Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Brother-in-law gets married
When school let out in the afternoon, Feng Yiping hurried to find Teacher Li, but Liu Wenjun stopped him. 'You can do it, didn't you go to the bus station to see someone off today? You even acted like you were reluctant to part, so be honest, was it the girl you went shopping with that Sunday?' He asked with a very ambiguous smile.
'What are you talking about?' Feng Yiping pretended not to understand.
'Don't pretend. I wasn't the only one who saw you on Sunday. A classmate from Class 7 saw you and a girl cuddling in public at the bus station this afternoon. Tell me! An old classmate? An old flame?' He whispered to Feng Yiping, his eyes full of gossip.
The city was not big, and there were so many students at No. 1 High School. As the top student in his year, he had a high recognition rate, and in the past two days, unlike other students, they had not been hiding their relationship, so it was normal for them to be seen together.
Thanks to his luck of always being on the outside of the class with his classmates, the only person who came to ask him was Liu Wenjun. If he had dealt with many people at school, he would definitely have been annoyed to death in the past two days.
'I'm going to see Teacher Li, do you want to come?' Feng Yiping asked Liu Wenjun, who was following him closely.
'Let's talk when you get back.' At this stage, many students don't want to see their teachers.
'Teacher Li, my uncle is getting married on Thursday, and I'd like to take two days off,' Feng Yiping puts his request straight to the point.
Teacher Li is also heading home for dinner with his briefcase. 'Your uncle is getting married, and you want two days off? I can't approve that. You can only get leave if your brother or sister is getting married, and then only for one day.'
'Teacher Li, even one day is fine. This uncle is very important to me, very close to me, and he has helped my family and me a lot. Can't you consider it?'
'No matter how close you are, he is still just an uncle. I can't approve this.'
'Teacher Li, the law is nothing more than human nature, not to mention the school rules and regulations? Can't you make an exception?'
Hearing this, Teacher Li didn't hurry to leave, but instead sat down. 'Sit,' he said to Feng Yiping, pointing to the chair across from him.
'I won't argue about whether or not the saying that 'the law is nothing more than human feelings' is correct. The school grants leave for your own sister and brother to get married, which shows that the school does consider human feelings, doesn't it? If the school grants leave for your uncle to get married, then I can help you do the math. You'll need to take leave for your grandparents' birthdays, your cousins' weddings... Just do the math. How many times a year will you need to take leave? Let's say at least once a week, not to mention ten days!
Student leave is already so generous, so shouldn't we teachers be even more generous and take another ten days off a year? Just think about the consequences of opening the floodgates like this!'
Although they all emphasise the need for all-round development, for teachers, students' grades are of course still the top priority. Feng Yiping doesn't really get along with his classmates, but his grades have always been maintained. Teacher Li also wants to get his point across, so as to avoid any misunderstandings in his heart that could affect his studies.
As a class teacher, you can definitely become a political commissar at the grassroots level. Feng Yiping walked out of the office a little lost. The teachers in the countryside are more personal because they are in the countryside, while the teachers in the city, especially those from these prestigious schools, are more rule-oriented and seem much more rigid.
Of course, there is no right or wrong in these two attitudes, but for Feng Yiping personally, the results are mixed.
Last month, Grandpa and Lao Cai visited each other once. Lao Cai was of course even more satisfied with Mei Yiliang now, and Grandpa had no problem with his future daughter-in-law, so the two parents set the wedding date.
The engagement date was set with great care. Grandpa and Lao Cai are both old-fashioned people, so they consulted a fortune teller using the birth dates of both parties and set the date for the day after tomorrow, which happens to be Thursday. It would be even better if it could be arranged two days later, on Saturday, but of course they could not accommodate their only child for such an important event.
They will have two weddings: one at the Mei family's place this Thursday and another in the provincial capital the following Tuesday. There is no way around it, as it is impractical to bring everyone from one side to the other.
Cai Hong also couldn't possibly set off from her family home in the provincial capital on Thursday morning. The journey would take too long and be unsafe. When getting married, everyone wants a good omen. If the car accidentally bumps along the way or breaks down, no one will feel happy.
So she is now staying at her third uncle's house, and on Thursday morning, Mei Yiliang will come here to welcome the bride.
Although her family had a hard time when she was young, with the two parents' salaries having to support three siblings and provide for the elderly, Cai Hong is still surprised at the hardship in the countryside nowadays.
