nycdaug Chapter 393 Marriage-in-law
Chapter 393 Marriage-in-law
As cadres, Xiao Songbai and Xu Yuefang need to set an example, and Xiao Jingjing is also a target for sending to the countryside.
Among the educated youth who went to the countryside, most of them were sent to settle down in rural areas, while a small number were able to join the "Production and Construction Corps".
Although the members of the Corps also work on the farm, they lead a quasi-military life, and if they do a good job, they can get a government position.
Xiao Songbai wanted to get Xiao Jingjing to the "Production and Construction Corps" and then use his connections to arrange a sinecure for her.
Xu Yuefang disagreed: "The construction corps is in a remote area. If Jingjing goes there, she will definitely not have home leave for the first few years. I can't stand not seeing her for a few years."
Xiao Songbai: "You mean to send her to the countryside to farm?"
Xu Yuefang: "Jingjing has never experienced hardship since she was a child. She probably can't even tell the difference between rice and weeds. If we bring her back to the countryside, won't she harm the crops in the fields?"
Xiao Songbai: "There are many people watching our family now. If we arrange a job for Jingjing temporarily, others will use this as an attack on us. She will definitely go to the countryside. You don't want her to go to the military corps, nor do you want her to go to the countryside. So how do you want to arrange it?"
Xu Yuefang: "Let her and Jiaguang get married before the Chinese New Year, and tell others that the wedding date has been set long ago, so Jingjing doesn't have to go to the countryside."
Xiao Songbai: "???!!! I don't agree! How old is Jingjing? How can she get married so early?!"
Xu Yuefang: "She is 19, not young anymore. If we really send her to the military corps or the countryside, we can arrange for her to return to the city when the policy is not so strict. She will probably be in her 20s. In the eyes of outsiders, she will be an old girl and people will gossip about her. Jiaguang will also have some thoughts in his mind."
Xiao Songbai paused, thought for a moment, and said, "It's fine to get married. Let Jiaguang marry into our family and live in our house. Otherwise, I won't agree!"
Xu Yuefang: "Marrying into the wife's family is a bit difficult. Jiaguang is the youngest in the family and he is so capable. His parents must think highly of him and will not agree to him marrying into the wife's family. I don't want Jingjing to offend her parents-in-law before she gets married.
It's not like we don't have a son. If we force Jia Guang to marry into our family and word gets out, people will make malicious assumptions and say we're abusing our power, which will cause a lot of trouble. We've finally had a few days of peace, so let's not cause trouble for ourselves.
If you can't bear to let Jingjing go, let them live at home after they get married. This should be negotiable. If Jiaguang agrees, we can set the wedding date on February 2th."
Xiao Songbai: "Alright. Letting Jingjing live at home after marriage is my biggest concession. If that guy doesn't agree, they won't be allowed to have any contact. We will pick another husband for Jingjing."
Xiao Songbai was very stubborn when it came to his daughter. Xu Yuefang did not argue with him. She did not want her daughter, whom she had raised with great effort, to serve tea and water and do housework in other people's homes. She would rather keep her daughter by her side and be more practical...
Xu Yuefang found Zhou Jiaguang and directly told him what their family was thinking.
“Our Jingjing has a simple personality and has lived a carefree life over the years. She can’t cook and can’t take care of herself.
Your uncle Xiao and I are worried about you living outside, but we have plenty of rooms at home, so you can live with us after you get married."
Every time Zhou Jiaguang interacted with the Xiao family, he was very nervous, fearing that saying something wrong would arouse their suspicion and bring harm to his family.
If they lived under the same roof, wouldn't he have to wear a mask every day?
Just thinking about it makes me tired.
Zhou Jiaguang knew that he couldn't reason with Xu Yuefang. He said that marriage was a big deal and he needed to discuss it with his family. Even though time was tight, he didn't want to let Xiao Jingjing down.
I also need to inform my family about moving into the Xiao family’s home.
Xu Yuefang said she had no objection and asked him to give a reply as soon as possible.
After parting with Xu Yuefang, Zhou Jiaguang first wrote a letter and sent it to the "Tuanjie" vegetable store, asking Yan Xiuzhu to help pass it to the delivery driver, and then bring the letter to Zhou's mother.
Afterwards, Zhou Jiaguang went to find Zhou Rong and told him all of the Xiao family’s demands.
