Chapter 36: Is He Letting You Win?

“I’m a factory manager in Beijing, and my wife is a director, so we have some money saved up. We’ve divided the money into two parts, one for our daughter’s dowry and the other for our son’s future marriage.”

Tang’s father said with a smile. They didn’t have a preference for sons over daughters, but they felt a bit indebted to their daughter because their son was already in the army and had to go to the countryside.

“This is my dowry for my sister.” Tang Mu also took out a passbook from his pocket.

Tang Mu is now a battalion commander, and he receives over a hundred yuan in allowance every month.

From the first month he joined the army, he divided his allowance into three parts.

One part was sent home, one part was saved for himself, and one part was saved for Tang Xiaoxiao. The passbook he took out was the one he saved for Tang Xiaoxiao.

Song’s father looked at the monthly deposit records on the passbook, a total of over two thousand yuan, and looked at Tang Mu in surprise.

“Young man.” Song’s father gave him a thumbs up. He wasn’t impressed by the money, but by the fact that it had never stopped for nearly ten years, except when he was on a mission, and he would make up for it afterwards.

“You’re too kind, father.” Tang Mu took the passbook from Song’s father and handed it to Tang Xiaoxiao along with Tang’s father’s passbook.

“Your family’s dowry is more than the betrothal gift we gave, which makes us feel embarrassed.” Song Jian Guo said.

These words were said to the villagers outside. The amount of money in the three passbooks was quite large, and they were afraid that some people might have ulterior motives.

But it also let the villagers know that Tang’s family gave a generous dowry.

“We just want our children to have a good life.” Tang’s mother said with a smile.

“Yes, we’ve worked our whole lives for them.” Song’s mother echoed with a smile.

After discussing the marriage, they chatted about some family matters. After listening, the villagers dispersed.

Soon, the news spread throughout the village that Song’s family had found a factory manager as their in-law, and Song Jingzhi’s brother-in-law was also a battalion commander, who came in a luxurious military vehicle.

The Tang family had lunch at Song’s house and then returned to the educated youth point.

At the educated youth point, Xu Ze Ming had already cleared out the room. Tang’s father and Tang Mu would sleep in his room at night, and Tang’s mother and Tang Xiaoxiao would sleep together.

Although Song’s house had many empty rooms, it was still not appropriate to sleep at their in-laws’ house before the wedding.

Tang Xiaoxiao had mentioned her relationship with the educated youths in her letters, so Tang’s mother brought gifts for He Xiaoqian and the other four.

Of course, Cao Hui and Wang Erxi didn’t get any.

At dinner, the Tang family bought groceries and cooked at the educated youth point, inviting the four of them to eat together, thanking them for taking care of Tang Xiaoxiao.

In the evening, Tang’s mother took out all the things she brought from Beijing and showed them to her daughter.

“These are clothes and food for you. These are clothes for Jingzhi, bought according to the size you told me. And these are cosmetics and food I bought for you at the foreign exchange store.”

Looking at the bed full of things, Tang Xiaoxiao was once again amazed by her mother’s purchasing power.

She had already sent some things back to the army, and she was afraid she would have to send them again.

“Mom, does our family still have money for my brother to get married?” This was her concern.

“I told you and your brother would get half each, of course I saved it.”

“That’s good.”

“I think your in-laws are good people, and they only have Jingzhi as their child. You have to be good to them in the future.” Tang’s mother put down the things in her hand and held her daughter’s hand.

“I know.”

“And his uncle and aunt, when you go to the army, you’ll have to rely on them to take care of things here. You should also send them some things during the New Year and festivals.”

Tang’s mother held her daughter’s hand and taught her some social etiquette.

She had no idea that Tang Mu, who had been in Xu Ze Ming’s room, had already gone out.

Nearly an hour later, Tang Mu returned to Xu Ze Ming’s room.

“How did it go?” Tang’s father asked.

“It was a draw.” Tang Mu sat on the bed with a smile.

“He was letting you win, wasn’t he?” Tang’s father looked at his son. He was still unhappy in the daytime, but now his face had changed.

“Dad, don’t say that. I’m a member of the Special Forces, after all.” Tang Mu looked at his father helplessly.

“Then what do you think of his character?”

“He’s pretty good. He was specially recruited into the fire brigade…” Tang Mu told his father what he had found out.

Actually, with Song Jingzhi’s ability, he could have joined the Special Forces.

But they were all soldiers, all serving the people and defending the country.

He then relayed to his father what Song Jingzhi had told him.

He had been out for nearly an hour, but they had only sparred for less than half an hour.

The rest of the time, Song Jingzhi told Tang Mu how he had fallen in love with Tang Xiaoxiao and how they had spent the past few months together.

Tang Mu was very relieved to leave his sister in the hands of such a man.

“I think I should find a daughter-in-law for you too.” Tang Mu said casually.

Hearing his brother-in-law talk about him and his sister, he suddenly wanted to find a partner too.

“You? Haha, don’t even think about it.” Tang’s father looked at his son with disdain. How many times had he asked him to come back for a blind date, and he never came back once.

It was Tang Xiaoxiao’s wedding, and she came back in a hurry, even driving back in a military vehicle.

The next morning, Tang’s mother took the whole family to the city.

“Mom, you’ve bought so many things. You don’t need to buy anymore. I can buy the rest in Tianjin.” Tang Xiaoxiao said helplessly in the car.

“Look at your brother. He drove for a few days to pick you up in Beijing and then drove for a few days to Hunan. Let him rest for a while.”

“I’m fine.” He had been staying in guesthouses to rest, so he wasn’t tired.

“He only has one sister, and she’s only getting married once in her life. It’s only right that he works hard.” Tang’s mother glanced at her son in the driver’s seat.

“Xiaoxiao, take Mom to buy some meat later. We need to replenish your brother and you.”

“Mom, it’s been a long time since I had your dumplings.” Tang Mu looked at his mother’s face in the rearview mirror.

“Is it convenient at the educated youth point?” Tang’s mother hesitated.

“It’s fine. Just call Xiaoqian and the other four.” Tang Xiaoxiao said with a smile.

As for Cao Hui and Wang Erxi, she definitely wouldn’t call them.

However, the two of them had witnessed Liu Fugui and Liu Shuanggui paying compensation, so they dared not provoke Tang Xiaoxiao anymore.

In the end, they made cabbage and pork dumplings and sauerkraut and pork dumplings. The educated youths hadn’t had dumplings in a long time.

However, they didn’t eat for free. They all helped to make the dumplings. The four of them also pooled some food coupons and meat coupons, which He Xiaoqian secretly gave to Tang Xiaoxiao.

On Song’s side, Song Jingzhi was also very busy these days. He had to prepare for the wedding banquet.

So these days, Tang Xiaoxiao stayed with her family, while he rode his bicycle to the city to buy things.

The money for the wedding banquet was paid by Song’s father and mother. Song’s mother had discussed the dishes with Wu’s aunt in advance. The candies for the guests were all fruit candies, colorful, polite and beautiful.

The day before the wedding, Tang Mu also drove the military vehicle to deliver Tang Xiaoxiao’s luggage from the educated youth point and the large red dragon and phoenix quilt that Tang’s mother had brought.

Song’s mother immediately put it on the new quilt and bedding, and then pasted red double happiness characters on Tang Xiaoxiao’s two bamboo suitcases.