Chapter 03 Chapter 3

In the east house of the Su family, it is no exaggeration to say that Su Chang'e and Su Yuqin were blinded by money.

The foolish man was standing in the yard, his two cousins ​​holding his arms on either side, looking around. His parents were drinking hot water in the main room.

Su Yuqin wanted to use the excuse that Su Li was not at home to delay for a few days so that Su Rui's value could be further increased.

Three hundred yuan was much more than what the cripple in Huangshanling gave. In fact, she was already very satisfied. But people are always greedy.

However, the other party seemed to see through her mind and said in a high-handed manner: "There is another marriage proposal in my family. The girl there is older and only wants 150 yuan, which is half of what you want. My son likes your daughter just as much as he likes that daughter. I will go back today, and maybe I will go to their house to propose marriage tomorrow."

Su Chang'e was delighted at the time. How could a fool become a popular couple? They were both working full-time jobs, and after they died, the family property would be in the hands of the woman. Otherwise, who would be willing to marry a martial arts lunatic?

Su Yuqin and Su Li had some feelings for each other, but they were not deep. If he married his daughter off while he was at sea, he would probably mess up the relationship. But by then it would be too late, and the matter was done, and there was nothing he could do.

"Nothing that can make you feel good is worth three hundred bucks." Su Chang'e was extremely happy when she thought that Su Rui would live with a fool in the future.

The worse Su Rui's life is, the happier she is. But Su Rui is currently close to Director Zhao...

While they were still considering it, the fool's father's words came from outside the window: "One more thing, we will give one person's salary to our daughter-in-law every month, is that okay?"

The fool's father originally wanted to add another layer of bargaining chips, and after saying this, he sat back calmly and waited.

Su Yuqin's heart was indeed moved.

If I could coax Su Rui into giving more of her salary to the family in the future, wouldn't our life be better?

Su Chang'e's face suddenly darkened, and she gritted her teeth and said, "Oh, you really want to worship her as your ancestor?"

You can let her suffer after getting married, but you can’t let her enjoy happiness!

The fool's parents are both veteran factory workers, one at level five and the other at level six. If what they said is true, they would be giving Su Rui sixty or seventy yuan every month for nothing!

Not only did she say this, she also wanted to persuade her mother to arrange the marriage. After saying this, Su Chang'e opened the window and shouted, "Go away, I will never marry my little sister to a fool!"

Her righteous words shocked Su Rui who came over later.

The sun is rising from the west today? No need to add insult to injury?

Seeing Su Rui coming back, Su Chang'e came out, took Su Rui's hand affectionately, and said to their family: "Now we advocate freedom of marriage. Come, let my little sister tell us, is she willing to marry a fool?"

"I don't want to." Su Rui was of course unwilling, but she almost didn't agree with Su Chang'e. This "I don't want to" made her feel very aggrieved.

She pulled her arm away and looked in the direction of the stupid man. Su Chang'e didn't want to pretend for long, so she stood with her hands on her hips.

The foolish man tried to shake off the other man's arms and rushed towards Su Rui, babbling, as if he wanted to hug her: "Wife, wife!"

Su Rui took two steps back and said coquettishly, "You are indeed a fool. Don't you know that my second sister is the real Chang'e?"

Su Chang'e wanted to eat her, but when she saw the silly man shift his dull gaze to her, she waved her hand and said, "She's pretty, she's a great beauty. You, you should not forget your original intention."

What else should we remember?

The fool's parents were also respected people in the factory. The fool's father felt sorry for his son and said, "If you refuse my son, he will definitely not agree. You'd better have a reasonable reason. If he understands it, he won't bother you anymore."

Su Rui was extremely terrified. In this world, do you need to give a reason to reject a fool's marriage proposal? !

Instead, Su Chang'e rolled her eyes, took Su Rui's hand, patted it and said, "Of course there is a legitimate reason."

Su Rui and the idiot father said in unison: "What's the reason?"

Su Chang'e patted the pocket with the contact address and said with a smile: "My younger sister has a boyfriend. But he is not in the village, he is from another place, so I didn't tell everyone about it."

As she spoke, she took out the address and handed it to the idiot father: "Look, her boyfriend is a military officer, serving in the army in Sichuan Province with my boyfriend."

Su Rui opened her mouth. My goodness, she didn’t even know she had a partner!

