Fang Hanmin did not want to go back to his hometown to hold a wedding. On the one hand, he could not spare time, and on the other hand, he was not used to the customs and habits of his hometown. During this trip to his hometown, they originally just wanted to inform their parents and family about their marriage. Unexpectedly, the old father would still use this incident to entertain guests in the village, which made Fang Hanmin very helpless.
Hearing that Fang Hanmin and his wife would return to the city tomorrow afternoon, Lao Fang immediately became angry, "Hanmin, you don't discuss everything with us, you don't take us seriously! In your eyes, there are still Are we parents?”
"Dad, what you said is a bit hurtful. Except for my own marriage, there is nothing related to the family that I haven't discussed with you? I asked your opinion again and again when we were repairing the house, but it turned out that I was only responsible for half of it. Later, the funds promised by my family could not be fulfilled, and I was asked to bear all the funds. Even though I had no money, even if I borrowed it from my classmates and friends, I did not say no in front of you. What are you talking about? Why didn't you? Do you take you seriously? What else do you want me to do?"
The time traveler had no feelings for Lao Fang in the first place, and the host and his father never had a common language, so when he saw Lao Fang getting angry, Fang Hanmin also felt resentful.
These words made Lao Fang a little embarrassed, and he said angrily: "There are many brothers and sisters in the family, and you are somewhat successful now. As the eldest brother of them, shouldn't you help the family?"
"That's not what I meant. It is my duty to help my hometown. I just said that I obey your arrangements on matters related to my family. I have never disrespected your opinions." Fang Hanmin hurriedly defended.
"Does this mean that since you have given a lot of help to your hometown, you can make your own decisions about your marriage and it has nothing to do with us?"
"Getting married and starting a family is my own business. Of course it should be my decision, but I can't say it has nothing to do with you. Although we didn't get married in my hometown, won't Yuping and I come back to inform you of the situation?"
Although Fang Hanmin's words were reasonable, Lao Fang didn't agree with him. He slapped the table and said angrily: "You didn't even say hello to us beforehand. You're calling it a day to kill first!"
Seeing that the atmosphere at the table was getting increasingly tense, Xu Lihua quickly smoothed things over, "Dad, the matter is over, please calm down. Hanmin, you and Yuping are returning to your hometown for the first time after your marriage. Please explain it to your father."
"Mom, I've made it clear enough, how else should I explain?" Fang Hanmin said helplessly.
Lao Fang waved his hand impatiently, "Don't explain anything, Hanmin, I just ask you, do you have to go back to the city tomorrow?"
"Dad, Yuping and I both have to go to work on Monday. We have to go back tomorrow afternoon."
Lao Fang calmed down his emotions and said, "Okay, you have to go back, and no one can stay. However, I have a treat at home tonight, and I don't have to work in the fields in the afternoon. You guys can help prepare."
"A treat? Who are you inviting? Do you have enough time in half a day?" Lao Fang suddenly announced this decision. Not to mention his children, even his wife Xu Lihua was stunned.
Seeing the whole family looking at him blankly, Lao Fang explained calmly: "Although Hanmin and the others did not hold a wedding in their hometown, they came back to inform the family about the situation. I think we should take this opportunity to invite our relatives and friends." Having a meal with best friends not only lets them know that Hanmin is married and has a family, but also allows Yuping to meet her relatives and friends at home. I calculated that there are only three tables of relatives and friends nearby at most. , it’s not a formal banquet, it’s just a casual meal, there are so many of us, can’t we cook it for several hours in the afternoon?”
"Hmm..." After thinking about it carefully, Xu Lihua felt that his wife's idea made sense. "These relatives and friends nearby have been thinking about Hanmin's marriage. They inquire about Hanmin's marriage every time they meet, treat them to a meal, and announce it in public. This is a good way to prevent them from worrying about it anymore. Hanmin, what do you and Yuping think?"
"Mom, since you think this is a good idea, of course we have to agree. But...in what name will relatives and friends come to eat this meal?" Song Yuping made the decision on behalf of Fang Hanmin and proposed her own question.
"Yes, Yuping is right. When the guests eat this meal, should we give gifts? If the guests give gifts, can we accept them?" Xu Lihua ran out of ideas for a moment.
Lao Fang said without hesitation: "Of course I have to accept it! I have given so many gifts to relatives and friends over the years. This time it is our family's turn, we must accept the gifts they gave us!" It turned out that the purpose of Lao Fang's treat was to receive gifts. .
Fang Hanmin disagreed with his father's statement, "I don't object to inviting relatives and friends to dinner, but I definitely can't accept gifts, because we are just using this opportunity to meet them, and it's not a wedding. If we accept gifts, it won't sound good."
"What's so bad about it? Don't we give enough gifts to our relatives and friends? I don't accept gifts when I treat guests, and I have to pay for the meal. Why treat them?" Lao Fang said stubbornly.
"The gifts you have given out over the years can be slowly recovered when Hanwen and his two sisters get married, but in our case, we do not need to accept gifts. After all, we did not hold a wedding in our hometown. As for all the guests tonight The expenses are entirely paid for by us, and the family doesn’t need to spend a penny!”
After hearing these words, the old father Fang Xiecheng bowed his head and fell silent. After a while, his mother Xu Lihua said with a little embarrassment: "How can we ask you to pay for a treat at home? In addition, if the guests want to give gifts, we will not accept them. Will you be too worried?"
