The east courtyard is quiet, and I am still a little unaccustomed.

Xiao Yi followed his mother to learn embroidery, put down the cloth in his hand several times, and looked out the window.

Even Xiao Ding, who was playing with Xiao Geng on the side, sensed that something was wrong, and asked Yulan: "Mother, didn't grandmother climb the wall today?" ”

Xiao Yi grinned and said, "It must be a sore throat!" ”

Xiao Ding also covered his mouth and smiled, nodding busily.

Yulan poked Xiao Yi's forehead with her finger and scolded with a smile: "Just you monkey spirit, you know everything!" ”

"Mother, I don't want to learn needlework, my fingers are swollen!" Xiao Yi sprinkled coquettishly.

Yulan pulled her daughter's hand over, blew on the two red dots on her fingers, and said gently: "How can there be a girl who can't do needlework?" Listen to your mother's words, study hard, and use everything you sew and mend when you get married in the future! ”

Xiao Yi pouted, so he had to continue learning.

Even Liu Fangfang, who has been watching the play, also got closer to see how Yulan taught Xiao Yi to do needlework.

At noon, Yulan went to the stove room to be busy with lunch, Xiao Yi Xiaoding put down the needle and thread in his hand, and took Xiao Geng to play on the kang, and heard someone knocking on the courtyard door.

Guessing it was Mrs. Lu, the little sisters made a boo gesture to each other, giggling and pretending not to hear.

Who knew that the knocking on the door did not stop, and Lu Lian's voice sounded with it.

Xiao Yi was quite affectionate to Lu Lian, and hurriedly got off the kang and put on his shoes to open the door.

Seeing Lu Lian standing outside the door with red eyes, "Sister-in-law, why are you crying?" Xiao Yi asked.

"Xiao Yi, is your father here?" Lu Lian sobbed.

"Yes, sister-in-law, come in and talk about it!" Xiao Yi pulled Lu Lian into the courtyard, looked around, and closed the courtyard door again.

Liu Fangfang covered her mouth and smiled, this ghost spirit must be guarding against Mrs. Lu. Of course, you can't blame Xiao Yi, it is indeed a headache to meet such a grandmother. Other people's homes are open courtyard doors, a leisurely look, her family in order to prevent Mrs. Lu, every day to tie the courtyard door, weekdays there are people to come and go, make it the same as the underground work joint, do not listen to the sound and do not let in.

Lu Zhong was cleaning up the enclosure in the backyard at this time, Lu Lian looked for it with red eyes, and Xiao Yi also followed behind.

As soon as Lu Lian saw Lu Zhong, she cried and shouted, "Big brother! You're going to have to help me! ”

Seeing Lu Lian's sadness crying, Lu Zhong hurriedly turned out of the enclosure and asked, "Sister Lian, why are you crying like this?" ”

Lu Lian sobbed and didn't say anything, Lu Zhong, who was in a hurry, turned around, put down the shovel in his hand, looked at the filth, and said: "Brother go wash your hands and change clothes, if you want to talk about it, brother won't force you." ”

Lu Lian followed behind Lu Zhong and walked towards the stove room.

Lu Zhong stood outside the stove room and shouted inside, "Yulan, get some water and come out." ”

Yulan agreed, came out with water, and saw that Lu Lian's eyes were red and swollen, and hurriedly asked, "Sister Lian, who bullied you, your eyes are swollen into peaches." ”

"Sister-in-law!" Lu Lian hugged Yulan and cried sadly.

"Hey, I'm dying, you're talking, if you don't say it, how can my brother and sister-in-law help you?" Yulan took out a handkerchief and wiped Lu Lian's tears.

Xiao Yi also comforted: "Sister-in-law, don't cry!" ”

Lu Lian sobbed and said: "Brother Fu's family came to propose marriage, and my mother actually asked for fifty taels of dowry, which made Brother Fu and his father angry!" ”

"Fifty taels?" Lu Zhong couldn't be angry, "Mother can really say it, does Dad know about this?" ”

Magnolia on the side was also shocked, and opened her mouth without saying a word.

