Reborn in 1977

Chapter 457: Proposal

Team 4, Lujiawan.

At Secretary Yang's house.

He sat upright by the Eight Immortals table in the main room, puffing clouds of smoke from his pipe, his eyeballs darting to the left as he watched Quan An pour a stack of vouchers from an envelope.

In the next room, Yang Xingxiu's cheeks were flushed red as she sat silently on the edge of the bed, her gaze constantly drifting towards the door.

A younger sister on her left and a younger brother on her right held her captive, afraid she would run off with someone.

Yang Xingxiu wanted to stand up, but the pulling from both sides annoyed her. "Why are you holding me?"

Her sister said, "It's not that I want to hold you, it's what Dad told me to do. I can't let you run away. I can't let you ruin the Old Yang family's reputation!"

Her younger brother nodded repeatedly, but when he saw his eldest sister's eyes, he immediately sat up straight, not daring to move at all.

But his hands didn't relax in the slightest.

Yang Xingxiu rolled her eyes. "Reputation, reputation. If it weren't for reputation, I'd already have a child."

Then she turned to glare at her sister. "Maybe you'd have a child too."

The younger sister clearly didn't have much confidence and said weakly, "Sister, you can't talk about Mom like that. My mom is also your mom."

The older sister can't get married before the younger sister, this is the old rule. Although the younger sister also has someone she likes, she can only wait, there's really nothing she can do!

The younger brother nodded on the other side.

But when he saw his eldest sister's eyes, he immediately showed a sincere smile and said, "Big sister, how about we don't go out and just listen behind the door?"

The three exchanged a look, and the next second, three ears were pressed against the door.

In the main room, Quan An poured out a pile of vouchers, casually stuffed the envelope into his pocket, and then arranged the vouchers one by one on the table, "Sewing machine voucher, bicycle voucher, watch voucher, tape recorder voucher."

As he spoke, he waved the vouchers in front of Secretary Yang, his eyes filled with unconcealed smugness. "Look, it's a tape recorder, not a radio. It's much more expensive."

Secretary Yang rolled his eyes. "What's the use of being expensive? You bring the goods! You only brought a piece of paper?"

Zhang Wenliang sat beside him, his whole body tense, unable to speak. He could only look at his uncle for help.

Zhang Changjiang laughed and gestured for Quan An to finish speaking first.

Quan An coughed dryly and continued as if nothing had happened, "This 'three turns and one sound' is the basic requirement. In addition, there is also an electric fan voucher, a motorcycle voucher, and a TV voucher, which are considered an upgraded gift."

After placing all the vouchers on the table, Quan An walked to the chair against the wall and sat down.

He wasn't yet qualified to sit on the other side of the Eight Immortals table. The head of the Zhang family, the brigade leader Zhang Changjiang, was sitting there.

So today is a showdown between the secretary and the brigade leader?

Outside the house, a large group of people were eating melons in the wind and snow.

"Sanhu is capable. That load of pork, chickens, ducks, geese, cloth, and shoes is extravagant enough, and he even brought out vouchers for the 'three turns and one sound', and even has electric fan, motorcycle, and TV vouchers. Not even people in the commune have this much for their weddings, right?"

"The commune? Hmph, I dare say even the county doesn't have it! Even if someone can get a TV voucher, can they get a motorcycle voucher?"

"I've never seen this thing before. I only found out about it when I went to the prefectural committee's second-hand store to buy an old bicycle in the first half of the year. It's called a Qingqi, specifically made for the common people. I wonder where Zhang Lianchang got it from?"

"Where else could he have gotten it from? Chen teacher gave it to him. Who else has this ability besides Chen teacher?!"

"Heh, Chen teacher is really generous. This thing shouldn't be cheap, right?"

"I don't know, but a set of 'three turns and one sound' vouchers can be exchanged for at least one or two hundred yuan, not to mention the other three. These seven vouchers together are worth at least three or four hundred!"

"The key is that even if you're willing to spend money, there's nowhere to buy these things. This favor is a big one."

Outside the house, there was a lot of chatter. Inside the house, after Quan An sat down, Zhang Changjiang coughed dryly, put down his teacup, and smiled at Secretary Yang, "Old Yang, we're all family, so let's not beat around the bush. You know best what kind of person Sanhu is. The children are not young anymore, so let's not drag this out. Why don't we talk about the betrothal gifts directly?"

Secretary Yang felt a strange mix of emotions, but circumstances were stronger than people. His own daughter had set her mind on it, so what could he do?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glare at the tightly closed door, then glanced at Zhang Wenliang, who was sitting there with a dry smile, and then said softly, "Let's talk about it. What's the plan?"

Chen Fan was gnawing on a big pig's trotter, his eyes full of excitement. So, under the established facts, the parents don't dare to object?

