Zhao Tianhai had run around quite a bit and finally found some rabbits to breed, so he bought some to bring back. Villagers who were willing could buy breeding rabbits, but if they didn’t want to raise rabbits, that was also fine.
Sister-in-law Zhao’s family raised them, and Eldest Aunt-in-law Zhao did too.
Many people from the Zhao Family had bought breeding rabbits, and by now they had been raising them for over a month, each weighing around two pounds. After a little more time, they would all be ready for breeding.
"Why should I go to the Capital City, you all are going to the Capital City for Brother Xiao He’s wedding, but as for me..."
"Brother, neither your sister-in-law nor I have ever been to the Capital City. We don’t even know how to catch the train, but Sister-in-law has been there. If she leads the way, we’ll know the route. Let’s leave our chickens with Laoer’s wife."
"Let me think about it."
Little Uncle Zhao did not persuade further and got up to return home.
His younger son was marrying a woman from the Capital City, he feared they might settle there in the future.
They also needed to see the world in the Capital City.
This matter caused quite a stir in Little Uncle Zhao’s home.
Eldest Aunt-in-law Zhao hadn’t expected that the little uncle would find a wife in the Capital City and now they even had to set a date for the parents to attend the wedding.
No matter what, Eldest Aunt-in-law Zhao couldn’t stop the in-laws’ determination to go to the Capital City.
Ultimately, Captain Zhao decided they should make a trip to the Capital City.
Laoer and his wife had never even been to the county town; what if they got lost?
He could read, and his own wife had been to the Capital City.
Zhao Tianhai went to the county town every now and then; Captain Zhao gave him a letter of introduction and some money to buy a few train tickets.
"Getting a sleeper berth would be best."
Zhao Tianhai was also somewhat curious when he found out Zhao Tianhe had found a wife in the Capital City.
"Dad, it all depends on luck, but since it’s a train journey of several days, I’ll try to get you sleeper tickets. As for soft sleepers, I can’t guarantee that."
"A sleeper will do, your Little Aunt isn’t well."
Over in the Capital City.
Zhao Tianhe once again went to the Wang Family with Auntie Wang.
This marriage being set, he brought more gifts than the last time.
Today, Wang Dongmei was also at home.
But when she saw Zhao Tianhe, she was stunned.
This man was the one who had previously been appraising her.
She knew that Yuemei had a partner.
Upon asking, she found out it was Auntie who had introduced them.
But she hadn’t expected that the man Auntie introduced to her, whom she hadn’t liked, had now become her sister’s partner.
This really left her at a loss for words.
"This is three hundred as a betrothal gift."
Zhao Tianhe took out a stack of money.
The Wang Family actually didn’t seem as poor as they appeared on the surface.
Mrs. Wang had a job, Mr. Wang also had a job.
Brother Wang and his wife both had jobs, and Second Brother Wang and his wife had jobs too, even the sisters, Wang Dongmei and Wang Yuemei, had jobs, though they included temporary and official positions.
The two sons still lived at home, paying twenty each for living expenses to support the whole family.
Wang Dongmei contributed ten yuan a month.
Whereas Wang Yuemei contributed at least twenty a month, with only the change belonging to her.
Auntie Wang, acting as the matchmaker, had them finalize details such as the wedding date, banquet arrangements, and the steps to fetch the bride.
These needed to be discussed.
Once decided, when they married off a daughter here, it was customary to have several ceremonies; they wouldn’t just pack a bag for the daughter and let her walk out the door.
Even Auntie Wang had the date set.
At the dining table, Wang Yuemei kept her eyes on her sister Wang Dongmei, fearing she might question her.
Not until after the meal, when Brother Xiao He and Auntie left, did her sister ask her anything.