Chapter 316: Bang Geng's Abnormal Behavior

Li Huaide and his wife had an even better impression of Zhang Ping'an; he had absolutely no need to do this, yet he was still willing to give such a precious gift to the Zhong Family.

Zhang Ping'an felt a bit awkward being praised by Li Huaide and his wife. Others didn't know, but he knew his own business; having slept with their daughter, he had to provide some sort of explanation, didn't he?

The next day, Li Huaide and his wife appeared at the Xu Family home, handed the items Zhang Ping'an had asked them to bring to Zhong Yan, and relayed his words exactly as they were.

Zhong Yan was also a bit stunned; Zhang Ping'an was truly returning evil with kindness. She had indeed complained about Zhang Ping'an before, but she had never thought of taking action against him. Her two older brothers had wanted to, but they had been suppressed by her father.

Zhong Yan knew the value of these items. Her father-in-law had been free of illness and disaster all these years and remained in high spirits; it was likely all because of this. What she had brought home in the past had also been scraped together from Xu Baisheng and her son, Xu Kun.

The next day, Xu Baisheng and Zhong Yan brought the items back to the Zhong Family. Zhong Dingbang shook his head with a bitter smile at this, but the regret in his heart grew even deeper.

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, the Zhang Family and the Qin Family met to discuss the date for the two to get married.

The two elders pored over the calendar for a while and finally settled on the twenty-seventh of September next year, a day auspicious for marriage and travel.

Zhang Ping'an carried some items to Guan Daye's house. He had learned a great deal about antiques from Guan Daye, and the two could be considered to have the relationship of master and apprentice.

"Uncle Zhang, are you here by yourself?"

"That's right, but Uncle Zhang brought you your favorite pastries."

Zhang Ping'an naturally knew what Guan Xiaoguan was asking about. Although he had photos of Weidong and the others in his possession, he didn't intend to give them to her. Children couldn't keep their mouths shut, and it would be troublesome if she accidentally let something slip.

"Oh," Guan Xiaoguan said, feeling a bit disappointed.

Zhang Ping'an shook his head helplessly; he didn't know if he had done the right thing back then, letting both children pine for each other.

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Ping'an's family went to his father-in-law's house.

"Ping'an, you did well. It is better to resolve grievances than to keep them; although Old Man Zhong is a bit arrogant, he isn't a bad person."

Li Laoyezi started off with praise. He had naturally heard about the Zhong Family's affairs, and everyone thought Zhang Ping'an was returning evil with kindness, though only he himself felt a bit guilty.

"Ahem, that's what I thought too."

In the afternoon, Yi Jiabao and the Donglai siblings all returned. At this time, Dongzi was already over seven months pregnant, and it was hard to imagine how she had endured the journey by car.

"Dongzi, just stay at home and rest after the New Year. Your mother is worried about you being bumped around on the road," Tan Cuicui said.

"Mm, okay." The food and clothing in Qi Family Village really couldn't compare to Sijiucheng.

"Xiaocui is right. And Jiabao, I've found you a job repairing home appliances at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative here. The man there is retiring in about seven months and has already let the word out. If you want it, I'll reserve it for you."

"Okay."

Yi Jiabao thought about it and agreed. Seven months later, he would have finished his one-year mourning period, and he could go back to visit more often during holidays.

"Uncle, these are the local specialties that Second Uncle from Qinghai asked me to bring you."

"Hehe, good. Qinghai is thoughtful. When Jiabao goes back, have him come over; I have things for them to take back too."

"Okay, Uncle."

Jia Donglai had just returned home when he heard his brother say that his little uncle was also getting married in the second half of next year, and he suddenly felt sour inside.

"What? Isn't Little Uncle not old enough?"

"You remembered wrong."

"..."

"By the way, Donglai, do you want to get married? Let Father go to Uncle Yi's house and propose for you."

"This..."

It would be a lie for Jia Donglai to say he didn't want to get married, but he didn't want Yi Jiabei to go to the countryside and suffer with him.

He was a grown man and didn't mind, and although working every day wasn't tiring, that was only relative to his own physical fitness.

"Here, take this." Jia Dongxu understood what he was thinking and handed him an employment form directly.

"This is..."