Zhang Changjiang was overjoyed and quickly said, "These vouchers were brought here to let everyone witness that Sanhu values your Xingxiu. Our Old Zhang family doesn't do things that deceive people. We'll go to the prefectural committee tomorrow to buy everything back.

As for the bride price, we won't do anything special. We'll just follow the old rules and set it at 6 yuan, just to show our sincerity.

Then there's the house. The team approved a plot of land for him a long time ago. There's no more space on the north side, but there's a small earthen slope on the east side. Although the terrain is a bit low, it's still higher than the paddy fields.

The team will organize people to level it and fill it with some soil. In the future, all new foundations will be placed there. Sanhu is the first family. After the dike is finished, we'll start building the house,"

As he said this, he turned to look at Chen Fan, who was sitting next to Quan An eating melon seeds, and couldn't help but be slightly stunned. He finished gnawing such a big pig's trotter?

Turning back, he smiled and said, "We'll build it according to Little Chen's house layout. Of course, it won't be as big as his house, mainly because it's not necessary. We'll build them a two-story building with red bricks and blue tiles, and we'll also be responsible for providing the furniture. In the future, it will be the young couple's home.

That's about it for the betrothal gifts. If you have any other conditions, feel free to mention them."

Secretary Yang's expression improved a lot after hearing his words.

Based on the conditions given by Old Zhang, it was unique in Lujiawan, and even in the entire Nanhu Commune.

Who would marry a daughter like this a year ago?

Two slices of meat and a piece of cloth as a gift... the meat was for the wedding banquet, and the cloth was for the bride to make a new set of clothes.

Then give three to five yuan as the bride price, and that would be enough.

The 'three turns and one sound' was the wedding standard for city people. In the countryside, if you could have even one of them, it would be a joyous event that would bring honor to your face. You could walk around the village with your chin held high.

Not to mention a TV and a motorcycle.

They even built a new house!

Why, build a new house when you get married? Are you dividing the family?

It was only this year that Lujiawan became rich. Their pockets were bulging and they had enough confidence. Zhang Wenliang also held positions in several sideline companies such as the breeding farm and transportation team. His year-end salary and bonus added up to several thousand. Otherwise, even if Chen Fan gave him these vouchers, he could only shiver and dare not take them!

Secretary Yang took two puffs of his pipe, pondering carefully in his heart.

The Yang family, the Zhang family, the matchmaker, the attendants, the melon eaters... all stared at him expectantly.

What were they looking at him for?

Waiting to see the dowry!

The customs in the Yunhu area are a bit different from other places.

Or rather, it can't be said that.

It's just that this kind of custom is actually common in many places in Hunan, Hubei, and the "Jiangnan Province", but it's different from many other places in the country.

Everyone knows that some people in Fujian marry off their daughters, right? Other places compare the bride price, but they compare the dowry, comparing who's family's dowry is higher when they marry off their daughter.

Although Yunhu hasn't reached this point, it's not far off.

That is, no matter how much betrothal money or bride price the man gives, it is all spent on the bride, which is a matter of course. What is "not spent" will be taken away by the bride, and then the woman's family will add a portion based on the value of the money given by the man.

For example, the bride price. If the man gives 10 yuan, the woman's family will give the bride the bride price money and add a portion, from two to 10 yuan, or even more, as the bride's "bottom-of-the-box money" to take back to her new home.

As for cotton wadding, quilt covers, and other bedding, they are even more essential.

Therefore, in the Yunhu area, except for a few "shameless" people... this shamelessness is real shamelessness, because if you don't give a dowry, people in the same village, the same unit, and even blood relatives will despise their family, at least they won't have close relationships. How can you stand firm without giving under these circumstances? What is it if it's not shameless?

Even if they really don't have money, they will discuss with the man's family. If you don't give a bride price, I won't give a dowry, so everyone can save face.

It's just that in this way, most families have to lose money when marrying off their daughters. Even if they dote on their daughters at home, they will often say "money-losing goods".

The daughters don't get angry when they hear it, but instead force their parents to express their position. You say I'm a money-losing good, I'll see how much dowry you can "accompany" when I get married?!

Although this dowry money nominally belongs to the daughter, in most cases, it is actually the property of the young family.

Now that the Zhang family has given a sky-high betrothal gift, the next step is to see how Secretary Yang responds!

Isn't it interesting to watch this kind of excitement!

Secretary Yang pondered for a long time and found that the Zhang family had already prepared everything.

If he followed the old rules and added a double bride price, which would be 6 yuan, and then prepared a cart of new cotton and a few quilts, it would be far less than the value of a bicycle, not to mention the seven betrothal gifts and a fully furnished house.

Just when he was at a loss, he suddenly saw the 7 vouchers on the table and suddenly had an idea.

