Chapter 348: Cannot Outsource Filial Piety

Yuan Xiang sat in the Gu family courtyard. Seeing the dried chili peppers Lin Zhao was drying halfway, she took over the work and began to dry them with skilled movements.

Lin Zhao saw the scene of her working seriously when she returned home.

"Sister Xiang Xiang."

Yuan Xiang raised her eyes and revealed a smile, "Zhao Zhao."

"Stop working, come sit." Lin Zhao greeted and ordered Xiang Yubao to take candies and biscuits.

"It'll be done soon." Yuan Xiang quickly finished the work at hand, went to the sink to wash her hands, and sat down next to Lin Zhao.

She looked at Lin Zhao, "How is Uncle? My mother was very worried when she heard about Uncle's injury and hasn't been able to sleep well during this period. She went to Dongfeng Brigade to find Little Aunt, but Little Aunt and Uncle-in-law weren't there. When asking Brother Shi Chang and the others, they didn't know the situation either. I heard from Li Song that you were back, so I hurried over, wanting to ask about Uncle's situation."

"He's fine now." Lin Zhao guessed Yuan Xiang's intention and explained Uncle Song's situation without wasting words, "Before I came back, the doctor said Uncle was recovering well. Aunt, Yun Jin, and my parents are staying there, taking turns taking care of Uncle."

"You go back and tell Eldest Aunt that Uncle is fine and to let her be at ease."

Yuan Xiang breathed a sigh of relief and revealed a smile, "It's good that he's fine. When will Uncle be back? When he comes back, my mother and I will go see him. My mother has saved quite a few eggs and also ordered two old hens from people in the village, saying she wants to give them to Uncle to nourish his body."

"I'm not sure about the specific time; after all, it depends on his recovery. However, I guess it will probably be in a month," Lin Zhao said uncertainly.

The Song family was well-off, and Aunt wasn't a stingy person. If staying in the hospital was more beneficial to Uncle's recovery, she thought Aunt would require Uncle to stay in the hospital.

The conditions in the county hospital were limited, and the inspection equipment couldn't compare to the provincial capital. Coming back was ultimately not as reassuring as staying there.

The probability of staying was quite high.

And.

She heard from Uncle Fu that the factory had approved Uncle's leave. The time wasn't written, only saying to let Uncle recover with peace of mind.

It wasn't strange. A technician of her uncle's level was held in high regard by whichever factory he went to.

"If Uncle comes back, tell Li Song's sister and let Li Song bring me a message," Yuan Xiang said. "I have to work and it's not easy to ask for leave frequently. People in the brigade will gossip."

She had gone out with Li Song a few times before, and every time she returned to the brigade early, she was still gossiped about, saying that she wasn't married yet but her heart had already drifted toward a man... Their tongues were truly sharp, making one too lazy to pay them any mind.

"Okay." Lin Zhao agreed immediately.

"Sister Xiang Xiang, you sit first. I'll go into the room to get something." She left a sentence and walked toward the room on her own.

Yuan Xiang didn't wait for two minutes before Lin Zhao came out carrying a bag. She hurriedly got up to help.

"What is this? It's quite heavy," Yuan Xiang said casually.

"A wedding gift from Uncle and Aunt for you." Lin Zhao pushed the things in front of her, "Uncle and Aunt were afraid they wouldn't make it to your wedding, so they asked me to give you the things first."

"Uncle said he would try his best to come back to attend your wedding. After all, he is your maternal family and wants to support your face so the Li family won't look down on you."

"If he doesn't come back, it must be because his body can't handle the jolting. If it really comes to that, I hope you won't take offense."

Yuan Xiang's eyes felt hot.

"What offense would I take? Uncle's health is important. I don't value form that much; Uncle's health is much more important than attending my wedding," she said thoughtfully.

She would always remember the hot sesame seed cake Uncle stuffed into her hand when she was hungry as a child. That was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten in her life.

"I guessed you would say that." Lin Zhao smiled with curved eyes.

