Traveling through ancient times, I led my family to prosperity

"I think Xiaoyuan cares a lot about the girl from the Pang family. You can go to the town when you have nothing to do. After they get married, they will surely live happily together. You will be a mother-in-law in the future, and you can be considered a daughter-in-law who has finally become a mother-in-law after a thousand years of being a daughter-in-law." Wang joked.

Mr. Sheng and Mrs. Cui were very satisfied with the marriage. Although they felt a little painful about spending a hundred kilograms of grain, they gradually felt relieved when they thought about spending more money on marrying a wife next year.

"Xiaoyuan's marriage is the top priority of our family. We have to set up a good banquet. This matter cannot be done in a shabby way. We all have to contribute." Grandpa Sheng spoke after seeing that everyone was getting lively for a while.

"Okay." Sheng Xuan and Zhang agreed readily.

"The famine has just passed, and it's not easy for everyone. Let's have three tables at home and make a lot of dishes. It's better to prepare too much and have leftovers than to prepare too little and have insufficient food, which would make people laugh at us." Grandpa Sheng added, "There are not many dishes now. Third brother, your family can make tofu and sprout bean sprouts, so I'll give these two ingredients to you. You can help out and get as many beans as you want from your mother."

Sheng Xuan was a down-to-earth person. Hearing that Sheng Yuan was going to get married, he was naturally happy as an uncle. How could he really ask Cui for beans? He waved his hands and said, "Dad, tell me how many kilograms you want one day in advance. This is also our family's contribution to Xiao Yuan's marriage. How can I ask for your beans?"

"Dad, the third family is the one in our village that lives the best. Look at them, they all have rosy faces, they don't look like they are starving at all. Besides, I heard that their family has lent out a lot of grain and money, they don't need these little beans." Sheng Kai said sourly.

Sheng Nuo looked towards Sheng Xuan. Before the family split up, he really didn't expect that his third brother could build up such a family business. Now, seeing that the third brother was able to preserve the family business and ensure the safety of his wife and children in such a turbulent time, and his reputation and fame in the village were also improved. Even people from other villages would think of Sheng Xuan's family first when they mentioned Shengjia Village. They all said that his family was a family that accumulated good deeds and that they were all blessed.

Sheng Xuan ignored Sheng Kai's sour words and turned to Old Master Sheng and said, "Dad, what kind of banquet are you planning to hold this time?"

"We are planning to have a 28-dinner banquet. What do you think, third brother?" said Grandpa Sheng.

Before the family split up, Grandpa Sheng never asked the third son for his opinion on major matters of the Sheng family. But now Grandpa Sheng asked this, it seems that Sheng Xuan's status in his mind has been elevated.

The so-called "Eight Plates and Eight Bowls" is a meal consisting of eight plates and eight bowls. The eight plates include four cold dishes and four hot dishes. The dishes are mostly seasonal vegetables, and there is no strict restriction on the dishes. The eight bowls have fixed dishes, and the meat used is all pork belly, which is all boiled in water and then fried in oil to make the dishes. The meat in the bowls is fat but not greasy, crispy and refreshing.

A twenty-eight-table banquet was considered above average in the eyes of farmers, and in a famine year when people were short of food and clothing, only a handful of families could afford such a banquet. This was enough to show how much Mr. Sheng valued Xiaoyuan's marriage.

"The 28-table noodles are delicious." Sheng Xuan nodded and replied.

When Sheng Kai and Shen heard what the third brother said, they both showed a pleased expression on their faces. Xiao Yuan was their son after all, and they were proud of the good wedding banquet for their son. "Third brother, you are rich now, and your nephew is getting married, you have to give him some gifts to show your appreciation?" After saying this, Sheng Kai stared at Sheng Xuan eagerly.

Xiao Lan held her forehead with her hand. If she gave Sheng Kai a little good face, he would dare to open a dyeing factory. He really took advantage of every opportunity. He would take advantage of every opportunity even if there was no advantage. It was really a headache.

"Second brother, stop talking nonsense. Xiaoyuan is your biological son. How much do you plan to pay?" Old Master Sheng interrupted Sheng Kai and teased him.

"Dad, how could I have any money? Isn't our family's money managed by my mom?" Sheng Kai looked a little embarrassed.

"When Xiaoru was carried away, didn't the Sun family give her eight hundred taels of silver?" Shen muttered softly.

Grandpa Sheng ignored the second son and his wife's grumbling and continued, "This time, our family will host the banquet, so you all need to be quick and efficient when the time comes."

Cui continued, "Don't make me go out of my way to hire people. All of you should come here quickly."

After talking about Sheng Yuan's wedding, Xiao Lan and her family went back. The family sat on the kang and chatted. "I heard that the girl from the Pang family originally wanted to marry in the county town, but couldn't find a man. Coupled with natural disasters and the epidemic, it was difficult to find a man in the town. Every household couldn't get enough food, let alone add another person. So they went to the countryside to look for a man." Xin said.

"When it comes to getting married, it's better to marry someone of equal status. I don't think the daughter of the Pang family can work." Zhang said. "But the Sheng family is going to hold a banquet for 28 people, which shows that they have some wealth."

"Didn't they say that when Xiaoru was carried away, the Sun family gave her eight hundred taels of silver?" Fu said, "Did they use that money to hold the banquet?"

Zhang nodded and said, "Marrying a granddaughter is different from marrying a granddaughter's wife. Xiaoru didn't even spend any money to prepare for her marriage."

There is no such thing as gender equality in this era. Men have a much higher status than women. Men care about carrying on the family line, so they marry and add people to the family. Women are like spilled water, and once they get married, they belong to someone else's family.

"Is Chunhua about the same age as Xiaoru?" Xin suddenly asked when she thought of the marriage arrangements of the old Sheng family.

"Yes, Chunhua is two months older than Xiaoru." said Zhang.

"It's not easy for Chunhua to talk about her husband's family. They all say that the girl is like her mother. Cui's reputation outside is not very good. All the honest families backed off after hearing the rumor. The old Sheng family can't reach those wealthy and powerful families, and they don't like Chunhua's appearance either." Xin said.

As Xiaolan's business grew, the story of how Shengxuan's family split up spread in the surrounding villages. With Zhao Ermaizi's personal confirmation, the reputation of the old Sheng family plummeted. Some people who wanted to find wives for their sons heard that Cui from the Sheng family was very good at picking daughters-in-law, and they were afraid that Chunhua would learn her mother's skills. Everyone wants to marry a daughter-in-law for a harmonious family, so no one wants to marry a troublemaker. Therefore, Chunhua's marriage was delayed. After the Chinese New Year, she was seventeen. Although there are girls of this age who don't get married, it's usually because her parents are reluctant to let their daughters get married, but they have already arranged the marriage with the man. Cases like Chunhua's are rare.

At this time, Mr. Sheng and Cui were also worried about Chunhua's marriage. "Old man, Xiaoyuan's marriage is settled, but our Chunhua hasn't found a husband yet. As a father, you have to pay more attention to it."

Mr. Sheng took a puff of his pipe and said, "I'll ask the matchmaker to find out tomorrow."

He also knew the matchmaker Cui in the town. In those days, matchmakers were the most eloquent people. Once they opened their mouths, they could talk for half a day without stopping, leaving no room for others to interrupt.