Before the New Year, Qiuhua and her master successfully completed the portrait embroidery, and the master let Qiuhua go home early to help the family prepare things for the New Year.
Dahua said he wanted to buy a TV these days. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, but something he had been planning for a long time.
There are two families in Murakami who own televisions, one of which is Xu Guoqing's family.
When Huo Yuanjia was broadcast that year, the streets were packed with people. When the time came, my mother would throw away her bowl and move on a small stool to watch.
I still remember the theme song "The Great Wall Will Never Fall":
After a century of slumber, the Chinese people are gradually waking up
Open your eyes and look carefully
Who is willing to admit that he is a captive?
Because of cowardice and tolerance
People's arrogance is growing
Scream, scream loudly
This is the whole country
Robbers have always wanted to invade
Eventually, you will die
The Great Wall will never fall
…
When Huo Yuanjia defeated the Russians, everyone cheered excitedly. When Huo Yuanjia quit opium, everyone held their breath. When Huo Yuanjia died of poisoning, everyone exclaimed that it was impossible.
In short, a small TV brings joy to the boring after-dinner life of rural people.
The whole family discussed it and, as long as their financial conditions allowed, everyone, including Liang Guoguo, agreed.
So, a few days later, a fourteen-inch black and white TV was brought into the house.
Mom cleared out a small coffee table specifically for the TV. Dahua put it on carefully, plugged in the power and turned the button.
With a "click", the screen lit up, and a snowflake-like image appeared with a rustling sound.
"I'll go up and fix the antenna in a moment. You look for the radio station down there. When you find it, shout 'OK.'"
Dahua took good care of Xiaojuan, picked up something in his hand and went up to the roof.
This is the antenna that Dahua mentioned. It is a long iron stick with several forks on the left and right sides.
Dad was guarding the ladder below, Dahua was slowly rotating the antenna on the roof to find the direction, Xiaojuan was rotating the buttons one by one to find the antenna, and the others were staring at the TV screen motionlessly.
“Click, click, click…”
"Dear audience friends..." A voice suddenly came from the TV, and two hosts sat in the center of the TV screen.
"Got it! Got it! Got it!" The whole family cheered.
"Okay—okay!" Xiaojuan shouted towards the roof.
"Okay!" Dahua responded and slowly came down from the roof.
The Liang family had a treasure. At the appointed time, the whole family would sit in front of the TV and watch the program together, having a lot of fun.
Everyone discussed the plot from time to time, and even talked about the commercials in detail. The atmosphere at home was unprecedentedly good.
"Qiuhua, don't worry, when you get married, my brother will buy you a TV that's even bigger than this one.
Also, I will make you a mahogany bed with my own hands. When your eldest sister gets married, I will definitely make you a very happy one!"
Erhua made the boast while cracking melon seeds. Today, he is fully capable of doing so.
These days, Luo Zhen's reaction was obviously less severe. He could eat and sleep well, and he could eat two chicken legs from a roast chicken. So his mother brought them back home to stay for two days.
"Okay, keep your word. I'll wait." Qiuhua was not polite to Erhua.
"Hey, you really have no shame at all!" Erhua laughed.
"By the way, no matter what that kid Wu Xin said, I'm worried about you."
After the commercial ended, the TV series began. Qiuhua was so immersed in it that she didn't hear what Erhua was saying at all.
"Qiuhua! Qiuhua! I'm asking you!"
"Ah? What?" Qiuhua stared.
"Let me ask you, what did that kid Wu Xin say? Look at you, you're already an old girl!"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Luo Zhen patted him.
"Sister-in-law is still the best!" Qiuhua retracted her gaze and said, "Just... before, she said that she would send a matchmaker during the New Year, and then we would get engaged after the college entrance examination..."
Erhua slapped his thigh and said, "Why do we have to put it off until after the college entrance exam? Do you think getting engaged will affect his studies? I think we can't put it off any longer. Let the matchmaker come before the New Year and get engaged after the New Year.
The college entrance exam is over in the summer, and now it has to be delayed until the cool autumn. That’s not good!
Qiuhua thought about it and felt that what her second brother said made sense, but she was not in a hurry.
"He's still in school, there's no rush."
"Why aren't you anxious? Even a cooked duck can still fly away! What's wrong with going to school? Didn't Zhao Meiying and Xu Guoqing get engaged when they were in school?
From what you're saying, what about marriage? Should we wait until he graduates from college?"
Qiuhua nodded, and Erhua's face immediately frowned, and the TV series was no longer interesting.
“How many years of college does it take?”
"He wants to study medicine. It'll take five years!"
"What!" Erhua jumped up as if his butt was pricked by a needle.
Lian Dahua also shook his head and said, "That won't do. Think about how old you will be then? What if he goes to college and sees the world, but doesn't come back to marry you? Have you considered this issue?"
The series of questions confused Qiuhua. She had not considered this issue because she believed Wu Xin, but she was afraid that this reason could not convince her family.
As soon as this question was raised, it was obvious that Mom and Dad were getting a little restless.
"Qiuhua..." Dad took out a cigarette, put it under his nose and smelled it, then put it back. He scratched his hair which was a mixture of black and white.
He had been wanting to ask these questions for a long time, but he knew that his daughter was a person with her own ideas, so he had not spoken. However, not speaking did not mean that he was not anxious.
"Wu Xin said he would invite a matchmaker before the New Year?" he asked again.
"Yeah." Qiuhua nodded.
"Okay. But Erhua is right. Dad knows you have your own ideas, but you have to listen to us on this matter."
My father's dark face is covered with wrinkles and he is thin. The temperature in the blacksmithing environment is high, and he sweats profusely whenever he works all year round.
Qiuhua felt a little reluctant. She couldn't ignore her family's concern.
"Dad, go ahead and talk. I'm listening."
My father's face relaxed a little as he said, "You two will get engaged after the New Year, and then we'll get married three years later according to the custom. Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for him. We all know his family situation. Since you recognize him, I trust your judgment."
Marriage is a big deal, especially in this day and age, there is no such thing as a woman who doesn't get married.
The family is relatively open-minded about Qiuhua's affairs, but being open-minded is one thing, and ensuring their daughter's happy life is another.
Everything should be done in moderation and not left to chance.
If Qiuhua looked at the problem from his father's perspective, he would understand.
"Dad, I'll listen to you." Qiuhua agreed.
"Okay, okay, that's good." Dad smiled with relief, and the atmosphere at home became relaxed again.
"That's more like it. After the New Year, I will design a mahogany bed for you. Master Liang will do it himself. It will be absolutely unique. My sister's wedding will be a grand occasion!" Erhua said excitedly, with saliva flying everywhere.
"Well, it's too early to get married!"
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