The frame was ready in just a few days because they were rushing, which meant they had to say quite a few nice words to people and pay a bit more money. All in all, it cost each person about ten to twenty dollars, which was a lot cheaper than if they were to buy other things.
This gift was both prestigious and money-saving. It truly relieved the anxiety they’d been feeling for over half a year. mander Xu’s wedding had really driven them to worry. Thankfully, the problem was solved now, and they felt fortable eating, sleeping, and even going to the bathroom was smoother than usual.
Could it be that the rush had caused them to get upset, leading to some constipation?
A few of them carefully carried the frame back from outside. It was wrapped in cloth. To the uninformed, it would look like they were carrying something mysterious.
No sooner had they gotten the frame than Li Dongsheng decided to deliver the gift right away. It was not good to keep it at their place; it was better to hang it on the wall. What Qin Xiangyang said was right; they needed to send the gift early so that people could choose a spot to hang it. Otherwise, when the house was all tidied up, they couldn’t just leave it on the floor, right?
After dinner and rest, several of them agreed to carry the frame and deliver the gift. The frame was actually quite light, and one person could carry it. Yet, they insisted on four people, one at each corner. In fact, anyone exerting a little effort could lift it.
As for the four-piece bedding set, it was even easier. A child could carry it, let alone an adult. But they insisted on two people carrying it, ensuring that everyone was involved and no one was left out.
The group swaggered toward mander Xu’s place, each one with chests puffed out and heads held high, as if they had acplished great deeds.
"Knock, knock..."
Li Dongsheng knocked on the door.
Soon after, mander Xu indeed opened the door. Seeing it was Li Dongsheng and the others, he smiled, "What’s up, lads? Have you got some free time today? Want to clean for your mander? I haven’t had time to care for you kids lately with the uping wedding."
"Morning, mander. Morning, teacher."
The group of lads said in unison, their voices booming as if ringing a bell.
"Who’s there outside?" This time, a young woman came out. She had a pretty dignified and generous appearance. To Li Dongsheng and the others, her dignified and generous air was their impression of mander Xu’s wife, perhaps a pliment. She was just an ordinary person, but kind-hearted, and also a teacher, an intellectual. She taught at a primary school not far from here. She and the mander had known each other since childhood, a pair of childhood sweethearts. Her surname was Jin, and her name, easy to remember, was Jin Na.
"Good morning, Mr. Jin," the lads straightened their backs again, shouting out loudly.
Jin Na couldn’t help but let out a laugh, "You’re here! e on in, have a seat. Today, your sister-in-law has made dumplings for you."
At the mention of dumplings, the lads chuckled.
mander Xu was at his wits’ end and gave each a playful kick, "Well, aren’t you going to e in? Start by helping with cleaning. No one’s eating if you don’t finish sweeping."
"Alright," the young men really acted their age, full of playfulness. They put down the things and rolled up their sleeves to help clean.
mander Xu was sweeping the walls when he accidentally bumped into the frame that had been set aside.
"What’s this?" he put down his broom, recalling that the lads had brought this in. But as soon as they arrived, he had them help with cleaning, forgetting they had brought something with them.
"It’s a wedding gift for mander and Mr. Jin from us."
"Why spend the money? Take it back," mander Xu’s face sternened. "Being a student is most important. Keep your money for yourself and don’t spend it recklessly."
"Don’t worry, mander. It didn’t cost much," Li Dongsheng, quick-tongued and a show-off, pointed at Qin Xiangyang, who was busily wiping a corner of the wall. "It was Xiang Yang’s sister who made it herself. We just pitched in a little money for the frame, to hang on your wall for good luck."
"And this..." he pointed to a bag on the table, "is a pure cotton four-piece bedding set for mander and Mr. Jin to use on your bed. It’s also handmade by Xiang Yang’s sister. We didn’t contribute much to it."
Qin Xiangyang also raised his face, grinning at the mander, "mander, these things aren’t worth much. It’s all for a good omen. We really didn’t spend much. You’ll just have to treat us to more meat later."
mander Xu felt relieved at these words. He was worried that someone would take advantage of his wedding to make a profit, which would not reflect well.
After eating her large pot of dumplings, the lads were too stuffed to move and finally left. Thanks to their efforts, there was nothing left to clean in the house, and mander Xu also knew what he was lacking and what to buy for the wedding.
"What’s this?" Jin Na was about to wipe the table with a cloth when she noticed the large frame on the floor, which those young men had carried in. "What is it doing here? And what exactly is this thing?"
"I’m not sure; we haven’t opened it yet. It was handmade by one of the students’ sisters. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have really dared to accept it," mander Xu came over, and Jin Na immediately took the duster and patted the dust off him while teasing him.
"So, there’s something you’re afraid of?"
"Of course," mander Xu put on a straight face, "It’s to avoid setting a bad example. After all, I’m in charge of several hundred people here. We agreed not to take money. A small token, like a washbasin or something, is what brings us joy."
I feel the same way. Jin Na wasn’t the type to take advantage of others. They decided to have their wedding at the military base just for the joy of it, for everyone to sit together and have a meal, to have witnesses; it didn’t need to be extravagant.
"Thanks for understanding," mander Xu embraced his fiancée, feeling incredibly lucky to have met her in his lifetime. Marrying Jin Na was the most successful thing he’d done in his life.
"You always flatter me," Jin Na replied, her laugh causing her eyes to twinkle, her heart full of tenderness and delicacy, all of it bestowed to the man by her side.
"Let’s see what this is," Jin Na put down her cloth and walked over, squatting down to untie the red cloth covering it. However, she let out a loud gasp, almost startling mander Xu.
"What’s wrong? Did you get pricked?" He rushed over, his forehead breaking into a sweat.
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