After returning from breakfast, the dinner table at home was already set, and there were only two people at the table, Wang Tonghua, his daughter-in-law Zhang Xiaohua, and Du Baozhen were still pissed off and locked herself in the room.
Although Wang Tonghua had made concessions in her heart, she wanted her to coax her daughter, but she couldn't let go of her elder's figure. Du Baozhen didn't come to eat, and she held her breath so that she wouldn't let anyone call.
Jiang Rui put away the bamboo basket, looked at Wang Tonghua's face, didn't talk much, sat down and picked up her breakfast.
On the table are four bowls of pumpkin porridge, a plate of pickles, and two bowls of porridge with half an egg on top of each other.
Eggs are in short supply. If there are a few rabbits in the house, and the rabbit fur and rabbit cubs are exchanged for eggs every once in a while, there is not even a bit of meat on the dinner table.
It's not that I haven't tried raising chickens, but chickens are different from rabbits. They don't have the strength to lay eggs if they are fed grass alone. Enough to mix the soup and water for my family, how can there be any surplus food
Therefore, the eggs are not for everyone. The Du family of six only boiled two eggs. The team had just finished harvesting the rice, and there was not much work on the farm. There were only two men working in the family, so they had to eat something good. The daughter-in-law Zhang Xiaohua was pregnant with a child and needed to make up for it. As for Wang Tonghua and Du Baoqin, they could only order dried pickles.
Jiang Rui ate fast. Seeing that Wang Tonghua finished her meal, she didn't get up immediately. She glanced at the door from time to time, and knew that her anger had subsided. At this time, she said, "Mom, let's go and get Baozhen to eat."
Zhang Xiaohua also agreed: "Baozhen still has to study, don't starve."
"Can you starve to death if you don't eat a meal? It's not what you are used to." Wang Tonghua muttered, putting down the dishes and going to the yard to feed the rabbits.
This is agreed.
Jiang Rui and Zhang Xiaohua looked at each other, got up and smiled at her: "Sister-in-law eat more, there is still more in the pot."
There are not many houses in the Du family, and the two sisters share a small room.
When Jiang Rui pushed open the door, Du Baozhen was lying on the narrow desk in front of the window. Hearing the movement, he immediately stuffed something into the drawer. When he saw that it was her, he was relieved.
Jiang Rui's expression did not change, she stepped forward and patted her on the shoulder, and said softly, "Let's go to dinner, today's pumpkin porridge is sweet."
Du Baozhen pouted. The Du family has to cook a large pot of porridge every day. White sugar is naturally unaffordable. What is added to the porridge is a penny and a small packet of saccharin. Although it is sweeter than sugar, it is not nutritious. It's not good for the body. The reason for adding it is just to satisfy the appetite for sweetness.
"I don't want to eat." Du Baozhen was sullen. She had cried before, her voice a little hoarse.
There was only one table and one stool in the room, and the stool was seated. Jiang Rui could only sit on the edge of the bed, and the two of them looked at each other. She reached out and touched Du Baozhen's slightly red and swollen eyelids, "Why are you still angry? You can't get along with yourself even if you are angry again. What should I do if my body is starving?"
Du Baozhen's eyes were wet again, choked her throat, and looked at her aggrieved, "It's my mother who is so unreasonable, why should I marry Zhao Nan if he saves me? If so, I'd rather drown!"
"Don't talk nonsense." Jiang Rui covered her mouth, her always soft expression rarely turned serious, "It's all a child's words, you die if you say it, don't you want your parents? Don't you want me?"
"Wu... Sister—" Du Baozhen fell into her arms and cried aloud.
Jiang Rui patted her on the back until she had cried enough, and then said, "Let's go to dinner first. I haven't eaten well these days. Is it heart-wrenching to be hungry and thin?"
After crying for a while, Du Baozhen felt a lot of headache, rubbed his eyes and retorted, "Anyway, Mom won't feel bad."
"Do you know if Mom doesn't feel bad?" Jiang Rui took her hand and wiped her face with a clean handkerchief.
Du Baozhen raised her head to facilitate her movements, wrinkled her nose and muttered, "She just loves me, and she can't bear the Zhao family. I think she can't wait to marry herself."
"You." Jiang Rui nodded her subordinate's nose, and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, "What nonsense are you talking about, be careful if Mom hears it, and give you a meal of fried pork with bamboo shoots and whips."
