Ji family.
When Ji Huai came back, there was no one at home. He didn't call to rush Ji's father and mother back, and went to his room with his luggage.
He is the only son in the family, and the Ji family's family background is only average. His parents usually work as laborers on construction sites or do some cleaning work for others.
Ji's mother was diligent, even if he didn't come back, she would keep his room spotless. As the Chinese New Year was approaching, I knew he would come back, so the sheets and quilt covers were washed and laid out for him.
He was not idle either. Seeing a lot of clutter piled up beside his home, he started to clean it up.
It was already evening when Ji's father and Ji's mother came back. When they saw him coming back, they were surprised at first, and then happy. Ji's mother laughed so hard that her eyes crinkled, and her voice raised a notch, "You're back today? Why didn't you call your parents? Let's buy more vegetables, buy your favorite seafood and so on."
"I'm going to buy it now." Ji's father said and turned to go out again.
"No, dad, now we have no shortage of food and clothing. We can always have food." Ji Huai stopped him and said, "Just eat whatever you want. You have to rest first. You have been busy all day."
"I'm busy during the Chinese New Year period. I have to help them clean. I have to rush to do it. But the income is high. I can make several hundred a day. I can wait until I have a few days off before cleaning the house." Ji's mother told him.
As the Chinese New Year approaches, every household needs to be cleaned. If some people don’t want to do it, they have to hire someone to do it. It's not cheap to hire people at this time. She and Ji's father go to several houses a day, and their income is several times higher than usual.
"How can you make enough money? Don't be too tired, you and Dad." Ji Huai walked to the sofa and poured water for the two of them.
Ji's father and Ji's mother have been busy all their lives, and he can't stop them from going. It is not a good thing for people who have been busy all their lives to suddenly be free.
"Why are you tired? When we were young, your dad and I did everything. Farming, weeding, and growing fruit trees in the mountains are much more tiring than this. We can't make any money. Why are we so tired now?" Ji's mother didn't care. He took off his clothes and started working in the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and said, "Auntie sent some fish and bacon some time ago. Mom will make some for you to try."
"Just make something." Ji Huai walked into the kitchen and chatted with her.
"I need to buy some meat to make dumplings the day after tomorrow." Ji's mother knelt down and took some rice to wash.
"Mom, I'll come." Ji Huai took it and walked aside.
Ji's mother smiled and went to wash the vegetables again. Looking at her son, who was a head taller than her, she became more and more pleased. She was afraid that he would be hungry, so she speeded up her movements.
The son finally came back. Ji Huai's mother brought out all the fish and meat that could be cooked at home, and also cooked Ji Huai's favorite steamed egg drop.
Ji Huai was not idle either. When he saw Ji's father repairing the fan at home, he went over to help. The other person is old and his eyesight is dim, so naturally he is not as sharp as a young person.
The whole family is busy with their own affairs. When night falls, dishes are served one after another, and the fragrance fills the air.
"It's time to eat." Mother Ji's voice sounded, she put the bowls and chopsticks on the table and said to the two father and son.
When the three of them came to the table, Ji's father and mother would say from time to time, "Eat more, eat more, eat more meat."
Ji Huai: "Yeah."
"Mom will buy a hen to stew soup for you tomorrow, or do you want to eat ribs? What else do you want to eat?" Ji's mother asked him.
"Yes, tell your mother." Ji's father said, picking up a piece of meat.
On weekdays, the two of them would eat whatever they wanted when they came back from work. Sometimes one dish would last for several days. Neither of them were talkative people, so the atmosphere at home was dull and dull.
Things are different now that his son is back, and the house is more lively. The two of them are enthusiastic about everything they do, and they can't wait to hang around Ji Huai.
"How can it be so particular?" Ji Huai did not mention the recipe, "I will eat whatever you make."
"Okay." Although Ji's mother agreed, she certainly didn't do it casually. She asked him again, "How many days will you stay at home this time?"
As soon as he said this, Ji's father also raised his head and looked at him.
Ji Huai: "Twelve days, I will take a longer annual leave this year."
The two of them understood each other, and began to discuss how to go to relatives' homes to pay New Year's greetings on the day after the New Year, talking about trivial things about each other's homes.
The three members of the family were happily eating at the dining table. The usually deserted home became a little warmer. Ji's mother talked about the family's shortcomings in the east and west. Ji's father didn't talk much in the past, but as he got older, he gradually started to talk more. , mostly talking about things on the construction site or at home.
Ji Huai ate an extra bowl of rice today and praised Ji's mother's cooking skills, "Mom's cooking is much more delicious than takeout. I eat takeout so often that I can't even eat it."
Although the takeout is delicious, the food at home is more appetizing. When a person eats takeout in a rental house, or works overtime at the company, his mood is not to taste delicious food, but to fill his stomach.
When he said this, Ji's mother felt distressed. She stopped the chopsticks in her hands, looked at Ji Huai, and considered her words, "Son, last time you said you wanted to buy a house, your dad and I also thought about it. I will try to save some money for you next year. When the time comes, I can buy you a small house in the city."
Of course it's not the full payment, just a down payment.
"Yes, buy a small one first." Ji's father nodded and said the same thing.
They used to make money to support Ji Huai's schooling, and they didn't have any savings. They didn't think about a house when they had no money. Last time Ji Huai said he wanted to save money to buy a house, and that's when they came up with the idea.
People have to change their thinking before they can plan, and finally turn it into working towards their goals.
Ji Huai never thought about buying a house before. Firstly, he is really unable to afford it. A house in an urban area in a county often requires a down payment of hundreds of thousands, and he has to borrow hundreds of thousands more. The monthly payment is too scary, and he doesn’t want to bear such pressure. Secondly, he still wants to have some fun. I think it’s still early, I’ll plan on it in a few years. He and Sun Ya have been talking for so long, and they are going to get married no matter what. She will not dislike him, let alone leave him.
It was something that he had never thought about. The thinking of Ji's father and Ji's mother was more limited, and he never thought about it. After all, the money was an astronomical figure to them. When they thought of a loan of hundreds of thousands, they would not be able to do their job honestly all their lives. Dare to think.
As soon as Ji Huai mentioned it, they unconsciously started thinking about it. They always paid special attention to the news. The more they paid attention, the more they had some ideas in their minds.
"My second aunt's nephew just bought a house a few days ago. Now the unit price in the urban area is 13,000 yuan." Ji's mother said and sighed, who were those houses sold to
"There are also small houses of 70 square meters. When your parents save enough money in a few years, they will pay you a down payment. We are also old, and you have to pay off the mortgage yourself." Ji's father looked at Ji Huai and told him his plan.
This is all he can do, to support Ji Huai's education, save him a down payment, and buy a small house. In his opinion, this way his son would have the capital to get married, have a wedding room, and a place to stay.
Ji's mother also nodded, fearing that her son would treat her badly in order to save money, "You work hard outside, so you should save some of the money you earned so hard, but don't treat yourself badly. Your parents will work hard to give you the down payment. Save.”
Ji Huai said before that he wanted to save money to buy a house. As traditional parents, they couldn't bear to watch their children save money by themselves. They even wanted to share most of the pressure and felt guilty for not being able to provide better conditions for their children.
Ji Huai held the bowl, swallowed the rice in his mouth, and looked at the two of them, "I don't want to buy a house in the city. I want to buy it back in the provincial capital next year."
"Ah? This..." Ji's mother was stunned and couldn't recover for a while, "Why are you going to the provincial capital? Isn't it good to be here?"
Ji's father also frowned, a little disapproving. He was familiar with the county seat, but he didn't know anything about the provincial capital. Moreover, the houses in the provincial capital would be much more expensive and they couldn't afford them.
The two of them never thought that Ji Huai would go to the provincial capital when he came back. They thought he would definitely go back to the county and be by their side.
They didn't expect Ji Huai to earn a lot of money. In fact, they didn't know much about what kind of job he did outside. He only worked as a white-collar worker in an office.
When people get older, they want to buy a small house with their children by their side and pay the monthly mortgage payment. If they can't afford it alone, the whole family will pay it off together.
Isn’t that what life is like? Just got through it with a lot of stumbling.
