◎Two more◎
Xu Shengjie closed his eyes for a long time and finally felt sleepy, but suddenly he noticed some movement beside him. The quilt was rustling, and soon, a hand climbed up to his waist and touched his head!
Holding the "evil" hand tightly, Xu Shengjie curled his lips in the dark and looked at the slightly panicked woman, "What are you doing? If you really don't want to sleep..."
"I want to sleep!" Liang Baozhen's voice suddenly became louder, but she was worried about waking up the family, so she immediately lowered her voice, "I'm so tired today, I'm so sleepy, you should go to bed too."
Having said that, she broke away from Xu Shengjie's hand and pulled the quilt over her head, leaving only her black hair exposed. She looked like she was fast asleep.
Xu Shengjie stroked his forehead, his right hand hanging in the air at the corner of the quilt. He was about to lift the quilt but stopped, and stroked Liang Baozhen's soft black hair instead, saying helplessly, "Okay, go to sleep. We have to get up early to go back home tomorrow."
Lying back on the bed, Xu Shengjie tried hard to close his eyes and fall asleep.
......
The next day, as soon as the sunlight tore a hole in the sky, Xu Shengjie and Liang Baozhen got up.
Liang Baozhen was really tired during the two days of her wedding. It was a rare occasion that no one disturbed her last night and she slept well. Now she was full of energy and was braiding her hair at the table. Her eyes softened when she looked at Xu Shengjie.
"You didn't sleep well?"
Xu Shengjie, however, looked a little tired, which was unusual for him. Liang Baozhen had no idea that she was the culprit, as she had ruined the sleepiness that Xu Shengjie had worked so hard to cultivate, and she herself fell into a deep sleep.
"It's OK." But I've also endured periods of not getting much sleep when I was in the army before, so this isn't a big problem.
Xu Shengjie changed into a green military uniform, and when he took off his clothes, he revealed his lean body, strong abdominal muscles, and the scar on his waist that had appeared in Liang Baozhen's dream was somewhat conspicuous.
Liang Baozhen was talking to him at the time, but he started taking off his clothes as soon as they disagreed. Although he put on a short-sleeved military uniform two seconds later, his figure was still embarrassing.
Quickly turning her head, Liang Baozhen finished braiding her three-strand braid and couldn't help asking, "What's the matter with the scar on your waist?"
Xu Shengjie was stunned. He didn't expect her to notice this. He just answered casually, "It was from the injuries I suffered in the war."
"Have you been injured a lot in the wars before? You look very dangerous." Liang Baozhen admired the soldiers very much and knew that the battlefield was ruthless.
"There's nothing wrong. Don't think too much." Xu Shengjie was thinking about going back to see his mother-in-law and father-in-law today, so he wore the military uniform he brought back from retirement. Nowadays, it is indeed more impressive if a family can have a military uniform. Liang Zhigao liked him wearing it last time, and it is always right to please his father-in-law.
But when she saw him trying to continue wearing his old cloth shoes, Liang Baozhen quickly stopped him and said, "Wear the new pair. My mother wants to see them. Otherwise, she will think I didn't buy them for you."
Knowing her mother well, Liang Baozhen knew that if she didn't wear it back today, Song Chunhua would blame her.
Zhou Yun prepared the return gift himself, which consisted of a pack of noodles, a pound of persimmon cakes, a pound of hawthorn cakes, and a bottle of five-grain liquid. They were packed in a net bag, which looked colorful and bulging.
"Please drive slowly on your way and say hello to my in-laws for me." Zhou Yun stood at the door and instructed his grandson and granddaughter-in-law.
"Got it, grandma, go back to the house and rest."
Xu Shengjie and Liang Baozhen carried the gifts and went outside the big courtyard, preparing to take the bus to the city entrance to wait for the shuttle bus. As soon as they walked out of Yueya Hutong, two men and one woman followed them, looked around, walked into the hutong, and went straight to the big courtyard.
Seeing Zhou Yun still standing at the door, the leading man stepped forward and accused, "Mom! You are so confused. Why didn't you tell us about such a big thing as Sheng Jie's marriage?"
The bus had a bumpy ride, but the newlyweds finally arrived at Damian Village early in the morning.
Song Chunhua got up early in the morning to prepare lunch for the daughter-in-law and son-in-law who came back to her parents' home. Liang Baojun got a leg of lamb from somewhere yesterday, which made everyone in the family very happy. They marinated the lamb with salt in advance and waited for the daughter-in-law to come back to cook it.
"Mom!" Liang Baozhen was eager to get home, so she quickened her pace as soon as she saw her own yard.
