Seventeenth

When Wu Ying's uncle and aunt learned about Wu Ying's situation, the uncle scratched his head and glanced at his aunt. Seeing this, the aunt hurriedly comforted Wu Ying and said, "Sister Ying, your mother is so confused, don't pay attention to them!" You can rest assured that you will live as your own home. You stay for two days first, do something if you have a suitable thing, take the right thing to live in peace, and then your uncle and aunt will think of other ways. Zhao Laoqi, what are you doing standing there, go and make room for Ying Mei to arrange a rest, she sat in the row for two days! ”

Wu Ying's uncle is called Zhao Youneng - on weekdays, his aunt is called Zhao Laoqi.

Wu Ying suddenly couldn't help but have a sour nose, cried, and knelt in front of her uncle. The aunt hurriedly pulled Wu Ying up, and said busily: "Don't cry, get up quickly!" Mother's uncle, when your uncle and aunt should be, we don't care who cares about you?! ”

On the same day, my aunt and I made some wine and food in the grocery store greenhouse to entertain Xu Zong. At the dinner table, my uncle thanked Xu Zong, and learned about Xu Zong's residence and situation in Yiyang, and said that we would come and go more in the future, take care of each other and help each other in business. Xu Zong, who was a little drunk when the sun was setting in the west, said goodbye to everyone, and Wu Ying looked at the back of the departing and felt an inexplicable good feeling in her heart.

When Xu Zong returned to the ship's row, it was already dark, Qiusheng and everyone had already sorted out the goods, and only to contact the cargo ship to transfer Wuhan again tomorrow, and the ship's row had also been disbanded into timber and stacked at the dock waiting to contact the seller.

Wuhan, the capital of China, has been surrounded by Japanese troops, and there are signs of a major war at any time, and people are panicking. According to the passengers, Wuhan could not be defended, and the chairman of the NPC National Committee had already gone to Chongqing, and the ships coming and going from the Yangtze River were constantly flowing back and forth between Chongqing and Hubei. Everyone said that it seemed that Wuhan could not be defended, and the Japanese would attack Changsha if they went any further.

Yiyang's large and small wharves are congested, showing the busyness before the war. Xu Zong and Qiu Sheng worked hard for about ten days, and finally sent the goods to the cargo ship, and the timber of the ship was sold out.

The two brothers of Xu Zong Qiusheng were happy when they got the payment received, and three or four months of busyness were worth the previous year. The tie-in full of money when walking knocked on the heart of a little excited, and the joy was raised!

Qiusheng proposed to go to the Linjiang Building where he used to eat with the king's shopkeeper to celebrate, and Xu Zong said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, it should be."

On the way to Linjiang Tower, Qiusheng and they accidentally met an acquaintance, who was Wu Ying, who came with them in the boat.

At that time, Wu Ying was a little flustered and looked around, and when she saw the two of them, she waved and shouted from afar: "Brother Cao, Brother Gui!" Xu Zong and the two of them hurriedly greeted each other, and Xu Zong asked with concern: "Sister Ying..."

As soon as he said a word, Wu Ying immediately pulled them to a quiet and uninhabited place, and before she could speak, her eyes were already full of tears. Seeing this, Qiusheng hurriedly said: "Sister, tell us something!"

Wu Ying held back a handful of tears and talked about what she had happened to her these days.

Since the day Xu Zong left, her uncle's family was very good to her in the first two days, especially her aunt's three meals a day. On the third day, my aunt came back from outside and said to Wu Ying excitedly: "Sister, my aunt asked someone to find you something, it is the famous Qiyue Tower in Yiyang County." That Boss Tang is the nephew of President Tang Shengzhi, he can eat well, and his business is booming, on weekdays, you wipe the table for the guests in the guest room, sweep the floor, serve tea and water, and do some miscellaneous things! You are clever on weekdays, please some clever guests, and there are some rewards. Come, my aunt will dress up for you and go to meet the manager. ”

Not to mention that my aunt is dressed up and has a hand, after a few tidying ups, Wu Ying, who changed into a floral green coat, lost all the rustic atmosphere of the township when she came.

