At dawn, the whole Dong family was busy, sprinkling water and sweeping the floor, cleaning the chicken coop, washing and cooking.
Chen Guixiang took ten yuan and a few tickets to the eldest son Dong Aihua, and asked him to go to the street to buy some meat and vegetables, as well as snacks for entertaining guests. Today, the Zhao family came to say goodbye, so they should stay for dinner. .
Roast chicken with potatoes, stewed pork belly with cabbage, scrambled eggs with leeks, big bone soup, tofu fish soup, braised river prawns with winter melon, steamed eggplant, and stir-fried lettuce.
"Today's meal is almost in time for the Chinese New Year."
Forget about the others, the fish and shrimps were caught in the river, but the chicken was a hen that kept laying eggs at home, and my mother-in-law was willing to kill and eat it. Liu Xiuyun's eyeballs almost popped out when she caught the chicken.
"As long as Jiahui's marriage is settled, let alone a chicken, even if I kill all the chickens in our chicken coop, my mother won't bat an eye."
Zhao Lijuan's words won Chen Guixiang's approval.
"No, as long as Jiahui is good, a chicken is nothing. I'm afraid that the son-in-law won't bring food and drink to honor him."
Zhou Yindi smiled and said, "That's right, mom can figure it out. Anyway, our family can't lose. In the end, half of the meat fell into our own family's belly."
Dong Jiahui was supposed to help in the kitchen, but Chen Guixiang drove her back into the house and asked her to tidy up.
"Hurry up and change your clothes. On this hot day, I'm sweating in the stuffy kitchen."
Today, when the man came to the house, Dong Jiahui was the protagonist, so she couldn't be ignored at first glance, especially since she was divorced before, Chen Guixiang didn't want her daughter to be underestimated.
The happiest people in the family today are the children. They don't understand the meaning of kissing. They only know that there are a lot of delicious food at home today. Although they haven't eaten yet, the smell of meat is enough to make their mouths water.
"Guixiang, what's the matter with your family today? You've been busy so early in the morning."
"Huo, it's such a big scene. What kind of guests are you? You take so much trouble to entertain them."
The neighbors saw the formation of the Dong family early in the morning, and came over curiously to inquire about the situation.
"It's nothing, just a relative came to visit."
Based on the principle of keeping a low profile, Chen Guixiang resolutely refrained from revealing anything before the matter was finalized.
At around nine o'clock, Zhao Juhua came with the Zhao family, Zhao Donglin, Zhang Qiaoer, Zheng Yuefen, Zhao Meixiang, and Zhao Donglin's eldest sister, Zhao Caixia.
"Come on, come on in and sit down."
Chen Guixiang and Dong Changgui greeted her at the door with her family. Dong Jiahui was standing behind wearing a floral shirt with a braid. Zhang Qiaoer didn't see her at first, but she saw Dong Jiahui after she finished greeting the people in front.
Both of them were taken aback when they typed the photos. Zhao Juhua introduced from the side, "Auntie, this is Jiahui."
Zhang Qiaoer looked at Dong Jiahui, then at the sweet girl in Zhou Yindi's arms, and said incoherently, "This, this is Jiahui, so who is this girl?"
"This is my granddaughter, from everyone, named Tian Niu."
Only then did Zhang Qiaoer realize that she had misunderstood last time. She saw Dong Jiahui going out with Tianniu in her arms, and thought Tianniu was Dong Jiahui's daughter.
The two families sat down in the main room, and the Dong family looked at Zhao Donglin calmly, seeing that he was tall and straight, with a dignified appearance, and a stable and dignified person, and they were all happy for Dong Jiahui in their hearts.
"Hehe, this is the first time your two families have met. I'm familiar with Donglin and Jiahui. They match each other very well. What do you think?"
"Yes, it is indeed a good match."
Zhang Qiaoer also smiled. She glanced at Dong Jiahui who was sitting across from her. What she was thinking was that when she met a few days ago, she said that marrying such a girl would be a blessing. Who would have thought that her son would be attracted to her!
Although she accepted the marriage between her son and Dong's daughter, Zhang Qiaoer has always been a little bit uneasy. Today, knowing that Dong Jiahui is the girl she met last time, Zhang Qiaoer's original unhappiness is gone.
Maybe it's fate, she deserves to be her own daughter-in-law, at this time she doesn't care if Jiahui is divorced or not, as long as she can live a good life with Donglin, she will cover her ears when others gossip.
The rest of the Zhao family are also looking at Dong Jiahui. Zhao Caixia is the eldest sister. She is honest, and she likes honest people. She sees Dong Jiahui's bright eyes and shy smile on her face. She thinks Dong Jiahui looks pretty good. At least it is better than Wang Mei before. As for Dong Jiahui's divorce, she also inquired about it before coming here, and it was because the Lu family was overbearing and unreasonable.
Zhao Meixiang didn't have as many thoughts as her elder sister, she just thought that this future sister-in-law looked quite young and younger than the second sister-in-law. As for Zheng Yuefen, when she first heard that her uncle was looking for a divorced woman, she gloated and thought she had divorced. A married woman must look gray and lifeless, but who knew she would look so glamorous today.
