After returning home, Uncle Tang put down the basket and said, "Ping'er, you and Erfeng and the others have a rest, and I'll call Brother Jin and the others to come over and discuss the matter."
Xu Hongping replied: Go call me quickly, I'm going to wash the vegetables.
"Mom, you sit here for a while while I go wash the vegetables." Erfeng called:
"Erfeng, go and heat up those leftovers." Xu Hongping shouted:
"Dad, I'll go with you." Shitou shouted:
"No, no, I can just go." Uncle Tang raised his feet and replied:
Erfeng said: Mom, there aren't many leftovers in the morning, I'm afraid it won't be enough.
Xu Hongping continued: "I don't care if it's enough, let's just make it a meal. It's already afternoon, let's prepare dinner first."
Erfeng moved and replied: I'm going.
Shitou asked: Mom, what should I do?
Xu Hongping said: You pick the vegetables on the load.
Stone picked up the basket and was about to leave.
Xu Hongping shouted: "Stones, there are melon seeds, apples, etc. in the basket. Take some out."
Shi Shi put down the basket and turned it over carefully.
Xu Hongping patted her head and called out, "Look at my head, it's still in disrepair at this age."
If so, later!
Shitou said: Mom, you have worked too hard for me and Sister Erfeng. It is not surprising that this happens occasionally.
Xu Hongping said: Shitou, you can say such words, I feel very happy.
From now on, Erfeng will be your wife. You should treat her well and kindly. You will be happy...
Shitou promised: I promise to be good to Sister Erfeng.
Xu Hongping rushed to say: You are a person worthy of trusting me for life, and you will not let us two Phoenixes down.
However, I hope you will keep your word.
Shitou asked: Please don't worry, Mom!
Xu Hongping pushed the apple and replied: I will leave Erfeng to you, I am relieved.
Shitou said: Mom, can I put these candies on the table?
Xu Hongping replied: Just put a pack on the table.
The stone placed the candies and called out: Are these enough?
Xu Hongping glanced at the table and replied: That's enough, that's enough.
"You carry the basket into the kitchen, I'm going to wash the vegetables." Xu Hongping continued:
Shi Shi picked up the basket and walked slowly into the kitchen.
Xu Hongping followed one after another.
"Sister Erfeng, have you heated up the rice?" Shitou walked into the kitchen and called:
Erfeng said: It's almost done.
"Shitou, please put the basket here. There will be better light for washing vegetables here." Xu Hongping shouted:
Shitou took two steps back and said: How is it here?
Xu Hongping shouted: Put it down, put it down.
The basket was placed on the stone and the pole was taken out.
"Shitou, go get some water." Xu Hongping shouted:
Shitou put down the pole in his hand, picked up a hook pole, and said: I'll go right away.
Erfeng said: Shitou, go back quickly, the food is simmering in the pot.
Shi Shi picked up the bucket and responded: Got it.
Xu Hongping called out: Erfeng, carry these two buckets over and separate the water...
"Mom, you also need a bucket when washing vegetables. I will carry a bucket to fill the water..." Erfeng shouted:
"Silly daughter, the vegetables I wash are just some rotten leaves. It's the same if I use a small bucket instead. There is a big bucket for water. If you use a pole to carry it, it will save a lot of effort - a lot." Xu Hongping interrupted:
Erfeng scooped up the water and said, "Mom, I'm going to feed the pigs first."
Xu Hongping argued: The stone will be back soon, you let the stone go!
Erfeng continued: After carrying the water with the stone, you still have to carry the water.
Xu Hongping replied: Then when you walk - pay attention to the road.
Erfeng picked up the bucket and moved it step by step.
"Sister Erfeng, go feed the pigs!" Shitou came towards me carrying a load of water.
Erfeng responded: Yes.
Shitou shouted: "Sister Erfeng, put down the bucket. I'll put the bucket away and go feed the pigs."
Erfeng said: "The water is not heavy, I can go alone."
Shitou shouted: Sister Erfeng, your body!
