She Only Cares About Cultivation-Chapter 849 - 792: Famine Era 33 (First Update)

The lunch at noon was made slowly, yet it was lavish. In order to welcome the couple, Ye Yu even went into town to call back the third brother’s family.

So by the time the meal began, it was nearly one o’clock. Except for the fourth brother who was away, the entire family was present.

Ye Huan looked at her parents, who had started to show a few strands of gray hair, her increasingly scholarly third brother, the gentle and quiet sister-in-law, the sister who balanced strength and gentleness as a university graduate, the tiger-headed younger brother, her adorable and naive niece and nephew, and her husband, who was chatting and laughing with her parents and brothers, thinking how wonderful it would be if life could always stay this blissful.

To welcome them home, the third brother and sister-in-law bought braised beef and pig’s head meat. Dad and Mom stewed a pot of chicken and also sautéed several vegetarian dishes. Today’s lunch was even more sumptuous than that on New Year’s. Dad, third brother, and Tong Zhan happily drank together.

At the table, everyone asked them about their well-being. Although Ye Jiazhe felt regret that his sister was not with Ji Huzi, Tong Zhan’s arrival showed him that this brother-in-law was better than Ji Huzi, seemed more compatible with his sister, and treated her well. What more could he ask for?

Everything he did was for the sake of his family after all.

The children ate the most happily. The adults hadn’t actually eaten much meat; it was mostly consumed by Ye Jialei, Ye He Ping, Ye He Chang, and Ye He Feng.

People in this era never talked about passionate love; even the third brother and sister-in-law got engaged just by taking a liking to each other.

Knowing Tong Zhan had a life-and-death friendship with her, they understood why the two of them ended up together.

Yes, Ji Huzi saved her too, but she wasn’t conscious then. When they met again in the hospital, it was out of gratitude. For that month, she brought out good items for him, and when all was accounted for, it was almost all repaid.

As for the debt to the third brother, she believed he would take care of it himself, and she didn’t want to interfere; ultimately, she and Ji Huzi were simply not meant to be.

The fate between her and Tong Zhan might not only have involved the system but also included some hidden tasks, a subconscious feeling she had because she had not forgotten what Liang Tian said about her facing punishment across three lifetimes. Since it’s a punishment lifetime, how could things be too comfortable for her?

After the meal, Tong Zhan went to the town with the third brother, father, uncle, third uncle, fifth brother, and sixth brother to buy things because the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month was set for their wedding celebration. Although they had already held an event in the army, the absence of family from the bride’s side needed remedy, thus came this plan.

In those days, people weren’t well-off, so wedding celebrations were simple: Big Pot Dish, steamed buns, and a few cold dishes. With just family and villagers around, there wasn’t much to fuss over as everyone did the same; no one had the right to critique another.

Before they came back, quite a bit had been purchased. Today, they were going to check for any omissions, and Tong Zhan bought many items like cigarettes, alcohol, candies, and seeds, getting substantial discounts and quantities because of his military officer card.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, they borrowed tables and chairs, dishes and utensils from various houses. On the 27th, they prepared the food at home, and early on the 28th, the Ye family sisters-in-law, the third sister-in-law, Ye Yu, and the invited aunts and ladies from the village made dozens of tables of dishes together.

Wearing their uniforms, Tong Zhan and Ye Huan received blessings from everyone, made speeches, gave thanks, and finally completed the formalities.

The leftover food from the house was enough for the family to use for the New Year. The money received from the wedding wasn’t much, not even breaking even, but Mom insisted on giving the money to them. However, Ye Huan refused, gifting them ten pieces of paper money valued at fifty thousand yuan for future expenses.

"Dad, Mom, you can see that I’m living well now. Besides, I have a salary, and Tong Zhan gives me his money too. We don’t have children yet, so why would we need so much money? You are different; my brother is still young, my sister is still studying, and even though the third brother’s family doesn’t need your support, you’re getting older, and grandparents need to be taken care of too. How much money can selling tofu make? Take it, take it for my peace of mind. I can’t come back every year; it’s already a great act of unfilial conduct."

"Huanhuan, we don’t need your money. Your fourth brother still sends us fifty thousand every month, so keep this money for raising children in the future."

"The money from Fourth Brother is his duty to show you filial respect, which doesn’t conflict with mine. His is his, mine is mine, take it."

Ye Huan forcefully stuffed the money into her mother’s hands, then hugged her neck in a playful manner.

"Mom, we have to leave on the second day of the month. The army doesn’t allow such long vacations. Even though I report for work on the sixteenth, his leave is over, and you know he is the brigade commander."

