T1983 Chapter 5

At night, Zhou Qiang met with his partner, Lin Xuehua. Speaking about Zhou Hui’s marriage, the girl exclaimed: “So urgent? Isn’t your family busy with farming? Shouldn’t you wait until the work is done to have the wedding?” She was worried about Zhou Qiang who always looked tired.

 

Zhou Qiang added: “Well, it’s not just my sister who’s leaving, my little brother Dingzi also found a job in the county town. Xu Shen introduced him.”

 

“What?” Lin Xuehua was envious. Why didn’t such a fragrant pie fall in her darling’s lap? Feeling that it wasn’t fair, she started pressing Zhou Qiang: “Then what about you? He should introduce a job to you too so we can also move to the city.”

 

“That’s for sure.” Zhou Qiang smiled and continued: “Don’t worry for now, let’s wait until my family settles down in a few days.”

 

“Why is your family biased towards Zhou Ding?” Lin Xuehua felt unreconciled.

 

“Because he likes fooling around and has a smart mouth. I don’t know Xu Shen that well…” Zhou Qiang was ashamed to admit he was in fact scared of the man.

 

“Tsk.” Lin Xuehua knew his character so she rolled her eyes showing contempt.

…………

 

The Zhou family was also worried about the busy farming season, so the parents wanted Zhou Hui to come back after the wedding and help.

 

Hearing this, Shu Ran thought that their plan was in danger of being exposed, so he proposed: “My sister won’t have a wedding banquet in the village, isn’t the harvest just the right time to cut some meat and invite everyone to celebrate? When the time comes, our neighbors will help with the work.” It was a matter of saying hello and giving face. As long as Zhou Guodong wasn’t stingy with the food, everyone in the village would be willing to help.

 

Zhou Guodong understood this was getting the best of both worlds, so he agreed: “It’s still you who’s the smart one. You didn’t read all those books in vain.” Both Zhou Hui and Zhou Ding finished junior high school and were the most educated in the family.

 

On the day of the marriage, Xu Shen came to pick up his bride in a car with a driver, provoking the entire village’s awe and curiosity. Seeing the treatment her future sister-in-law received, Lin Xuehua became sour and started nagging Zhou Qiang again: “How much did your family give as a dowry?”

 

Zhou Qiang: “Not much, just some clothes and two quilts.”

 

Zhou Hui was wearing new clothes, with a red veil on her head. Shu Ran carried her out of the boudoir and Zhou Qiang was responsible for bringing both of their luggage to the car.

 

Xu Shen had a dark face watching Shu Ran walking towards him with a bride on his back. Didn’t he agree to marry instead? Indeed, he had said that it didn’t matter whether it was the brother or the sister, as long as someone agreed to come back home with him. But still, after several contacts with the Zhou family, Xu Shen was more inclined to marry the little brother.

 

“Zhou Ding.” Xu Shen blocked his way and stared at the boy.

 

Shu Ran looked up to him and winked mysteriously: “My sister is pretty heavy. Let’s get in the car first.”

 

After receiving his hint, Xu Shen’s face calmed down a little, but he was still suspicious and afraid Shu Ran was fooling him.

 

“Brother Shen, go open the door, what are you doing guarding the car like that?” Shu Ran urged him once more.

 

“Your sister is also coming to the county town? What about your parents? Do they know?” Xu Shen leaned closer to Shu Ran’s ear and asked carefully.

 

Shu Ran felt that giving an explanation was annoying so he snapped back at him: “Well, they don’t. Let’s get to the county town first and tell them later.”

 

So it was indeed the little brother marrying himself off. Xu Shen heard what he wanted to hear, so he turned around and helped Zhou Hui into the car. Indeed, he was a man so he couldn’t marry openly. He had to borrow his sister’s light.

 

Shu Ran followed Zhou Hui in the back seat of the car. Xu Shen could have sat down in the front, but he insisted on squeezing next to them. He whispered to Shu Ran: “Are you wearing new clothes?”

 

Today’s Shu Ran looked exquisite in well-fitting clothes.

 

“Aren’t you wearing new clothes too?” Shu Ran said, but considering he was today’s groom, it was normal to dress up.

 

“I’m getting married.” Xu Shen started pulling at his collar like he was not used to wearing such restrictive garments.

 

Accompanied by the sound of firecrackers, the car drove on the wide countryside road, leaving a layer of golden dust behind.

 

“Sister Zhou, you can lift the veil by yourself.” Xu Shen chuckled and said in the silence of the car.

 

Shu Ran glared at him and immediately looked at the driver.

 

“It’s okay. It’s Jiang Fan.” Xu Shen naturally took his hand and held it on his knee.