"Oh my, oh my." Song Chunhua hadn't seen her daughter for two days, but it felt like they had been separated for two years. When she saw her, her eyes welled up with tears. She held her daughter's arm with both hands and looked up and down, left and right, wishing she could see how her child was doing. "How come you've become so beautiful! Mommy almost didn't recognize you."
"Chunhuaer, me too, look how beautifully Baozhen is dressed. This bra is so pretty." The village lady passing by couldn't help but compliment her.
Today, Liang Baozhen wore the goose yellow blouse she bought on her wedding day. It was fitted at the waist and looked like it was tailor-made for her, making her even more beautiful. Standing next to Xu Shengjie in his military uniform, who could help but say that they were a good match?
"Mom." Xu Shengjie followed behind and handed the things to his mother-in-law, then went into the house with her.
"Xiao Xu, come in and sit down." Seeing that the gift was so heavy this time, Song Chunhua knew that her son-in-law's family was interested in her daughter. "Your father and brother are still working. They will be back after lunch. Your sister and brother-in-law went to the brigade headquarters. I don't know what they talked about. Baoling and I are the only ones at home."
"sister!"
"Third Aunt!"
When the two maids saw Liang Baozhen coming back, they rushed towards her and circled around her. Liang Baozhen broke the persimmon cake she brought back and gave half to each of them.
"Sister, is it fun in the city?" Liang Baoling ate persimmon cake, her mouth full of sweetness.
"It's fun. Next time you come to the city, I'll take you around."
"Okay! I want to go, Mom and Dad, our whole family will go!"
Song Chunhua passed by and overheard it. She scolded him, "Okay, we'll talk about it later. Baozhen, don't follow other people's example of going to your husband's family to ask for money from your parents' family. You'll get scolded if you do. Just live a good life."
Song Chunhua knew better than anyone that the relationship between her husband's family and her own family was not good. She would be criticized if she went back to her own family too often, especially if she took some things from her husband's family back to support her own family. Relatives from the countryside who came to the city would also cause trouble for others. She was not willing to bring her family to the city to cause trouble for others and end up making the daughter of a noble family suffer.
"Mom, what's the big deal? I want to go to the city to see the head office." Liang Baozhen had thought about it a long time ago. The Xu family's place is small and it is indeed not very convenient, but it will get better. "Who knows, Baoling may be able to go to college in the city in the future."
"University?" Song Chunhua was stirring the mutton soup in the pot. It had been simmering for more than two hours. The milky white soup was fragrant. She laughed as she heard the lady's words. "It's so difficult to get a place in a university recommended by workers, peasants and soldiers. If your sister has the potential to get a place, I will sell my house to support her."
Liang Baozhen opened her mouth. She was thinking that the college entrance examination would be resumed soon, but now no one knew. To go to university, one had to get a recommendation from the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University. "That's hard to say. Maybe the college entrance examination will be resumed in the future."
"Who knows what will happen in the future? It depends on her luck." Song Chunhua scooped a bowl of mutton soup, sprinkled some chopped green onions on it, and handed it to the girl, "Try it, it's salty."
"Tell mom, how about going to Xu's house?"
Even though it was only two days, feelings never lie.
"It's pretty good." Liang Baozhen didn't know how other people's marriages were like, but whether it was Xu Shengjie or the other people in the Xu family, she felt very at ease.
Song Chunhua knew that she was a daughter of a noble family, so it was right to say so. "Anyway, you have to live your life by yourself. You have a bad temper sometimes, so you have to be careful in your husband's family. How you treat others is how others treat you. It's mutual. Of course, if someone bullies you, you can't stand it. Your mother is always there for you!"
"I understand." Liang Baozhen's mind flashed through various images. She wanted to take a step forward and hug Song Chunhua, resting her chin on her mother's shoulder. "Mom, you are the best to me."
"Okay, okay, stop being pretentious." Song Chunhua smiled and patted the girl's back, urging her to drink the soup.
"Delicious! Just the right amount." Liang Baozhen took a sip from the bowl, her mouth full of the delicious taste of mutton soup. "Mom, your soup is still the best."
"You are so sweet-talking. Let Xiao Xu have a taste of it."
Xu Shengjie was in the yard when he saw Liang Baozhen coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of steaming mutton soup in her hand.
"The mutton soup my mom cooked is delicious. You should try it." Liang Baozhen handed the bowl to the man in front of her.
In the hot summer, drinking a bowl of mutton soup can make you sweat and make you feel comfortable all over. Xu Shengjie drank the remaining half bowl of mutton soup. Just as he was about to boast, he heard the Liang family coming back at the door.
Today's lunch was extremely sumptuous, with a large bowl of mutton soup with dipping sauce, which made a group of people sweat profusely while eating. In addition, there was also some cold shredded vegetables and some stir-fried cabbage.
