Chapter 101

On Sunday morning, Director Li accompanied Yan Yan's family to the Siheyuan; from far away, Yan Yan saw He Yushui waiting eagerly at the Siheyuan gate.

"Yushui, sorry to keep you waiting," Yan Yan said, quickly stepping up to He Yushui.

"My older brother sent me out to meet you, uncle, aunt, brother-in-law, please come in quickly," He Yushui said she should actively greet Director Li, as Li Qiang's foster sister, she definitely knows Director Li and is quite familiar with him; this time he came to help with the marriage proposal, so it's appropriate for her to actively greet him.

"Yushui, long time no see, I never thought you'd be dating Xiao Zhuang," Director Li said with a smile.

"I also didn't expect my brother-in-law to know Uncle Zhuang," He Yushui said a little embarrassed.

"I've known him for years," Zhuang Zheng also said with a smile.

"Yushui, these people are here to propose marriage, right?" Inspector Yan Butgui, seeing the crowd at the gate lugging many packages, knew they were likely here to propose marriage.

"Yes, Teacher Yan," He Yushui said with a smile.

"Isn't this Director Li? Are you here today to act as matchmaker?" Yan Butgui knew Director Li, after all he often came to the Siheyuan; as the doorman, how could he not know him?

"Teacher Yan, Zhuang Yan is the son of my old comrade-in-arms; I've come today to propose marriage on his behalf," Director Li said, of course also knowing Yan Butgui.

"Please come in quickly," today's Yan Butgui was especially sensible; after taking the cigarette Zhuang Yan handed over, he warmly greeted them.

"Thank you, Teacher Yan, then we'll go in first," Director Li said with a smile.

"Brother-in-law, I never thought Xiao Zhuang's matchmaker would be you," Li Qiang said, smiling upon seeing Director Li.

"Otherwise, how could you say the world is so small?" After saying that with a smile, Director Li introduced them to each other.

Li Qiang also warmly welcomed them inside, and He Yuzhu quickly served the dishes.

"Old Zhuang, let me tell you, Yuzhu's cooking skills are no boast; in a moment you'll taste his dishes—this is the most authentic Sichuan cuisine I've ever eaten," Director Li praised He Yuzhu's cooking skills without reservation.

"I've long heard Zhuang Yan talk about it, and now I finally have the fortune to taste it," Zhuang Zheng said with a smile.

"From now on you'll be relatives; it'll be much easier for you to eat his cooking than for me," Director Li said sourly.

"Brother-in-law, that's not right; whenever you want to eat, come to my second brother's house and I'll make it for you directly," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"You can't come too often, or else we won't be able to finish the food at home," Director Li said half-jokingly.

"Alright, let's start eating, or else it'll get cold and lose its flavor," Li Qiang called out for everyone to begin; today they similarly set up two tables, one for men, one for women.

"Before we eat, I have something I want to discuss with you all; Zhuang Yan said back home that the three transfers and one response items are to be provided as dowry by your side, which I cannot agree with; according to tradition, these should be prepared by us, but now you're providing them as dowry, and I really feel uneasy about it," Zhuang Zheng spoke up.

"Uncle Zhuang, our two families only have this one sister; as her brother, giving her a bit more dowry is nothing," Li Qiang said with a smile; this had already been decided, and he hadn't expected Zhuang Zheng to now object.

"I can understand your feelings; it's just that having you provide the dowry makes me feel a bit uneasy," Zhuang Zheng said tactfully; actually his implication was, "You're providing the dowry, so how will my relatives and friends view me? Although I, Old Zhuang, am not a big shot, I still care about face, okay?"

"Uncle Zhuang, then what do you mean?" Having understood Zhuang Zheng's meaning, Li Qiang asked.

"In that case, we'll split the three transfers and one response evenly; we'll buy the bicycles and watches. You handle the sewing machines and radios; additionally, we'll provide fifty yuan as betrothal gift," Zhuang Zheng said generously; in those days betrothal gifts were mostly ten or twenty yuan, and Zhuang Zheng directly giving fifty was considered very high.

"Uncle Zhuang, just give a token amount of betrothal gift; let's go with the flow—we don't need that much. We're marrying off a sister, not selling her; if word got out, people would criticize us," He Yuzhu quickly spoke up to stop them.

"Yuzhu, first thank you for being understanding, but whether it's betrothal gift or dowry, it's just the two families supporting a new household; our eldest son is already married, and his family is now in the frontier, leaving only Zhuang Yan with us; when we grow old we'll still have to rely heavily on the young couple to take care of us," Zhuang Zheng said with a smile.

"Uncle Zhuang, honoring parents is something children must do; that has nothing to do with the amount of betrothal gift," He Yuzhu still refused to accept so much betrothal gift.

"Alright, stop arguing; I've seen people complain that betrothal gifts are too little, but this is the first time I've seen someone complain they're too much. Let's both give me face and set the betrothal gift at thirty yuan. Old Zhuang, if you still feel uneasy, when they get married you can just give Yushui a big red envelope. As I say, Yuzhu makes sense: if you give such a high betrothal gift and word gets out, others might follow suit, leaving ordinary families in a bind; we should also think of others." Director Li said, having returned these many years, he understands ordinary people's affairs better than Zhuang Zheng does.

"Alright, since older brother you said that, we'll follow your suggestion; I didn't think it through," Zhuang Zheng felt Director Li's words were also reasonable; the biggest flaw of compatriots is liking to follow trends, and he was aware of that.

"Then it's settled; Qiangzi, as for the big items of the three transfers and one response, I think we should still follow Old Zhuang's suggestion—your family takes half," Director Li said to Li Qiang.

"Fine, anyway it's all for Yushui and Xiao Zhuang's good," Li Qiang understood Zhuang Zheng's thoughts and of course would no longer insist on his original idea.

"The wedding date was also discussed by Yushui and Zhuang Yan; it's set for October 1, National Day, which is both the motherland's birthday and their big happy day—truly a double blessing," Director Li said with a smile.

"Okay, we have no objections here, and we still have over ten days to prepare fully," He Yuzhu had no objection to the wedding date. According to tradition one should have someone calculate the date, but in these special times who would dare do that—wouldn't that be asking for trouble? Out on the streets, those wearing red armbands all day shouting about smashing the Four Olds; if they caught you with a braid, that would be trouble. Besides, National Day is also a good day; who would dare say the motherland's birthday isn't a good day? He probably just thinks his own life is too long.