The two families were chatting homely, and soon half an hour passed. Zhao Juhua saw that the time was almost up, and said, "Donglin, let Jiahui take you around. From now on, your boss will be here." The Yue family is here, so we have to get acquainted with it in advance."
Everyone laughed after Zhao Juhua finished speaking, Dong Jiahui blushed from everyone's laughter, Zhao Donglin got up generously, waiting for Dong Jiahui to take him out for a walk.
Dong Jiahui took Zhao Donglin out of the main room under everyone's gaze, and the two chatted casually in the yard. When they walked to the pomegranate tree, Zhao Donglin took out a rectangular cardboard box from his pocket and handed it to Dong Jiahui.
"this is for you."
Dong Jiahui asked curiously after receiving it, "What is this?"
"Open it and have a look."
Dong Jiahui opened it and found that there was a lady's watch in the box, a Shanghai brand. She looked at Zhao Donglin in surprise, because she really didn't expect Zhao Donglin to give her a watch.
"I went to the county for a meeting the day before yesterday, and I bought this watch when I saw it was good."
The facts are naturally not as light as he said. In this era of planned economy, all industrial supplies have to be purchased with industrial tickets. This ticket alone has stumped most people. The reason why Zhao Donglin has it is because he was in the I left it when I was in the army.
Secondly, Shanghai brand watches are commodities that are in short supply. Not to mention the price is not cheap, and sometimes you may not be able to buy them if you have money.
This watch costs 128 yuan. In rural areas, the income of ordinary people is only 10 yuan a month. This watch is worth the income of a farmer for a whole year, and he has to eat or drink to save it.
"It's too expensive, I can't accept it."
Dong Jiahui wanted to return the watch to Zhao Donglin, but Zhao Donglin refused, "Accept it, this is a wedding gift for you."
The word "marriage" floated out of his mouth, so naturally, without deliberate or twitching, as if it should be so, Dong Jiahui looked up at him, and was moved by the tenderness in his eyes.
She squeezed the cardboard box in her hand, and for the first time, she ignited the joy from the bottom of her heart about marriage.
In the beginning, Zhao Donglin was a driftwood in the water to her, because she had no other better choice besides him. Although he was a desirable man, she didn't have any love for him feelings.
She responded to his feelings with a selfish heart, but today, this wedding gift made her look forward to her future married life.
Because a watch, but not just a watch.
In the 21st century, a watch may not be a big deal, and its value can vary from high to low, as long as you have money, you can buy it. However, in the 1970s today, watches, sewing machines and bicycles are the three most important configurations for marriage. It is more difficult to find a watch.
He didn't underestimate himself because he was divorced, he gave himself enough respect in the bride price, and even quietly bought a watch for her, telling her it was a wedding gift.
She never asked him to do this, all of this was done voluntarily by him.
Whether a man values you or not and how much he is willing to spend for you is not completely equal, but at least there is a certain cause and effect. A person who does not value you or even ignores you will spend so much money with such effort Are you going to buy a watch? This is not a necessity, it doesn't matter if you buy it or not, even if you don't buy it, it won't affect their relationship.
"Thank you, I love it."
This time she didn't refuse, but smiled at him and accepted it frankly.
"Well, as long as you like it."
Seeing that she likes it, Zhao Donglin's heart is as sweet as eating honey.
When it was time for dinner, the two families sat down at the dinner table. There were not enough chairs at home, so Dong Jiahui and his sisters-in-law went to the neighbor's house to borrow some chairs.
"In-laws, you are so polite. There is such a big table of delicious food. We have to round our stomachs twice before we can eat."
After Dong Jiahui and Zhao Donglin went out and said a few words, their marriage was settled, and Zhang Qiaoer and Chen Guixiang began to call each other in-laws.
"You're welcome, they're all home-cooked dishes, as long as you don't dislike them."
Chen Guixiang served everyone with a smile, and made sure not to let the guests have empty bowls and chopsticks.
"Well, the taste is pretty good. My in-laws' cooking skills have caught up with the chefs in state-run restaurants."
"Yeah, I haven't seen many dishes. I didn't even know that winter melon can be simmered with dried shrimps."
Zhao Juhua said a few words from time to time to enliven the atmosphere. For example, she almost praised the dishes on the table today.
"My family, Jiahui, is very good at cooking. The stewed river prawns with winter melon and this big bone soup are all made by Jiahui. We all learned from her."
In the past, the two sisters-in-law's performance was always praised by the mother-in-law. This time, Liu Xiuyun was also smarter. She said something just right at the right time. Seeing the smile on the corner of her mother-in-law's mouth, Liu Xiuyun raised her head proudly.
"No, if Jiahui did it herself, the taste of today's dishes would be much better."
Zhou Yindi also helped my sister-in-law, and Zhao Juhua said with a smile, "I'll have to find a chance to try Jiahui's skills from now on."
"There is a chance, we are so close, it doesn't take much to open our mouths if we want to eat."
After Chen Guixiang finished speaking, Zhao Juhua covered her mouth and said with a smile, "Auntie, you are wrong. I am very close to Jiahui now, and I will be far away when Jiahui and Donglin get married. If you want to eat, you have to go back to Shanghe Village to eat."
Everyone at the table laughed.