Shen Fugui and Wang Guizhi sent Shen Shoutian to the commune early in the morning to cut three pounds of pork belly and also bought an old hen with much effort from the village.
Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaoi didn’t go to work today; they were busy washing and cleaning around the house. They had also started stewing the old hen early, just waiting for the younger sister-in-law to bring the people over.
Uncle Guai was driving the cart ahead. From a distance, he saw a row of houses, among which a newly built house with blue bricks and large tiles stood. While the courtyard gate did not look big, looking into it revealed a rather spacious courtyard and a beautifully built house. He thought to himself, as he had heard before that Shen ng’s parental ho was building a new house, it must be this one.
Juying also noticed the new house, but as they approached it, she beca increasingly nervous, even holding Lu Xiangxiang’s hand tighter. On the contrary, Lu Xiangxiang was much more relaxed. After all, it was just a matchmaking eting. When she was still ill, her second sister-in-law brought over so cousin’s son, and she almost cried when she t him.
That man, that man... wasn’t even as tall as her legs, and how he worked at the blacksmith’s shop was beyond her, probably just a pot-stirrer.
Shen Fugui and Wang Guizhi were likewise very nervous, but they trusted their daughter and son-in-law, surely it would be a good girl, otherwise, they wouldn’t have recomnded her, but hearing that there was a troubleso sister-in-law in the family still made them sowhat uneasy.
"Here they co, isn’t that Xiao ng?"
"Look at , in this cold weather, Qin Lan, guests are coming, quickly pour so hot water, oh, and also bring out the sugar cakes and fruit."
Lv Qinlan untied the apron around her waist and gave it a good stretch.
"Mom, don’t worry, let the guests co in first, so when we serve water and bring things out, they’ll see how much we value them. They haven’t arrived yet, if I bring things out now, they’ll think it’s just for us, making it awkward to serve guests."
"Yes, yes, I’m just anxious."
Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaoi, who was stoking the fire in the kitchen, exchanged a knowing smile. Living in this big house, their hearts felt much brighter. Just this kitchen alone, previously old and leaky, sotis when it rained, water would drip into the pots through the thatched roof, even having a clean al was a luxury.
Now, not only is the kitchen spacious, but there are also two pots, two pots ah, brought over by the younger sister-in-law. Living now is just like the wealthy landlords.
"Mom and Dad, grandma, and grandpa are waiting at the courtyard gate!"
"Mom, look, grandma is wearing new clothes. Did she know we were coming?"
Shen ng smiled noncommittally, Uncle Guai and Zhu Juying also looked over, and indeed, the elderly couple standing at the gate were dressed in brand-new clothes, evidently placing much importance on this matchmaking eting, which comforted them a lot.
The ox cart arrived at the gate, Mingyang, Mingliang, and Ming Fang were the first to jump off the cart, Lu Zhenping was holding Lu Mingkai, who had fallen asleep on the way due to the bumpy ride, wrapped in a small blanket.
"Oh my dear grandson, has Ming Kai fallen asleep? Let’s take him inside!"
Wang Guizhi first patted the three children’s heads and faces, then glanced at Lu Mingkai held by Lu Zhenping, before her gaze shifted to Uncle Guai’s family, repeatedly scrutinizing Lu Xiangxiang. Seeing a well-behaved, delicately beautiful girl standing there, in her green plaid coat, appearing gracefully poised.
"Great, really great!"
"Co in, co in, co into the house and drink so hot water, are you cold, big brother, younger sister, co inside to warm up."
"Not cold, we brought a blanket with us, didn’t catch much wind."
Shen Fugui called out to Uncle Guai and Zhu Juying, but Wang Guizhi grasped Lu Xiangxiang’s hand with imnse satisfaction.
Shen ng looked sowhat speechless; her mother was really too anxious, "Mom, is Xiao Bin not at ho?"
"He’s not, as soon as he heard you were coming, he ran out early with a bucket, said he was going to catch so fish from the river. Your older and second brothers went to work and will be back soon."
Although she was striking up a conversation, her eyes were constantly on Lu Xiangxiang, whose face turned redder and redder, looking at Shen ng for help so what pleadingly.
"Mom, don’t scare Xiangxiang. We’re all here and aren’t going to run off suddenly. Don’t be so nervous."
"Ah, um, yes yes yes, co dear, co and sit. Qin Lan, Xiao i, stop busying yourselves, co over and chat."
"Ah!"
Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaoi had been quietly glancing around since people entered the door, now getting a closer look at Lu Xiangxiang, they felt satisfied as well. Although she was not as stunningly beautiful as the last girl, she was beautiful in another way; all was good.
"Uncle, Aunt, have so hot water. Xiangxiang, this red date tea was prepared early this morning, it’s really good for the body in this weather."
"Co co co, this is the sugar cake bought by the elder brother at the commune this morning, try it."
Uncle Guai and Aunt Juying were holding enal cups, feeling warm inside.
Lu Xiangxiang’s attitude had also changed greatly; initially, she was afraid that her sister-in-law would make a scene again, causing trouble for her family, but she couldn’t reject Shen ng either, and just had to co stiffly. Actually, she had already lost hope for the marriage, but unexpectedly, the family mbers of Sister-in-law ng were all so kind.
With a "clang," the gate was pushed open, the lively conversation in the room was interrupted, and everyone turned to look toward the gate.
Shen Xiaobin ca in holding a bucket, half of his trousers still wet. Seeing the ox cart at the door, he knew his sister and brother-in-law had co back and was overjoyed, carrying the bucket directly into the hall.
"Sister, brother-in-law, you’re here, look, I just fished several big fishes from the river, including a firehead, look...."
Seeing so many people in the room, and a few strangers, he suddenly realized that today was the day they had arranged for his blind date. His eyes scanned around, finally resting on Lu Xiangxiang who was also looking up at him; both glanced at each other and turned their heads away with flushed faces.
"Stinky kid, Mom told you over and over to co back early, but you had to make it so late, look at you, go change your clothes quickly."
"Ah!"
Shen Xiaobin answered vaguely and turned to run, then ran back a few steps later and carried the bucket away. Wang Guizhi felt very embarrassed, worried that Lu Xiangxiang’s family would look down on her foolish son.
"That, haha, the kid was just too happy to see his sister and brother-in-law, young lady, please don’t take offense!"
Like Lu Xiangxiang, Zhu Juying, seeing her cousin’s son, and now looking at the tall and handso Shen Xiaobin, where could she be dissatisfied? Plus, looking at the beautiful courtyard, she had just glanced at the room Shen Xiaobin entered, which had a bigger front than the other rooms, and she felt even more satisfied in her heart.
"Why take offense at all, no offense taken, he’s just happy to see his sister and brother-in-law, understandable, understandable."
Wang Guizhi breathed a sigh of relief seeing her reaction.
Shen ng and Lu Zhenping hardly interjected, allowing their elders to chat and probe each other. They had brought the people, but they weren’t covering the subsequent matters. She stretched her foot and nudged Lu Zhenping.
"You go clean up the fish, I’ll stew it in a bit; they looked quite big."
"Okay."
After a while, Shen Xiaobin, now tidied up, ca this way. If one ignored his synchronized limbs movent when walking and his flushed face, he indeed looked quite imposing.
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