“It won’t be a loss.”
Qin Huai Ru said this, but in a flash, she gathered two large bags of things.
By the time Li Wu Wei left with his people, he had three bundles and two buckets.
The main reason is that the current villagers have their own land, and they practice a mutual-aid society model, which means helping each other with work and sharing labor tools.
Relationships between relatives and friends are very good, and they are also very united. Correspondingly, there is a lot of surplus grain at home, but they lack flour and meat.
The villagers saw them off all the way, sending them to the village entrance. Thankfully, Li Wu Wei was empty-handed, otherwise carrying bundles and buckets would have been too undignified.
The Qin family saw them off to the highway to take the bus.
“Son-in-law, go back and recover well. Come back to the family for the New Year.”
Qin Chang Chun had a smile on his face. From now on, the Qin family would be flourishing in the village.
“Okay, Dad, I will definitely take good care of myself.”
Li Wu Wei had to go back to recuperate. The good days were ahead.
The bus arrived. The one going to the countryside was an air-conditioned bus with a large black air bag on top, very much of the era.
The Qin family helped them put their bundles in the bus. After they got on, they waved goodbye from outside the window.
“Brother-in-law, next time you have to take me to the city to play.”
Little Qin Jing Ru waved her little hand, already thinking about going to the city.
“Okay!”
Li Wu Wei casually agreed, but he was too lazy to take children. He’d wait until Qin Jing Ru was older, could cook, then he’d take her.
“Huai Ru, didn't we agree on two chickens? How come you took three? At least leave some for our parents.”
He had two buckets in front of his seat. One bucket contained three chickens, and the other contained a piece of secret-recipe cured pork and some cured sausages. At the bottom were two-cent-a-pound potatoes, not even letting those go.
“Brother, chicken soup is so nutritious. I’ll make you chicken soup every day to nourish your stomach when we get back.”
Qin Huai Ru seemed to have awakened a bit, knowing to keep good things in her hands and take care of the family.
“Sigh!”
Li Wu Wei sighed. Nourishment was good too.
They arrived in the city. After getting off the bus, Qin Huai Ru carried the biggest bag, holding two buckets in her hand.
Li Wu Wei also carried a bag, and he also held another one.
If their clothes weren’t decent, they’d be mistaken for people from the countryside coming to the city to find relatives.
“Tricycle!”
“Brother, no need to call a tricycle. It’s not far, we can walk back.”
“Alright!”
Li Wu Wei gave in. The main reason was that there were hardly any tricycles in the Dongzhimen area. It was ridiculously expensive to take a trip there.
Not long after, they arrived at the small courtyard left by the grandfather. Li Wu Wei deliberately did this because with so many things, it was pointless to take them back during the daytime.
Besides, there were things in the small courtyard to bring back as well.
Since they had brought banquet food, they ate in the small courtyard at noon. It was convenient. They didn’t leave for the courtyard until near dusk.
“Brother, why do we have to wait until everyone is off work before returning to the courtyard? Didn’t you say that wealth doesn’t show itself, and we’re supposed to pretend to be poor?”
Qin Huai Ru couldn’t figure it out. Even though she was gifted, her skill was still too shallow.
“You’re clueless! These things are from my parents, they have nothing to do with me.”
Li Wu Wei smiled and walked forward.
“I’m carrying a chicken in my left hand, a duck in my right, and a fat baby on my back…”
Humming that song “Going Back to My Mother’s Home,” Li Wu Wei felt it was completely reversed. Other wives took things to their mother’s house, but his wife was bending her elbow outwards, sending all the goods to his family.
“Oh! Li Wu Wei, you’re back! What did you bring?”
Yan Bu Gui pushed his glasses up and was dumbfounded.
At this time, Qin Huai Ru, carrying two large wooden buckets and a big bag on her back, also entered the courtyard. The couple stood together, with packages of all sizes, especially Li Wu Wei with a piece of excellent cloth tucked under his arm.
“Third Master, it’s just that my parents, uh, Qin Huai Ru’s parents, were so enthusiastic, I said no to everything, but they insisted on giving it to me.
