Chapter 52: Returning Home

Two days flashed by, and Jia Dongxu stepped out of his comfort zone. Early in the morning, he began preparing gifts for his father-in-law's family: cigarettes, alcohol, candy, tea, canned goods, and pastries. There was quite a lot of stuff, so he decided to ride his Bicycle back.

For these three days, Jia Dongxu and his wife had been inseparable, barely leaving each other's side except to eat or use the restroom. Once they emerged, they couldn't avoid being teased by a few of the women.

"Dongxu is a grown man now, too."

"That's right, Huairu is the flower of our Siheyuan. It's no wonder Dongxu didn't step out for three days."

"Hahaha, it's always like that when they're newlywed, just full of raw vigor."

"Indeed, it settles down after forty."

"……"

Hearing these bold and suggestive words, the newlyweds Jia Dongxu and his wife hurriedly grabbed their gifts and fled the courtyard in a panic.

"Hahaha, the young ones are still too thin-skinned."

"It's fine, she'll be alright once Huairu integrates with us."

Currently, in the Siheyuan, the only young wives were Li Zhaodi, the wife of the eldest son of the Wu family in the Back Courtyard, and Qin Huairu; everyone else was over thirty or forty.

Zhang Xiaohua felt helpless watching this group of women. She had been through it herself; she had participated in the discussions when the Wu family was getting married, and now that it was her turn, she finally understood how Wu Ma had felt back then.

"Huairu, don't take it to heart, they don't mean any harm," Jia Dongxu said on the road.

"I know, Brother Dongxu. When we get home, my aunts will surely tease us just as much."

"Hahaha, I'm not afraid of being teased."

Jia Dongxu had been practicing the Body Refining Technique with Zhang Ping'an for over a year, and he now stood at one meter seventy-eight. Qin Huairu was one meter sixty-seven, and since there were no high heels in this era, their heights were a perfect match.

Moreover, Jia Dongxu's physical fitness was incredibly strong. He drank Space Water every day, along with Tiger Bone Wine. One could tell from the fact that he hadn't fallen behind during their wrestling in bed over the past three days.

An hour later, at the entrance of Qin Family Village, a group of old men and women were sunning themselves—the village entrance's CBD, the most terrifying place during the New Year.

"Is that Dahu's daughter? She's returning home for the visit," an old man said from afar as he saw the two riding the Bicycle.

"Hmm, looks like it."

"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncles."

"It's Huairu."

"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncles, have some candy, have a smoke," Jia Dongxu said, handing out cigarettes and scattering candy.

"……"

After Jia Dongxu finished distributing the cigarettes and candy, the old man said:

"Huairu, you two hurry home, don't waste time here."

"Alright, then Grandpa, Grandma, you all chat."

After the two rode off into the distance, the old men and women started chatting again.

"Dahu's son-in-law is interesting, too. He doesn't look very old."

"Indeed, he can't be twenty yet. 'Have some candy, have a smoke,' hahaha."

"It's inevitable for a new son-in-law, hehe."

Jia Dongxu still didn't know he had just misspoken, until Qin Huairu let out a "pfft" of laughter.

"What's wrong, Huairu?"

"Brother Dongxu, 'have some candy, have a smoke'—we haven't even reached my house yet, why are you so nervous?"

"Ah? Did I say that just now?" Jia Dongxu said with an embarrassed look.

"Mm."

"That can't be, I'm not nervous at all."

"Maybe it was a slip of the tongue."

"Right, right, right, a slip of the tongue." Jia Dongxu, who hadn't actually been nervous, became nervous because of this interlude.

At Qin Huairu's home, they had already begun slaughtering chickens and fish to welcome the new son-in-law.

"Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling."

"Wei Hua, go see if your sister is back?"

"Oh, okay."

Before Qin Weihua could even leave the courtyard, the gate was pushed open; it was Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu.

"Sister, Brother-in-law."

"Hey! Come here, Wei Hua, Brother-in-law has candy for you."

"Sister Huairu, didn't Uncle Ping'an come?" the little girl popped out from somewhere.

"No, but sister brought you something delicious too. Come, let's go inside," Qin Huairu picked up little Qin Jingru.

