Reborn in 1966

Chapter Ninety-Two: The Wedding

A few days later, Sheng Huai found a factory worker for his younger sister in the city. He said that after the marriage, Gui Xiang would work as a temporary worker in the factory first, and then gradually become a permanent employee. With him and his wife there, his sister wouldn't suffer any losses.

Grandpa was originally unwilling for his daughter to marry a city man. But then he thought, his daughter isn't like his eldest son who can have a job in the city. If she marries a city family, won't she be looked down upon and bullied?

But when Sheng Huai came back, he told his parents in detail that although the man was a worker, he came from a working-class background. His family had been farming for three generations. Later, the man's father went to the city to work as a porter. After liberation, he settled in the city, which is how the man got his worker status.

Sheng Huai told his sister about this family because he valued their simple family structure: four people in total, including the eldest son who worked as a factory worker, and a younger sister in junior high school. The elderly couple were honest and kind people who would not mistreat their sister.

Grandpa and Grandma were very satisfied. But their satisfaction was useless; their daughter had to be satisfied. So they told their daughter about the situation, fully expecting her to agree. How many people in the surrounding villages could marry into the city?

After hearing this, Aunt Guixiang only said two words, "No way." Not only were her fourth grandfather and fourth grandmother puzzled, but even Sheng Huai couldn't understand what was wrong with his younger sister.

The fourth grandfather was furious. He said to the fourth grandmother, "This is all our own doing! We spoiled our daughter so much, thinking that after she married, she wouldn't be able to do whatever she wanted like she did at her parents' home. Who knew our daughter wouldn't understand our good intentions? In the past two years, how many bad things and snide remarks have we endured behind her back while trying to find her a husband? We know all this. Finding a husband isn't like buying vegetables at the market. You can't just find one and buy it. You have to consider whether the person is good, whether the mother-in-law is good, whether the family's financial situation is good. You have to take your time. But what's wrong with our daughter? She complains about the poor conditions, but with such good conditions, why isn't it working out?"

Grandma Si thought to herself, "I've been looking for two years, and none of them have worked out. I guess my daughter has someone else in her heart."

Grandma Si was too embarrassed to ask herself, so she asked her second daughter-in-law to ask instead, knowing that her daughter was shy.

The second daughter-in-law, Chen Qiuping, is a school teacher. She already has a child who is over a year old, a girl. The fourth grandparents are very happy, saying that it is a good thing that the flower blooms first and then bears fruit. Usually, when Chen Qiuping goes to work, the fourth grandmother takes care of her little granddaughter, who is dressed very beautifully and is one of the prettiest children in the village.

Chen Qiuping had a good relationship with her sister-in-law. After receiving her mother-in-law's task, she didn't ask directly. They had both grown up together and knew the secret of young people going to the market. She followed her sister-in-law to the market in Xujia Village and discovered her sister-in-law's secret with Tian Xiuwu.

Although the two of them did nothing out of line, Chen Qiuping could still see the affection between them from their eyes. So after returning home, Chen Qiuping took his sister-in-law to a slightly higher spot on the ridge to talk to her.

Chen Qiuping said, "Guixiang, how is your relationship with your second sister-in-law?"

Gui Xiang said, "Yes, Second Sister-in-law is a good sister-in-law, one of the best in our village."

Chen Qiuping said, "Then tell your second sister-in-law the truth, isn't it because you're not looking for a husband that you're like Tian Xiuwu?"

Gui Xiang's face immediately turned red, and she said, "Sister-in-law, don't talk nonsense."

Chen Qiuping sighed and said, "Guixiang, since you have someone in your heart, you should tell our parents as soon as possible. They don't know and are still looking for a husband for you outside, but you don't want any of them. What will people say about our family?"

Gui Xiang's face turned pale, and she said, "Sister-in-law, how can I tell our parents about this? Xiu Wu's family isn't well-off, and I'm afraid our father won't agree."

Chen Qiuping said, "Are you confused? You don't want to ask someone else, so hurry up and explain things to your family. Who's doing good by dragging this out? Guixiang, listen to your sister-in-law, hurry home and explain things to your parents. Who knows what might happen if we keep dragging this out?"

After the two sisters-in-law returned home, Chen Qiuping gave her mother-in-law a wink, and the fourth grandmother knew that she had found out. After dinner, she coaxed her granddaughter to sleep and called Shengmin and his wife to her room for a family meeting.

Although Guixiang has a straightforward personality, free love is not popular in this era. Marriages are still arranged by parents and matchmakers. Finding a husband on her own is a huge deal.

My great-uncle has been angry with his daughter these past two days. After dinner, he sat at the kang table cleaning his pipe. When he saw his second son and his wife, his old woman, and his daughter all coming into his room, he knew they had something to say.

Fourth Grandma said, "Guixiang, everyone is here today, why don't you tell everyone what happened to you?"

