Who’s daring to sell things privately these days?
Those old won in the city with red armbands of security patrol around, and when their eyes spot strangers, it’s like they’re seeing an enemy. If sothing seems off, they focus right in.
And if so heartless person reports it, wouldn’t it claim Lao Han’s life? Even if Lao Han made a fuss in the village, folks couldn’t favor him excessively!
Others might play deaf and mute, but Zhang Tiezhu couldn’t!
Isn’t this causing trouble for an old brother? Ever since he was young, his own mother didn’t care for him, and when problems arose, his brothers fled far away. Who could be like Lao Han? Treating him more sincerely than a brother, even bringing piglets for him.
"Honey, what do you think we should do?"
Zhang Tiezhu said with a smile: "Leave Lao Han’s share alone! This at is for his brother-in-law. His nephew achieved great rit in the army, and the county is celebrating at ho, just waiting for this at to hold a banquet."
"Oh, I completely forgot about that. The Liu family is planning to find a bride for this promising grandson. If anyone has a suitable daughter at ho, they can try their luck; success ans they get fine grains. It’s a good match!"
The speaker was an old lady in the village, a well-known matchmaker in the vicinity. Warm-hearted, articulate, and honest in her deeds. In matchmaking, she never acted against her conscience for a bribe, consistently speaking truthfully. Yet, this love-hate relationship with the matchmaker left folks willing to ask her for marriage proposals.
Nine out of ten young n and won of Zhang Family Village were brought together by her, even families who already agreed wanted her as their matchmaker.
Like the marriages of Zhang Guoqing and his brothers were arranged by Aunt Zhang.
For Aunt Zhang’s character, not just locals, even Zhou Jiao trusted her information as genuine and credible. You should know she’s her mother-in-law’s best friend!
So now, anyone with an eligible girl at ho was intrigued, probing about the Liu family’s young guy. Like how old is he this year? Is he handso enough? What’s his monthly salary...
At this mont, who still cares about pork? Even if there’s no eligible girl at ho, isn’t there the maternal family? The elder folks think of their granddaughters, and young won like Qingshan’s wife think of their nieces.
People didn’t discuss too blatantly in front of everyone, fearing if it doesn’t work out, reputation might be hard. So they asked discreetly, bit by bit.
Aunt Zhang, having been a matchmaker for so many years, how could she not know the intricacies here? Hence she volunteered all her known information without waiting for more questions.
Zhang Tiezhu watched and smiled satisfyingly. With this explosive news, who would rember the earlier events? To prevent these old won from gossiping indiscriminately, in the end, he offered ten pounds of at.
Don’t underestimate ten pounds of at; in the city, even with at coupons, it’s over eighty cents a pound. In the village, besides not getting labeled and criticized, the friendly price is one yuan a pound, and he generously offered fatty pork belly, truly paining Zhang Tiezhu this old man!
Don’t be fooled by these old won and young wives yelling to let Aunt Tiezhu share so. Yet when it cos to truly buying, they timidly only buy about half a pound, stretching it for several als to please their family.
Without a special guest, not during major festivals, who would buy more? Even if you grit your teeth to buy, rumors would spread she’s a spendthrift. Many families only get twenty yuan as year-end bonuses.
Imagine a woman buying a few pounds at such a price; which family can afford it? Worse, in the future, her children might be shunned for having a greedy elder. People fear their daughters being married to generous husbands catering to their family’s habit.
Zhou Jiao understood this, so she didn’t plan to buy at, just joined for fun. Thus, when Aunt Tiezhu tied a whole pound of fatty pork with straw, handing it directly to her, it was no less than a ti bomb, shocking her deeply.
Could it be she’s taking her mother’s mantle, becoming a spendthrift wife?
Facing Aunt Tiezhu’s continued cheerful face, persistently tying the straw to her finger, Zhou Jiao silently accepted, taking out one yuan to hand over.
Aunt Tiezhu slapped away her right hand, feigning anger: "Do you look down on Auntie? If I took your money, what kind of person would I be?"
Zhou Jiao hurriedly said, looking helpless: "Auntie, please don’t say that. How much hard work goes into raising such a pig? If it were the vegetables from your garden, I might shalessly accept it."
As she spoke, she pushed money into the other’s pocket. Oh dear, it’s patched; would pushing and pulling tear the clothes? Seeing refusal, she was on the verge of tears, realizing so happenings are better left untouched!
"Don’t push! How much ga did we eat thanks to Xiao Wu’s hunting? Years ago, had you two not given nurous food stamps to the canteen, would Old Zhang Family still live well today? You’re embarrassing Auntie!"
"Yeah, from Xiao Wu’s family, take your money back! Don’t hesitate with Aunt Tiezhu! We haven’t recovered yet, otherwise, we’d have definitely treated you two young ones."
"Exactly, all thanks to those kids! Had it not been for Xiao Wu organizing the village’s clinic, who knows how many people we would’ve lost over the years? Thanks to the brown sugar, I didn’t miss counting my grandkids."
"Sigh...don’t even ntion those years, anxiety-ridden. Take it, kid. It’s not Auntie being polite, your brother’s wedding cloth tickets were Xiao Wu’s effort. If I take your money, could I still face living in this village?"
Seeing the famous stingy old lady refuse firmly, Zhou Jiao put away the money, chuckling: "If Auntie says so, I won’t be reserved."
"That’s right! Love your straightforwardness! Bring the kids early tomorrow, Auntie will save atballs for you!"
Zhou Jiao nodded happily, but the weight of the pound of pork belly was overwhelming. To Aunt Tiezhu who even cried over wasted pig’s blood, how deep was this affection?
To the villagers, it’s a couple who have given so much, always looking for peace of mind, without expecting returns. Yet this return erges right before their eyes...
Who said uneducated old farrs are less than intellectuals?
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