When Old Lady He heard this, she still had something to understand. She frowned and pretended to be angry, saying, "What do you mean by that? You make me sound like the heartless mother who sold her daughter!"
The fourth daughter-in-law quickly reached out and hugged Mrs. He's arm, and leaned her head over, "Don't say that, mother. I have never seen a mother-in-law more kind than you. You are so kind as a mother-in-law, and you are even more loving to your daughter!"
Mrs. He was flattered, and the wrinkles on her face suddenly turned into a chrysanthemum. She felt very happy. Thinking of what the fourth daughter-in-law had just said about the workers and the betrothal gift, she swallowed her saliva and asked, "Do you have any suitable families?"
When the fourth daughter-in-law heard this, she knew her mother-in-law had agreed. She knew she would definitely give in. Her sisters-in-law were watching how she treated her daughter. Sooner or later, Jinzhi would be sold. "My sister-in-law helped me find a family who was willing to pay 80 yuan to marry a daughter-in-law, and they didn't want a dowry!"
Nowadays, if a whole family works together in a production team, they can only save more than 20 yuan at the end of the year if everything goes well. To save 80 yuan, they need to save for at least three years, and they have to be from a family with many strong laborers.
This is a good year. If we were to encounter a flood, drought or something like that, let alone a surplus, we would be lucky if we didn't owe the team anything.
The average betrothal gift in the village is only a few dozen yuan. Not counting Luo Juan, the highest betrothal gift in the village in the past two years is only a hundred yuan. Her daughter Jinzhi is not very good-looking, so eighty yuan is already very good. The most important thing is that she doesn't want a dowry!
As soon as the fourth son's wife said the eighty yuan, Mrs. He was immediately tempted. With this money, she could buy her fourth son a temporary job in the machinery factory, and then work for a while and then get a permanent job. Thinking of this, she immediately asked, "Is there really such a family? Why didn't you tell me before?"
The fourth son's wife quickly smiled and apologized, "I'm pregnant now, so my memory is not good. It was only yesterday when my sister-in-law sent someone to tell me to write back that I remembered. But my sister-in-law also said that the family is in Donglin Commune, which is a bit far from here. Moreover, the man was delayed because of the illness of an elder in his early years. He is a bit old now, already 28, but there is no problem with his health. He looks strong and healthy!"
He Jinzhi is only sixteen years old this year. The man is a whole generation older than her. He lives in Donglin Commune, which is indeed a bit far away from Kaoshan Village. If this girl gets married, she won't be able to help if something happens at home. Logically speaking, any mother who loves her daughter would not agree to it. After all, there are plenty of young men of the right age in the nearby brigades. Besides, He Jinzhi has not reached the legal age for marriage.
But Mrs. He's heart and eyes were filled with the eighty yuan. Even if He Jinzhi was asked to marry an old man, as long as he could give her enough money, she would be willing. She rolled her eyes and said, "It's okay if he's old. Only when he's old can he know how to care for others. As long as he can earn money to support the family, that's enough. But our Jinzhi is twelve years younger than him. She's at the prime of her life. You can ask your sister-in-law to tell his family that eighty yuan is not enough for the betrothal gift. She needs at least one hundred and fifty yuan. Our family is not a picky family. We don't need him to buy a sewing machine, a bicycle, or a watch. One hundred and fifty yuan will be enough!"
The fourth daughter-in-law gave Old Lady He a thumbs-up and said with a smile, "Then I'll go back and tell my sister-in-law today?"
Old Mrs. He seemed to see a huge stack of banknotes flying towards her. Her brows lit up with joy and she said, "Go, go now. If it's too late, come back tomorrow. I'll take Jinzhi to see what's growing on her body first. If it doesn't work, we'll buy some medicine to apply on her. Don't delay her getting married."
"Mom, you are so far-sighted. I'll go back to my parents' home first!" The fourth son's wife happily went back to the house to change her clothes, picked up a cloth bag in her hand, and left.
Old Mrs. He thought about the red rashes on Jinzhi's body, then thought about the betrothal money, and quickly went to the vegetable garden in the backyard.
The He family has five rooms, so the backyard is naturally much larger than that of other families. He Jinzhi is weeding in the vegetable garden at this time.
There are not many girls in the village who can be like Luo Xiuyan who is responsible for only two meals a day for the family. Firstly, girls in the countryside are not worth much, and secondly, there are a lot of farm work to do at home. Several sisters-in-law with young children are waiting for them. If they stay at home and don’t go to the fields, and leave the work in the fields to their sons, they will be exhausted to death.
"Jinzhi, come here." Old Mrs. He stood in the shade behind the house and shouted to the girl in the vegetable garden.
He Jinzhi raised her head, her face, which was not fair to begin with, was now red from the sun. She raised her arm to wipe the sweat off her face before responding, "I'm coming."
When the person came to her, Mrs. He thought about the betrothal money that was about to be received, and her face looked better. She looked the person up and down and said, "Our Jinzhi has grown up and can be her husband."
He Jinzhi paused while wiping her sweat, then lowered her head shyly, "Mom, I'm only sixteen, it's too early!"
"What's so early about that?" Old Mrs. He curled her lips. "In the village, there are many people who get married before they are old enough, and then get a marriage certificate after they have children and are old enough. I think it's too much trouble now. They have to get a marriage certificate to get married."
When He Jinzhi heard this, she lowered her head even lower. She bit her lip and had a bad feeling in her heart.
"Your fourth sister-in-law has introduced you to a man. He lives in Donglin Commune, is 28 years old, and comes from a well-off family. Although he's a bit older, he's a good earner!"
With every word Old Lady He said, He Jinzhi's face grew paler, until it was completely bloodless, no longer the rosy cheeks she had just had. With trembling lips, she said, "Mother, have you forgotten the rash on my body? If I get married like this, my husband will definitely reject me!"
"What's the big deal? I'll take you to see Doctor Tian today. Everyone says she's an excellent doctor. I guarantee you'll be completely healed in less than half a month. If not, I'll take you to the county!" Seeing that He Jinzhi was still reluctant, Old Lady He changed her attitude and glared at her. "Why? I'm your mother. Can't I make the final decision on your marriage? Why are you looking so sad? I'm not even dead yet. Who are you crying for?"
"Mother..." He Jinzhi quickly restrained the expression on her face and said tremblingly, "That's not what I meant."
Old Mrs. He spat and said, "If that's not what you mean, then just marry him obediently. Now come with me to see Doctor Tian."
Having said that, he turned around and walked out first.
He Jinzhi had no choice but to brush off the dirt on her body and follow.
When Old Lady He brought He Jinzhi over, the prototype of the bamboo house that Tian Cai had been dreaming of had already taken shape. The roof was the first to be built, then the floor, and the windowsless walls on both sides were also fixed.
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