◎ Attending A Wedding Banquet ◎ 

Xu Shengjie’s parents were workers at the State Cotton Factory. They died in an accident thirteen years ago when Xu Shengjie was only twelve, leaving behind a pair of one-year-old twins—a boy and a girl. The three children were raised by Zhou Yun, their grandmother.”

At that time, Xu Shengjie’s third uncle wanted to take over the job quota left at the State Cotton Factory. Seeing that only orphans and their grandmother were at home, he tried to take his second brother’s job. Just as he was about to succeed, Xu Shengjie, who was only twelve years old, stopped him. 

The young child saw his third uncle yelling at his grandmother and trying to take his parents’ factory job. He immediately drove his uncle away and found the factory leader, who saved the Xu family’s job. Afterwards, Grandma Xu found a relative to take the job temporarily, hoping that her grandchildren would take over when they grew up. 

“Brother, please find us a sister-in-law as soon as possible.” Xu Shengya held the porcelain bowl in her hand, smelled the sour and bitter Chinese medicine, and glanced at her elder brother. 

“Drink the medicine quickly.” Xu Shengjie nodded his chin at his sister. Xiaoya has always been very obedient; except when taking medicine, she always takes a while. 

Xu Shengya had a heart condition that she had since birth and had to take medication regularly. The little girl rested her elbows on the table, her head nearly buried in the bowl and drank the black medicine in small sips. 

Grandma Xu watched her granddaughter drink the medicine with difficulty, so she stood up and hunched over to take out a handkerchief from the drawer in the cupboard. She had saved a few candies, which were quite sweet. “Xiaoya, finish your medicine quickly, and Grandma will give you a candy.” 

“Okay,” Xu Shengya tilted her head back and gulped down the bitter medicine. As soon as she put down the bowl, her grandmother’s wrinkled hands appeared with a candy. The moment her tongue touched it, the sweetness made her smile. 

Xu Shengjie looked at his sister holding the candy in her mouth, curled his lips, stood up, picked up the bowls on the table, and took them to the yard to wash them. 

“Is it good?” his younger brother Xu Shengwei asked Xiaoya. 

Grandma Xu was about to give another piece of candy to her grandson, but Xu Shengwei waved his hands again and again, “I don’t want to eat it, grandma, you save it for Xiaoya.” 

Xu Shengjie worked quickly and had the bowls cleaned in no time. After turning off the water, his younger brother Xu Shengwei ran out of the house, took the bowl from his eldest brother, and drained the water. “Brother, you should get a wife.” 

He stood beside his tall brother while chattering, “Did your last match dislike Xiaoya and me last time? If that’s the case, we can just divide the family, so don’t worry.” 

Last night, Xu Shengwei and Xu Shengya got together to talk for a long time and felt that their future sister-in-law disliked the fact that there were two young children in the family. They had heard from their uncle, who said that the two of them were a burden, which made it difficult for their eldest brother, a veteran and a city dweller, to propose marriage. 

The two of them thought about it and decided not to drag down their eldest brother! 

Divide the family? Xu Shengjie smiled and rubbed his younger brother’s head. “Hold the bowl properly.” 

“Ah?” 

Xu Shengwei looked at his eldest brother and thought he was holding the bowl very steadily. Before he could figure out what was going on, he suddenly felt himself flying into the air and being carried on his eldest brother’s shoulders. 

Xu Shengjie carried his brother on one hand and slapped his butt twice. “You still want to divide the family? You’re really itching for trouble, aren’t you?” 

Xu Shengwei kicked his legs and yelled, “Brother, I was wrong, I was wrong. Let’s not divide then.” 

“You two brothers really,” Grandma Xu said, feeling that it was not easy to raise her grandchildren. But despite the misfortunes in the past, the children were well-behaved, unlike her other two sons, who were truly troublemakers. 

Grandma’s interruption saved Xu Shengwei. The young man quickly ran back into the house, leaving only the two people in the yard. 

“Shengjie, I know life was hard for you before. You joined the army when you were so young, and I often worried about you on the battlefield. It’s good you’re back now. Let’s live well, stay healthy, and stay safe. You’re grown up now, and I won’t push you, but let’s at least find a good girl for you, okay?” 

Xu Shengjie looked down at his grandmother. The beautiful old lady in her youth now had wrinkles on her face, and her black hair was now stained with white. It was difficult for him to say no. “Okay, grandma, I’ll do as you say.” 