He slowly and methodically gathered the seven tickets in his hand, neatly arranging them. Turning to Zhang Changjiang, he said, "Your Zhang family's terms are more than generous; I can't find any fault with them."

Zhang Changjiang grinned, but remained silent, simply watching him.

Secretary Yang tapped the tickets lightly on the table. "In previous years, the higher-ups advocated frugality. When ordinary people celebrated happy occasions, they would simply invite relatives and friends for a meal and some lively fun. The groom's family would clean up their home, and the bride's family would provide two quilts and bedsheets as dowry. Under the watchful eyes of the elders' portraits, they would offer a toast, and that was about it."

He turned to look at the people inside and outside the house, paused for a couple of seconds, and continued, "It's only since last year that these weddings and funerals have become so extravagant. If the Dong family sees the Xi family holding a grand celebration with eight tables of guests, they insist on outdoing them with ten tables. This is not right!"

Saying this, he turned to look at Zhang Changjiang, who seemed thoughtful and was slowly nodding, and said in a measured tone, "Old Zhang, in the Lujiawan Brigade, I'm the secretary, and you're the captain. Whether we get along well or not, we can be considered role models, right?"

As soon as he said this, the people inside and outside the house nodded in agreement.

Although the two leaders had minor flaws, such as a tendency to act like leaders, they were genuinely doing practical things for the commune members. Especially during the busy farming season, they worked tirelessly day and night in the fields, afraid of delaying production.

Therefore, they were able to rise to their positions not only because there were many people in Lujiawan with the surnames Yang and Zhang, but also because everyone was convinced by their work, and that's why they were elected.

Secretary Yang smiled and continued, "Since we are role models, we must act like role models. So," he shook the tickets in his hand and turned to look at Chen Fan, "these things are what you lent to Sanhuzi, right?"

Why was he getting caught up in this gossip?

Chen Fan put down the peanuts in his hand and nodded. Before he could speak, Secretary Yang waved his hand to cut him off.

Secretary Yang looked at Zhang Changjiang again. "Now, these tickets are considered borrowed from Little Chen, and have nothing to do with your Zhang family."

Having heard those words earlier, Zhang Changjiang already understood what he was going to say, and immediately nodded, saying, "Alright, the Zhang family has no objections."

Zhang Wenliang and his parents next to him pursed their lips, not daring to say a word.

Secretary Yang smiled and continued, "Sanhuzi is getting older; he'll be 25 next year. It's really inappropriate for him to still be living with his parents and two older brothers. That house of his, he wanted to build it after splitting off from the family, right?"

At this moment, Zhang Changjiang positioned himself as the straight man in a comedy duo, only nodding. "You guessed it!"

Secretary Yang looked wise. "That's what I thought. Who splits up the family when they get married?"

At this point, most of the people inside and outside the house understood Secretary Yang's meaning. One by one, they wanted to laugh, but couldn't bring themselves to do so.

Secretary Yang cleared his throat twice, raised his head, and looked at everyone, saying loudly, "The Zhang family building a house has nothing to do with my Yang family marrying off a daughter. You all must remember that."

Almost everyone nodded repeatedly. "We'll remember."

Even if there were a few individuals who didn't understand, those around them quietly explained it to them.

Secretary Yang tucked the tickets into his pocket, turned to Zhang Wenliang, and said seriously, "Sanhuzi, you're a good person; I know that best. Today, your family came to propose marriage and brought a betrothal gift. Today, I'll give you an answer as well. The bride price will be 6 yuan, and my daughter's dowry will be 8 yuan, plus two new quilts with bedsheets. Is that acceptable?"

Zhang Wenliang's mind was a little muddled right now. What about my big house, and the three turning and one sounding, plus the electric fan, motorcycle, and TV?

He instinctively looked at his uncle, as well as An Quan and Chen Fan.

Seeing the three of them nodding frantically, he blurted out, "Acceptable!"

Secretary Yang grinned. "Good."

He turned to look at Zhang Changjiang. "Should I decide on the wedding date?"

Zhang Changjiang nodded and raised his right hand. "In-law, please."

Secretary Yang stood up, took down the calendar hanging on the wall, pretended to flip through a few pages, and smiled, "How about next Tuesday, January 17th, the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month? Auspicious for marriage and setting up the bed."

After speaking, he turned to look at Zhang Changjiang. "How's that?"

Zhang Changjiang didn't even discuss it with Zhang Wenliang's parents, and directly slapped the table. "Auspicious day, let's set it then!"

The date chosen… get married first, then build the house; that's the idea.

… …

Inside the room, Yang Xingxiu silently returned to the bed and sat down, unable to resist cursing, "Idiot."