Zhou Rong asked: "What do you think?"
Zhou Jiaguang: "I have no objection to getting married, but I feel a little uncomfortable living in the Xiao family. Even though they said it's not marrying into the family, I don't think there's much difference. With Dad's personality, he probably won't be happy about it. I want to live alone outside."
Zhou Rong: "What if the Xiao family insists on letting you move in?"
Zhou Jiaguang: "...then we can only live here for a while, and then find a way to find Xiao Jingjing to persuade her parents to agree to let us move out."
Zhou Rong: "Isn't your idea very good? Let's do this first. The Xiao family loves their daughter dearly and is worried that you will treat their daughter badly after marriage, so they let you go home to live.
When Jingjing's second and third brothers get married, you will be "driven away" even if you don't want to move out.
We have enjoyed the protection of the Xiao family, so it is only right that we make some sacrifices. I am sorry to have wronged you."
Zhou Jiaguang: "I am not wronged. I wanted to live a carefree life away from the Xiao family before, but what the eldest sister said makes sense. We took advantage of the Xiao family, so we must give something back.
I will go to Aunt Xu tomorrow and tell her that I agree with their request, and then confirm the gift."
Zhou Rong: “Yeah.”
All bad habits are now prohibited. Xu Yuefang said that her family does not want a dowry. The furniture and other things are all ready at home. She has also prepared the wedding quilt. Zhou Jiaguang just needs to make a few new clothes for Xiao Jingjing.
After Zhou Jiaguang heard the news, he immediately went to raise cloth coupons.
Due to the impact of various major movements, there was a large shortage of coal, firewood, pork, sugar, cloth, etc. in the city, and the counters of all shopping malls and shops were crowded with people.
Zhou Jiaguang was no match for the group of women. After looting for several days, he failed to snatch a foot of cloth or buy a single piece of clothing.
In desperation, he had to borrow cloth from Zhou Rong and Zhou Gui.
Zhou Rong gave Zhou Jiaguang 20 feet of cloth: "This is what I saved before. I wanted to leave it for Qingping and his three siblings to start a family. You are getting married, so I'm giving it to you. It's not customary to give red envelopes now, so consider this cloth as my gift."
Zhou Jiaguang: "Thank you, big sister! When Qingping and his family get married, I will definitely give them a big gift."
Zhou Rong: "Okay."
Zhou Jiaguang knew that Zhou Gui often sent things to Zhoujiawan, and guessed that she probably didn't have much cloth. With the 20 feet of cloth sent by Zhou Rong, he didn't go to Zhou Gui...
When Zhou's father and mother learned that Zhou Jiaguang was going to get married on February 2, they quickly packed their bags and rushed to the city.
After arriving in the city, the two went straight to Zhou Rong's house, wanting to confirm with her the Xiao family's specific requirements.
Zhou Rong was worried that his father would scold Zhou Jiaguang, so he laid some groundwork first, telling him what the Xiao family had secretly done for the Zhou family, and then mentioned that the Xiao family asked Zhou Jiaguang to live in their home after he got married.
After hearing this, Zhou's father wanted to scold Zhou Jiaguang, but he swallowed his words and sat there with an unhappy look on his face.
Zhou's mother pulled him and comforted him, "Qi Guang is already 25 years old and he has started a family. We should be happy and stop looking so sullen.
The Xiao family didn't say that Qi Guang had to marry into the family, they just wanted him to live in their house. He will always be the son of our Zhou family.
The Xiao family has helped our family a lot. It’s only a few days until the 8th, so we should hurry up and prepare so as not to let Jingjing down. "
Then, Zhou's mother asked Zhou Rong what the Xiao family's requirements were for the wedding.
Zhou Rong: "The policy is very strict now. Deputy Commander Xiao and his men need to set an example. The Xiao family does not want a dowry, nor does it plan to hold a wedding banquet. We will just hold a simple ceremony in their compound."
Mother Zhou: "Okay, everything will be done according to the Xiao family's rules. I'll find someone in the village to exchange some cotton for me. I'll take it to be processed tomorrow and make two wedding quilts to send to the Xiao family.
On the wedding day, I will give Jingjing a red envelope. Even if the ceremony is simple, I can’t treat her badly.”
Zhou Rong: "Well, Mom is very thoughtful."