Third, the father and mother are old, and the old mother is partial to the little sister, and thinks that it doesn't matter if her son is shabby in marriage, but she can't be stingy when she marries her daughter, otherwise she can't raise her head when she goes to her mother-in-law's house, and she wants to save the rest of her money for her little sister as a dowry.

Therefore, the marriage of the fourth child was delayed until he was 19 years old, and no one mentioned it.

Originally, there were gossips in the village, this time the little sister made some money selling jade mushrooms, and the fourth child also made some money, as long as the Li family is not excessive, this marriage should be very smooth and can be done.

The age of the Li family's daughters is not young, and if it drags on, she will become an old girl.

When the fourth child's marriage is done, the dowry that the mother has saved for the little sister in the past few years should be about the same, and at that time, it should be possible to mention Tianlong's marriage again.

Therefore, no matter how Zhou lobbied, he also had an account in his heart, knowing that bringing it up now would be useless except to provoke the old lady.

Zhou's eyes were about to cramp, but Mei Xiaoque still pretended to be dead and didn't speak, she couldn't help it, "Mother, after this marriage for the fourth brother, shouldn't it be prepared for our family Tianlong?" He will be 15 next year, and it is time to find a girl who is good at giving birth and raising diligently, Tianlong is the eldest son and grandson of the Mei family, and family affairs can't be casual! Isn't it time to prepare, or you will have to live in a house when you get married--"

"Whew! Old family, pick up your X mouth for the old lady and go back to your Lao Lin's house, my Mei family can't afford such a stirrger. Why is your brother-in-law 19 years old and hasn't gotten married, so I didn't see your sister-in-law's concern. But your son, who is only 14, is jumping to marry a daughter-in-law? Unreasonable troublemaker, what kind of thing are you? This Mei family also has your turn to speak? Things that lose their conscience say that the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, you are more ruthless than your stepmother! This uncle is not married, and when the nephew thinks of asking for a daughter-in-law, there is no such reason in any family! If you dare to say such a thing again, see if the old lady doesn't whip you with the soles of her shoes! Pick a slut and don't let the old lady get out--"

As soon as he said this, Zhou blushed and covered his face and went out.

In the courtyard, Tianlong looked at the fourth uncle embarrassedly, if the young man didn't have any idea about marrying a daughter-in-law, it was impossible.

He also knew that his fourth uncle was not married, so he couldn't get his turn.

Besides, he is the eldest grandson of the Mei family, as long as his grandmother wants to save face and wants to gain a foothold in Lingshan Village, after the marriage of the fourth uncle, he will prepare for himself without being urged by others.

My mother couldn't see it clearly, so she hurriedly hurried to say at this juncture, isn't this looking for scolding?

It's like I'm thinking about marrying a daughter-in-law.

Mei Changgui watched her sister-in-law Zhou cover her face and rush into the big house, and after a while, a whimper came out.

The originally cheerful atmosphere in the courtyard was swept away, and the little beans didn't dare to speak, looking left and right, and they didn't even dare to come out of the atmosphere.

Mei Xiaotong walked out of the hall and greeted lightly: "It's not too early, why don't you wash up and go to bed." ”

The little beans were amnesty like a dream and dispersed in a hurry.

Mei Changgui was left, looking at his little sister with a complicated expression, not knowing what to say.

Mei Xiaotong actually feels very sorry for her fourth brother, who is famous for murder and everyone is afraid, but at home, she is a neglected child.

He has paid a lot for this family, but what he got is far from enough, his father and mother have their own plans, the eldest brother and sister-in-law have their own selfishness, but he doesn't even have a person who knows cold and hot, so he is going to get married, and he has to be used as a raft by his sister-in-law to pave the way for his eldest nephew.

