Fang Hanmin was reluctant to go back to his hometown to hold a wedding, on the one hand, because he couldn't spare time, and on the other hand, he was also very uncomfortable with these customs and habits in his hometown.

Hearing that Fang Hanmin and his wife were going to return to the city tomorrow afternoon, Lao Fang immediately became angry, "Hanmin, you don't discuss everything with us, and you don't take us seriously!" Do you still have us as parents in your eyes? ”

"Dad, what you said is a bit hurtful, except for my own marriage, but everything related to the family, which thing has not been discussed with you? I asked for your opinions again and again to repair the house at home, and I was only asked to be responsible for half of the building funds, and then the funds promised by the family could not be fulfilled, and I was asked to bear all the funds, although I also had no money, even if I borrowed from classmates and friends, I didn't say a word in front of you. What are you talking about, why didn't you take it seriously? What else do you want me to do? ”

The traverser had no feelings for Lao Fang, and the host and his father had always lacked a common language, so seeing that Lao Fang was angry, Fang Hanmin also had a stomach full of resentment.

These words made Lao Fang a little embarrassed, and he said angrily: "There are many brothers and sisters in the family, you are a little bit out of luck now, as the eldest brother of several of them, shouldn't you help the family?" ”

"I didn't mean that, it's my responsibility to help my hometown, I just said that I obeyed your arrangements for everything related to my family, and I never disrespected your opinions." Fang Hanmin hurriedly argued.

"Listen to this, you have given a lot of help to your hometown, and you can make your own decisions about your marriage, and it has nothing to do with us?"

"Getting married and starting a family is my own business, of course it should be up to me, but it can't be said that it has nothing to do with you, although we didn't get married in our hometown, won't Yuping and I come back to report the situation to you?"

Although Fang Hanmin's words were reasonable, the old man did not approve of it, he slapped the table and said angrily: "Don't even say hello to us in advance, you call it cutting first and then playing!" ”

Seeing that the atmosphere at the table was becoming more and more tense, Xu Lihua hurriedly played a round, "Dad, the matter has passed, you can dissipate your anger." Hanmin, you and Yuping went back to your hometown for the first time after marriage, and explained it to your father. ”

"Mom, I've made it clear enough, how else do you want me to explain?" Fang Hanmin said helplessly.

The old man waved his hand impatiently, "Don't explain anything, Hanmin, I'll ask you, do you have to go back to the city tomorrow?" ”

"Dad, Yuping and I both have to go to work on Monday, and we have to go back tomorrow afternoon."

Lao Fang calmed down his emotions, "Okay, you have to go back, and no one can keep you." However, tonight I have a treat at home, and I don't have to work in the field in the afternoon, so you can help prepare. ”

"A treat? Who's invited? Is half a day in time? Lao Fang suddenly announced this decision, not to mention a few children, even his wife Xu Lihua was stunned.

Seeing that the whole family looked at him blankly, the old man explained unhurriedly: "Although Han Min and they didn't hold a wedding in their hometown, they came back to report the situation to the family, I think we should take this opportunity to invite our relatives and best friends to have a meal, on the one hand, let them know that Han Min has married and started a family, and on the other hand, let Yuping meet with these relatives and friends at home." I summed it up, there are only three tables of relatives and friends nearby, and it is not a formal banquet, just a light meal, there are so many of us, can't we make it for many hours in the afternoon? ”

"Well——," After thinking about it, Xu Lihua felt that his wife's idea was also reasonable, "These relatives and friends nearby have always been worried about Hanmin's marriage, and every time they meet, they inquire about it, invite them to a meal, and announce it in public, so as not to worry about it anymore, which is a good way." Hanmin, what do you and Yuping think? ”

"Mom, since you think it's a good idea, of course we'll have to agree. It's just that...... In what name do relatives and friends come to eat this meal? Song Yuping made the decision on behalf of Fang Hanmin and raised her own questions.

"Yes, Yuping is right, do you want to give gifts to the guests when they eat this meal? If the guests give gifts, can we accept them? Xu Lihua also had no idea for a while.

The old man said without hesitation: "Of course I want to accept it!" How many gifts have been given to relatives and friends over the years, this time it is our family's turn, and the gifts they give must be received! "It turned out that the purpose of the old party's invitation was to receive gifts.

Fang Hanmin disagreed with the old father's statement, "I have no objection to inviting relatives and friends to dinner, but I resolutely cannot accept gifts, because we are just using this opportunity to meet them, and we are not doing a marriage. ”

"What's not to hear? Do we give gifts to relatives and friends less? I still have to pay for the meal, what do I invite them to do? The old man said stubbornly.

"The gifts you have given over the years can be slowly recovered when Hanwen and her two sisters get married, but we don't accept gifts in this matter, after all, we didn't hold a wedding in our hometown. As for all the expenses of tonight's treat, it is completely up to us, and we don't need to spend a penny at home! ”

Hearing these words, the old father Fang Xiecheng bowed his head and was silent, and after a while, his mother Xu Lihua said with a little embarrassment: "How can I make you pay for a treat at home?" In addition, if a guest wants to give a gift, we don't accept it, will they be careless? ”

"Because we have a treat, we should pay for it. I explained to the guests why they didn't accept gifts, and I don't think they would have any idea. Fang Hanmin believes that with his good impression in the minds of relatives and friends, he came forward to explain, and everyone will understand.

