"When are you going to stop this habit of giving candy to everyone you meet? You're giving this old lady candy first thing in the morning, do you think I have too many teeth?"
The old lady said with disdain, but her eyes were still full of joy.
There's no way around it, the old lady is the real Versailles master of the house, look how envious and jealous everyone is.
The children who had been waiting for candy under the eaves scattered with a bang, each taking some and showing off like little roosters to their friends in the village!
Ke's mother pulled Ke Meiyu to the kitchen, handed her a bowl of hand-pulled noodles with shredded pork, topped with a fried egg and a juicy, spicy wild boar sausage, some blanched fresh green bok choy, sprinkled with her favorite crushed peanuts, and ladled with a spoonful of red chili bean sauce. The aroma was so enticing that it made one's hair stand on end with a deep longing.
"Eat quickly, there's still some left in the pot. Xiao Qin will be home soon," Ke's mother said lovingly as she watched her daughter. She was also filled with emotion, as she had been packing her daughter's things these past few days and would often tear up.
Ke Meiyu nodded and ate heartily, holding the bowl. She nodded from time to time, "Mom's hand-pulled noodles are the best. I won't have many chances to eat them when I go to school in the provincial capital."
Farmhouse meals truly possess a captivating charm that evokes happiness, something that cannot be compared to the expensive, beautifully presented dishes found in shopping malls.
"If you like it, Mom will make more for you. It'll be just in time for the weather to start school before it gets too hot. I'll use less water when I roll it out, so it'll last you three to five days!"
Ke Meiyu's eyes lit up, and she pressed her advantage, saying, "Mom, I'll ask Ninth Brother to send you more flour and rice later. You can make more for me so that I can reciprocate with my classmates when I get to school."
"And there's also Ninth Brother's portion! He's young and strong, and has a big appetite."
Mrs. Ke, both amused and exasperated, tapped her forehead. "When will you grow up? All you ever think about is food. While it's true that being able to eat is a blessing, you'll have to learn to get along peacefully with Xiao Qin after you get married, and stop being so temperamental."
"If anything happens, come back and tell your mother and grandmother. Don't keep it to yourself. Even if you have a sister-in-law in the future, your parents and grandparents will still love you the most and won't tolerate you being wronged!"
Ke Meiyu pouted, her eyes also reddening: "Mother, today is a good day, can you please not say things that make people cry?"
Although she had only been reborn here for a month, she had no estrangement from the Ke family. The strong family affection soothed her panicked heart, and she felt like a migratory bird had found its home, calming down and having something to care about and a sense of belonging!
"Alright, alright, it's all my fault," Mother Ke said quickly. "Eat quickly, or the noodles in the pot will all clump together."
I took a big bite of Ke Meiyu, and the fresh, savory, salty, and spicy flavors soothed my taste buds—it was absolutely delicious.
She ate quickly, but that didn't stop her from chewing slowly. After she finished eating, she devoured half a pot of noodles, wiped her mouth with satisfaction, and then drank a jar of honey water.
Suddenly, the courtyard became lively. A deep voice rang out, accompanied by cheerful gongs and drums: "The newlyweds have arrived!"
Ke Meiyu curiously tried to peek out to see what was going on, but her mother pressed her back down.
She blinked her eyes innocently and pitifully.
Mother Ke patted her head helplessly, "You're a new bride, just stay inside and listen to the commotion. Have you ever seen a new bride standing in the crowd with her sleeves tucked in, watching her own commotion?"
The main problem is that the new brides are too shy to be seen by others, while their own children are completely innocent and detached from the situation.
"Never mind, you're getting married tomorrow anyway, let Xiao Qin worry about it."
"Mom," Ke Meiyu protested, "I'm still your sweet little cotton-padded jacket, how can you dislike me like this?" She's very smart, you know!
“She’s my sweet little darling, but she’s a bit drafty,” Mrs. Ke said with a smile. “Look, while you’re eating these crisp dates, let me see if anyone from your maternal grandparents’ house has come. I see you’re having a good chat with your little cousin-in-law; I’ll have her come in and keep you company later.”
Ke Meiyu was stuffed with a basket full of crispy dates, peanuts, hazelnuts, and dried longan from who-knows-where. Wow, she actually managed to gather all the ingredients for "early birth of a son"?
However, she also likes to eat snacks such as nuts, fruits, and dried fruits, which are the best choice to kill time and satisfy her cravings!
If you don't let her go out to see, she can just use her divine sense to get closer; it's no big deal.
Today, Qin Yuanjiu was dressed in a black Zhongshan suit, which made him stand out among the men who were bringing betrothal gifts. He was exceptionally handsome and tall!
He wore a large red flower with "Groom" written on it on his chest. The red color seemed to soften the coolness on his face, hanging on his eyebrows, the corners of his eyes, and the sides of his lips, revealing a faint, harmonious joy.
"Thank you all for your hard work these past two days. Tomorrow night, there will be plenty of food, drink, and meat," he shouted.
Everyone responded excitedly.
Because Qin Yuanjiu had been exiled here and none of his relatives and friends were around, those who came to help were all close to the Ke family. The number of the bride's family members waiting in the Ke family courtyard, especially Ke Meiyu's brothers, was quite impressive!
"The groom has arrived with gifts!"
The Ke family's gate was closed, and the older brothers crowded in front of it, using their bodies to block the people outside from banging on the door.
"What kind of gift do you have? If the gift isn't substantial, we won't open the door!" the men and women inside shouted.
Outside, people laughed and began chanting in unison, "Is 'three turns and one sound' enough?"
The watch was already on Ke Meiyu's wrist, and there were also bicycles, tape recorders, and sewing machines being carried outside.
"That's not enough. The 'three turns and one sound' isn't novel. Is there anything else?"
Does the groom count?
Everyone burst into laughter, "You're talking like everyone has a groom! Find someone else!"
"The groom can't be changed..."
Someone outside was making a joke, which caused everyone to burst into laughter that reached the sky.
"Where's the 14-inch TV? The groom said to hurry up and tell the bride's brothers to open the door so everyone can come inside and watch TV!"
The people in the courtyard were stunned for a moment, then went wild with joy. No matter who you were, the moment the old lady and her daughter-in-law stepped forward, they embarrassed the men from the Ke and Tang families.
The door was opened so easily...
The men delivering the betrothal gifts chanted "Yo-ho!" as they carried the items in one by one. Besides the three watches and one radio, there was a large cardboard box with a television set outlined in lines, and behind it were six heavy red wooden boxes.
They placed the betrothal gifts in the courtyard and opened all the cardboard boxes, revealing brand-new and beautiful items.
The contents of the red box were also incredibly fresh: fabrics of various colors and materials, the world's most beautiful seasonal clothing, accessories such as shoes, hats, bags, scarves, and gloves, books, and everyday items.
My cousin's wife trotted in, smiling as she approached Ke Meiyu. "Your husband is quite particular; he even included a comb, mirror, scale, scissors, ruler, and embroidered shoes in the betrothal gifts!"
"They all symbolize a long and happy marriage, a life of love and prosperity. It's clear he truly cares about you."
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