Chapter 1527: Hot Commodity
There were still some persistent voices saying, "You never know about the character of someone you meet outside. It’s better to find someone whose background you know well."
Everyone working understood what Xiao Lan meant, but no one laughed at her. After all, everyone had their own thoughts.
"Marriage is for a lifetime. If they get along, they stay together more. If not, they just don’t live together."
This was what Li Yungui said to comfort her in recent days, and today he said it to others. Qu Xiaoli thought it was particularly reasonable.
The couple wants to spend their life together; as long as they are willing, that’s all that matters.
This made many people give up their thoughts. Who could have thought that the usually quiet Changhe could actually get into university?
"Xiao Li, isn’t the Red Army already twenty-three?"
"Yes, Changhe and they are about the same age."
For the Red Army, there seemed even less hope. His father was a high official, and even though Li Yunqiao was from Li Family Village, it felt like reaching too high.
"Xiao Li, is your brother-in-law’s family coming over tonight?"
"Yes, his uncle is the busiest during the twelfth lunar month."
Li Yunqiang has ordered a whole pig for this event, expecting to set thirty-five tables. This afternoon all the meat was cooked, and other fried items, chicken, and fish are also ready.
Shuxin was incredibly busy. Zhang Aiping was indeed lying at home, not coming out to help at all.
Of course, no one really cared about her absence.
In the evening, Li Yunqiao’s family of seven came over, leaving the youngest, Li Xiang, at home. Although the Red Army went to pick them up, they were afraid it was too cold here, so they sent him to his grandma’s.
The family, along with those helping today, ate dinner together, and Shu Wen, the groom, was somewhat overlooked. Everyone congratulated the four university students.
Wang Menglin’s admission notice hadn’t arrived yet, but she wasn’t worried. The Red Army called the Tao Family, and it was confirmed that Wang Menglin could attend university.
The next day, the Red Army drove a jeep to pick up the bride with Shu Wen. The village’s two tractors also went out, carrying the dowry from the bride’s side and new relatives.
This was the most prestigious wedding convoy in the region by far.
The bride’s side also knew that five of the groom’s cousins got into university. They were truly treated like celestial beings.
The four young men were genuinely embarrassed.
Among the new relatives, there were several young ladies with ulterior motives.
The Red Army and the others brought the bride over and immediately started helping with the dishes, giving no chance for the girls to get acquainted with them.
Zhang Aiping was at home sulking, and at mealtime, Qu Xiaoli asked Shuxin to call her, but Li Shuxin readily agreed and did nothing.
Wang Shulin, Zheng Jixian, Liu Dazhi, Sun Shengli, all came over to congratulate them.
Each visit to Li Family Village was a blow to them, highlighting the incompetence of the village chiefs and captains from other villages.
In the future, comparisons wouldn’t even be possible; with over a dozen university students, how could their children neglect their hometown relatives when they succeed?
Wang Shulin and the others knew there would be a banquet for the children on the tenth, and they would surely come over.
"Yun Gui, are the leaders coming over?"
"I don’t know. But the township head told me that the city, county, and township will all reward them. Not sure if it’s tomorrow."
Actually, Li Yungui didn’t want them to come that day. It was a joyous occasion, but if leaders came, it would be very formal and restrictive.
"Yun Gui, I really envy you."
"It’s all the children’s hard work, and Xiao Jiang’s guidance. I, as a father, haven’t really done much."
"Are you bragging to me now?" Wang Shulin glared at Li Yungui.
"Haha, did you catch me?"
"Sigh, our village is too far from yours, otherwise, I’d definitely have the village children attend your village’s school.
People outside now say that Li Family Village is full of talented people."
Li Yungui loved hearing that. It was more satisfying than any personal praise.
Lively and bustling, everyone was extremely satisfied, with the in-laws from the bride’s side even more envious.
At night, the Red Army drove to take the family back to the city.
He would pick them up the day after tomorrow; now, Li Yunqiao couldn’t possibly take too long a leave.
On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Yungui had just sent off Shuxin, who delivered eggs and a big rooster, when he saw three cars arriving in the village.
Were the leaders here? He hurried to welcome them, and the first car was Xing Mingying.
Li Yungui quickly told the kids to call the Red Army and the others over. The leaders were here to commend them and deliver rewards.
He warmly greeted the leaders and invited them into the captain’s office.
Nowadays, there were few idlers in the village, but seeing so many cars come, they thought trouble was brewing, so everyone at home came over.
The Red Army and the others got the news and rushed over.
The county chief and township head were all very proud, since the top scorer came from within their jurisdiction. It was beneficial for them as well.
The principals of the city and county high schools also came over.
Everyone realized they weren’t there to cause trouble, and seeing they were delivering awards, they felt at ease and stayed to watch.
All the leaders who came gave speeches, praising the five of them.
The Red Army received the most awards, and the other four received the same praise.
Li Yungui had the distillery prepare two bottles of wine for each leader, not for profit, but out of heartfelt gratitude.
After sending off the leaders, the villagers once more congratulated the five, as honestly, the four young men grew up under their eyes, and seeing them succeed, the entire village was naturally happy.
Li Yungui was also very satisfied, glad they didn’t come tomorrow. If they had arrived a little later, they would have caught them cooking the meat here.
Though it’s nothing to hide, it’s always better not to let the leaders see.
The Red Army and its three brothers returned home. They managed their own earnings, with the Red Army having the most money; he was a dual worker, operating a tractor and farming, and had saved up two thousand dollars, earning another hundred this time.
The other three brothers had each around a thousand plus, and their families didn’t take their money, so they held onto it all themselves.
In the afternoon, they joined in the work, and Li Yungui directly ordered two pigs, planning to use one and a half, keeping the remaining half for the family.
On the tenth day, even more people came, filling over fifty tables. Anyone even remotely related came over.
Li Yungui did not accept a single penny; he was purely happy and wanted everyone to bless them.
If they accepted money, it might not look good, so even when Li Yunqiao and Lv Beiguang offered to split the cost, he refused.
Even though there were many future expenses, Li Yungui felt that this was the happiest event of his life, so he was willing to live frugally even if he had to tighten his belt later on.