all your marriage consultations."
The five men's eyes were red when they heard this. Is this the care of elders and the warmth of family?
In the evening, the six-man gang naturally stayed for dinner again. This time they were not drunk, but when they returned to the shabby yard, Zhong Xiong, Ma Zhao, Chen Ou and Wang Qiao all had tears in their eyes.
Zhong Xiong said, "I think I should kowtow to Uncle Zhou and admit my mistake. Although I'm lucky to have met Zhou Xiang that night, I still feel guilty."
Ma Zhao agreed, "Although I was stabbed a few times that day, it was really insignificant compared to what we got."
Zhu Hang waved his hand. "Everyone is avoiding talking about this matter, so let's not talk about it anymore. I have already kowtowed to my father-in-law and admitted my mistake."
"Did Uncle Zhou say anything?"
"No, he just took the teacup from my hand."
"So that's forgiveness? Okay, then I'm relieved. I was just worried that everyone might feel uncomfortable in the future. However, I really want to know where Zhou Xiang's weapon is."
Zhong Xiong's words immediately derailed the conversation, and everyone started talking about Zhou Xiang's cruelty that night.
Zhu Hang returned to the inner room. His sister-in-law was full of secrets, and he didn't know whether they were good or bad.
Two days later, Zhou's mother took leave and took Chen Ou to the county town. Zhou wanted to stop asking about it as his mission had been completed.
In the evening, Zhou's mother and Chen Ou came back, both looking unhappy.
"What's wrong?"
Chen Ou looked at her and smiled. "Thank goodness you took precautions. Her family kept saying that 300 yuan was too little for a betrothal gift. In the city, it's like three turns and one ring and 36 legs. It should be at least 1,000 yuan. They are from the countryside, so even if it's half off, it should be 500 yuan."
"Then what?"
"Aunt Jiang said that I should just go home and find a city girl for me. We would have to pay high prices for rural girls in the future. City girls have their reasons for being expensive. As she said that, she pulled me away. The Tang family got anxious and dragged us along.
Tang Mei put a knife to her own neck, and only then did her parents stop torturing her.
"Then will this marriage still be concluded? Once her family knows your family background, they will definitely come after you."
"I called Tang Mei aside and told her that with her family being like this, I wouldn't dare marry her unless she broke off all ties with them."
"What did she say?"
"She's willing to let me pay an extra hundred, which is considered a buyout."
"Blood ties are not so easily severed."
"I saw that she really wanted to get out of that family, and she wanted to cut ties with them cleanly, so I agreed."
"Did her family agree?"
"I agreed. I heard that if we added 100 yuan, the daughter would sever ties with the family. Except for her mother, everyone else immediately agreed."
"What happened next?"
"Aunt Jiang said that when the betrothal gifts were given, a certificate of severance of relations must be written and signed by the brigade. Otherwise, empty words would not be enough to explain it. Her family also agreed.
Finally, it was agreed that the engagement would be made on the sixth day of the second month, and the wedding would take place on the eighth day of the second month.
"You've already severed ties, and you're still taking the step of getting married?"
"Well! This is exactly what Aunt Jiang is unhappy about. I think her family is planning to use the wedding as an excuse to have a big meal here and test my background. If possible, they can give me an additional betrothal gift in front of relatives and friends that day. Fortunately, you thought of the strategy of building a false front, otherwise, I would be so frustrated."
"Actually, you can find someone else. There's no need to insist on her."
Chen Ou shook his head. "Although I've only met her twice and don't have much affection for her, her courage to fight for it and her determination to escape that pit of fire make me willing to help her."
"Alright! As long as you're happy, on the day of the engagement, bring more people with you to create a sense of daunting. On the day of the bride's arrival, make lunch a simple meal, and for dinner, let's have our close relatives and make it a more sumptuous meal. My mother has to go with us that day, too. You grown men, it's not easy to argue with them."
Upon hearing this, Zhou's mother couldn't hold her composure anymore. "You mean your mother is thick-skinned?"
Zhou Xiang immediately put his arm around his mother's. "No, it's because you're experienced. You're in charge of the fertilizer warehouse, and you deal with people from the countryside. You know how to exploit their weaknesses, and you're the best at it."
"Okay, you don't have to flatter me. Mom will go with me that day. I'm worried."
Chen Ou thanked her repeatedly, "Thank you, Aunt Jiang, thank you!"
Mother Zhou waved her hand and said, "You're welcome. We're all family."
Chen Ou asked about the wardrobe, "I really like Zhou Niao's wardrobe. Who did you ask to make it?"
"Go find Guan Bo, his cousin took a taxi. Tell me your name and I'll definitely let you jump the queue. Otherwise, I may not accept your job in less than 20 days."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
After Chen Ou left, Zhou Xiang asked his mother, "What do you think about this?"
"That girl seems okay, straightforward and decisive. I'm just worried that in the future, when her life gets better, she'll think it's okay to help the family a little, but she'll end up with a bunch of blood-sucking bugs."
"Even if Chen Ou agrees, there's nothing we can do. Oh well! Never mind, the worst that can happen is a divorce! If Chen Ou disagrees, he might feel guilty. Maybe what you said won't happen? We have to try to know for sure."
"Well! After all, he is not my own child, so I cannot be his master. If it were me, I would not want such an in-law."
Zhu Hang and Zhou Yu had been listening quietly. At this time, Zhu Hang finally spoke, "Don't worry, Mom. Like my sister said, at worst we can just get divorced later! It's not like men will suffer any loss, uh,"
Zhu Hang's words were cut off by Zhou Yu. He turned around and said to his beloved with a smile: "I won't. I will protect you all my life."
Zhou Yu was embarrassed and annoyed, "You are so unruly. I'm going to cook."
"I'll help you."
After they left, Zhou's mother said to her daughter, "You have good taste. Not only Zhu Hang, but those five people are also good. I wonder what their families think. Good children are forced to become homeless."
"There are so many children, so I don't care!"
"Maybe! In fact, it's the honest people who suffer the most."
The six men, except Zhu Hang, all began to get busy. The date was set so close, and there was a lot to do in the county town, including decorating two new houses! There was also some secret work to do at the Water Conservancy Bureau. Hmm! It was very exciting.
Zhou Xiang decided to go around the school. Zhu Hang went to help with the report. Since he didn't show up, Teacher Guo and Principal Li must be worried.
"Brother, I'm going to school. Do you want to come with me? By the way, I can ask Teacher Sun to continue teaching you."
"Okay! I'll go with you."
When Principal Li saw Zhou Xiang, he smiled happily, "You kid, you even asked someone to report for you, what have you been busy with?"
"I accompanied my grandmother to my aunt's house to celebrate the New Year and returned on the 16th day of the first lunar month."
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