Chapter 10

Today, they had just slaughtered a pig, and with the esteemed guests from the Zhang family, the dinner was quite impressive, impressive enough to make him temporarily forget that the Zhang family was still in dire straits.

There was boiled fish, three parts of the pig, and pork bones stewed with radishes, all prepared by Uncle. The three hearty dishes filled three large basins, comparable to the New Year's feast.

When Zhang Xuan sat down, his eyes gleamed with a greenish light, almost to the point of tears of joy. Forget the vast lands and the most beautiful women in the world; at this moment, he only loved eating meat!

During the meal, Ruan Xiuqin said to Zhang Ping, "Ask for Ouyang Yong's birth time tomorrow, and I'll go to town to match your horoscopes."

To her surprise, Zhang Ping said excitedly, "Don't waste the money. We already had our fortunes told in town yesterday."

Aunt Zhang Ru laughed, "The horoscopes are still necessary; otherwise, how can you get married?"

Zhang Ping realized she had made a mistake again, lowered her head, and hurriedly ate, no longer speaking. But her heart was as sweet as honey.

The next morning, Ouyang Zhu and his wife, along with Ouyang Yong, came to the Zhang family's house, full of joy, accompanied by a matchmaker.

Although Zhang Xuan was a farmer, he had gone out to study early in his previous life and knew nothing about the local wedding customs. So he could only sit in the corner of the hall, cracking pumpkin seeds while listening to their conversation.

The Ouyang family seemed very eager, as if they wanted to get the wedding done before the New Year. It was clear that they were quite satisfied with the eldest sister.

However, despite their eagerness, with Aunt Zhang Ru around, no step in the wedding process could be skipped, such as the matchmaker's proposal, engagement, and the wedding itself, all of which had to follow the rules.

Her idea was: The Zhang family might be down on their luck now, but they must not let others look down on them. Otherwise, people might think they were selling their daughter.

Ouyang Zhu, the village chief, naturally understood the rules and finally accepted Zhang Ru's proposal. He even generously stated that the Ouyang family genuinely liked Zhang Ping and would not let the dowry be seen as cheap.

When it came to the dowry, Ruan Xiuqin did not dare to ask for too much, only requiring no less than 2000 yuan, as there were no examples of less than 2000 yuan in the surrounding areas. She could not devalue her daughter and set such a precedent, or people would talk.

Ruan Xiuqin's request was extremely low, ultimately due to a lack of confidence.

In her heart, the Zhang family was known for their hard luck in the village, while the Ouyang family, though not the best, was still considered upper-middle class in the area. They could easily buy a motorcycle, which was a rare sight in this small mountain village.

Ruan Xiuqin modestly believed that her eldest daughter, apart from having a pretty face and being hardworking, had many flaws, especially compared to her younger siblings, who were not as reserved.

After the wedding process was discussed, the two families gathered to talk about the details of the wedding banquet.

Rural wedding banquets were simple in some ways but complex in others, due to the many rules, taboos, gossips, and petty minds.

For example, if a senior's seating arrangement was not to their satisfaction, it would offend many people. However, the prestigious seats were limited, and there were many seniors, which tested the host's ability to manage.

These days, rural wedding banquets did not have the convenience of modern caterers bringing their own pots, bowls, and tables. Everything had to be borrowed, and everyone had to be called to help.

Fortunately, the village had a good tradition. Each production team was self-sufficient, and whether it was a funeral or a wedding, as long as the host asked, the neighbors would come to help voluntarily.

For example, borrowing tables and chairs, helping in the kitchen, serving dishes, welcoming and seeing off guests, washing dishes, and even burning firewood and setting off fireworks were all done by dedicated people.

The villagers were used to helping each other. Everyone was willing to contribute, only expecting a few meals from the host, not asking for payment.

Around eleven in the morning, Yang Ende's mother, having heard some news, came to the Zhang family's house in a rage.

This old hag, with a stern face, legs spread wide, hands on her hips, and eyes glaring, lifted her chin and started ranting nonstop, spewing all sorts of harsh, dirty, and vulgar words, especially targeting the widow Ruan Xiuqin, calling her a fox-faced woman, and trying to ruin the marriage by causing a scene.

Damn it! This was intolerable!

Being bullied at home, Zhang Xuan, usually good-tempered, was now seething with anger. Does she think there are no men in this house! Without a word, his head filled with blood, and he fiercely kicked out...

Suddenly seeing Zhang Xuan charge at her like a madman, the old hag was frightened and stopped her rant. She stumbled backward, even hiding behind the onlookers, afraid to show her face.

Zhang Xuan was stopped at the door by the convenience store owner, who grabbed him around the waist, and then was pulled into the hall by Ouyang Zhu and his son.

Zhang Ru patted Zhang Xuan's shoulder, told him to leave it to her, and then walked straight to the old hag, performing a series of actions that left the villagers speechless.

Zhang Ru first asked, "Do you have heart disease? High blood pressure? Have you had any surgeries? Any metal plates? Have you ever had a miscarriage?"

What kind of questions were these? The two were not on the same wavelength. Yang Ende's mother, the old hag, was stunned and didn't know how to respond, subconsciously shaking her head, still shaken by Zhang Xuan's attack.

Slap! A slap to the face.

Slap! Another slap, this time with the back of her hand.

Zhang Ru, a veteran of the war, though only in the logistics department, had seen real blood and had a fierce temper. Dealing with a rural hag was easy for her. She immediately took advantage of the situation, pressing her finger against the old hag's forehead and sternly said,

"Without any protective charms, you dare to cause trouble. It's the New Year, and you're asking for death!"

The sudden slaps left the old hag dazed, her ears ringing.

Zhang Ru, a war veteran, had a fierce temper. Though she had only worked in logistics, she had seen real blood. Dealing with a rural hag was easy for her. She immediately pressed her finger against the old hag's forehead and sternly said,

"Today is a good day for the Zhang family, and you're being unreasonable! If you say one more unlucky word, I'll call ten trucks of people to smash your three-room house, break your legs, and sew your mouth shut. If you don't believe me, try farting now!"

Yang Ende's mother had heard about Zhang Ru's ferocity from others but had dismissed it. Now, experiencing it firsthand, she was trembling with fear. Like Zhang Xuan, who had attacked without warning, she was shocked by the sudden violence. It was too brutal, too aggressive, and the气势汹汹的气势 like she was about to eat someone!

PS: During the new book period, I need recommendations, monthly votes, and reviews. March needs everything!...

(Note: The last sentence is a call for support from the author, which is common in web novels. The term "气势汹汹" is translated as "ferocious" to maintain the context.)