"Xiaoya works as a teacher in the provincial capital. I want to come back and marry her next year." Ji Huai put down his chopsticks and said this seriously.
The Sun family knew about his existence, but he rarely told them about Sun Ya, feeling that it was not that far. Ji's father and mother didn't know much about Sun Ya. They only vaguely knew that this person existed and that they were high school classmates. He didn't say much about the rest, and the two of them didn't care. They didn't know whether they were separated or together.
Teaching was a good career in the eyes of his parents, but when Ji Huai suddenly said he wanted to get married, they were still stunned.
In the past two years, Ji's father and Ji's mother have saved some money and are still saving for a down payment. Getting married means wedding gifts, banquets, and various expenses. They had no money, and Ji Huai was still working in other provinces, so they didn't rush him at all.
"Are you too hasty? We are getting married all of a sudden, within two years, right?" Ji's mother said, hesitantly, "Your father and I have never asked how you are getting along, and we don't know much about her either. , so anxious to get married..."
She said and looked at Ji's father, who also said, "Your mother and I have the same idea. It's still early to get married, and we can still get married."
Boys' families have different ideas than girls' families. Ji Huai is not too old, so delaying marriage for a year or two is not a big problem. In a few years, their family's conditions will be better, and they will not be too strapped.
"How many years have we been together? Are we still together? Your daughter-in-law will be dead if we continue to be together." Ji Huai shook his head, rejected them, and sighed, "Now it's all long-distance relationships, and I'm alone in T Shi, you and Xiaoya are both here, separated by two places. You can earn a little more money, but I don’t know what you are after thinking about it.”
"Our relationship has been stable over the years we have been together, and we have almost gotten along well with each other. I also want to settle down, come back, marry her, and have a family with her. If we delay our true relationship, I am afraid that I will not be able to do anything in the future. I don’t want to get married again.”
"The provincial capital is not far from here, and the salary and benefits are good. I can come back to see you often."
…
This was a multi-pronged statement. Ji's father and Ji's mother looked at each other and thought about it seriously.
Of course they don't want Ji Huai to wander outside. After all, he is their son. After hearing what he said, the parents feel heartbroken and want him back.
The two have been in love for so long and now they want to get married. If they prevent them from getting married and Ji Huai doesn't want to get married again, that would be too bad.
If Ji Huai returns to the provincial capital, his salary will be higher than in a small county town, and he can come back to see them often.
Father Ji looked at him seriously, "Have you thought it through?"
Ji Huai had always had an idea. They couldn't do anything to help the child, so they could only avoid causing trouble.
"I have already thought about it carefully. I want to come back and marry her as soon as possible. When I come back this time, I want to get engaged first. When the company's affairs are finished, I will come back to find a job, buy a house and get married." Ji Huai answered without thinking. .
"But our family can't afford a house in the provincial capital." This is what Ji's mother is worried about.
"I don't want your money, you keep it for your retirement. If the two of us save a little, we will sell the house to a smaller one first, and then replace it." Ji Huai said.
As soon as they heard that they had money to buy a house in the provincial capital, and that Sun Ya had a good job, they had a good relationship and wanted to get married. What reason do they have to object
Ji Huai began to urge the two of them to go to Sun's house to propose marriage. He was very anxious all the time. He kept talking about this matter after eating this meal. He also kept saying to Ji's mother: "Mom, please go and inquire more, don't let her I thought our family didn’t value her and her etiquette was in place.”
"Mom knows." Ji's mother has heard this countless times.
"Anyway, we can't wrong her. She has to have what others have." Ji Huai emphasized again, and said helplessly, "I have wronged her enough over the years, but I can't wrong her in this matter."
Ji's mother looked at him, whether it was the flesh that fell off his body. Looking at him like this, she could only say that she loved the house and the bird and treated Sun Ya very much.
When Ji Huai brought people back to pay New Year greetings, Ji's mother specially cooked a large table of dishes.
Sun Ya was a little nervous at first, and Sun's mother also told her that she should carefully observe the atmosphere in his home and the way his parents get along, especially his parents' attitude towards you.
Ji's mother's attitude towards her...
