Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 457 Proposal
Lujiawan Team 4.

Secretary Yang's home.

He sat upright at the eight-immortal table in the main room, holding a pipe in his hand, puffing out smoke, but his eyes were glancing to the left as he watched Anquan pour a stack of tickets out of an envelope.

In the next room, Yang Xingxiu sat on the edge of the bed with flushed cheeks, saying nothing, but her gaze kept drifting towards the door.

A younger sister on her left and a younger brother on her right held her hostage, as if they were afraid she would run away with someone.

Yang Xingxiu tried to stand up, but the pulling force from both sides annoyed her. "Why are you pulling me?"

Sister, "It's not that I wanted to pull you back, it's Dad's orders. We can't let you run away. We can't let you ruin the Yang family's reputation!"

The younger brother nodded repeatedly, but when he saw his older sister's gaze, he immediately sat up straight and dared not make the slightest movement.

But he didn't relax his grip at all.

Yang Xingxiu rolled her eyes. "Face, face. If it weren't for face, my mother and child would have come out already."

Then he turned and glared at his younger sister, saying, "Maybe your baby is born too."

The younger sister clearly lacked confidence and said weakly, "Sister, you can't talk about Mom like that. My mother is also your mother."

If the older sister isn't married, the younger sister can't get married either. That's the old rule. Even though the younger sister has someone she likes, she can only wait. There's really nothing she can do about it!

The younger brother nodded on the other side.

But seeing the look in her older sister's eyes, she immediately put on a sincere smile and said, "Big sister, how about we don't go out and just listen from behind the door?"

The three exchanged a glance, and the next second, three ears were pressed against the door.

Inside the main room, Anquan emptied a handful of tickets and certificates, casually stuffed the envelope into his pocket, and then laid the tickets one by one on the table: "Sewing tickets, bicycle tickets, watch tickets, and collection tickets."

As he spoke, he waved the ticket in front of Secretary Yang, his eyes brimming with undisguised pride. "Look, it's a tape recorder, not a radio. It's expensive."

Secretary Yang rolled his eyes. "What's the use of being expensive? Bring something over, or just a piece of paper?"

Zhang Wenliang sat beside him, his whole body tense, unable to speak, and could only look at his uncle with pleading eyes.

Zhang Changjiang laughed and gestured for safety to finish speaking first.

Anquan coughed lightly and continued nonchalantly, "The 'three turns and one sound' is the basic requirement. In addition, there is a ticket for an electric fan, a ticket for a motorcycle, and a ticket for a TV, which can be considered an upgrade and extra gift."

After placing all the tickets on the table, Anquan walked over and sat down in the chair against the wall.

He wasn't even in a position to sit on the other side of the table; the head of the Zhang family, Zhang Changjiang, the brigade commander, was already sitting there.

So today is a showdown between the Party Secretary and the Brigade Leader?
Outside the door, a large group of people braved the wind and snow to eat watermelon.

"Sanhu is quite something. That load of pork, chicken, duck, goose, cloth, and shoes is already extravagant enough. He even brought out coupons for the 'three turns and one sound' (referring to a type of bicycle, a sewing machine, a radio, and a smartwatch), and even included tickets for an electric fan, a motorcycle, and a TV. You wouldn't even get this much stuff for a wedding in the commune, would you?"

"A commune? Hmph, I dare say there isn't one in the county! Even if someone could get a TV ticket, could they get a motorcycle ticket?"

"I've never seen this before. I only learned about it when I went to the prefectural committee's secondhand store to buy a used bicycle earlier this year. It's called a 'light cavalry' and it's made specifically for ordinary people. I wonder where Company Commander Zhang got it from?"

"Where else could it be? It must have been given by Teacher Chen. Who else but Teacher Chen has that kind of ability?!"

"Wow, Teacher Chen is really generous. This must be expensive, right?"

"I don't know, but a set of tickets for the 'three turns and one sound' can be exchanged for at least one or two hundred yuan, not to mention the other three. All seven tickets together are worth at least three or four hundred yuan!"

"The key is that even if you're willing to spend the money, there's nowhere to buy these things. You'll owe them a huge favor."

Outside, there was a lot of chatter. Inside, once everyone was safely seated, Zhang Changjiang coughed lightly, put down his teacup, and smiled at Secretary Yang, saying, "Old Yang, we're family, so let's not stand on ceremony. You know best what kind of person Sanhu is. The two kids aren't young anymore, so let's not beat around the bush and talk about etiquette."

Secretary Yang felt uneasy, but the situation was beyond his control. His daughter had made up her mind, so what could he do?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glare resentfully at the tightly closed door, then glanced at Zhang Wenliang sitting there chuckling, and said softly, "Tell me, what's the plan?"