Liang Zhigao was very happy that his daughter had returned and his son-in-law was a nice guy. He invited everyone to have a few drinks. After the meal, Liang Zhigao, his son and his two sons-in-law were still drinking at the table.
"Your dad is happy, so let the four of them drink. There is nothing to do this afternoon." Song Chunhua finally felt relieved. She was very pleased to see her family together.
While everyone was busy, Liang Baozhen went back to the house with her elder sister. When they started eating, she found that her elder sister was worried and her smile was forced.
"Sister, what's wrong with you? Is there something on your mind?"
Liang Baoying knew she couldn't hide the truth from her sister, so today she and her husband Song Jianguo went to the brigade headquarters to inquire about the conditions for returning to the city. They received a clear answer that educated youth who had already married in the countryside could not go back.
"Your brother-in-law said he wanted a divorce."
"What?!" Liang Baozhen's eyes widened in disbelief. "Your brother-in-law wants to divorce you?"
"Don't get excited." Liang Baoying held her sister's hand and explained, "We are not really divorced."
"Fake divorce?" Liang Baozhen was quick-witted. She knew what her brother-in-law was up to after a brief thought. "He wants to divorce you. He wants to go back to the city first under the pretext of work, and then..."
"He said he would come to pick me and Mengmeng up later, and then we would remarry." Liang Baoying frowned, her face full of worry. It seemed that her man's method was the only way out, otherwise he could not go back. However, she had never thought about getting divorced.
In the past few decades, no one in Damen Village had ever heard of a divorce. Ten years ago, a man got drunk and beat his wife. He couldn't stand it and ran away. No one was ever heard of again. There was no formal divorce. If someone did get divorced, the spit from everyone would probably drown them.
Let alone other things, the widows in the village whose husbands have died are a ready-made example. It is difficult for them to raise their children on their own.
"Sister, you have to think it through. I always feel that this is unreliable. What if my brother-in-law doesn't come to pick you up after he returns?" Liang Baozhen carefully recalled the plot in the book. Unfortunately, the Liang family didn't have any role at all, let alone the ending of the eldest sister and brother-in-law. But she knew that later, a large number of educated youth returned to the city, and many of them abandoned their wives and children and never returned, leaving only orphans and widows living in the countryside.
Will her brother-in-law Song Jianguo really come back to pick up her sister and Mengmeng after his divorce and return to the city? She was unsure, and Liang Baoying was probably unsure too.
"You don't know, Jianguo has been thinking about this all day, he's almost crazy." Liang Baoying was confused, there were so many opinions, she couldn't make up her mind. Her man had repeatedly assured her, but her sister's opinion also made sense, what could she bet on?
"I just thought, he is a pitiful person. You say he is a good city boy, but he has been working in the countryside for so many years. He used to be a writer, but now he has to work in the fields all day long. He must be miserable."
"Sister, don't agree to this. Let your brother-in-law wait and see." Thinking of the college entrance examination to be resumed at the end of next year, my eldest sister-in-law's family still has this way to go. They can find a way to return to the city without getting divorced. "Maybe he can take the college entrance examination in a while. My brother-in-law used to have good grades in school. If he can pass the exam and return to the city, there is no need for divorce."
"It's too hard for you and Mengmeng after the divorce. Even if your brother-in-law takes you over in a few years, it will be very uncomfortable to hear gossip during those years. You should talk to your brother-in-law." In order to provide some strong evidence for what she said, Liang Baozhen made up a lie, "I'm going to the city now. Some of our relatives are in school. I heard that there are signs of reinstating the college entrance examination. You should ask your brother-in-law to prepare more."
"Really?" Liang Baoying was overjoyed to hear the good news. Of course that's good! "I'll tell your brother-in-law later. By the way, Baozhen, don't tell mom and the others about this. Let your brother-in-law and I discuss it first. Don't let mom get anxious and angry. It will make everyone uncomfortable."
Liang Baozhen nodded and agreed to everything.
......
The four men of the Liang family drank a lot of wine in the main hall. A son-in-law is equivalent to half a son. Liang Zhigao was satisfied with the eldest and second sons-in-law. He drunkenly patted their shoulders and said, "It's not easy for us to become a family. I don't have big requirements. It's enough for Baoying and Baozhen to live a smooth life. As for you, you just need to be good to your wives and support your own family!"
"Dad, that's enough, my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law know what's going on. Don't drink any more. You can drink half a catty, but you have to drink eight ounces."
Liang Zhigao's face turned red from drinking. Liang Baojun followed him. Song Jianguo was a little better, but he had something on his mind and drank a lot, so his eyes were also confused.
Only Xu Shengjie remained calm and clear-eyed, and he also advised his father-in-law, "Dad, don't worry. But you can save this wine for next time."
