Hua Xiangyun had no idea that such a good show would take place after they left. Even when she heard people mention it later, she would just laugh it off, and the matter came to an end.
The pair of lovers got what they wanted and were sent to the farm. As for Liu's parents and the child, they couldn't stay in the county town in the end, so they sold their jobs and went back to their hometown.
As for Cheng Yue, she applied for a dormitory at the factory with her biological daughter and started a new life there.
As a result, the black market fortune teller gradually spread, to the point that Hua Xiangyun could no longer always appear in one place, but could change places at will, depending on who she was destined to meet.
The members of the song committee also heard rumors, but no one took the initiative to go looking for trouble, as no one could guarantee that they wouldn't need anyone's help.
The courtyard was unusually lively today, as it was also the day of Zhou Xiaolan's engagement.
Early in the morning, Liu Qingshan arrived at the Zhou family's house with a three-wheeled watch and a radio to propose marriage.
However, Bai Ailian kept her eyelids drooping and asked, "What kind of 'three turns and one sound' is this?"
There wasn't a single new item; they were all secondhand goods that they'd found somewhere.
The bicycle was dented and battered so badly that even a fresh coat of paint couldn't cover it up.
Even if you take good care of a radio and a sewing machine, the signs of use are still very obvious.
The only decent watch I can show off is a men's watch. We agreed that it would be a men's watch, so why did it change to a women's watch?
The gift money is fine, but you should at least exchange it for a larger bill. These small, fragmented gifts are just annoying to everyone.
Liu Qingshan smiled ingratiatingly, "This is the 'three turns and one sound' (referring to a set of three watches and one radio), that's right, Mother-in-law, it was all prepared according to your request."
Although it's a bit old, it doesn't affect its usability.
I had to beg and plead with everyone to find all of these items, and I owed so many people favors.
To express my apology, I'm willing to add another twenty yuan as a betrothal gift.
As he spoke, he pulled two more banknotes out of his pocket. He had prepared the items according to the requirements; they hadn't said before that they had to be brand new.
Bai Ailian was speechless and could only stare at the matchmaker and ask, "What's going on? Even if I didn't mention wanting something new, doesn't everyone know this? Who uses old things for an engagement?"
"Comrade Bai, you didn't say it had to be new," the matchmaker said, also in a dilemma. He had advised Liu Qingshan to at least prepare two new items, but the man wouldn't listen to him. What was the point?
They only pulled this trick on him on the day he was supposed to come to their door. If he hadn't received benefits from Liu Qingshan before, he would have wanted to just walk away.
Even the neighbors on both sides couldn't stand Liu Qingshan's actions.
He was already divorced, yet he still resorted to such cunning tactics at the last minute.
"Comrade Liu, you've gone too far. The Zhou family doesn't mind your age and the fact that you have two children, so you should at least show some sincerity." Liu Tiezhu felt he had to help his neighbor at this point.
As expected, he received a grateful look from Bai Ailian, which gave him even more confidence. "If you really care, replace all of these with new ones."
Don't think that giving out twenty yuan as a subsidy is some big deal. Can your twenty yuan even buy this pile of stuff?
Liu Qingshan said, "We are all hardworking working class, and our monthly wages are fixed. I managed to earn this by selling everything I own."
Moreover, the Zhou family hadn't explained things clearly beforehand, otherwise I wouldn't have gone to such lengths to arrange this.
But I've done everything I could, and it comes from the bottom of my heart. I hope my parents-in-law can be understanding.
Hua Xiangyun stared in shock at the bald man in front of her. Not only was he not good-looking, but he also had the audacity to utter such frivolous remarks.
Hua Xiangyun turned to look at Zhou Xiaolan and saw that she also looked incredulous. She couldn't help but feel curious, wondering who would be more skilled if the two of them got together in the future.
But Zhou Xiaolan didn't seem to think that way. If she was originally willing to make do, now she just wanted to escape. She hid behind Bai Ailian and asked in a low voice, "Mom, how will my brother present these things when he goes to find a wife?"
She's already scheming like this before she's even married into the family. Won't she turn around and scheme against us later?
Bai Ailian wholeheartedly agreed. They had clearly discussed things very well and readily before, but she never expected him to cheat like this at the last minute.
Not only was she dissatisfied with what she got today, but she also began to doubt the person who promised to help her family and the job, which she suspected was also a lie.
The couple exchanged a glance and simultaneously decided to call off the marriage.
"I know I did something wrong," Liu Qingshan said with a smile, clearly prepared. "I heard that someone in our courtyard gave a generous betrothal gift before. We are a small family and can't compare, but I will also show my sincerity with these things. They don't need to be brought as part of the dowry. Consider it a small token of my appreciation to my new bride."
Zhou Jinfeng, “…” He hadn’t planned for Zhou Xiaolan to bring a dowry with her in the first place. No, that’s not what he meant. Liu Qingshan was setting a trap for them.
"I will gradually make up for Xiaolan's dowry in the future," Liu Qingshan promised Zhou Xiaolan. "I will make up for one thing for you every year. In less than four years, we will have all the three turns and one sound."
By this time, the neighbors could clearly see what Liu Qingshan was up to. If he didn't keep his promise after making it, what could they say now that the woman was already married to him?
But if they really add one thing every year, it will belong to the Liu family, and the Zhou family won't get any benefit.
Everyone looked at him strangely. Was this the son-in-law that Bai Ailian had been boasting about these past few days?
Every calculation is meticulously planned, and they even know how to find loopholes in conversations. Now it remains to be seen how the Zhou family will respond.
After all, they had already agreed to the marriage, which is why they came to propose.
This last-minute change of plans will not only damage the reputation of the Zhou family, but also make it more difficult for Zhou Xiaolan to find a partner.
Bai Ailian and the others realized that they had been outmaneuvered by Liu Qingshan this time.
Seeing this unexpected turn of events, Hua Xiangyun couldn't help but scrutinize Liu Qingshan closely.
He has a bald head and his only redeeming quality is his honest and simple appearance. But often, such a face hides cunning, and many people have suffered because of it.
Judging from the current situation, it will be very difficult for Zhou Jinfeng and his men to escape unscathed today.
Zhou Xiaolan looked at Hua Xiangyun standing in the crowd, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.
It's all because of this person. If she hadn't been so high-profile, Liu Qingshan wouldn't have used this incident as a pretext. He said it was nice to make up for it later, and that could still be called a dowry.
Moreover, the pile of junk displayed in the courtyard is a joke compared to the grand betrothal ceremony Hua Xiangyun attended a few days ago.
"I'm not getting married. Let's call off this marriage between our two families." Zhou Xiaolan blurted out in a moment of impulsiveness.
Liu Qingshan looked utterly dejected. "Xiao Lan, that's not what you said before. Are you complaining that I didn't prepare these things well enough?"
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