Erfeng replied: Shitou, take your own bowl and eat.
Shitou stepped into the kitchen and called: Mom, have you eaten?
Xu Hongping responded: I'll finish washing these vegetables and then eat them.
Shitou said: There are so many dishes, you can't finish them all at once. You have to finish your meal and then wash them again.
Xu Hongping stopped what she was doing and replied: Okay!
"Mom, let me go see Sister Erfeng." Shitou put down the pole and ran straight out of the house.
Xu Hongping held the rice and muttered: If you don't want to eat, I will.
As soon as Shitou ran out of the door, he shouted: Dad, come in and eat quickly. Will the people you want to call come?
Uncle Tang replied: Of course they will come, they will come as soon as it gets dark.
Shitou said politely: Dad, I won't delay your meal time. I'm going to see if Sister Erfeng has fed the pigs well!
Uncle Tang shook his windbreaker and shouted: Shitou, put on this windbreaker!
Shitou looked at the sky and replied: No need, the snow is not falling very much at the moment, there are only two steps from here to the pig pen, I can just walk there.
Uncle Tang saw Shitou trotting and reminded him: Shitou, be careful, the road is slippery.
Shitou shouted: Dad, hurry up and get in!
Uncle Tang turned around and walked slowly towards the kitchen.
"Ms. sir, have you called everyone?" Xu Hongping looked at Uncle Tang and asked:
Uncle Tang stepped forward and replied: "You have called them all. I called them one by one. They will all come tonight."
Xu Hongping replied: Just come.
Uncle Tang asked: Did Shitou and the others eat?
Xu Hongping continued: "I haven't eaten yet."
Tang Bo filled the rice bowl and said, "There must be a little less rice in the cauldron!"
Xu Hongping put down the rice bowl and said: "We can have some food for lunch as long as it feels like it. It doesn't have to be full. I'm going to make dinner. How much can your stomach eat?"
Uncle Tang held the vegetables and whispered: "That's right."
"Mom, you're full so quickly." Shitou picked up the bucket and shouted:
Xu Hongping wiped her mouth and replied: I want to wash the vegetables...
"Mom, you've eaten enough. Let me wash these dishes." Erfeng followed and called:
"Why are you washing! You haven't even eaten yet." Xu Hongping continued:
Erfeng took a stool and said: I don't want to eat at noon.
Shitou asked: Sister Erfeng, why don't you eat?
Erfeng replied: I don’t know what happened at noon! My stomach keeps getting upset.
"Er Feng, there is still rice in the cauldron." Tang Bo said:
"There is food - I won't eat either." Erfeng responded:
Shitou took the bowl, walked to the cauldron, and called out: Sister Erfeng, there is still so much rice in the cauldron, do you want to suffocate me to death?
Erfeng replied: Shitou, why should I support you with food?
Shitou said: Let’s not talk about it! There is still some rice in the cauldron. Even if there is only one grain of rice left in the cauldron, the one who is going to starve is me. Sister Erfeng does not have to suffer for me...
"Stone, I really..." Erfeng argued:
"Er Feng, you go over and eat something, just to counter what Shi Shi said just now! You want to eat too." Xu Hongping blocked Er Feng with one hand and interrupted:
Erfeng picked up the bowl and called out: "You can eat the stone too."
Shitou picked up the rice spoon and said: Sister Erfeng will eat one bowl, Shitou will eat half of the bowl.
"Shitou, I ate a bowl, why did you only eat half a bowl?" Erfeng asked in confusion:
"Sister Erfeng, you are two people. Only if you have enough food and rest well will your child grow well." Shitou explained:
Erfeng and Shitou looked at each other and said, "I'll eat it."
Uncle Tang put the bowl down and immediately went to help Xu Hongping wash the vegetables.
Xu Hongping said: My husband, please go outside and see if the cremation in the brazier has melted.
Uncle Tang replied: Probably not.
"I asked you to go out and check." Xu Hongping said in a serious tone:
Uncle Tang stood up and said: I'll go, I'll go.