Wu Ying followed her aunt to Qiyue Tower, and everything in front of her made her as novel as Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden. Seven or eight large tables were set up in the wide hall, and as my aunt went up the stairs with delicate handrails and through the private rooms of various sizes with porches, I met Manager Tang in an elegantly decorated guest room.

At that time, Manager Tang was laughing with a woman with pink makeup, and when he saw Wu Ying's uncle and nephew, he hurriedly waved his hand at the woman, and the woman smiled and went out.

Manager Tang was in his forties, but his thin face was white and shiny, and he looked Wu Ying up and down for a long time. Wu Ying was a little restrained and didn't know where to put her hand, so she didn't dare to come out with her head down. At this time, my aunt said with a sneer: "Manager Tang, my niece's name is Wu Ying, and she is from the countryside. Please enjoy the food, the villagers have seen the world, please look at it and find something to do. Manager Tang was staring at Wu Ying and could see it, and he replied after a while: "Oh, oh, your niece is very delicate, very good, very good!" After speaking, he shouted outside: "Yueying, come in!"

The woman who had just gone out came in, and Manager Tang said to her: "This girl is in the guest room, you can teach her a good life, the girl's name is Wu Ying, right?" Wu Ying lowered her head and snorted. My aunt was very happy to hear this, and hurriedly said, "Thank you Manager Tang, thank you Manager Tang." He turned back to Wu Ying and said, "Sister Ying, you have to listen to the manager and their words, do things well, be diligent and clever."

When my aunt left, she was a little worried and explained to Wu Ying before leaving, and Wu Ying immediately stayed to do things.

Na Yueying is the shopkeeper of the restaurant, she led Wu Ying to familiarize herself with the work for half a day, and taught her many things by hand, telling her many taboos and skills in serving guests. After two or three days, Wu Ying became familiar with all kinds of work essentials, and even some of the frequent guests knew that there was a new young and delicate waiter. Things are complicated but still leisurely, and there is no hard work in the countryside. It's just that Wu Ying is not used to it, some guests laughed and even rubbed oil on their hands and feet, which made her very uncomfortable, thinking about her own situation, so she endured it and didn't dare to bump into the guests.

said that Manager Tang often came to the store three times in two days, and Wu Ying had seen it many times. Later, he specially asked Wu Ying to go to his room to deliver tea and food to stay a few times, and left her to talk, and once asked her to sit down and drink with him when drinking, and the look in Wu Ying's eyes somehow made her a little flustered. Wu Ying pushed it and said no, he didn't force her to drink, and left with her food.

Ten days later, when the day closed, Yueying's shopkeeper left Wu Ying, and gave Wu Ying a slap up and down, and said with a mysterious smile: "Sister Wu, there is a good thing to tell you, you have worked very well during this time, and Manager Tang is also very satisfied with it!" Manager Tang's hometown is from Dong'an County, and he only has one wife at home, and he has been away for many years. A rich and powerful person like him doesn't have three wives and two concubines, and many times he wants to find a good one to marry, but he has always been unliked. Look, look, you've been fascinated by him in a few days, and if you agree with him, he'll take you as a child, and you'll have a better life when you can give birth to a boy and a girl! ”

When Wu Ying heard this, she was immediately at a loss, her face flushed with shame in panic, and she replied for a long time: "Shopkeeper, I'm here to do things, I haven't thought about you talking about this, how can he, a rich boss, really take a fancy to me as a country girl, don't make fun of me!" If nothing else, I'll go first. After saying that, he turned around and ran away.

When I went back to my uncle's house the next day, I saw my aunt coming up from afar, and said to Wu Ying with a smile: "Sister, the shopkeeper of Yueying came to me this morning and said that Manager Tang has taken a fancy to you!" That is the blessing of your ancestors in your previous life, if you climb the big tree of Manager Tang, you will enjoy the blessings in the future! ”

Wu Ying listened, stood for a while, pursed her mouth, lowered her head and said: "Listen to Master Yang in the kitchen of the store, this Manager Tang has a wife at home, and in the past few years here, I don't know that I have slept with many women, and I have also seen a famous person." Uncle, I think it's okay, how can he really take a fancy to me as a country girl? ”