“Good, I’ll talk to your aunt and make sure she keeps her eyes open this time!” Grandma Xu said with a smile, feeling pleased. 

***

Today was a festive day in the village for a wedding. Li Xiujuan and Er Niu were getting married. 

Four tables were set up in the Niu family’s courtyard, with one or two representatives from each household in the village attending, and it created a lively atmosphere. 

Liang Baozhen, who had a good relationship with Li Xiujuan, was naturally invited. Early in the morning, she helped Li Xiujuan put on her red wedding clothes and busied herself with preparations, watching as the bride and groom served tea to their elders. 

“Baozhen.” Turning around, she saw Aunt Lai coming in. “Oh, it’s really lively today.” 

“Aunt Lai, Xiujuan was just looking for you. She prepared a red envelope to thank you for being the matchmaker.” 

Li Xiujuan and Erniu were both from Damei Village and had known each other since childhood. When they reached the age of marriage, they were both interested in each other, so the Niu family asked Lai Fengxia to act as a matchmaker and the engagement was successfully arranged. 

“Aunt Lai, why did you come just now? We were looking for you.” 

The Niu family welcomed her in and gave her a red envelope containing one yuan in it, which was a valuable gift and also a way to wish for good luck. 

Dishes were served in the Niu family yard, and everyone sat down one after another. Most of the village representatives were older, and the younger ones—about four or five—sat at a table. Seeing that there was an empty seat next to Liang Baozhen, Lai Fengxia sat down. 

Perhaps it was her occupational disease. Lai Fengxia inquired about Liang Baozhen’s upcoming wedding and learned that the wedding was going to be held at a state-owned hotel in the city. She couldn’t help but be amazed. The Chen family was really generous. 

“We just lack a little fate. Oh, what a pity.” She looked at Liang Baozhen, who was wearing a white shirt and a black long skirt today. She was a clean and pretty girl. It was such a pity that she wasn’t able to match her with her own nephew. 

“On the contrary, Dong Jiayan, the downfall of her more than ten years of matchmaking career, made her feel uncomfortable whenever she thought of her name.” 

“Baozhen, you are so lucky to marry into the city. Don’t forget us in the future.” 

Looking at Baozhen’s appearance, she knows that she can’t marry into the village. It was only a matter of time before she left. 

The aunts talked one after another about the many happy events in Damei Village. Today it was Li Xiujuan, and in a while, it would be Liang Baozhen, and there was also Dong Jiayan who was supposed to be engaged. 

“By the way, Jiayan is not coming today?” Aunt Hu looked around and thought that she had not seen the daughter of the Dong family for a few days. 

“I saw her yesterday. She was dressed beautifully and smelled very good.” 

Speaking of the devil, Dong Jiayan appears. She arrived late and sat in the empty seat at the table for the younger generation. She greeted everyone with a smile. 

After not seeing her for a while, everyone noticed that Dong Jiayan was a little different. Her face was white, and she looked smooth and elegant, and they didn’t know what she had applied to her face. 

Since she was present, they didn’t bring up her broken engagement but only advised her to find a new match. 

“Yes, I’ll also set up a few tables to invite the aunts over for a drink.” 

All the dishes were served, and everyone started to eat. Wedding banquets are always more sumptuous than before. At this time, no one had time to talk. They just picked up food everywhere with their chopsticks and said a few festive words occasionally. 

When Liang Baozhen went to the supply and marketing cooperative in the city, she smelled the scent of vanishing cream sold at the counter. It was the same scent as the one on Dong Jiayan next to her. Snow cream was sold for ten yuan a box in the supply and marketing cooperative, so she couldn’t afford it. 

“Baozhen, are you getting married on the 28th?” Dong Jiayan put down her chopsticks and suddenly turned her head to ask Liang Baozhen. 

“Yes.” 

“That’s almost there, only one week left.” Dong Jiayan muttered, her eyes twinkling, “Are you going into the city soon? Could you help me get a few things?” 

“Okay, I’ll go on the 21st. What do you want to bring?” Liang Baozhen remembered what her elder sister said a few days ago, looked at Dong Jiayan in confusion, and replied calmly. 

“Could you bring me a silk scarf? Thank you.” Dong Jiayan silently noted the 21st in her heart, thinking that this was her last chance. 

After leaving Li’s house, Dong Jiayan went to the commune and gave a few candies to the accountant of the commune. Then she borrowed a phone and called Chen Siming to make an appointment to meet on the 21st.