"Next time?" Liang Zhigao burped and felt a little dizzy. He couldn't see anyone clearly, but he felt that there was a shadow in front of him. "Okay, let's drink next time. Baojun, put this Wuliangye away and hide it well. Don't let your mother find it."
Liang Baojun's eyebrows twitched, and he curled his lips in disgust, "The old man talks nonsense when he's drunk. He thinks you're a fellow drinker in the village."
Xu Shengjie smiled and said, "Help Dad lie down."
After settling the drunk Liang Zhigao and Song Jianguo, Song Chunhua looked at her man with curses, complaining that he had a bad drinking habit. Liang Baoying, on the other hand, looked at Song Jianguo with pity, wringing out a towel to wipe his face.
"Mom, we'll go back first."
The time they spend together is always short-lived. Xu Shengjie has to go back to the factory to work in the afternoon, so the two of them have to leave.
"Okay, remember what mom said, if you have anything, remember to send a message back."
"Yeah." Liang Baozhen looked at her eldest sister again, asking her to remember what she said and not to make a decision easily. Finally, she said goodbye to her younger sister and niece.
Before leaving Damian Village, the two went to see Aunt Fengxia again. After all, she was the matchmaker, so they had to thank her. By the time they finished everything, time was running out, so they packed up and hurried back to the city.
In the past two days since her marriage and moving to the Xu family, Liang Baozhen has been fine and feels that she has adapted well to married life. But today she went back to her parents' home, stayed for half a day and had to leave again. Sitting on the bus, she suddenly felt a little sad.
Especially after having a meal and talking to my family for a few minutes, I am about to leave the home where I have lived for twenty years. There are always some inexplicable emotions lingering in my heart. My family members are still there, but I am the only one who has to go far away.
The bus was shaking and swaying on the dirt road. When it turned a corner, the people in the bus were instantly toppling over and over, holding onto the backs of their chairs to steady themselves. Liang Baozhen was prevented from falling toward the window by a large hand holding onto her arm.
When I turned around, I saw Xu Shengjie pulling me.
"Come back after a while to see your parents." Seeing that Liang Baozhen was obviously in a low mood, Xu Shengjie spoke lightly, took out a piece of fruit candy from his trouser pocket, tore off the wrapper and fed it to his wife.
"Hmm." Liang Baozhen was caught off guard by the man who fed her a candy. It tasted sweet like orange. She rolled the candy with the tip of her tongue and sucked it. She seemed to feel better. "Where did you get the candy?"
"Xiaoya gave it to me." Folding the candy wrappers in his hands, Xu Shengjie looked at Liang Baozhen's curious eyes and explained, "I took it back to Xiaoya. She loves to collect these. She has collected more than ten of them in her house."
The wrappers for fruit candies are colorful wax paper with corresponding fruit designs drawn on them. They are very pretty and children love to collect them and treat them as treasures after occasionally eating a candy.
"The candy wrappers are really pretty! I also have three in an iron box in my room, but we don't have many opportunities to eat candy." Speaking of the same interests and hobbies, Liang Baozhen deeply agrees.
"Then go back and take a look with her. This girl really likes to show her candy wrappers to others."
"good."
At 1:50 in the afternoon, the two arrived at the entrance of Yueya Hutong. Xu Shengjie's shift was at 2 o'clock, and it took him about ten minutes to walk from the entrance of the alley.
"Just go straight ahead and don't make any mistakes." Liang Baozhen pointed to the entrance of the alley, "I can find our courtyard."
"Okay, just go in by yourself." Xu Shengjie strode forward, then suddenly slowed down and turned around to look.
The daughter-in-law walked home step by step in her blouse, her braids swinging as she went. Xu Shengjie smiled slightly and continued on his way.
Liang Baozhen calmed down and walked into the large courtyard. Her grandmother should be taking a nap at this time. The sun was too hot, so it would be cooler at home. Before leaving, Song Chunhua packed some tomatoes and a handful of willow buds for her.
Just enough to make some sugar-mixed tomatoes and some cold willow sprouts...
However, just after passing through the hanging flower gate and before reaching the second courtyard, he heard a noisy noise.
"Mom, you can't be so foolish. How can Sheng Jie marry a country girl? She must be old and ugly because she's always working hard to make a living. Do you think she'd be good enough for you?"
Liang Baozhen paused and looked at the middle-aged men and women standing in front of her house. It sounded like they were talking about her?
The author has something to say:
Liang Baozhen: Who are you calling ugly? !
Xu Shengjie clenched his fists!
This chapter will drop 50 red envelopes within 24 hours. Thank you for your support. See you at midnight tomorrow~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: Yikeshu 4 bottles; Rongrong 20 bottles
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