Xu Hongping ordered: Erfeng, after you have eaten your fill, go to the outhouse and bring two fireboxes in. Our toes will get cold while we sit here washing vegetables.
"I'll go right away." Erfeng moved his steps and walked straight to the outhouse.
The stone placed the bowl and said: Mom, sit at the door of the stove and I will wash it.
Xu Hongping smiled and said: How can I have time to sit down!
However, you can wash the vegetables and I'll chop them.
Shitou leaned over and called out: "Mom, Sister Erfeng hasn't come in to start the fire yet. You go over and make some light."
"After you wash these in the basin, wash the mushrooms and peppers." Xu Hongping pointed at the vegetables and shouted:
"Oh!" Shitou sat on the low stool and washed carefully.
Xu Hongping came to the cutting board and chopped vegetables.
"Shitou, why are you washing vegetables too!" Erfeng came back carrying the fire box.
Shitou replied: You are all busy and I am sitting still. If you don’t talk about me, I will die of shame.
"Just wait, I'll make the fire, and I'll come and wash it with you." Erfeng squatted in front of the stove and started the fire neatly.
"Sister Erfeng, you are a healthy person, you should not soak in the water often." Shitou said:
"Erfeng, Shitou is a man. He knows better than you in this regard." Xu Hongping said:
Erfeng handed Xu Hongping a firebox and asked: Shitou, are you cold? Let me help you shovel a firebox!
The stone replied: The stone is not cold. Sister Erfeng is baking it herself with a shovel.
"You are a man, why are you doing this!" Erfeng sat next to Shitou and whispered:
Xu Hongping saw Erfeng grabbing vegetables and shouted: "Erfeng, stop it. Go wash the dishes and chopsticks. We are about to make dinner."
Erfeng retracted his hand and walked straight to the kitchen door.
She squatted at the door of the stove, added two pieces of firewood to the stove, and asked: Mom, how many people are eating tonight?
Xu Hongping thought for a while and said: It seems like 15 people!
Erfeng replied: Then I will cook for a few more people. I will cook for 20 people.
From time to time, Shitou stood up and called out: Mom, are there any dishes to wash?
Xu Hongping glanced at the stone and said: After washing the dishes, you can go outside to warm yourself by the fire!
Shitou stretched his hand to the stove door and said: After washing the dishes for a while, his hands were shaking.
Xu Hongping responded: The snow outside is so heavy, how can you not tremble when your hands are soaked in the water?
"Puff~"
Erfeng opened the lid of the pot, fished out some rice grains, "looked at it", and muttered: It's still a little short of a fire.
Shitou knelt down and added a few pieces of firewood to the stove.
Xu Hongping shouted: Shitou, go out to the living room and see if those clan elders are here! If they haven't come yet! You call your dad and ask him again.
"Okay." Shitou ran away.
Xu Hongping called out: Erfeng, take two plates and go out and arrange the fruits.
Erfeng said: Where to put the plate!
Xu Hongping replied: There is one on the table outside and one on the box beside my bed.
Erfeng patted his sleeves and walked away calmly.
She stepped out of the kitchen and saw Shitou coming back, and asked: Shitou, haven't those clan elders come?
Shitou responded: They haven't come yet, I asked dad to call them.
Erfeng muttered: "Come over here, I'm going in to get the plate."
Shitou turned around and said, "I'll clear the table."
"Dong dong dong"
Shitou rushed to the door and quickly opened it.
"You are my uncle!"
Shitou smiled and said: What do you call this uncle?
"I'm older than Tang Jin, you call me uncle - that's right."
Shitou asked, "Uncle, please come to your room!"
The uncle shook his hat and strode inside.
"Uncle, there is a fire on the brazier. Hurry up and go around to warm yourself up." Shitou saw his uncle looking around and shouted:
The uncle gathered around the brazier and replied: There are several braziers lighting up the room, so it's not very cold.
The stone wiped the clothes on the uncle's body and said: The snow is so heavy today, and there are so many snowflakes on the uncle's body.
