Love in the Siheyuan: Starting from Jia Dongxu

"Okay, let's have a drink together later." Qin Dazhuang nodded, his good thing was about to happen.

"Uncle, second uncle, I'm going back now. I have to go to work tomorrow." Seeing that the backpack was tied up, Jia Dongxu was ready to set off.

"Okay, Huairu, you go and see them off." Qin Dazhuang said, and watched them leave.

Seeing them leave, Jia Zhenye said, "Brother Dazhuang, my second son has also moved to the city. Life is getting better and better."

"We should also settle the matter so that they can work in the city with peace of mind."

"Very good, Zhenye, it's time to talk." Qin Dazhuang said, and asked Qin Fuhai to pour water for his father-in-law and daughter-in-law, and then asked his wife to cook.

"Big girl, go and help your aunt cook. I'll discuss something with Fu Hai's father." Jia Zhenye said as he took the stool Qin Fujiang handed over and sat down.

Jia Zhenye took a puff of his pipe, cleared his throat and said, "Originally the children wanted to discuss the bride price in the village, but now they are about to go to the city, where there are many places to spend money, so let's not talk about the bride price."

"Just let them take some time to get the certificate, what do you think?"

"Okay, then my Qin family will take advantage of this." Qin Dazhuang said with a smile, "Zhenye, let's have a good drink later. This is the wine my son-in-law brought over. We were planning on having dinner later, but now that they're gone, it's a good deal for us."

"This will help Zhenye. Fuhai has saved some money. Let's use some of it to hold the banquet."

"Forget it, let's save as much as we can now, so that the children won't have enough money when they go to the city. We can buy some candies later and give them to everyone to celebrate." Jia Zhenye said.

Qin Dazhuang thought for a moment, then said to Qin Fuhai, "Fuhai, go call your mother-in-law and two brothers-in-law. Let's get together today and treat it as a wedding banquet for you."

"Okay, then let's have a drink." Jia Zhenye took a puff of his cigarette. The marriage between his daughter and Fu Hai was settled. They could just get the marriage certificate when the time comes.

"Okay, I'll go right away." Qin Fuhai walked into the house happily and told his mother about the arrangements made by Qin Dazhuang and Jia Zhenye just now. He asked her to cook more rice. The meat was already stewing in the pot, so he just needed to make a few more dishes.

Seeing that his daughter's marriage was settled, Jia Zhenye cleared his throat again and said, "Brother Dazhuang, your son-in-law is a capable man. He has become a section chief at a young age. What do you think?"

"Let's get married when they are old enough." Qin Dazhuang said while smoking.

"Stupid!" Jia Zhenye said, "That child seems to be very popular now. Aren't you afraid that someone will use some trickery to snatch him away from you?"

"What means do you use? It's not the same as before. Who dares to do this? I'll go to the government." Qin Dazhuang tapped his pipe and said, his daughter is good at work, wouldn't it be perfect for her to stay at home for two more years?

"Brother Dazhuang, why don't you understand? Now the matter of Huairu has only been discussed verbally, right?" Jia Zhenye said, "If you really regret it, you can't do anything to her."

"Young people in this city are cunning. If they use some trickery and something really happens between a man and a woman, your son-in-law will run away. Will it be of any use for you to complain to the government then?"

It was obvious that Jia Zhenye took these things into consideration before deciding on the marriage between Qin Fuhai and Jia Danniu. If he didn't have these concerns, Qin Fuhai would have just waited.

Qin Dazhuang listened and thought for a moment, "Zhenye, you don't think the same about my Fu Hai, do you? How can you be so cunning?"

"You can't blame me for this. Young people can't think of these things, but we old people have to take them into consideration. In the old society, it was not uncommon for people from the village to go to the city to work."

"Well, you are right, but Huairu is not old enough now." Qin Dazhuang looked at her worriedly.

"You are still stubborn! I heard that there are young people in the county who get married before they reach the required age, and then get the marriage certificate when they reach the required age." Jia Zhenye said.

"Now that Fu Hai and Da Niu have gone to the city, Dong Xu is needed to take care of them. Why are you waiting for Dong Xu and Huai Ru to have a de facto marriage?"

"Dongxu calls me Second Uncle in the village, but we are too far away. It is not as good as calling me Big Brother from Fuhai."

"Uh, but what about the betrothal gift?" Qin Dazhuang said hesitantly.

"The maximum amount of the betrothal gift in this village is 10 yuan. If you ask for one cent more, will Huairu fight with you?"

"Brother Dazhuang, you are driving your daughter away. Let me tell you, if you really keep Huairu at home for two years, believe it or not, Huairu will never step into your house again."

"It shouldn't be that serious, Zhenye. How could my own daughter be like this?" Qin Dazhuang said.

"Your daughter did several things today, and it was not an easy task," said Jia Zhenye.

"This girl has now accepted from the bottom of her heart that she is Dongxu's wife. She will give whatever amount of betrothal gift she wants. Do you want to ask Dongxu to pay extra money and see?"

Then Jia Zhenye told him about Qin Huairu asking Jia Jiye to return the house and land when he was repairing the tomb.

Then he added, "I don't think Dongxu wants the house and land. He didn't even look at the house and land when they were returned."

"I guess Dongxu mentioned it to your daughter, and she went to Jia Jiye to ask for the house and land. Can you see how much trouble it caused in our Jiajia Village?"

"If you push your daughter too far, she might just run away to the city and never come back."

At this time, Qin Huairu suddenly came out from the side, glanced at her father, and went to the kitchen without saying a word.

Jia Zhenye and Qin Dazhuang glanced at each other and said, "What do you think? Am I right? You should stop having evil thoughts."

Qin Dazhuang was smoking helplessly on the side, feeling really cold and chilled by the leak in his cotton-padded jacket.

"When Dongxu comes over next week, I will talk to him about this." Qin Dazhuang said sullenly. The betrothal gift could not be negotiated, and his daughter had to be given away quickly. It was a heartbreaking thing.

"Brother Dazhuang, think about my daughter, do you think I am willing?" Jia Zhenye said gritting his teeth.

......

Qin Huairu entered the kitchen and saw Jia Da Nv burning firewood. She hurriedly went forward and pulled her to the small bed behind her, chattering.

"Sister-in-law, my father wants me to stay at home for two years, and he also wants to ask Dongxu for a dowry." Qin Huairu said in a low voice, looking outside, afraid that her mother would hear it.

"What do you think?" asked Jia Danniu.

"Now that he has this idea, I don't want to stay at home anymore. I want to go find Dongxu." Qin Huairu said angrily.

"Well, this is not good, right? You are still a girl." Jia Da Nv said, looked at Qin Huairu's small bed and shook her head.

"Okay, go ahead. I support you! The place you live in is really terrible. Why don't you come and sleep with me tonight?"

"Okay, I'll go with you. Let me tell you, tomorrow morning my brother and I will go to the city to find Dongxu." Qin Huairu said.