Returning To 1980 To Enjoy Prosperity Chapter 136: I Only Hope You Marry Well and Live a Good Life - Novel Cool

Chapter 136: I Only Hope You Marry Well and Live a Good Life

Chapter 136: I Only Hope You Marry Well and Live a Good Life

In front of three connected mud-brick houses, Ou Guohua was sitting on a small stool, intently using a very sharp machete to whittle a piece of wood. She was making herself a pair of wooden clogs, a common type of footwear in rural Guangdong and Guangxi during this era.

Especially among the Hakka people, these wooden clogs were a favorite. The method of making them was quite simple: first, use a knife, axe, and saw to cut the wood to the appropriate length, then shape it according to the foot size of either an adult or a child to create a rough mold. Next, use a planer to shave off the middle part of the wood, making the toe area lower and the heel area higher. Finally, attach the clog straps, and the job is done.

Of course, even without a saw or planer, a single knife could be used to complete the entire process, though it would take much longer and the finished surface wouldn't be as smooth and attractive.

At the moment, Ou Guohua’s wooden clogs were already in a semi-finished state. She was carefully whittling the surface, frequently running her hand over it to check her progress.

When Deng Shirong arrived at her doorstep, he saw this scene and wasn’t surprised. Women in rural areas during this time knew a great deal, such as plowing fields, planting crops, cooking, making shoes, sewing clothes, knitting sweaters, crocheting socks, weaving straw hats, and crafting baskets and brooms.

The saying "women hold up half the sky" wasn’t just a slogan; it was a reality. Women of this era were incredibly capable, and there was almost nothing they couldn’t do.

Deng Shirong got out of his car and greeted her, "Ah Hua, making shoes, huh!"

Ou Guohua looked up, then tossed the wood to the ground and stood up with a broad smile. "Uncle Jiu, why did you come?"

Deng Shirong parked his car, walked over to her, and handed her a box of sweets and pastries. "I came today to speak on your behalf, to arrange a marriage. Are your parents at home?"

Hearing the word "marriage," Ou Guohua understood the situation. She tried to suppress her embarrassment as she took the sweets and pastries. "My father went out to work, and my mother just went to the vegetable patch in the back. Uncle Jiu, why don’t you sit down and have a smoke while I go get her?"

She set the sweets and pastries aside, fetched a smoking pipe for Deng Shirong, and then ran to the vegetable patch to call her mother.

Deng Shirong had just smoked a few pipes at his in-laws' place and didn’t feel like smoking again just yet. He set the pipe aside and began to survey Ou’s house.

Ou’s house was simple, consisting of three connected mud-brick houses. To the right of the main house, there was a kitchen, and next to the kitchen, a chicken coop about the height of a person. The layout was straightforward and clear.

Judging by the degree of erosion on the mud bricks, these houses were likely built when Ou’s parents married and separated from their own parents.

Deng Shirong had heard from his eldest daughter-in-law about the situation at Ou Guohua’s home.

The Ou family had four siblings. Ou Guohua was the eldest, followed by two younger brothers and a younger sister. Their living conditions were similar to most families in the village: they could eat their fill, but meat was a luxury they could afford only once or twice a month.

Since the vegetable patch wasn’t far, Ou Guohua quickly returned with her mother.

"Uncle Jiu!"

"Relative!"

After exchanging greetings and a few pleasantries, the conversation turned to the main topic.

Deng Shirong got straight to the point. "Relative, I came today to arrange a marriage for Ah Hua. She’s probably already mentioned it to you, right?"

Ou’s mother nodded. "Uncle Jiu, tell me about the prospective groom."

Deng Shirong nodded and gave a brief introduction. "Relative, his name is Deng Changyuan. He’s a close friend of my eldest son, having grown up together. He’s two years older than Ah Hua, and their heights are well-matched. He currently works at the brick factory I co-own, earning 60 yuan a month.

He had five siblings in total. His eldest sister was already married, and his eldest brother had also tied the knot. Deng Shirong was the third child, with a younger brother and a younger sister below him.

Their family had recently built three new brick and tile houses, one of which was intended for Deng Shirong's wedding.

Ou Mother nodded inwardly. The man's family had a house and such a good job. There was really nothing to criticize about these conditions.

"Uncle Jiu, the man's conditions are quite good."

"Relative, if you agree, we can discuss the bride price for Ahua. What do you have in mind?"

Ou Mother was surprised. "Uncle Jiu, shouldn't we get to know each other first? Even though the man's conditions are good, we should still meet him, right?"

Deng Shirong glanced at Ou Guohua, who was sitting quietly, and smiled. "There's no need for a formal introduction. Ahua and Aiyuan have already met a couple of times. The first time was when my eldest son's wife came to visit our family. Ahua accompanied her, and that was their first meeting.

Then, on the day of my eldest son and his wife's wedding, Ahua was one of the bridesmaids, which was their second meeting.

These two encounters are more substantial than a formal introduction."

Ou Mother nodded, then turned to her daughter. "Ahua, what do you think of Aiyuan? Do you have any impression of him?"

Though Ou Guohua's grandfather-in-law was the matchmaker, discussing such matters in front of him made her feel very shy. She lowered her head, looking at her half-finished wooden sandal, and said softly, "He's okay, I guess."

As the saying goes, no one knows their daughter better than their mother. Hearing her daughter's response, Ou Mother had a good idea of what she thought. Ahua's impression of Aiyuan was likely positive.

Though marrying into Yayecun would mean a long distance for her daughter, Zhang Xiuping, who was like a sister to Ahua, had also married there. The two of them could support each other.

With this in mind, Ou Mother nodded. "If you think it's fine, I have no objections. We'll talk to your father when he returns. If he agrees, we can let Uncle Jiu arrange the engagement."

Deng Shirong smiled. "Relative, what do you think about the bride price?"

Ou Mother shook her head. "We don't have any specific requirements. As long as it's not less than what others receive, that's fine."

Deng Shirong was straightforward. "The current bride price is generally around three hundred yuan, plus about three hundred pounds of rice. As for clothes, the groom's family will definitely provide a few new outfits for the bride.

Some families might have additional requests, but most are satisfied with these basics and don't ask for more."

"Uncle Jiu, we'll stick to this standard for Ahua's bride price."

At this, Ou Mother looked at her daughter and sighed. "In the blink of an eye, you're at the age of marriage. As your mother, I don't ask for much. I only hope you marry into a good family and have a happy life."

"Mom!"

Ou Guohua was touched. Her mother was a rare gem in the rural area, treating all her children equally.

(End of Chapter)

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