Without saying a word, Qin Yuanjiu stepped forward and, just like Tang Jinhan, lifted her up into the tree.
Ke Meiyu smiled and waved her paw at him, "Ninth Brother, come pick me up again later!"
He rubbed his temples, nodded perfunctorily, and nimbly jumped onto the wall, sitting down next to Tang Jinhan.
Ke Meiyu took out a bunch of food from her bag, distributed it to all sides, and then whispered to her cousin-in-law while watching the fun.
The village chief must have anticipated that with three families getting married together, the villagers would definitely flock to see whichever was the most exciting.
So he moved the time back an hour, and the guests here have just arrived.
The woman's side had a large number of guests, while the man's side had four adults and two children: Huang Fangbin's eldest and second eldest sisters, each with their four- or five-year-old children, as well as Huang Fangbin's male and female classmates from high school who had also been sent to the countryside as educated youth.
They wore clean and tidy work clothes, suits, or Zhongshan suits, and leather shoes. Their chins were slightly raised, and they walked with furrowed brows and tiptoeing, making no attempt to hide their disdain.
The children insisted on being carried and refused to walk.
Huang Fangbin looked somewhat embarrassed, repeatedly apologizing to the village chief and his wife, whose faces were ashen, and then whispering a few words to his sister and classmate.
Seeing this, the villagers also looked displeased and had no intention of making a scene.
The village party secretary presided over the event and eased the atmosphere by saying, "On behalf of Ke Yunyue's family, I welcome the Huang family's relatives and friends who have come from afar, and I also thank the commune and other villages for taking the time to come and support us!"
The applause was sparse. Ke Yunyue, hiding in the house, saw Ke Meiyu, wearing a red sweater, sitting leisurely in the tree outside the yard. She was so angry that she grabbed her handkerchief and said to her friend, "Yezi, go and tell the kids outside not to sit in my apple tree. If they break it, can they afford to pay for it?"
Ye Zi was also looking out the window. After hearing what she said, she looked out and naturally saw Ke Meiyu as well.
She smiled and said, "Ah Yue, today is your special day. Why are you getting angry with an outsider like her?"
"The people who just came back from watching the commotion said that not a single member of the Qin family came!"
"So what if Qin Yuanjiu is from the capital? His family didn't even make any announcements about something as important as his marriage. What does that say?"
Ke Yunyue snorted: "Of course, the Qin family doesn't recognize this daughter-in-law. When Comrade Qin's family is exonerated and returns to Beijing, that will be the time when Ke Meiyu will be abandoned!"
“That’s right, Yue, you’re the luckiest girl in our area. Just live your own life. You’ll be living in the provincial capital from now on, why are you still arguing with her?” Ye Zi continued with a smile.
She looked exhausted to everyone.
Ke Yunyue narrowed her eyes and suddenly laughed, "Yes, her biggest mistake was getting involved with Qin Yuanjiu. There will be a good show to watch tomorrow."
Ye Zi asked curiously, but Ke Yunyue just smiled with satisfaction and didn't reveal a single word.
After the village party secretary finished his opening remarks, he politely asked the Huang family to display the betrothal gifts.
Sister Huang asked in surprise, "Bride price? Nowadays, organizations promote gender equality. As long as both parties are willing, they can get married. How come in your small mountain village, you still adhere to old customs and demand exorbitant bride prices?"
Everyone was shocked, and for a moment they didn't know which was right and which was wrong.
Ke Meiyu's eyes widened slightly. "I've never seen anyone describe stinginess in such a refreshing and elegant way."
Her voice wasn't loud, but the problem was that everyone was silent, so her mutterings reached everyone's ears.
The villagers burst into laughter. "It really is! What kind of old custom is this? Are you saying that the 'three turns and one radio' and 'thirty-six legs' in the city are just jokes?"
"Don't think that just because we can't go to the provincial capital, you can just say whatever you want. We'll ask around another day to find out what kind of weddings Comrade Huang's two older sisters had."
The Huang family members were so embarrassed that their faces turned bright red.
The Huang family favored sons over daughters; the girls were practically sold off, and then had to willingly become "brother-obsessed demons."
However, while this "brother-obsessed demon" is good to her younger brother, she acts differently in front of her sister-in-law.
The Da Xia Hua Long Sui fans, who arrived one after another, jumped onto the wall.
Luckily, the village chief's house had thick walls and was supported by stones, otherwise it would have collapsed under their weight!
"Huang Fangbin, just tell me what your family can offer, stop with this nonsense!" Ke Yuanwan shouted.
"That's right, let us country bumpkins from the mountains see the grandeur of this big shot from the provincial capital. We can't be any less impressive than the Qin family!"
The other men were also shouting.
Huang Erjie immediately smiled and said, "My eldest sister is just surprised by your custom of displaying gifts. Usually, when we get married in the provincial capital, the bride price and dowry are discussed privately between the two families."
The village chief also figured it out.
No matter how well Huang Fangbin speaks or acts, just looking at the attitude of these two older sisters, you can tell that the Huang family looks down on the Ke family!
He said expressionlessly, "We agreed to come a day or two in advance to discuss things, but you just arrived today."
Sister Huang said with a smile, "Uncle Ke, it's not that we're deliberately dragging it out. My parents are very concerned about my brother's marriage, but everyone in the family is too busy to leave, whether it's going to school or taking care of the children."
"Moreover, my younger brother is quite stubborn and has a strong sense of integrity. He said he wouldn't ask his family for anything for his wedding. But now he's working in the countryside to support rural development, and his livelihood is the same as yours. What can he possibly contribute?"
At this moment, Huang Fangbin bowed apologetically to the village chief and his wife: "Father and Mother, I'm sorry, I can't give Ayue a good life right now, but you have to believe me, after I finish university and get a job, I will hand over all my salary!"
“My parents and sisters live in the provincial capital, but they need money for everything, including food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and they also have children to take care of. How could I, a grown man with all my limbs intact, possibly sit back and enjoy their wealth without contributing anything?”
“As you have all seen, I have worked diligently in the fields during these past few years in the countryside. I am honest and down-to-earth, not the kind of person who slacks off or tries to cheat. Moreover, when I brought A-Yue to visit my relatives, I was determined to spend my life with her.”
"So, please understand!"
After he said that, no one could force him to go home and ask his parents for a bride price.
The village chief and his wife were furious. When they brought it up before, Huang Fangbin had evaded the question, only saying they'd discuss it when his family came. Now, in front of so many people, he was pulling this stunt—was he taking advantage of their desire to save face?
"Huh? Can a scoundrel be so righteous?" Ke Meiyu exclaimed in surprise again.
The "Long Live the Great Xia" crowd burst into laughter, while the other villagers shook their heads and grimaced.
Huang Fangbin looked at Ke Meiyu with suppressed anger. "Comrade Ke, I admit that my family is just an ordinary working-class family in the provincial capital. But my parents are the ones who have jobs. They gave birth to me and raised me. Why should they be the ones to find a wife for me?"
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