Chapter 78: Li Ze Gets Married

"And those two little nephews of yours as well, they can also sit quietly and listen to me lecture."

"The two children at Brother Yi's house aren't easy either; they are so sensible it makes one's heart ache."

"Indeed, Lao Yi and his wife have truly struck gold," Yan Bugui said in a low voice.

"That's true, but this is also good. The more sensible they are, the more Brother Yi and his wife will cherish them, and the more they will treasure each other. This is what you call a 'two-way rush'."

"'Two-way rush'?" Yan Bugui pondered it carefully, then slapped his thigh and said:

"Ping'an, that's a great choice of words! What a 'two-way rush' indeed."

Zhang Ping'an was startled by Yan Bugui; it was just a phrase, was it really necessary? Zhang Ping'an had underestimated a language teacher's obsession with word choice.

"Ping'an, I'll be heading back first." Yan Bugui greeted him and walked out, shaking his head and muttering something to himself.

At this moment, the few children in the room were also startled by Yan Bugui's sudden thigh-slapping.

"Uncle!" X4

"Zhang Shu!" X2

"Mm."

The two little ones even rushed over directly.

"Hahaha, were you obedient today?" Zhang Ping'an squatted down to catch the two little rascals.

"Mm, my brother and I were both obedient."

"Yes, Uncle."

"Such good children."

Zhang Ping'an took a few small sweet potatoes that were still warm from his satchel and gave one to each of them.

"Thank you, Uncle (Zhang Shu)."

"Mm."

"Xiaomei, Xiaoqing, how is it? Is studying easier than gathering pigweed?"

"Mm." Having never been exposed to primary school knowledge before, they now had some idea of it and were not as resistant as before.

"Jiabao, Jiabei, time to go home."

"Coming, Mother. Zhang Shu, we're heading back now."

"Mm, the road outside is slippery, walk slowly."

"Mm, okay."

Outside, as soon as Tan Cuicui saw the corners of the two little ones' mouths, she knew Zhang Ping'an had given them something good to eat again.

"Mother, Zhang Shu just gave us sweet potatoes to eat. My sister and I ate one, and there's another one in my pocket for you and Father."

"Good children, let's go home." Tan Cuicui took one by the hand and walked home.

Actually, it was still early, and Tan Cuicui only returned early every time because she had to go back to cook for the Deaf Old Lady.

Yan Bugui returned half an hour early every day because his wife was also about to give birth.

"Jiabao, Jiabei, you two sit in the room and warm up first, Mother is going to cook."

"Okay, Mother."

Half an hour later, the cornmeal porridge and mixed-flour Steamed Buns were ready, and Yi Zhonghai had also returned.

"Father, eat a sweet potato, it's still hot."

"Hahaha, good, good, good." This scene was one Yi Zhonghai had dreamed of countless times.

"Lao Yi, I'll go deliver the food to the Godmother first."

"I'll go." Yi Zhonghai was afraid the Deaf Old Lady would say something about favoring boys over girls to Tan Cuicui again, and if a scene broke out, he would be caught in the middle and find it difficult.

"That works too."

Tan Cuicui really didn't want to listen to the Deaf Old Lady's nagging. In the past, she told the Deaf Old Lady almost everything because she couldn't really talk to the women of her own generation, but now it was different; as for children, she had her own, and they were very sensible.

Moreover, the Deaf Old Lady no longer comforted her as she once did, but instead told stories about ungrateful wretches, which made her feel repulsed the moment she heard them.

A bowl of cornmeal porridge, two mixed-flour Steamed Buns, a little pickled vegetables, and scrambled eggs—this standard already exceeded that of most families in the Siheyuan.

"Godmother, eat slowly. I'll have Xiaocui come over to clean up tomorrow morning."

"Good."

The Deaf Old Lady was no longer making a fuss, but whenever Tan Cuicui came over, she would always find ways to remind Tan Cuicui, attempting to sow discord between Tan Cuicui and the children.

Unfortunately, she didn't know that while Tan Cuicui was silent on the surface, she was becoming increasingly repulsed by her in her heart.

Back home, Yi Zhonghai and Tan Cuicui shared the small sweet potato, their faces full of happiness.

"Lao Yi, this sweet potato was given by Ping'an. Usually, when Ping'an comes over, he also gives them good things to eat. Besides, Jiabao and Jiabei have been attending Lao Yan's classes with Ping'an's niece these days. Don't you think we should show some appreciation?"