Chen Fan was gnawing on a large pig's trotter, his eyes full of excitement, so given the established fact, the parents didn't dare to object?

Zhang Changjiang was overjoyed and quickly said, "I brought these tickets over so everyone can witness that Sanhu values ​​your Xingxiu. Our Zhang family doesn't do things to fool people. We'll go to the prefectural committee tomorrow and buy everything back."

As for the bride price, we won't do anything special. We'll just follow the old custom and set it at 6 yuan as a token.

Then there's the house. The team had already approved a plot of land for him to live on. There's no more space on the north side, but there's a small hill to the east. Although the terrain is a bit lower, it's still higher than the paddy fields.

The team organized people to level the ground and fill it with soil; all the new foundations would be placed there. Sanhu's family was the first. Once the dike breach was finished, construction would begin,”

As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at Chen Fan, who was sitting next to the safety and eating sunflower seeds. He was slightly taken aback. How could he have finished such a big pig's trotter?
Turning back, she smiled and said, "We'll build it based on the layout of Xiao Chen's house, though of course it won't be as big, mainly because it's unnecessary. We'll build them a two-story house with red bricks and blue tiles, and we'll take care of all the furniture. It will be the young couple's home from now on."

That's about it for the formalities. If you have any other conditions, please feel free to mention them.

After hearing his words, Secretary Yang's expression softened considerably.

The conditions Old Zhang offered were unique, not only in Lujiawan, but also in the entire Nanhu Commune.

A year or so ago, who would marry off a daughter-in-law like this?
Two slices of meat and a piece of cloth are given as a wedding gift... The meat is for the wedding banquet, and the cloth is for making a new dress for the bride.

Then give three to five yuan as a bride price, and that will be enough.

The "three turns and one sound" (referring to a specific type of jewelry) are the standard for marriage in the city. In the countryside, having any one of these is considered a great honor, making one feel proud and elevating their status.

Not to mention televisions and motorcycles.

They even built new houses for them!
What's wrong? You're building a new house right after getting married? Are you planning to separate the family property?

That same year, Lujiawan became incredibly wealthy. With fuller pockets and more confidence, Zhang Wenliang also held positions in several side businesses, including a breeding farm and a transportation team. His year-end salary and bonuses combined could amount to several thousand yuan. Otherwise, even if Chen Fan had given him these tickets, he would have been too timid to accept them!
Secretary Yang took a couple of puffs of his cigarette, pondering the matter carefully.

The Yang family, the Zhang family, the marriage proposal, the companions, the bystanders... all stared at him expectantly.

Why are you looking at him?

Waiting to see the dowry!

The customs in the Yunhu area are quite different from those in other places.

Can't say the same.

This is a custom that exists in many places in Hunan, Hubei, and the "Jiangnan Province," but it's different from many other parts of the country.

Everyone knows that in some parts of Fujian, people compete to see who can give the most dowry when their daughters get married. While other places compete on the amount of the bride price, in these places, it's all about who can give the most dowry.

Although Yunhu hasn't reached that stage yet, it's not far off.

No matter how much betrothal gift or bride price the groom gives, it's all spent on the bride. Naturally, any "unspent" money will be taken by the bride, and then the bride's family will have to add a portion based on the value of the money given by the groom.

For example, with betrothal gifts, if the groom's family gives 10 yuan, the bride's family has to give the betrothal gift money to the bride, plus a portion ranging from 2 to 10 yuan, and sometimes even more, as the bride's "dowry money" to take back to her new home.

As for bedding such as cotton quilts and blankets, they are indispensable.

So in the Yunhu area, apart from a few truly shameless individuals—and this shamelessness is genuine—if they don't provide a dowry, their fellow villagers, colleagues, and even blood relatives will scorn them, or at least avoid close relationships. To stubbornly refuse to give a dowry under such circumstances—what else is that but shamelessness?
Even if they genuinely lack money, they will discuss with the man that if he doesn't give a bride price, they won't give a dowry, so that everyone can save face.

However, this means that most families have to lose money when their daughters get married, and even those who dote on their daughters at home will often call them "money-losing brats".

The daughter wasn't angry at all; instead, she pressed her parents to make a statement: "You say I'm a money-loser, let's see how much dowry you'll 'give' me when I get married!"

Although this dowry money is nominally the daughter's property, in most cases it is actually the property of the young family.

Now that the Zhang family has offered an exorbitant dowry, it remains to be seen how Secretary Yang will respond!

Isn't it interesting to watch such a lively scene!
After pondering for a long time, Secretary Yang discovered that the Zhang family had already prepared everything.