Sun Ya only felt enthusiastic, very enthusiastic.
She picks up vegetables for her during meals and cuts fruits for her after meals. When she sits and chats, she can feel Ji's mother's attention to her and she seems to like her very much.
Her mood gradually calmed down from the initial anxiety.
Ji's mother kept saying, "You are all busy at work, and so is Xiaohuai. I haven't brought you back to play more. I will come back to play more in the future."
"Xiao Huai said you are very good and lovable, and I like you too. If you become my daughter-in-law, I won't have to worry about him. You can live well, and his father and I can rest assured."
"After a while, his father and I will go to see your parents. Our two families will sit down together. Xiaoya, do you think that's okay?"
…
When she left Ji's house, Ji's mother gave her a red envelope and told her to accept it, "Auntie doesn't know what you like, and she didn't buy it for you. You keep it and buy what you like when you see it. Young people will You should dress up more.”
She was trying to push it off, but Ji Huai took it and stuffed it into her bag, "Take it."
Sun Ya felt that it was quite generous. It was not easy for Ji's father and Ji's mother to make money, so she was embarrassed to ask for it and told him when she walked downstairs.
Ji Huai put one hand in his pocket and held her with the other, "Then you marry me as soon as possible, so that it becomes your own money, and the left hand goes to the right, right?"
She hummed softly and nudged him coquettishly.
Ji Huai sent her back. The Sun family were all at home. When Sun's mother saw her coming back, she quickly asked, "How are his parents? Are they easy to get along with?"
As soon as she spoke, the Sun family also looked over.
"It's easy to get along with." Sun Ya was changing her shoes, with a smile on her face, and she was obviously in a good mood.
"Did I give you a red envelope?" Sister-in-law Sun hugged her nephew and asked her.
It is their custom here to give a greeting gift when you first come to the door, which means recognition. Everyone cares about this matter, and some of the older generation will even compare it.
"Well, it seems quite a lot." Sun Ya took out a red envelope from her bag. She didn't see how much it was, but she thought it was quite thick.
Grandmother walked over and took a look. Inside the red envelope was a stack of brand-new red banknotes and one yuan.
You can guess it at a glance without counting. Ten thousand and one means one out of ten thousand.
The amount of the red envelope was indeed quite large. The Ji family was not very wealthy, and few people around received such a high gift. The Sun family was still a little surprised.
They now have no objection to the marriage between the two, and are quite satisfied with the Ji family's behavior. The man's attitude is there, so that people will not think that they look down on Sun Ya, at least they take him seriously.
Sun Ya observed the expressions of her grandson's father and grandma, pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Auntie said she would come to see you in a few days, probably to discuss the engagement. You must have a good talk, don't embarrass others, and don't make too many demands. Too much."
Sun's mother looked at her look and reached out to touch her forehead, "Look at your look. Did you smile like a flower when you went to Ji's house today? When people see it, they must think you are anxious and hateful. Marry? Girls should be more reserved."
"No way?" Sun Ya's smile remained unchanged and she denied, "He is in a hurry to get married, but I am not in a hurry. I don't hate getting married."
Seeing her confident look, Grandmother couldn't help but joke, "Since you're not in a hurry, why don't you wait? Ji Huai hasn't come back yet, why are you so anxious about getting engaged and married? You don't have a house, and the conditions at home are average. , your job is pretty good now, why don’t you stop being picky, maybe there’s something better?”
"No!" Sun Ya was anxious, "It's him, we don't have to choose. He will come back when we are sure. We will buy the house later. It doesn't matter if we buy a smaller one. It's his choice anyway."
"Don't wait any longer?" Grandmother smiled with squinted eyes.
"No." She shook her head firmly and repeated again, "It's him."
Sun's mother still smiled. Originally, she had some objections to Ji Huai, but since Ji Huai's father fell ill and he was busy, the more important thing was to be able to take on things, not to escape. They also believe that if their daughter encounters difficulties in the future, the other party will at least not abandon her.
Although the Ji family's financial situation was not very good, she was still satisfied with the young man Ji Huai.