Liu Fangfang, a spectator, was also surprised: Emma, the old beggar took the wrong medicine, and she sold her daughter! Fifty taels, according to her observation, Lu Zhong's family's fields are quite fertile, and the harvested grain is not much except for the family's rations, and she has to save money to prevent disasters. Household pocket money has to be found from chickens and pigs, and in my spare time, I have to go to Yifu City to find work, and I only earn dozens of dollars a day when I am tired and tired, and this fifty taels of silver is really too much.

Yulan relieved herself and said, "Is it Qiu Fu from the east of the village?" His family is about the same as ours, and the ten taels of dowry in Xiaxi Village have come to an end, how can my mother ask for fifty taels? ”

"Well, it's Qiu Fu in the east of the village." Lu Lian nodded: "I hid in the crack of the door and peeked, and when I saw that Brother Fu's father and his face were green, I hurried to find you." ”

Liu Fangfang remembered that in the Lu family these days, she had seen a young man wandering outside the Lu family's courtyard, when Lu Lian secretly showed his face by the door, the two of them blushed and dispersed, this kind of childlike feelings, Liu Fangfang still understands that the young man must be Qiu Fu in Lu Lian's mouth.

There is a lively look, how could Liu Fangfang miss it, she hurried to the west yard, just in time for the old man Qiu to get up and say: "My Qiu family can't afford to climb, hum!" "Slam the door and leave.

Old man Qiu was angry and left, and Mrs. Zhang, who was traveling with her, had no scruples.

After the last time she quarreled with Mrs. Lu, the two met as enemies, and it always took a few tricks for the enemies to meet to resolve their hatred.

Mrs. Zhang got up slowly, paced to the gate of the courtyard, and then mocked: "Wang Laosan of Shangxi Village sells girls, that is because there are many poor sons in people, and we have not sold girls in Xiaxi Village." ”

"I've been a matchmaker for decades, and now I'm a long-term insight, and the Lu family, who has no shortage of food or drink, has also started the business of selling girls!" After Mrs. Zhang finished speaking, she threw Mrs. Lu a deep look of disdain, and pretended to shake the dust on her body with a handkerchief, looking disgusted.

Mrs. Lu has been worried about Lu Yong's family affairs these days, and the Qiu family has come to propose marriage, just like the sleepiness meets the pillow.

As soon as she thought that her son's family affairs were hopeful, Mrs. Lu was like eating leopard gall, and she didn't go to the field to call Lu Shouzeng back, so she made her own claim to ask for a dowry of fifty taels.

For the sake of her son's family affairs from her daughter's dowry, Mrs. Lu was also on fire in her heart, and it happened that Lu Shouzeng was not at home, so she had less scruples, and she pointed at Mrs. Zhang and scolded: "Look at your virtue, your face is still rubbed with wrinkles, who is the sassy to show it?" Walking from east to west all day long, do you want your old face! ”

Mrs. Zhang has been widowed for many years, and in order to support her family, she started a career as a matchmaker, compared with those widows who earn some benefits by hooking up with men, Mrs. Zhang is also a model of self-improvement and self-reliance.

Now that Mrs. Lu said that she was a person who did not abide by women's morals, she suddenly turned on her firepower and rushed up to fight with Mrs. Lu.

The east courtyard heard the movement and hurriedly ran over.

Lu Zhong, Lu Lian and Xiao Yi came out the fastest, and Yulan went to the East House to see Xiao Ding and Xiao Geng first, and then left the East Courtyard.

Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Zhang have been separated, their hair is loose and they are covered in mud. The corners of Mrs. Lu's mouth were broken, and Mrs. Zhang had two scratches at the corners of her eyes, and although the two were dissuaded, they kept scolding each other.

Lu Zhong and Lu Lian pulled Mrs. Lu into the courtyard, and Mrs. Lu's feet kept kicking in the direction of Mrs. Zhang.