Seeing that Mei Changgui was obviously tall and big, standing in the yard, but showing a little pitiful appearance, Mei Xiaotong stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder comfortingly: "Fourth brother, you have also worked hard, go back and rest early!" Don't worry, my mother knows it in her heart, and she won't treat you badly! ”

made up her mind in her heart, no matter what, she would persuade Mrs. Li that the fourth brother's family affairs should be more attentive, don't chill his heart.

Mei Changgui was a little surprised, a little moved, eighteen or nineteen-year-old boys, it is rare to get this care from his family, and his eyes are red.

Afraid of the little sister's jokes, she turned around in embarrassment and rushed back to her house in three or two steps.

Mei Xiaotong sighed, and was about to go back to the room, remembering the needlework she had helped Wen sell during the day, and turned around and entered the stove house.

In the stove house, Wen is boiling hot water to prepare water for everyone to use at night.

Seeing Mei Xiaotong coming in, he stood up nervously and looked at her expectantly.

Mei Xiaotong saw that there was no one outside, took out a handkerchief from his arms, wrapped in twenty big coins that sold handkerchiefs, and handed it to Wen: "A total of twenty Wen, you count." ”

Wen's eyes lit up, she didn't expect it to be really sold, and she sold it for twenty dollars, she didn't even dare to think about it.

I thought I could sell a dozen or so thankfully!

After wiping her hand on her clothes, she carefully took the handkerchief, and the heavy copper coins were in her hands, so that she had a sense of reality.

With tears flashing in his eyes, he whispered excitedly: "Thank you, little sister!" You've done us a great favor, and my sister-in-law doesn't know how to thank you--"

Wen's excitement and gratitude at the moment cannot be described in words, when she was almost in a desperate situation, Mei Xiaotong's convenient help gave her the courage to hold on.

While talking incoherently, he trembled and counted out ten big money, which he wanted to give to Mei Xiaotong as a hush money.

Mei Xiaotong didn't want to take it, but she thought that she couldn't collapse her character, looking at Wen's appearance, if she didn't accept it, I was afraid that she would have to worry about the East Window incident every day.

It's better to take her heart for the time being, at most keep it here as money, and find an opportunity to supplement their three rooms in the future.

Thinking about it like this, Mei Xiaotong calmly took ten big coins and put them in her purse.

He instructed: "The shopkeeper thinks that your purse is doing well, and his mind is very clever, and the purse he spells out has a good meaning, let you make a few more of these purses, I will bring you a pack of rags, and you will go to my room tomorrow to get it." With that, he went out of the stove house.

Wen was so excited that he trembled, as if in a dream, and bit his finger, which hurt all over his body, and there was a smile on his face.

Someone asked for their own embroidery, and they touched a real ten big money, and the sister-in-law could still help hide it from her mother-in-law, even if half of the money was siphoned off, she was willing.

She can also make money, and her life in the future will be better after all.

handed over the money to Wen's, Mei Xiaotong turned around and saw that it was already dark in the wing where Mrs. Li lived, and she didn't even light the oil lamp.

There was also a faint cry of Zhou's from the side of the big house, as well as the persuasion of Mei Xiaoque and several children.

Mei Xiaotong shook her head, returned to her room, and after freshening up, she took out the two pieces of silver that Mrs. Li gave her, looked at them for a long time, and then put them together with the ten big coins given by Zhou.

According to the location in memory, a small wooden box was turned out in the innermost part of the wardrobe.

When I opened it, there were twenty or thirty big coins in it, as well as a few head ropes, a few hairpins carved from wood, and a pair of delicate silver lilac earrings.

This is all Mei Xiaotong's belongings.

It's really poor and pitiful.

He threw the piece of silver and the large penny into it, locked it up, and put it back in its place.

After a day of traveling, she was finally able to lie in bed, Mei Xiaotong finally had a sense of steadiness, thinking about how to live in the future, but drowsiness hit her, she couldn't resist it, and entered the dark sweetness.

When I woke up, it was already dark.

