Parallel Rebirth 1980

Zhangjiacun, Zhangweiguo.

Wang Ailian served hot white steamed buns. Steamed buns, a delicate food, would only be served when important guests came to the house.

At the old wooden table, Zhang Qingxi lowered his head and remained silent. Zhang Weiguo on one side pushed the plate with steamed buns towards the woman opposite: "Matchmaker Pan, what do you think this statement is? Is there any news?"

The woman wearing a headscarf is named Pan. She is in her sixties and has a mole at the corner of her eye. She is a famous matchmaker in this area. Few people know her exact name. They only know that everyone calls her Matchmaker Pan. Some people want to give her a baby.

When children get married, they basically ask her to be the middleman. If they succeed, they get benefits. If they fail, they just waste a few mouthfuls of food.

The eldest daughter of the Zhang family dragged her hand to marry Li Zhongqiang from Changhe Town.

Matchmaker Pan was not polite at all when she saw the white steamed buns. She ate them as soon as she took them. After a few mouthfuls, she took another piece. When her stomach was about seventy percent full, she began to speak calmly: "Brother Zhang, let me ask you something clearly."

Well, Xia Shunshun from Xiaoxia Village is a nice person. He is very satisfied with our Xiaoxi family. But you also know that these days, the crops are not good. Although Xia Shunshun’s parents saved some money through frugality, they can’t take it all at once.

It’s still too hard to pay two hundred dollars for a dowry. Do you think we could reduce it a little? After all, my daughter also had to make a living in the past.”

The wrinkles on Zhang Weiguo's face were squeezed together, making it difficult for others to see the changes in his expression. He knocked on the dry pipe twice, squinted his eyes without even looking at Mrs. Pan, took a deep breath and exhaled it again and again, and said unhurriedly:

"What about the baby in Xiaozhouzhuang? What does his family say?"

"It's almost the same. Xiaoxia Village and Xiaozhouzhuang are both rural areas. They can't compare with the life in Changhe Town. I also went to Changhe Town to inquire about it and found out there are several. But when people heard that they had to wait for a year, they thought it was too risky.

There is no promise."

Zhang Weiguo blew out a puff of smoke: "If I want to reduce it, how much should it be reduced?"

The family couldn't wait any longer, so they gave ten yuan to their son last time, but that was already half of the family's savings. The reason why they could come up with the money was entirely because Zhang Qing'an was his son. In Zhang Weiguo's view, sons are the ones who carry on the family's roots.

Treasure cannot be compared to his daughter, which is why he has asked so many questions but never asked his second daughter.

As long as she can get married, it doesn't matter if she has less contact like her eldest sister, as long as her son can start a family.

"One hundred, one hundred will definitely be taken care of by me, mother-in-law."

Zhang Weiguo shook his head: "Too little. This girl of mine is smart and capable. I have spent a lot of money training her over the years. How can I get such a good wife for only 100 yuan? There are so many good things. Mrs. Pan, if you can

If you find such a good girl, you can introduce her to my third child for one hundred yuan."

Mrs. Pan didn't get angry when she was rebuffed, but instead nodded with a smile: "That is to say, this is also the case for the Zhou family and the Xia family. I just have to give in to the important matter of my son's wedding."

"180, the minimum is 180. Mrs. Pan has worked hard for you. I will promise you a lot of benefits when the deal is done." Zhang Weiguo blew out the smoke, as if he had made the biggest concession.

"Hey, I'm on my way for a couple of trips. I heard that some kids in Shangang Village are getting married. I'll ask my brother."

By this time, Matchmaker Pan had finished half of the white steamed buns and was very full.

"dad."

A crisp sound came from outside the door. Zhang Qingan finally returned home with two large packages. From a distance, he saw the old man sitting on the table smoking. When he entered the room, he saw that there were guests.

"Third baby?"

Not only Zhang Weiguo, but also Wang Ailian and Mrs. Pan looked at the young man in a suit with surprise.

"Brother Zhang, how about I go back first? I'll let you know if there's any news."

"Okay, okay."

Zhang Weiguo withdrew his surprised look and sent Mrs. Pan out. Before leaving, Mrs. Pan couldn't help but glance at Zhang Qing'an a few more times. Especially when she saw the big piece of meat, she was even more surprised. She had known she would come later.

Yes, it’s a big loss.

"Why are you back? What's going on with your outfit and these things?"

Zhang Weiguo looked at his son with doubts on his face. His son had only been out for half a month. Even if he was found alive, he shouldn't have had such a big change. If he read correctly, that piece of meat alone weighed five or six kilograms. That's a lot.