Mrs. Zhang had a sharp mouth, and when she saw that there were more onlookers, she publicized the matter of Mrs. Lu selling girls, and saw that the neighbors showed a look of disdain, so she could be considered to be relieved, and then slapped off the mud on her body, stroked the bun on the back of her head, and swaggered away.

Mrs. Lu was dragged into the main house by her children and sat down, and Yulan called water to wring out the cloth towel and let Mrs. Lu wipe her face.

Mrs. Lu wiped the corners of her mouth, hissed, inhaled in pain, smashed the cloth towel in her hand at Yulan, and scolded: "Who wants you to pretend to be a good person, it's all to blame on you, blame you for being a dead star, since you married into the Lu family, you haven't had a peaceful birthday." Okay now, you're satisfied, Yong'er can't say it's close, Lian'er was also harmed like this by you, you black-hearted, are you satisfied? ”

Yulan is not as obedient as before, she turned sideways to avoid the smashed cloth towel, and said lightly: "Mother, since you are fine, I will go back." After speaking, he pulled Xiao Yi out.

Mrs. Lu saw that Yulan ignored her, and sent her anger to Lu Zhong again, "What kind of evil did I make, I raised you such an unfilial son, my heart, liver and lungs were abducted to Lao Wang's house, how can I have a mother like me in my eyes, I can't wait for me to die early and be quiet, God, I'm not alive, let me die!" ”

Mrs. Lu hugged Lu Zhong's arm and howled, her nails still pinching hard.

Lu Zhong endured the pain and said, "Mother, how can you ask for a dowry of fifty taels from others, if you do this, how can Sister Lian find her in-laws in the future?" ”

"You are amazing, if you have a daughter-in-law, you don't care about your brothers and sisters, you have no conscience, I knew that you were so unfilial, I should have thrown you into the pit and drowned when I gave birth to you!"

The corners of Liu Fangfang's mouth twitched, and she didn't know that a shrew like Mrs. Lu had a temperament formed in this way, thinking that she was tortured by her mother-in-law when she was young, and she could restrain one or two, but when she reached menopause, she didn't know how to cultivate herself, but she intensified her temperament and developed her temperament, and she couldn't control it at all.

Liu Fangfang saw that the back of Mrs. Lu's hand was bruised, and it turned out that she was pinching Lu Zhong too hard.

That Lu Zhong can also endure it, and he will be pinched by Lu Pozi.

Xiao Yi, who followed Yulan away, slipped over again, Xiao Yi was not very old, but he was anxious, and when he saw her father being pinched, he hurriedly shouted: "Grandfather is back!" ”

Moving out of Lu Shouzeng worked, and Mrs. Lu immediately let go of Lu Zhong and looked outside.

Xiao Yi hurriedly pulled Lu Zhong aside and said, "Dad, Xiao Geng can't cry when he falls off the kang, my mother will let you hurry over." ”

As soon as Lu Zhong heard that his son had fallen, he hurried to the East Courtyard.

Mrs. Lu didn't see Lu Shouzeng, and when she saw Lu Zhong leaving in a hurry, she cried: "The old and the young are all here to fool me, the old woman." ”

Xiao Yi turned his head and glanced at Lu Lian on the side, Lu Lian understood, and slipped along the corner.

When Mrs. Lu reacted, she was left alone, so she ran to the threshold of the main house and sat and cried, and dozed off while howling.

At this time, Lu Shouzeng and Lu Yong were busy with the work in the field, and as soon as they entered the village, Lu Yong threw the hoe to Lu Shouzeng, patted his ass and went to have fun with his partner.

"Look at the hour, you don't have to leave food when you come back late!" Lu Shouzeng shouted, seeing Lu Yong waving his hand to show that he knew, Lu Shouzeng sighed, picked up two hoes, and walked home alone.

Along the way, there were neighbors pointing and whispering to him, Lu Shouzeng was unhappy, but he still cared about his face and did not have a seizure.

What's going on today, I didn't see my neighbors so blatant in the past, it's so hard that the crazy woman at home is causing trouble again?

