CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 043 PERFECT BLACK-AND-WHITE MATCH

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Xie Jingyang, now looking back on the hardships of those years, feels grateful for the sacrifices the Third Brother made for the whole Xie family.

Actions speak louder than words.

At that time, Dad was constantly in meetings at the team site, becoming as thin as a rake, yet unable to leave. The eldest brother was useless, preoccupied with helping his wife whenever he had free time, forgetting that Mom had just given birth to a little sister and was suffering from postnatal complications.

Fourth brother Xie Jinggang, though three years older than Xie Jingyang, could only simply follow behind his second sister, helping to forage for wild greens, chop firewood, do laundry, and at other times, mostly just crying to Dad and Mom for food.

Everyone was starving. That feeling, he would never forget in his lifetime.

Therefore, the person he admires most in his heart is only the Third Brother, Xie Jingchen, who has always been wholly devoted to the family.

Hearing what Dad said now, Xie Jingyang quickly grasps his meaning and glancing at his older and younger sisters-in-law walking away, he immediately understands that his own wife must have caused some upset, bothering Mom.

Indeed, having lived with these women in his home for so many years, doesn’t he fully understand what they’re like? Even the wife who seems to devote herself wholeheartedly to him is shrewd.

But he’s in university right now, still a year from graduating; he just can’t be at home to keep an eye on her. Occasionally when he tells her off, it has no effect on her at all!

But let’s not talk about how the three brothers of the Xie family educate their wives by their sides. Let’s turn back to Zhang Shan Ni.

Xie Jingchen had boiled two pots of hot water, allowing her to wash her hair thoroughly and to take a bath. Looking at the color of her skin, every time Zhang Shan Ni saw it, she would feel intoxicated; the ability to nurture such skin, the original host truly had some skills.

Perfectly matched with contrasting tones~~!!!

Now with the weather being dry, after Zhang Shan Ni finished bathing, she swiftly washed both of their new clothes as they were thin and could dry overnight.

The next day, before dawn, Xie Jingchen got up early, suddenly standing beside the kang bed. In the dim morning light, his gaze fell directly on the young girl on the kang, only eighteen years old. After the banquet, she would officially become his wife.

Looking at her curled-up sleeping posture like a shrimp, he thought in his heart: in the future, he definitely needed to correct her sleeping posture; sleeping like that for even ten hours would still result in poor sleep quality.

Thinking that she would someday sleep by his side, Xie Jingchen finally comes to his senses, his face turns red, and he quietly takes his toiletries and leaves the room.

Half an hour after Xie Jingchen left, Zhang Shan Ni, feeling completely relaxed, finally fell asleep. When she woke up and looked over, there was no sign of the man by the bedside. Glancing at the mechanical watch in the space, she realized it was late, quickly got up, changed clothes, washed up, and left the room.

It was still early, but because Zhou Xiuhua had lost her temper last night, early this morning, whether it was the eldest sister-in-law, from Fourth’s or Fifth’s house, they all came early to the kitchen and started to busily prepare.

Zhang Shan Ni arrived not too late; at least her sisters-in-law had only gotten there a few minutes before her. After Zhou Xiuhua gave out the tasks that needed to be done, she pushed her daughter-in-law into her own room to continue with the tailoring.

Since Xie Jingchen had returned this time just to meet and not to directly have a wedding banquet, although the dowries were ready, nothing was done regarding the household necessities. Now that Zhang Shan Ni was skilled in these matters, Zhou Xiuhua naturally took out the cotton quilts she had prepared, letting her daughter-in-law take care of them herself.

Zhang Shan Ni did not object; after all, this was originally her responsibility, and she would feel uncomfortable if others interfered. Now that it was not the apocalypse, her slight obsession with cleanliness naturally surfaced.

At dawn, Xie Jingchen had already taken his brothers up the mountain to hunt. After eating breakfast, Mr. Xie also personally went to the village elders to invite them.

However, to Zhang Shan Ni’s surprise, at about three in the afternoon, Zhang Hongqiang came to visit with his wife and only son.

At the same time, seeing the two big red boxes they brought over, Zhang Shan Ni’s eyes instantly reddened.

Zhang Hongqiang was bringing her bridal dowry.

Due to the unexpectedness of Zhang Shan Ni’s marriage, Zhou Dahu had spent a great deal of effort the day before to gather two sets of big red cotton quilts, two suits of clothes, and daily necessities like water bottles, washbasins, towels, etc. Even Zhang Shan Ni, who had grown accustomed to the coldness, couldn’t help but feel moved.

This era was not like after the 90s, when you could get anything as long as you had money. Although the policy was better now and the economy more open, many resources were hard to gather in their impoverished mountain village.

With resources this scarce, sometimes even money could not buy them.

It typically took at least half a year to prepare for a wedding in a rural family, and what to prepare? Of course, it was the quilts and clothes that would be needed!

Poverty was one thing, but the lack of resources was the key.

"San Ni, don’t cry, you are getting married today. From now on, just think of yourself as Mrs. Xie of the Xie Family; don’t go back to Shanglin Village anymore," Zhou Dahu said firmly, holding Zhang Shan Ni’s hand.

She and Zhou Xiuhua knew each other well as they were both from the Zhou family. Although they were not blood-related, sharing a surname naturally brought them closer together. Moreover, because their respective husbands often interacted, the two got along quite well.

As for San Ni marrying into the Xie Family, Zhou Dahu felt relieved. Besides, in Qingfeng Village, Xie Laoer was an able man, a promising young fellow who was a good match for her San Ni.

Moreover, she was very familiar with the head of household, Zhou Xiuhua, and understood her temperament; therefore, both Zhang Hongqiang and Zhou Dahu, even Zhang Zhiming, were happy for Zhang Shan Ni.

"Uncle, auntie, Uncle Zhiming..." Zhang Shan Ni held Zhou Dahu’s aged hand, feeling for the first time that in this foreign era, she still had relatives. Combining the original host’s closeness with Zhang Hongqiang’s family, she decided she would sincerely treat them as her family from now on!

"Silly Ni, it’s a day of joy, no tears! Your aunt promised your grandmother to see you off in a grand wedding...

Your aunt is useless, only failing your grandmother’s expectations. Half of this dowry was prepared by your grandmother, the rest was collected by your Uncle Zhiming. Whether it was your grandparents or us, your aunt and uncle, we all hope you have a happy home. As for your parents, they have been given the upbringing silver, so there’s no need for further contact, understand?"

Zhou Dahu was really worried that the honest San Ni might have ongoing ties with Zhang Zhiguo’s family after some time. Therefore, she made sure to attend the wedding today. She felt it was better for her to say these words, even if it meant she would take the blame in the future for any ill words spoken; she wanted her naive and filially pious San Ni to start a new life.