Courtyard Houses: Starting with the principle of hard work paying off

Chapter 101: Elder sister is like mother
"Hongmei, who was that person just now?"

Seeing Chen Xueru leave, Yan Bugui, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, quickly asked Li Hongmei.

Yan Bugui found it hard not to be curious.

After all, Chen Xueru was wearing a cheongsam, and her temperament and style of dress were completely out of place with the style of their courtyard house.

To my recollection, the Li family did not have any relatives or friends in this line of work.

"Uncle Yan, that was Manager Chen, the owner of Chen's Cloth Shop."

Li Hongmei offered an explanation.

Chen Xueru's identity is not a secret, there is no need to hide it.

"Hongmei, why has Manager Chen of Chen's Cloth Shop come to your house in person?"

Yan Bugui didn't recognize Chen Xueru and fell into thought. At that moment, Aunt Yan came out from the doorway behind him and couldn't help but ask curiously.

Aunt Yan didn't know Chen Xueru either, but Li Hongmei had mentioned her briefly when she bought fabric last time, so she remembered her.

"I ordered a dress there, and it was finished today. Manager Chen will deliver it to me."

"Is that the one you were wearing just now?"

“Uh… yes.”

"It's not cheap, is it? It's only possible to have Manager Chen deliver it to your door."

"It's alright, Aunt Yan, I'm going back now."

"..."

Yan Bugui and his wife had actually been secretly observing from inside the house the whole time.

After all, it's hard not to arouse their curiosity when strangers come to the courtyard, especially since Chen Xueru is not only beautiful but also dressed so fashionably.

Just now, when Li Hongmei went to another room to change her clothes, she was naturally seen by them as she passed through the courtyard in her wedding dress.

Faced with their curiosity, Li Hongmei only gave a few perfunctory replies and did not intend to say much more.

She wasn't a high-profile or flamboyant person to begin with, and if the people in the courtyard knew that Li Hongbing had spent a lot of money to customize a wedding dress for her, they would say he was wasting money.

Li Hongmei knew that because of the dowry preparations being made for her, there was already a lot of gossip about Li Hongbing in the courtyard.

It's impossible to say that she felt no pressure at all.

Some come from within, and some from without.

Go back inside.

Li Hongmei continued to make clothes with a sewing machine.

Since she only started using it yesterday, she wasn't very skilled yet, so she didn't dare use the new, high-quality fabrics she had bought, for fear of ruining them. She could only take apart some old, unworn clothes and turn them into new ones to practice on.

Li Hongbing, who was only sixteen, was still growing rapidly, and often his clothes would become too small after a while.

I can't keep buying new clothes all the time; that's how I used to do it.

It wasn't just her; it was the case in almost every household.

New for three years, old for three years, patched up and mended for another three years – this is the daily routine of this era.

Just as Li Hongmei had almost finished altering the old clothes into "new" clothes, Li Hongbing returned from outside.

"Hongbing, come here."

"Sis, what's wrong?"

"In the evening, Manager Chen came over."

"Manager Chen?"

"Are you still pretending to be stupid with me?"

"Oh, Mr. Chen, the manager of Chen's Cloth Shop, I remember now..."

"..."

Li Hongbing wasn't pretending to be stupid with Li Hongmei on purpose; he just hadn't realized what was happening for a moment. After all, he hadn't expected Chen Xueru to be so attentive, bringing the clothes over directly.

Originally, I was thinking that once Chen Xueru finished making the clothes, I would take Li Hongmei to her shop.

He's saved himself some trouble now, but looking at Li Hongmei's current state, he's afraid he'll inevitably get a lecture.

The prediction was very accurate.

However, Li Hongmei could only offer a few criticisms; the matter was already settled, and there was nothing she could do about it.

These things were of no concern to Li Hongbing.

Li Hongmei may feel heartache now, but looking back, especially decades from now, this will be one of the most unforgettable and happiest moments of her life.

