Siheyuan: Silly Pillar is Kind

After work today, Sha Zhu went to find Wang Liqin and asked her to go shopping together, have some snacks and cultivate their relationship.

Wang Liqin was still wearing the same clothes she wore when they met last time. Maybe this was the only decent outfit Xiaoqin had. Sha Zhu thought that he would have to take her to buy suitable clothes next time. Nowadays, people get married quickly if it’s appropriate, and you can’t get your ears pierced right after getting married.

Wang Liqin smiled sweetly when she saw Sha Zhu coming over, but her aunt also said, "You can't let Sha Zhu take too much advantage, but you can't not give him any benefits either. You have to grasp the right balance here."

"If she is a little reserved at this time, it will make Shazhu look at her with a higher regard. If she is not too reserved, it will leave a bad impression on him."

The aunt taught Wang Liqin a lot of details, but Wang Liqin was so busy blushing that she had no idea how much she heard.

Speaking of this, Wang Liqin remembered what her uncle told her, that when you go to someone's house, you have to manage them well. There must be a rake to collect money outside and a box to store money at home. Don't be extravagant when you go out with Zhuzi, because there are many days ahead.

The two of them walked slowly towards the hot pot restaurant, chatting about family as they walked. Xiaoqin said that life at home was not very good and they needed to hunt frequently to avoid going hungry. However, there was a mountain near their home and they could barely make ends meet. They were just afraid that the harvest would be bad, otherwise they really wouldn't be able to survive. My uncle was the most promising person in my family. He came to the city on his own and has helped my hometown a lot over the years.

As for Sha Zhu, apart from saying that He Daqing went out of town, he didn't say that he ran away with the widow and that he can't be contacted now. He also has a younger sister, He Yushui, at home who needs to be taken care of. So that's the introduction.

And he said that he was going to take the eighth-level chef exam soon.

Xiaoqin glanced at He Yuzhu and hesitated for a moment before speaking. Just now, He Yuzhu heard her say that life in the countryside was difficult but didn't say anything. She knew that He Yuzhu didn't want to help there. But it was normal. If she married here, she would be a person here. She had to make a good living for her husband's family first. Only when she had the ability could she help her parents' family. If He Yuzhu didn't ask her to help her parents' family, she would never dare to help them secretly. First, you have to obey your husband after you marry. When you die, you have to be buried in your husband's family. Your parents' family will not let you enter the ancestral tomb. Second, in this era, if a daughter-in-law really dares to help her parents' family secretly, her husband's family will be right even if they beat her half to death, and her parents' family will not dare to come and make trouble.

After entering the hot pot restaurant, Sha Zhu and Xiao Qin went to prepare the seasoning and taught Xiao Qin step by step how to do it.

"There are many details to prepare the hot pot dipping sauce. First, add chopped green onion, coriander, and minced garlic as the base, then add sesame oil, shrimp oil, fermented bean curd juice, chili oil, and finally the soul-stirring 28 sauce. When stirring, you also have to stir it smoothly. This is called smooth sailing. Because the seasoning area is at the door, when we stir it here, we face the store door and hope that the store will have smooth sailing."

Sha Zhu asked for 3 kilograms of mutton, but forget about beef. Cows are precious nowadays, and all the beef that can be sold has already been divided up.

This meal cost 5 yuan, including 4 yuan per pound of mutton, 4 yuan for vegetable and tofu noodles, and two bottles of soda at 2 cents each. He got 5 cents back when he returned the bottles. This meal cost He Yuzhu days' salary. From this point of view, restaurants at that time were really not places that ordinary people could come to.

They ate and talked at the same time without drinking. The meal was over in half an hour and nothing was left. Wang Liqin kept touching her stomach while eating. Sha Zhu didn't laugh at her. Who could eat as much as he did and feed the whole family? Li Shan was considered a high-income city dweller in this era. Even if the purchasing agent was one of the eight major employees, his actual income was around 60-70 yuan a month, but he had to support a family of five. Three children was considered a small amount, and he had to take care of four elderly people. His brothers and sisters also had to help out. Even if he didn't help his brothers and sisters, he had to spend money on his children's schooling, medical treatment, social interactions, and save some for his son to get married. This was a normal life for a city dweller. Didn't you see that the second uncle made more than 5 yuan a month? Liu Guangqi spent half of the family fortune, and the rest was stolen by Liu Guangqi.

This is also the reason why Li Shan is anxious to introduce her to Sha Zhu. If time passes for a long time, when others know about Sha Zhu's situation, they will all rush to introduce her to Sha Zhu. The street office just didn't react. Now all the prostitutes have to be arranged by someone else, otherwise the street office would have arranged it for them. Only because his niece is pretty can he have the confidence, otherwise he wouldn't be able to open his mouth. Who doesn't know that it's better to marry a city girl?

Sha Zhu then took Wang Liqin to see a movie. This was a popular way of photographing a woman in that era, and it would happen again and again.

They chose one that was close to home. The lights in the cinema were dim, and Sha Zhu went straight to touch Wang Liqin's little hand.

