Fang Meili's future husband's family has been settled. They live in a family in town with several storefronts on the street, and the wedding will be held in the first month of the lunar calendar.
Regarding her husband's family, Fang Meixiang's mother inquired about their character beforehand. She heard that the mother-in-law was a patient person and the young man was neither impatient nor lazy, which put her mind at ease.
Once the marriage was arranged, the family made furniture and quilts for Fang Meili.
On a fine day, several women from the village, whose parents are still alive, who have both sons and daughters, and who are happily married, came to help make quilts.
My second aunt held a silver needle and stitched along the edge of the shiny red quilt cover.
Third Aunt was quick; she stretched out the edges of the cotton wadding and stuffed it into the cloth, muttering, "Fill it up a bit more so she won't freeze after she gets married."
Fang Meixiang's mother was simmering brown sugar ginger tea on the stove, and the steam mixed with the fragrance of cotton in the room wafted through the air.
Everyone was busy preparing for Fang Meili's wedding.
For the past six months, Fang Dongqiang has been staying at his maternal grandmother's house with Fang Meili. Fang Dongqiang is very happy to see the house so lively and running around.
As soon as the quilts were finished, Fang Meili pulled her mother aside and said, "Mom, let's give one of the quilts to my eldest sister. She passed away just like that, without anything."
“Meili, this is yours, we can’t give it to you.” Fang Meixiang’s mother said with red eyes, “My father and I have worked in the fields for so many years without neglecting our work, and our whole family has always had enough to eat and hasn’t gone hungry. But my little sister is still in school, and we don’t have any extra money to give you. We will use all the dowry your in-laws gave you as part of your dowry, and we won’t keep any of it.”
"After we're gone, if your eldest sister is in trouble, you and Meihao should help her if you can. Just make sure she's not hungry or cold, and that she's not bullied by others." Fang Meixiang's mother was already sobbing as she said this.
“Mom, I will.” Fang Meili gripped her mother’s hand tightly.
"Yes, I know. I can tell from the fact that you've been mentoring Dong Qiang for two years."
"Dongqiang, what will happen to him if I leave? I'm really worried about him, and I'll miss him."
"She'll be four next year, it's fine for us to watch her from the sidelines." Fang Meixiang's mother added, "Meili, when you get married, don't talk like you do at home. Say whatever you want. I've heard from your mother-in-law that she's a very nice person. If your mother-in-law is nice, your life as a couple will be smoother."
"Mom, did you inquire about Yuan Xinkang's mother first because you don't get along with Grandma?"
"Although life is ultimately lived by the couple, if you get along well with your mother-in-law, your husband won't be in a difficult position. But your father puts him in a difficult position. No matter how bad your mother-in-law is, she is still his mother. Therefore, we should choose a mother-in-law who isn't too bad."
"Don't be so mean? Haha, that sounds so helpless, as if all mothers-in-law are bad."
“I’m not talking about your grandma. I’ll never forget the beating she gave Meixiang back then. After I couldn’t have a son, she even told your dad to have a son with someone else.”
"What did Dad say?"
“He said he just needs to take good care of you, but I know he feels resentful about not having a son. It wasn’t until his younger sister got into university that he seemed more energetic in the second half of the year. So, you also need to strive to make a good life for yourselves. Only when you are both doing well can we feel at ease.”
“Yes, Dad didn’t abandon us, and I will make sure he enjoys a good life.” Fang Meili nodded.
Around the time of the Lunar New Year, Fang Sandi received his wages and they bought a brand new Forever brand bicycle.
Fang Sandi and Yu Jihong are learning to ride bicycles in the threshing ground.
"Third brother, don't fall off. Don't forget the last time you fell off the ox's back."
A few people were watching from the sidelines out of boredom when someone said something that made the others burst into laughter.
Yu Jihong couldn't stand hearing that, and he rushed in front of the group.
"Who said that? Who just said that? Didn't your mother teach you not to expose other people's shortcomings? Is it necessary to bring up someone's flaws over and over again just because you know about them? What are your shortcomings? Are you so great and perfect? Is there any soot at the bottom of your pot? Do you want me to dig up your shameful secrets and let you see them?"
None of them replied, and they tactfully walked away.
Fang Sandi held the handlebars of the bicycle, his eyes filled with admiration.
Yu Jihong acted as if nothing had happened, saying, "Hold me up. I want to learn to ride too."
"Okay, okay." Fang San Di lowered the seat and crouched down to hold the back of the car.
Yu Jihong gripped the handlebars, which wobbled left and right, constantly bumping into the haystacks beside him.
"Go straight!" Fang Sandi shouted, pulling the crooked car straight with all his might.
