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If it was before, Gao Xiuju would definitely not be able to bear it, but now seeing the face of her niece Qing’er, she can tolerate Gao Xiulan a little bit. Anyway, Qing’er let everyone discover the life-saving food of their ancestors.
Besides, she has to be a matchmaker today. She already took other people’s good things, so how could she mess things up? She will feel sorry for the two catties of sorghum noodles.
She would never admit that it was because she couldn’t beat Gao Xiulan!
Gao Xiuju put away the smile on her face and walked in with a sullen face, “Xiulan, just like what you said, it will be Chinese New Year soon, so Second sister came to see you. I also came to say congratulations to our Qing’er, who has found a good in-law.”
“What? This is because my daughter Qing’er has found a good in-law, so she’s here to enjoy the glory!” Gao Xiulan looked arrogant. Gao Xiuju has been arguing with her for so many years, but in the end, she came to gain her favor.
Gao Xiuju: “…” Damn, she just knew this would happen, so she never came here. Otherwise, they, as aunts, should have come long ago.
Why does she have such a third sister?
“Second aunt is here, come in and warm up. What are you doing standing outside on this cold day?” Su Qinghe came out of the room and greeted her.
She was just about to take a nap in the room when she heard the movement outside. So, she quickly put on her clothes and came out. She knew that when her mother met someone she didn’t like, she didn’t care at all about what she said. She will make the other party hate her.
Gao Xiuju looked at Su Qinghe’s arrival, and her anger finally subsided a little. She comforted herself in her heart; forget it, forget it, it’s important to do big things.
So following Su Qinghe’s words, she entered the house.
“No, I brought something here for you. The family is poor and there is nothing much but we distributed grain and some wheat before, and I went to grind some noodles. Knowing that our Qing’er likes to eat fine grains, I sent a catty over.”
Of course, the noodles are not very white. At the moment, the noodles in the countryside are all pressed with a little gray. However, this is already a rare fine grain.
Gao Xiulan immediately narrowed her eyes with a smile when she looked at the things, she was different from her arrogant look just now, “Oh, second sister, you are too polite. Wait, I’ll ask someone to pour water for you.”
Then she yelled, “Da Ya, where did Da Ya go? Hurry up and pour water for your second aunt.”
Da Ya has been hiding in the room with her younger siblings. She was just worried that her grandma would fight with her second aunt, so she has been hiding. Hearing the shout, she ran out immediately.
Gao Xiuju: “…” This is the one who sees the wind and turns the helm…
Da Ya poured water and went into the room again. Their aunt gave them some dried sweet potatoes, which happened to be roasted on the brazier and eaten.
Gao Xiulan doesn’t have time to take care of these children now. She sits at her square table and looks at Gao Xiuju, “What are you doing here? I’m still preparing to go out.”
Su Qinghe immediately said, “Second aunt, my mother has been busy recently. She’s been a little anxious about my third brother’s marriage. Take no offense. She’s just worried about her children.”
Gao Xiuju took a sip of hot water, warmed her body, and rubbed her hands, “No need to worry, I have also found a family for our Aidang. What a good girl, it was so hard to say no to her.”
Gao Xiulan couldn’t believe it, “You can be kind and introduce our third to a good family? What kind of family can you introduce?”
“… …Tian Dong’s family! The family is full of strong laborers who can work, even their daughter has been working in the fields to earn work points for several years. Except for three children, there is no one in the family who is free. It is no worse than your old Su family!”
Gao Xiulan’s eyes lit up when she heard about Old Tian’s house. The conditions of every household in this team are clear. Whose family is good or not, it’s all about knowing the roots.  Before liberation, Tian Donglai worked as a carpenter for city dwellers, and his carpentry was not bad at all. Even now, some people secretly ask him to make furniture. Of course, you can’t do it in the open, but you can also do some manual work in private…
She is still worried that her daughter won’t have any furniture when she gets married. This is just great.
“It must be that the little carpenter’s family has taken a fancy to our Aidang, right?.” Gao Xiulan immediately said. She didn’t believe that Gao Xiuju would really find a good family for her. The daughter-in-law Gao Xiuju found in her own family is not very good.
Gao Xiuju: “… whatever you say, anyway, just say yes.”
“Yes, of course. The girl in their family is pretty decent. I don’t need to go to look at her. Let’s do things after the New Year. Our family doesn’t need much dowry, just 20 catties of grain. After all, she didn’t earn work points for our family in the first year, so she can’t eat other people’s rations, so just bring her own rations.”
Su Qinghe: …It sounds weird, but it seems to make sense…
So she didn’t say anything.
