"Brother Liunian, if people didn't know, they'd think you were marrying off your daughter with such a grand gesture," Du Ziteng said, his tone tinged with envy. He suddenly wondered what it would be like to be Brother Liunian's brother-in-law.
Zhang Liunian smiled and said nothing.
Du Ziteng didn't speak further and went home alone after arriving at the county town.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liunian first collected the money from Grandpa Tang. Upon learning that all five bottles of lobster sauce had been sold, Zhang Liunian was very pleased.
"I'll bring you ten more bottles tomorrow." After collecting the money and settling the bill, Zhang Liunian turned and went to the restaurant to find Mu Mingliang.
Mu Mingliang wasn't there yet, but he saw Liu Xiaoxiao and her son waiting. They were sitting by the roadside, and upon seeing Zhang Liunian approach, they eagerly rushed forward.
"I sold all the sauce and didn't dare to go home, so I came here to find Master Mu. He said you would come by at this time, and indeed, I've waited for you," Liu Xiaoxiao said, seeing Zhang Liunian appear. She immediately brought out the money for the fifteen bottles of lobster sauce.
It totaled 24 yuan. She had sold them at a cheaper price, earning only one jiao per bottle.
Zhang Liunian smiled and accepted the money. He took out 1.5 yuan and gave it to her. "This is yours. How many bottles do you need tomorrow?"
Liu Xiaoxiao took the 1.5 yuan, feeling very pleased. 1.5 yuan was enough for her and her son to live for three days. This was a good business.
"Give me twenty bottles!" Liu Xiaoxiao hesitated, extending her finger, her tone a little uncertain.
Today, she had managed to sell 15 bottles thanks to the tasting event. She wasn't sure if tomorrow would bring such good income, but she could sell for a full day, giving her ample time. Taking five more bottles might help her sell them.
Zhang Liunian saw her lack of confidence but didn't pressure her. "Okay, come here to pick up the goods at half-past eight tomorrow morning. You still pay after you sell them."
"Okay," Liu Xiaoxiao nodded and left with her son.
As soon as she left, Mu Mingliang came out of the restaurant. He pulled Zhang Liunian aside and said, "Liunian, I've asked. Each of the fellow disciples wants five bottles of ingredients and five bottles of lobster sauce. So, bringing them 20 bottles of these two items should be enough. As for me, I still have some, but I'll have to wait and see tomorrow."
Mu Mingliang hadn't sold much of the lobster sauce he received that afternoon, as dinner time was just starting.
He didn't have much time to waste with Zhang Liunian here. After clarifying, he went back to work.
Zhang Liunian didn't linger. Carrying the large sum of money, he headed home. As soon as he entered the village, he attracted the attention of the villagers. Seeing the items Zhang Liunian had bought, they all came forward to ask curiously.
"Liunian, what are you buying a bicycle and a sewing machine for?"
"Yeah, you're not marrying off a daughter or taking a daughter-in-law."
"..."
Zhang Liunian asked Zhang Qian to stop the tractor and replied with a smile, "My little sister and the mute are getting married. This is the dowry I'm giving her."
Boom!
The moment he said this, the entire village was stunned.
They had heard of buying the "three major items" when marrying off a daughter or taking a daughter-in-law, but they had never heard of a brother preparing the "three major items" for his sister's dowry.
Moreover, not everyone could afford them, but Zhang Liunian had set a precedent by actually preparing them for Zhang Xiaomei.
He was truly generous. These two items cost several hundred yuan, and he had bought them for Zhang Xiaomei without a word.
Many people present felt envious. Why didn't they have such a good brother?
Why couldn't they marry a woman like Zhang Xiaomei who had such a good brother?
If they had known Zhang Liunian was so good to his sister, they should have made a move earlier and not let the mute have her so easily.
"Liunian, you're too good to your sister as her third brother."
"Liunian, having a brother like you is the greatest fortune of your sister's life."
"Liunian, do I still have a chance to become your brother-in-law?"
"Go away, go away! They're already getting married, so there's no chance for you guys."
"Hahaha..."
"..."
Everyone burst into laughter, as if they had forgotten their shock just moments ago.
But after laughing, they still couldn't hide their envy and jealousy towards Zhang Xiaomei and the mute.
At the same time, they wondered why they couldn't become Zhang Liunian's younger siblings. If they were his siblings, they would surely also receive the three major items.
Even Zhang Guangtou, the mute's own elder brother, had his eyes red with jealousy upon hearing about this.
If the mute hadn't left his family, wouldn't these things have been his?
Now, the mute didn't acknowledge him as his elder brother and didn't work for them as their ox, causing his family's fortunes to decline day by day. He himself, however, was having a good life with Zhang Xiaomei.
How could he accept this imbalance?
No, he couldn't let the mute get so many good things for free. He was determined to get the items back.
Having made up his mind, Zhang Guangtou clenched his fists and rushed to the educated youth dormitory, intending to demand the bicycle and the sewing machine.
But his luck was bad, as he encountered Zhang Liunian opening the door.
Facing Zhang Liunian's tall and imposing physique, his unfriendly expression, and his cold eyes, Zhang Guangtou found himself unable to utter a single word of what he intended to say.
Just then, Jiang Qingqing's voice rang out from behind the two of them.
"Liunian, come inside to eat."
"Coming." Upon hearing his wife's voice, Zhang Liunian's icy face immediately warmed up, as if it wasn't him who had been wearing a cold expression moments ago.
Zhang Guangtou, seeing Zhang Liunian like this, became even more afraid to say anything. He felt that Zhang Liunian was terrifying, his mood changing too quickly. He turned tail and fled home without uttering a single word.
Seeing Zhang Guangtou leave, Zhang Liunian closed the courtyard gate and went inside to eat.
"Third Brother, I don't know how to use the sewing machine you bought for me." Zhang Xiaomei looked at the dowry her third brother had bought for her, her hands eagerly reaching out, but after trying for a while, she still couldn't figure it out.
Zhang Liunian turned his gaze to Jiang Qingqing. "Ask your third sister-in-law; she knows how."
Jiang Qingqing, who was at the dining table, was taken aback. She wondered how Zhang Liunian knew. "How did you know I know?"
"You mentioned it before," Zhang Liunian said, stepping forward and gently tapping her head.
In fact, Jiang Qingqing had indeed mentioned it to Zhang Liunian, but she herself had forgotten.
After Zhang Liunian tapped her head, Jiang Qingqing raised her hand to touch it and finally remembered.
It seemed they had talked about it casually on their wedding day.
She hadn't expected Zhang Liunian to remember it for so long.
At the time, she had only mentioned it in passing, not expecting him to remember it for years.
"After you give birth to the little one, I'll buy you one for your new home too." He would also hold a wedding ceremony then, so his wife wouldn't be wronged.
Zhang Liunian looked intently at Jiang Qingqing and made the promise.
Jiang Qingqing beamed with joy. She really liked sewing machines, perhaps because she grew up in a textile factory, which made her enjoy making clothes.
Hearing that her husband also wanted to buy one for her, she didn't refuse. "Okay!"
"Third Sister-in-law, you really know how? Then you must teach me!" Zhang Xiaomei hadn't expected her third sister-in-law to actually know. She stepped forward and held her hand, with a hint of pleading in her tone.
Jiang Qingqing smiled and patted Zhang Xiaomei's hand. "No problem. Let's start eating quickly; the dishes will get cold."
"Okay."