Chapter 281 Little Stone Chasing the Car
Generally speaking, the date of the return banquet is not important. Customs vary from place to place. Some people return to their parents' home on the second day after the wedding, while others do so on the third day.
If it is a special case and you want to wait ten days or half a month before holding the return party, you must ask someone to choose a date.
In short, for a game like ours, where you serve the ball and I push it back, there's no need to look at dates for this connected process.
According to Shangzhou custom, weddings always have an even number of people, so we drove two cars.
The next day after breakfast, Yifan drove a car and Xiaolin and I sat in the back seat.
My brother-in-law drove a car and my sister sat in the passenger seat.
At 8:28 in the morning, we set out from Shangzhou and headed for Wuxiang. On the way, I asked Xiaolin about the customs in his hometown.
She said there were only three things to keep in mind: first, the groom must sit in the main seat. Second, the number of cars returning to the bride's home and the number of dishes on the table must be even. Third, the groom must give a speech and toast to every table.
I said, "I remember."
Xiao Lin said, "There are no outsiders in the car. I want to remind you something. Be careful of my drunk uncle."
"Want to have a drinking contest with me?"
"It's not a drinking contest. He's good at building relationships, and he's on good terms with the township leaders and the people at the police station. He's the village's biggest bully. He'll punish anyone who doesn't listen to him."
"My family is also ruthless and will be unfriendly to me?"
"He wanted to build a house and take over our vegetable plot, but my father refused. He scolded my father, saying that his daughter would eventually get married, and his son was mute, so how could he afford to build a new house? He even refused to give up his vegetable plot, which was better for my family. My mother responded with a few words, and he slapped her in the face."
"What year was it?"
"It's been four or five years, and now we're just talking nonsense but not in our hearts."
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Before we got married, we shouldn't air our dirty laundry in public. Otherwise, your family would look down on us."
"Then why do I ask him to accompany me every time?"
"Others have advised my father, but he didn't invite this one uncle. He's afraid you'll say my family is at odds and I'm not popular with my family."
"I see. No wonder he wants to have a drinking contest with me. It seems like he'd only be happy if I made a fool of myself."
"Yes, he also looked down on you. He spread bad things about my family everywhere, saying that you were a fortune teller with no education, and that I was cheap for finding a fortune teller after graduating from college."
Lian Yifan couldn't stand it anymore and said, "Uncle, drink with him today and make him drunk."
I burst out laughing: "Xiao Lin, today, you and I are standing in the same trench, fighting your uncle together."
She pinched my thigh and gave me a glare.
When we arrived at Kobayashi's house, she held a big banquet.
The dinner started at 12 o'clock sharp. I sat at the main seat, Uncle Xiaolin was the host, and Principal Zhu also sat at the head seat, responsible for pouring wine, urging people to eat, and being the host.
After a few dishes were served, Principal Zhu said, "Now please allow my uncle to give his speech."
Uncle Xiaolin spoke. He first offered a few words of blessing. Then he praised Xiaolin and finally urged me to be good to Xiaolin, to be responsible for Xiaolin and for the Tao family.
It sounded perfectly fine, but the condescending tone suggested that the Tao family had the final say. I observed the reactions of the others: some frowned, while others simply ignored me, intent on eating.
After Uncle Xiaolin finished speaking, Principal Zhu stood up and said, "Now, please allow Wan Shanhong, the son-in-law of the Tao family, to speak."
I stood up, bowed, and then said, "Dear elders, relatives, friends, and fellow villagers. Shanhong is not good at being polite. As the saying goes, a man is half a son. From today on, please don't think of me as the son-in-law of the Tao family, but as their own son.
I will strive to fulfill my duties as a son. I'll take care of the big and small matters of the Tao family. Don't say that a son-in-law shouldn't be so involved. Because stones can't talk, I should contribute more to family matters.
I'm a high school graduate. Don't be picky about my words. Anyway, Xiaolin and I have shared the good and the bad, and we've shouldered the storms together. Thank you, everyone. Here's a toast."
I raised my head and drank it all.
Unexpectedly, everyone applauded enthusiastically as soon as he finished speaking. Principal Zhu said, "Shanhong is a true man, a man of few words but great generosity. Let's continue eating."
Xiaolin and I held our glasses and went to each table to toast.
Those who knew knew that these words were meant for Uncle Xiaolin. Every time I went to a table, someone would smile at me with encouragement, wink, and say that I was a good son-in-law.
Some young men, who had seen the world, joked, "Boss Wan, I heard you can beat ten people. Let's have a duel with you later."
Others said: "They came back and said that the writer of 'Wulin Biography' is your friend and sang for you. You are too stingy. Tell us in advance and we will bring our own lunch boxes and attend your wedding to see it."
Another continued, "And the director of the provincial opera troupe sang for him?"
The young man who had spoken originally asked Xiao Lin, "Is the leader pretty?"
Xiaolin answered loudly: "Beautiful. You are a little less pretty than your girlfriend."
The crowd erupted in laughter.
I drank a little too much. My sister winked at me and whispered, "Drink less."
I deliberately said loudly: "Don't try to persuade me, I'm happy today."
Laughter broke out again in the crowd.
Someone deliberately provoked me: "You should toast your uncle with a bottle, he has a bottle of it."
I said, "As long as my uncle is willing to drink, I will give him two bottles."
Uncle Xiaolin said, "Just drink well, no need to get drunk."
After the banquet, Xiaolin's aunts gathered around me and said, "Shanhong, you are reasonable, prudent, and responsible. We are relieved that Xiaolin is marrying you."
My neighbors gave me a thumbs-up. One man patted me on the shoulder and said, "Brother Wan, what you said today was really great!"
I feel that there are still many kind-hearted people in this world.
When we left, my father-in-law held my hand for a long time. He didn't say anything, and I knew that from today on, I didn't need to invite his brother to drink with me anymore.
My mother-in-law kept wiping her eyes. Her daughter had been taken away by me, and her heart was empty.
There is another meaning: they have been living in a compromising way, but since attending my wedding, they know they should stand up straight.
"Little Stone, I will come to pick you up." I said to him loudly.
The car started and slowly drove forward. My father-in-law and mother-in-law, their relatives, and neighbors around us stood on the ground and waved to us.
Suddenly, Xiao Shitou rushed out of the crowd and rushed towards the moving car like an arrow.
"Yifan, stop, stop."
The car stopped and I got out and hugged him.
"I will come, really, often."
My mother-in-law came up and held him back, and Xiaolin also got out of the car to persuade him. Only then did he slowly let go of my hand.
I knew he understood what I said at the banquet. He hoped that I would stay. If I stayed, his mother would not be slapped in the face.
The car finally left people's sight. The mountain village was getting farther and farther away from me, but my heart was getting closer and closer to it.
(Strive for three updates today)
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