Gao Xiuju froze for a moment and thought that it was the same with others as well. The food distributed by the earned work is counted, so you can’t eat the food of your brother and sister-in-law as soon as you marry your in-laws. The Brothers and sisters-in-law have to raise children and support their mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Well, this one needs to be discussed with the Old Tian family.
“Then what kind of bride price does your will family give? I’ll go back and talk to  Old Tian’s family.”
“What bride price, who cares about this now? You can’t even get a mouthful of rice, but you still have to pay a bride price. At most, just like Shuhong, Guihua, and others, we will give a few feet of cloth to make a new dress and wear it in the marriage ceremony. “
“…Your Qing’er has been given a bicycle. Is it unreasonable for you to give someone else’s daughter a dress?” Tian Aiju still wants to save face. She can’t do such a shameful thing.
Gao Xiulan gave her a blank look, “Our family’s in-law is the county magistrate’s family, can it be the same? We are old farmers, we can only afford this!”
Su Qinghe didn’t say anything about it. After all, the two sisters-in-law are the same. Although she feels that it is a bit shameful not to give a bride price. But the two sisters-in-law are the same, and if it will change now, the sisters-in-law will have ideas in their hearts.
Gao Xiuju was so shocked that she couldn’t speak.
With Gao Xiulan’s temperament, it was really a great blessing for Qing’er that the deputy county magistrate’s family had taken a liking to her. Otherwise, you have to think more about such an in-law.
She drank the last sip of water in the bowl, leaving nothing, then stood up, “Okay, I’ll go and relay your answer. I don’t care if it succeeds or not.”
She got two catties of sorghum noodles and gave up one catty of white noodles. She doesn’t know if she lost or gained.
What is she doing this for?!
When Gao Xiuju left, Gao Xiulan kept warm at home with the door closed.
Anyway, with the Old Tian’s family, she would wait a little longer.
Lin Shuhong and Ding Guihua came back in the afternoon. There is not much work in the field now, they just go around to check and come back after earning some work points.
The three brothers of the Su family went to repair the reservoir.
Worried that the famine would continue in the coming year, Guo Changsheng discussed with the cadres in the team to continue renewing the snow in the reservoir. When the snow melts in spring next year, there will be no shortage of water.
Ding Guihua and Lin Shuhong were shocked when they heard that Old Tian’s family dragged their second aunt to come to matchmake. The Old Tian family really agreed.
Neither of them really wanted Tian Xiaomei to come in. After all, there is more or less a comparison among sisters-in-law. No one wants to find a sister-in-law who is better than their in-laws.
The two looked at each other, and Ding Guihua said, “Old Tian’s family is good, but Tian Xiaomei was pampered and raised like our sister, and her temper is not as sensible as our sister’s. I’m worried that she will make trouble after she comes.”
When Su Qinghe heard this, she was somewhat worried. Her temperament is not brought up by pampering. If that girl Tian really had a bad temper, she would not be very happy. After all, her brother is also quite stubborn. How can two stubborn people live together?
However, the problem of temper is obviously not a problem in Gao Xiulan’s eyes, “In this lifetime, what kind of temper have I never seen? As long as her natal family is good, it will be fine. No matter who, as long as you come to our old Su’s house, you have to follow the law. You have to follow my temper! ”
Lin Shuhong and Ding Guihua: It seems that this is indeed the case… I hope Old Tian’s family will not agree to come over.
…
Gao Xiuju replied to Old Tian’s house when she got back, and Mrs. Tian’s first reaction was to refuse. She has never seen such a married woman who brings her own rations and doesn’t give anything to her natal family.
It’s not that they are greedy for anything. The old Su family can have a fart. For such a daughter, if she marries this way, people will look down on her.
However, their daughter Tian Xiaomei is determined to marry Su Aidang. She thinks as long as she gets married, everything will be fine.
The old couple had no choice but to grit their teeth and agree.
So the next day, Gao Xiuju, a big matchmaker, happily talked back and forth.
When they heard that the Old Tian family agreed. Lin Shuhong and Ding Guihua looked numb.
Su Qinghe is quite happy. The fact that the Old Tian family can agree to such conditions shows that they are not particularly stubborn. Pulling the arrogant Gao Xiulan into the house, she returned two catties of rice to Gao Xiuju, a great matchmaker.
Gao Xiulan was in pain, Su Qinghe said to Gao Xiuju, “Second aunt, my mother thanks you for introducing my third brother to a good girl. She just doesn’t like to say it, but she knows it in her heart.”
Gao Xiuju narrowed her eyes with a smile, thinking that her third sister is usually quite unlikable, but she is still very sensible at critical moments.
So without the two young people meeting each other, the marriage between Old Su’s family and Lao Tian’s family was settled in this way. Before sowing in the spring of the year, Tian Xiaomei entered the door.