Just some mountain goods, not worth much!”
Li Wu Wei raised his arm, signaling Qin Huai Ru to go inside and go home quickly.
“No, those buckets contain old hens! And this bucket is full of cured pork and cured sausages! And this cloth of yours…”
Yan Bu Gui hurriedly followed, looking at these good things, wishing they were sent to his house. Then he would have a fat New Year’s Eve!
“No, there are potatoes at the bottom. Uh, Third Master, you go ahead. We still have to go back and tidy up.”
Li Wu Wei urged Qin Huai Ru to walk faster. This was Yan Bu Gui. Be careful not to be tricked.
“Oh, potatoes are good too! Li Wu Wei, so many things, and some big bags, can you finish them? If not…”
Yan Bu Gui wanted some, potatoes were good and filling.
“No, I can finish them. I have a big appetite. See you later.”
Li Wu Wei and Qin Huai Ru were already at the corridor. Further ahead was the middle courtyard, but Yan Bu Gui followed, shouting loudly.
Other residents, hearing that Li Wu Wei had returned, rushed out to watch the fun.
“Qin Huai Ru, did you go on a robbery?”
In the middle courtyard, Jia Zhang Shi was still making shoes. She had been choked by Li Wu Wei the other day, and she wanted to regain some face today.
But seeing the couple return with packages of all sizes made her even angrier.
“Jia Zhang Shi, don’t talk nonsense. My parents gave these to me. They really like my Li Brother. They know he has a bad stomach and specially prepared three chickens for me to bring back.”
Qin Huai Ru was no pushover. She dared to talk back to Jia Zhang Shi.
“That can’t be. Your parents really like him?”
Jia Zhang Shi walked over to them. Seeing the chickens and cured pork in the buckets, she was frozen in place, speechless.
“Hi, Sister Qin, you’re back.”
Sha Zhu hurried out of the house. He had been missing Sister Qin for days and his heart felt empty.
“Qin Huai Ru!”
Jia Dong Xu also ran out of the house. He was in such a hurry that he forgot to put down the half a steamed bread in his hand.
Qin Huai Ru saw this. She thought Jia’s family must not be doing well, nothing compared to her family.
More and more people came to the courtyard. The residents in the back courtyard all came running over.
Xu Da Mao squeezed to the front and yelled: “Li Wu Wei, you didn’t have Sister Qin empty her parents’ house, did you? How could you be a son-in-law like that?”
Qin Huai Ru quickly said: “It has nothing to do with my Li Brother. It was my parents who insisted on giving it. My Li Brother has a bad stomach and needs to drink chicken soup and eat meat.”
Everyone was speechless. Does having a bad stomach have anything to do with eating meat?
“Xu Da Mao, none of your business. If you’re capable, find a father-in-law who likes you. I have good character, so I get this treatment. As for you, go dream about it, there’s everything in dreams.
Huai Ru, let’s go home. You finish cleaning up quickly and wash your clothes, you have to go to work tomorrow.”
Li Wu Wei saw his goal was achieved. The people in the courtyard knew that he brought back good things from the Qin family. In the future, he would have an excuse to eat and drink well.
So he didn’t stay long. He wasn’t a monkey for them to watch. This was different from when he came back from fishing. That was a big fish he caught with his skills.
“Okay, Brother!”
Qin Huai Ru happily carried her bucket and went home.
“Oh, this shameless Li Wu Wei, not only did he cheat Qin Huai Ru, but he also cheated her parents. How many good things did he bring back?”
“Other people get money when they marry off their daughter. The Qin family is losing a lot!”
“The Qin family only got five yuan in dowry from Li Wu Wei. They must have lost a lot, those three chickens alone cost more than five yuan.”
“I took a closer look at that cloth. It’s excellent quality. It’s worth a lot. It can be made into so many new clothes.”
“Our courtyard has a bad guy, a big liar! He’s corrupting our morals…”
The residents of the courtyard were lamenting and criticizing, but they were actually envious. They turned to look at Jia Dong Xu, filled with pity.