Yuan Xiang looked at her smile.

She only asked for half a day of leave and didn't dare to stay long. After asking the questions, she had to go.

Lin Zhao let Xiang Yubao and Heng Bao stay at home obediently and rode her bicycle to send Yuan Xiang off.

Uncle Song and Aunt had prepared quite a few things for Yuan Xiang, and it was quite strenuous for her to carry them herself.

After leaving the Harvest Brigade, it turned into a dirt road, pitted and bumpy, jolting severely.

"Sister Xiang Xiang, hold on tight."

Yuan Xiang responded in a crisp voice, "Hey! Don't worry, I'm holding on, I won't fall off."

Lin Zhao wore a homemade mask to block the wind and shouted, "... The wedding preparation is almost done, right?!"

"It's done." A shyness belonging to a new bride appeared on Yuan Xiang's face, "My mother prepared it, saying I don't need to worry."

"What about the Li family?" Lin Zhao asked again.

"Li Song prepared it, and his sister helped. They asked for my opinion on the layout of the house." Thinking of the house after marriage, Yuan Xiang's expression was expectant.

Having been in contact with Li Song for half a year, she and this person were becoming more and more compatible. After spending a long time together, it was inevitable to have some small conflicts, but the two were straightforward people, and it was fine once they spoke out; it never lasted overnight.

"That's quite good." Lin Zhao heard the expectation in her cousin's words, "Your life after marriage will definitely be comfortable."

Yuan Xiang: "Borrowing your auspicious words."

There was another reason why she was full of expectation for her life after marriage: she had no mother-in-law, so there would be no mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts.

Yuan Xiang's biological grandmother could be considered a good mother-in-law within ten miles and eight villages, but Eldest Aunt Song also had endless grievances to tell.

"Will Little Aunt and Uncle-in-law come back early?" Yuan Xiang asked about the arrangements of Lin Heling and Song Xiwei.

"Yes. My mother said she wants to send you off to marry." Lin Zhao made a turn and continued to ride forward.

The village where Eldest Aunt Song married was quite remote, and the road was narrow, making it very inconvenient to visit relatives. Visiting relatives during the New Year took half a day.

Yuan Xiang shook her feet slightly.

"That's good, you're all there." She was very happy.

Lin Zhao: "Marriage is a great happy event; we will definitely all be there. We want to intimidate the Li family and tell them that you have countless people supporting you behind your back, so they won't dare to look down on you."

A thick warmth surged in Yuan Xiang's heart.

"... Thank you."

Lin Zhao sent Yuan Xiang to the Yuan family, talked with Eldest Aunt for a while, and said goodbye.

As soon as she left, Eldest Aunt Song and Yuan Xiang looked at the additional gift given by Uncle Song.

"I don't know what your uncle prepared for you. When Zhao Zhao got married, your uncle looked everywhere for someone to exchange a sewing machine coupon, saying he wanted to add one for her. In the end, I don't know why he didn't add it. Although there was no sewing machine, I heard he gave a particularly large red envelope, and I estimate it was at least one hundred yuan," Eldest Aunt Song muttered.

Yuan Xiang looked at her mother, helplessness flashing in her eyes.

She said seriously, "Whatever is added is a heart. The bond between Zhao Zhao and Uncle is not something I can compare to. I won't compare how much gift is added."

She also knew some of the past events of the Song family. Uncle could become a worker, and even a technician with a very high status, Little Aunt contributed greatly. She unconditionally supported Uncle's studies, paid tuition fees, gave Uncle living expenses... she took care of everything without worry, making the relationship between the brother and sister better, which was normal.

Her mother had many complaints about Uncle studying all the time when she was young, and they quarreled several times, so naturally, they weren't that close.

Now that the brother and sister had restored contact, it was still the result of Little Aunt's efforts in between.

Otherwise, the ice wouldn't have broken yet.

"How can you not compare? Aren't you both calling him Uncle..." Eldest Aunt Song heard the meaning in her daughter's words, her face was awkward, and she said stubbornly.