How much is it?

"Dad, I found a job, doing business with a big boss..." Knowing that an explanation was inevitable, Zhang Qing'an had already endorsed it. After an hour-long explanation, although the family understood Zhang Qing'an's opportunity, they still

I couldn't stop myself from being amazed.

"Dad, this is extra money. You can take the one hundred and fifty yuan. I bought these things. Clothes and shoes are all high-end goods from the big market. You, mom, and second sister all have them."

"Is it really that much money?"

Zhang Weiguo accepted the one hundred and fifty yuan and was in a great mood. It was unimaginable that his son could earn so much in half a month. He originally thought that it would be great if his son could enter the factory. If he laid the foundation, he could earn twenty in a month.

Even if you make a few bucks, you can show off your family status. Two hundred bucks a month is completely unimaginable.

"Sanwa, why are these clothes so expensive? You said you earn two hundred a month, but you only bought these if you earned fifty less?" Wang Ailian looked at the clothes and shoes. The workmanship was something he had never seen before, and

The cotton-padded clothes are as smooth as baby's skin when applied to the hands: "But this feels really good."

"Mom, this kind of suit is actually not worth a lot of money. It just looks like a bluff. Second sister, please see if it suits you."

"Hey~"

Zhang Qingxi has been impatient for a long time. She has not made new clothes for several years. She likes this pink cotton-padded jacket from the bottom of her heart: "Brother, this dress is so warm."

"Take it off, don't get it dirty."

Wang Ailian urged, fearing that such beautiful clothes would be stained. They had been poor all their lives, and the clothes they wore never cost more than fifty cents. They were all made by themselves, stitch by stitch.

"Mom, clothes are just for wearing. Second sister, those clothes you had before were too old and were thrown away. I will change them for you later."

Zhang Qingxi grinned, thinking that Yaodi was joking. How could he throw away his clothes?

In the past, she had some complaints about Yao Di. Her parents preferred Yao Di, but now she feels that Yao Di is really good.

"If you have money, you can't spend it like this. You have met a noble person now, but what will you do if they don't care about you one day? You must learn to save, otherwise you will suffer a big loss sooner or later. This is the experience of our old life." Zhang Weiguo knocked on the cigarette.

Although he was very happy and proud in his heart, he was still wary of his son, fearing that he might not be able to control himself when he suddenly became rich.

"Dad, I understand."

Although he didn't agree with the old man's ideas, Zhang Qing'an didn't want to argue with the old man, because it didn't make any sense. The older generation's ideas were deeply ingrained and difficult to change. Instead of persuading, it was better to act on his own.

"Well, forget it this time. After all, you are still young. We would like to thank you for bringing your noble person here one day." Zhang Weiguo felt from the bottom of his heart that his son could have such a great opportunity only because of the noble person in his mouth.

.

"Okay, it's just that I've been busy recently and don't have time."

"It's normal for the big boss to not have time. If you have time, just let us know."

Zhang Qingan nodded.

In the evening, Wang Ailian cooked rice to prepare dinner. The ingredients were of course the pork belly and some vegetables brought back by Zhang Qing'an. The second sister Zhang Qingxi took a basket with vegetables to add water to wash the vegetables, and Zhang Qing'an followed behind.

"Second sister, when I come back, my dad is going to marry you." Zhang Qing'an casually opened the topic.

"kindness."

Zhang Qingxi nodded and continued washing vegetables.

"what do you think."

"Listen to dad." Zhang Qingxi didn't hesitate much and didn't stop moving his hands.

Zhang Qing'an sighed: "Sister, if dad doesn't care about you, what do you think? In other words, have you ever thought about what kind of life you want in the future, and what kind of person you want to spend your whole life with you?

Have you passed?"

Zhang Qingxi stood up. Because the dishes were washed, she looked at her brother with clear eyes and a little curiosity.

"My father values ​​boys over girls, but this idea is wrong. Men and women should be equal. You, eldest sister, and I are all the same."

"Forget it, let's go back."

Looking at the second sister's appearance, Zhang Qing'an didn't know how to explain it. He suddenly felt that the educational ideas in childhood were really important. The eldest sister was like this, and the second sister was like that...

"Yao brother, you are more important than us."

Zhang Qingan continued to walk, and his second sister's words made him feel uncomfortable.

"Brother Yao, are you angry?"

"No~"

"I'm sorry~"

"No, come on, eat melon seeds."