Liuyuan County, Wenchangge Community, near the entrance, inside a grocery store of 20 to 30 square meters.
Chen Zhonghua and Jiang Meixian were sitting on both sides of a small table in the shop.
A plate of fried meat with green peppers, a plate of fried beans, and a plate of pickles have been placed on the table for a long time.
However, Chen Zhonghua and his wife did not use their chopsticks, they just sat beside them.
"Meixian, are you sure Xiaohai is coming back today? Did you remember the time correctly?"
Chen Zhonghua's stomach was already growling with hunger.
These days, supplies are relatively scarce, and most people don't have much oil or water in their stomachs, so they can't resist hunger at all.
His wife, Jiang Meixian, manages this small shop here, while Chen Zhonghua himself is restless, pulling a cart and looking for money everywhere in the county.
Helping people drag some furniture or other large objects, and working hard, it's hard work, but at the end of the day, more or less, he can still make a few dollars!
Knowing that his son Chen Hai would be back today, he specially took an early morning shift.
He got hungry very quickly because he was doing such strenuous work. Dinner had been prepared for a long time, but Chen Hai never came back.
Chen Zhonghua, who had been sitting here for a while, was already feeling dizzy from hunger!
"Well! I must remember clearly the phone call Xiaohai gave me."
"Master, don't worry, wait a little longer, he should be back soon!"
"It's thousands of miles from Kyoto to Liuyuan County. Xiaohai will be very tired when he comes back. He can't do it. Let him eat some leftovers!"
Giving her man a roll of her eyes, Jiang Meixian chuckled.
The mother was worried when her son traveled thousands of miles. Knowing that her son would come back today, she was in a very good mood, and a smile almost appeared on her face.
"Well, since we are sure that Xiao Hai will come back today, let's wait a little longer!"
After swallowing a few mouthfuls of saliva, Chen Zhonghua, who was really hungry and a little panicked, ran to the side and drank a few ladles of cold water, which made his stomach feel a little better.
"Meixian, how is the business in the store today?"
"It's just so so. I made a rough estimate. I should be able to earn about ten yuan in one day. We own the store and any money we make is pure income."
"That's not bad. I dragged a cart and was busy outside for a day, and I only made seven or eight yuan!"
"Seven or eight yuan is a lot. If we keep up this momentum, we can earn more than five hundred yuan in a month. Compared with farming, our income is much better!"
"Xiao Hai asked us to buy a house and a shop and live in the county. At first, I was worried for a long time, fearing that after we lost our land, we would be without work and hungry. Xiao Hai was still more powerful and could see farther than us!
"
"That's right, Xiaohai is a college student, and his vision is nowhere comparable to ours!"
…
Small talk is also a way to distract attention.
Chen Zhonghua, Jiang Meixian and his wife were chatting, and soon the topic of conversation came to their son, Chen Hai.
When they talked about Chen Hai, their hearts were filled with pride. Even their growling stomachs felt like they were no longer hungry!
‘Creak…’ The brakes of this human-powered tricycle, which is called a slow-moving bicycle, are a bit harsh.
At the entrance of Wenchangge Community, the slow-moving car that just stopped attracted the attention of Chen Zhonghua and Jiang Meixian who were chatting.
In fact, knowing that their son Chen Hai would be back today, they would stick their heads out of the store and take a look outside whenever they saw Slowly You parked nearby.
However, from about three o'clock in the afternoon until now, their heads have been poked out dozens of times, and the results every time have disappointed them.
"Xiaohai, it's Xiaohai who's back!" This time, the couple was not disappointed anymore.
The moment he saw Chen Hai emerge from the swimming pool, Jiang Meixian jumped up from the chair like a spring under her body and happily greeted him.
As for Chen Zhonghua, after adjusting his clothes, he also got out of the grocery store.
He took his time and followed Jiang Meixian, seemingly calm and composed, but what was his mood? Only he must know.
"Xiao Hai..." Jiang Meixian walked almost at a trot to the car that was swimming slowly beside her. She only had time to say hello to Chen Hai. The next moment, she was a little dumbfounded.
"Qingqing, this is my mother, that is my father!"
Looking at the shocked Jiang Meixian, Chen Hai smiled and introduced to Ye Qingqing.
"Auntie, uncle, hello, my name is Ye Qingqing, I am Chen Hai's girlfriend!"
Although she was a little nervous, Ye Qingqing was still generous and said hello to Chen Zhonghua and Jiang Meixian.
"Hello, hello, come, let me help you carry your luggage!"
Jiang Meixian, who had already reacted, quickly took the suitcase in Ye Qingqing's hand.
She was too lazy to care about the backpack in Chen Hai's hand!
