Spring comes to the desperate place

Chapter 137 Returning

The newlyweds will be served tea the morning after they enter the house. Some poor and particular families will even ask the newlyweds to go to the kitchen early the next morning and cook a table of dishes for the in-laws.

However, the Song family does not have this rule. Song Qin told Song Chunsheng early in the morning that it didn't matter if he got up late the next day. The others were also tired after a long day yesterday, so no one got up early this morning.

Grandpa Song and Amao Song were old and slept less, so they got up early. They were both diligent. One went to the kitchen and the other went to the backyard. When the others got up, Amao Song had already cooked a big pot of red date millet porridge and heated up steamed buns. Grandpa Song had also fed all the livestock in the backyard.

Zhou Ning got up late on the first day of his marriage. He got up in a hurry, but the moment he got out of bed, his body froze and he sat back on the bed with a grin. When Song Chunsheng came out after washing up, he was glared at by his new husband.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Song Chunsheng didn't dare to look him in the eye. He walked up to him with his head lowered and pulled him up from the bed.

Zhou Ning exclaimed: "What are you doing in broad daylight?"

Song Chunsheng knew that he had misunderstood, and instead of explaining, he carried his blushing little husband into the bathroom and taught him how to use the bathing facilities in the room.

When the young couple walked out of the new house, it was already the end of the morning hour. Ordinary farmers had already gotten up to work by this time. Seeing the big family sitting in the main room waiting for him, Zhou Ning felt a little uneasy. It was over, he would be regarded as a lazy guy. It was all Song Chunsheng's fault. He did it even though he told him not to, and made him so tired that he overslept.

The young couple served tea to the whole family and received red envelopes. Zhou Ning also prepared gifts for the four children, all of which were embroidery items she made herself. The three of them were very happy. Song Qin took the small bellyband and looked at it over and over again.

"The child is thoughtful and her embroidery is good."

Zhou Ning felt a little better after receiving praise from her mother-in-law.

Breakfast is relatively simple, millet porridge with steamed buns, and the side dish is a large plate of deep-fried lotus root and garlic spare ribs. These two things are a bit greasy to eat in the morning, but lotus root is still a rare vegetable here. Yesterday, the Song family fried hundreds of kilograms of lotus root in one go, and they have all been eaten and distributed. These are specially kept by Aunt Song for her family to eat.

Zhou Ning had never eaten lotus root before, and he knew it was not cheap, so he just tasted a piece and stopped eating, only eating the pickles.

Seeing that he didn't pick up any food, Song Chunsheng simply picked up a full bowl for him, which was full of lotus root and pork ribs. Zhou Ning didn't dare to look up to see the reactions of others, and only whispered to Song Chunsheng: "That's enough, you can't finish it anymore."

Song Chunsheng didn't care: "If you can't finish it, give it to me. Fill your stomach first."

At this time, Song Dazhuang also spoke up: "That's right, Chunsheng has an appetite like a cow, you should eat more. You look so thin. Ask your grandfather to make more nourishing soup for you later. You will gain weight and look good and festive."

Zhou Ning quickly refused: "No, how can I trouble an elder to make soup for me?"

"What's the big deal? It just so happens that your mother is still pregnant, so you should also take some supplements. I knew you were weak when I first saw you. If you are strengthened, it will be good for our family to have more children."

Even Song Chunsheng, who was thick-skinned, felt a little embarrassed when his elders teased him about having children at the dinner table, and his new husband blushed so much that blood looked like it could drip out.

Song Qin smiled and helped them out: "Okay, stop talking about this, eat quickly, after eating you still have to return the borrowed tables and chairs."

Most rural people have to borrow things when preparing for a banquet. It was too late yesterday, and the dishes were just thrown there after being washed. Today, they have to sort them out and return the things one by one.

Zhou Ning originally wanted to help, but Song Chunsheng pulled him to Song Qin's side. Song Qin smiled and asked him to support her, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went to the warehouse together.

Song Qin pointed at the things in the warehouse and asked Zhou Ning to take out a piece of pork, a basket of eggs, a bag of tea and a bottle of good wine. These were gifts for Zhou Ning.

"Mom, are these all for the return visit?"

Song Qin thought it was not enough, so she pointed out a few more snacks and asked Zhou Ning to put them into the basket.

Zhou Ning hesitated a little: "Mom, this gift is too expensive. Ordinary people don't have such a grand ceremony when they return home. Besides... I haven't decided whether to go back or not."