The aunt suddenly had some displeasure on her face, and after a while, she smiled and persuaded her: "Sister Ying, which of the powerful and powerful people has a few good looks outside, and how can those women who show up on weekdays compare with you, Manager Tang has passed the word, he likes your innocence and delicateness, so he intends to accept you as a small one, not for fun." If you really do it, your uncle will have to get some light. How about his wife at home, and how bad is it to be small? You don't see her, you just don't see her, two or three years later, you give birth to a boy and a half girl, and you are still afraid that he will abandon you and ignore you - even if he is tired of you, he will not care about his own flesh and blood! ”

Wu Ying stood still, and did not reply: "Uncle, you can reply to Manager Tang and say that I am still young and not worthy of him, I am a villager who will find a countryman in the future, and I am born to endure hardships, and I don't want to eat and drink spicy things!"

After hearing this, the face of the ordinary smile changed, and her voice became sour: "Sister, you really don't know how to be good!" You are a country girl who is still picky, and I will tell your uncle about this later. You don't look at what your situation is, go back and your mother forced you to marry you to a guy with sores on the brain?! When you cry everywhere, see who cares about you?! ”

Wu Ying looked at her angry and somewhat arrogant uncle's face was a little timid, and she couldn't help but shed tears. When my aunt saw this, she waved her hand impatiently: "Go, go, go, clean up the table in the back!" Talk to your uncle again in the evening! ”

That night, there were bursts of scolding and scolding from the uncle's room. The uncle only had a few small and vague answers, but they were instantly overshadowed by the screams and scolding of the uncle, and there was no reply.

It was night, Wu Ying tossed and turned, and there was no sleep all night.

The next morning, my uncle asked Wu Ying tentatively and timidly: "Wu Ying, your aunt told me about Manager Tang yesterday, and I think your aunt also has good intentions." If you follow Manager Tang, I think it's okay, and your uncle won't pressure you, mainly your own will. ”

Wu Ying looked at the honest uncle in front of him, sighed and choked up and said: "Uncle, I'm causing you trouble, I really don't dare to agree to this, I don't know the place of life, Manager Tang's hometown is so far away, I don't know the roots!" is that in the future, there will be a man and half a woman, if his wife in the house does not allow it, in the end he will really die without a place to be buried! ”

After speaking, he sobbed, and when his uncle saw that he was a little at a loss, he hurriedly persuaded: "Sister, don't cry, uncle won't press you." If you don't agree, you quit the matter and go back to your uncle and find a way, okay?! ”

Wu Ying looked at the only reliable relative in front of her, and couldn't help hugging her uncle and crying bitterly.

He quit his job on the same day, and Manager Tang's face was a little ugly but he didn't deliberately embarrass him, so he asked the shopkeeper to settle his salary, and Wu Ying bowed to the shopkeeper when he left.

When I returned to my uncle's house, my aunt was furious when she learned about the situation, and she counted Wu Ying's uncle and nephew for a long time, and my uncle scolded him like a grandson and didn't dare to move. In the next few days, Wu Ying was helping to do things in the grocery store, and her aunt was angry and scolded. Uncle is even more miserable, and he has even looked at his aunt timidly for a few days, afraid that he will recruit her again.

Today, Wu Ying's aunt went back to her parents' house, and she rarely took the time to go to the street to relax, and she unintentionally ran into Xu Zong and the two of them. After listening to Wu Ying's words, Xu Zong looked at Wu Ying with a sad and delicate face in front of him, and said to Wu Ying after a while: "Sister, if you can trust me, go back to our residence with us first, and then I have a way, see if you agree?" If you answer what your uncle has to say! Brother Gui, the meal is gone, go back, it's still useful to save money! ”

Wu Ying looked at the young man in front of him who he thought was sincere and credible in his heart, and with a sigh, he went back to their residence with Qiusheng and the others.

When they returned to their residence, they made a meal, a young man chatted while sipping, and Xu Zong Qiusheng and his two brothers also started drinking.

