The next day, on the 29th of the lunar new year, Xin Ruan had originally planned to buy some gifts for the Chinese New Year. Tomorrow, she had to go home to celebrate the New Year's Eve, and during the Spring Festival, she had to visit relatives to pay New Year's greetings. Even if she was tight, she couldn't go empty handed. Before she could leave, someone came to her door again at ninety o'clock and brought a bunch of New Year's gifts, claiming that it was instructed by Mr. Pei.
The New Year's gift covers the needs from childhood to old age, including food, health products, electronic products, etc., and is meticulous and thoughtful.
Xin Ruan looked at the pile of things and felt blood dripping in her heart: Pei Zhaoyang had good intentions, but her current financial situation couldn't support such extravagance. She didn't have a few thousand yuan left in her account, so why bother filling it up with a big shot.
The phone rang, and Xin Ruan saw that it was Pei Zhaoyang.
Is the New Year's gift enough? I bought about twenty or thirty pieces
Enough, enough, "Xin Ruan said repeatedly, afraid that Pei Zhaoyang would buy again," I'll call you how much it costs
Pei Zhaoyang fell silent for a while before calmly saying, "Do you have to be so conspicuous? We're already married
Even if you get married, you can't spend your money recklessly, "Xin Ruan insisted." If you don't take money, then I can't take it
Okay, let me settle the bill with you, "Pei Zhaoyang changed the topic." You bought me a blanket and covers, and I stayed at your house for several nights. I have to continue living there in the future. How much do I have to pay you
Xin Ruan hesitated and defended, "That's not as much money as you spent
I stayed at a hotel for about two to three thousand a night, which is equivalent to two to three thousand in ten days. How can it not compare to these New Year's gifts? "Pei Zhaoyang retorted.
Two or three thousand one night... "Xin Ruan weakly stroked her forehead," Do you think my home is a five-star luxury suite
To be honest, no, "Pei Zhaoyang said calmly," it satisfies me more than a seven star luxury suite
Xin Ruan language barrier.
Continuing the discussion will not yield any results. She decided not to mention it and planned to give Pei Zhaoyang a gift with similar options in the future.
Just as he was about to hang up the phone, Pei Zhaoyang cleared his throat and asked, "By the way, after all these years of etiquette, are you lacking in labor
Xin Ruan was momentarily stunned, her heart pounding with excitement.
What does he mean? Is it implying a desire to visit the public?
After hesitating for a moment, she pretended to be foolish and said, "Nowadays, there are ride hailing services available, which are very convenient and do not lack labor
There was a silence on the receiver, and after a while, Pei Zhaoyang said "Oh" and hung up the phone.
Xin Ruan feels a little guilty.
It can be seen that no matter what the ultimate goal is, at this moment, Pei Zhaoyang sincerely wants to maintain this inexplicable marriage with her. However, the honey like experience in the previous paragraph gave her an indescribable fear of the words "marriage" and "husband", and she could never have entered a new relationship so quickly no matter what.
Just quietly living a small life in her own world, Pei Zhaoyang came whenever she wanted, and no one knew about this second marriage, so no one would mock her for possible future failures.
Xin Zhenshan's hometown is located in the suburbs of a satellite city in Ji'an, with beautiful scenery but poor and backward conditions. In the past two years, roads have been built in the village, and there are also people with unique vision who are developing homestay tourism here, gradually showing some signs of development.
At the age of thirty, Xin Zhenshan drove for three to four hours and brought his family back to his hometown to begin the annual New Year's greetings.
Last year, when Xin Zhenshan returned, it could be said that it was very beautiful. Xu Fangfang drove two cars over, with the trunk full of New Year's gifts. Even unrelated people in the village sent two boxes of imported chocolates to each person.
The mountain village is very closed off. When the car drove in, many unnamed villagers came over to join the fun and kept asking, "Zhenshan, where's your son-in-law? Why didn't you come with us this time
Xin Zhenshan laughed all the way, and Lin Zhi maintained an awkward smile. However, Xin Ruan calmly replied, "If we get divorced, of course we won't come with us
The surroundings finally became quiet.
The New Year's Eve dinner was eaten at the village hall. There were many uncles and aunts in the village, with a total of three tables of people. Xin Zhenshan was the youngest and most successful, sitting with Xin Ruan's grandparents.
While eating, the grandparents asked every detail about the past year. Finally, the grandfather sighed and said, "Your wife is a virtuous wife, and our family is well managed. The only downside is that we don't have a son
Lin Zhi's face changed, but she still managed to squeeze out a smile in response.
Xin Fei was a little angry and rolled her eyes, muttering softly, "Feudalism, what's wrong with not having a son? What kind of throne do you want to inherit
Xin Ruan glanced at them and admired the stepmother's flexibility, perhaps because Lin Zhi's family background was not very good and she was also a nurse. She had actively pursued Xin Zhenshan in the beginning, and from any perspective, she could be considered a high achiever of Xin Zhenshan. However, she couldn't get tough and often helped with various tasks when she returned to her hometown.