If I followed the old custom and doubled the bride price, which would be 6 yuan, and then prepared a cartload of new cotton and several quilts, it would still be far less valuable than a bicycle, not to mention the seven betrothal gifts and a fully furnished house.

Just when he was at a loss, he suddenly saw the seven tickets on the table and had an idea.

He slowly gathered the seven tickets in his hand, neatly arranged them one by one, and turned to Zhang Changjiang, saying, "Your Zhang family has provided ample compensation; I can't find any fault with it." Zhang Changjiang grinned and chuckled, but didn't speak, only looking at him.

Secretary Yang tapped the tickets lightly on the table. “In previous years, the higher authorities advocated thrift. When ordinary people had weddings, they would just invite relatives and friends to a meal and have some fun. The groom would clean up the house, and the bride would bring two quilts and a bed sheet as dowry. They would also offer a toast in the presence of the portrait of the elders. That was about it.”

He turned to look at the people inside and outside the house, paused for two seconds, and continued, "It started last year that weddings and funerals became more extravagant. Everyone wanted to outdo each other, so if one family had eight tables, they would insist on having ten tables. That's not right!"

At this point, he turned to look at Zhang Changjiang, who was deep in thought and nodding slowly, and said in a low voice, "Old Zhang, in Lujiawan Brigade, I am the secretary and you are the captain. We are both good role models, aren't we?"

Upon hearing this, everyone inside and outside the house nodded in agreement.

Although both leaders had some minor flaws, such as liking to put on airs, they genuinely did practical things for the commune members, especially during the busy farming season, when they worked day and night in the fields, afraid of delaying production.

So they were able to rise to power not only because there were many families with the surnames Yang and Zhang in Lujiawan, but also because everyone respected their abilities and elected them.

Secretary Yang smiled and continued, "Since we are role models, we must act like them. Like this..."

He waved the tickets in his hand and turned to look at Chen Fan. "You lent this to Sanhuzi, right?"

How did I end up getting caught up in the gossip myself?

Chen Fan put down the peanuts in his hand and nodded, but before he could speak, Secretary Yang waved his hand to stop him.

Secretary Yang then looked at Zhang Changjiang and said, "These tickets are considered as if I borrowed them from Xiao Chen. They have nothing to do with your Zhang family."

Having heard what he had just said, Zhang Changjiang understood what he was trying to say and immediately nodded, saying, "Alright, the Zhang family has no objections."

Zhang Wenliang and his parents pursed their lips, not daring to utter a sound.

Secretary Yang smiled and continued, "Sanhuzi is getting old, he'll be 25 next year. It's really inappropriate for him to still be living with his parents, older brother, and second brother's families. Was that house something he wanted to build himself?"

Zhang Changjiang, positioning himself as the straight man, could only nod and say, "You guessed it!"

Secretary Yang looked wise and said, "I knew it! Who splits up the family property after getting married?"

At this moment, most of the people inside and outside the house understood what Secretary Yang meant. They all wanted to laugh, but couldn't.

Secretary Yang coughed twice, looked up at everyone, and said loudly, "The Zhang family building a house has nothing to do with my Yang family marrying off our daughter. You all need to remember that."

Almost everyone nodded repeatedly, "We've got it."

Even if some individuals still don't understand, those around them will quietly explain it to them.

Secretary Yang stuffed the ticket into his pocket and said seriously to Zhang Wenliang, "Sanhuzi, you're a good person, I know that best. Today your family came to propose marriage and brought gifts, so I'll give you my answer today: the bride price is 6 yuan, my daughter's dowry is 8 yuan, plus two new quilts with covers, is that acceptable?"

Zhang Wenliang is a little confused right now. What about my big house, the three turns and one sound, plus the electric fan, motorcycle and TV?
He instinctively looked at his uncle, as well as Anquan and Chen Fan.

Seeing the three of them nodding frantically, he blurted out, "Done!"

Secretary Yang grinned broadly, "Good."

He turned to look at Zhang Changjiang, "I'll decide the wedding date?"

Zhang Changjiang nodded and raised his right hand. "My dear in-law, please."

Secretary Yang stood up, took down the calendar hanging on the wall, pretended to flip through a few pages, and said with a smile, "Next Tuesday, January 17th, the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, is auspicious for weddings and setting up beds."

After saying that, he turned to look at Zhang Changjiang, "How was it?"

Without even consulting Zhang Wenliang's parents, Zhang Changjiang slammed his fist on the table and declared, "The auspicious date is set!"

The date was chosen... to get married first, then build the house, that's the idea.

……

Inside the room, Yang Xingxiu silently returned to the bed and sat down, unable to help but mutter, "Idiot."

Her younger brother sat beside her, his eyes full of confusion, "Big sister, who are you scolding?"

