country bumpkin

Chapter 15 The Second Uncle Gets Married

These days, watermelons sell for 20 cents a pound retail and 13 cents a pound wholesale.

Kong Tongming negotiated the price down to 14 cents; any more than that, and the merchants wouldn't take it. Although it would bring in much less money than selling in bulk, the family didn't have enough manpower, and they couldn't let the produce spoil and sell slowly; otherwise, the losses would be even greater. In the end, they had no choice but to make the transaction this way.

The total was 4855 jin (approximately 2425 catties), and the seller charged a round number of 680 yuan. This was almost 300 yuan less than what I would have received if I had sold it retail.

After putting away the money, Kong Tongming and Kong Tiezhu returned home together.

After Kong Tongming and Kong Tiezhu returned home, they handed the money from selling watermelons to Mu Shuyun. She took the money, a relieved smile on her face.

Kong Tongming offered Kong Tiezhu money for renting the car, but he refused, saying that they were family and there was no need for money! Kong Tongming insisted for a while, but in the end, he had no choice but to give him four big watermelons to take home and eat.

…………

Life is as calm as still water, and time flies by like an arrow.

Soon it was time for Kong Xiangdong to get married.

Today is the sixth day of the seventh lunar month, and my second uncle's wedding was held as scheduled. The house was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and it was very lively. Relatives and friends came to offer their congratulations, and everyone was filled with laughter and joy, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.

The banquet was held at home. A chef was hired from outside, and neighbors and Kong Xiangdong's cousins ​​helped with bringing cigarettes and alcohol and serving dishes. Bowls, chopsticks, tables, and chairs were all rented out.

一桌席大概在35到50之间。孔通明定了中等价位40元一桌，有10桌客人。又专门提了两桌席面，新媳妇娘家人男女各一桌50的席面。

With two packs of cigarettes and two bottles of wine per table, there's basically no money left from selling watermelons this year.

In rural areas, when relatives and friends come to a wedding banquet, only the eldest sister receives the largest share of the wedding gift money.

Neighbors and distant relatives usually give 2 to 5 yuan, while older sisters give 20 yuan to make it a round number for good luck.

Yunya's mother, Kong Xiujuan, and father, Sun Zitao, both came, along with her second aunt, Kong Xiuzhen, and her second aunt's husband, Zhang Jiefang; her third aunt, Kong Xiufen, and her third aunt's husband, Shen Changsheng; and her eldest uncle, Kong Xiangguang, and her aunt, Wang Cuihua.

My uncle, Kong Xiangyao, also took leave from the city and rushed back to help with the household chores.

Only my aunt Kong Xiufang hasn't come back yet. My grandmother said she'll be back at the end of the year and won't be going out to find work anymore.

In rural areas, getting married is a huge financial drain on a family. Some families can't even afford the bride price. Li Caiyun was asking for 1000 yuan as a bride price, which wasn't a small sum.

Zhang Qingguo, the son of Granny Zhang, was like that; the woman introduced by the matchmaker demanded a bride price of 2000 yuan.

It seems she doesn't genuinely want to marry him; she just wants more money. If he gives it to her, she'll agree; if not, she'll let it go.

In this day and age, the average dowry for a rural family is generally between 800 and 1000 yuan. In cities, some families with formal contract workers or those with shops or businesses typically offer 2000 yuan as a bride price.

Zhang Pozi's family couldn't afford that much money, and the woman's family was unwilling, so the marriage had to be called off.

Years later, his wife was obtained through a marriage exchange with his sister. His wife also had an older brother.

Both families sent their daughters to the other family to be their sons' wives. This is clearly a case of favoring sons over daughters.

This way, neither family would have to spend a single penny, and both families would have someone to carry on the family line. This happened many years later…

At the wedding, Kong Tongming saw his radiant second son and bride, and felt incredibly happy too.

He thought of all the hard work his family had done over the years, and now they had finally ushered in a wonderful moment.

After the wedding, the family sat together, sharing their joy.

Kong Tongming knew that the future was long and they needed to continue to work hard, but he believed that as long as the whole family worked together, life would get better and better.

After marriage, life revolves around the mundane details of daily life, and disagreements are inevitable. As long as the family is safe, sound, and healthy, that is the greatest happiness.

As evening approached, everyone was exhausted from a long day.

Mu Shuyun and her youngest son packed their things. They did a quick clean-up; they were too tired today, they'd clean more thoroughly tomorrow. They'd return the rented tables, chairs, and dishes the next day.

Kong Xiangdong was so happy that he drank a few more glasses of wine and became slightly tipsy. The bride, Zhou Caiyun, sat silently on the bed, her heart filled with complex emotions.

She knew that the marriage was arranged by her family. Although she didn't know Kong Xiangdong well, she hoped to manage this new home well.

Looking at the simple furnishings in the room, she secretly resolved to work together with her husband to make their lives better.

Kong Xiangdong entered the room and saw the bride sitting on the bed, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. He gently walked to the bride's side, sat down, and took her hand.

"Caiyun, from now on we are family. I will treat you well."

Zhou Caiyun nodded slightly, a smile appearing on her face. Although the future was uncertain, at this moment, she was willing to believe in this promise and face the challenges of a new life together with Kong Xiangdong.

The four great joys in life are: rain after a long drought, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, the wedding night, and passing the imperial examination.

At this moment, Kong Xiangdong's gentle gaze swept over Zhou Caiyun. Zhou Caiyun blushed and looked back at him.

His breath gently brushed against her ear, causing a ticklish sensation and stirring up waves in her heart.

She lay on the soft bed, her heart pounding like a drum, each approach of his making her both nervous and expectant.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, their emotions burning in the darkness like dry tinder, an unstoppable blaze.

On this quiet night, the bed became the stage for their love. He gently lifted her up and twirled her around, as if she were dancing in the air.

Her laughter and struggles became the most beautiful melody, their bodies pressed tightly together, feeling each other's passion and sincerity. At this moment, the sex scene was no longer a simple physical contact, but a fusion of souls.

On their wedding night, the gently flickering candlelight illuminated the newlyweds' happy smiles, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere.