Return to 1980 and be a matchmaker

Thursday, November [-], Gengshen year.

The Zhang family in Poxin Village.

Zhang Xiuping got up early, washed and put on a red wedding dress, then took out 20 yuan and put it on a stool, then pressed it with a piece of cloth, and then sat on the cloth.

According to custom, the cloth and money were naturally left to her brother.

The person who combed Zhang Xiuping's hair was the luckiest woman in the village. While she helped comb her hair, she said some auspicious words. This was not the first time she had done this. As a person with both parents, a harmonious husband and many sons, no matter who in the village When the girls in the family get married, they all ask her to help comb their hair in order to get a good fortune.

After Zhang Xiuping finished combing her hair, Zhang's mother came in to talk to her daughter.

Looking at her pretty daughter, Zhang's mother said with emotion: "Xiuping, you have been sensible since you were a child. You have always been the most obedient child in your mother's heart. It's a pity that your parents have no ability and only gave you a few years of education." primary school."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiuping quickly stretched out her hand to hold her mother's hand and said, "Mom, don't say that. You can send me to school for a few years so that I know how to read, so that I won't be like many sisters in the village." I don’t even know a word of Chinese characters, but I’m already very grateful!”

Zhang’s mother smiled and said: “When we sent you to study, your grandma scolded us and said it was a waste of money. Facts have proved that we made the right choice by sending you to study for a few years. Otherwise, no matter how beautiful you are, you will not be able to read in big letters. If you don’t know one, I’m afraid the Deng family won’t like you either, and you won’t be able to marry into such a good family!”

Zhang Xiuping nodded in agreement and said: "It's true. If you don't know how to read, then people may not really like me. Of course, I also want to thank you and my father for not marrying me off hastily, otherwise When the matchmaker came to my door before, the man’s price was quite high. If you hadn’t insisted on it, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Mother Zhang sighed and said, "It's better if you don't blame us for this. Your father and I couldn't help it at that time. In order to marry your two sisters-in-law, our family's little wealth has been emptied a long time ago. We really don't have the energy to help you two." If a younger brother marries a wife, he can only place his hopes on you.

Fortunately, our persistence has yielded good results, otherwise your dad and I would really be sorry for you! "

Seeing her mother mention this, Zhang Xiuping was a little lucky. Although she did not object to what her parents did at the time, it was not necessarily true that she was really happy. After all, her mother's family demanded such a high price, and when she married into the man's family, she would naturally He's just a bit shorter than others, and he doesn't have the confidence to say anything harsh when something happens.

That is to say, she was lucky enough to meet the Deng family. Not only were their family conditions good, but they also really liked her, so they didn't care so much. Her father-in-law even took the initiative to give her natal family an extra 380 yuan to use when she got married. It can be said that he took great care of her face.

After all, if her father-in-law hadn't given her an extra 380 yuan, her parents would have given her a few dozen yuan as a down payment. If she married into a family like the Deng family, she would never dare to show the down payment to anyone. Otherwise, not only would her mother's family be embarrassed, but her husband's family would probably also lose much face.

After the mother and daughter chatted for a while, Mother Zhang went out and brought in a bowl of rice. On top of the rice was a chicken leg.

"Xiuping, you are the bride today. You will definitely be very busy after you arrive at your husband's house. Basically, there will be no time for you to eat, so eat more now to avoid being hungry when you get there." Mother Zhang said.

Zhang Xiuping had heard her mother tell her about the rules of getting married. When she saw the chicken drumstick on the rice, she didn't feel sad about getting married today. She suddenly felt a twitch in her heart, and a feeling of being completely separated from the past emerged. Heartbroken.

From now on, she is no longer a girl from the Zhang family, but the daughter-in-law of the Deng family.

When she comes back after stepping out of this home, this place will no longer be her home, and her status will also change to that of a guest.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xiuping's eyes turned red. After taking the bowl and chopsticks, she couldn't help but whisper: "Mom, I can't let you go!"

Originally, most parents felt uncomfortable when their daughter got married. However, because their daughter married well, Zhang's mother has been very happy today.As a result, her daughter's simple words struck a chord in Zhang's mother's heart.

Thinking that from now on, her well-behaved and sensible daughter would be someone else's daughter-in-law, and she, as a mother, would not know how often she would be able to see her daughter, Mother Zhang couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.

"Xiuping, mom can't bear to leave you!"

As they talked, both mother and daughter shed tears uncontrollably!

After a while, Zhang's mother calmed down and said: "Okay, today is your big day, you should be happy, and you married so well, my mother is also happy. Your husband's family has a bicycle, and you will miss your parents from now on." Come ride back and see us.”

Zhang Xiuping wiped her tears and nodded: "You should be happy today. Don't worry, Mom, I will come back to see you often."

"Not much to say, hurry up and eat, otherwise the food will be cold."

"Ok!"

……

Since the groom's family sent enough pork, chickens and ducks, the Zhang family held a very sumptuous banquet today. After everyone had finished eating, it was time for the bride to go out.

In the room, Zhang Xiuping stood up with the help of two women with many sons, and her younger brother Zhang Shoujun sat down next.

It wasn't until his sister went out that Zhang Shoujun collected the cloth under his buttocks and 20 yuan, handed it to his mother, and then carried his sister's dowry with his two elder brothers. According to the marriage customs here in Bobai, women basically have to pay for their dowry when they get married. It was my brothers who helped carry the dowry.

Zhang Xiuping's dowry is really quite large, including all kinds of cloth, scissors, rulers, umbrellas, thermos bottles, teapots, buckets, cups, washbasins, toothbrushes, face towels, quilts, pillows and other daily necessities. Most of them are It was sent by relatives and friends.

As the saying goes, people carry people in a sedan chair.

If Zhang Xiuping had married into an ordinary family today, her dowry would have been at least half less. Her relatives and friends would certainly not have been as generous as they are now, but she was marrying into the Deng family, a wealthy family unrivaled in the countryside. Things given by family, relatives and friends are naturally much more valuable.

Except for Zhang Xiuping's aunt, everyone else was included in the wedding ceremony today.

It's not that the Zhang family's aunt doesn't want to come to give a wedding, but in Bobai County's wedding customs, neither aunt nor aunt are suitable for giving weddings. After all, the pronunciation of "gu" is the same as "gu", and "aunt" is homophonic to "yi", so taboos should be avoided when they should be avoided.

Seeing his daughter's retreating back, Zhang Zhenfa felt a little sore at the corners of his eyes.

Even in Bobai, where the patriarchal mentality is rampant, the parents are still reluctant to let go of their only daughter when she gets married.

Although Zhang Zhenfa did not hide and cry like many fathers of married daughters in later generations, tears still blurred his eyes at this moment when he saw his daughter's back gradually receding.