This guy brought his girlfriend back and didn't tell his family in advance? Jiang Meixian didn't kick him twice, so she was giving him face. He wanted her to help Chen Hai carry his luggage, but there was no way...
"Girl, where are you from?"
"Eastern Guangdong."
"That's a good place. It's not too far from our southern Hunan. The girls there next to you are all so handsome as you..."
"Are you and my Xiaohai classmates? Are you exhausted after coming from Kyoto? Xiaohai didn't even inform the family in advance and didn't even prepare a few dishes. You sit down first and I'll heat up the dishes."
"Auntie, I am studying at Huaqing University. I am not a classmate with Chen Hai. We just met by chance..."
Jiang Meixian's face was full of enthusiasm. When she saw her new daughter-in-law coming to the door, she was so attentive that she even ignored her son and ignored her.
Inside the store, it's just such a big place.
After turning on the pot and cooking, it was already crowded. Four people ran inside and tried to find a place to stay, but it was no longer easy to find them.
Jiang Meixian ran to heat the food, and Ye Qingqing naturally followed to help.
Chen Hai and Chen Zhonghua simply didn't go in and were talking quietly outside the store.
"You kid, you're right. You went to Kyoto to study for half a year and came back with a wife. You are worthy of being my father-in-law, Chen Zhonghua, and can match my style back then!"
Taking out a pack of ghost fights, Chen Zhonghua took out one and lit it for himself. He said cheerfully with a stinking look on his face.
"Dad, what do you mean I kidnapped a wife? Qingqing and I are really planning to get married in two years!"
"I brought her back just so you can meet her and be mentally prepared."
"In addition, Qingqing's parents hope that you can go to Yangcheng in eastern Guangdong. They want to finalize the marriage before officially getting married."
…
In front of Chen Zhonghua, Chen Hai roughly told her about the engagement.
"Engagement? How to arrange it?"
"In our area, before getting married, there is only one term for passing the marriage. Xiaohai, does the engagement you are talking about mean the same thing as passing the marriage?"
Chen Zhonghua looked confused and asked.
"This...I don't know very well, it should be about the same!" Chen Hai scratched the back of his head and explained.
When it comes to getting married, the customs are somewhat different in each place.
Generally speaking, the more remote a small place is, the more various etiquettes there are. In big cities, such etiquette things are simplified a lot, and they no longer pay much attention to them.
"Okay, let me discuss the engagement with your mother tonight!"
"Going to eastern Guangdong? Although it's a little far away, it's not a big problem for your mother and I. She wants us to go there, so we can just go there!"
"By the way, how is the girl's family situation? As for the bride price, they won't catch us and want to make a lot of money, right?"
"Your mother and I have just established a foothold in the county. The money you left us only has more than 10,000 yuan left."
"I hope people won't open their mouths like a lion, otherwise, if we need too much money, we really won't be able to get it for a while!"
While chatting, Chen Zhonghua suddenly mentioned this matter, and he suddenly became worried.
In terms of looks, none of the stars on TV could be found prettier than their new daughter-in-law. Naturally, he was very satisfied with this.
However, judging from the dress and temperament of his son Chen Hai's girlfriend, he can be sure that this girl was definitely not born into a poor family.
What if she really was born into a wealthy family? Can an ordinary family like them afford to marry such a girl?
Thinking of this, Chen Zhonghua couldn't even think whether to worry or not.
"Dad, you and mom don't have to worry about money."
"Qingqing's family background is indeed very extraordinary. Even if it is just an engagement, our family will definitely not be shabby."
"When you and Mom went to eastern Guangdong to discuss with Uncle Ye and Qingqing's marriage, just do whatever you want. Don't be afraid of spending money."
"Because of the engagement, I have prepared five million. As long as the amount spent is within this amount, all problems will definitely not be a problem!"
The words were not shocking, Chen Hai said with a smile.
After a trip to Haojiang, the money he brought back, after being converted into Yanhuang coins, amounted to nearly six million.
Spending five million on his engagement is indeed within the affordable range for him.
"What? Xiaohai, how much did you prepare for..." Chen Zhonghua on the side shivered with fright when he heard this number.
Worried that he heard wrongly, he quickly spoke and confirmed to Chen Hai.
"Dad, you haven't heard that I just prepared five million for the engagement."
Chen Hai didn't find it strange that his father would react like this. He nodded with a sure look on his face and responded.
"Aren't you studying in Kyoto? Where did you get so much money?"
"Xiao Hai, you don't want to tell me that you robbed a bank, do you?" Chen Zhonghua asked, looking directly at his son.
"Dad, don't worry, my money comes from all sources."
"A few days ago, I went to Haojiang and wandered around the casino. I won it!"