Upon hearing his wife's words, the fourth grandfather straightened up involuntarily, stopped what he was doing, and stared at his daughter with sharp eyes.

Gui Xiang felt a little embarrassed. Seeing her father's gaze, she felt a little scared and shifted her body slightly, saying uneasily, "Mother, what's there to say?"

Fourth Grandma said, "What's there to say? This is a major life event for you, what's there to say?"

Fourth Grandfather looked at Fourth Grandmother and said calmly, "Let her speak, let her speak for herself!"

Gui Xiang had never seen her father with such a serious expression before, and she felt extremely flustered.

Chen Qiuping gave Shengmin a look, and Shengmin said to his fourth grandfather, "Dad, don't worry, my little sister just wanted to tell us. You're making a fuss and scaring her."

Fourth Grandfather said, “I’m not in a hurry. It’s not like I’m the one finding a husband. I’m just playing around with myself. I’ve been busy for two years, and I can’t find anyone I like. You should tell us what you think, but you don’t say anything. I find one and you shake your head, I find another and you say no. Your father will listen to you. If you don’t want to, then you don’t want to. Finding a husband isn’t like going to the market to buy a cabbage. You have to pick and choose carefully. Who told you to be our daughter whom we’ve spoiled since childhood? If you marry into a bad family and don’t live a good life, how sad your parents will be. But you should tell us the truth, Guixiang. You should explain things to me clearly today, or else, or else…”

As the fourth grandfather spoke, tears streamed down his face. In the past two years, the family had been helping their daughter find a husband. He knew best how many people they had asked for help, how many favors they had to give, and how many favors they had to owe. But his daughter was so headstrong. She had quietly chosen someone herself. "Why didn't you tell your father? How am I supposed to know which family you want to marry if you don't tell me?"

When Guixiang saw her strong father shed tears, she panicked and cried, "Dad, I didn't mean to! I'm just too embarrassed to tell you. How could I possibly tell you this?"

Seeing that both father and son were crying, Fourth Grandma said, "Alright, alright, stop crying. What's the point of crying at a time like this? Guixiang, wipe your tears and tell your father what happened."

Gui Xiang first wiped away her father's tears, then wiped the tears from her own face, and said with a flushed face, "Father, I've taken a liking to Xiu Wu from our village."

Fourth Grandfather said, “Alright, as long as it’s someone you’ve chosen, I have no objection. But you have to have Xiuwu’s mother come to our house to propose marriage. Our daughter has been raised to this age, so she should have a grand marriage. I don’t need to go through the traditional three-matched betrothal ceremony, but at the very least, a matchmaker should come to propose. Although it’s a new society now, marriage is a big deal. You two can’t just settle down like this. That’s called a marriage without a matchmaker.”

Gui Xiang said, "Dad, I know, I know. I told Xiu Wu, I told Xiu Wu, and asked his mother to find someone to propose marriage."

Fourth Grandfather sighed and said dejectedly, "Alright, I know. When Xiuwu's mother comes to our house to propose marriage, we will prepare a proper dowry so that you can have a grand wedding."

As they were going to bed that night, Fourth Grandma asked Fourth Grandpa, "There are so many young men in our village, why did Guixiang choose Xiuwu?"

Fourth Grandfather said, "Xiuwu is a quick-witted child. I think he's one of the better ones among all these children. But it's hard to say about Xiuwu's mother. She's been in charge of the household for so many years, so I guess she wouldn't want a daughter-in-law like Guixiang."

Fourth Grandma said, "Why wouldn't she want to? Our Guixiang is beautiful and efficient at work. Why wouldn't she want to?"

Fourth Grandfather said, “Shenghuai’s mother, Tian Shenxing has relied on his wife all these years. Xiuwu’s mother has always been the head of the household. Do you think Xiuwu’s mother is weak? We’ve lived in the same village for so many years, who doesn’t know who’s who? Xiuwu’s mother is no pushover.”

Fourth Grandma said, "You know, Guixiang is such a child. If you were willing, you should have told us sooner. If you had told us a couple of years ago, we might have been able to persuade her to give up the idea of ​​marrying Xiuwu. Now that she's this age, and after we've helped her find a husband these past two years, I reckon she's determined to marry Xiuwu."

Fourth Grandfather said, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. She chose this place herself, and whether her life turns out well or badly, we can't blame her."

Fourth Grandma chuckled and said, "You're just being stubborn. We'll see who's worried when their daughter gets upset."

After Gui Xiang confessed to her family, she told Xiu Wu the very next day.

Xiuwu was both happy and anxious after hearing this. He was happy because his fourth grandfather hadn't said anything else, and it seemed that as long as his family sent someone to propose marriage, it would be successful. He was anxious because his mother still had a problem with Guixiang. How could he tell his mother about this and get her to agree to send someone to propose marriage?

These past two days, Xiuwu has been unable to eat or sleep well, a condition noticed by his sister-in-law, Xiuwen's wife, Xu Meixia.