Siheyuan: Five mouths waiting for food at the beginning

The next day

"Dad, what did Jingru say about Xiaojun's blind date? Did she ask me for help?" Zhao Shanhe said to his father-in-law.

"Xiaojun went back to his hometown for the Spring Festival, and the news that he became a worker spread. Recently, people in the village often asked matchmakers to ask about Xiaojun. I thought that if Xiaojun had been married in the village earlier, I would arrange a blind date.

But there are too many girls in the village, and I don’t know which one to choose. I want you to take a look,” Qin’s father explained.

Zhao Shanhe was a little speechless, and said helplessly, "Dad, this is Xiaojun marrying a wife, let me see what's going on, you let Xiaojun choose for himself."

"Well, isn't it that Xiaojun is also overwhelmed by the choices, and he doesn't know how to choose. You know that the conditions in the countryside are similar now, and we all have our own opinions, so we discussed it and asked you to give us some advice," said Qin's father

Zhao Shanhe was so angry in his heart. In the past, it was extremely difficult to find a wife, but now you can choose one directly. It was almost as good as the emperor's beauty pageant. But the situation was normal. Life in the village was difficult, so people rushed to marry in the city. Workers had a high status, and marrying a man would provide clothes and food. Who wouldn't want to live a good life?

"Dad, can you tell me what's going on? I'm fine right now," Zhao Shanhe said

"I just picked a few, your mother-in-law's relatives, Xiaojun's sister-in-law's relatives, my sister's relatives, and my elder brother's and second brother's relatives.

You want to make the relationship closer, so you have rejected all the others who were introduced. Now there are still several of them. You said they are all relatives, how should you choose? Your mother-in-law and I have had arguments several times." said the father-in-law

Zhao Shanhe finally understood why they had to look for him. They were all relatives. If he chose his father-in-law, he would offend his mother-in-law and sister-in-law. If he chose his mother-in-law, he would offend his sister-in-law and father-in-law. It was an offense both inside and outside.

"Dad, it's hard for me to say about this. I haven't even seen the girl. Xiaojun will have to decide on this matter in the end. After all, I'm going to spend my whole life with him."

"Uh, Shanhe, why are you back to square one again? Xiaojun is at a loss after what your mother-in-law and sister-in-law said. The girls are all very nice.

I heard that she is marrying a worker. They have introduced the best girls to her. Xiaojun is quite satisfied with them. Xiaojun listens to you the most. He agrees with whatever you choose. Your mother-in-law and sister-in-law are also willing to listen to you."

Zhao Shanhe was speechless. He was quite satisfied with that one. This was simply a hot potato. If he didn't make the right choice, he would not be able to go to his father-in-law's house in the future.

"Okay, Dad, I get it. After I'm done with this week, I'll pick a time to come over and we can discuss it together. Marriage is a big deal."

"Do you have time tonight? Why don't you come over? The girl is waiting for news," said Qin's father.

"Okay, I'll tell Shanhu later and ask him to tell his family that I'll be back later."

After get off work in the afternoon, Zhao Shanhe followed Qin's father to where Qin's father lived.

"Old woman, hurry up and make something good, your son-in-law is here." The voice came before Qin's father entered the door.

His father-in-law's family was busy, bringing up all the good things. It was like this every time they came, and Zhao Shanhe had gotten used to it.

We started talking about business after dinner, as everyone was there. Since everyone has a faction behind them, we couldn't make the decision while my mother-in-law and sister-in-law were cooking.

"Xiaojun, don't you have any ideas?" Zhao Shanhe asked first

"I've only met them once, and I think they're both good. I really don't know which one to choose," Qin Xiaojun said

"You are so good at taking advantage of me. It was so difficult for me, your elder brother, to find a wife. Now you are not happy even though I asked you to choose one," said the elder brother-in-law.

"What's wrong? Do you dislike me? I don't dislike you. I even gave birth to two children for you," said the sister-in-law.

"No, no, how can I dislike you? I'm just teaching Xiaojun a lesson."

"Brother, it doesn't seem difficult for you to get a wife. If it wasn't for a natural disaster, your sister-in-law would have bought her with only a bushel of grain, and she didn't even ask for a dowry."