"Because it's our business to treat guests, we should pay for it. I explained to the guests why I didn't accept gifts, and I didn't think they would have any ideas." Fang Hanmin believed that based on his good impression in the minds of relatives and friends, he came forward Explain and everyone will understand.
Although I feel a bit disadvantaged, the family does not need to pay for the treat, so the old man can't raise any objections, "Okay, then I won't accept the gift. Let's divide the labor, and then everyone will do their own thing, especially buying food and cooking. Those who want to eat, please hurry up and take care of it as soon as possible."
After a short discussion, she put the vegetables, meat, tobacco, wine, sugar and tea to be bought on the list. Song Yuping took out a few hundred yuan. Because Fang Hanwen had strength and quick legs, his mother Xu Lihua asked him to go to the township markets and shops as soon as possible. Buy things back.
Lao Fang himself would not be idle. He immediately set out to treat guests and went from house to house to notify the invited guests.
Xu Lihua and her two daughters were busy in the kitchen. They tried their best to do what they could. Because the tableware at home was not enough, she went to a close neighbor to borrow more than 20 sets of bowls, chopsticks and dinner plates.
Of course, Fang Hanmin and Song Yuping would not stand idly by. They helped select and wash the vegetables, and arranged the dining tables and stools borrowed from their neighbors neatly in the yard. ...
In the evening, guests arrived one after another. Because the traveler was completely unfamiliar with these people, and even the host had not seen relatives and friends for many years, Fang Hanmin asked his old father to introduce him one by one. He and Song Yuping greeted the guests and served them tea. cigarette.
The guests were whispering among themselves, and Fang Hanmin's second uncle couldn't help but ask Lao Fang: "Brother-in-law, why don't you see the account counter where the gift money is collected?"
"Hanmin said he just wanted to invite everyone to have a casual meal. He brought Yuping to meet everyone and get to know each other. We won't accept gifts."
"How can that be done? It's a big deal for my eldest nephew to get married and start a family. We relatives must express our feelings no matter what we say."
Fang Hanmin walked up to the guests and bowed his hands to everyone, "Second uncle, all the elders here, relatives and friends, because there are too many things in the work, we don't have time to go back to our hometown to hold a wedding, so we held a simple one in the city on May Day. Wedding ceremony, Song Yuping and I are now officially husband and wife. This time we take the time to go home to visit our parents and family, inform them of the situation, and also meet you. By the way, I invite you all to have a casual meal, so that there is no need for reciprocity. I hope you all understand."
"Hanmin, since you're back, stay a few more days and we'll help you organize a make-up wedding at home. Let's have a good time. Why are you in such a hurry!"
"Third brother, we will have many opportunities to get together again in the future. To be honest, after meeting you tonight, we will go to Yuping's parents' house tomorrow morning and go back tomorrow afternoon, because we all have to go to work the day after tomorrow."
"Hanmin, getting married is a major event in life. Didn't your employer give you wedding leave?"
"Uncle, Yuping and I are older young people. Not only do we have marriage leave, but we can also take a few more days off according to regulations. But we have so much work at hand that we don't have time to take a vacation!"
"You have been sensible since you were a child, and everyone has always had a good impression of you. Even if the wedding is not held in your hometown, since you have invited us to meet you, it is appropriate for us to express our feelings anyway."
"Uncle, between relatives and friends, I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you all!"...
Everyone was talking a lot, and Fang Hanmin explained one by one. In fact, the guests can eat and drink for free without giving gifts, so why not everyone.
After four or five hours of busy work, at about six o'clock in the evening, sumptuous dishes were put on the table. After the guests took their seats, Fang Hanmin said a few polite words, and Fang Xiecheng told the guests that although it was not a formal banquet, he hoped everyone would have a good meal and drink. ...
After breakfast the next day, Fang Hanmin and his wife were packing their luggage and preparing to visit Song Yuping's natal home. At this time, their mother, Xu Lihua, walked up to them, as if she had something to say but found it hard to say.
"Mom, are you okay?"
"Hanmin, Yuping, I want to discuss something with you."
Putting down what he was doing, Fang Hanmin asked attentively: "What's the matter? Just tell me."
Xu Lihua said embarrassedly: "Your brother Hanwen is already a grown man. Some time ago, someone introduced him to a girlfriend."
Before his mother could finish speaking, Fang Hanmin interjected: "This is a good thing! Hanwen is in his twenties, an older youth even in rural areas. He should have a girlfriend long ago! What's the result? Is it successful?"
"It's good, he and the woman are a good match. It seems that both parties are willing to get along, but... the other party wants a gift of one thousand yuan."
"It's normal for the woman to ask for a bride price. Since both parties are willing, just agree to it."
"But----, for our family, one thousand yuan is a huge sum of money, and we can't afford this money!" Xu Lihua said with a frown.
"Oh——," Fang Hanmin knew the purpose of his mother telling him this. "Shouldn't the bride price be given before the wedding? Let Hanwen get along with his girlfriend first. If it happens, the bride price will not be given until the wedding. Say it again."
With these words, Xu Lihua felt reassured. The second child's wedding gift was settled. As a mother, she could finally let go of what she had been worrying about.
On the way back to her parents' home, Song Yuping said nothing and just walked forward. Fang Hanmin felt something was strange, "Yuping, what are you thinking about?"
"Thought nothing."
"Impossible, your mood is obviously wrong. If you have anything to say, just say it. Don't keep it in your heart."
