Chapter 26: Celebrating Together

Before the three of them came over, Zhang Ping'an was also intentionally or unintentionally inquiring about Qin Huairu's situation.

"Auntie, that Aunt Zhang just now, she..."

"She is from my husband's brother's family."

"Oh, oh, I saw Aunt Zhang with a young woman last time."

"You mean Huairu? She is the prettiest girl in our ten miles and eight villages. This child is also diligent and a dab hand at housework. All the big and small matters at home are handled by the two of them, mother and daughter. Why? Young man, have you taken a fancy to her?"

"Auntie, I am still young. It was my nephew who saw that girl last time and has been thinking about her ever since, to the point he has no heart for work. Isn't it a coincidence that we came here this time and ran into her? It shows they are truly fated."

"That is true. Huairu is a good child. What is your nephew's situation? If his conditions are good, Auntie can put in a word for you."

"Speaking of my nephew, he is also a handsome young man in these ten miles and eight villages..."

"Ahem."

"Uncle, take it slow, you choked, didn't you? Where was I? Right, handsome young man, my nephew is..."

Anyway, since they were idle, Zhang Ping'an began a half-hour-long praise of his nephew.

"Uncle," Jia Dongxu blushed, which was a rare sight.

"Ahem, hahaha, don't mind it."

"Dongxu, you go weigh the goods for my brother's family first, Huairu, you go over and lend a hand too."

"Alright, Mother." Qin Huairu trotted over to weigh the goods.

"Alright, Mother, er, alright, Auntie." Jia Dongxu followed Qin Huairu and called out as well.

"Hahaha."

"Go on, go on."

Zhang Lan pulled Zhang Ping'an to one side.

"Ping'an, is everything you just said true?"

"Naturally, Auntie, let me tell you, my nephew..."

"Fine, fine, I heard it all just now." Seeing that Zhang Ping'an was about to start a long-winded speech, Zhang Lan hurriedly interrupted.

"You have seen my Huairu, and she seems to have some interest in Dongxu. Tell me Dongxu's home address; I must go and inquire. If it is truly as you said, we will settle this."

"Done, as it should be, Ninety-five Courtyard, Nanluoguxiang."

"Good."

Under Zhang Lan's loud shouting all the way, many villagers brought their dry goods and arrived one after another. The uncle Zhang Ping'an had met halfway also pushed his wheelbarrow over, and Zhang Ping'an hurried to greet him.

"Uncle, I was just about to go to your place after finishing the weighing here."

"It's all the same, it's only two steps away. Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law."

"Hmm, Dabao, you've hunted quite a lot during this period."

"Big Brother, you know my skills."

"Uncle Dabao, let's exchange pointers when we have time. I also learned hunting from my uncle Zhang Laiyuan, and I have hunted quite a lot of game back in my hometown."

"Oh? Zhang Laiyuan is your uncle? Are you also from Zhang Family Village?"

"Yes."

"Hahaha, good. I didn't expect you to have been trained by the Squad Leader. Then we can be considered fellow disciples."

"Ah? Uncle Zhang is your Squad Leader?"

"Hahaha, that's right, kid. I was a comrade-in-arms with the Squad Leader, and these skills of mine were taught by him. If the Squad Leader hadn't known how to hunt back then, we might have all starved to death."

"Later, the Squad Leader taught all his skills to a few of us. We hunted a lot of game, solved several difficulties for the regiment, and were able to perform meritorious service. Later, we were transferred to the logistics department, and in the end, we all retired in one piece."

It turned out that there were ten people in their squad, but only five recommendation spots, meaning five people had to return directly to their original hometowns. Zhang Laiyuan and he were both from Sijiucheng and had more opportunities, so they voluntarily withdrew.

There were three others whose family conditions were also quite good, and they didn't fight for it, fulfilling the needs of the five comrades from poor families.

"Greetings, Senior Fellow Disciple."

"You kid."

"Uncle Dabao, the reason I called you Senior Fellow Disciple is because once my nephew and your niece get together, we will be considered of the same generation," Zhang Ping'an whispered.

