Chapter 44
"Invite us to a banquet?" A group of children playing in the mud outside were shocked: "Isn't this an invitation to our parents and grandparents?"
Chen An smiled happily: "My sister-in-law said that you all helped me some time ago, so I can take the initiative to invite you to my house for a feast, so your parents and grandparents are invited by my sister-in-law, and you are invited by me and Aning."
Hu Zi and Er Niu were all stunned. Er Niu murmured, "Chen An, your sister-in-law is so nice."
It was unexpected that Chen An and Chen Ning could act like adults and take charge of such a big event as inviting people to a banquet.
Shen Yin: "Second brother, is that my sister-in-law inviting my parents?"
These days, his parents were almost driven crazy by the aroma of meat and coriander in Chen Xiaoya's house and couldn't eat the meals at home.
As soon as Shen Yin said this, Erniu and Huzi, who were a little more knowledgeable, looked a little strange. Shen An also choked. No one in their family had ever thought of inviting Uncle San and Aunt San...
On the other hand, Shen Jin puffed out his chest and turned to Shen Yin: "Are you stupid? Shen An invited me because I helped him. I helped dig the land for more than ten days. What did my parents do?"
Shen Jin actually felt quite ashamed, especially when Xiao Ya'er's family was almost all helping, and Erniu and Hu Zi's father, uncle, and brothers all went to help build the house, but his father did not go, not even for a single day.
At first, he thought that Erniu, Huzi and his brothers were all here to help, so he would have to eat less of the things bought by the eldest cousin's wife. He was so angry just thinking about it. But when he saw so many people in other families helping to build houses and open up land, Shen Jin looked at his own family. Even if he was the oldest, he was not as good as Huzi, the youngest among the people from the Lu family. Not to mention Xiaoyin and Xiaotie, it was just like playing house, they were just eating and drinking for free.
I can no longer get angry when I think of this. I feel guilty and I can't stand up straight.
He went home and talked to his father about it, asking him why he didn't go to help. His father got a dark face and scolded him, telling him to get out of here, saying that he was hanging out outside all day and even meddling in everything else.
So Shen Jin didn't dare to say a word about how he was also helping out there.
Now, when he heard his brother asking his eldest sister-in-law whether he would invite his parents, and saw the expressions of Erniu, Huzi, and Shen An, Shen Jin retorted: "You can only eat meat if you work! When Dad went to build houses for others, he couldn't take us with him to eat meat."
Shen Yin: It seems like that? But it also seems like something is wrong?
He thought about it carefully but couldn't figure out what was wrong.
The youngest, Chen Tie, could not think of so many things. He just thought about the aroma of meat from the next door every day these days, and his mouth was watering: "Second brother, when are we going to eat?"
Chen An smiled with crooked eyes: "The day after tomorrow, we'll have dinner."
During the day everyone is busy harvesting rice, so even if they come to eat they cannot eat properly as they will be in a hurry to work in the fields. So my sister-in-law suggested that we schedule a lively dinner at night so that everyone can eat more leisurely and have a good rest after eating.
Chen Tie picked at his fingers: "Today, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow...?"
Bala was confused and looked up at his brother in a daze.
Shen Jin: "No need to calculate, it will be the day when our parents go to harvest rice."
It just so happened that his parents were too busy to take care of them that day. After his eldest brother left, there was not enough labor at home, so they started harvesting rice later than other families and would not return until it was completely dark. Therefore, they would always leave some cold porridge at home for them to eat.
Shen Jin: "Don't tell your parents about the feast when you two go back. Remember, if you tell them, you won't get to eat."
He hasn't forgotten the beating he got last time. Given his father and mother's temper, neither of them got to eat, so how could he and his brothers go to eat? Humph, he won't say anything this time. He will eat until he is full before going home.
Shen Jin, who was daydreaming, suddenly remembered that he had a daughter named Tian Yaer at home. His parents were in the fields that day, so he had to take care of Tian Yaer. The three brothers had all had a feast, so what should he do with Tian Yaer?
"Shen An, can I bring Tian Yaer with me that day? There's no one at home after we leave."
Shen An nodded: "Take her with you, just take care of her yourself."
Don’t fall or get hurt, or Third Aunt will make a fuss.
Shen Jin patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of her."
Jijigugu discussed the important matter of the banquet. The little maid was not there, and Shen Ning was anxious to invite the little maid. Without saying much, he pulled Shen An and ran to Chen's house.
…
In the afternoon, the Shi and Lu families, who knew they were being invited to a banquet, were discussing with Old Lady Chen at the Chen family how to give gifts.