So, the grandparents always thought that this second daughter-in-law was filial and liked Lin Zhi very much, but they always looked down on the deceased daughter-in-law who didn't touch the spring water.
After three rounds of drinking, the men were all red faced and practicing martial arts, while the daughters started gossiping and playing. The grandfather knocked on the dry tobacco bag in his hand and began to educate the younger generation at the drinking table: "Zhenshan, just being successful is not enough. Even daughters need to be educated and educated well. How could we get divorced? This is too embarrassing for our family. In my opinion, every girl's family is like a family. What's the use of studying and drawing? Taking care of her husband, taking care of her parents in law, and having a child with peace of mind is what makes a good wife. Xiao Ruan must be like her mother. She doesn't even help her when the oil bottle is spilled. Can my husband be happy
Dad! "Xin Zhenshan exclaimed unhappily," If you don't know the situation, don't talk nonsense
Do you understand that protecting her is harming her? "Grandpa firmly sneered," Just like the wealthy daughter-in-law who used to protect you, she has no future
Grandpa, "Xin Ruan's voice was calm, but beneath this suppressed calmness, there was a sharp edge hidden." You should go out of the village more often and see that the world is different from before. Getting divorced doesn't mean being divorced, there's nothing to lose face about. Moreover, everyone has their own strengths. Even if my mother spilled an oil bottle, she wouldn't help her, and she's still an excellent woman than many others. Can you please stop criticizing her in front of her daughter? It's too impolite and uncivilized
The people at the table were all stunned.
Xin Ruan has always been kind and gentle, and has never been so sharp in refuting the words of elders, let alone on such an important occasion as the New Year's Eve dinner.
Grandpa was so angry that he knocked the dry tobacco bag on the table and said sternly, "Zhenshan, you raised a good daughter
Xin Zhenshan frowned and gave Xin Ruan a reproachful look, saying, "Xiao Ruan, how did you speak? Apologize to Grandpa quickly
Sorry grandpa, sometimes the truth can hurt a bit, "Xin Ruan tugged at the corner of her mouth and smiled." Grandpa, you said I don't care about anything, but don't talk about my mom
Alright, alright, "Grandma quickly came to mediate as the dinner party was about to fall out." Don't say a word during Chinese New Year, your grandfather is also doing it for your own good
Xin Fei, who had just been looked down upon, was relieved and said with a smile, "To be honest, even if my sister gets divorced, she is still better than many people. Her grandmother has a small building worth tens of millions, which was given to her in minutes
The others present took a deep breath and looked at Xin Ruan in disbelief.
Millions... "Grandma muttered enviously, then sighed again," Sigh, even tens of millions, we have to get married. Is it difficult to live alone for a lifetime? I'm going to be laughed to death
Xin Fei still wanted to defend herself, but Xin Ruan was happy and tugged at her clothes to signal her not to say anymore.
These people's thinking may still be stuck in a long, long time ago, unable to communicate.
Lin Zhi also tried to smooth things out on the side: "Dad, Mom, don't worry. After the New Year, Zhenshan and I will make a name for ourselves. We are all concerned about Xiao Ruan's situation
The atmosphere became slightly warmer with some effort, and the aunt across the street also joined in, saying that she had relatives in the city and would help ask if there was a suitable partner when the time came.
Xin Ruan felt suffocated as she listened, so she found an excuse to sneak out the door.
The weather is not cold, and the air in the countryside is particularly fresh. In the almost dark night sky, a few stars twinkle, and in the distance, there are continuous distant mountains with shadows, far and clear, which is a world of difference from the neon lit night scene in Jinan.
Occasionally, the sound of children playing and firecrackers could be heard in the ears, and the entire village exuded an ancient and rustic atmosphere.
There are both good and bad things in everything, although simple, their thoughts are also imprisoned and easily unshakable.
Just now, there was a moment when she regretted not agreeing to Pei Zhaoyang's request to work as a laborer. If Pei Zhaoyang had come with her, she might have been able to silence these people and not involve her mother.
But on second thought, what's so rare about that? Has she not learned enough lessons yet? Relying on a man to make others admire and envy him, what else will she have left when that man leaves one day?
The phone vibrated and the text message indicated that there was a new message.
WeChat is now popular for New Year greetings, and apart from some merchants, no one uses SMS anymore.
She spoke with a lack of interest and her eyes suddenly froze.
This is an unfamiliar number, with long and irregular digits and only a few words: Xiao Ruan, Happy New Year.
She held her breath for two seconds, trembled her fingers and typed a few words before sending them over: Xu Cube, is that you?
No response.
Her throat seemed choked up by something, and she suddenly felt like crying uncontrollably.
The sudden ringing of the phone pulled Xin Ruan out of that sorrowful and self destructive state of mind.