"Oh, okay." With good things to eat, the little one immediately threw Zhang Ping'an to the back of her mind.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Uncle, Third Uncle, Eldest Brother, Second Brother... have a smoke," Jia Dongxu greeted everyone in the circle.

"Mm, good."

"Huairu, your mother-in-law didn't give you a hard time, did she?" The aunts and older women on Qin Huairu's side gathered around to ask.

Although Qin Mu had done a background check, it was hard to guarantee that their attitudes wouldn't change after marriage; many people had two different attitudes before and after marriage.

"No, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are both very good to me. My mother-in-law has made breakfast every day these past few days."

"You girl, the first day is fine, but you shouldn't know how to get up earlier after that."

"Mom, I did get up, but my mother-in-law told me to rest well and wouldn't let me help."

"Xiaolan, Huairu married into a good family."

"It's true, there's nothing to complain about with Dongxu's family."

"But Huairu, you should help your mother-in-law out more in the future. I heard from your Third Uncle that your brother-in-law and sister-in-law are not even a year old yet."

"That's right, Huairu. If people are good to us, we must be doubly good to them."

"Mm, I know."

This is the way of getting along for most people: you tick-tock me, I splash-splash you.

While the few of them didn't stop talking, their hands weren't idle either, and before long the dishes were mostly prepared.

"Wash your hands and eat."

The men smoking at the courtyard entrance finally stopped their conversation.

"Let's go, Dongxu, let's go inside and eat."

Today Jia Dongxu was the most important person, the guest of honor, and was arranged in the main seat; Qin Huairu's grandfather, uncles, and brothers were arranged at the same table as Jia Dongxu.

Jia Dongxu was, after all, a junior, and he was a bit flustered being pushed into the main seat by the elders; although Lao Jia had given him instructions, he had mostly forgotten them by now.

"Don't be nervous, Dongxu, everyone goes through this; you'll get used to it. Just offer tea and wine to everyone," said his brother-in-law Qin Weiguo, noticing his nervousness.

Qin Weiguo had also been nervous when he brought his wife back to her parents' home last year and had almost caused a misunderstanding; those who have been caught in the rain are more willing to hold an umbrella for others.

"Oh, oh, okay."

With his brother-in-law's reminder, the relevant instructions from Lao Jia slowly came back to him, and Jia Dongxu began to deal with his uncles and elders with composure.

"Jingru, go tell Grandfather and the uncles to drink less; it's not good for their health." Actually, Qin Huairu was afraid that Jia Dongxu would drink too much, as they still had to rush back to Sijiucheng in the afternoon.

"Okay."

"Grandfather, Uncle, Second Uncle, Dad, Sister Huairu says for you to drink less; it's not good for your health."

"..."

"Hahaha."

Everyone present was a shrewd person and understood what Qin Huairu meant; Qin Huairu, however, was so embarrassed she could have dug a three-bedroom apartment with her toes, while only little Jingru was oblivious.

"This wine is good; it's been a long time since I've had such pure distilled spirits."

"Indeed."

The few men were also delighted to find something good and had unknowingly drunk quite a bit, but fortunately, with Qin Huairu's reminder, they managed to put on the brakes.

"Grandfather, Dad, Uncle, Third Uncle, if you like drinking it, I'll bring you more next time."

He hadn't actually brought much this time—two three-jin jars, both of which were three-year-aged wine brewed by Zhang Ping'an himself.

"Hahaha, tasting the flavor is enough."

Jia Dongxu wasn't particularly into cigarettes and alcohol, but they were all connoisseurs; this wine was not cheap and was better than the bottled ones from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

At two in the afternoon, Jia Dongxu woke up in what used to be Qin Huairu's room, his head still a bit dazed.

Because the banquet had started early in the morning, Jia Dongxu had passed out drunk before twelve o'clock, and after sleeping for two hours, he had sobered up.

"You're awake, Dongxu. You really need to practice your tolerance; when I went to my father-in-law's last year, I went three rounds and was fine, but you got drunk after just two."

"You were fine, but it was quite exhausting for your sister-in-law to pull you back on a flatbed cart."

"Well, Dongxu, there's still some work in the fields, so I'll be heading off first."

"..."

"Brother Dongxu, drink some water and wash your face to wake up."

"Mm, okay."