Yuan Xiang's expression became more helpless, "Mother!"

"I won't say it anymore," Eldest Aunt Song said impatiently.

She also knew that her relationship with Uncle Song was not as good as Little Sister's.

Yuan Xiang didn't speak anymore and opened the bundle.

Seeing an iron lump and two peony flower pillowcases inside.

"A radio?" Yuan Xiang was stunned on the spot, never expecting Uncle to prepare this for her. This was a big item!

Girls in the city might not necessarily have such a dowry.

Eldest Aunt Song also couldn't come back to her senses for a long time.

She moved her mouth, feeling her eyes were a bit hot.

Just saying those words, it was also because she didn't think Uncle Song would send Yuan Xiang anything valuable. She didn't expect... she was small-minded.

Eldest Aunt Song smiled bitterly.

She was indeed small-minded, not as good as the brothers and sisters in the family.

Father and Mother were not wrong.

"Your uncle is supporting your face. Remember his kindness to you," Eldest Aunt Song said to Yuan Xiang.

Yuan Xiang nodded heavily.

"I know."

Eldest Aunt Song also reminded, "The radio is valuable, lock it in your cabinet, don't let anyone steal it."

"Mm."

The Yuan family learned that there was a radio in Yuan Xiang's dowry.

The girls were so sour their teeth ached, and the way they looked at Yuan Xiang changed.

Those with many thoughts secretly found the old couple of the Yuan family, instigating the head of the family to speak up and let Yuan Xiang voluntarily leave the radio behind.

The old couple were greedy for the radio. Not only were they greedy, but none of the old folks in the village were not greedy. Greedy as they were, they couldn't do the ugly thing of robbing their granddaughter's dowry!

What did that radio have to do with the Yuan family? Did the Yuan family add money or give coupons?! Neither! They didn't pay for anything, so why leave the radio behind?!

If it spread to the village, would their old faces still be needed!?

Old Grandma Yuan bent down, took off the straw sandals on her feet, and threw them at the face of the granddaughter who came up with the bad idea.

"Get out! You shameless thing!! How did Xiang Xiang provoke you? You look at her so unpleasantly that you came up with the stupid idea of occupying her dowry. I taught you everything I should have taught. Don't be so short-sighted as a girl. Why don't you understand? You're killing me! Your mother is still arranging a marriage for you; stop it first. When you are not so short-sighted, then talk about marriage. Otherwise, marrying out will also lose the face of the old Yuan family..."

Her voice scolding people was very loud, which could be said to have left no face for Yuan Duo, this granddaughter.

Everyone else in the Yuan family heard it.

They walked out of the room one after another.

Yuan Xiang heard that the matter was related to herself. Her cousin was thinking about the additional gift Uncle gave her.

She lowered her head, making people unable to see her expression.

Eldest Aunt Song, however, exploded. She rushed over and slapped her niece, saying disappointedly, "Your heart was eaten by a dog! How good was Xiang Xiang to you? She had two red hair ropes and gave you one. How could you bear to calculate against her?"

"That was the additional gift her uncle gave her. If you are sour, go find your uncle. What kind of skill is it to calculate against my daughter's dowry? Our family hasn't treated you thinly, right? How could you be like this!! Don't call me Aunt in the future. I don't have a niece like you who calculates against her own family!"

Yuan Duo covered her face, crying until she couldn't breathe.

Seeing her little thoughts exposed under the sun, her face was like a palette, extremely ugly.

"I didn't want to calculate against Sister Xiang Xiang, I just... I just thought that Gu Laoyezi and Grandma didn't have a radio, and wanted them to enjoy some happiness. I didn't have bad intentions, woo woo woo. Sister Xiang Xiang is going to marry into the city, her man earns money easily, save up a bit, and sooner or later she can buy another one. I didn't calculate against anyone, you wronged me..."

