Chapter 70: How Beautiful Is Her Future Husband’s Home?

Chapter 70: How Beautiful Is Her Future Husband's Home?

New Dock Village

Ever since Deng Shirong came to the Zhang family, Mrs. Zhang's eldest and second daughters-in-law had been exceptionally kind to their sister-in-law, Zhang Xiuping.

Not only did the two sisters-in-law take out the best cloth from their trunks to make clothes for their younger sister-in-law, but the eldest sister-in-law also gave her the new cloth shoes she had originally made for her own family. The second sister-in-law even gifted her the yellow bow hairpin she usually treasured and rarely used.

Although Zhang Xiuping repeatedly refused, her two sisters-in-law insisted.

In addition, the two sisters-in-law took over most of the household chores, doing their best to spare Zhang Xiuping from any heavy work. This allowed Zhang Xiuping to live the most comfortable and carefree life she had ever known since she was old enough to understand.

Zhang Xiuping was a sensitive and perceptive person. She naturally understood that this was an emotional investment by her two sisters-in-law. They hoped that after she married into the Deng family and lived a good life, she would help them in return.

One day, Zhang Xiuping took her little nephew out to chat with her cousins, Ou Guofang and Ou Guohua.

After chatting for a few minutes, Ou Guofang asked, "Sister Ping, it's been over a month. The Deng family's house should be built by now. Has anyone come to notify you to check on the house?"

The three of them had grown up together and were as close as sisters, sharing everything with each other.

So, Zhang Xiuping didn't hide the fact that Deng Shirong had come to propose marriage some time ago. She told them everything, including what her father had seen and heard in Thatchfield Village, Help and Correct Brigade, Pine Mountain Commune.

Zhang Xiuping smiled and said, "How can you be so careless when it comes to guarding the house? They must be well-prepared before notifying me."

Ou Guohua blinked her eyes and said, "Sister Ping, when the Deng family notifies you to go and see the house, you have to take me with you. I also want to see how beautiful the Deng family's blue brick and tile house is."

Zhang Xiuping nodded and said, "Don't worry. If I go to visit, you two will definitely come with me."

Ou Guofang suddenly said with a hint of sadness, "In the blink of an eye, Sister Ping, you're getting married. I'm afraid the time we three sisters spend together will become less and less in the future."

Hearing her cousin's words, Ou Guohua felt inexplicably down. In that era, when people mostly traveled on foot, it wasn't easy to see each other even if they lived in different brigades of the same commune, let alone in different communes.

She couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, Sister Ping, if you marry into Naye Village, I'm afraid the three of us sisters will hardly see each other more than once a year."

Zhang Xiuping's smile faded after hearing this. After a moment, she said, "We sisters will all get married eventually. If I really marry into Naye Village, I'll try to help you marry into Naye Village or nearby villages so we can see each other whenever we want."

Ou Guofang's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea."

Ou Guohua was delighted and said, "Sister Ping, that's a wonderful idea. If you marry into a wealthy family like the Dengs, your words will probably carry weight in our village. If you help make connections, my parents will likely give you that face. Then we really have a chance to marry into the same village!"

Zhang Xiuping smiled again and said, "I'll keep this in mind. But it's too early to talk about this now. I haven't even started yet!"

Just as she finished speaking, her second sister-in-law ran up to her, breathless and excited. "Pingmei, give me the child and go home quickly. Uncle Deng is here!"

Zhang Xiuping was stunned for a moment. After her sister-in-law took the child, she finally reacted. She quickly straightened her clothes and said to the Ou sisters, "I'll go back first. We'll talk later."

"Go back quickly. Don't keep the guests waiting!"

Zhang Xiuping nodded and hurried home, her heart racing with excitement.

In less than three minutes, Zhang Xiuping returned home. She saw Uncle Deng sitting at the door, chatting with her father, and quickly greeted him, "Uncle Deng."

Deng Shirong saw his future daughter-in-law, still so young and beautiful, and greeted her with a smile. Then he turned to Zhang's father and said, "Dear relative, our house was completed half a month ago. I should have come to inform you earlier and arranged for you to visit.

However, considering that the house was just finished and there was no furniture yet, I didn't rush to tell you. Instead, I hired several carpenters to make the furniture.

Now, part of the furniture has been completed, and it's estimated that everything will be finished in about a month. So, I've come to discuss a date with you to see which day would be suitable for the house visit."

Regarding this marriage, which was clearly a step up for the Zhang family, Zhang Zhenfa, the girl's father, didn't put on any airs. He said sincerely, "Dear relative, you can arrange the time for the house visit. Any time is fine for us."

Deng Shirong thought for a moment and said, "Dear relative, today is the 16th day of the ninth lunar month. Let's set the house visit for the 16th day of the tenth lunar month. That day happens to be a Sunday, and my children who are still in school will be home. What do you think?"

Zhang Zhenfa readily agreed, "Sure, let's set it for October 16th!"

Zhang Xiuping, seeing that her father and Uncle Deng had settled on a date for the house visit, felt too shy to sit still. At that moment, her second sister-in-law returned with the child. She took the opportunity to stand up and said, "Dad, Uncle Deng, you two chat. I'll go into the kitchen to help."

With that, she quickly slipped into the kitchen.

As soon as Zhang Xiuping entered, she saw her mother cutting braised pork with sauce. She was surprised and asked, "Mom, where did we get braised pork with sauce?"

Mrs. Zhang, who was tending to the fire, smiled and said, "Sister Ping, this is the braised pork belly that Uncle Deng brought. In addition to the braised pork belly, there are also several kilograms of pork!"

Zhang Xiuping understood.

While cutting the braised pork, Zhang's mother asked, "Why are you coming in here instead of greeting Uncle Deng outside?"

Zhang Xiuping said, embarrassed, "Dad and Uncle Deng have already decided on the date for the house visit. How can I just sit there?"

Mrs. Zhang's eyes lit up. "Sister Ping, when are you going to visit the family?"

Zhang's mother, who was cutting the braised pork, paused and looked at her daughter. It was clear that she, too, was very concerned about the house visit.

Zhang Xiuping said, "Since it will take about a month for Uncle Deng's furniture to be completed, the house visit is set for a month later, on the 16th day of the tenth lunar month."

Mrs. Zhang suddenly realized, "So the Deng family has been making furniture during this time. No wonder it took so long. It seems the Deng family has made a lot of furniture! Such a magnificent blue brick and tile house, coupled with brand-new furniture—I really don't know how beautiful it will be!"

Zhang Xiuping felt a thrill of excitement. She wondered just how beautiful her future husband's family home would be.

(End of this chapter)