Chapter 155: Qin Family Village Proposal

The morning mist had not yet cleared when Yi Zhonghai led Jia Dongxu onto the road to Qin Family Village. Jia Dongxu had specially changed into a brand-new work uniform, his hair slicked and shining, tightly gripping the betrothal gifts in his hand—twenty catties of cornmeal and ten catties of pork, plus a roll of floral cloth.

"Master, do you think this will work?" Jia Dongxu asked, nervous sweat beading on his palms.

Yi Zhonghai glanced at him: "Look at your lack of ambition—this gift would be considered generous even in the city, let alone the countryside. Be sharp later, don't stand there like a mute gourd."

When they arrived at Qin Family Village, the sun was already high. Qin Huairu was feeding chickens in the courtyard; seeing them approach, her face flushed red and she hurriedly slipped inside.

Qin's parents came out to greet them; Qin Father rubbed his hands and said, "Master Yi, you've come all this way—please, come inside!"

Yi Zhonghai set the gift box on the table and got straight to the point: "Old brother, sister-in-law, we're plain people—no need to beat around the bush. Dongxu lost his father young; I've watched him grow up and treat him as my own son. He's honest and hardworking, now a second‑class worker at the Steel Rolling Mill, earning thirty‑eight yuan six a month."

Qin Mother peeked at the betrothal items—the ten catties of pork, ten catties of cornmeal—and her eyes lit up. Qin Father understood, cleared his throat: "Master Yi, let me be frank—our Huairu is one of the top girls in the village. Just the other day, Old Wang's family from the east end came to propose, and the suitors could line up to the village gate. Their betrothal gifts were higher than yours..."

"I believe that!" Yi Zhonghai laughed. "That's why we've come sincerely to propose. The bride price will be the eight yuan we agreed on; after the young couple marries, we'll add a sewing machine for them."

Qin Huairu came out from the inner room and said, "Let me speak a few words with Comrade Jia."

She called Jia Dongxu under the jujube tree in the courtyard and whispered, "Comrade Jia, if we marry, who will handle your wages...?"

Jia Dongxu stared, thinking of his mother Jia Zhangshi's domineering nature, but for the sake of marrying Qin Huairu he scratched his head and said awkwardly, "All... all will be handled by you! My mother said, once married, the wife manages the household."

Qin Huairu's lips twitched slightly, then she asked, "And... our family only has this one room; what about when we have children..."

"Don't worry!" Jia Dongxu hurriedly replied, "My master said, when he retires, that room will be mine."

Outside the courtyard, Qin Huairu asked again, "Comrade Jia, at the factory... do you know a Section Chief surnamed Li?"

Jia Dongxu blinked: "You mean Li Ping'an? I know him—he lives in our courtyard. Why, do you know him?"

"No, no." Qin Huairu lowered her head in a panic, "I just heard he's a hero..."

"Hey..." Jia Dongxu's tone turned sour, "He's just a soldier who came back, now in the Security Section, acting all high and mighty!" The two returned to the main hall to listen to the elders' discussion.

Yi Zhonghai observed this scene, his brows slightly furrowed, a plan forming in his mind.

Just then, Qin Huairu noticed everyone's tea cups were empty, rose with the teapot to pour water, deliberately pausing in front of Jia Dongxu. He caught a faint scent of soapberry from her, and his face flushed red to the ears.

"Miss Qin is truly virtuous," Yi Zhonghai praised. "After she marries in, she'll surely be a capable homemaker."

Qin Huairu lowered her head, murmuring, "Master Yi, you flatter me." Yet her eyes furtively sized up the gifts Jia Dongxu had brought.

At lunchtime, Qin Mother specially stir‑fried several dishes and sliced a plate of cured meat. Yi Zhonghai saw this and knew the Qin family was intentionally pushing this match.

"Old brother," Yi Zhonghai poured wine for Qin Father, "look at these two children's marriage..."