"Mm, Uncle asked me to give it to you. It's an employment form for the Pig Farm. It's just right to go keep Bang Geng company. You two can compete to see who swings the sickle faster; Bang Geng is almost obsessed."

"..."

Jia Donglai realized at this moment that Uncle had just asked for Jiabao to take the things back, not him. Why hadn't he realized that?

This job quota was also from when the Pig Farm expanded, given to Zhang Ping'an by the current Factory Director, Nie Hansheng, which could be considered repaying a favor from back then.

"Hehe, Uncle is still the best to me."

At dinner that night, Jia Donglai couldn't wait to ask Lao Jia to go propose marriage for him.

"Done, but we have to wait until Jiabei finishes her one-year mourning period."

Jia Donglai slapped his forehead; how could he have forgotten that? It was fortunate his father reminded him.

"Right, right, right. Father, then there's no rush; let's talk about it after the New Year."

"Mm, okay."

On the night of New Year's Eve, in Zhang Ping'an's small courtyard, the family sat around the Eight Immortals table rolling dumpling skins and wrapping dumplings.

"Xiao Le, you can live in the East Wing Room when you get married. When the policy allows it in the future, Brother will build you a courtyard on that wheat field."

"No need, no need. Living in the East Wing Room is just fine. When Qin Jingru and I earn money later, we'll buy our own."

This plot of land, including every brick and tile here, was bought with money his brother had saved up bit by bit from fishing; he didn't want to be a parasite.

"Hehe, fine, we'll talk about it then."

This year, his grandparents didn't come over and spent the New Year at Second Uncle's house in their hometown. Second Uncle and Third Uncle had also retired, and their job positions had been given to their own grandsons; it was the same for Second Aunt and Third Aunt.

On the first day of the New Year, Zhang Ping'an didn't set off firecrackers. Now it was strictly forbidden to Destroy the Four Olds, and even kowtowing to ancestors wasn't allowed; most children were stuck at home.

Because putting up spring couplets was also forbidden, Yan Bugui's mandatory annual task at the end of the year—writing spring couplets—had also been stopped for several years, which had once made him very dejected.

These past few years had a bit of that "previous life" flavor; setting off firecrackers wasn't allowed, the Spring Festival was very cold and quiet, and the traditional New Year atmosphere had almost disappeared.

On the third day, Yi Jiabao and the others went back, and Jia Donglai also had to go back to handle his paperwork.

A week later, Jia Donglai returned first, and then the uncle and nephew swung their sickles together at the Pig Farm.

"Bang Geng, Little Uncle is getting married. When are you going to arrange yours?"

"Women? Hah, they only slow down the speed of my sickle swinging."

"This... has he really gone mad?"

After Bang Geng finished speaking, he ignored his dumbfounded uncle and continued to bury his head in swinging his scythe; the speed was truly something else.

"Ahem, Jia Donglai, you just arrived so you don't know, Bang Geng is actually doing this to pursue our Advanced Individual, Yu Xiangcao."

"Look, that's the prettiest girl; no one in the whole field can swing a scythe faster than her."

"Quite a few people have ideas about Yu Xiangcao, but they've all been discouraged by her heartless scythe; Bang Geng is practicing the Scythe Technique bitterly just to win her over."

"......"

Jia Donglai spent the morning watching the two of them bury their heads in cutting grass, and he also discovered that Yu Xiangcao was clearly unusual; her stamina was in no way inferior to Bang Geng's, which clearly showed she had also trained.

After getting off work and returning to the Siheyuan, Jia Donglai found Zhang Ping'an and recounted what had happened today.

"So you're saying that Yu Xiangcao must have trained, and the way she swings the scythe is likely some kind of blade technique. Fine, I'll go over tomorrow to take a look."

"Alright, we have to help our nephew beat her and make her sing 'Conquer' in front of Bang Geng."

"Go on, go on."

The next morning, Zhang Ping'an went to the pig farm, and at a glance, he saw the two people in the lead; they were exactly Bang Geng and a girl, who must be Yu Xiangcao.

Judging from her back, she was indeed well-built for childbearing, so it was no wonder that the majority of the male employees were fond of her.

"This blade-swinging speed is ridiculously fast."