The fool's whole family felt depressed.

No matter how much money you spend, it can never compare to the green military uniform.

The foolish man made a pistol gesture and shouted at Su Chang'e twice: "Kill you."

Su Chang'e sneered and said: "How dare you compete with a military officer for his wife?" As she said that, she also made a pistol gesture and fired twice.

The foolish man suddenly lay on the ground with his arms and legs spread out. He twitched a few times, and after being calm for a few seconds, he began to cry loudly: "I can't beat you, I can't beat you! Wuuwuwu! I'm dead, I'm dead!"

The fool's father gritted his teeth and said, "How much can he give me? I'll add another hundred."

Su Yuqin's heart itched, and she was stopped by Su Chang'e and whispered: "Mom, I don't want her to eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks. When I succeed here, I can get more."

"real?"

Su Chang'e looked at Su Rui's graceful figure and said with a wicked smile, "Don't worry."

Su Chang'e was just trying to make Su Rui suffer, but she didn't realize that she had accidentally saved her from a disaster. She also saved herself from a disaster.

Su Rui didn't hear what they said, and calmly said to her father, "It doesn't matter how much you add. I will decide my marriage myself. You can go now."

The foolish man got up, tears rolling down his cheeks. He pointed at Suri and said, "I will keep an eye on you. If you break up with him, I will marry you!"

Su Rui: “…” Is there anything scarier than a fool killing someone?

In the end, the foolish man was carried out of the Su family's yard by his two cousins.

Su Rui turned around and looked at Su Chang'e coldly: "What are you planning?"

Su Chang'e carefully put the note in her pocket and said with a smile: "Isn't it to save you that I had to pull my brother-in-law out in advance?"

"Don't talk nonsense, I don't have a partner." Su Rui ignored Su Chang'e anymore, knowing that this person couldn't hold back her fart.

Su Rui grabbed a handful of salt from the house and scattered it in the yard to get rid of the bad luck. After that, she took her small basket and sewed some colorful things under the jujube tree.

Su Chang'e wanted to wait for Su Rui to ask her a question, but Su Rui refused to ask and insisted on keeping her silent.

Su Chang'e couldn't hold it in any longer, so she came to the wooden chair and said timidly, "Look how powerful the military officer is. He scared the fool away just by saying it. My sister, he who knows the current affairs is a hero. I have found a good match for you with good intentions, so you should be grateful. Otherwise, are you really going to marry a fool?"

Su Hongpei was holding the firewood with a face full of joy. She really took Su Chang'e's lies seriously. She came over and took Su Rui's hand and said, "Let me introduce you to a military officer? This is a great event."

Su Rui was helpless.

What's a great joy? It's nothing compared to someone having a big problem in his brain.

Su Rui asked back: "Do you really think it's a happy event?"

"Yeah, that's what? We are all family, and my second sister can't hurt you."

"......"

Su Rui said that Su Hongpei's innocence was just a way of caring for family affection.

Perhaps Su Rui's resentment was too strong, Su Hongpei quickly took out a sesame cake from her pocket and stuffed it into Su Rui's mouth, saying to comfort her: "Mrs. Wang made this, it's filled with red bean filling."

Putting aside the fact that the Wang family has been slow to get married, the sesame cakes they make are crispy and really delicious.

Su Rui knew what they were up to. They just didn't want to give a dowry. They wanted to wait until her elder sister was old enough so that she wouldn't have to give it. She would just be working like a slave for nothing.

Su Hongpei, one of the supporting characters in this book, is a kind and generous woman. When she was over 40, she saw her cousin Wang cheating on her husband. She came to her senses and divorced the Wang family. She suffered a lot raising her children alone. Fortunately, her children were very successful, and Su Hongpei herself was hardworking and down-to-earth. She caught up with the dividends of the times and moved to the city to live a good life.

But Su Rui didn't want her elder sister to suffer in the first half of her life.

Humph, they will be messed up sooner or later.

Su Chang'e winked at Su Yuqin.

Su Yuqin wanted to discuss Su Rui's marriage before Su Li came back, so she walked up to him and said hypocritically, "There's some letter paper at home. You can write a letter and get to know her later."

Su Rui refused: "Who knows if it's a human or a ghost? I won't write."

Su Chang'e said: "You have to write it even if you don't want to. Otherwise, I will call the fool back for you."

