The Big Landlord

Looking down at the complacent Zijian, Wang Ben began to think about a proper solution. He would definitely go to help carry the dowry. He didn't worry about what Zijian would do, and he couldn't control it. He was worried about what Linglong would do after leaving this night. , except that night when she was drunk and accidentally slept on Wu Yulan's bed, she had never left this little girl alone at home overnight, and Linglong had no idea what happened that night.

He thought of skipping the wedding ceremony the afternoon before and riding a motorcycle to carry the dowry the next morning. However, there were all paths going up and down the mountain, making it impossible to ride. Even if he could ride, he would have to find another time to go there. Riding more than twenty miles back is really not worth the gain.

"Go ahead, go ahead. There's nothing to worry about. At worst, let Cui'er sleep here with Linglong at night, and I can also stay and help you look after the house," Zijian urged from the side, and with great satisfaction, his true colors were finally revealed. , Dare to have a candle-lit chat with Feicui and exchange life.

Ignoring Zijian, he consulted Feicui and Linglong for their opinions respectively. The two beautiful girls, one old and one young, agreed wholeheartedly. Feicui took her to her house to help take care of her in the evening. Without any worries, Wang Ben agreed to Uncle Luo's help. Go to carry the dowry and ask to arrange a light one.

"Thank you," Uncle Luo looked at Wang Ben, then at Zijian, and was filled with joy and ready to leave.

"You guys?" Wang Ben muttered it once and immediately understood, smiling at Zijian beside him.

Zijian also reacted and asked hurriedly and anxiously: "Uncle Luo, um, I won't go, right?"

"If you want to go, Captain Liu has already agreed. Two of you will go," Uncle Luo said matter-of-factly.

"..." Zijian was like a frustrated ball, his head hanging in the air, his face as rotten as a bitter melon, and the proud look he had just now disappeared without a trace.

"Hahaha!" Wang Ben couldn't hold it back anymore and burst out laughing on the spot. What does it mean to make all the efforts go to waste, and what does it mean to be happy to break an egg? Zijian's behavior couldn't be more appropriate now.

The day passed quickly, and Zijian's work was in vain. He didn't get a chance to get along with Feicui at all. He didn't even say a few words. He didn't get any benefits, but instead created conditions for Wang Ben. It was really not worth the gain. , he did not come back the next day, and instead of giving up, he was going to Uncle Luo's house at noon to prepare to help carry the dowry.

According to the custom in Xiushui Bay and even in this area, on the first day of the wedding, all the people who help carry the dowry will have lunch at the groom’s house, rush to the woman’s house before dinner, take all the dowry back with the bride the next morning, and carry it back to the groom’s house. When you arrive at the groom's house before noon, the entire wedding ceremony is completed.

Help is help, but gifts still have to be given. Every family in Xiushui Bay that asks for a wife or daughter has the whole team invite them together, and there are dozens of tables at a time, making the banquet lively and lively.

Having learned the lesson from the first day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Ben didn't dare to be so high-profile anymore. He went to his parents' house on Tuesday to consult on how to give gifts, and finally chose to do the same as everyone else, giving him ten yuan, a few towels, and two porcelain basins. To give such a gift, you have to eat five meals at someone's home, from dinner on the day before the wedding to breakfast on the second day of the wedding. It's a great deal.

After handing Linglong over to Feicui and telling her to be obedient, he picked up a pole and a big rope and strolled towards Uncle Luo's house. There were too many poles and ropes needed to carry the dowry, and Uncle Luo's family couldn't prepare them. Rather than borrowing them from everywhere and not being able to tell who belongs to whom, it is better to bring your own. Zijian's father, Liu Changsheng, as the captain, is the commander-in-chief of this dowry, and this is what he explained.

In the courtyard of Uncle Luo's house, nearly fifty bamboo poles for carrying dowry have been prepared.

Knowing that the journey is long, it will not be easy to lift up. These bamboo poles have been cut down and dried in the sun for a period of time. They are neither as heavy as freshly cut ones nor as brittle as dried ones. They are very suitable for lifting things.

More than forty young adults who helped carry the dowry were all present. Basically, all the main labor force in Xiushui Bay who had not gone out to work were gathered. It was natural that Zhan Wu could not escape. It was indeed very rare for three best friends to come to help together. Apart from the previous Apart from helping each other harvest rice and drinking champagne, there are few opportunities like this.

"Everyone come around!"

Captain Liu Changsheng shouted, gathered everyone together and started to divide into groups. According to the dowry list reported by the woman's family, they were divided into groups of two. In the end, Zijian was assigned the task of lifting the table, and the big man Zhan Wu took on the important task. The main force was to lift the cabinets. After some negotiation, Wang Ben got an easy task - lifting the suitcases.

Among the entire dowry list, the footbath is the lightest, probably only about ten kilograms, but it has been divided between two younger people. Apart from the footbath, the suitcase is also the lightest, weighing almost twenty kilograms. Lifting the same thing was a task that Zijian originally wanted, but the one in the group was his dad, so he didn't dare to fight. In fact, the short table wasn't too heavy. Even if there were things placed on it, it would only weigh three to forty pounds at most. No problem at all.

After lunch, everyone started collecting gifts and getting ready to set off. After all, it was more than twenty miles away, so it was better to arrive early.

Every two bamboo poles were tied together, and long pieces of pork wrapped in red paper were hung on them. There were at least a dozen pieces hung on each two bamboo poles, and half of a whole pig was even hung directly on two of them. There are also dozens of chickens and ducks with feet wrapped in red paper hanging on two of them. In addition to various poultry meats on these bamboo poles, there are also baskets filled with tobacco, alcohol and candies.

The meat on the bamboo pole is commonly known as mother-in-law meat. Unlike other places where only a few kilograms or dozens of kilograms are given away, at least one pig is given as a gift in Xiushui Bay, and some even several pigs are given away. The dowry bearers carry it to the bride's house for use. A banquet is arranged, but now the bride's family usually has already prepared the wine and meat for the banquet, and most of them are used to transfer to relatives.

In order to prepare the mother-in-law's meat, Uncle Luo's family killed two pigs. They will have to kill two pigs for the banquet tomorrow. It is not easy to find a wife.

"let's go!"

Liu Changsheng said hello, and the matchmaker in new clothes got up first with an umbrella and walked at the front to lead the way. The dowry bearers carried the bride price and set off in order according to the group and the order of coming back tomorrow. Following closely behind the matchmaker, the groom Luo Zhiping walked at the end so that he could chase everyone's dogs along the way.

Walking on the country road, bamboo poles filled with poultry are arranged neatly. There are more than 20 poles, which are stretched out for nearly 100 meters. It is very spectacular. Whenever someone passes by, they can't help but stop and take a closer look. .

Swinging the bamboo pole on my shoulder, I talked and laughed all the way without feeling tired at all. Before I knew it, I walked for two hours and arrived at the woman’s house. I placed the poultry meat on the branch of the tree in the main room. Today I will Nothing happened, everyone sat around in the courtyard drinking tea, chatting and playing cards.

Although the banquet for marrying my daughter is tomorrow morning, there are already many guests and neighbors gathered at the bride's house, and it is very lively. From time to time, people come to smoke and pour water to say hello. They are very warm and thoughtful, but they don't recognize any of them.

"Benzi, how are we going to sleep at night?" Zijian came over and asked doubtfully,

"..." Wang hadn't really thought about this problem at all. He only agreed to help. Now that he suddenly mentioned it, his heart suddenly tightened and he frowned unconsciously.

The thing I have always been afraid of has come.