Su Qinghe thought about it and felt that she was lucky. Before she settled down with Chang’an, at least they went to each other’s house to see meet. Then it was decided.   Moreover, during the time when they are not officially married yet,  they could still be regarded as dating.
Because two major issues have been resolved at home this year, the mood of the family is pretty good. Especially in this famine year, everyone in the family is living well, and by the end of this year, they will all be better off. They feel very happy.
As the Chinese New Year is approaching, everyone happily cleans the house and prepares for the New Year.
Su Qinghe also finished her cotton-padded clothes before the new year. It could have been done earlier, but she wanted to pass the assessment along the way, so she put some thought into it. It took a lot of effort. It’s a pity that her skills are not good enough, so she failed the assessment, but at least she got some cotton cloth and cotton wool. So she sent these to Gao Xiulan’s big urn on this day.
“Mom, my dad is going to make you a new dress. This material can only be worn by you.”
“Your dad really should have given this to you. You should wear more new clothes.” Gao Xiulan said with a blushing face.
Su Qinghe coughed, “Mom, my father saw that I have an in-law who loves me and is relieved. You have suffered so much for so many years, so you should enjoy the blessings. You will enjoy the blessings in the future. Don’t worry about anything.” Stop tossing my brothers and sisters-in-law.
Gao Xiulan thinks it makes sense, and it’s time to enjoy the blessings, “I’ll do less housework in the future. I can relax with your new sister-in-law, if she doesn’t work, she won’t be fed!”
Su Qinghe: “…”
Su Qinghe works for a few nights to finish Gao Xiulan’s cotton-padded clothes. After she was done, she lay down on the bed and sighed.
Oh, she doesn’t know when it started, but she was able to stay up late to make clothes… But thinking about her mother’s love for her, it seems that it’s okay to be a little tired.
This is the first year Gao Xiulan wears new cotton clothes for the New Year after her husband left.
When she tried it on, she was in tears.
“Our Qing’er is really good. How tiring it is to do these for a few days? The light is not good. What should we do if you hurt your eyes?”Her voice was choked up.
Su Qinghe smiled and said, “I want to see my mother wear new clothes for the New Year, and wear new clothes every year in the future.” Her mother has a bad temper these years, but she has not lived a good life. All for the sake of her daughter.
Gao Xiulan almost burst into tears, but thinking that in her thirties, crying seemed unlucky, so she hugged her daughter and patted her cheek again and again, feeling that it wasn’t enough.
This is still touching. In the afternoon, the old Gu family came. The eldest brother of the Gu family, Gu Changzheng, and Eldest Sister-in-law Gu came. They even borrowed bicycles from the unit to ride here. The two of them are replacing Gu Changan, the son-in-law who is far away, and come to pay respect to the mother-in-law. And take Su Qinghe to Old Gu’s house to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Gu Chang’an was not at home, so Su Qinghe, the daughter-in-law who was engaged, had to go home for a new year and a family reunion.
Gao Xiulan felt very reluctant, even though the old Gu’s family brought over meat and noodles again. But thinking about her daughter going to someone else’s house for New Year’s Eve, she feels reluctant.
It’s not okay if you don’t go; this is the rule. They even came to pick her up specially, because they valued their daughter.
Su Qinghe didn’t understand this, so she secretly said to Gao Xiulan, “Mom, why don’t I celebrate the New Year at home?”
“What a stupid thing to say. Chang’an is not at home so, you go there and reunite him with his family. It’s okay, your brothers and sisters-in-law are at home. You can go to Old Gu’s house for a good New Year.” After Gao Xiulan finished speaking, she seriously instructed, “Remember to eat and drink more, and you must eat double portions. Chang’an is not at home; you will suffer if you eat less!”
Su Qinghe felt that she had just been emotional for nothing.
When Su Qinghe followed Gu Changping and his wife to leave by bicycle, the old Su family members were watching at the door. There are tears in their eyes.
Gu Changzheng and Eldest sister-in-law Gu were stunned. What is this for? The third daughter-in-law is really different…
After they all left, Gao Xiulan turned around and made a long face, pointing to her third son, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren, “See! Your eldest sister will only stay at home for so long. If you don’t treat her twice as well, there will be no chance in the future. Especially the third child, if your wife enters the house, and treats Qing’er badly, I’ll see if you will be at a loss in your heart.”
Su Aidang was feeling emotional, and when he heard this, he immediately said, “No one can treat my sister badly!”
Tian Xiaomei was making gnocchi at home for the New Year when she sneezed suddenly.
“Memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don’t go along with that. The memories I value most, I don’t ever see them fading.”
— Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
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