RYEY – Chapter 64 Xu Laidi Gets Married

The two sisters knew that if they stayed in the Chen household under the current circumstances, they would surely starve to death. The rations were so limited, and in their stepmother’s eyes, they were nothing more than free labor—how could they possibly get enough to eat?

Da Niu and Er Niu knelt together before Chen Tiezhu, saying that as the eldest brother he was like a father to them, and they begged him to help them secure a good marriage. Chen Tiezhu thought about it for an entire night before finally agreeing.

So when Chen Dazhu returned to Xiangyang Village, he happened to arrive just in time for Chen Da Niu’s wedding. She was married to a young man from a neighboring village. The groom’s family gave a bride price of fifty yuan and two sets of spring and autumn clothing.

Chen Shuigen’s eyes burned with greed at the sight of the fifty yuan and wanted to pocket it all. But when he saw Chen Tiezhu’s cold gaze fixed on his other son, Chen Daming, he swallowed all his words.

“Da Niu, from the fifty yuan, I’ll give you twenty. Ten yuan will go to Father, and the remaining twenty yuan will stay with me. If you need help in the future, I’ll be able to lend you a hand.”

“Big Brother, I’ll listen to you.”

Carrying her twenty yuan bride price and the bedding that had been used for more than ten years, Chen Da Niu happily went off to marry. At last, she had shaken off her scumbag father and cruel stepmother, beginning a new chapter in her life.

Er Niu watched enviously as her sister left in brand-new wedding clothes. Her small fists clenched tightly—she too wanted to marry and escape this devouring family.

“Er Niu, if you finish all your chores and Father still doesn’t let you eat, come to me. I don’t believe a widow can abuse my little sister.”

Chen Tiezhu saw the worried, longing look on Er Niu’s face and instantly understood her thoughts. Back when their birth mother died, they had been too young to resist. Now things were different.

“Big Brother, you’re right. From now on, the two of us will live our own lives. Once our little sister is married, I’ll never set foot in the Chen household again.”

Chen Dazhu pulled a few white steamed buns he had smuggled back out of his pocket and handed them to Chen Er Niu, telling her not to be afraid. If anything happened, she could always come find him. After all, she was his own blood sister, and of course, he would help her.

Chen Shuigen looked at his three children’s deep affection for one another and curled his lip. In his heart, they were all ungrateful wolves—he raised them, and now they wanted to bite their own father in return.

Chen Weidang watched coldly from the side. Once they all sat down, he brought out pen and paper and began writing the separation document. Compared to Chen Dazhu, Chen Tiezhu still managed to get something out of it.

At the very least, they kept the room they were living in. The reception hall, kitchen, and firewood shed would remain communal, and they received two mu of backyard private land.

But Chen Shuigen had learned his lesson. He demanded that his eldest son provide him with an annual pension. It wasn’t much, just twenty yuan a year. After bargaining, they settled on ten yuan annually, with the condition that once the sons moved into their own house, the payment would no longer be required.

Chen Shuigen wanted to say more, but Chen Tiezhu pointed at his two half-brothers. He told them that they too had to contribute to the pension. After all, they were already in their teens—if they couldn’t even support themselves, what was the point of keeping them around?

At that, Chen Shuigen immediately shut his mouth, though inwardly he resolved that starting tomorrow, those two boys would have to find food on their own. Otherwise, winter would be impossible to survive.

“Village Head, my house is about to have its roof beam installed. Could I trouble you to come and drink a cup of the roof-raising wine?”

When Chen Dazhu saw that Chen Weidang had finished writing the separation papers and was about to leave, he hurriedly stopped him, looking embarrassed. He truly didn’t have the wealth of a ne’er-do-well, so his roof-raising banquet would be very meager.

“Alright, pick a date.”

“The day after tomorrow. I checked—it’s an auspicious day, a lucky day.”

“Fine. I’ll call some people over. But don’t be stingy when it comes to spending. Otherwise, it might affect the future fortune of your household.”

“Thank you, Village Head. I understand. Also… could I apply to receive an advance on the money for the river repair project? Otherwise, after the roof-raising banquet, I still have a wedding to host, and I’m afraid I won’t have enough money.”

Chen Weidang nodded. This Chen Dazhu barely earned a hundred yuan in a year. After buying rations and building a house, it was no surprise he had little left in his pockets.

Two days later, Chen Dazhu held the roof-raising banquet. Li Huan happily attended. When Li Huan had held his own banquet, Chen Dazhu had given him ten cents but had eaten food worth nearly thirty cents in return.

So when Chen Dazhu received only a dime from Li Huan this time, his face darkened. Did this fellow really need to be so petty? Truly stingy.

The villagers were all excited to attend when they heard about Chen Dazhu’s roof-raising banquet. But compared to Li Huan’s feast, Chen Dazhu’s wasn’t just meager—it was downright stingy.

As the future bride, Xu Laidi felt utterly humiliated. Especially with the educated youths present, none of them even bothered to stoop and pick up the tiny, nail-sized, rock-hard sorghum buns that had been served.

The day after the roof-raising, Chen Dazhu brought twenty jin of white flour, a piece of red cloth, and fifty yuan in cash as the bride price to the educated youth spot.

“Laidi, this is all the money I have. Don’t look down on me. Once things get better, I’ll buy you pretty clothes.”

Seeing Xu Laidi frown, Chen Dazhu knew she was dissatisfied. Compared with Li Huan’s lavish bride price, his offering was pitiful.

Xu Laidi took a deep breath and accepted it anyway. She had no choice—she had agreed to this marriage herself, and she couldn’t go back on her word. At worst, she could get a divorce later.

Once he saw her accept the bride price, the stone hanging in Chen Dazhu’s throat finally dropped. Smiling, he told her that tomorrow he would come to fetch her.

“What? Tomorrow? Brother Dazhu, but your household isn’t ready yet. Shouldn’t we wait a few days?”

Xu Laidi’s eyes darted as she tried to delay.

“No need. The heated kang is already burning. You’ve got quilts and bedding here, haven’t you? Get yourself ready—don’t forget to bring everything you need. I’m off to invite the villagers.”

Xu Laidi stared blankly as he left, unable to believe that she was really marrying him tomorrow. Suddenly, the money in her hand felt worthless. Sitting on the threshold, she racked her brains.

But no matter how much she thought, there was no escape—unless she returned to the city. Yet returning was not that easy. It seemed she had no choice but to marry Chen Dazhu.

Early the next morning, villagers crowded outside the educated youth spot, eager to see what Xu Laidi’s dowry would be. They still remembered how lavish Cheng Qiao’s had been.

But when Xu Laidi came out carrying only a large bamboo basket, everyone was stunned. Inside, her dowry was nothing more than a clearly worn-out quilt.

“Brother Dazhu, you really lost out this time.”

The men from the village shook their heads. But Chen Dazhu didn’t care. His eyes searched the crowd, and when they met Cheng Qiao’s, they lit up instantly.

Cheng Qiao tried to conceal the delight in her eyes. She whispered a few words into Li Huan’s ear. Li Huan nodded repeatedly and squeezed his way toward Xu Laidi.