Comfortable life in Siheyuan

Liu Qingshan walked back with a smile on his face, holding the written Spring Festival couplets.

Sha Zhu and Nan Yi also went back to get their bicycles, preparing to go to the restaurant to put up Spring Festival couplets.

At noon, my eldest brother Liu Qingsong also came back with his sister-in-law to celebrate the New Year.

"Qingshan, why did the third uncle and aunt go to the entrance of the alley to set up a stall?" the eldest brother asked puzzledly.

"Did you just see it?"

"I'm not blind, how could I not see!" the eldest brother said unhappily.

"I advised you." Liu Qingshan chuckled.

"You persuaded? How did you persuade?"

"Uncle San is having a hard time right now. Those kids are more calculating than him. I asked him to set up a stall and help write Spring Festival couplets. Isn't that a way to earn some money?"

The eldest brother smiled, nodded, and gave him a thumbs up.

……

After the New Year, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

The Jia family started decorating early today and pasted wedding characters on the windows of the house.

Banggeng and his wife and Xiaodang also came back to help decorate Huaihua's room.

Xiaodang borrowed an iron from someone and ironed Huaihua's new clothes.

Banggeng's wife kept winking at him. But Banggeng seemed a little hesitant, and after a long while he reluctantly walked to Qin Huairu's side.

"Mom, Huaihua is getting married. How much do we ask for in betrothal gifts? I heard that my brother-in-law's family is quite well off. You have to save some money for your retirement!"

Qin Huairu stopped what she was doing and looked at him with scrutiny.

"Mom, I don't mean anything else. I just think that our daughter shouldn't suffer any loss when she gets married!" Banggeng's eyes were evasive and he didn't have the confidence to speak.

"We in the Jia family marry our daughters, not sell them. Don't say that again!"

Qin Huairu was indeed somewhat resistant to the issue of betrothal gifts. Although she had married into the city, her parents had asked the Jia family for more betrothal gifts for her brother's marriage, and she had not been able to hold her head up high in her husband's family for many years.

Now it was Huaihua's turn to get married, and she had never thought about asking for any dowry from the banker. However, the man's family was not ignorant of etiquette, and they sent a lot of gifts for the wedding.

Xiaodang was flipping through photos of Sophora japonica in the house and couldn't help but admire them.

"How many photos have you taken? This photo frame is almost full!" Xiaodang said jealously.

"Didn't I find a photographer? If you like, you can ask your brother-in-law to take some photos for you!" Huaihua was a little proud.

"Then I have to dress up. I've gained weight since I gave birth to the baby. When the weather gets warmer, I'll change into some nice clothes and go to your studio to take photos."

"Okay, it's settled. You have to learn from Xixi. Look how fat Xixi was when she gave birth. Now she has lost weight again. She looks like a little girl now."

"What do you mean? You dislike me, don't you? I'll teach you a lesson!"

As they talked, the two sisters started to fight.

After a long time, the two of them straightened their clothes and sat down again.

"Huaihua, after you get married, are you going to help out in the photo studio? You won't be working as a temporary worker anymore?" Xiaodang asked.

"Yes! Xiaowei wants me to stay in the photo studio. He doesn't talk much and wants me to stay in the store to help."

"I really envy you! You've found a good family!"

The sixth day is the day when Huaihua gets married.

Banggeng went back to his room last night and came here early this morning without having breakfast.

Xiaodang slept with Huaihua all night last night. They chatted until late at night and were so excited that they couldn't sleep at all.

"Don't move! I'm putting on makeup for you! If the bride is not beautiful, people will gossip about her." Xiaodang patted Huaihua and told her to stop moving around.

"Brother came early today, didn't he? He still has some conscience!" Huaihua listened to Banggeng's voice and whispered to her sister.

"If he doesn't come over soon after his sister gets married, he'd be really incompetent."

At about nine o'clock, Xiaowei and his group arrived at the courtyard on several bicycles, all of which were decorated with big red flowers.

Zhuang Xiaowei, wearing a big red flower, dressed neatly and stood straight in front of Huaihua's door.

"Mom, I'm here to pick up the sophora japonica!"

Qin Huairu laughed so hard that her eyes were invisible. "Go! Huaihua is waiting!"

The central courtyard was already crowded with people, all craning their necks to look at the new son-in-law of the Jia family.

Just as the groom walked to Huaihua's door, something unexpected happened. The eldest brother-in-law Banggeng blocked the door with his hands outstretched.

"Brother-in-law, I'm here to pick up Huaihua!" Xiaowei was a little shy and didn't understand what this meant.

Liu Qingshan stood in the crowd, looking at this scene, feeling inexplicably familiar.

"Banggeng is trying to block the door. Does he want a red envelope?" The second and third aunts stood together and discussed in a low voice.

"How can you be so ignorant? My brother-in-law has personally come to stop you at the door, so shouldn't you also show some appreciation?" Bang Geng was almost asking for money directly.

Xiaowei was not very worldly-wise, but some of the people who came with him to pick up the bride understood what was said.

"Xiaowei, your brother-in-law wants a red envelope, just give him one as a token of your appreciation."

Before coming, the banker knew that the girl's family had children, so he also prepared some red envelopes for Xiaowei, but they were all one dollar each.

"Oh! Yes, yes, yes, look at my memory! Brother, this is a red envelope!" Xiaowei said as he took out a red paper bag from his bag and put it in Banggeng's hand.

Qin Huairu looked at this scene and had a bad feeling in her heart.

Inside the room, Huaihua no longer had a smile on her face. She stopped talking to Xiaodang and just listened quietly to the noise outside.

Banggeng took the red envelope, but did not move away. Instead, he opened the red envelope on the spot.

This scene made everyone present silent, waiting quietly for Banggeng's next move.

As expected, Bang Geng did not disappoint. He took the one dollar and sneered, "I am your brother-in-law after all. You just want to get rid of me with one dollar."

Qin Huairu finally couldn't help it at this time, she came over and pulled Banggeng's arm, "Your brother is joking with you, hurry up and take Huaihua away!"

Qin Huairu pulled twice, but failed to move the stick.

"Mom, who's daughter gets married without a dowry now? Our Huaihua is no worse than others, why doesn't she have a dowry?"

Banggeng's words made Qin Huairu's face darken.

"We have already discussed the marriage, and there is no rule to change the mind at the last minute. Get out of my way. If you delay your sister's marriage, don't blame me for not recognizing you as my son."

Qin Huairu was also completely furious. She didn't expect Banggeng to cause trouble at this time.

In the room, Huaihua's face was livid, and she wanted to open the door and leave with Xiaowei.

"My brother is really going too far. How can he do things this way?" At that time, Xiaowei's parents were really prepared to give some betrothal gifts, but Qin Huairu always disagreed, so the matter was dropped.

"Bang Geng doesn't look like a real person anymore! Alas!"