Su Hongpei also whispered softly, "Send the idiot's family away first. We're not asking you to get married. Just treat them as pen pals."

Su Rui also wanted to send the idiot family away, but she was out of danger and into the tiger's den.

Su Chang'e said, "This is not a pen pal, this is a blind date. Remember to attach a photo and show it to you later. If they don't like it, forget it."

Su Hongpei said quickly, "I won't let anyone look down on me."

Su Chang'e glanced at her and said sarcastically, "I really don't know whose sister you are." Then, she took out a few melon seeds from her pocket, bit them in her mouth and said, "The postman will come tomorrow morning, don't forget to send the letter. He is the deputy company commander, you must know how to seize the opportunity."

Su Rui retorted, "Seize the opportunity? Then how do you say I should write it?"

Su Chang'e had already thought about it, and she counted on her fingers and said, "You have to tell me your hometown, name, personal information, and hobbies, right? Otherwise, no one will know who you are."

She said this, but in her heart she was thinking about making Su Rui explain as clearly as possible.

Su Rui didn't believe that it was for her own good. However, the fool was staring at her, and Su Yuqin seemed to be determined to marry him.

The idiot's family is very hard to get things done, and Su Rui is worried that she can't guard against them.

Besides, Su Hongpei was right, so we could just be pen pals first. It would be a good opportunity to have some peace and quiet for her, so that she could get through this period and wait for her father to come back.

But why didn't she remember such a plot in the book? Su Chang'e must have died without any illness.

That's perfect.

Su Hongpei was full of admiration for her second sister's ability. She didn't care that she rolled her eyes. She chased after her and asked, "So the person you want to date is also a military officer?"

Su Chang'e said with a fake smile: "Of course. He is a hundred times better than your brother Wang. You are not young anymore. If you don't get married, we can't marry before you. You have waited for so many years. You are already 24 years old. In my opinion, the longer you wait, the smaller the chance of getting married. You should take care of yourself."

Halfway through the journey, Su Chang'e turned back and said to Su Hongpei, "Tell Su Rui that I will check her letter tomorrow. Don't try to fool me."

"knew."

Su Hongpei was ridiculed for her kindness and returned to the cabin in embarrassment. She saw Su Rui sitting at the table with a sad face.

The silly girl put the previous unpleasantness behind her and gave Su Rui some advice: "You are a junior high school student after all. Show your literary level to calm him down first. Then talk about how hardworking and hardworking you are, and finally ask him for a photo."

Since she was just a passer-by, Su Rui didn't want to study hard.

She held her face in her hands and shook her head, saying, "Big sister, the more you endure, the less suffering you will suffer. Being able to endure hardship is not a skill, but not to endure hardship is a skill."

Su Hongpei took out a two-cent stamp from the paper wallet in the drawer, handed it to Su Rui and said, "Here you go. Nowadays, everyone has to endure hardships."

Su Rui took the stamp and said seriously: "We must firmly adhere to the leadership of the Party. Even if we have to endure hardships, it is only temporary. We will definitely live a good life in the future."

Su Hongpei ruffled Su Rui's hair and said with a smile, "It's not in vain that I've read newspapers for the past six months."

I got a stamp for free, but unfortunately there was no envelope, so I had to spend a penny to buy one.

Su Rui was grunting and making up lies in front of the table, so that she would not have no letters to send out tomorrow morning, and Su Chang'e would really call the fool back.

She is capable of such a thing.

According to my elder sister, we should first demonstrate our cultural level, so that others will not look down on us for our low cultural level.

Su Rui thought about it and decided that the first letter was not a perfunctory one, so she wrote:

Dear revolutionary military comrades:

Hello.

The mountains leave summer and the golden ears welcome autumn.

It's a pleasure to meet you in such a beautiful season.

My name is Su Rui, I am eighteen years old and I have just graduated from junior high school.

I am a peasant woman who grew up on the loess land. I live in Xiaoba Village, Suhua Township, Jiguang County, Wumiao City, Honghe Province.

As for my situation, my second sister (Su Chang'e) should have introduced it to you. When I picked up the pen, I didn't know what to say for a while. I just thought it was fate that gave you and me the opportunity to know each other and talk about it thousands of miles away.

...