"Mm~ we really should show some appreciation. How about this? Doesn't Ping'an like hunting? I'll make a few spears for him in the workshop. As for Lao Yan, isn't his wife about to give birth? You keep an eye on things and help out when you can."

"Okay."

A week later, Zhang Ping'an received five spears—three short and two long—which were exactly Yi Zhonghai's handiwork. It must be said, Zhang Ping'an quite liked them.

"Many thanks, Brother Yi. How much do I owe you? I..."

"Ping'an, you often feed Jiabao and Jiabei many good things; consider this a token of my appreciation."

"This..."

"Ping'an, since it's a token of Lao Yi's appreciation, you should accept it."

"Alright then, many thanks, Brother Yi."

"Hey," Yi Zhonghai waved his hand dismissively.

Zhang Ping'an truly looked at Yi Zhonghai with new eyes. Tan Cuicui's tolerance and the two children's sensibility had changed Yi Zhonghai too much, pulling him back from the wrong path by force.

A month later, the Fang and Li families set the wedding date, and Li Ze was finally about to get his wish.

After more than a month of recuperation, Fang Dahu finally recovered, picked up his hunting rifle, and went back into the mountains. In two days, he harvested a Wild Boar and several wild rabbits and pheasants, preparing to send them to his in-laws as a dowry.

The ingredients for Jia Dongxu's wedding were all provided by Zhang Ping'an; since they were both his nephews, he did not favor one over the other, so he hauled a Wild Boar, ten fish, and some cigarettes and alcohol to Li Family Village.

Zhang Ping'an pedaled his tricycle while Fang Dahu pulled a flatbed cart; the two arrived at the Li Family's entrance almost simultaneously, and upon seeing each other's game, they were both stunned.

"Ping'an, you know how to hunt too?"

"Yes, Brother Fang, I heard Xiao Ze was getting married, so I went and hunted a Wild Boar to bring back."

"What a coincidence; Xiaoyu's mother is no longer with us, and I don't know how to do chores like making quilts, so I thought I'd hunt a Wild Boar to use as a dowry."

"...."

The conversation between the two at the entrance was also heard by the eldest sister and eldest brother-in-law inside the house.

"Brother Fang, this won't do; this Wild Boar is worth several million."

"But..."

"How about this, Brother Fang, there is still time; I am in charge of procurement at the factory, so I will take this Wild Boar of yours, and after I exchange it for money in the city, I will have San Jie and the others make a few quilts, and then give you the remaining money."

"Deal, deal, deal."

Fang Dahu also felt it was inappropriate to use a Wild Boar as a dowry, but during the time he was ill, his older brother and sister saw that he was not going to make it and not only did not think of helping him, but instead waited to divide his family property, which left him feeling utterly cold-hearted, so naturally, he could not ask them to make the quilts.

"Ping'an, you this..."

"Eldest sister, eldest brother-in-law, when Dongxu got married, I provided a pig; they are both my nephews, how could I favor one over the other?"

"Well, then, that will do."

Li Huaijin had originally been prepared to slaughter the pig he had raised for half a year; although it was a pity, this was for the best, as the pig could now be raised until the end of the year, and he could send more to his father-in-law's family when they slaughtered the New Year pig.

After unloading the Wild Boar and moving Fang Dahu's Wild Boar onto the tricycle, Zhang Ping'an prepared to set off.

"Ping'an, don't just make a few quilts; buy me a large red washbasin, a thermos, a rack, and the like, and also make a set of cotton-padded jackets for Xiaoyu and Xiaojun."

"Done."

In any case, he had to make the trip, and after buying them, they would be for the eldest sister's family; furthermore, befriending Fang Dahu would allow him to procure quite a lot of game in the future.

Zhang Ping'an handed over the Wild Boar on his side and received much praise from Lou Zhenyu; after taking the money and cleaning the tricycle, Zhang Ping'an loaded a bag of cotton and went to the shop.

"San Jie, Si Jie, this is the cotton bought by Xiao Ze's future father-in-law; make two quilts, and also make a red cotton-padded jacket for Xiao Ze's partner—her height is about the same as Huairu's—and also for Xiao Ze's brother-in-law, who is about one meter three tall."

"Done." They both knew about Li Ze's upcoming wedding.