Although I feel a little loss, I don't need the family to pay for the treat, and the old party is not good to raise objections, "Okay, then don't accept gifts." Let's do a division of labor, and then everyone is busy with their own work, especially those who buy vegetables and cook, and seize the time to do it as soon as possible. ”

After a little discussion, he put the vegetables, meat, tobacco, wine, sugar and tea he wanted to buy on the list, and Song Yuping took out a few hundred yuan, because Fang Hanwen had strength and fast legs, and his mother Xu Lihua asked him to go to the township market and store as soon as possible to buy things back.

The old man himself would not be idle, he immediately set off to invite guests, and went door to door to inform the invited guests.

Xu Lihua and her two daughters are busy in the kitchen, they do everything they can in front of their heads, because the tableware at home is not enough, she went to a good neighbor's house to borrow more than 20 sets of chopsticks and plates.

Of course, Fang Hanmin and Song Yuping will not sit idly by, they help choose vegetables and wash vegetables, and they put the dining table and stools borrowed from neighbors in the yard neatly. ......

In the evening, the guests came one after another, because the traveler was completely unfamiliar with these people, even the host had not seen relatives and friends for many years, so Fang Hanmin asked the old father to introduce him one by one, he and Song Yuping greeted the guests, and offered tea and cigarettes to the guests.

The guests whispered to each other, and Fang Hanmin's second uncle couldn't help but ask Lao Fang: "Brother-in-law, why didn't you see the account desk for receiving gift money?" ”

"Hanmin said, just invite everyone to have a light meal, he took Yuping to meet with everyone, get to know each other, we don't accept gifts."

"How's that going to work? It is a big deal for the eldest nephew to get married and start a family, and we relatives must express our hearts and minds about what we say. ”

Fang Hanmin walked up to the guests and arched his hand to everyone, "Second uncle, all the elders here, relatives and friends, because there are too many things in the unit, we don't have time to go back to our hometown to hold a wedding, a simple marriage ceremony was held in the city on May Day, and now Song Yuping and I are already officially husband and wife, this time I took the time to go home to visit my parents and family, and inform them of the situation, and also meet with you, by the way, please have a light meal, the matter of courtesy and exchange will be waived, I hope you understand." ”

"Hanmin, since you're back, let's stay a few more days, let's help you Zhang Luo, make up a wedding at home, let's have a good time, why are you in such a hurry!"

"Third brother, we will have the opportunity to get together again in the future, we can't hide it, after meeting you tonight, we will go to Yuping's mother's house tomorrow morning, and we will go back tomorrow afternoon, because we all have to go to work the day after tomorrow."

"Hanmin, marriage is a major event in life, didn't the unit give you marriage leave?"

"Uncle, Yuping and I belong to older youths, not only do we have marriage leave, but we can also take a few more days according to the regulations, but we have too much work at hand, how can we have time to take a vacation!"

"You have been sensible since you were a child, and everyone has always had a good impression of you, even if you didn't hold a wedding in your hometown, since you invited us to meet you, no matter what, let us express our hearts, it should be."

"Uncle, between relatives and friends, it is not overnight, I have received your wishes, thank you!" ......

Everyone gossiped, and Fang Hanmin explained one by one, in fact, the guests don't need to give gifts, they can eat and drink for nothing, why don't you do it.

After four or five hours of busyness, at about six o'clock in the evening, the sumptuous dishes were put on the table, and after the guests were seated, Fang Hanmin said a few polite words, and Fang Xiecheng told the guests that although it was not a formal banquet, he also hoped that everyone would eat and drink well. ......

After breakfast the next day, Fang Hanmin and his wife were packing their luggage and preparing to visit Song Yuping's mother's house. At this time, their mother Xu Lihua walked up to them, as if she had something to say, but it was difficult to speak.

"Mom, is there something wrong with you?"

"Hanmin, Yuping, I want to discuss something with you."

Putting down the matter at hand, Fang Hanmin asked intently, "What's the matter?" You say. ”

Xu Lihua said embarrassedly: "Your brother Hanwen is also a big boss, some time ago, someone introduced him to a girlfriend,"

Without waiting for his mother to finish speaking, Fang Hanmin interjected: "This is a good thing!" Hanwen is in his twenties, even in the countryside, he is an older youth, and he should have had a girlfriend a long time ago! The result? Did it succeed or not? ”

"It's good, he and the woman are also a good match, it seems that both parties are willing to get along, but it's just ...... The other party asks for a bride price of 1,000 yuan. ”

"It's normal for a woman to ask for a bride price, since both parties are willing, you can agree to it."

"But----, for our family, a thousand yuan is a huge amount of money, and we can't take out this money!" Xu Lihua said with a sad face.

"Oh——," Fang Hanmin knew the purpose of what his mother told him about this, "Shouldn't the bride price be given before marriage?" Let Hanwen get along with his girlfriend first, if it really happens, the bride price will be talked about before getting married. ”

With this sentence, Xu Lihua can be regarded as reassured, the second child's wedding bride price has been settled, and she, who is a mother, can finally let go of the heart that she has been carrying.

On the way back to her parents' house, Song Yuping didn't say a word, just walked forward, Fang Hanmin felt a little abnormal, "Yuping, what are you thinking?" ”

"Didn't think about anything."

"Impossible, your mood is obviously wrong, just say something, don't keep it in your heart."