064 – The Meal at the Relative’s House Is Not Delicious (2)
There were many people sitting in the house. Lei Dagang, his wife, two sons, eldest daughter-in-law, two grandsons and two granddaughters were all present. Almost all of them were in the house. There was also Lei Xiaofeng’s family. Lei Xiaofeng’s husband’s name was Wan Yangshu, their eldest daughter Wan Xiaoxiang was married, the only son Wan Yaozu married to Chen Shi, and the youngest daughter Wan Xiaorou was engaged and would marry in the fourth month of next lunar year. Lei Xiaoyun and Dong Daniu’s eldest son Dong Ying, second son Dong Xiong, eldest daughter-in-law Wang Shi and second daughter-in-law Xiao Wang were entertaining the guests. Several little mischievous kids were running around the house, creating disturbance.
Lei Xiaoyun, Lei Dagang, Lei Daqiang and Lei Xiaofeng were siblings. It was only today that Qin Mian identified all the relatives of Lei Daqiang.
With so many people in the central room, it seemed crowded. But fortunately, the central room was big enough that otherwise, it really would not fit.
Lei Daqiang and Lei Dagang still had nothing to say between them. They said two polite words indifferently and greeted others respectively. After the exchange of greetings, everyone in the room could finally be seated.A few gazes swept between Qin Mian and Lei Tie.
Qin Mian appeared to be unaware of it, sat quietly against the wall, folded his legs gracefully, and sipped a cup of hot tea from time to time.
Lei Tie, who had a poker face in the beginning, still had acted as if nothing had happened.
Not a while later, someone outside called out: “Come to catch pig!”
Several male guests got up to help or watch and the children also ran out to watch the bustling scene.
Qin Mian did not move, neither did Lei Tie.
Wei Shi said to Du Shi: “Sister, why don’t we go to the kitchen to help.”Du Shi said scornfully: “No need to tell me, say it to the old man. How would he know you’re diligent if you don’t say it to him?”
Wei Shi was neither hurt nor angry, “Sister, are you angry with me? Strictly speaking, between you and me, you are closer to eldest sister, but it turns out I’m wrong. Since sister doesn’t instruct, I dare not move.”
Du Shi suddenly stood up. “Are you saying that I’m lazy?”
Wei Shi apologized: “Sister really misunderstood me. Well, I’ll go out and have a look.” With that, she departed.
Lei Tie suddenly spoke in low voice: “Du Shi is too weak.”
Qin Mian understood what he meant — Once Wei Shi completely suppressed Du Shi, Wei Shi might keep an eye on them both.
But he was not worried about this. He nudged his chin towards Lei Xiangzhi, who quietly frowned at Wei Shi’s back. “Fifth brother won’t let Du Shi suffer.”
Among the Lei brothers, Du Shi loved Lei Xiangzhi the most and Lei Xiangzhi was also the most filial to Du Shi. It was impossible for Lei Xiangzhi to watch Du Shi be restrained by Wei Shi. Once Du Shi was guided by Lei Xiangzhi, her “combat effectiveness” would be comparable to that of Wei Shi’s. Therefore, Du Shi’s weakness was only temporary and her “struggle” with Wei Shi’s would continue on.
Dong Wei came over, “What are Cousin Tie and Brother Mian talking about? It’s boring to wait in the house. Shall I take you two out for a walk?”
Qin Mian looked at the courtyard. There were a lot of people crowded there. In the corner was the pigsty. Several big men gathered around to catch a pig. The pig of nearly 200 Jin was running around in the pigsty, incessantly whining. The sound was piercing to the ears. He nodded to Dong Wei casually.
They went out of the courtyard and walked along the village road.
In winter, everywhere in the village was a piece of withered land, thus there was no beautiful scenery. The three unintentionally went to a pond. Several withered and yellowed lotus stalks stood upright in the clear water, short and long, presenting loneliness. Occasionally, when a gust of wind blew, the water surface fluctuated slightly.
Dong Wei stopped and said with a smile, “Cousin Tie, I heard from my mother that you’ve opened a restaurant in the town. Presumably the business must be good.”
Lei Tie said: “Satisfactory.”
Dong Wei said: “Congratulations to Cousin Tie. I hope you can make a fortune. I heard there are five staffs in your shop?”
Lei Tie nodded.