 

Shu Ran was shocked and subsequently wanted to pull his hand back, but he remembered Xu Shen was no longer his brother-in-law. To be precise, Xu Shen was indeed getting married today, and he was the man’s bride. With a sigh, Shu Ran advised himself to get used to his new role.

 

“Hey, Zhou Ding!” The driver turned his head and it was indeed Jiang Fan wearing sunglasses. Knowing about his family background, presumably, the car was also his. At this time, Jian Fan was smiling dazzlingly, with a twinkle in his eyes as he was watching them intently.

 

“Hello, Brother Fan.” Shu Ran knew what the other party was looking at. He probably had a good relationship with Xu Shen, otherwise, he would have still called him brother-in-law, instead of Zhou Ding. Realizing he already knew what was up, Shu Ran blushed silently.

 

Zhou Hui heard that the car was full of her brother’s acquaintances, so she hesitated a little bit and then lifted the veil herself. This time, Shu Ran pulled his hand back, hoping that Xu Shen would understand that he didn’t want Zhou Hui to know about them.

 

Xu Shen was not upset, and gently told Zhou Hui: “Sister Zhou, don’t be nervous. I have agreed with Zhou Ding that you don’t have to marry me.”

 

Zhou Hui didn’t have much contact with Xu Shen in the past. This time, she finally saw the man clearly. He indeed looked like a talented person. Feeling slightly embarrassed by the comments she made in the past, she whispered: “Okay. Thank you, Brother Shen.”

 

“Then, what’s your plan going to the county town?” Xu Shen continued to ask.

 

Shu Ran took the opportunity to help his sister out: “I wanted to ask you about this matter. Do you know any reliable matchmakers? My sister wants to marry a soldier.”

 

Jiang Fan sneered from the front: “You two siblings are really interesting.” One of them came to the county town only to end up stealing his sister’s man and hook up with his own brother-in-law, and the other one wanted her prospective husband to help match her with someone else. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, Jiang Fan wouldn’t have believed these two were merely uneducated people from the countryside. His poor Brother Shen, how bold people were, and how prolific the land was, ahh…

 

“Why are you looking for a matchmaker? Your Brother Fan has a way.” Xu Shen looked at Shu Ran and continued: “At that time, your sister only has to dress up and let Jiang Fan take her directly to the unit for a blind date. Some of them are single men who want a wife so badly they can go crazy. Just let Sister Zhou have her pick.”

 

Hearing there was a military unit in the county town, Shu Ran shook his head and said: “With our family’s conditions, I’m afraid a man that belongs to a proper unit might look down on my sister.”

 

Jiang Fan said slowly: “Don’t worry, don’t you know what kind of animal men are? Just one glance and they can go through fire and water for you…” After that, he whistled and turned around to give Xu Shen a look: “Isn’t that right, Brother Shen?”

 

Xu Shen: “Pay attention to the road and don’t drive us in a ditch.”

 

Discussing her marriage with three big men made Zhou Hui blush. But, what surprised her the most, was the fact that Xu Shen was willing to help. “My conditions are not good, I can lower my expectations a little bit.”

 

“Your expectations are so high you don’t even like our Brother Shen.” Jiang Fan commented.

 

Zhou Hui quickly looked at Xu Shen’s face and stuttered: “I…”

 

Shu Ran: “Brother Fan, don’t laugh at my sister. Her and Brother Shen are different, they shouldn’t get married in the first place.” After all, Xu Shen obviously wanted to marry a man, disregarding his sexual orientation meant any woman who married him would live the life of a widow.

 

Jiang Fan smiled and coaxed: “Then, are you two the same?”

 

Shu Ran disagreed, but he knew how to talk sweetly without provoking others: “At least we should be able to get along.”

 

“Yo!” Jiang Fan kept laughing and looked at Xu Shen from the rearview mirror: “Did you hear that?” He didn’t like to listen to sweet talk but still felt that promising to live well together made Xu Shen happy.

 

Xu Shen smiled and looked at Shu Ran a couple of times: “Well, it’s indeed good.”

 

Right now, Xu Shen really looked like an energetic groom. The feeling in his heart was way more wonderful than when he first went to the Zhou family to propose marriage. It turned out there was such a big difference between right and wrong.

 

Zhou Hui felt the atmosphere was strange, but she didn’t understand why. In order not to say something wrong, she kept quiet all the way to the county town.

 

Shu Ran also closed his mouth. He was afraid the other two would let something slip and his poor sister would get the scare of her life.

