Chapter 37: The Matchmaker's Gift
Chapter 37: The Matchmaker's Gift
Deng Shirong had barely stepped through the door when someone arrived with the matchmaker's gift.
In those days, the matchmaker's gift was a matter of great importance. First, there was the red envelope, typically containing ten to thirty yuan.
Then came a pig's hind leg, which varied in size depending on the family's financial situation. For those who were less well-off or more frugal, a pig's hind leg might weigh only four to five kilograms. Wealthier and more generous families would offer a hind leg weighing over ten kilograms.
A pig's hind leg was always accompanied by a piece of pork, usually weighing about one to two kilograms.
Next was the essential five-spice meat and a whole slab of braised pork belly.
The braised pork belly could vary in size, with the larger ones weighing over ten kilograms and the smaller ones only a few kilograms.
Along with these, there were cigarettes, alcohol, and sweets, which were also indispensable.
Additionally, there were rice, sesame seeds, peanuts, and various beans—these miscellaneous items were also included in the gift.
Deng Yunqiang, Deng Shirong's cousin, was quite generous. The matchmaker's gift he gave to Deng Shirong included a thirty-yuan red envelope, a ten-kilogram pig's hind leg, a fifteen-kilogram slab of braised pork belly, two kilograms of pork and five-spice meat, two packs of cigarettes, two bottles of alcohol, two kilograms of sweets, and two kilograms each of rice, sesame seeds, peanuts, black beans, yellow beans, red beans, and green beans.
Seeing such a generous gift, Deng Shirong's eyes nearly turned into slits from smiling, as the tenfold reward from the "Matchmaker Reward System" had made him very wealthy indeed.
After the system rewards were credited, Deng Shirong began to prepare the return gift.
He gave a five-yuan red envelope, a kilogram of pork, half the sweets, and half each of the rice, sesame seeds, peanuts, and various beans as the return gift.
When the person returned with the gift, all of Deng Shirong's children, except for Deng Yuntao who was working at the brick factory, gathered around in amazement.
In this era of scarce resources, receiving so much meat at once was a truly astonishing event.
Deng Shirong kept the pig's hind leg, the braised pork belly, and the five-spice meat, and asked his eldest daughter to store the rest. He then took out a cleaver and cut the pig's hind leg into three pieces, each weighing about two and a half kilograms, aside from the bone.
Next, he cut the braised pork belly into four pieces, one weighing about five to six kilograms and the other three weighing about three kilograms each.
Deng Shirong then threaded the three pieces of pig's hind leg and the three pieces of braised pork belly onto a bamboo skewer. He handed it to his second son, Deng Yunheng, and said, "Yunheng, take these to your two uncles and your aunt. Tell them that we plan to lay the foundation for a new house this month and ask them to come over and help if they have time."
Deng Yunheng was shocked. "Father, we're building a new house this month?"
The other siblings also stared at their father with wide eyes, clearly stunned by the news.
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Our current house is just barely big enough for us. Your elder brother is already twenty years old and it's time for him to get married. If we don't build a new house, where will everyone live once we bring your new sister-in-law home? So, I plan to start building the house this year. Once it's done, we'll start looking for a suitable match for your elder brother next year."
The siblings nodded in agreement.
In those days, while women didn't demand houses and cars as they did in later times, it was almost impossible to make a marriage work if the bride had nowhere to live after the wedding.
So, when Deng Shirong said this, all the children felt that building a new house was indeed necessary.
Deng Yunheng asked with anticipation, "Father, what do you plan to build the new house like? Will we each have our own room?"
Deng Shirong beamed with a smile. "In the new house, all seven of you will have your own rooms. As for what it will look like, you'll see once it's finished. It's getting late, so hurry and take the pork and braised pork to your two uncles and your third aunt."
Deng Yunheng quickly packed the pork and braised pork into a cardboard box, tied it to the back of his bicycle with a hemp rope, and pedaled off toward his uncle’s house.
...
2:30 PM.
In Xiaojiang Village, Zhouwang Commune, Chen Dacun sat at his front door, puffing on his water pipe. The first batch of fields in their production team had been divided among the households, with each person receiving 1.6 mu of land. Chen Dacun and his wife, along with their four children, were allocated a total of 9.6 mu. With so much land, as long as they didn’t face natural disasters, they should have a steady supply of food after the harvest.
With a future to look forward to, his spirit was renewed.
Across from Chen Dacun sat his wife, Li Ying. Since it was a few days before the transplanting season, Li Ying was sitting at the front door, mending shoes. In those days, most villagers made their own shoes, as few could afford to buy them from the supply cooperative.
After a few puffs, Chen Dacun leaned his water pipe against the wall and looked up to see his nephew, Deng Yunheng, rushing toward their house on his bicycle.
"Second Uncle, Second Aunt," Deng Yunheng greeted, sweat pouring down his face as he dismounted.
"Yunheng, what brings you here?" Chen Dacun asked, walking over.
Li Ying put down her shoe and stood up. "Yunheng, have you had lunch? We have congee and sweet potatoes."
"Second Aunt, I’ve already eaten."
Deng Yunheng replied to his aunt, then untied the box from his bicycle. He took out a string of meat and handed it to his uncle with a smile. "Second Uncle, this is for you."
Seeing the pork and braised pork, which looked to weigh at least five or six pounds, Chen Dacun’s eyes widened. "Yunheng, where did you get so much pork and braised pork? I remember your family’s pig was only a few months old; it won’t be ready until the end of the year."
Li Ying was also shocked. In those times, meat was a rare treat, usually only consumed during festivals. Even when they did buy meat, it was usually just a pound or two, and few could afford to buy several pounds at once.
Deng Yunheng laughed. "Second Uncle, Second Aunt, we didn’t kill our pig. This is a gift of gratitude from someone who asked my father to be a matchmaker."
Chen Dacun took the meat and asked, surprised, "When did your father start matchmaking?"
"About a month ago."
Deng Yunheng then briefly recounted his father’s matchmaking experience to his uncle and aunt. "Father said we might start building a new house this month. If you have time, we’d appreciate your help."
Chen Dacun nodded. "Your family does need a new house. Your eldest brother is of marriageable age. I’ll be busy with transplanting in a few days, but once that’s done, I’ll have more time to help."
Deng Yunheng nodded. "Alright, Father just mentioned it. I don’t know the exact date yet, but I’ll let you know when we start."
Chen Dacun said, "No problem."
Deng Yunheng added, "I still need to deliver the pork to Third Uncle and Third Aunt, so I’ll be on my way!"
Li Ying quickly said, "Yunheng, wait a moment. Your father likes a little wine. I’ll give you some peanuts to take back."
(End of Chapter)
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