During the Republic of China period, in xiaohe straight street north of Hangzhou lived a Zhang Laohan who was nearly sixty years old.
Zhang Laohan's wife died many years ago, both sons have married wives, they work in Ningbo, only Zhang Laohan and his two daughters-in-law are at home.
The two daughters-in-law are not only beautiful in appearance, but also very filial to him.
One morning in the early summer of this year, after cleaning the yard, Zhang Laohan went out to take out the garbage, and suddenly found an old lady standing in front of the door, as if she was waiting for someone.
Zhang Laohan didn't care at that time, and after returning home, he was busy for a while, and in the blink of an eye, more than two hours passed, and he saw that the old lady was still standing there, as if the people who were waiting had not come.
Zhang Laohan paid attention to this old lady, but did not ask her. So I drank tea in the courtyard to cool off.
Zhang Laohan was confused in his heart, so he frequently went to the door many times and looked at the door to find that this poor old lady was still standing there.
At this time, it was almost noon, and Zhang Laohan asked his daughter-in-law to go out and ask the old lady what was going on.
When the two daughters-in-law came out to ask, the old lady shed tears and said: "My son is not filial piety, I want to go to the official palace to sue him, I am here waiting for one of my sister's children to go to the official palace with me, but I did not expect that he has not come, my stomach is a little hungry." ”
The two daughters-in-law sympathized with the old lady and took the old woman's hand and invited her into the house to eat.
The old lady was articulate and able to speak, and she and Zhang Laohan's family talked very happily with each other.
But until the evening, the old lady still did not see anyone to wait, so the daughters-in-law left the old lady at home for the night.
In this way, the old lady lived in Zhang Laohan's house for ten days, she was very capable, and all the daily housework was cooked by the old lady, especially the work of the female worker, which was very exquisite.
Zhang Laohan's two daughters-in-law were afraid of the old lady's departure, and after understanding them, they knew that the old lady's wife had passed away, thinking that since his son was not filial piety and a lonely person was alone, it was better to say and make peace to her husband.
Therefore, the two daughters-in-law together persuaded the father-in-law to marry this old lady.
Zhang Laohan has been single for many years, watching the old lady diligent and capable, a hand, a mouth and a happy agreement, so he sent someone to Ningbo to inform the two part-time sons.
The two sons heard that their father was getting married, so they came back to see.
This old lady is very good at things, asking for warmth, buying vegetables and wine, coaxing Zhang Laohan's sons to be very happy, and they are glad that their father has found a good partner.
Therefore, Zhang Laohan married the old lady and the two people at the urging of his son.
More than ten days after marriage, on this day, Zhang Laohan was working in the courtyard, when suddenly there was a knock at the door, he came out to see that it was a strong man in his 30s and a woman at the door.
They asked Zhang if he had seen an old lady some time ago. Zhang Laohan guessed in his heart that this must be the old woman's family.
So they were let into the house, and the old lady came out of the back room to see that it was her son and daughter who were looking for her.
As soon as the old lady saw them, she burst out and scolded, and the two brothers and sisters knelt on the ground and confessed their sins.
However, the old lady still did not hesitate to scold loudly, and Zhang Laohan tried his best to persuade the old lady, and the old lady eased up a little.
Since they were all family members, Zhang Laohan ordered his two daughters-in-law Zhang Luo to drink wine and vegetables.
After the meal was ready, Zhang Laohan invited the old lady's son to drink. The old woman's family did not push back, and they ate and drank heavily.
After three rounds of drinking, the old lady's son suddenly knelt on the ground and wanted to worship Zhang Laohan as his stepfather, fortunately his mother found a good person and had something to rely on in his future life. In this way, the two families went back and forth for more than three months.
On this day, the grandson of the old lady came to Zhang Laohan's house, told his grandmother that he was getting married, and invited Zhang Laohan's family to drink engagement wine.
The old lady said, "I don't feel safe going to the house, but if the two daughters-in-law can just walk away, I will go with my wife and his two sons." ”
Therefore, Zhang Laohan and the old lady plus their two sons went to Fan Jiatang and met the old lady's son in a small farm yard.
The old lady's son was enthusiastic about entertaining The Zhang Family.
Zhang Laohan's father and son were very happy, and drank until the evening, and then they came home drunk.
After more than a month, on this day, the grandson of the old lady came to invite The Zhang Laohan family and said: "The eighth day of october is the big day of my marriage, please ask my grandfather and the two uncles and aunts to drink a cup of happy wine together." ”
Zhang Laohan and his two daughters-in-law both smiled and agreed.
Therefore, early in the morning of the old lady's grandson's big day, Zhang Laohan's two daughters-in-law put on the jewelry they had treasured before marriage and went to the wedding in full makeup.
After Zhang Laohan came to FanJiatang with his son and daughter-in-law, he saw the old lady's daughter-in-law standing at the door to greet them in the distance, and when he came closer, the woman looked blue and yellow, as if she was sick.
In the evening, the old lady's son came, invited the two daughters-in-law of Zhang Laohan to greet the bride, and said, "This is our custom here." ”
The old lady next to her said to her son: "Although your daughter-in-law is sick, but she is going to be a mother-in-law today, how can she not personally greet the bride and groom through the door, but bother you two younger siblings?" ”
The old lady's son said: "Her sick appearance is really too ugly, I am afraid that my relatives will see the joke, so she can only be a foil; the two younger sisters are so beautiful and have long faces for us, so help to go and kiss!" ”
Zhang Laohan reluctantly agreed. So the old lady and the sick daughter-in-law, plus Zhang Laohan's two daughters-in-law, took a boat together to marry the bride.
At this time, only Zhang Laohan's father and son and the old lady's son were left and right in the family, and they waited left and right, and they still did not see them return at noon.
So, the old lady's son said to Zhang Laohan, "Father, I'll go and inquire to see why they haven't come back yet." "So the old lady's son is gone."
Zhang Laohan's father and son waited until the evening, and did not see the old woman's family return, the father and son panicked and looked around, did not see their traces, felt that the situation was not good, asked the neighbors, and finally found the owner.
"They moved in five or six months ago to rent this house, but they don't know where they came from," the owner said. ”
Zhang Laohan's father and son had to go to the official government to report the case, and the official government sent people to investigate for more than a month without news, and Zhang Laohan's father and son were remorseful and held their breath and caught fire.