That night, Sun's father also said to Sun Ya at the dinner table: "If you choose to be with him, you may not be rich or wealthy in this life, and your life will not be so prosperous. There is still a bit of pressure. But he is not bad, either. Just live like this, if you feel good about it, then that’s good, as long as you don’t regret it.”
Ji Huai is still young and capable, so he won't suffer hardship by following him. After all, his income is slightly higher than the local average, but he can't live a life without financial pressure.
"I don't want to be rich and powerful." Sun Ya is quite self-aware. She is not so beautiful that all the country is captivated, nor is she so good that others can't match her. Marrying into a good family must also require some compromise and sacrifice.
She and Ji Huai have a relationship, and if both of them work hard, their lives will be good.
Marriage is very trivial and tedious, and most likely it will be a waste of time, so she still wants to marry someone she likes very much and wants to marry him.
Sun's father didn't say anything else, so he agreed.
The date of the engagement banquet was quickly decided, and the two relatives had a meal together to discuss the wedding.
Three golds, one diamond and betrothal gifts are not lacking at all, which is considered to be a relatively high level in the local area.
Sun's mother and grandson's father were also satisfied. Sun's father's condition was now stable and his health was recovering well. The family was no longer so nervous. They also proposed to give Sun Ya some dowry.
The two families were ordinary people, so they discussed whether to give them the down payment of a car, or give them an auspicious number to use as starting capital for the family.
The young couple had a good relationship, and they were happy to see it. Both parents tried their best and gave in. The meal was extremely harmonious and cheerful, with constant laughter. Many wedding details were quickly decided.
Ji Huai will probably come back in the middle of the year, so the wedding is scheduled for National Day.
As for the wedding room, both parents discussed it in more detail than they did at the engagement party.
Ji's father said, "The educational resources in our county are indeed not good. The house you want to buy in the provincial capital must be in a good school district. It is enough for the two of them to live in. It is a small two-bedroom house, but it must be in a good school district."
Sun's father also agreed, "Yes, the issue of children's school education cannot be ignored. It must also be close to the vegetable market and have convenient transportation. These must be considered."
Ji's mother also joined in: "Nowadays, there are many unfinished buildings and they are risky. Many people can't get a house even after paying off the loan. They have to buy an existing house and decorate it by themselves."
…
Sun Ya and Ji Huai looked at each other, and their words became more and more outrageous. They both discussed having children. Ji's mother and grandson's mother also talked about what supplements their relatives at home should eat during confinement. Sun Ya couldn't help it any longer. She kicked Ji Huai lightly with her feet under the table and signaled him with her eyes.
Ji Huai received a bonus at the end of the year. He worked a lot of overtime this year, so the bonus was barely six figures. She had just joined the job not long ago, but the year-end bonus was tens of thousands. Plus the money they had saved before, the two-bedroom apartment was small. The down payment is enough, but there is definitely no money left.
But now that we have a house, everything else is easy to talk about. They want to be stable for two years before having children, so that their relationship can become more stable in their marriage, and then they can become parents.
Ji Huai received her prompt and interrupted the two parents, "I don't want children for the time being."
As soon as he said these words, four pairs of sharp eyes suddenly glanced at him. They were very sharp. It seemed that he had done something hugely wrong. Sun Ya felt a cold air rising from the soles of her feet next to him.
Marry but not have children
What are you doing
If they don't have children, how can the four old people have children to play with? After giving birth to a child, their eyes will not be on the two of them, but of course on the child.
"You have to wait until you have a financial foundation before you can have a child. Otherwise, Xiaoya will be under a lot of psychological pressure, and I will be under a lot of pressure to make money, and life will be difficult. I will go back to look for a job first, and try to find one with a higher salary, and then I will consider this matter." He I found a fairly perfect reason.
In fact, he had thought about the two-person world for a few years. It was impossible to have a child quickly. What happened next was that he had to get married first and tie the person up before talking.
Both parents reluctantly accepted this reason, but their glances back were also cold. They scolded him again and told Sun Ya not to listen to his nonsense.
Sun Ya echoed with a smile, looking at Ji Huai who hung his head after being scolded, his eyes slowly became filled with a deeper smile.