Yuan Xiang's father frowned tightly and couldn't help but say, "You are not wrong to want to be filial to your grandparents, but you cannot outsource filial piety. Make it clear, the radio has nothing to do with the Yuan family. It was bought for her by Xiang Xiang's uncle, and it was an additional gift for her marriage. You blowing wind in your grandparents' ears and wanting to take away the radio that belongs to her, this matter will invite laughter in any family."

"I said this, if you still think you are right, let's go out, walk out the front door, find someone in the village to judge, and listen to what everyone says..."

Before his words were finished, Old Gu Laoyezi Yuan spoke, "Enough, don't you feel ashamed!"

Yuan Xiang's father shrugged, "It's not me who is ashamed. It's not me who is thinking about Xiang Xiang's radio."

To be honest, he was also thinking about it.

He just didn't dare to touch it. He was terrified of that little sister of Xiang Xiang's mother. She was fierce, and one punch could press him to death.

Old Gu Laoyezi Yuan glared at his son, "Shut up, are you not a member of the Yuan family?"

Yuan Xiang's father shut his mouth.

Old Gu Laoyezi Yuan looked at his only granddaughter who was about to marry into the city and said, "This matter is your sister's fault. I will let her apologize to you. In addition, her dowry will be compensated to you. For my sake, don't hold it against her. How can there be overnight grudges between sisters."

Gu Laoyezi was fair in his dealings. He was a bit patriarchal, but he didn't treat his granddaughters harshly. Granddaughters all had dowries when they married out. Although not many, this was also the confidence of the Yuan family women. Such rules couldn't be found in a family within ten miles and eight villages.

When she was previously returned from her engagement, Gu Laoyezi was laughed at at his old age, but he didn't vent his anger on her and even thought about seeking justice for her, this useless granddaughter.

Yuan Xiang always remembered.

She respected Gu Laoyezi very much and didn't make it difficult for Old Gu Laoyezi Yuan. She nodded, "Okay."

But her heart had gone cold toward her cousin.

People who can't see others doing well cannot be deeply associated with. This was the principle Zhao Zhao taught her.

She deeply agreed.

Yuan Duo realized and shouted "No," "I don't want it! Don't touch my dowry!!"

The look toward Yuan Xiang revealed hatred.

Seeing this, Old Gu Laoyezi Yuan's chest was burning with a fire, and his face was terrifyingly gloomy.

Yuan Duo's parents felt the punishment for their daughter was too heavy and wanted to argue, but were scared by his face and didn't dare to speak again. One covered Yuan Duo's mouth and dragged her into the room, while the other said nice things.

"Scatter, scatter, what are you watching, you can't stop watching your own excitement, you really have it," Old Gu Laoyezi Yuan said sternly.

The Yuan family scattered, and the courtyard soon became empty.

"Pah, fortunately Father is fair and compensated Yuan Duo's dowry money to you, otherwise... humph." Eldest Aunt Song closed the room door and snorted coldly.

"I said that girl had many thoughts, you didn't believe it, and you still walked close to her, almost calculated against, right? Fortunately, your grandparents wanted face, otherwise, whether your radio could be taken away would be a mystery."

"Black-hearted girl, really knows how to stab! Xiang Xiang, stay away from her in the future."

Her words came one after another, and she was also not lightly angered.

Her husband said, "We didn't suffer a loss, why are you still so angry if we didn't suffer a loss? If you get angry, others will benefit."

Eldest Aunt Song felt this made sense, took a deep breath, "I'm not angry, the one who should be angry is that black-hearted dead girl Yuan Duo. Sisters all have dowries, only she doesn't. I think she's going to be mad!"

Yuan Xiang's father didn't echo this, looked at his daughter with a smile, and said, "Xiang Xiang, Dad just spoke for you, do you have to show something?"

Yuan Xiang's eyes flashed with understanding, "Dad wants to listen to the radio, right?"

"Not worthy of being my daughter, you really understand your old man." The man didn't deny it, "Dad just wants to listen to something fresh, thinking about going out to brag. The radio is yours, no one in our family can snatch it away." ===== CHAPTER 349 =====