Song Qin knew that after what happened, he had become estranged from the Zhou family and was not willing to associate with the Zhou family, so she pulled him back to the main room, sat down and had a serious talk with him.

"Ning'er, the return gift is so expensive, it's also our private message. You should know that the return gift not only represents the face of your natal family, but also represents the importance of your in-laws to you. Although you lost your parents at a young age and no one will welcome you when you return, Ning'er, your grandparents are still here. Even if your two uncles are bastards, they don't know anything after all. Moreover, if you don't even go to pay respects to your elders, how will the gossipy women in the village talk about you and our Song family? If others don't know the whole story, they will think that our Song family and you are both barbarians who don't know etiquette."

"Brother Ning, this time our gift is not to forgive anyone, nor to curry favor with anyone, but to tell others that the Zhou family is unkind, but you cannot be unfilial. Although it is aggrieved, this is the way of the world. They will not be lenient with you just because you are young and a junior. They will only be more strict with you, just because they have the word "elder". "

During dinner in the evening, Grandpa Song also mentioned it specifically.

"Chunsheng, accompany Ning Ge'er to his parents' home tomorrow. Get up early and come back after giving the gifts. We are waiting for you to have dinner at home, okay?"

Song Chunsheng agreed, and after being persuaded by Song Qinshi, Zhou Ning did not object. So the next day, Song Chunsheng drove the carriage with Zhou Ning back to her parents' home.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhou had just gotten up from bed when they heard a young man from the neighborhood knocking on the door, saying that Song Chunsheng had returned with Zhou Ning.

Grandma Zhou almost jumped out of bed. She put on some clothes at random and walked out the door. Aunt Zhou was standing in the yard with her hands on her hips, cursing.

"That little bitch has the nerve to come back? Humph, he caused his uncle to go to jail, and he still has the nerve to come back?"

Grandma Zhou almost fainted after hearing this: "Old man, watch your mouth. Are you yelling here about whether breakfast is ready? My son is not at home. Do you want to starve us two old people to death?"

Seeing that Grandma Zhou had already gotten up, Aunt Zhou knew that Grandpa Zhou must have gotten up as well. Although she was not convinced, she still went to cook obediently. However, she continued to curse. Grandma Zhou could not hear what she said, but she could guess that it was not something good.

Thinking of this unreliable son and daughter-in-law, Grandma Zhou felt a tightness in her chest. She pounded her chest, but still did not forget to chase them to the kitchen to wish them well.

"It's from the old family. Cook a little more and take out the knife of meat you bought the other day and cut it. It's the first day that the new son-in-law comes to our house. We don't want anyone to look down on us."

When she heard that she had to cut the meat, Aunt Zhou refused to do it, and her shrill voice echoed throughout the Zhou family.

"They still want to eat meat. Bah! Don't think I don't know because I'm a peasant woman. It must be the work of the Song family. Oh my God, please judge for yourself. It's bad enough that the enemy shows off at their doorstep, but they also want me, their poor owner, to cook for them. They are such conscienceless bastards. My family finally bought a piece of meat, but they want to feed that ungrateful bastard. Oh my god, life is unbearable."

"From the old family." Grandpa Zhou finally couldn't stand it anymore. He stood at the kitchen door and shouted at Aunt Zhou who was throwing a tantrum: "If you don't want to cook, get out of our Zhou family. If it weren't for the fact that you have helped our Zhou family to expand over the years, I would have divorced you on behalf of the old man long ago!"

When Aunt Zhou heard the old man threaten to divorce her, she finally fell silent. However, she was still not convinced and was very slow in cooking. She even took out the piece of meat and put it on the chopping board without touching it at all.

Grandma Zhou originally wanted to go upstairs to work by herself, but Song Chunsheng and Zhou Ning had already arrived at the door, so the old couple hurried out to greet them.

Song Chunsheng followed Zhou Ning and called the two grandpa and grandma, and then stopped talking and just focused on unloading the things from the carriage.

Looking at the two large baskets full of return gifts, Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Zhou were so happy that their faces were about to break. The neighbors nearby also looked at them with envy.

Among the gifts Song Chunsheng brought was a big fat chicken with its feet tied. Song Chunsheng picked up the chicken and threw it directly to the ground. He moved all the other gifts into Grandpa Zhou’s room. Aunt Zhou wanted to go and see, but Grandma Zhou glared at her. She had just been frightened by her father-in-law, so she dared not say anything. She just felt extremely jealous of the gifts that she only glanced at.

