Third Master Yan Bugui brought over a large crucian carp.
Though it was not as big as the carp Lin Zhen had given him before, it was enough to surprise him.
Yan Bugui, the stingiest man in the entire courtyard, had actually brought someone a gift.
In the more than six years since Lin Zhen had arrived in this world, aside from weddings and funerals, this was the first time he had ever seen such a thing.
The fish was not big, but it made Lin Zhen reconsider his opinion of Old Yan.
"Ha ha ha, Third Master, how big was your haul that you even brought us a fish?"
"Eh, not much, not much. Enough for the New Year. It's cold in winter, so fish are easy to catch."
"Fine, then I'll take it. Now that you mention it, I want to go fishing next week too."
"Heh heh, when I asked you to come this time, you wouldn't. I've already caught all the fish."
Lin Zhen asked curiously, "Just how much did you catch? Look how happy you are."
"Ha ha, enough anyway. No more chatting—I need to hurry and help your Third Mistress clean up."
Lin Zhen had just taken the fish when Jia Zhangshi came back from outside.
Seeing Yan Bugui give Lin Zhen a fish, she rolled her eyes and muttered, "He caught more than ten jin and only gave away one fish. He's happy like he found gold!"
Though her voice was low, Lin Zhen heard every word clearly.
So Third Master had returned long ago, with more than ten jin of fish and shrimp altogether.
Mainly because no one went fishing by the lake in winter, he and his son had gotten lucky.
But Lin Zhen did not care whether he gave more or less. His family was not short on a few fish.
The fact that stingy Yan Bugui had brought one to his door was already rare enough.
He was not the sort of person who greedily schemed over every little thing. If he wanted fish, he could buy some or go fishing by the lake himself.
He certainly would not resent Third Master for being stingy just because of Jia Zhangshi's muttering.
"Wife, next week I'll take all of you fishing too!"
Lou Xiao'e smiled and said, "With just one bicycle, can you carry the five of us?"
"Ha, isn't that easy? Tomorrow I'll apply for bicycle coupons, and we'll each ride one."
Lou Xiao'e said with some concern, "Several families in our courtyard don't even have bicycles. First Elder, the Jia family, and Silly Zhu don't have one. If our family buys two at once, won't that be too conspicuous?"
"What's there to fear? Silly Zhu and First Elder can afford them but choose not to buy. Jia Dongxu does not have the chance to ride one even if he wants to. We're properly exchanging coupons for them, so there's no need to worry. When you start working at the neighborhood office next year, you'll definitely need a bicycle."
After thinking it over, Lou Xiao'e said, "Then you ride the new one, and I'll ride the old one. That'll keep people from gossiping."
"Ha ha, fine. You're just too cautious."
As they were chatting, Lin Guo and Lin Jia came running back from outside.
"Dad, Mom, Aunt Qin is here."
A figure flashed past, and Qin Jingru entered the Siheyuan.
When her parents had come yesterday, not only had they failed to find out Xu Damao's background, they had even gone home red-faced after causing a scene.
After getting home, Qin Jingru had clamored about going to the city.
"If I marry Damao, his monthly wages will be several dozen yuan, and he often goes to the countryside to show movies and earn extra money. That's much better than earning those few work points in the production team. Don't stop me—I'm going to the city!"
"Jingru, we want you to go to the city too, but we're afraid you'll end up like your sister—marrying a man like that and getting a mother-in-law like that. If your sister hadn't made the wrong choice back then, she wouldn't be suffering so much now."
"Damao isn't Jia Dongxu. He treats me very well! Besides, my parents are back in our rural hometown, so they can't control me."
"But once you go, it'll be for life. You have to think it through. Once the arrow leaves the bow, there's no turning back."
"Oh, just don't worry! I'm not a child anymore. Hurry up and pack my things. Once Damao and I get our marriage certificate, I'll bring him back and let the people in the village see whether my sister's man is better or mine is!"
The next day, filled with anticipation for city life, Qin Jingru boarded a long-distance bus to the city.
It was not even three in the afternoon when she arrived at the Siheyuan.
"Oh! Qin Jingru is here. You've come to get your marriage certificate with Xu Damao?"
Qin Jingru smiled. "Lin Zhen, you really do see things clearly. We're going to the Civil Affairs Bureau first thing tomorrow morning!"
"Then where are you staying tonight?"
"Staying... staying... ha, anyway, I have somewhere to stay!"
Xu Damao was inside cracking peanuts and melon seeds while idly listening to the radio.
The moment he saw Qin Jingru at the door, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
He was so delighted that he immediately jumped to his feet.
"Jingru? Is it really you?"
Qin Jingru said proudly, "Yes. Not happy to see me?"
Xu Damao grinned. "I'd welcome you even in my dreams. Heh heh heh, so it's settled this time?"
"Yes. My parents said that once I got here, we'd get our marriage certificate. Marry me."
"Fine! It's not even five yet. Let's go right away."
"It's Sunday. The Civil Affairs Bureau isn't open. What's the rush? We'll go tomorrow morning."
Xu Damao slapped his forehead. "Hey, I forgot it was Sunday. How about this? The factory's showing a movie tonight. I'll take you out to have some fun."
"Then where am I staying tonight?"
"At your home. This is your home now!"
Qin Jingru said bashfully, "But we haven't gotten our marriage certificate yet. What if Silly Zhu reports us?"
Xu Damao said angrily, "That bastard! Don't worry about him. I'll get Second Elder to write us a certificate first. Then we won't have to fear him."
Qin Jingru said happily, "Mm! Then I'm relieved!"
The two of them laughed and chatted, never mentioning the Jia family.
Qin Huairu was inside coaxing Huai Hua to sleep.
Bang Geng and Xiao Dang hurried back.
Jia Zhangshi frowned. "Oh, my little ancestors, slow down. Don't trip and hurt yourselves."
Bang Geng said breathlessly, "Mom, my little aunt is here!"
"What? When did she get here?"
"She arrived a while ago. Lin Guo told me. She's in the back courtyard chatting happily with Xu Damao right now!"
Jia Zhangshi clapped her hands in anger. "See? She doesn't treat you like family at all!"
Qin Huairu was angry as well. Frowning, she said, "If Xu Damao marries your little aunt, he'll be your little uncle-in-law. Don't call him Xu Damao anymore."
Bang Geng nodded. "Mm. Little Aunt brought lots of things too—peanuts, sweet potatoes, and so on."
Jia Dongxu said, "Go take a look. If they don't acknowledge us as relatives, we won't give them a wedding gift."
Qin Huairu nodded, put on an outer layer, and went out.
When she reached the back courtyard, Xu Damao and Qin Jingru were sitting at the door cracking melon seeds, chatting and laughing.
"When did you get here?" Qin Huairu asked coldly.
"A while ago," Qin Jingru answered just as coldly.
"Why didn't you come see me?"
"You drove me out, so I had no face to go back. Yesterday, my parents were driven out too."
"Whether you were driven out or not, we're sisters. Are you going to cut ties with me?"
Qin Jingru curled her lip and took out a bag of unshelled peanuts. "Our uncle asked me to bring these to you. I'm not going to your house, so take them back yourself."
"When are you getting married?"
"Tomorrow. But Damao said getting married is something to make ourselves happy. We can't spend money making other people happy, so there won't be a wedding banquet."
Qin Huairu sighed, accepted the peanuts, and turned to leave.
Watching Qin Huairu's retreating back, Xu Damao said coldly, "Jingru, remember this: after we're married, you're not allowed to help the Jia family. They're a bottomless pit. I won't be like Silly Zhu. I'll be like Lin Zhen—have four sons and live a life above everyone else!"
Before you continue