"When I get married, I won't bring so many things with me."

Knowing that Li Hongbing cared for his older sister, Li Hongmei couldn't bear to say anything more to him. She quickly replied in an unquestionable tone, "Eight quilts are too many. I'll take four with me: two summer quilts and two winter quilts. The remaining four..."

Actually, Li Hongmei had already made up her mind before Li Hongbing returned. The dowry Li Hongbing had prepared for her was too lavish, and she planned to reduce it.

Fortunately, most of these items are everyday objects that Li Hongbing can use, and he can also use the ones he kept.

"Sister, the number four is unlucky. If you don't want to bring so much dowry, you should at least bring six beds. You can leave the other two to me."

As soon as Li Hongmei opened her mouth, Li Hongbing knew her plan. However, knowing her personality, Li Hongbing couldn't completely refuse and could only compromise appropriately.

"Then...okay!"

Faced with Li Hongbing's statement, Li Hongmei hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed.

Leaving aside feudal superstitions, some traditions and customs are still deeply ingrained in many people's bones.

"You can keep the new bicycle; I'll take the old one with me."

If it weren't for the fact that Li Hongbing couldn't use the sewing machine himself, Li Hongmei would have wanted to keep it too.

“That won’t do. The bicycle that Brother Weiguo sent over was his betrothal gift to our family. How can we return it as part of our dowry? It would be a laughing stock.”

Li Hongbing refused again with righteous indignation.

The bicycle that Zhao Weiguo sent was assembled by him using second-hand parts, but it was of good quality and did not affect daily use at all.

Besides, it's not like he can't afford a bicycle.

Before bicycles are rationed, Li Hongbing plans to buy another new one.

Now that Li Hongmei has kept the new one, it will be difficult for him to operate it later.

Bicycles are not fast-moving consumer goods, and it hasn't been many years since rationing was implemented.

Faced with Li Hongbing's statement, Li Hongmei found herself unable to refute it.

Li Hongbing's theories are so comprehensive, they're truly amazing.

Next.

Li Hongmei left all the dowry that could be reduced to Li Hongbing.

Even so, the dowry was still incredibly generous, as the sewing machine and bicycle made up the bulk of it.

Even if you don't want anything else, just these two things are enough to make you look respectable and glamorous.

"Alright, sister, the dowry is finalized and can't be changed anymore."

Having already made some concessions, Li Hongbing quickly made the decision to avoid giving Li Hongmei any other ideas. He then quickly changed the subject, saying, "Sister, didn't Manager Chen bring my dress? Where is it? I'll try it on and see if it fits."

"There it is on the table."

Li Hongmei sighed and said helplessly.

Soon.

Li Hongbing changed his clothes and came over, and Li Hongmei couldn't help but be drawn to him.

He's so handsome!
"Hongbing, come here, let me take a good look at you."

Li Hongbing looked so good in this outfit that Li Hongmei almost didn't recognize him.

The main difference is in her overall demeanor.

Refreshed.

The two previous morning exercise outfits had a similar effect, but not as striking as the one I'm wearing now.

"Sis, isn't it pretty?"

"It looks good."

"Sister, there's a reason why things are expensive."

"..."

Li Hongmei fell silent.

She wasn't unaware of this principle; she just couldn't bear to part with the money.

She loved the wedding dress Chen Xueru brought today, but it still pained her to accept it.

They all came from chaotic times and are reluctant to spend money like this.

However, when the person was changed to Li Hongbing, Li Hongmei changed her mind and felt that the money was well spent.

In her heart, her younger brother Li Hongbing deserved the best in the world.

Their mother left when they were very young. At that time, Li Hongmei was only a few years older than Li Hongbing. Li Fushun was busy making a living, and Li Hongmei took care of everything at home.

She also took care of Li Hongbing's younger brother.

on the surface.

Li Hongmei is the older sister, but in reality, she has always fulfilled the duties of a mother.

(End of this chapter)