Lu Shouzeng's secret path was not good, and he couldn't help but speed up his pace.

Liu Fangfang was bored at the gate of the courtyard, and no one could see her anyway, so she simply lay on the stone slab outside the courtyard and waited for Lu Shouzeng to come back.

Several neighbors gathered outside the courtyard of the Lu family and talked happily, and when they saw Lu Shouzeng coming back with a hoe from a distance, they all shut up and looked at him with a smile.

Lu Shouzeng entered the house with a dark face, and saw Mrs. Lu sitting on the threshold of the main house, her head resting on the door frame and falling asleep.

Lu Shouzeng threw the two hoes on the corner of the courtyard, and slammed the few chickens in the courtyard into a frightened cluck.

Mrs. Lu was woken up in fright, and almost fell to the ground in a daze, "Old man, why are you the only one who came back?" What about Yong'er? ”

"Don't worry about Yong'er, can you explain it to me? What's going on with the people out there? Lu Shouzeng pointed to the outside of the wall and said fiercely.

Mrs. Lu glanced out of the courtyard and scolded: "These long-tongued women are like flies on the dung heap, they can't be driven away!" ”

"Is our house a dung heap? Do you know how to speak? Lu Shouzeng was furious, "Don't talk about those irrelevant things, what's going on today?" ”

"The Qiu family in the east of the village took Mrs. Zhang to the door to propose marriage to Qiu Fu, and wanted to marry our family Lian'er, but I didn't say close, Old Man Qiu threw his hand and left, Mrs. Zhang deliberately went against me, no, I quarreled!" Lu Pozi said.

"The Qiu family? Asking to marry our Lian'er? Such a good family affair, how can it be said that it is not compatible? You are a woman, if you don't come to the field to find me for such a big matter, you will make your own decisions? How can you be so capable! Lu Shouzeng's face was red and his neck was thick, he knew the Qiu family, his family background was better than the Lu family, and Qiu Fu was an only son, Qiu Fu's kid was diligent and honest, and Lian'er was blessed to marry in the past.

"Say, everyone has brought the matchmaker to the door, how can they say that they can't close?"

"The dowry says it doesn't close!"

"How much does the Qiu family say?"

"Ten taels!"

"Aren't people like us all dowry of ten taels? Then why don't you say it's closed? Lu Shouzeng's eyes were red with anger, and suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, his heart ached, and he asked after relieving his strength: "Do you want fifty taels?" ”

Seeing that Lu Shouzeng's red eyes were about to eat her, Mrs. Lu took two steps back and shouted: "I'm not for Yong'er yet, what's so good about the Qiu family, if you can't take out fifty taels, you want to marry my Lian'er, the Qiu family thinks beautiful!" I also want to marry Lian'er to a more prosperous family, and the dowry of fifty taels can also be said to Yong'er to be a protégé, what's wrong with me? ”

As soon as Lu Pozi's words fell, Lu Shouzeng slapped him, and Lu Pozi's cheeks suddenly swollen.

"How many times have I said that you don't have to worry about Yong'er and Lian'er's family affairs, do you take my words as a deaf ear? I can bear you if you go crazy at home, but you make me Lu Shouzeng embarrassed everywhere, and my Lu Shouzeng has become a joke in Xiaxi Village, and my Lu Shouzeng's children can't find good relatives, what's the use of you as a woman, you quickly pack up your things and go back to your parents' house! Lu Shou increased his blood and qi in his brain, and he couldn't stand still, so he staggered and fell backwards.

Mrs. Lu cried and hugged Lu Shouzeng, and then Lu Zhong and Lu Lian, who entered the courtyard gate, saw it, shouted and ran closer, and helped her into the kang in the house.

"Dad, what's wrong with you? Sister Lian, hurry up and pour some water. Lu Zhong pinched the middle of the people and ordered at the same time, and when he saw that Xiao Yi was also coming, he hurriedly said: "Xiao Yi, go and invite Dr. Wu to come!" ”