Chapter 266 - 209: A String of Happy Occasions
The large truck stopped in front of Zhao Wendong’s house, and the crowd of people began to disperse. Zhao Wendong suddenly remembered something and quickly turned to ask Third Master Zhao.
"Third Master, you were on the road for most of the day. Did Grandmaster Ai get anything to eat?"
"Don’t worry, I made arrangements earlier. Xiaoyan will deliver a meal to Grandmaster Ai."
If Zhao Wendong had questioned him like this on any other day, Third Master Zhao would have already started chewing him out. But today, he was in a good mood, especially since Zhao Wendong had handled things to his satisfaction. His attitude was therefore excellent. Not only did he refrain from cursing, but he even answered Zhao Wendong’s question with a chuckle, then led the militiamen on a leisurely stroll back to their respective homes.
"Oh my, why did you buy so many new clothes? And these red flowers—why did you buy three pairs? That’s one pair too many, isn’t it? And all this kitchenware... didn’t you just buy some? Why buy more!"
Chen Yanmei looked at the things being moved into the house and questioned Zhao Wendong in confusion, muttering under her breath. In the past, Zhao Wendong would have definitely found it annoying, but as someone living his second life, he cherished his mother’s nagging. Seeing that his third aunt, Zhang Yufen, was also there, he gave her a knowing grin.
"A lot of this isn’t for us. It’s for Er Gouzi. On the third day of the New Year, Er Gouzi is getting married with me and my second brother."
"What? Really?"
Hearing this, Zhang Yufen couldn’t help but jump to her feet, as if her legs were suddenly healed. Her lips began to tremble. She looked at Zhao Wendong, then at Zhao Ergou. When she saw her son nod gleefully, her expression began to shift, caught between tears and laughter.
"Oh, my son is getting married so soon... SOB... Oh, Zhao Dahe, when you were dying, didn’t you hold my hand and ask me to find a wife for Er Gouzi? Now you can finally rest in peace."
Seeing their mother both crying and laughing, Er Gouzi and Sanwazi hurried forward to comfort her. After a long moment, Zhang Yufen wiped her tears and looked at Zhao Ergou.
"Er Gouzi, you must remember Brother San’s kindness to our family for the rest of your life, you hear?"
"Yeah."
Zhao Ergou nodded solemnly, and then Zhang Yufen remembered something else.
"For something this big, we have to have your sister come back. We should find someone to send her a message."
Zhao Wendong’s third uncle, Zhao Dahe, had two sons and a daughter. The daughter’s name was Zhao Damei, and she was two years older than Zhao Wendong. She had married into the Li Village Production Team long ago. It wasn’t too far; they were in the same Commune. Li Village was just six or seven li past the Wang Family’s Hut.
Zhao Ergou agreed that his older sister should be there to witness his great joyous occasion, so he nodded in agreement.
"Okay, I’ll go tomorrow."
"Don’t wait until tomorrow. Brother Niu is right here, just have him give you a ride."
Seeing Zhao Ergou still looking a little embarrassed, Zhao Wendong laughed.
"Brother Niu isn’t an outsider. He’s about to be your brother-in-law, so what’s there to be embarrassed about? It would take you a whole day to walk, but for Brother Niu, it’s just a few pushes on the gas pedal."
"Haha, hop in, Er Gouzi! It’s still a long time before dark, anyway."
Niu Yuesheng laughed heartily, ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
"Brother, I want to go too! I want to ride in the big truck and see Big Sis."
Sanwazi tugged on the corner of Er Gouzi’s shirt, his eyes full of longing, a bit of snot threatening to drip from his nose.
"Alright, let’s go together."
Niu Yuesheng lifted Sanwazi directly into the driver’s cabin. Just as Er Gouzi was about to follow him in, Zhao Wendong handed him a few fish.
"Don’t go empty-handed. This can be an extra dish for Big Sis’s family for the New Year."
"Yeah."
Er Gou took the fish, climbed into the truck, and set off to deliver the news to his sister, Zhao Damei. Witnessing this scene and seeing the smile on Zhang Yufen’s face, an idea stirred in Song Xiaoyu’s heart. She also wanted to go back and see her parents and brothers. ’But today is clearly not the right time,’ she thought. ’I’ll wait until tonight and discuss it with Zhao Wenjun when we’re on the kang.’
"Haha, three children getting married at once, that’s really something! Youngest son, with so many people involved, will you be able to handle all the commotion?"
"I can."
Zhao Wendong replied confidently. In this era, weddings didn’t have much of a sense of ceremony. Everyone was poor and ate at the communal canteens, so everything was kept simple.
For most rural families, when a son got married—like Zhao Wenjun and Song Xiaoyu did—they would just set off a firecracker, bow to a portrait of the ancestors, and pay their respects to the elders. Once they formally addressed their in-laws by their new titles, the ceremony was complete. Some families didn’t even set off firecrackers. Zhao Wenjun’s wedding was considered extravagant for having them. So, forget three couples; even another three would be far simpler than a wedding in later generations.
"Son, how much did all this cost? How much money do you have left?"
"I spent it all. Not a single cent left."
"What? You spent it all? You little wastrel, you’ll be the death of me!"
Chen Yanmei felt her vision go dark as rage welled up inside her. She reached for the feather duster, but Zhao Wendong quickly caught her hand with a cheeky grin.
"Hehe, Mom, don’t get violent. I didn’t spend it recklessly. It was all for necessary things!"
"You didn’t spend it recklessly? I can let the other things slide, but why did you buy so many firecrackers?"
"Wasn’t one string enough for you to set off? This is all money! You... you... how can you still be such a spendthrift?"
Seeing that Chen Yanmei was genuinely angry, with tears welling in her eyes, Zhao Wendong quickly made her a promise.
"Mom, I was wrong. From now on, I’ll give you all the money I earn. I won’t spend it recklessly anymore."
"What’s the point of giving it to me? You’re a man with a wife now."
"Alright then, I’ll give it to my wife. How about that?"
Lin Zhiyin also smiled and came to his rescue.
"Auntie, give the money to me from now on. I promise I won’t let him keep a single cent, so he’ll never have the chance to be a spendthrift."
Seeing that her future daughter-in-law had stepped in, Chen Yanmei finally let Zhao Wendong off the hook, though she still shot him a dirty look. Zhao Wendong knew he had gotten a bit too carried away this time. ’In this era, money is meant to be saved,’ he thought, ’not spent until it’s all gone each month or even bought on credit like in my past life.’ He sheepishly sat back down on the kang, only to immediately spot Little Tuanzi lying there, sneakily watching him make a fool of himself.