The two families now feel that Sang, the new bride in the village, is really a good match for them. Very good match!
Before, it was the men and children who helped over there, but now the women in the family can go over there too. It’s the first time you go there, so you have to be more careful and leave a good impression on the other party.
The one who came from the Lu family was Old Lady Lu, and from the Shi family, Shi Erlang’s wife came with her eldest sister-in-law.
Oh, Mrs. Shi is the mother of Da Niu and Er Niu. Her two sons have been helping out these days, so Mrs. Shi also received an invitation from Sang Luo.
Needless to say, Shi Erlang's wife, although her son was too young to go and envied his two brothers for a long time, her husband was the first one to help and was the main force in building the house, so Shi Erlang's wife was also invited by Sang Luo to drink the wine before entering the house.
Because the Chen family is familiar with Sang Luo and their relationship is particularly close, they all came to ask Old Lady Chen what they should do on the day of Sang Luo's wedding banquet.
When villagers have a banquet, people who are not particularly close to each other don’t actually bring any big gifts. You bring some cabbage and turnips, I bring some cucumbers and eggplants, and anything else is considered a gift.
But the Shi and Lu families had several young boys working for Sang Luo these days, so they ate really well. Even though their families had told them not to have too much rice and not to eat more than half a bowl, the meat and non-vegetarian dishes they had every day made the boys happier than during the Chinese New Year.
With Sang Luo's personality, both families didn't think twice and just ordered some dishes and eggs.
Old Mrs. Chen was happy to see that the Shi and Lu families valued the friendship with Sang Luo. As the old saying goes, it is difficult to raise firewood alone, and it is difficult to support a tree alone. The Shen family originally fled from famine, and the eldest and third branches are in such a relationship now. Sang Luo is alone with two children, so she should make friends with a few families in the village, so that when she encounters problems, there will be people to help her, and when she encounters injustice, there will be people to lend a hand.
She enthusiastically moved a bench and chair and asked several people to sit down in the main hall. Then she asked with a smile: "Do you have any ideas in your mind? Do you have a charter? I want to listen to them so that I can give you some advice, right?"
Old Lady Lu and Old Lady Chen were of the same generation, so she was the first to speak. The old lady smiled and said, "Although I have never dealt with A Lie's wife, I have heard my eldest son, third son, and several grandchildren talk about her at home. She is a kind-hearted, honest, and generous person. I can see from her invitation to a drink this time that she is a real person."
No family in the village would invite your entire family to their home for a drink.
The default rule is that one adult brings one child to a family and the whole family goes out to eat. No family can afford that, right?
Mrs. Sang really invited almost everyone in her family. Although her two sons and three grandchildren also went to help with the work, her eldest daughter-in-law, the old couple, and the younger grandchild were also invited. But such enthusiasm and consideration always make people feel particularly comforted, doesn't it?
Old Lady Lu said, "Huzi came home and told me that he was also invited. Xiaoan and Aning specially invited several children. In this way, almost all of our family will go. I think that Alie's wife didn't grow anything, let alone vegetables. With so many of us going there, we can pick whatever is available in the fields at home and take a basket with us. This goes without saying. I think you should have this plan as well?"
Old Madam Chen and the two sisters-in-law of the Shi family all nodded and said, "That's exactly what I meant. We can bring some produce from our own fields to add to the dishes, so she doesn't have to go buy everything."
Old Madam Lu smiled and said, "In our area, there is a custom that relatives give the host rice and oil. If the rice jar is not empty, people will be prosperous and money will come. If you give oil, you will have everything. Sang is a foreigner, so why don't we add to this good omen?"
Mrs. Chen smiled and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Our family has the same idea. Building a house is a big deal. We usually save money, but we can't be vague now. We have to add some wealth and prosperity."
Old Lady Lu looked at the Shi family's sisters-in-law, who also smiled and nodded. Shi Dalang's wife said, "My brother's wife and I have discussed this as well. We will go to the market early tomorrow morning, weigh out six taels of pork, buy a jar, boil some oil and put it in it, buy a bamboo jar from the grocery store and put a liter of rice in it. My second uncle will go get a bundle of firewood and carry it. There won't be much, but the three kinds of rice, oil and firewood are the best for opening the door. This will bring good luck and prosperity."
Both Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Lu laughed. Mrs. Chen praised repeatedly, "It's quite a bit. It's a generous gift. You sisters-in-law are really thoughtful."
Not to mention the rice and firewood, six taels of pork, plus some jars and liters, it was enough to spend that much. Together with the firewood and rice, it actually cost more than twenty cents.