Su Rui thought about it again and again after writing the last part, and tentatively added: "If you are willing, can you briefly describe your personal situation? The situation of the blind date partner should be explained in person."

After writing a simple letter, Su Rui lay on the kang without even the heart to appreciate the scraps of cloth, and was filled with resentment.

What kind of person would Su Chang'e introduce? A military officer? She didn't believe it.

If it was true, according to Su Chang'e's personality, she would have to catch both. It was impossible to give her just one.

"Why are you sighing?" Su Hongpei patted the rice husk pillow and lay down facing Su Rui. The two sisters whispered to each other: "Why are you unhappy?"

Su Rui looked at the clear starry sky above her head and murmured, "Why do women have to get married?"

Su Hongpei said gently: "To start a family and establish a career, you must first establish a family before you can become successful."

"If you don't get married, you're just waste, right?"

Su Hongpei smiled and said, "Then tell me what style you like?"

Su Rui said: "I want to find a live-in son-in-law."

What seems strange to others is normal in Xiaoba Village.

Su Hongpei smiled and said, "You've been obsessed lately."

It is so refreshing to find a son-in-law who lives with your family. You can be the head of the household and don’t have to go to other people’s homes to serve tea and water to your parents-in-law.

Su Rui rested her head on her arm and said gloomily, "He has to be handsome. I'm a village girl, and he's at least a village boy. ... I heard Auntie Chen say that it's very important to find a live-in son-in-law. Although the one she found was a cripple, he had a handsome face and spoke softly. Whenever I got angry, I could hold back from quarreling by looking at his face."

Su Hongpei sighed: "It seems that appearance is very important in marriage. I remember that Mrs. Chen loved her husband very much."

Su Rui pretended to be mature and said, "Secondly, you have to be capable and loyal to your husband. Don't be like the live-in son-in-law of the Zhang family, who found another woman outside and was bullied by others. I can't afford to lose face."

"It's understandable that a woman should be loyal to her husband. No one likes to flirt with other women." Su Hongpei shook her head and said, "But who would want to be a son-in-law if they have the ability?"

Su Rui said, "That's why I have been looking for him all these years. Who knew that a bunch of evil spirits would come." She thought for a moment and said, "You still have to endure hardships, be considerate and filial."

This is what other people say when they are getting married. The word "filial piety" refers only to being filial to one's parents-in-law. As for the parents of the bride, the groom's family hopes to sever the relationship.

Su Rui felt that men were born from women, while women popped out from cracks in rocks.

But the women in Xiaoba Village are like those who have emerged from cracks in the rocks. Like Sun Dasheng, they have endless strength and courage. They are all Su Rui's idols.

Su Hongpei reached out and patted Su Rui's thin blanket: "Go to sleep, you can dream about anything."

"Help me find one, too. Remember, she must be handsome, capable, loyal to her husband, hardworking, filial, and have no mother's family."

"Okay, okay, if anyone asks me about you again, I'll tell them this."

Su Rui was satisfied. She turned over and fell asleep in a moment. Su Hongpei tucked her in with a thin quilt.

*

In the early morning, roosters crow and dew drops roll down the grass leaves, soaking into the soil and giving off a fresh country scent.

Comrade Su Rui is the first one to get up in the family every day. She swings a wooden stick in the yard and practices militia stick exercises with great energy.

There were two old hens at home, which took turns laying eggs every day. After feeding the chickens, Su Rui would always hand over an egg she picked up to Su Yuqin.

This is something that rarely makes Su Yuqin satisfied.

I specially steamed some egg cake in the morning and "generously" gave Su Rui a small spoonful.

Su Chang'e checked Su Rui's letter as she said yesterday and expressed satisfaction.

"I forgot to buy an envelope." Su Chang'e took out the letter she had written last night and said distressedly, "I have to go to my grandmother's house later and I don't have time to send the letter."

Su Rui said, "Then I will just go and send it."

Su Chang'e didn't trust Su Rui, so she held the letter in her hand. Last night, she even fumigated the letter paper with orange peels. If Su Rui held it, she was worried that she would spit on her letter.

Su Yuqin looked at Su Hongpei who was cleaning the stove not far away and called out, "Go to the supply and marketing cooperative later and buy two envelopes to send the letters to the two sisters."

There is no room for negotiation on this matter.