The sound of chopping wood came from the yard, and it was very rhythmic.

and Mrs. Li's voice: "Fourth, what are you chopping firewood early in the morning?" If you have that spare time, you and your father and the eldest go to the mountain early in the morning, carry a few pieces of good wood back, and first make two kinds of furniture in your house, and the third one's family, you make two more cakes, and I will take it and invite Aunt Wu at the entrance of the village to go to Li's house to set a date. ”

Mei Changgui and Wen hurriedly agreed.

Mrs. Li saw that everyone was up, but she didn't see Zhou's shadow, the door of the big room was still closed, and she was angry again because she hadn't finished last night, because she was afraid of waking up the baby old girl, although she was angry, she still tried to lower her voice and walked to the door of the big room: "When is it?" Still standing up? I haven't heard that my mother-in-law is up, and this daughter-in-law is still sleeping in bed! Rotten lazy woman, don't let the old lady get out, there are a lot of things today, I have delayed the old lady's business, and I can't see your skin!"

The door creaked open, Zhou's eyes were red and swollen, and he walked out with his head down, it is estimated that Mei Xiaoque and the children persuaded her a lot last night, and her face didn't look ugly.

Mrs. Li was too lazy to say, and directly explained the task: "After breakfast, clean up the house, the vegetables in the garden should be watered, and the vegetables in the garden should be fertilized. ”

Zhou knew that this was a serious matter, if he dared to say half a word, not to say that Mrs. Li scolded her to death, the people in the village knew about it, and they would say that she was not.

He agreed with a drooping face.

Mrs. Li assigned the task, and when she turned around and saw Mei Xiaotong open the door, she immediately smiled on her face, and walked over in two steps: "The old girl is awake, is my mother arguing about you?" It's nothing today, you worked hard yesterday, why don't you eat and then go back to lie down? ”

Mei Xiaotong touched her nose and forced herself to get used to Mrs. Li's face-turning personality like turning a book.

"I'm asleep, the fourth brother is getting married, how can I be a sister and watch from the side? Is there anything I can do? Mother, just tell me--"

Mrs. Li lovingly brushed the broken hair on Mei Xiaotong's forehead, "There are so many people in the family, where can I use you?" Don't make your hands thick, girls' families, hands are the most precious, if you are idle and bored, supervise a few small ones to clean up the house, I see that the house you cleaned up last time was beautiful and big. When your father and they finish the furniture, you can help your fourth brother clean up the new house--"

Mrs. Li is as partial to her daughter as ever.

Mei Xiaotong thought that her task of being clear and clean didn't seem to have been completed, and she took this opportunity to complete it, so it was a point.

I readily agreed.

After breakfast, Mrs. Li took Wen's baked cakes and was about to go to the matchmaker before leaving the stove house, Mei Xiaotong waited and handed over a piece of rice cake that was specially left yesterday: "Mother, bring this too." looks decent and good-looking, so that Aunt Wu can say a few more good words for the fourth brother and our family, so that the fourth sister-in-law can marry as soon as possible! ”

Where is Mrs. Li willing to ask: "Such a precious thing, keep it for yourself to satisfy your hunger, what do you do for outsiders?" Who said that it would be good for the matchmaker to give two cakes, our family and the fourth child are more than enough for their Li family, and you still need others to say good things, you keep it yourself--"

Without saying anything, he stuffed back the rice cake and went out with the basket.

Mei Zhongzhong also took his two sons up the mountain to carry wood.

Because of the backing of the mountain in Lingshan Village, there is no shortage of trees, so the family has to make beams on the house and make furniture, all of which are going to the mountains to find wood by themselves.

Far-sighted people will find good trees a few years in advance, cut them down into wood, and then leave them to dry in the shade, so that the wood is fine-grained, and the furniture is stronger, and it will not crack after drying.

Mei Zhongzhong is a carpenter, and the wood that his son and daughter need to use to get married, he has found it early, put it in the shade, and can use it at any time.