Yang Xingxiu said irritably, "You're cursing your brother-in-law."

The younger sister blinked, took her arm, and said, "Sister, I heard that Teacher Chen instigated this?"

Yang Xingxiu paused for a moment, then decisively changed the subject, "That Teacher Chen is smart about big things, but muddle-headed about small things!"

My sister was a little confused. Marriage is a major life event. If this is considered a small matter, then what is a big matter?

The younger brother, unaware of his older sister's confusion, looked at her and asked, "What riddles are you two talking about? I don't understand."

Yang Xingxiu rolled her eyes at him, "You're even more stupid!"

The younger brother was furious but dared not resist.

Fortunately, he had an older sister who patiently explained to him, "At the beginning, the Zhang family promised to provide everything: a three-turn-one-sound system (turn on the rails, turn on the rails, turn on the radio, turn on the back of the car, turn on the back of the door), a motorcycle, a TV, and an electric fan. They also specially built a two-story house for you and your husband. Think about it, have you ever heard of such marriage conditions?"

The younger brother shook his head repeatedly, even using an idiom, "Unheard of!"

The second sister continued, "That's it then. If Dad agrees immediately, how much dowry will our family have to provide? What will the other people in the village think? When their families get married in the future, will they follow suit?"

Hearing this, the younger brother finally understood and said with a sudden realization, "So when Dad got the tickets, the Zhang family had nothing to do with it. Then he said that the house was given away because my brother-in-law couldn't fit it in the house anymore, so it had nothing to do with the wedding. In the end, the only wedding gifts were a basket of gifts and a dowry of 6 yuan."

Then, the only dowry I gave my eldest sister was a return gift of 8 yuan and two quilts!
Actually, the house still needs to be built, but it won't be included in the wedding expenses. The tickets for the "three turns and one sound" (a traditional Chinese house, a watch, a radio, and a smart speaker), the motorcycle, and the television will also be purchased by our family. This way, my older sister will have face when she marries into the family, and her husband's family won't be able to find fault with it.

To outsiders, this time is no different from before.

Yang Xingxiu suddenly sighed softly, "Actually, it's just self-deception, but it's better than doing nothing."

The younger brother disagreed, saying, "Even if it's just burying our heads in the sand, at least we have an explanation. It's better than the Zhang family using the house as the bride price and our family using the seven major items as the dowry. Otherwise, if everyone prepared weddings according to this standard, every family would probably go into debt!"

Even if Lujiawan becomes rich this year, it can't withstand this kind of extravagance. Besides, there's nowhere to get those tickets.

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open, and the mother appeared in the doorway, her face beaming with joy. "Come and help in the kitchen!"

……

When someone comes to propose marriage, unless there is a major conflict, the woman's family must prepare a banquet to welcome them, regardless of whether the proposal is successful or not.

Besides, the deal was actually reached.

Yang Xingxiu and her mother cooked together, using two stoves to cook at the same time, and soon a large table of dishes was ready.

The onlookers had long since dispersed, and the banquet was set up in the main room. Secretary Yang then lit the charcoal stove that he had bought from Chen Fan last year, making the room warm and cozy.

Two more elders from the Yang family accompanied them, while the Zhang family members opposite them included Zhang Wenliang and his parents, Zhang Changjiang, An Quan who acted as the matchmaker, and Chen Fan, the only remaining bystander.

The person who introduced us was also quite interesting.

According to the new rules, the new society emphasizes free love, so the old-fashioned matchmaker system has been abolished!
Yes, in the new society, newlyweds cannot have matchmakers when they get married!

But the older generation values ​​"arranged marriages," so how can a happy occasion be held without a matchmaker?
Then some people cleverly used the "introducer" in the organization to replace the matchmaker.

Therefore, at this time, when a couple gets married, the matchmaker is just as indispensable as a letter of introduction from their employer.

A letter of introduction is a necessary condition for obtaining a marriage certificate, and an introducer is a necessary condition for holding a wedding. The key is that the introducer is also closely aligned with the organization, so no one can say anything against it. How wonderful!

Secretary Yang and two elders from the Yang family make three people. The Zhang family has four people, plus Chen Fan and An Quan, making a total of nine people, who can almost squeeze in to sit down.

However, Zhang Wenliang's mother was not used to sitting at the same table with men. Before the banquet started, she said goodbye and went to the kitchen to eat with her future daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, making the table eight people again.

Secretary Yang carried the wine bottle and filled everyone's glasses. Then he picked up his glass, stood up, coughed, and prepared to speak.

Just then, a loud shout came from outside, "Secretary Yang, the admission notices for your brigade have all arrived! Come out and greet them quickly!!!"

(End of this chapter)