When the wine arrived in the middle of the tour, Xu Zong suddenly put down his cup and chopsticks, and his eyes were red on his neck and neck with some alcohol, staring at Wu Ying, and his lips moved a few times but he didn't speak. Wu Ying was a little embarrassed to be stared at, and stood up with her head down to help Xu Zong refill the half-empty wine glass. At the moment when Wu Ying poured a full wine and was about to sit down, Xu Zonghu held Wu Ying's hand that was still holding the wine jug with both hands, and suddenly Wu Ying's face turned red with embarrassment, and she tried to withdraw her hand but was held tighter by Xu Zong!

Qiusheng next to him was also stunned, and muttered intentionally drunk: "Brother Xu, you, are you drunk?" Xu Zong's hands holding Wu Ying were trembling at the moment, and the eyes of the two were only a foot away. Xu Zong said to Wu Ying word by word: "Sister Ying, if you can trust me, you don't dislike me, I will go to propose marriage with your uncle and aunt tomorrow morning!" A lifetime of begging for rice will bring you to beg together!! ”

At this moment, Wu Yinghao was unprepared, and the blood in his heart was about to gush out, but he forgot to answer for a while. The two of them froze like this, like two clay sculptures and didn't move, Qiusheng looked at the two of them with some drunken eyes and didn't make a sound.

It took a long moment for Wu Ying to come to her senses, looking at Xu Zong's pious face, and after a long while, she nodded cautiously and said, "As long as your brother Xu doesn't dislike me, I will listen to you for the rest of my life!" At this time, Qiusheng next to him was released, poured himself a glass of wine, and shouted at Xu Zong with a smile: "Brother Xu, look at the good things you have done, you have picked up a wife who is like a flower and jade for nothing, come, come, come, first punish you with two cups, I won't let you down today, I don't have the surname Gui!!"

At this time, Xu Zong and the two of them let go of their hands and sat down again, but Wu Ying felt a little shy, and the wine was full when she poured wine for Xu Zong. At this time, Qiusheng asked Xu Zong to have a drink for Wu Ying, how can he say that it is now the two of them to him. Xu Zong listened, looked at Wu Ying, who was shy and moving with his head down, and without saying a word, he tilted his head, and the wine glass did not fall into his stomach.

When he drank until the time of the lamp, Xuzong was already drunk, and Qiusheng also stumbled into the sea of clouds. Wu Ying and Qiusheng hugged Xu Zong, who was slumped on the table, into the house, took off their shoes and socks and lay down, Wu Ying also poured water and wiped Xu Zong's face. At this time, Qiusheng muttered: "The daughters-in-law who have not passed through the door will wash their faces, Brother Xu, you will make a lot of money!" Wu Ying heard that she turned around and took a towel and smeared it vigorously on Qiusheng's face, then turned around and went out to pour the washing water. At this time, the drunk Xu Zong did not react at all, and slept soundly.

That night, Wu Ying was a little worried about Xu Zong, so she stayed and put together two long oranges in her clothes, and lay in Xu Zong's room, and did not go back to her uncle's house. In the night, Xu Zong Qiusheng vomited twice, Wu Ying was busy serving for half the night, and when the rooster crowed, she couldn't resist the drowsiness and fell asleep on the table.

The next day, Xu Zong woke up from the wine, and saw Wu Ying lying on the long orange hurriedly woke her up, and Xu Zong said apologetically: "Look at our mistakes, let you freeze alone for a night, if you are still sleepy, lie on the bed and sleep!" Wu Ying got up and said, "Don't get in the way, it's so expensive!"

After breakfast, Xuzong and Qiusheng discussed their plans, and decided to leave Wu Ying in their residence, and Qiusheng would do the fighting, and Xuzong would go to Wu Ying's uncle's house together.

When the two of them came to Uncle Wu Ying's house, her uncle was squatting on the ground with a sad face and holding his head. Seeing the arrival of Xu Zong, he was a little surprised and hurriedly stood up, and at this time, his aunt who was reclining on the couch also slowly stood up. When Qiusheng handed over the sumptuous gifts that Xu Zong had bought on the street, Uncle Wu Ying said busily: "Look at what you are doing, you can't afford to mention so many things!" The aunt looked at the expensive gifts, and then at the two Qiusheng who seemed to understand something, and politely went back to the house and poured tea.

