Chapter 79

Sunday morning, the Siheyuan was bustling; today was Liu Guangqi's wedding day, and early that morning Liu Haizhong summoned the helpers to his home.

He Yuzhu was the head chef today; he brought Ma Hua and Liu Lan over to help. Liu Lan is also a miserable woman: her husband indulges in eating, drinking, gambling and prostitution, neglecting the family; Liu Lan has to go to work and also take care of her parents-in-law, fortunately her parents-in-law can help look after the child a bit. During the three-year disaster period, Liu Lan, to make a living, also got together with Li Huaide as described in the original story. Actually Liu Lan is a decent person; her only flaw is her big mouth—she can't keep a secret. She is the blunt‑spoken type, and He Yuzhu also feels some sympathy for her plight. Sometimes when a banquet needs extra kitchen help, he also brings Liu Lan along so she can earn a little extra to subsidize the household. In fact, Liu Lan's situation would be considered nothing nowadays.

Liu Guangqi wore a crisp Zhongshan suit and rode a brand‑new bicycle to fetch the bride. Accompanying him to fetch the bride were Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiecheng, who rode the bicycles of Li Qiang and Jia Dongxu.

Around ten in the morning, amid a burst of crackling firecrackers, Liu Guangqi brought the bride back. The bride was not particularly pretty—she was a bit over 1.6 meters tall, her skin somewhat dark; judged solely by looks she was not quite a match for Liu Guangqi, but her background was good: her father was a deputy factory director and she was an accountant, so Liu Guangqi's marriage to her likely had something to do with her family status.

Not long after the bride was brought home, Liu Guangqi's father‑in‑law arrived in a jeep at the Siheyuan.

"In‑law, welcome, welcome," Liu Haizhong said excitedly, shaking Liu Guangqi's father‑in‑law's hand.

"In‑law, don't stand on ceremony; from now on we're one family," Liu Guangqi's father‑in‑law said with a beaming face.

"Come in, please; we've been waiting for you—once you arrive we'll start the feast," Liu Haizhong said with a smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Liu Guangqi's father‑in‑law said politely.

"Guangfu, go outside and keep an eye on the car; don't let that brat scratch it," Liu Haizhong said to his son.

"In‑law, no need, it's fine to leave the car at the gate."

With the arrival of Liu Guangqi's father‑in‑law, the wedding began; weddings in that era were especially simple, and after the ceremony Liu Haizhong announced the start of the feast.

Seated at the main table were Liu Haizhong, Liu Guangqi's father‑in‑law, and Li Qiang; Liu Haizhong also specially invited their workshop director, presumably the highest leader he could summon from the Yagangchang, plus a few other minor leaders from the Yagangchang. Notably, Xu Damao was placed at the main table, which clearly meant he was to pour drinks and smooth over the atmosphere.

The deaf granny was not seated at the main table again, but she has come to terms with it; after three years of natural disasters, just being able to enjoy a decent meal is good enough—there's no point worrying about main table or not.

Before, the deaf granny, Yi Zhonghai, and Jia Zhangshi used to sit together at one table; ever since Yi Zhonghai fell out with the Jia family, the two sides haven't spoken when they meet, let alone share a table. Now Yi Zhonghai's table includes Yan Butgui and a few neighbors.

However, Liu Haizhong's relationships at the Yagangchang are indeed good; the factory workers plus his apprentices filled three tables.

"Little Yi, everyone says Liu Haizhong is a good‑for‑nothing, but look how many Yagangchang workers have come—don't you have any thoughts?" the deaf granny asked Yi Zhonghai; indeed she was hinting at him, because if Yi Zhonghai had any trouble at home, the Yagangchang folks who showed up could be counted on one hand.

"Granny, I admit I'm not as good as Old Liu in this regard," Yi Zhonghai now also had to admit that his connections at the Yagangchang were not as strong as Liu Haizhong's.

"Little Yi, as long as I'm here in the Siheyuan, people may not press you too hard out of respect for me; but if one day I'm gone and you keep behaving like this, you'll probably find it hard to get a foothold in the Siheyuan." The deaf granny sighed and said this; Yi Zhonghai's earlier persona was all right, but after a few incidents—especially his breaking off the master‑disciple tie with Jia Dongxu—the people in the Siheyuan began to ostracize him invisibly.

In the hearts of the Chinese, people like Yi Zhonghai, who are heartless and unrighteous, are universally despised.

"Granny, I have an idea I'd like to discuss with you," Yi Zhonghai said, knowing the deaf granny spoke the truth; he now realized he could only cling to her thigh.

"What is it?"

"I want to become your sworn child," Yi Zhonghai said.

"Little Yi, actually there's no need for that; we don't need to do this between us." The deaf granny still favored He Yuzhu the most, but her relationship with him was merely average now; she also knew Yi Zhonghai wanted to become her sworn child in order to tie her to him, yet she couldn't do without the care of Eldest Aunt, leaving her feeling rather torn.

"Granny, after all we're not properly matched, but if we become sworn kin, others won't have much to say." Yi Zhonghai had resolved to bind the deaf granny to his leaky boat; in fact he hoped to use this to repair his image among the neighbors, even though he had severed the master‑disciple tie with Jia Dongxu. By becoming her sworn child and caring for her, he hoped people's view of him would shift.

"Since you've made up your mind, I won't say anything more," the deaf granny said; at her age she didn't really care.

"Taking advantage of Guangqi's wedding wine, I also have an announcement to make: I plan to become sworn kin with the granny next Sunday. I'll set up a few tables in our courtyard and invite the neighbors to witness it." As soon as the deaf granny finished speaking, Yi Zhonghai lifted his wine cup and rose to speak, as if afraid she might change her mind.

Everyone was still immersed in the joy of enjoying the food; Yi Zhonghai's sudden announcement left them stunned, and they stood there dumbfounded for a long while.

"Good," Yan Butgui was the first to react; he didn't care about anything else—since Yi Zhonghai said he'd set up a few tables in the Siheyuan next Sunday, that meant another chance for a free meal, so how could he not be pleased?

"Good," the neighbors also responded; since there'd be free tasty food, they simply echoed the approval.

"Congratulations, Old Yi," Liu Haizhong said, raising his wine cup with a smile; inside he actually felt a bit annoyed at Yi Zhonghai, feeling that after all his effort the spotlight had been snatched away by Yi Zhonghai.

"Old Liu, the granny lives alone and is usually looked after by my wife; I've been thinking that constantly looking after someone without proper status looks bad, so if we become sworn kin, others won't have much to say." Yi Zhonghai said this with feigned sincerity.

"That makes sense," Liu Haizhong replied, not knowing what else to say, so he just went along with Yi Zhonghai's words.

"Well, today our courtyard also gets a double blessing—let's all raise a cup," Yan Butgui also said, standing up.

"Cheers," the neighbors shouted, raising their cups.