Du Baozhen smiled, hugged her waist, buried her head in her lap, and whispered, "Sister, I really don't want to marry."
"I know, have you noticed that the attitude of your parents has softened in the past few days. Think about it, from childhood to adulthood, which one thing really forced you?"
Du Baozhen was silent for a while, then slowly shook his head, "This time is different, sister, mom will never give up the Zhao family."
Wang Tonghua decides the major and minor matters of the Du family. Du Baozhen has been lively and naughty since she was a child. She has tested her bottom line many times, and she can feel her mother's determination this time. She panicked in her heart, which is why she made a lot of trouble.
Not only her, but the original owner, Du Baoqin, also guessed that Wang Tonghua did not plan to give up the Zhao family, but Du Baoqin, who was silent, knew their mother better, and knew that in the end, most of this matter fell on her head, and Du Baozhen didn't realize it yet.
"Don't be afraid, there is also me, let's find a way together. What you have to do now is to eat well, and then you will have the strength to fight when you are full. Don't let your parents give in in the end, and you will fall ill, but won't you lose both?" Jiang Rui advised again.
Du Baozhen got her words, and raised her head to look at her pitifully, "Sister, you have to help me, don't leave me alone."
"Got it." Jiang Rui led her out, "When did you ignore you?"
Du Baozhen took some snacks and held her obediently. He also wanted to anger others, "I see that Zhao Nan was upset and kind when he rescued me. Next time I see you, I will let my brother beat him!"
Jiang Rui glanced at her, her tone still soft, "If he didn't save you, you still have your life to beat this and that? Besides, I heard that he returned to the army the next day after saving you. It will be a few days before Aunt Zhang comes to our house, and most of this matter is the meaning of the elders of Zhao's parents."
Du Baozhen pouted, having nothing to say.
There was no one at the dinner table, so Du Baozhen peeled off his half of the egg in two or three strokes and handed it to Jiang Rui's mouth, "Sister, I'll give you half."
Jiang Rui tilted her head and pushed her hand away, "I don't need to supplement my brain, what can I do with it."
"But you still do so much work."
"It's not heavy work, I'm not tired, and I don't like eggs. Eat it quickly, the porridge is cold."
Du Baozhen was dubious, "You really don't like it?"
"I really don't like to eat."
"You're so strange, you don't even like eggs." Du Baozhen muttered, she ate the eggs in two bites, then picked up the bowl and devoured them. She had been so hungry all morning, and couldn't care about the girl's gentleness.
Jiang Rui cleaned up the table, "I'm going to wash the dishes. After you finish eating, bring the dishes and chopsticks to the kitchen."
"Mmmm..." Du Baozhen nods his head indiscriminately, with no space in his mouth.
In the yard, Wang Tonghua was absently feeding the rabbits, full of thoughts that had popped up before.
She wanted the eldest daughter to marry the Zhao family instead of the younger daughter. The more she thought about it, the more excited she felt, the more she felt good, but now that she has calmed down a bit, she realized that there is a key issue at the moment. Can the Zhao family agree? What if the second son of the Zhao family admits death like her youngest daughter
I have to think of a way to explore the Zhao family's style...
Looking at Jiang Rui's busy figure in the kitchen, she gradually came up with an idea.
After Jiang Rui cleaned up the stove, seeing that the sun was not very bright today, she went back to her room and changed into an old long-sleeved shirt, ready to go up the mountain to scratch some dead leaves to make a fire.
As soon as she came out of the house, Wang Tonghua stopped her and made a fuss, "Why did you turn this old antique out and wear it? Go and change your clothes."
"Mom, I'm going up the mountain."
Wang Tonghua drove her in, "Which day can't you go up the mountain? Now help my mother to go to the reservoir first, your Aunt Zhang sent us honey a few days ago, there is nothing good in our family, you can send these two rabbits. ."
Jiang Rui glanced at the bamboo basket. There were two small dumplings that were not long born. They could be exchanged for eggs and salt in two days.
"I know." Thinking of the tight days, Wang Tonghua was depressed again, and she became more determined to marry the Zhao family - she was going to have a hard life in her life, but there was no reason for her children to continue to suffer.