"Alright, we understand, no need to say more. All your brothers have served in the army; how could we not understand?"

...

This time, Ye Huan and Tong Zhan stayed in the fourth brother’s room.

Since the event was held on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, and all the good food was enjoyed, they weren’t as anticipatory about the New Year. However, the third brother, Tong Zhan, and the fifth and sixth brothers led a bunch of kids to buy firecrackers, having fun in the village like a band of mischievous children. It reminded her of their first meeting, when he postured with sunglasses and boots, sitting coolly on a motorcycle.

But compared to this silly guy wearing the third brother’s cotton jacket and baggy cotton pants, it’s just laughable.

In the room, Ye Huan, her sister, the third sister-in-law, and Mom sat on the kang doing needlework. After the New Year, Ye Yu was going to be twenty by the nominal age. Even though she was just a freshman, she was considered an older young woman.

"Do you have a suitable prospect at school?"

Ye Yu shook her head, "I haven’t found anyone suitable. Sister, I’m not interested in looking right now."

"Why not? What about the photos I brought back this time? Any that you fancy?"

The photos Ye Huan brought were of unmarried young men from Tong Zhan’s brigade and their hospital.

Ye Yu took a deep breath, "Sister, didn’t you find someone after graduating from university? I’m just a freshman; why are you so anxious?"

"Besides, what can you tell from a photo? I have my own aspirations. I’ll find someone myself. You guys don’t need to worry."

The third sister-in-law couldn’t help but laugh, looking at Ye Huan: "See, when I introduced the teacher from our school, this little girl had the same attitude. I think we should just leave it to her. She knows her mind and is a university student. She won’t have trouble finding a good match in the future."

Finding a good match might not be hard, but what if she finds someone unsuitable?

Ye Huan, however, couldn’t speak such thoughts aloud. In all fairness, she hoped her sister would find a good match. But even someone as distinguished as Tong Zhan might not be safe from public denouncements, let alone others.

She had thought it through. If anything should happen to Tong Zhan in the future, she would definitely stay by his side. But she couldn’t drag down her family, so if need be, she would choose to cut ties. Yet now, as they didn’t understand, she couldn’t be explicit. Her sister’s marriage had to be carefully managed; she must not let her sister take the same path she did.

But since her sister was out there and parents couldn’t see her, everything rested on her sister’s judgment. After pondering, she called Ye Yu aside.

"Yu’er, tell your sister, what kind of person do you imagine?"

"Of course, someone cultured and ambitious. It’s a new society now. I definitely can’t find myself a boorish person, right?"

Ye Huan realized what she meant. She thought less of her choices, considering them boorish, making Ye Huan twitch with speechlessness: "There are military doctors among them, aren’t there?"

Aren’t military doctors just as good as teachers? Besides, the ones she selected were from clear family backgrounds.

Finally, she added, "Currently, the nationwide illiteracy eradication campaigns are especially emphasized in the military. And those I’ve chosen for you all come from three generations of poor farming families with uncomplicated family relations, Yu’er."

Ye Yu, feeling somewhat exasperated, pinched her eyebrows, "Sister, what’s gotten into you? Why suddenly so concerned about my lifetime partner? I’ve already said I don’t want to look for one right now. Can’t I do like you and find someone suitable later on?"

Her sister’s attitude made Ye Huan realize that pressing too hard might have adverse effects, prompting her to give up for now.

Since their family started making tofu, Uncle had repeatedly asked Mom about learning the craft, but she said they couldn’t handle the hardship, subtly expressing their disdain for the laziness and untidiness of Uncle’s family. Although the third uncle and third aunt were somewhat better, they were overly shrewd, unlikely to sustain it because business requires honesty.

"Mom, if they want to learn, then teach them. How they fare is their business, not yours."

Seeing her daughter concur, Mother Ye had no further comments, turning the conversation to grandparents’ situation. They were getting old and unable to care for themselves. The third uncle and Uncle took turns looking after them, while other children contributed ten thousand yuan per month for expenses on medicine and shared costs.

This arrangement, made during Grandma’s birthday when the second uncle came back and discussed with aunt and the six siblings, was understood by all parties.

Ye Huan didn’t comment, recognizing it was her mother and uncles’ responsibility as it wasn’t her place as a granddaughter to chime in.

But when it came to contributing money or effort, she would not hesitate.

Since they were leaving on the second day of the month, they prepared return tickets and had no plans to visit grandparents’ house, nor did they visit other relatives’ homes since many of them came to the wedding. Under normal circumstances during the New Year, they ought to visit relatives, but time was tight.

Therefore, it was decided for Ye Yu to take gifts around, explain their situation, and indicate a future visit when time allowed.