Hunchback Zhang especially loved to recall the time when he got married. Because of Yuting, Yuting was the direct planner of his marriage. He knew very well in his heart that if it weren't for this meddlesome sister, he was destined to be single for the rest of his life.
Kneeling on Yuting's grave, Hunchback Zhang tried his best to think of those happy things. In the process of arranging the marriage, Yuting was simply like a happy bird. When Xue Li's father finally came back from outside, it was already dark when Xue Li found Yu Ting. Old Zhang and Tofu husband and wife quickly went to find matchmaker Guo, and the few of them rushed to Xue Li's house in the dark. At that time, Xueli's father was already drunk and sitting in the central room smoking a cigarette.
Matchmaker Guo was indeed a professional. When she saw Xue Li's father, she talked about how compatible they were, how rich the Zhang family was, how hardworking and considerate the younger generation of the Zhang family was, and how good it would be for Xue Li to marry him. When Matchmaker Guo said these words, Xueli's father didn't even raise his head. His eyes were only staring at the flickering light on his cigarette. The smoke was misty, and the situation seemed particularly intoxicating. When Matchmaker Guo had told her everything that needed to be said, Xueli's father only said," I've long heard that the Zhang family's kid is a little out of shape. What benefits will I get if my daughter marries him? When Matchmaker Guo heard that Xueli's father had finally spoken, a hanging stone finally fell to the ground. Matchmaker Guo was amused. Brother Liu was a straightforward person. If Xue Li married into the Zhang family and the Zhang family only had one son, wouldn't all of the Zhang family's businesses belong to Xue Li? There was no need to worry that there would be no benefits for him. How could he lack his cigarettes and alcohol? Brother Zhang, don't you think so? Hunchbacked Zhang's father nodded his head like a hungry rooster pecking at the rice grains on the ground, repeatedly saying yes, yes. Xueli's father still didn't look at Old Zhang and Tofu husband and wife. Instead, he said to Matchmaker Guo," Alright, I'll be frank with you. I won't talk about the hardships of raising children. I'll just say that after my Xueli marries into the Zhang family, she has to give me this amount." Xue Li's father raised two fingers, like the victory pose that some fashionable young people liked to pose for photos. Matchmaker Guo lowered her voice,"Brother Liu, are you asking the Zhang family to pay 200 yuan as a betrothal gift? I'm afraid it's a little high." Think about it, white rice was only sold for 30 cents per catty, and high-quality fat meat was only 80 cents per catty. A few days ago, mason Zhao married his daughter to the city. The husband's family was an official. Guess how much the betrothal gift was. That generous person only paid 120 yuan. Can you be a little less? Xueli's father said," I don't want that much from him. I'm talking about 20 yuan. Am I going to sell my daughter to the Zhang family?" Matchmaker Guo turned around and said to Old Zhang," Brother Zhang, look, I'll make the decision for you. How about we have a banquet some other day? We'll betroth this 20 yuan betrothal gift and set a date for the wedding." Old Zhang and his wife did not expect things to go so smoothly. They were so excited that they could not say a word. They could only nod. Xue Li's father said," What are you panicking for? I haven't finished speaking yet. How can this 20 yuan be a betrothal gift? I don't want this when I marry my daughter." What I meant was that I was born to drink a few cups of wine. This 20 yuan was the monthly payment for the wine that Xue Li had paid me after she went over. On the first day of every month, I'll come to the Zhang family to get it. If I can get this money, the marriage will be easy to discuss. Everyone was speechless. In the eyes of ordinary people, Sheely's father was indeed calculative. When he raised his daughters, the only liquid that people like him did not lack flowed out of his body. It was what he called the most essential thing in life. Naturally, when his daughters grew up, they would have to change into another kind of liquid that he regarded as life to repay him. Only in this way could the business reach the point where they did not owe anything. Life did not stop, and the wine did not stop. The money for wine naturally had to flow slowly. How could it be used up all at once? Matchmaker Guo stood there awkwardly, unable to say a word for a long time. Suddenly, Old Zhang Tofu stood up. The hunchbacked Zhang's mother quickly pulled the corner of his shirt and gestured for him to sit down. She waited for Matchmaker Guo to make a move. After all, she was a professional and knowledgeable. Old Zhang Tofu said unhurriedly. Brother Liu, we'll do as you say! Xue Li's father took out a piece of paper and a shiny dagger from his pocket. The paper was a contract. Old Zhang, I knew you would agree. You are a sensible person. If you have thought it through, then press your handprints on this piece of paper. With a deed, everyone would become relatives in the future, and it would be easier to talk. Old Zhang Tofu did not say anything else. He pulled out his dagger and cut his thumb. The thick snow immediately formed a blood bead on his thumb. Xue Li rushed out of the house and knelt in front of Old Zhang's Tofu. She hugged Old Zhang's legs as tears welled up in her eyes. "Dad, how can you do this? Dad, aren't you forcing our family to a dead end?”Xue Li begged him, but Old Zhang insisted on leaving his bloody fingerprint on the piece of paper. The hunchbacked woman quickly came over and cut her thumb with the dagger. She pressed her bloody fingerprint next to the man.
