In the following days, Zhang Jizong began to concentrate on collecting money. He visited the homes of his aunts, uncles, and uncles one by one. Needless to say, he was rejected many times.
In that era when every family was still worried about food and clothing, how many families had spare money? It's no wonder they didn't.
"Ji Zong! It's not that your uncle doesn't want to lend you the money. You see, your uncle is also very poor and has no food to eat." His uncle fiddled with the tobacco leaves in his hand with a helpless expression on his face.
"It's okay. I'll leave first then." Zhang Jizong stood up and left in frustration. His uncle sent him to the door.
This was the last person he could think of to borrow money from, but just like before, he came back empty-handed. He still had a long way to go, and as he walked, Zhang Jizong thought about it, even thinking about selling blood or a kidney.
"What are you doing? You look so dejected, you don't look like a groom at all!" Tang Boyi suddenly rushed out and punched Zhang Jizong in the chest.
"Why? It's just a gift money thing. It's almost like selling a kidney."
"Give."
Tang Boyi took out a package wrapped in newspaper from his pocket and slapped it into Zhang Jizong's hand.
"What?"
"You'll know if you open it." Tang Boyi said mysteriously with a nonchalant expression on his face, kicking small stones on the ground as he walked.
Zhang Jizong stopped and opened the package in his hand with curiosity. Inside the package was a stack of brand new old-version coins, which also smelled musty.
Zhang Jizong quickly caught up and grabbed Tang Boyi's arm, "Where did you get this money?"
"It's not stolen or robbed, so feel free to use it. With this, it should be 500 yuan, right?"
Zhang Jizong looked at the money in his hand. Although he was in urgent need of money, he couldn't hurt his brother! He thought to himself.
"Tell me! Where did it come from?"
"Oh! When did you become so fussy? My sister said this is my father's compensation, left for me to marry. We are brothers! If you marry, I marry too. You can use it first and return it to me when you have money. Don't say this is impossible, otherwise I will no longer recognize you as my brother."
Tang Boyi said everything he should and shouldn't say in one breath, and Zhang Jizong couldn't even get a word in. Silence was more powerful than words at this moment. Zhang Jizong patted Tang Boyi's shoulder, and the two of them walked away, shoulder to shoulder.
I could vaguely hear Tang Boyi say, "Be good to Shumei."
Thanks to Tang Boyi's timely help, Zhang Jizong and Shumei can finally get married.
After Zhang Jizong and Tang Boyi separated, he got on the boat and rushed to Shumei's house impatiently. As soon as he entered the house, he handed the money he had collected to Kang Yong who was sitting in the yard.
"Is that enough?"
"Well! Uncle Kang, do you want to count?" Zhang Jizong said while panting.
Kang Shumei in the inner room heard Zhang Jizong's voice and ran out excitedly. The two looked at each other and exchanged glances.
"Is that even a question?" Kang Yong counted the money Zhang Jizong had sent him several times, confirming the amount was correct. Then he said to Shumei, who was already eager to go with Zhang Jizong, "Shumei, go with him! No need to bother with the wedding banquet or anything."
But Zhang Jizong did not agree. Shumei was the woman he loved deeply. Although he could not give Shumei a wedding like Ma Yaoxiang's, he had to at least welcome Shumei into his family in a legitimate manner.
"Shumei, wait for me. I'll pick an auspicious day and come to take you home."
Shumei nodded vigorously, and Zhang Jizong reluctantly turned to leave. Back home, he asked his mother to find someone to choose an auspicious date, prepare a banquet, simply decorate the new house for him and Shumei, and hire a trumpet player. Zhang Jizong and his parents were also busy making arrangements for his marriage.
On their wedding day, Zhang Jizong wore a tan shirt, loose-fitting trousers, and wide-toed leather shoes. A large red flower hung on his chest, and he held another in his hand—presumably for Shumei! The wedding procession arrived at the riverbank and boarded a boat adorned with large red flowers. Zhang Jizong arrived at the Kang family with his simple wedding procession.
Although the Kang family had not prepared anything and no one even knew that Shumei was getting married today, Zhang Jizong's trumpet still attracted some onlookers.
Zhang Jizong entered the Kang family compound and came to Shumei's room. Shumei had braided her hair into two pigtails, tied a red bow at the end, and was wearing the new clothes Zhang Jizong had prepared for her. Shumei sat on the bed, happiness written all over her face.
Seeing Zhang Jizong coming in, she stood up happily. Zhang Jizong put the big red flower in his hand on Shumei and held her hand tightly. The two walked out of the door hand in hand with happy smiles on their faces.
As their best friend, Tang Boyi was naturally also in the wedding procession. Unfortunately, from beginning to end, Shumei never looked at him directly. He was like a transparent person, standing silently in the crowd.
The two men kowtowed to Kang Yong and Su Kui who were sitting in the main hall. The two elders just accepted it with numb expressions and no blessings or red envelopes were given.
"Let's go!"
Shumei pulled Zhang Jizong up. This was something she had expected. She did not expect them to give her anything. Being able to be with Zhang Jizong as she wished was already a gift from God to her.
Zhang Jizong felt bad looking at the indifferent elders. On such a happy day, their reaction was so unbearable, which showed how much Shumei had endured at home. He secretly vowed to be doubly kind to Shumei in the future.
The horn outside the door kept blowing. The two of them held hands and squeezed out from the crowd of villagers, followed the trumpeter, and walked towards the river.
In just a few days, Shumei became a bride twice. The neighbors who watched her were whispering and pointing at her, saying the most nasty things, such as changing the groom every day and being the bride every night, and calling her a vixen and a slut. Every word was heartbreaking and painful.
"Shumei, our lives are our own. Don't listen to their nonsense. We will definitely be happy."
After hearing these rumors, Zhang Jizong tightened his grip on Shumei's hand and tried to comfort her.
"Ji Zong, is this the first day you've met me? If I were so vulnerable, how could I have waited for you?"
The two men smiled at each other and continued walking forward. Soon they reached the river, boarded the ferry that was parked there, crossed the river and landed, and headed straight for Zhang Jizong's house.
The Zhang family set up several tables for a banquet in their small courtyard, and invited relatives and neighbors within the fifth degree of kinship.
Perhaps Shumei's previous "scandal" hadn't spread yet! After crossing the river, the villagers all praised Shumei, saying that Zhang Jizong was so lucky to have married such a beautiful bride. The younger men were especially stunned by the sight of Shumei, and each of them looked like they were drooling with desire.
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