Zhu Ping'an realized that his aunt didn't take what he said seriously at all because of her evasive response.
Looking at Jun Ge next to him, they are all family, they grew up together naked when they were young, and have been classmates for many years. Zhu Pingan will not watch his marriage have such a hidden danger. After all, this is a matter of the rest of his life. Zhu Pingan thought about finding a chance to tell him his thoughts later. Of course, he will definitely tell him not to say anything careless. Whatever Jun Ge decides from then on is his business.
The uncle, aunt and grandmother took turns to lecture Zhu Pingjun, and their saliva almost flew onto Zhu Ping'an's face, but it was in vain and there was no effect. Zhu Pingjun was still confident that a good man would never lack a wife, and did not agree to the marriage.
But in the end, it was the uncle who made the final decision using his parental authority, and Zhu Pingjun had to be tied up even if he didn't want to.
Mother Chen made a pot of tea and poured it for grandparents and aunt, but she ignored uncle. But uncle looked normal, nothing unusual. He poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip and said, "Good tea."
Mother Chen didn't even turn her head. This tea was the cheapest kind in town. It was not a good tea at all. This person was really hypocritical.
"Ahem, it's like this. My parents and I came here this time because we have something to discuss with my second brother and his wife." The uncle put down the teacup in his hand and spoke slowly and methodically.
"What's the matter?" asked mother Chen with raised eyebrows.
Zhu Ping'an also turned his head to look at his uncle, thinking that it was about Jun Ge's marriage, but he didn't expect that there was something else going on.
"Brother, if you have something to say, just tell me directly." Father Zhu interrupted after uncle finished speaking, causing Chen to roll her eyes.
"As the saying goes, brothers working together can break metal. Back then, it was my eldest brother who was confused for a moment. He was wrong."
When my uncle said this, his face was full of regret and his voice was full of sincere emotion.
Father Zhu is a big and strong man. When he heard the uncle's apology, his eyes became moist. He was deeply moved by the uncle. Father Zhu had been waiting for these words for many days.
"We are all family. Why are you saying this, brother?" Father Zhu sighed and started to comfort his uncle.
The eldest uncle wiped away the tears from his eyes and agreed with what Zhu's father said, "We are one family. Well, second brother said it well. One stroke cannot write a single Zhu character. I was thinking, I was confused and did something wrong back then, why did my second brother have to bear the consequences for me for so many years? I was thinking, we separated the family too hastily."
At this point, the uncle sighed deeply and then said with emotion, "I was thinking, it was a mistake for us to split up the family back then, and we can't make the same mistake over and over again. We have to correct our mistakes. I have also discussed this with our father, and this is what we are thinking. You guys should move back to the old house. We won't split up the family anymore."
Hearing this, before Zhu's father spoke, Chen was very reluctant. What did you do when you divided the family? You threw all the dirty water on my family's Shouyi, saying that you would separate us no matter what. Now five or six years have passed, and you say you don't want to divide us. Can you take back the water that has been poured out? It was hard when we divided the family. We had nothing to eat, nothing to drink, nothing to wear, and even a place to live that couldn't keep out the wind and rain. But now it's better. My family has built a big house, which is better than the old house, and there are more than a hundred acres of fertile land. Zhu's father can make hundreds of dollars every day driving the cart. He eats well and drinks well, and has meat every meal. He doesn't have to suffer from anger. His life is so comfortable. Besides, you were shirking the responsibility when you divided the family. Now the motivation for the whole family is nothing more than profit. My second child passed the imperial examination. My family can be exempt from tax and corvée. Because of the division of the family, the old house can't enjoy tax exemption, corvée exemption and other benefits. I guess this is why you are thinking about it. If Chen were to let herself live in the old house now, who would own all the wealth in her family? So she was absolutely unwilling to do so.
"It was divided at the beginning, and the village elders and village chiefs witnessed it. The division agreement was stamped by the county."
Mother Chen did not express her opposition explicitly, but said that everyone knew about the division of the family property and the agreement had been stamped by the county. The implication was that the division had already been made and could not be changed back.
"It's nothing to get the county's seal. Well, my son is a juren now. It's no big deal to go to the county to find the county magistrate. My parents are old, and they hope to have many children and grandchildren."
The uncle seemed to be prepared for the opposition from his mother Chen. He looked at Zhu Ping'an and expressed his thoughts.
Well
I have to say, uncle is still the same as always...
"Second brother, what do you think?" The uncle picked up the teacup and asked Zhu's father.
Father Zhu was a little excited by what his uncle said, his face turned red, and he was about to speak. But before Father Zhu could answer, his mother Chen walked over attentively and poured a cup of tea for Father Zhu, but she happened to step on Father Zhu's foot, and she also winked at Zhu Ping'an, causing Father Zhu to almost choke on the tea.
This kick sobered Zhu's father up a little. Since the separation of the family, his wife and children seemed to be getting happier and happier. And as Chen had just hinted, he also had to consider Zhu'er's future. The separation agreement had been stamped by the county. It would be against the rules to let Zhu'er go to the county magistrate again, and it would have a bad influence on Zhu'er.
"Well, big brother, the old house isn't spacious enough, and Dajun is getting married soon, so leave a room for him. My yard was built not long ago, so it's OK for him to live there. You can also bring my parents over to live here when the time comes."
What Mr. Zhu said was flawless. It must be said that although Mr. Zhu looked dull, he was not pedantic.
"We live very well in the old house." Grandfather tapped his pipe and shook his head.
My grandmother did have some intention, but since my grandfather had said that, she didn't say anything.
It would be much more difficult to persuade him with Chen's presence, so I would find a chance to talk to the second son alone. After Zhu's father declined, the eldest uncle did not continue to persuade the family, but took advantage of Zhu's father's words to suddenly change the subject and turn to borrowing money.
"Speaking of Jun'er's marriage, I just remembered that I have something to trouble you, second brother. Well, you know that our old house has been in a tight spot recently. Jun'er has to trouble you, his uncle, for marriage. The girl's family that Wang the matchmaker mentioned this time is really a good family. If you miss this opportunity, you will never get it again. I was thinking if I could borrow twenty taels of silver from you to help Jun'er arrange it. I will return it to you later when I have more money."
"Twenty taels?"
As soon as the uncle finished speaking, mother Chen was surprised. How could you spend twenty taels of silver to arrange a marriage? You are not going to marry her. Besides, why should we pay for your marriage? Pay back the money? It sounds good. The money we borrowed before has not been paid back yet!
"Dad, why are you borrowing money from my second uncle again? You haven't paid back the money you borrowed from him before! I don't agree with the marriage, so don't bother. I will rely on myself in the future."
At the same time, Zhu Pingjun's voice suddenly rang out in the room, and his voice was quite loud. Although this guy was confident to the point of being conceited, he still had a strong sense of responsibility.
After Zhu Pingjun shouted, Zhu Ping'an saw his uncle's face turn red like Guan Gong.
Then there was chaos in the house again.
Finally, it was the grandfather who stopped the chaos and asked Zhu's father to borrow ten taels of silver from the eldest uncle to settle the marriage for Zhu Pingjun. Because the grandfather had spoken, Chen was not happy but still took the ten taels of silver and gave it to Zhu's father, who then gave it to the eldest uncle.
When seeing off his grandparents, uncle and others, Zhu Ping'an found an opportunity to call Zhu Pingjun to his room, whispered a few words to Zhu Pingjun, and repeatedly reminded Zhu Pingjun to do as he said before sending him out.
I have done everything I can, and I will just let the clouds blow. (To be continued.)