Su Chang'e trusted Su Hongpei, because Su Hongpei was a rare person. Even if she trusted Su Hongpei, she was not afraid that Su Hongpei would read the contents behind her back.

"Big sister, here you go." Su Chang'e took out the mailing address, walked up to Su Hongpei and said, "The first mailing address is mine."

Su Rui also wanted to ask Sister Zhao about the labor competition as soon as possible, and said, "Thank you, sister, for sending it to me."

Su Hongpei said helplessly: "Okay, okay, put them all in my pocket. My hands are dirty so I won't take them."

"Hey, why don't you send a photo?" Su Chang'e knew that Su Rui had a pretty face, and if she sent it with a photo, she would be more likely to be noticed by the prisoners.

Su Rui deliberately didn't post it and said, "No need, wait until we get to know each other better before sending it."

Su Chang'e said persistently: "How can that be? You only have a face to show for yourself."

As she said this, she ran into the house and opened Su Li's drawer. Inside was an envelope with a photo of Su Rui. This was a photo Su Li took of Su Rui because he wanted to find a date for her.

In the photo, Su Rui is holding a bunch of plastic bananas, wearing a military cap provided by the photo studio, with bright almond eyes, red lips and white teeth. She is as beautiful as a flower, with fair skin and two cute little canine teeth. Everyone who sees her likes her.

When Su Chang'e saw it, she secretly flicked the face in the photo with her finger and then handed it to Su Hongpei.

Su Rui stretched her neck and asked Su Chang'e: "Where is your photo?"

Su Chang'e came over and said, "I gave it to my elder sister. If you don't believe me, ask her."

Su Hongpei said: "Yes, it's in my pocket."

Su Rui then stopped talking.

The melodious music sounded again from the loudspeaker outside, which was the notification to go to work.

Su Rui hurried back to get the sleeves, then walked to the door of the main room and said to her elder sister, "I'll give you the money in the envelope later!"

She put on colorful sleeves, which were sewn stitch by stitch with scraps of cloth. The colors were bright, and each scrap of cloth was embroidered with small yellow grass flowers. She could wear it openly without being criticized. It was particularly fresh and beautiful.

The eldest sister had a day off today, and she still had enough money to buy two envelopes for her younger sisters: "No need, I haven't spent all the money mom gave me yet."

Su Hongpei wanted to clear the table, but Su Yuqin stopped her and said, "Go quickly, the postman has to leave. Remember the first row is your second sister's address, and the second row is Su Rui's address."

Su Rui said sensitively: "Aren't they all deputy company commanders? Why are they so clearly divided?"

Su Chang'e said with a stiff face: "I like the order of first place. Anyway, I have never seen it before, so it doesn't matter who it is."

Su Hongpei was afraid of getting her second sister's lucky number wrong, so she put the two letters into two pockets.

The supply and marketing cooperative is very busy today. The peanuts grown in the private plots of Yiwang Village have a bumper harvest this year, and a truckload of peanuts was delivered to the supply and marketing cooperative on consignment sale.

They were drying peanuts outside the supply and marketing cooperative, occasionally peeling one to eat, which was crispy and sweet inside.

"Sister Su, you're here. Two pounds of peanuts for ten cents. The old teacher in Yiwang Village said that eating raw peanuts can nourish the lungs and relieve coughs. Would you like to weigh some?"

"Okay, come later and send a letter first."

Su Hongpei came to the counter inside, where paste was placed. She placed the envelopes she bought side by side on the table and filled in the addresses one by one.

Yan'er, who grew up with her, came over and stuffed a handful of peanuts into Su Hongpei's mouth: "Eat them quickly, they're free."

Su Hongpei looked outside and saw that others were also eating secretly, so she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey, why did you seal the envelope?" Su Hongpei stared at the movement outside, turned around, and saw Yan'er smearing paste on the envelope and got anxious: "How come your hands are so fast?"

Yan'er wondered, "Is the envelope sealed?"

Su Hongpei only brought two cents with her, no more. She didn't know who the letters were from, and said anxiously, "Now they're mixed up, what should I do?"

Yan'er said unhappily, "Didn't you press the letter on the envelope? Otherwise I'll compensate you with two envelopes. It's all my fault for being quick."

Su Hongpei was afraid that her friend would be angry, so she remembered what Su Chang'e had said and said, "It's no problem. It doesn't matter who gets it. Just send it this way."