Chapter 1186: Chapter 1186: The New Home
After making a round, she still felt like something was missing.
Guodong came in and saw his wife gazing blankly at the room.
"Xue’er, what’s wrong?"
"What do you think is missing? Why do I always feel it’s lacking something?"
"It’s missing the ’double happiness’ character."
Li Xue slapped her forehead, forgetting the most crucial thing.
"Take another look at the room and see if anything else is missing?" Li Xue said with a smile.
Guodong looked around and said, "I’m not sure, maybe it’s missing a mirror? A basin stand?"
"Yes, I’ll go to the carpenter’s."
"I can go myself."
The young couple split up to act, and Guodong envied this new house. He was at the age to build a house early, so they could decorate and fill their small home together little by little.
Thinking of this, Guodong’s face was full of smiles.
Li Xue returned home, found out the locations for the Double Happiness and window flowers, and hurriedly gathered fire, used flour to make paste.
They needed to paste the Double Happiness at the old house’s front door, the new house’s front door, her elder brother’s new house’s front door, the bedroom door, and the windows. Upon counting, the Double Happiness characters were just enough.
She held the red window flowers dearly; they were truly beautiful.
Guodong came back carrying two basin stands. The young couple pasted the window flowers and Double Happiness characters together.
Li Yungui went around and found everything was proceeding in order.
Villagers started coming over one after another, and Jing Chu kept the accounts, while Jiang Xinyu collected the money.
Currently, the village’s gift money wasn’t much, one yuan was normal; Li Yungui’s family usually gave two yuan.
At this time, a few elderly people came tremblingly.
Jing Chu quickly stood up; she didn’t recognize the elderly people but had been taught to respect them from a young age.
Jiang Xinyu smiled, moved a few stools, and invited them to sit.
"Little girl, are you Teacher Jiang?"
"Old folks, please don’t call me that, I wouldn’t dare in front of elders."
"What’s there not to dare? You’re such a good child; Li Family Village is lucky to have you."
"Thank you for the praise, elders."
These elders each took out five yuan, which was how Jiang Xinyu learned their names.
Li Yungui came in, hurriedly inviting them to sit in his room.
Jiang Xinyu realized these must be the ones.
But looking at how they could still walk out by themselves, their health seemed fine. She never expected there would be these big figures hiding here.
Jing Chu was nervous seeing the elders. She only relaxed once they left.
Jiang Xinyu laughed and patted her hand, "Little girl, why so nervous?"
"Aunt Jiang, I’m just scared of elderly people."
"These elders seem very kind."
More people came in, and the mother and daughter got busy again.
Li Yunqiang and Xiang Dong, along with a few villagers, were responsible for cleaning the fish,
Except for the scales and the gills, the innards must be cleaned thoroughly and kept.
Li Yunqiang squatted among a bunch of old women, feeling stifled. His nephew was getting married, and that woman just took a look and left; he couldn’t understand her thinking.
When his own family has something going on, will they help? Xiang Dong’s already grown up; in a few years, he should get married too. Does she want everyone to laugh?
Qu Xiaoli was called into the house, with all the elderly present; thankfully, she usually had good relations, nearly twenty people came to help.
"Gui Zi’s wife, go ahead, don’t worry about us."
"Second Grandpa, they don’t let me do any work."
"That’s right; Gui Zi’s wife is sensible, got everything arranged?"
"Yes, the big rooster is stewed, and soon the fish will be. The meat should arrive later."
"No problem, fish and meat are both available."
Outside, tofu was made, and bean slices were being pressed; the main dish was really only missing the meat.
As noon approached, the food was ready, though it was just chicken soup with tofu and cabbage, it smelled good.
"Aunt Jiang, this sorghum rice is delicious."
"Isn’t it? I love it too, but I can never scoop it out well."
Red Army drove the tractor, and the three of them arrived in the county, parked the vehicle at the Youth Office entrance; Red Army went in too, being eligible for youth allowance, albeit not having claimed it for a while, knowing the family could use it.
Lantian supported Li Manjiang and looked at the village introduction letter Wang Menglin handed over, smilingly stamped it.
"Congratulations to you two." This female youth was quite good, marrying a soldier — different fates for different people.
Thinking of that female comrade, Lantian shook her head internally, reminding herself that jealousy makes one ugly and easily irrational, doing irremediable things.
Li Manjiang took out a handful of fruit candies and placed them on the table. "Thank you, comrade."
Red Army also took his and his sister’s tickets, "Big brother, I’m going to call dad. I’ll wait here for you and sister-in-law."
Li Manjiang and Wang Menglin headed to the civil affairs bureau for marriage registration.
Red Army arrived at the post office and dialed Li Yunqiao’s number.
"Red Army?"
"Yeah, Dad, I’m here with elder brother and sister-in-law in the county; they’re getting registered, we’re having the wedding banquet in the village tomorrow."
"Are you three returning to the city?"
"Yes, we’re going back to get the sewing machine."
"Okay, let’s head back together tonight." Li Yunqiao knew his son calling meant asking for leave.
After hanging up, he notified his eldest son and daughter-in-law too.
Li Manjiang and Wang Menglin were now legally married.
After leaving the civil affairs bureau, "Li Manjiang, I want to call my grandpa."
"To the transport team?"
"Yes, also need to inform Uncle Jin." The three siblings had been cared for by Jin Erlin since arriving.
"Let’s go buy some things."
Wang Menglin understood Li Manjiang’s intention, so they went to the supply and marketing cooperative.
Nothing special, just snacks, white wine, cigarettes.
Li Manjiang especially bought an extra package of snacks for Red Army, children get hungry quickly; at that age, he felt he was never really full either.
Red Army drove the tractor to the transport team; he knew Jin Erlin, greeting him courteously as Captain Jin.
"Uncle Jin, we got registered. Tomorrow, please come drink wedding wine with your family."
Jin Erlin smiled and nodded, "Of course, since Menglin’s relatives can’t make it, I’m like an elder to her. I’ll definitely come tomorrow; let’s go eat at home."
"Uncle Jin, we’re heading to the city, won’t go home for a meal, but tomorrow Auntie and the sisters-in-law should come."
"Eat before going; we’re not going home, as there’s no preparation. Let’s go to a restaurant."
Wang Menglin shook her head, "Uncle Jin, I’m just here to call my family."
Jin Erlin ceased persuading, there would be plenty of opportunities to eat together later.
Mr. Yao called the young couple, advising Li Manjiang to take good care of Menglin and to visit home when they could.