At this time, Qiusheng told Xu Zong and Wu Ying about the situation, and said that he would not be treated badly if he was polite. Uncle and aunt listened to Qiusheng's speech quietly, and during the intermission, Uncle Wu Ying secretly glanced at her aunt, and her aunt was unaware and listened carefully to Qiusheng's words.

When Qiusheng said that his mother's uncle was older, Wu Ying's marriage would be handled by his uncle in the future, and the man's etiquette was also given to his uncle for disposal, and his uncle's calm face slowly put on a smile.

After Qiusheng finished speaking, the aunt looked at Xu Zong with a peachy face and said: "You see that you came to propose marriage earlier, and you risked so many things, I was busy for her good, Ying Mei didn't know if she still hated me, right?" Her mother and stepfather have no conscience and forced her all the way to us, we don't care who cares about her?! As long as the man in the house is the master, I am an uncle. ”

After speaking, he looked at Uncle Wu Ying, Uncle Wu Ying carefully figured out what his aunt meant, stammered a little, and said: "Yes, if you want it, as long as Xuzong is good to Sister Ying in the future, we will agree to be my uncle and aunt." At this time, he glanced back at his aunt again, and said timidly: "Tangke, is it a little unreasonable for us to marry a daughter in the Wu family, do you want to let Sister Ying go back and discuss with them a few times..."

Before he finished speaking, his aunt secretly stepped on his uncle with her foot from under the table, and said, "Look at you Zhao Laoqi, you have a little assertiveness!" Sister Ying came to look for you for hundreds of miles, and you pushed her back to the fire pit where the birds don't in Yanyunwan? Sister Ying won't fight half to death when she goes back, and I won't believe it if I am forced to marry your nephew who is a prostitute with bad gambling? ! Brother Gui, Zhao Laoguan is old but his brain is in the water, don't believe him, I should go back to the man's house to be the master. Make a date, get engaged in Yiyang, and talk about it later! ”

Wu Ying, who was anxiously waiting at Xuzong's residence, saw the two Xuzong who were talking and laughing, and a hanging heart finally fell into her stomach. In the afternoon of the same day, Xu Zong sent Wu Ying back to his uncle's house, his uncle's family was very enthusiastic, and his aunt was as good as if he had just come a few days, and the unhappiness in Qiyue Tower never seemed to have happened, and he never mentioned it in the future.

Two days later, Xu Zong spent money to hold several large tables of engagement banquets at his uncle's house, and all the relatives and elders who came were relatives and elders of his aunt's mother's family. Xu Zong gave a red envelope according to the ceremony, and the aunt was busy entertaining the guests that day, full of joy. When Qiusheng gave the dowry, the uncle said politely: "Today, I have the right to be my uncle's mother, and Sister Ying has suffered a lot, and when I go back, I have to buy some dowry to be worthy of this mother!"

The next day, my aunt took Xuzong and Wu Ying to the street to buy some soft clothes. Xu Zong made a lot of money this trip, and the gift money he gave was considered good in the local area, and his aunt bought several sets for Wu Ying inside and out, created bracelets and earrings in the silverware shop, and specially bought a robe for Xu Zong to complete the wedding dress. In her words, Anhua is smaller than Yiyang, and it is definitely impossible to do such a good thing with the same money.

On the day of Xuzong's departure, the aunt pulled Xuzong and Wu Ying, handed over a burden, and said: "Xuzong, Sister Ying will hand over your care, and the gift money you came to be your uncle and aunt will not dare to spend it on you." Everyone has to earn a family when they marry a daughter, and we don't dare to spend it for nothing. In addition to the cost of the banquet, I left some of the gifts you came to help your grandchildren and cubs in the future, and the rest is all up to Sister Ying, and you are the one who decides. If you want to buy something, don't discuss it with us, don't let others look down on you! As long as you are good, we have nothing but rejoicing. ”

At that time, Wu Ying was so moved that she burst into tears, hugged her uncle and cried.

Later, when Wu Ying talked to Ding Xiang about her uncle, she also said that her uncle was spicy, had a good abacus, and was sleek and decisive. But I still think she's good, and I'll be grateful to her for the rest of my life. If she hadn't taken her in and didn't know where she would have existed, the marriage with Xuzong would not have been possible if she hadn't said anything to her uncle's timid nature.

End of the seventeenth round