Qin Mian thought that Dong Wei would ask them to arrange for him to go to the shop to help. However, Dong Wei just smiled and changed the subject, “There is a rock at the back of our village that rolled down from the mountain a few years ago. It’s very strange in shape and quite famous close by. I’ll take you two to see it.”
Qin Mian and Lei Tie took a look at each other. They did not know what he was planning and followed after him.
After seeing the rock, the trio slowly went back. Dong Wei did not talk about the shop anymore, but only talked about some unimportant matters.
As soon as Lei Xiaoyun saw her youngest son, she tipped him with a wink.
Dong Wei sent Qin Mian and Lei Tie into the central room and went out again.
Lei Xiaoyun pulled him aside and asked quietly: “Did Lei Tie agree to let you work in the shop?”
Dong Wei hugged his chest and leaned lazily, “I didn’t ask.”
Lei Xiaoyun was taken aback and poked him with her finger, “You child, didn’t I tell you–”
Dong Wei interrupted her, “Mother, don’t worry. I’ve a plan.”
“What is your plan? If you can work in your Cousin Tie’s shop, you can get at least 600~700 Wen a month.” Lei Xiaoyun said unhappily and somewhat frustrated. As a matter of fact, she knew her son’s virtue in her heart. He had taken a lot of bad habits from the prison that his whole person also changed a lot. When he first came back, she almost could not recognize him. But after all, he was a piece of meat that fell from her body. How could she not worry? The son of another family usually married at 16~17 years old. Her son was 19 years old and had been matched four to five times, but they all failed. What could he do if she did not think of a way?
Dong Wei quickly grasped her shoulder and comforted her in a low voice, “Mother, listen to me. Now the New Year is coming. How much money can I earn if I get to work in cousin’s shop? Today’s main thing is to get close to Cousin Tie and Brother Mian. If I drink a few more cups of wine with them at the dinner table, our relationship will naturally be closer. When it’s New Year, we’ll visit each other houses to pay the New Year’s greetings. Isn’t it a good time to mention it then? Even if they don’t want to celebrate the New Year, it’s not good to not give face to you as the aunt? What do you think?”
Lei Xiaoyun’s eyes brightened. She slapped him on the shoulder and said happily: “You still have a mean. However, your youngest [maternal] aunt is also very interested in Lei Tie and his wife. Maybe we’ve the same plan. What if she snatched them first?”
Dong Wei hesitated: “It can’t be? I heard Yaozu is a shop assistant in a tailor shop and holds a very important position. Is there really a need for him to change job?”
“It can’t be said for sure.” Lei Xiaoyun disapproved, “Can the business of a tailor shop be better than that of a restaurant?”
Dong Wei thought for a moment, “Mother, don’t do anything for the time being. Let’s keep an eye first.”
In the central room, Lei Xiaofeng was talking to Lei Tie and Qin Mian as Lei Xiaoyun expected. Her words were very euphemistic, but what she meant was to ask Lei Tie and Qin Mian to arrange Wan Xiaorou’s fiancé to work in the restaurant.
Wan Xiaorou’s fiancé Zhang Cheng was an honest man with a simple family’s population. Lei Xiaofeng was willing to marry her youngest daughter to him because of this. One of the bad things about Zhang Cheng was that his family’s condition was so-so. That was why Lei Xiaofeng wanted to find him something else to do, so that Wan Xiaorou could be more relaxed after marrying.
Qin Mian told her honestly that all the employees in the shop had signed employment contracts. Once they broke the contract, they would have to pay a large sum of money as compensation. Moreover, the lease term of the small shop was only a year and would not be rented after that.
Lei Xiaofeng was very disappointed, but did not insist on it. She smiled at them and went out.
The pig had been slaughtered. Lei Xiaoyun was washing the ribs in the yard and upon seeing that she had a bad expression, she asked with concern: “Youngest sister, what’s wrong?”
They were blood sisters. Lei Xiaofeng knew Lei Xiaoyun and could guess her mind. She did not hide it at once. “Eldest sister, I asked Lei Tie to find a job for Zhang Cheng, but was turned down…” Then, she proceeded to tell Lei Xiaoyun the original words spoken by Qin Mian.
Lei Xiaoyun’s heart thumped. She suddenly stood up and forgot about Dong Wei’s instructions for a moment.
“Youngest sister, I remember something. You help me wash these ribs first.”
Lei Xiaoyun hurried into the house to find Lei Tie and Qin Mian.
“Tiezi, Tiezi’s wife, you two come in. I want to talk to you about something.”