Yu Jihong slammed on the pedal, and the bike lurched forward half a meter. She screamed in fright and quickly braced herself with her feet on the ground. The handlebars were still trembling.
Yu Jihong gritted her teeth and tried again. The handlebars were wobbling less violently. Fang Sandi jogged after her, "Hey, it's steady now!"
Yu Jihong learned to ride a bit after a day of practice.
"I'll go learn again tomorrow. Once I'm more familiar with it, I'll be able to ride on the road," Yu Jihong said, looking at the ceiling of her bed. She seemed to be eager for dawn so she could go learn to ride. Even when she was asleep at night, she was still thinking about riding a bike.
"Ji Hong," Fang San Di called out to her.
"Um?"
"If I had known you were like this, I wouldn't have wanted you to marry me."
Yu Jihong steadied her gaze and turned to look at Fang San Di.
"Back then, people said you were crazy, that you had a daughter, that I couldn't have sex and couldn't have children, and that this was pretty good, that you had someone to keep you company and a child. I never expected you to be so normal. I can't give you a normal married life, that's too cruel of me."
"Hmm, and then what?"
“If you have someone else outside, I won’t blame you,” Fang Sandi gritted his teeth. “I can’t let you suffer with me for the rest of your life.”
Yu Jihong continued to stare at Fang Sandi.
"You're looking at me like that, I... I..." Fang Sandi was a little embarrassed by the look.
Yu Jihong turned her head back to look at the ceiling. Would he come back? What if he did come looking for her?
Should we abandon Fang San Di? That's unfair to Fang San Di.
But I still miss him!
Why is there still no news after all these years?
Perhaps we will never see each other again in this lifetime.
“Since I married you, I had this intention, and I won’t do that kind of thing,” Yu Jihong said softly.
“If he comes back someday, you should go with him. I can’t hold you back.” Fang San’s voice was also soft, but it was clear that he understood everything.
Yu Jihong was startled. Looking at the simple-minded Fang Sandi, he understood perfectly well what was going on.
Yu Jihong remained silent.
"As long as you're here, I'll treat you and Fang Yu well. I love you, I love the life you've given me."
Yu Jihong turned her head to the other side and wiped her eyes. During the day, she could say whatever she wanted and curse as she pleased, but at night, when she was quiet, all the pent-up frustration in her heart would well up.
Fang Sandi crawled under the covers, doing everything he could to be good to Yu Jihong.
Fang Meihao is back from her holiday.
That evening, the two sisters lay in bed chatting. "Meihao, tell me about the interesting things in the big city," Fang Meili urged.
“There are so many new things to see and do! One of our classmates from Shanghai brought a tape recorder. He can put on a cassette tape and listen to whatever he wants, unlike the loudspeaker in our village where we just listen to whatever it plays. Oh, and there’s also a washing machine.”
"A washing machine?" Fang Meili's eyes widened. "I've heard of tape recorders, but a washing machine is really rare. It can wash your clothes? Then we won't have to wash them ourselves anymore?"
"Yes, our department head has one at home. You just throw the clothes in, turn it on, and it spins automatically. It even spins dry after washing. It saves so much effort."
“This is great. If I had a washing machine, I could do so much less work every day. But all of these things cost money. After a year of farming, there’s hardly any money left after just enough for my own consumption.” Fang Meili tilted her head back. “Next year, I’ll see what kind of business is worth doing and go into business too. I’ve had enough of the work in the fields and I don’t want to do farm work anymore.”
"Second sister, when I come back next year, you won't be staying here anymore. I'll be living in this room all by myself from now on."
"You'll get married someday and won't live here anymore."
"I still have a long way to go! I still have so many years of schooling to go through."
“Meihao, from now on you’ll be the only one at home. When you come back during your holidays, take care of Dongqiang and teach him to read and write. If Dongqiang becomes successful, your older sister can also enjoy a better life.”
"Yes, yes, he's my nephew too!"
After what happened to Fang Shugen's family last time, the family planning officials have been keeping a close eye on them.
Fang Shugen's mother is also waiting, waiting for the time when she can have a second child. When Hua Mei has another child, Hua Hua will be older and they can take care of each other. Then she will go up the mountain to live a peaceful life with Ren Lutong.
Everyone's life is different, but time flows on the same way.
Another new year has arrived.
This year, Fang Meixiang's mother invited Fang Damiao's family to have New Year's Eve dinner together.
Fang Damiao was naturally delighted; he didn't have to cook, as his mother-in-law's house had delicious food.
At the dinner table, Fang Meixiang's mother looked at her three daughters. Next year, Fang Meili will spend the New Year at her husband's home, and the whole family won't be together.
Fang Meixiang's mother also poured herself a little wine.