Matchmaker Guo didn't say a word when they left the Liu family. She felt that in all her years as a matchmaker, this was the most unsuccessful one. She felt that she had lost face in front of the Zhang family. It was Old Zhang who spoke first. Big Sister Guo, you've troubled us with our family's matters. I really have to thank you properly another day. Matchmaker Guo said," Brother Zhang, please don't say that. If there really is a crack in the ground, I will immediately crawl in. I didn't even have the courage to apologize." Tell me, if this marriage is successful, how will your family live? Now, the workers in the city worked hard for a month, but their salary was only about 30 yuan. How much could a tofu mill produce? Other than paying Drunkard Liu, how much do you have left? Old Zhang Tofu said," It's not a big deal. Big Sister Guo, look, our bodies are still strong. At most, we can make ten more boxes of tofu every day. It's just a little hard for the family. We can still make do."
With the contract with the bloody fingerprint and Matchmaker Guo's two or three trips to the Liu family, the matter was finally settled. The day of the wedding was approaching day by day. Hunchback Zhang knew about this contract when they got married. It was only a few days after Xue Li came over that Xue Li told him everything she had seen. In the family, only Yuting didn't know. According to her personality, if she knew, who knew what trouble she would cause. The news had been tightly sealed to her. Until her death, she still did not understand that there was such an episode in her brother and sister-in-law's marriage.
Hunchback Zhang poured a cup of wine and sprinkled it on his sister's grave. He also poured a cup for himself. The cold air rose. He took a sip and thought about the situation on his wedding day. It was the happiest thing in his life. He had to share it with his sister.
Logically speaking, there was no reason for Yuting to go on the wedding day. But the naughty Yu Ting said that she had to personally bring her good sister-in-law back. He followed the bridal procession to the Liu family. Xue Li was dressed especially beautifully that day and sat in a big sedan chair. The sedan chair was made from the best sedan chair carriers in the village and was made of the most colorful brocade. Old Zhang's tofu was good to people, and everyone was especially willing to help out during such a festive time.
When the sedan chair was lifted up and passed through the countryside, the leisurely villagers all followed behind and ran around. The procession grew larger and larger, and it became more and more spectacular. When the palanquin had been carried to the mountainside, the people carrying the palanquin looked like a long line, lining up all the way to the valley. Xue Li sat in the palanquin and looked out of the covered window. She was so shocked that she was dumbfounded. In the past, she had been there to watch the wedding ceremony, but she had never seen such a scene. Old Zhang Tofu, who usually visited the countryside, had too many acquaintances and friends in the countryside. Who wouldn't want to follow the wedding procession to see what kind of bride it was?
However, the family did not expect that less than three days after the wedding. Yuting, who was jumping around happily, was buried in the purple-red soil on the back of the mountain.
Yu Ting had died so tragically that the hunchbacked Mr. Zhang was unwilling to recall that moment. Yu Ting fell into a pool of blood. Her head hit the base of the snow-white stone lion in the White Cloud Zen Temple. The base was white and flawless, looking especially like an enlarged version of their tofu. Yu Ting's brain splattered onto the base, and blood sprayed far away. Not far from the door of the temple, two boxes of tofu were scattered all over the ground. Two monks, one old and one young, were sitting on two futons at the side. They were expressionless as they lowered their heads and chanted scriptures. In front of them was an incense table with offerings, incense, and candles. If a person died in this temple, it would be unreasonable if the monks did not show some mourning. After all, it was the duty of the monks to ferry the dead. Moreover, the Buddhist Sect was a quiet place. With such a bloody smell, it would probably offend the light of the Buddha statue. The Bodhisattvas would have to punish them. Outside the White Cloud Zen Temple, a young monk was sweeping the temple. The temple was so quiet that one could hear the chirping of birds in the forest. The deep temple was so quiet that it was as if nothing had happened.
Yu Ting's clothes had already been torn to shreds, and her entire body was covered in wounds. His face was covered in blood and Yuting's hair was scattered. Hunchback Zhang saw his sister's angry eyes. That gaze was imprinted in his heart.
The family quietly stood by Yu Ting's side, listening to the two monks, one old and one young, recite the scriptures. Even though he didn't understand a single word of the scripture, the hunchbacked Zhang felt a sharp pain in his heart. He remembered what his sister had said. If she lied, she would kill herself with a piece of tofu. The base of the stone lion had turned into tofu countless times in Hunchback Zhang's eyes. Could this be retribution? However, who could the innocent Yu Ting have offended to cause such a huge disaster? Heavens! Why was that? At that time, Hunchback Zhang had shouted in his heart over and over again. Old Zhang Tofu fell onto his daughter's body and wailed in pain. The hunchbacked woman had already fainted when she saw Yu Ting. She had been carried to the hospital for emergency treatment. The family was so sad that they were almost numb.
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