Wang Liqin was startled, but still did not object and remained silent. However, she didn't know where her thoughts were and she couldn't remember what the movie was about.

Sha Zhu looked at Wang Liqin like this and laughed, but there were many such things in the cinema, so it didn't seem out of place.

Sha Zhu didn't even remember what the movie was about. He thought that since he would be able to get married in a while, his family would have to prepare some money. The family didn't have enough money to even buy a bicycle now, so he had to think about where to get some money. Otherwise, it would not be enough to hold the wedding and bring shame to the men in the city.

I thought of Jia Zhang again. If something happened to her, all the problems would be solved.

I remembered that cooking for others could also increase my income. I also had the skill of cooking Tan's dishes. How could those high-ranking officials give me a promotion? A promotion would increase my salary. I heard that Director Li Huaide was not only lustful, but also a foodie. With Li Huaide, what about the other factory leaders? It was all about money.

After watching the movie, Sha Zhu accompanied Wang Liqin home, but Sha Zhu never let go of her hand.

Actually, Shazhu is not stupid. In the original novel, he was just controlled by Qin Huairu. Any man could not resist such a graceful and beautiful widow. Didn't you see that Guo Dapiazi, Li Huaide, and Xu Damao all tried to get close to him? Only Qin Huairu was at a high level. Didn't you see that Teacher Ran almost won her over?

Now I feel at ease, without so many troubles, and I am holding a snow-white and soft hand in my hand, and my IQ is at a high level.

As they were walking, Sha Zhu suddenly said, "Xiao Qin, you see, there is nothing much for us to talk about. I can't wait to bring you home today. When do you think we can go to your house? I want to visit my uncle and aunt."

Wang Liqin was a little at a loss, so she said, "Brother Zhuzi, why don't you discuss it with my uncle?"

Sha Zhu suddenly remembered the matchmaker and said, "Xiao Qin, I will take it as your consent. I will discuss our matter with your uncle tomorrow. Your uncle is also our matchmaker, so we can't be rude. I will formally thank your uncle and aunt tomorrow."

"Brother Zhuzi, I listen to you."

"Also, how is the betrothal gift calculated in your family? Let me know the customs in your family too."

"In my hometown...the bride price for a bride price like mine should be 5 yuan, and the normal price is 2 yuan."

"Looking at this small size, 5 yuan is really not a lot."

I haven't made a detailed comparison. A normal worker's monthly salary in the city is between 12-17 yuan. The steel mill is a large factory with 27.5 people in the city, so it can have such high salary. I only get the ninth-level official salary of 30 yuan, which seems not much. A rural person only has an output value of more than 2 yuan a year. If you go to the village, you can take it away. The average monthly expenditure is more than yuan, including food and drink. So the rural areas at that time were really poor and could only make ends meet. There was not much money left at the end of the year.

Looking at Sha Zhu's thoughtful expression, I thought he was unhappy. After all, these days, there are many women who come to the city to marry without asking for a dowry. Many of them came here after 2000, some of them married women who were a dozen years older than them, some of them were physically disabled in some way, not to mention now.

I quickly said, "You can give me less. I will go home and discuss it and 2 yuan is fine."

Sha Zhu looked at Wang Liqin who was nervous, and understood what she was worried about. His heart was almost melted by the aggrieved expression of this little girl.

"Look at you, you're overthinking it. Are we such stingy people? I think it's a little less."

"When you marry me in the future, you have to let everyone see that your marriage is worth it. I've thought about it. The bride price will be 66 yuan, which means good luck. I have to let everyone know how much I value you."

Wang Liqin was surprised, then her face turned red. Which girl doesn't want to marry in style? Which girl doesn't want everyone to know that she has married well?

"Brother Zhuzi, don't lie to me, I will take it seriously."

"Shazhu didn't say anything. He just looked at the deserted alley and kissed her directly."

After a while, looking at Wang Liqin who was running away, he smiled and said, "See if you dare to doubt me again."

"Go back and tell your uncle and aunt about this later. I will come over tomorrow and settle the matter."

"Ok!"

Also, forget it...I won’t burden these things on a little confused like you.

Wait until I come tomorrow.

"You go in, otherwise your uncle and aunt will worry."

Wang Liqin rolled her eyes and said, “Except for you, pervert, no one else bullies me.”

"Ok!"

Sha Zhu looked at Wang Liqin who entered the yard, thought about the happy life in the near future, and left humming a song, "Today is a good day, hehe."

Thinking about it, I went back to the courtyard and went to Auntie's place to fetch the rainwater. After thinking for a while, I said, Auntie, I have to trouble you for a few more days. I am now trying to find a way to take care of the rainwater. I have almost made some progress. You will have to work hard for a few more days.

"Zhu Zi, I'm very happy that Yu Shui is here, and there is someone to accompany me. Don't worry, just let Yu Shui stay here."

An old man looked at Sha Zhu and said, "Zhu Zi, what have you been busy with recently? The small canteen can't entertain guests every day."

"Uncle, that's a good thing, but you have to keep me in suspense."

"I'm going back first. See you later..."

"This kid..."