The uncle patted the snowflakes and replied: There is heat in the room, and these snowflakes will melt away in a short time.
"Uncle Jin, hurry up and get something to eat." Erfeng held a variety of fruits and called out:
Jin Bo took a candy and joked: Erfeng, you are going to be a bride, are you happy or not?
Erfeng said shyly: "Jinbo, don't make fun of me!"
Jin Bo smiled and said, "I'm still shy."
"Kimbo, you drink tea." Shitou poured the tea and said:
"Bang bang bang"
Erfeng turned around and walked out.
"Er Feng, happy news has come, and your spirit has changed."
Erfeng called out: Uncle Niu, you are making fun of me too.
Uncle Niu said: Erfeng used to be a great beauty, but now she has a smile on her face and has become more beautiful and charming.
Erfeng put his hands on his cheeks and replied: No way!
Uncle Niu then said: Go get a mirror and look at it.
Erfeng put down his hand and said politely: "Uncle Niu, please sit in the back room."
Uncle Niu got into the house and patted the snowflakes on his body in the same way.
Erfeng lowered his head and reached out his hand to close the door.
"Er Feng, don't close the door! We are coming." Uncle Tang shouted:
Erfeng looked forward and said, "Uncle Tang is coming with four or five people."
She let go of her hands and shouted: Uncles, Uncle Yu, please come into the house quickly.
Everyone walked into the house one after another.
Erfeng said: Dear elders, there is a fire inside. You go in and warm yourself up.
Uncle Tang stretched out his hand and said, "Uncles, please!"
"Hello, elders! Dear elders, please be polite!" Shitou saw so many people walking in and said politely:
"Jin'er (Tang Jin), look, your son-in-law is full of energy, respectful and polite, you have such a good son-in-law..."
"Uncle, the stone is not as good as you said..."
"Dear elders, there are fruits on the table..." Erfeng took the teapot and said:
"Dear elders, you can have some snacks to pass the time." Shitou picked up the plate and shouted:
"That's great. The husband sings and the wife follows suit. This kind of tacit understanding cannot be developed in one or two days." Uncle Niu praised:
"Uncle Niu, you know how to joke, I won't tell you anymore." Erfeng held an empty brazier and walked to the kitchen.
"Er Feng, if I don't tell you, who will I tell you?"
"Young man, put the plate down. If we want to eat, we will do it ourselves."
Shitou put down the plate and asked: Dad, who is this?
Uncle Tang replied: He is the elder of our clan, his name is Bing Gong.
Shitou bowed and said: Justice is good!
He responded impartially: You're welcome, young man!
Tang Bo introduced: This is "Ming Gong", this is "Quan Gong", this is...
Shitou said politely: Hello, dear sirs!
"Uncle Jin, Uncle Niu, come over here and sit down." Erfeng held a brazier and shouted:
Uncle Niu shouted: "Let's sit over there."
Jin Bo praised: Erfeng, your husband is great! Your husband—reasonable, enthusiastic, and talented, is the best among individuals.
"Erfeng, your husband is great! Your husband is sensible, enthusiastic, and talented. He is the best among individuals." Binggong repeated:
Jin Bo was surprised and said: Uncle Bing, you are usually very hard of hearing, but you said exactly what I just said!
Binggong continued: Whatever I want to hear, gods will convey it to me. What I don’t want to hear, it’s useless for you to yell at me.
"hehe!!"
"Shitou, you go in and serve the food!" Erfeng raised his feet and shouted:
Shitou replied: I'm here.
When Ming Gong saw Shitou and the others leaving the living room, he called out: "They are made for each other, they are a perfect match."
Uncle Tang said at a loss: Who is the perfect match?
Ming Gong replied: I said your daughter is a perfect match for Shitou.
Uncle Tang looked at Uncle Jin and said: I thought!
"You think I'm talking about the two of them (Ming Gong points to Uncle Niu and Uncle Jin)."
Jin Bo shouted: What should I do with him? You crook, I'm not gay.