"If you don't have eggs, give your dad and the others some honey water. I heard that honey is a good thing. It's more nutritious than eggs!" She originally planned to give half of the honey to her parents, but now she has to give up. Anyway, the good things are sent back. , also can not enter the mouth of parents.
Seeing that she had made up her mind, Jiang Rui couldn't persuade her, so she could only turn around and change her clothes.
"Put the new one made last year on!" Wang Tonghua explained behind him.
Jiang Rui changed into a white floral shirt and aqua blue trousers, all of which were really good. She wore a pair of plastic sandals under her feet. This outfit was bought by her mother through gritted teeth. It was the face of young girls, and she only went out as a guest. will wear.
As soon as she came out, Wang Tonghua felt her eyes lit up, and couldn't help but tut her tongue in praise: "My daughter is beautiful, not to mention our team, I think the entire Chaoyang Commune can be counted!"
Jiang Rui lowered her head slightly, "Keep your voice down."
"What are you afraid of?" Wang Tonghua circled around her, the more she looked, the more satisfied she became. A few years ago, Du Baoqin hadn't grown very much, and she was flat before and after wearing clothes. Now her chest and hips are bulging, and her waist is even more slender.
Wang Tonghua was determined, even if she couldn't talk to the Zhao family this time, with her daughter's appearance and temperament, she was afraid that she could not find a good family
She happily shoved the basket into Jiang Rui's hand and pushed the person out, "Go, see your Aunt Zhang with a sweeter mouth, remember to go under the shade of a tree and don't get tan."
It was neither too soon nor too late, and there were no people on the road. Jiang Rui kept her head down and walked fast, so she didn't meet any acquaintances, otherwise she would have to spend a lot of time talking.
The Zhao family was on the half-mountain reservoir, and the Du family was at the foot of the opposite mountain. Although they were in the same team, the two families had no contact. Jiang Rui walked past the reservoir dam and climbed a gentle slope again. There was a yard in front of her with several brick houses. From memory, she knew that this was Zhao's house.
The courtyard door was closed, she tiptoed to look in, "Is Aunt Zhang at home?"
Zhang Liyun was picking beans in the house. When she heard the voice, she saw a young girl with a familiar face standing outside her yard. The sun was hitting her, and her eyes were dazzling, "Who are you?"
Jiang Rui hurriedly smiled and said, "Auntie, I'm Baoqin, Baozhen's sister. You visited my house a few days ago."
Zhang Liyun also heard about the two daughters of the Du family. They occasionally meet them on the road in the village, but they were unable to match their names with people for a while. Hearing what she said, he immediately remembered them, hurriedly opened the yard, and greeted people with a smile. Come in, "It's Baoqin, come in quickly."
The condition of the Zhao family is better than that of the Du family, and the hall is much brighter and fully furnished.
Zhang Liyun wanted to pour tea for her, but Jiang Rui hurriedly stopped her and handed over the bamboo basket, saying, "The rabbit at home gave birth to a cub a few days ago, and my mother asked me to send a pair to my aunt to keep and play with."
Zhang Liyun glanced at it, didn't shirk, just said with a smile: "Your mother is too polite. You sit down first, there are cans in my aunt's house. It's sweet and cold, and it's comfortable to drink."
Jiang Rui was about to stop her again, and got up to leave, but was pressed firmly on the chair, "How can I tell you to run for nothing on this hot day, be obedient."
After that, Zhang Liyun entered her bedroom, and Jiang Rui had to sit and wait for her.
Zhang Liyun took out the can from under the wardrobe, but did not walk out of the door immediately, but looked at Jiang Rui in the main room through the crack of the door. From the face to see the figure, and then from the figure to see the well-kept feet, nodding while watching.
How could Jiang Rui not feel such an obvious sight? As if he didn't know, he tilted his head and looked curiously at the family portrait on the wall.
Zhang Liyun and his wife gave birth to four children named Zhao Dong, Zhao Nan, Zhao Qianqian and Zhao Bei, of which Zhao Qianqian is the daughter.
In the photo, Zhang Liyun and his wife are sitting with a child on their lap, and two teenagers are standing behind them.
When Jiang Rui was not Du Baoqin, she had seen Zhao Nan secretly, and at this moment recognized him at a glance, the boy on the left was him. At that time, he looked fifteen or sixteen years old, with a calmness that did not match his age, a pair of long and narrow eyebrows, but a bit sharp and pressing, it was hard to imagine that this would be the eyes of a rural teenager.