People in the countryside would grit their teeth before they were willing to spend a few cents, but now they were willing to pay more than 20 cents as a gift. Even if the two sisters-in-law shared the money, each would only spend 10 cents. They really valued Sang's matter.
Old Mrs. Lu also nodded.
The two old ladies looked at each other, and Old Lady Lu said, "Old sister, then our two families should follow the Shi family? Each family can take the vegetables, and we can add the same amount of firewood, rice and oil?"
Mrs. Chen nodded and said with a smile, "Okay, let's do the same for the three families."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Old Lady Lu and the Shi family sisters-in-law and said with a smile, "There is one more thing. You probably know that my family is very close to Alie's wife. My mother Fang follows Alie's wife to set up stalls in the county every day. I won't hide it from you. It's hard to tell you the details, but we have made some money. So in addition to what we just discussed, my family is thinking about weaving another straw mat and we have already woven half of it."
Pointing to the half-finished work on the floor of the main hall, he said, "Alie's wife loves her two children so much that she asked my family's Youtian to make another bed for Xiao An. Youtian is still making the bed. I asked for the size first and prepared it while I was at it. I figured it should be ready by the time we get married, so it can be considered a gift."
Sang Luo had some ability to make money. After enjoying the delicious meat and dishes from the Shi and Lu families for the past ten days or so, she had actually sensed something in her heart.
Not to mention that the rice and meat supplied every day are very substantial and cannot be afforded by just selling a few bundles of wild vegetables.
It was said that Sang avoided the villagers every day and carried two loads of wooden barrels back from the mountain road.
Both families work there, and these things cannot be concealed. If you don't notice it for one day, how can you not notice it after seven or eight days?
Unless Sangluo just stops the stall while she's building the house.
It was obvious that Sang Luo did not want to hide this point, so Mrs. Chen dared to mention it half-heartedly, and Mrs. Lu and the sisters-in-law of the Shi family understood it immediately.
Both families knew their limits, and they listened to whatever Old Lady Chen said. Seeing that Sang Luo was hiding her actions from the villagers, the two families would never say a word outside of their homes that should not be said.
Mrs. Lu smiled and said, "Of course. This is your intention. We just need to be similar in general. There is no need to argue that everything must be the same."
Relationships have different degrees of closeness, and gifts given depend on one’s own feelings.
Moreover, the fact that Old Lady Chen was willing to tell them this clearly showed that the Sang family was quite confident in the two families.
Although she didn't know what Qin Fangniang and Sang were selling in the county, Old Lady Lu felt that since they were close friends, they should know what they were supposed to know. It was right to keep a distance and not ask or investigate. She also told her two sons and grandchildren the same thing.
Shi Erlang's wife was a little curious. When her husband came home and told her about this, she felt a little nervous. After all, it was a way to make money, so who wouldn't be curious?
But her sister-in-law specifically told them to curb their curiosity.
"If you can't control your curiosity and peek into something someone doesn't want you to know, then this friendship, which was already very limited, will be over."
"If you really envy Qin Fangniang for being able to make money, then at least do what the Chen family does. Pay attention to how the Chen family gets along with the Sang family. If you do what the Chen family does, I don't know if Sang will take us with her like she did with Qin Fangniang, but she can still make money to support the family in her situation, which shows that she is capable. Even if she doesn't take us with her, it's always a good idea to make friends with capable people."
These are Mrs. Shi’s original words.
Even though Shi Erlang is the only male in the family now, the couple actually listen to his eldest sister-in-law on major family matters.
So the couple were very well-behaved. Shi Erlang, who was much smarter than Lu Dalang, was no longer smart. He listened to his sister-in-law and never went near the thatched house. Apart from building the house, he would not look at anything that he shouldn't pay attention to. If he saw something, he would turn his eyes away and pretend he didn't see it. Of course, he really never saw anything.
Shi Erlang's wife, who loved to gossip with the women in the village, also kept her mouth shut. If she couldn't hold it in any longer, she would go home and whisper with her sister-in-law to let out her gossiping energy. Then she would be fine before going out again, and her mouth wouldn't be itching to gossip anymore.
With one or two such understanding people in a family, a very strange balance and tacit understanding was formed among the four families, namely the Shi family, the Lu family, the Chen family and the eldest branch of the Shen family, on the fact that Sang Luo and the Chen family should have some unknown way of making money.
The Shi family and the Lu family: I know you have secrets, but if you don’t tell us, we will know nothing and won’t figure out anything.
Sang Luo: I know you know I have a secret, but you don’t look, ask or peek. I will pretend that you know nothing yet. Just wait and see, and we can get along.
Chen Jia: I see everything, which is good. The people in our family are all understanding people.
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