Qin Mian and Lei Tie followed her into her and Dong Daniu’s side room.
“What do aunt need us for?” Qin Mian asked.
Lei Xiaoyun gave them a handful of dried fruits and fried peanuts. “You’re both smart people, so aunt won’t beat around the bush. I want to ask you two to find job for your Cousin Wei. You must all have heard about Dong Wei’s imprisonment, but in fact, it’s not what people say. Dong Wei was framed…”
Qin Mian was noncommittal.
“He’s an honest boy from childhood to adulthood. After he came out of prison, he’s more sensible than before. But everyone thinks he’s a bad boy. Thus, from his return to now, he hasn’t found any job and a wife is far from it. Don’t you think he’s treated unjustly? Of the children in your generation, you two are the most promising, so aunt wants to ask you to help him.” Lei Xiaoyun pleaded in a low voice. A caring mother’s heart made one felt emotionally moved.
Qin Mian said with a wry smile: “Aunt makes things hard for us. If aunt had told us earlier, we’d be able to hire Cousin Wei to work for us, we’d most welcome. However, when we hired those staffs, all of them signed one year’s contracts. If the period is not up but someone is driven away, we’ve to compensate 20 silver taels per person. We’re a small business, how can we afford to pay?”
“The business in the restaurant is good. You can hire more people and arrange your own people in the shop, you’ll be more reassured?” Lei Xiaoyun said again.
Qin Mian explained: “There are already five staffs in the shop, it’s enough.”
Lei Xiaoyun’s face gradually turned cold. “After all that talking, you two just think my son came out of prison, you two look down on him and don’t treat us as relatives.”
Lei Tie said: “It’s aunt who raised a problem for us.”
Lei Xiaoyun stood up, composed her expression, and left without saying a word.
Qin Mian shrugged and took Lei Tie out.
After sitting in the central room for a while, the banquet started.
In addition to Lei Xiaoyun’s relatives and Dong Daniu’s relatives, there were also the villagers they were closed with. All together were four tables of guests; two tables in the central room and two tables in the courtyard.
“Xiaoyun, those two are your nephew and his male wife?” A middle-aged woman sitting next to Lei Xiaoyun pointed to Qin Mian and Lei Tie. She laughed with her mouth covered and her eyes tilted up[1]. She did not feel uncomfortable to do this kind of action at an old age.
Lei Xiaoyun glanced at the other side and dully said: “Yes. Sister Zaohua, eat the dishes. ”
Dong Wei frowned and looked at Lei Xiaoyun at the other table. What’s going on? Why is mother’s attitude like this?
“Two men as husband and wife; Xiaoyun, don’t you feel uncomfortable looking at them?” The woman shook her head as she said, “You really… Why did you invite them?”
“Anyone coming is a guest.” Lei Xiaoyun said with a smile, “They insist on being together. Although I’m their aunt, I’m still an outsider. What can I say?”
Lei Tie’s expression sank. He pulled Qin Mian to his feet, went to Lei Xiaoyun, and said indifferently, “Aunt, it’s your younger brother who forced us to get married. An eldest sister is like a mother. If you’d any opinion, why didn’t you advise him then?”
Lei Xiaoyun’s expression turned rigid.
There was an awkward silence in the courtyard.
Other people’s eyes fell on Lei Daqiang’s face like needles, turning his face blue.
“We’ve something else to do, leaving first.” Lei Tie pulled Qin Mian and left directly.
Lei Dagang laughed and took a sip of wine leisurely. “Some people become more confused as they get older.”
“Lei Dagang, what do you mean?” Lei Daqiang put the chopsticks on the table with a “pa” and asked loudly.
“Heh heh.” Lei Dagang gave his grandson a piece of crisp and tender ribs and without lifting his eyes, “I didn’t put a name. Anyone who is old and confused knew it himself. Simply by listening to the words of a village sorcerer, he forced his son to marry a man. Ah, it’s true that people say, ‘if there’s a stepmother, there’s a stepfather’.”
“You–” Lei Daqiang could not bear it anymore and raised his fist.
“You want to hit me? Come at me if you can.” Lei Dagang also stood up and said in disdain.
Lei Daqiang rushed over, “You’re seeking death!”
The person at the side quickly stopped him, “Hey, all of you stop talking!”
The courtyard turned into a scene of chaos.
Note:
[1] The act of misbehaving, insidious and treacherous