Of course Grandma Zhou knew what she was thinking and shook her head helplessly. It was also their fault for not judging her well at the beginning. If they had known that their eldest daughter-in-law was such a confused person, they would never let their eldest son marry her even if they were beaten to death.

The gifts prepared by the Song family were very rich. There was not only a big fat chicken, but also a ten-pound pork belly, tea and wine, and several packs of snacks. The snacks were from Qingxiangju in Beijing and were very expensive.

"That's thoughtful of you, Chunsheng. Come and sit down. You can have breakfast soon."

Song Chunsheng shook his head: "No need, Grandpa. We will go back after delivering the gifts. There is no need to cook."

Grandpa Zhou felt a little embarrassed after being rejected by his grandson-in-law. He wanted to say something else, but Song Chunsheng had already turned around and left with Zhou Ning, not even giving them room to stay.

Zhou Daya had been hiding in the house and had not gone out. When she heard the noise outside just now, she could not help but open the door and peek out through the gap. Looking at the tall and handsome Song Chunsheng, the silver hairpin on Zhou Ning's head, and the new clothes on his body, she cursed Zhou Ning in her heart, because in her eyes, everything Zhou Ning had now should be hers!

If it weren't for Zhou Ning, the jinx, blocking her way, she would be the one returning home in glory!

The more Zhou Daya thought about it, the angrier she became. Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she always had a high opinion of herself. There was no reason why she could be defeated by Zhou Ning in marriage. He was just a man, a skinny boy. How could it be easier to hug a sweet and soft girl like her? Thinking of this, Zhou Daya gave up. She pulled her collar, revealing her full chest vaguely, and walked out the door confidently.

But when she went out, she found no one in the yard. She looked into the main room and saw only Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Zhou sitting there. Grandma Zhou frowned when she saw her granddaughter's outfit.

"Where did you learn these brothel manners? You are so old, but you can't even put on clothes? Why don't you go back and put on your clothes properly? If outsiders come later, will you still have your reputation?"

Grandpa Zhou also glanced at her casually. He was already mad because Song Chunsheng and his wife refused to stay for dinner. Now, seeing his granddaughter's chest-revealing outfit, he was even more furious: "Go back to your room, you disgraceful thing. You only know how to play these crooked tricks all day long."

Zhou Daya was scolded and went into the house. Grandpa Zhou let out a sigh of relief, and Grandma Zhou was so uncomfortable that she covered her chest.

"Daya has been raised crooked. Look at her. What kind of girl from a good family would dress like that to meet her brother-in-law when he comes to visit? She looks at everyone like a fool. I wonder what she is thinking?"

"Forget it, she's not young anymore, just find a family to marry her off."

Grandpa Zhou became even angrier when he talked about this. Ever since his two sons were sent to prison, the news spread in the surrounding villages that they could not have any children. No matter which matchmaker they found, it would not work. The two of them regretted a lot for this. They regretted not restraining their two sons, which led to the current disaster.

After putting down the gifts, Song Chunsheng and Zhou Ning did not return to the Song family immediately. Instead, they drove to Zhou Ning's original yard. The yard had been cleaned up by Aunt Wang and her people. There was still some unused rice in the kitchen. Zhou Ning asked Song Chunsheng to take the food back, as leaving it here would just feed the rats anyway.

The couple cleaned the house inside and out, and burned a stick of incense for Zhou Ning's parents. Song Chunsheng asked Zhou Ning if there was anything else he wanted to take back. Zhou Ning looked at the place where he grew up. He didn't have many things over the years. Everything he could take away was taken away on the day of his wedding. What was left were some old furniture and a few old clothes that were no longer wearable.

"No, we've taken everything we can. Let's go back."

Song Chunsheng saw Zhou Ning's reluctance, so he gently put his arm around his shoulders and silently comforted him.

It was still early when the two of them rushed back to the Song family. Auntie Song hadn't started to cook lunch yet, so Zhou Ning naturally rolled up his sleeves and went to help. Song Chunsheng went to help cut potatoes. Last year, all the sweet potatoes on display in their home had been burned, so this year the family only planted potatoes and corn.

During the Chinese New Year, Song Chunlin discussed with Song Dazhuang that they planned to hire a few more people to help this year because Song Qin was about to give birth, and there would not be enough people at home to take care of the confinement and the newborn. Since they still had some money on hand, they might as well use it to hire a few more people to do the job so that their family could have a break.