"Hahaha, good. I'll wait to drink at their wedding feast," Qin Dabao also replied in a whisper.

With the help of everyone, the uncle and nephew quickly weighed and packed everything. It was only after tying up the tricycle that they realized it was already noon.

"Come, Ping'an, go to my place to eat. Your sister-in-law has already stewed some meat."

"This..."

"Don't be wishy-washy, call your nephew along too."

"Alright, I'll listen to you, Senior Fellow Disciple."

"Dongxu, tidy up, we're going to my Senior Fellow Disciple's house for a meal."

"Oh, alright, coming." Jia Dongxu was a bit puzzled; how did his uncle have a Senior Fellow Disciple in Qin Family Village?

"Auntie, thank you and Huairu for your help today. This is a little bit of candy, please help distribute it."

"Good~" Zhang Lan had already regarded Jia Dongxu as her son-in-law, so naturally, she was satisfied with everything she saw.

After Jia Dongxu and Zhang Ping'an left, Zhang Lan said to Qin Huairu,

"Huairu, I think Dongxu is quite good. I'll ask someone to inquire in the city later. If it's really as his uncle said, we'll settle it. What do you think?"

"I'll listen to Mother," Qin Huairu said with a blushing face. They say a young girl's blush is better than any sweet talk, and it is indeed true.

"You silly girl, you rejected anyone who came to propose before, now you know how to listen to Mother."

"Mother~~"

"Alright, stop shaking me. You've been busy all morning and must be hungry. Let's go, let's go home and eat."

After eating at Qin Dabao's house and resting for a while, they left five packs of cigarettes for Qin Dabao, and the uncle and nephew returned to Sijiucheng.

"This kid," Qin Dabao lit a Qianmen with satisfaction. Like his big brother, he finished half a cigarette in one puff.

"Comfortable, hits the spot." Although Qin Dabao was not short on money, he rarely went to the city to buy cigarettes, preferring to smoke his homemade dry tobacco.

At three in the afternoon, the two arrived at the Rolling Mill, unloaded the goods, settled the bill, left, rode their bikes home, grabbed their fishing rods, and went fishing.

The Rolling Mill was not pressing for the return of this tricycle Zhang Ping'an had, and he did not intend to turn it in; this way, he could catch a few more fish every day. There were still quite a few big fish now, but it would be hard to catch big fish in the future.

A week later, Qin Huairu's mother finished her background check on Jia Dongxu, and the results satisfied her greatly. The subsequent matters went much more smoothly, and the arrangement between Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu was settled verbally just like that.

Aside from going fishing with Zhang Ping'an in the morning, Jia Dongxu now bought things every few days and ran off to Qin Family Village in the afternoon.

"It really is 'once you have a wife, you forget your mother.' My Ping'an is still the best; he can even accompany San Jie for a stroll in the afternoon."

"Hahaha, Xiaohua, Dongxu is getting married after the New Year, so it's normal for him to build a relationship with his future wife. Didn't we do the same back in our day..."

"Pah, what nonsense are you spouting in front of the children?"

"Oh, right, right, right." Lao Jia winked at Xiao Jia.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and it was soon October 1st, 1949, the sacred day of the Middle Kingdom. Zhang Ping'an was very much looking forward to it; he did not want to miss this grand scene of universal celebration.

At this time, the atmosphere in Sijiucheng was noticeably much more solemn. Jia Dongxu stopped running off to Qin Family Village, and Zhang Ping'an, fearing misunderstandings, stopped getting up early to fish. The uncle and nephew both fished one session in the morning and one in the afternoon.

October 1st was a day worth remembering by the whole world. Zhang Ping'an had excellent eyesight, so even standing on the periphery, he could see everything clearly. He was moved to tears by this scene.

Upon seeing the red idol in his heart, he was even more excited and shouted loudly along with the crowd. Even after returning to the Siheyuan, Zhang Ping'an's heart could not calm down for a long time.

Zhang Ping'an believed that if any person from later generations were lucky enough to witness this scene, they would be just as excited as he was.