The eldest brother was a little embarrassed and quickly said, "Look at you, you are talking about your own business, why are you talking about me?"

"Didn't you bring it up first?" Qin Xiaojun replied

"Okay, I'm just asking if there are any direct blood relatives, that is, blood relatives to you."

"Does my brother-in-law's niece count?" Qin's father asked

"Does my cousin count?" said the sister-in-law

"Does my niece from my mother's side count?" asked my mother-in-law.

"Sister-in-law, there is no problem with you because you have no blood relationship with the Qin family.

Father-in-law, it's OK if it's your brother-in-law's niece. Your brother-in-law has no blood relationship with you. But it's not OK if it's your sister's daughter.

It's about whether your niece is close to you, mother-in-law, and how close your relationship is to you," Zhao Shanhe said.

"She is the granddaughter of my third uncle from my mother's side, that is, the granddaughter of Xiaojun's third uncle. I have watched this girl grow up since she was a child. She is very hardworking," said the mother-in-law.

Zhao Shanhe was a little undecided after hearing his mother-in-law's story. Does she count as the granddaughter of his mother-in-law's uncle? He was a little confused. Anyway, he would rather not have her than let anything go wrong.

"Mother-in-law, your niece may not be suitable. She is related to you by blood. It is easy for her and Xiaojun to give birth to a deformed child, that is, a child with defects or abnormal brains."

"Does the niece of my eldest brother's sister-in-law and the niece of my second brother's sister-in-law count?" asked the father-in-law.

"As long as I have no blood relationship with my first and second father-in-law, it's fine.

Then if we exclude one, there are still four left. How should we choose among these four? Or should we marry someone from a relative's family and not consider anyone else?

"Just marry a relative. Just reject others without even looking at them. We all marry like this. Many of them are brides exchanged for wives," said the father-in-law.

Zhao Shanhe had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, "Why don't you choose one of the two recommended by your eldest sister-in-law and father-in-law? It's easier to talk to a family if they marry into your family. Your eldest and second father-in-law's families are all your maternal relatives, and you don't go back often."

"Okay, let's listen to my son-in-law (brother-in-law)" The whole family agreed

"My brother-in-law's niece is 16 years old this year. She is very pretty and hardworking. In addition to her parents, she has two older brothers who are still unmarried," said the father-in-law.

Zhao Shanhe's mouth twitched after hearing this. She's only 16 and she's already looking for a husband.

"My cousin is 19 this year, the same age as Xiaojun. She is diligent and the prettiest in the village. But too many people asked about her and it was delayed. My uncle was reluctant to let her get married, so he considered her a late-born daughter. The two older brothers in the family are already married and have children, the older one is almost the same age as my cousin."

"Father-in-law, you are unreliable. She is only 16 years old, still a child. If a woman gives birth too early, it will hurt her body. Why don't you marry this 19-year-old girl?" Zhao Shanhe said

"Is there such a saying that giving birth too early is bad for a woman's health?" asked the mother-in-law.

"My son-in-law is a learned man. Everyone in our factory admires him. He must be right. But forget about my brother-in-law's niece," said the father-in-law.

"Okay, Shanhe, let's choose my cousin as our daughter-in-law. We'll go discuss the date later," said the father-in-law.

"Xiaojun, I have something to tell you in advance. I arranged a job for my sister-in-law because I had a quota in my hand. Now you are also in the factory. You also know that the factory will not expand, so you have to find a way to marry a wife. Don't blame your brother-in-law for being partial. Now the outside world is in chaos, and my brother-in-law can't do anything about it." Zhao Shanhe gave a shot in advance.

"Son-in-law, we are already very grateful that you have given us so many places. Everyone knows how precious the places are. If Xiaojun has any ideas, I will beat him to death," said the father-in-law.

"Brother-in-law, I can't thank you enough. I am now the envy of all the young people in the village. If it weren't for you, I would still be digging for food in the fields. It would be my turn to choose a wife. Brother-in-law, I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life." Qin Xiaojun also said

Zhao Shanhe went back and told Qin Jingru again, and Qin Xiaojun's wife was finally decided.