Chapter 43: Brothers Become Enemies, Family Split

“Who says it isn’t? Even in town, no wedding has ever had such extravagant gifts. No wonder the third team leader and his younger son fought. Thankfully, the eldest son’s family is still in town; otherwise, it would have been a huge disaster,” the woman speaking shook her head again, thinking of He Weiguang, who still worked at the soap factory in town. “These two brothers have never gotten along. I’m afraid they’ll split up before the third team leader even dies.”

News of the He Liangliang family’s quarrel spread like wildfire during that evening meal.

Zhao Leyi, who was immersed in settling into her new home in the educated youth point, was stunned when she heard the news. How could a fight break out over the dowry of “three turns and one ring”?

Her mother’s letter clearly stated that Sanhua, a neighbor with lower education and less beauty than herself, had married a worker. The wedding procession included seven or eight bicycles, and Sanhua’s mother had boasted about it to her mother for a whole month. Before going to the countryside, Zhao Leyi had been the envy of everyone in the alley. How could she be overshadowed by someone she once looked down upon?

The commotion caused by the He Weiyuan family resulted in Zhao Leyi being pointed at and whispered about whenever she went out. When she went to the river to wash clothes, she kept her face tight, frequently swallowing, afraid that someone would cause trouble for her.

Despite Zhao Leyi’s resistance, she couldn’t stop the people who came to mock and watch the fun.

“Zhao Zhiqing, I heard your dowry requires ‘three turns and one ring’ plus two hundred yuan. I wonder how much dowry you’ll bring?”

Zhao Leyi continued washing her clothes without stopping. “I’m not sure about the dowry; my mother is arranging it. He Weiyuan and I haven’t even gotten engaged yet; our parents haven’t even met. Everyone, please don’t spread rumors.”

Aunt Daniu gasped, her bent back straightening instantly. The washcloth in her hand was accidentally swept away by the water, causing her to hurriedly drop her mallet and chase after it. She ended up getting her entire upper body wet before retrieving the washcloth.

“Your engagement isn’t even settled yet?” Such a significant loss; Aunt Daniu wasn’t happy unless she got a good dose of gossip.

Zhao Leyi’s washing speed increased, wishing she could finish washing the clothes in the tub and leave immediately. “No, my mother said that if the dowry doesn’t meet our family’s requirements, the marriage won’t happen.”

He Weiyuan arguing with his parents at home over the dowry showed that things weren’t as easy as she had imagined.

He Weiyuan had also dragged her into the mud, ruining her reputation in the village. The villagers’ stares were particularly piercing, implying that she shouldn’t demand such a high dowry.

What do these country bumpkins know?

City marriages and village marriages are vastly different. If He Weiyuan wasn’t willing, why did he even pursue her?

Zhang Meili had gotten along well with the village aunties these past two days, but she never expected to be implicated by Zhao Leyi. Today, while digging spring bamboo shoots in the mountains, the aunties she was with asked her how much dowry she would require for her marriage, which greatly surprised Zhang Meili.

The amount of dowry was a sensitive topic. Too little would displease her parents, too much would displease the future in-laws, and even if she did marry, she would be bullied by her in-laws.

“I’m still young; I’m not in a hurry to get married,” Zhang Meili could only reply. When she returned home at noon, she simply stayed indoors. She had already dug enough bamboo shoots for the past two days, enough to dry and store until next spring’s small water bamboo shoots grew.

The next day, the village gossip began to subside when He Weiguang, who worked at the soap factory in Yihe Town, suddenly returned from town. Immediately afterward, a fierce family war erupted at He Liangliang’s house.

The two brothers fought from the hall to the courtyard, finally rolling around at the gate, attracting dozens of onlookers. Several neighbors who tried to intervene were thrown aside, until both brothers were exhausted and He Liangliang separated them.

Just when everyone thought the matter was finally over, He Weiguang, with bloodshot and bruised eyes, went to the village chief’s house. When He Haiming and He Daniu arrived, everyone realized that He Weiyuan and He Weiguang, the brothers, were actually splitting up.

He Liangliang was only in his early fifties, healthy and strong, and could live another twenty or thirty years. Splitting up now would invite gossip and scorn.

Wang Shuning passed by with a kite, watched the commotion for a while, and then left.

He Liangliang was still the team leader of the third production team. If he lived with his eldest son, He Weiyuan’s life would definitely be worse in the future. What a fool.

Aunt Dajiao, who was watching the commotion, saw Wang Shuning still had the leisure to fly a kite. Zhang Meili spent her days collecting mushrooms, digging bamboo shoots, and digging wild vegetables with the villagers. Guo Jingyi went around catering for people. Of the three new female educated youths, she was the laziest and freest, yet she lived the best life, her skin glowing, looking even better than when she first arrived. It was infuriating.

Wang Shuning had a cloth bag tied around her waist, containing popcorn she had just made with corn kernels and sugar that morning—fragrant and sweet.

During the division of the property, He Weiyuan fought for everything, finally receiving a relatively fair share, even including the banquet and dowry money from He Weiguang’s wedding.

After everything was divided, He Weiyuan said directly to He Weiguang, “I’ll sell you my room for forty yuan.”

He Liangliang, his shoulders hunched, asked in a hoarse voice, “Then where will you live?”

He Weiyuan: “I’ll build a new house on that plot of land behind the house.”

He Liangliang felt a bitter taste in his mouth, a bitterness that reached his heart. “Using all the money to build a new house, how will you get married and live your life?”

He thought that even if they split up, living together would allow them to support each other. He didn’t expect his younger son to have wanted to move out for so long.

He Weiyuan stood up. “Then you don’t need to worry about it. Anyway, Mom and Dad have always favored the eldest brother. It’s better for me to move out than to stay here and be in the way.”

He Liangliang helplessly looked at his eldest son. “Big Head, whether you buy it or not is your decision.”

He Weiguang solemnly said, “I’ll buy it.” One room for his parents, one for them. Their children couldn’t be left without a place to stay when they came back. He worked at the soap factory and lived in a dormitory; the three of them crammed into a small room. Houses in town were too expensive; they couldn’t afford one yet.

…

“Sister Shuning, the kite is going to fall! Run faster!” Mingming shouted loudly, his short legs pumping furiously.

The kite’s head plunged downwards.

Wang Shuning ran while pulling the kite string. Just as it started to rise again, a sudden gust of wind tightened the string. Wang Shuning didn’t hold on tightly, and the kite flew away, carried by the strong wind, quickly disappearing into the distance.

Goudan and Mingming stared blankly upwards, watching the kite’s shrinking shadow until it completely vanished. Then they turned to Wang Shuning, their faces falling. “Sister Shuning, can we get the kite back?”

Wang Shuning pondered. “Probably not.” The kite was gone; it could have been blown miles away. Where could they find it?