The Mei brothers' family is considered to be doing well, but the Cai family only has one TV and one ceiling fan as modern appliances, and even an electric rice cooker is solemnly placed on the table, carefully covered with a cloth to prevent dust. The other furniture is also outdated and rustic in style.
The future father-in-law and Mei Yiliang's home is even more simple and unadorned, and it seems no different from the rural family she saw on TV decades ago. There are not even a few pieces of outdated and rustic furniture, and the coats they wear are washed and faded.
However, she didn't dislike them at all. These people would all become her family in a couple of days. She just felt more deeply the difficulties that Mei Yiliang had grown up in such an environment.
She heard that Feng Yiping's hometown was even more remote and difficult than this place. Three years later, their family had developed even better than her family, who were born and raised in the provincial capital. It was really even more difficult, and it could be said to be an anomaly.
The three aunts have been particularly united in the past few days. In front of the rainbow, they acted as if they were in a play, cooperating with each other in perfect harmony. Although they usually have minor disputes and quarrels, the three sisters-in-law really know each other very well. Isn't there a saying that the person who knows you best may be your rival?
As for Cai Hong, who is about to join them, they all feel that they are no match for her, both in appearance and background. And since Cai Hong has not yet married into the family, they can't say anything mean. If they make Cai Hong so angry that she runs back to her parents' house, then they really won't be able to explain themselves. So although the three of them are a bit distant with Cai Hong, they are all very polite.
In fact, they did some things subconsciously. Now, among the five siblings in the Mei family, the two who have developed the best are the eldest sister and the youngest brother, and the eldest sister and the youngest brother have the best relationship. The other three brothers have to rely on the two to some extent. Therefore, consciously or unconsciously, in front of the two families, they have restrained themselves a lot.
This is the truth. No matter what kind of relationship it is, the economic factor is an important one.
On Wednesday afternoon, Feng Zhenchang took his wife and daughter, Cai Lei borrowed a Santana, took his wife's younger brother and Xie Li, and rushed from the provincial capital to Meijiawan.
On Thursday morning, Cai Hong was picked up by Mei Yiliang from her second brother's house wearing a Chinese-style dress custom-made in Suzhou. Her attire dazzled the eyes of the young girls and wives around her. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Everything went well, except that although they were prepared, the number of guests was unexpectedly high. Not only Feng Jiachong, but almost every household in the entire Fengjiatan village came to give a gift. Feng Zhenchang and the others naturally felt honoured by the presence of so many people, but it was difficult for the wedding hosts. There was no choice but to move the people from the village to the banquet to be held in the evening.
According to the old custom, on the third day after the wedding, on Sunday, Mei Yiliang accompanied Cai Hong back to her parents' home. After just one day of rest, the Cai family held another wedding for them at the hotel.
In the early morning of Tuesday, Cai Hong and Mei Yiliang were in their new room, sending away their classmates and friends who had come to disturb the bridal chamber. They both collapsed on the bed, "It's finally over!" Mei Yiliang put Cai Hong in his arms.
'What do you mean it's over? What do you mean by that?' Cai Hong immediately sat up, 'Are you reluctant?'
'I'm sorry I didn't know what to say. I was just worried that you were tired after all these days!' Mei Yiliang quickly tried to smooth things over.
'Humph!' Cai Hong's face brightened slightly, and she quickly shook off the hand that had been feeling its way towards her. 'No way!'
'Why not? Today is the wedding night! It's not like we're back home, where there's a whole house to ourselves.' Mei Yiliang was distraught.
Cai Hong gave him a sultry glance and gestured at her stomach. 'What?' Mei Yiliang didn't understand.
Cai Hong gestured at her stomach again, and Mei Yiliang understood. He took Cai Hong's hand and said, 'Really?'
'Really!'
'Oh!' Mei Yiliang heard and gave Cai Hong's face a few slaps, then jumped up on the bed.
Cai Hong laughed at his foolishness while watching him from the side, 'Be careful, if you collapse the bed today, how will I go out and meet people in the future?'
After Mei Yiliang calmed down, he put Cai Hong in his arms and said, "I hope it's a son, and I hope he'll be as smart as Yiping in the future.'
'No, I hope he'll be ordinary, not like Yiping, who worries so much and is so tired at such a young age!" Cai Hong said.