"Grandma, you've been drinking too?" Fang Dongqiang asked curiously, having never seen her drink before.
"Yes, Grandma is happy during the New Year, so she drinks some wine."
"I'm happy too, shall I have a drink?"
His words made everyone laugh, and the aroma of alcohol mixed with the smell of food made the room even warmer.
Soon it was time for Fang Meili's wedding.
The wooden door of her house had already been decorated with a large red "囍" character.
As dawn broke, the earthen stove in the house burned brightly, and the white smoke rising from the chimney, carrying the scent of pine wood, slowly dissipated in the morning mist.
Fang Meili sat in the room with two braids tied with red hair ties and red silk flowers in her hair.
Fang Dongqiang's pockets were stuffed full of candy. He ran around excitedly, and every now and then he would go to the room to check on Fang Meili.
"Does Second Aunt look pretty today?"
"Beautiful!" Fang Dongqiang smiled shyly and glanced at Fang Meili a few more times.
"Dongqiang, from now on you must listen to your grandparents at home, okay? If you're good, your second aunt will bring you something delicious when she comes back." Fang Meili patted his head.
Fang Dongqiang nodded. "Second Aunt, where are you going?"
The people in the room said, "My second aunt is getting married, and she's gone to her husband's house."
"Second Aunt, I'm going to your husband's house too."
"Haha, you have to call him Uncle before he'll take you." Everyone loves to tease the kids.
Fang Meixiang leaned against the corner and looked at Fang Meili, who was dressed in a festive manner, with an envious gaze.
Yuan Xinkang rode a Phoenix brand bicycle that was so shiny you could see your reflection in it, with a red ribbon tied to the handlebars. Behind him were five or six other young men riding bicycles, their bells jingling and making a lively scene in the village.
Yuan Xinkang was dressed in a brand-new blue khaki Zhongshan suit. His features weren't particularly handsome, but he was exceptionally bright. When he smiled, a few shallow wrinkles would appear at the corners of his eyes, carrying a hint of shy embarrassment. His nose wasn't high or straight, but it was quite upright, and when he spoke, he revealed a set of neat, white teeth.
After the meal, firecrackers went off, and the wedding procession set off for Yuan Xinkang's house.
Fang Meixiang's mother took Fang Meili's hand, stuffed some red dates and peanuts into her pocket, and muttered, "May you have a son soon."
Fang Meili was wearing a red suit, with bits of ash from the stove on the tips of her shoes. This was what the older generation called "being down-to-earth," meaning being able to live a stable and secure life.
A red cloth was already laid out on the stone steps at the entrance.
Fang Meili stepped out of the threshold on the red cloth, her feet not touching the soil of her mother's home, nor taking away the feng shui of her mother's home.
Yuan Xinkang waited by the door, pushing his gleaming bicycle, the red ribbon on the handlebars fluttering gently in the wind.
Yuan Xinkang steadily supported the back seat of the car, and Fang Meili slowly sat down.
After settling in, Fang Meili looked back at her parents in the doorway with red eyes. Fang Meixiang's mother was wiping her eyes, and her father was putting a coin wrapped in red paper into her hand, saying, "Have a safe journey."
Behind the bicycle team was the procession carrying the dowry.
Several men carried a frame made of shiny bamboo poles on both shoulders, one in front and one behind.
Several new cotton quilts were tied in the middle of the bamboo pole. The quilt covers were made of red satin with peony branches, and the edges were all tied with red thread. Two thermos bottles with the character "囍" printed on them were tied with red thread on the quilts. Next to them was a yellow enamel jar with blue edges, with a pattern of two magpies and a large red "囍" character in the middle.
The most eye-catching thing is the "Butterfly" brand sewing machine tied to the middle of the bamboo pole at the back. It is covered with a red cloth and the machine body occasionally bumps into the bamboo pole, making a soft "thump-thump" sound.
A group of villagers in cotton-padded coats had already gathered around. Some were counting how many quilts there were, some were commenting on the sewing machine, saying whether it was easy to use and how much it cost, and some were commenting on the groom's appearance.
The children crowded around, chanting, "We're welcoming the bride! We're welcoming the bride!"
There were also those who watched silently in the crowd, such as Hua Mei and Yu Jihong, neither of whom had ever had a wedding.
Hua Mei watched the wedding procession quietly. What was she thinking? Was she thinking about having a respectable wedding and dowry, or was she wondering if the bride would have a good life after getting married?
Looking at the stack of new quilts, Yu Jihong thought they must be very warm and comfortable to sleep under. Looking at the sewing machine, she thought she would save up enough money to buy one so she could mend and sew clothes for her family and make new clothes.
The wedding procession had gone far away, but the liveliness in the village had not yet dissipated.
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