…………

 

Xu Shen’s house was festively decorated. There was the sound of firecrackers at the door, and the smoke dissipated to reveal the smiling faces of people. They were Xu Shen’s brothers, accompanied by their wives and relatives. They all heard that Xu Shen was getting married today so they came to help.

 

Xu Shen got out of the car first, accompanied by Shu Ran. He was responsible for carrying his sister inside. Xu Shen did not tell anyone about his relationship with Shu Ran. Jiang Fan only knew because he was perceptive and understood by himself. Anyway, he thought the bride would arrive with his face covered by a red veil, so nobody would know whether it was a man or a woman. Unexpectedly, the situation changed, but he still welcomed Zhou Hui into his house.

 

Chen Kai set off firecrackers and asked: “Groom, why aren’t you carrying your bride?”

 

Xu Shen, the groom, was carrying luggage. “I don’t know her yet.”

 

“Oh, you will after tonight!” Chen Kai squeezed his eyebrows and grinned at Xu Shen. He was really happy for him, the child would finally get to taste meat.

 

“Get out of here!” Xu Shen kicked Chen Kai.

 

Suddenly, he thought about something. He quickly put down the luggage and rushed to the front. Fortunately, Shu Ran only walked halfway and had not yet entered the room. Xu Shen led the way and made Shu Ran enter another room on the second floor, instead of his bedroom.

 

Just as he was about to say a few words, Chen Kai shouted from outside: “Brother Shen, where do I put the luggage?”

 

Xu Shen had to go out: “Just leave it here, I’ll take it.”

 

Seeing Xu Shen coming out of the guest room, Chen Kai turned suspicious: “What are you doing in there?”

 

Xu Shen: “Ah, her brother would be living in this room and they wanted some private time alone.” He stared at Chen Kai and continued: “Don’t worry about it and get back to work.”

 

Chen Kai was a bachelor and didn’t understand those things. Whatever Brother Shen said, it goes. He put down the luggage and left: “Okay, I’ll get you something to eat and drink.”

 

“Uh-huh.”

 

Xu Shen was about to ask how the luggage should be divided. Shu Ran came out of the room and pointed at the smaller bag: “Mine, the rest is my sister’s.”

 

“So little?” Xu Shen exclaimed. “Then you can take it to my room by yourself, I’ll bring the rest to her.”

 

“Uh-huh.” Shu Ran avoided his sight and left for the master bedroom. The door had a big “happy” red character pasted on it. When he opened the door, everything looked new and refreshing. It seemed that the room had been cleaned, some of the furniture replaced, and all the sheets and quilts were brand-new.

 

And the big mahogany dresser, which was not there before… Shu Ran felt his face grow hot for some reason and he curled his lips. Although it was not a sincere marriage, it surely looked like one.

 

Xu Shen rushed over quickly after delivering the luggage. Seeing Shu Ran standing foolishly in the middle of his room, he slowed down and asked: “What are you hugging that bag for? Put it in the dresser.” After saying that, he took the luggage from his arms and muttered: “I’ll do it.”

 

The dresser was new and there wasn’t much in it. As soon as he turned around, he realized Shu Ran was missing. It turned out that Chen Kai came up with something again and Shu Ran went out to pick it.

 

Chen Kai hugged the boy’s shoulder and said: “Brother-in-law, we are now family! If you have something, come to your Brother Kai! Here, drink some soda.”

 

“Thank you, Brother Kai.” He happened to be really thirsty, so he carefully took a glass full of some yellow-orange juice.

 

“What are you doing?” Xu Shen grabbed the tray in Chen Kai’s hands, pushed him away, and warned: “Don’t treat him like that, he’s someone decent.”

 

Chen Kai also grabbed a glass of soda and scolded through gritted teeth: “Xu Shen, what do you mean? Am I not someone decent?”

 

Xu Shen glanced at him. Chen Kai understood the meaning of that look. If he continued making trouble, he’d only have sand and wind for his next meal. He also got the message. Even if Xu Shen married his sister, it didn’t mean that Zhou Ding was one of their own. He was different and he shouldn’t be treated like a casual underling. In this regard, he still needed to distinguish clearly and pay special attention to him.

 

“You guys talk, I’ll take this to my sister.” After a drink, Shu Ran took the tray full of snacks and left knowingly.

 

What was there to talk about? Xu Shen followed Shu Ran’s steps, with only a rushed “Go back to work!” left in the hallway.

 

Chen Kai looked at the two of them and confusedly scratched his head, feeling that something was wrong. Going down and talking with Jiang Fan, his intuition told him there was something strange going on between his Brother Shen and this new brother-in-law. Jiang Fan smiled and said: “You’ll find out in a few days.”

 

He was sure they couldn’t hide it for long.