Her younger brother sat next to her, his eyes full of confusion. "Eldest sister, who are you cursing?"

Yang Xingxiu said unhappily, "Cursing your brother-in-law."

Her younger sister blinked and took her arm, saying, "Sister, I heard that Teacher Chen instigated this?"

Yang Xingxiu was slightly startled, then decisively shifted the target. "That Teacher Chen is clever about big things, but muddled about small things!"

Her younger sister was a little puzzled. Marriage is a major life event. If that counts as a small thing, then what is a big thing?

On the other side, her younger brother didn't know his second sister's confusion, and looked at his eldest sister, asking, "What riddles are you two talking about? I can't understand at all."

Yang Xingxiu rolled her eyes at him. "You're even more stupid!"

Her younger brother was immediately exasperated, but didn't dare to resist.

Fortunately, there was a second sister who patiently explained to him, "In the beginning, the Zhang family expressed that they would provide all the three turning and one sounding, a motorcycle, a TV, and an electric fan. In addition, they would specially build a two-story house for sister and brother-in-law. Think about it yourself, have you ever heard of such marriage conditions?"

Her younger brother shook his head repeatedly, even using an idiom. "Unheard of!"

Her second sister continued, "That's right. If Dad agreed in one go, how much dowry would our family have to provide? What would the others in the brigade think? If they have someone getting married in their family in the future, would they have to follow suit?"

Hearing this, her younger brother finally understood, and said with a sudden realization, "So Dad took the tickets back, so it has nothing to do with the Zhang family. Then he said that the house was being built because brother-in-law couldn't live at home anymore, so it has nothing to do with the marriage. In the end, the wedding ceremony only has a load of betrothal gifts and a 6 yuan bride price."

"Then the dowry for eldest sister will only be an 8 yuan return gift and two quilts!"

"Actually, that house will still be built, but it's not counted in the wedding gifts. Those tickets for the three turning and one sounding and the motorcycle and TV will also be bought by our family, so eldest sister will have face when she marries over, and the brother-in-law's family won't be able to find fault."

"For outsiders, this time is no different from before."

Yang Xingxiu suddenly sighed faintly, "Actually, speaking of it, it's just burying one's head in the sand, but it's better than doing nothing at all."

Her younger brother didn't think so, "Even if it's burying one's head in the sand, it gives everyone an excuse. It's better than the Zhang family directly using a house as a bride price and our family using the seven major items as a dowry. Otherwise, if everyone prepares for the wedding according to this standard, I estimate that every household would be in debt!"

Even if Lujiawan is rich this year, it can't withstand such extravagance. Besides, those tickets still have nowhere to get them.

At this moment, the door was suddenly pushed open, and their mother appeared at the doorway, her face full of joy, "Everyone, come to the kitchen to help."

… …

When people come to propose marriage, unless there is a big conflict, the woman's family must prepare a reception banquet, regardless of whether it is successful or not.

Moreover, it was successfully negotiated.

Yang Xingxiu and her mother cooked together, with two stoves firing at the same time, and soon prepared a large table of dishes.

The onlookers had already dispersed, and the banquet was set up in the main room. Secretary Yang then lit the charcoal stove that he had bought from Chen Fan last year, and the room was warm.

He also found two Yang family elders to accompany them. On the opposite side, the Zhang family had Zhang Wenliang and his parents, as well as Zhang Changjiang, plus An Quan, who was guest-starring as the introducer, and Chen Fan, the only remaining onlooker.

This introducer was also very interesting.

According to the new rules, the new society should emphasize free love, so the old-fashioned matchmaker was abolished!

That's right, newlyweds in the new society cannot have a matchmaker!

But the older generation emphasized "marriage arranged by parents and matchmakers." Without a matchmaker, how could they celebrate the happy event?

Then some people flexibly applied the "introducer" from the organization to replace the role of the matchmaker.

So at this time, for newlyweds getting married, the introducer was as essential as a letter of introduction from the work unit.

A letter of introduction was a necessary condition for obtaining a marriage certificate, while an introducer was a necessary condition for holding a wedding. The key was that the introducer closely followed the organization, and no one could say anything strange, how great!

Secretary Yang plus two elders from the Yang family, that's three people. The Zhang family has four, plus Chen Fan and An Quan, that's a total of 9 people, almost enough to squeeze in.

But Zhang Wenliang's mother was not used to squeezing at a table with men. Before the banquet started, she said hello and went to the kitchen to eat with her future daughter-in-law and her future daughter-in-law's mother, and the table became eight people again.

Secretary Yang carried the wine bottle and filled everyone's glasses, then picked up his glass and stood up, clearing his throat, ready to speak.

At this moment, a loud shout came from outside, "Secretary Yang, the admission notices from your brigade have arrived! Come out and welcome them!!!"