Ming Gong responded: I am gay, and I will not fall in love with you.
Uncle Niu smiled and said: You both have gray hair on your temples. What you just said...
"Erfeng is a flower in our clan and village, and the husband she is going to marry is so handsome and dashing. He is really the envy of others." Bing Gong called:
Tang Bo smiled and said: "Justice is ridiculous!" Fair praise!
"Dad, you and the elders are gathered around for dinner." Erfeng held the dishes and shouted:
Uncle Tang asked: Uncles and brothers, please take a seat!
After a while, Xu Hongping and Shitou walked into the living room carrying rice.
Erfeng took the bowl and went to help everyone fill the meal.
Shitou hurriedly went to get food for Erfeng.
Xu Hongping apologized and said: "Bing Gong, Ming Gong, Quan Gong, and all brothers, please forgive me!" You have been at my house for so long, and this is the first time I have come out to meet you.
"Niece-in-law, you are busy cooking, who will care about this with you!" Ming Gong said:
"Sister-in-law, please clean up the house..." Uncle Niu called:
"Brother Niu, you're flattered." Xu Hongping replied:
"Ping'er, do you want to set up another table over there?" Uncle Tang poked his head and whispered:
Xu Hongping responded: No more showing off, let’s eat while standing.
Uncle Tang shouted: "Uncles and brothers, the rice gets cold as soon as it is served in winter. Eat quickly!"
Ming Gong picked up the bowl and said, "When my nephew talks about rice, my stomach growls, so I'm not polite!"
Xu Hongping said: The more you eat, the happier I am, which means that my busy work just now is valuable.
Everyone took chopsticks and bowls, and started eating together.
In an instant, everyone put down their bowls.
Tang Bo called out: "Tang Jin invited everyone here today mainly to agree on "the date when Erfeng and Shitou will get married."
"All of you sitting here are either senior members of the clan or directors of the clan. Please help make suggestions." Tang Bo continued:
Binggong said: "I, Ming Gong, and Quan Gong, we are old. Some of our eyes cannot see clearly, and some of our ears are not working well. The main matters have to be handled by Jin Jin, Niu Wa, Yu Rong and them." A few make up their minds.
Ming Gong said: Apart from bringing a mouth to eat, we are "useless".
Shitou continued: Uncle Ming, what you said is out of context. No predecessors planted trees, so how can future generations enjoy the shade? You are all our relatives, our predecessors, and we should respect them. Everything we do in our family is Simple meals······
"Young man, my son-in-law, what you said is very to my liking. It is true that "if no predecessors planted trees, there would be no descendants to enjoy the shade." You are so insightful at such a young age, which shows that you are kind-hearted. He is a rare young man with a broad mind..." he said impartially:
"Jin'er, who do you want to invite?" Ming Gong asked:
Tang Jin replied: I want to invite Ping'er's natal family!
Xu Hongping said: My parents are no longer alive, and my two younger brothers are far away from home. I don't want to disturb them about Erfeng and Shitou's marriage.
Besides, it’s not a waste of time.
Uncle Tang thought for a moment and shouted: Shitou, what do you think?
Shitou called out: I would like to invite Aunt Ju, Uncle Zhu, Officer Wang, and Police Officer...
"Shitou, please get rid of uncle, I have no objection at all. You invite those two bitches..." Xu Hongping interrupted:
"I invited them because I wanted them to understand that Sister Erfeng and I are married." Shitou replied:
"Who are they?" Quan Gong asked:
Shitou continued: "Aunt Jue is Geng Yu from Shiqiao Village. Uncle Chu lives in Banqiao Village. His name is Chu Ming."
besides······
"Ping'er, what Shitou says makes sense, let's do what Shitou says." Uncle Tang called:
Ming Gong shouted: Jin Jin, do you remember it?
Jinbo said: Remember.
Duke Ming said: "We will set the wedding banquet for the sixth day of the next month."
Uncle Tang smiled and said: Okay, okay, okay, the sixth day of next month is a good day. Let’s go get melon seeds to eat...