Qin Father took a sip of wine: "Master Yi, let me be frank—just days ago the village secretary's nephew also came to propose, offering fifteen yuan in bride price."

Hearing this, Jia Dongxu panicked: "Uncle, I—I truly love Huairu!"

Yi Zhonghai pressed his hand down, calm: "Old brother, even if the secretary's family is good, they're still rural. Dongxu is a proper city worker; after Huairu moves in, she'll eat state‑ration grain. Any children we have will also be urban hukou."

These words struck the Qin family's hearts. Qin Huairu, listening on the side, her eyes brightened.

Qin Mother pulled Qin Father aside and muttered, "Old man, Master Yi makes sense. If our daughter marries into the city, she won't have to toil in the fields anymore."

Qin Father pondered a moment, then returned to the table: "Since Master Yi has put it this way... then this marriage..."

Yi Zhonghai was still negotiating the date with Qin Father: "Old brother, I think the sixth of next month is an auspicious day—shall we hold the wedding then?"

Qin Mother interjected: "Isn't that a bit rushed?"

"Sister‑in‑law," Yi Zhonghai smiled, "the two youngsters are fond of each other; marrying early will let them live peacefully."

Finally they agreed: betrothal money eight yuan, wedding on the sixth of next month.

On the road back to the city, Jia Dongxu jumped with excitement: "Master, thank you so much! Without you, this match would surely have fallen through!"

Yi Zhonghai, however, seemed deep in thought: "Dongxu, after you marry you must settle down and live well. I see this Huairu girl... she's not simple."

"Master, rest assured!" Jia Dongxu declared, "I will treat her well!"

Jia Dongxu rubbed his hands excitedly: "Master, Huairu promised to let me hand over my wages to her!"

Yi Zhonghai snorted: "You brat, don't let a pretty wife cloud your judgment—your mother won't agree."

When they reached the Siheyuan, dusk was falling. Jia Zhangshi was already waiting at the gate; seeing them return, she hurriedly asked, "How did it go?"

"Done! Wedding on the sixth of next month!" Jia Dongxu beamed.

Hearing they needed to pay eight yuan betrothal, Jia Zhangshi's face fell: "That much?"

"Mom, Huairu said she'll manage my wages from now on!" Jia Dongxu said happily.

"What?" Jia Zhangshi shrieked, "She's turned against me!"

Yi Zhonghai hurriedly urged: "Old sister‑in‑law, young people nowadays do this. Besides, Huairu knows how to run a household."

Just then, Li Ping'an returned from work off‑shift. Jia Dongxu shouted proudly, "Ping'an, I'm getting married!"

Li Ping'an nodded: "Congratulations."

After he walked away, Jia Dongxu muttered, "Putting on airs!"

Far away in Korea, Lin Xueqing had just received Li Ping'an's letter. She carefully opened the envelope, saw the familiar handwriting, and a sweet smile spread across her face.

"Ping'an says there's going to be a wedding in the courtyard..." she murmured softly, her eyes glimmering with tenderness, waiting for his next letter to tell her the gold daisies here are in full bloom...

She folded the letter neatly, kept it close to her body. Under the lights of the field hospital, her silhouette appeared especially gentle.

In the Siheyuan, Jia Zhangshi was calculating accounts: "Three tables for the feast, each table no more than five yuan..."

Jia Dongxu, however, was lost in joy, telling everyone he met, "I'm getting married!"

Only Li Ping'an continued his daily fist practice and work; the courtyard's bustle seemed unrelated to him.

Night deepened; Qin Huairu tossed and turned on the earthen bed in Qin Family Village. She fingered the roll of floral cloth, her heart both eager and uneasy.

"City... state‑ration grain..." she murmured, picturing Jia Dongxu's honest smile, occasionally flashing Li Ping'an's upright figure.

"This marriage is like a seed that has taken root and sprouted in the Siheyuan. Only time will tell what fruit it will bear."

The moon quietly climbed the treetops, silently shining upon this tumultuous world.