Just at this moment, Zhang Liyun came out of the room, and Jiang Rui withdrew her gaze and stood up.
"Sit down." Zhang Liyun pried open the can of oranges, poured a big bowl for her, and said casually, "The photos were all ten years ago, and our second child was taken before he joined the army."
"Thank you Auntie." Jiang Rui took it with both hands, took a sip carefully, raised her head and smiled and said, "Auntie is still as young as before."
Zhang Liyun was happy, and handed her a spoon, "I like to hear this, eat more, my aunt has a lot more."
The two chatted while eating. Zhang Liyun found out how old Du Baoqin was, how long he had been reading, what he usually did at home, and so on.
Whatever she asked, Jiang Rui answered honestly. As soon as the two asked and answered, seeing that it was almost lunch time, Zhang Liyun patted her thigh: "Look at me talking a lot, it's dinner time, Baoqin stays with my aunt. Let's eat?"
Jiang Rui quickly refused, saying that she would also deliver meals to her working family. After a long time, Zhang Liyun stuffed a bottle of canned food and a handful of fruit candies into her bamboo basket before letting her go.
It was really early. Jiang Rui walked down the mountain quickly, and just after the reservoir, a young woman with short shoulder-length hair and an army green bag came across her face. She recognized Zhao Qianqian. smiled.
Zhao Qianqian stopped to watch her walk away, looked up the mountain again, and trotted with her feet raised. When I got home, I didn't smell the aroma of the rice, but I heard her mother humming a tune in the kitchen. Zhao Qianqian touched her stomach and shouted, "Mom, I'm back, is the meal still good?"
"What are you yelling about?" Zhang Liyun stuck her head out from behind the stove, "There are cans on the cabinet, so eat first if you're hungry."
When she heard that she had canned food, Zhao Qianxi was instantly overjoyed. When she found the canned bottle, she saw that there was only half of the bottle left, and ran to her mother again, and asked, "Who ate the other half bottle? Today, my sister-in-law is not with Xiaobo. Have you returned to your mother's house?"
Zhang Liyun glared, "Why, you are only allowed to eat, but I can't eat it?"
Zhao Qianqian shrank her neck, picked up the can and took a sip. She narrowed her eyes so beautifully that she remembered the person she had just met on the way home, and asked again, "I just saw Du Baoqin under the reservoir, what did she do in the reservoir? Did she come here? our house?"
Zhang Liyun looked at her sternly, but asked instead, "Qianqin, if Baoqin were to be your second sister-in-law, what would you think?"
Zhao Qianqian opened her mouth: "No, don't you want to ask Du Baozhen to be my second sister-in-law?"
"That's what people are willing to do."
When Du Baoqin came to the door today, Zhang Liyun was really stunned. She went to the Du family that day to talk about her second son and the younger daughter of the Du family. Today, she understood what the Du family meant. Their younger daughter did not want to marry, so she asked the eldest daughter to go and let her see Look. If the two families can still get married, it is best. If they can't get married, then just ask their daughter to send a gift in return, and others can't gossip when they see it.
Thinking of his second son, Zhao Nan, Zhang Liyun wanted to sigh. This year, he is twenty-seven or eighty-eight. The children who played with him when he was younger are already running all over the place. He doesn't even have the idea of starting a family. Just silence.
He had just joined the army a few years ago, and he could still go home and live for a few days at the end of the year. Now that he has a high rank, it is even more difficult to meet him. It took him two years to wait for him to come back this time, but he only stayed for one night, and he rushed back to the army the next day, and the leaders were not busy with him!
Zhang Liyun always felt that if this continued, the stinky boy would not even return home in the future, so she made up her mind that whether her son wanted to or not, she had to find a daughter-in-law for him and couldn't delay it any longer.
As for which girl she is, she doesn't really mind. Before choosing Du Baozhen, she also thought that her son saved someone's life. The two may have different feelings in their hearts. Now it seems that she thinks too much, not only that her son does not Thoughts, other people's daughters have no idea.
Fortunately, without Du Baozhen, there is another Du Baoqin who is more in line with her heart. The little girl was born clean, with a gentle and well-behaved temperament, and she was not timid and cowardly.
Such a good candidate, if the stinky boy still doesn't want to get married, then even if she goes to the army herself, she will have to slap him!