Chapter 38: Engagement

Steel Rolling Mill

As soon as work started, Cao Cao Weiguo went to Deputy Factory Manager Li's office to ask for leave.

Hearing that Cao Cao Weiguo was going to his partner's home for the engagement, Deputy Factory Manager Li said with a smile: "Good thing, I'll congratulate you in advance here."

Cao Cao Weiguo said happily: "Thank you, Factory Manager. When I get married, you must come for a wedding drink."

When Deputy Factory Manager Li heard this, the smile on his face grew even wider: "I will definitely come to drink your wedding wine!"

After getting the leave slip and introduction letter, Cao Cao Weiguo rode his bicycle and hurried back to the Sihe Academy.

Taking big and small bags of gifts from home, the neighbors were extremely envious.

This Cao Cao Weiguo is really rich! ===== CHAPTER 69 =====

High-quality cotton cloth!

Packages of candy and pastries!

Cartons of cigarettes!

Every item made people's eyes burn and their hearts race; they wished they could rush over and grab them home.

In fact, these were just Cao Cao Weiguo's superficial display; he had even more gifts prepared in his storage space.

He would take those gifts out openly only when he was close to the destination.

Going to his future in-laws' home for the first time, he couldn't let them be disappointed.

Although Song Song Yulan's home was in the countryside, it was located in Jingcheng and would become an information industry base where every inch of land was worth an inch of gold.

Riding his bicycle for over an hour, Cao Cao Weiguo arrived at his destination, Shangti Village, with sweat on his forehead.

"Stop! Stop! What are you doing!"

Before he could even get close to the village, Cao Cao Weiguo was stopped by two militiamen wearing green military uniforms.

Here, Cao Cao Weiguo didn't dare to get angry; the militiamen were carrying real, deadly weapons.

"Comrade, I am going to the Song family in the village to get engaged to Song Song Yulan. These are my documents and introduction letter."

Cao Cao Weiguo parked his bicycle and nimbly took out his work ID and introduction letter.

A round-faced militiaman took the documents and introduction letter, read them carefully, and then returned them to Cao Cao Weiguo with a smile.

"Comrade Cao Cao Weiguo, welcome to our village."

"You're going to Song Song Yulan's house, right? I'll show you the way."

The round-faced militiaman said enthusiastically: "I'm actually a relative of Song Song Yulan. I'm her cousin, and my name is Song Hu."

Cao Cao Weiguo took out a pack of Da Da Qianmen cigarettes from his pocket and handed two to each of them: "So you're a cousin. It's really great to meet you here, otherwise I would have had to enter the village and ask for directions."

The other militiaman happily took the cigarettes: "Whoa, this is Da Da Qianmen. Thank you, brother."

The round-faced Song Hu looked at the bicycle, and his eyes widened instantly: "Brother, what's on your bike?"

Cao Cao Weiguo smiled: "That's my engagement gift."

The other militiaman exaggerated: "Brother Huzi, your second uncle's family is going to strike it rich!"

Song Hu enthusiastically led Cao Cao Weiguo into the village, which soon caused a sensation.

"Where did this young man come from!"

"Hanging so many things on the bicycle!"

"Two old hens!"

"And jujube cakes, block candy!"

Cao Cao Weiguo pushed the bicycle, which was fully loaded front and back.

The big and small bags of things were shocking.

The lives of farmers in this era were much harder than in the city; it was difficult to eat a bite of meat in a year.

The cartload of things Cao Cao Weiguo was carrying was like carrying a treasure mountain.

Even in the city, it could be considered a big gift!

An old man asked: "Brother Huzi, what does this young man do?"

Song Hu grinned and said: "Grandpa, this is my cousin Song Yulan's partner, a city person, here to get engaged today."

"Song Yulan girl is getting engaged!"

"It's truly amazing, Song Yulan found a partner from the city without making a sound."

"Song Dashan's family is going to strike it rich."

"Dashan's daughter looks so thin and small, I didn't expect her to be so lucky!"

Cao Cao Weiguo's cartload of things saved face for him and also for Song Song Yulan.

It made the villagers extremely envious, sighing that Song Song Yulan had found someone with good conditions.

Song Hu led the way in front, and soon they arrived at Song Song Yulan's house, a simple and dilapidated farmhouse courtyard.

The house was quite spacious and kept very clean, with a few farm tools leaning against the wall.

"We're here, this is my second uncle's house."

Song Hu shouted at the top of his lungs: "Second Uncle, come out quickly, Song Yulan's partner is here."

Suddenly, it was like a big rock falling into a Longtan Lake.

The door was pushed open, and a whole family poured out.

Mr. Shen greeted with a smile: "Cao Weiguo, come in quickly."

Song Song Yulan hid behind her mother shyly, and Song's father carefully sized up Cao Cao Weiguo.

Sturdy build, good-looking, neatly dressed, had a bicycle, and that cartload of...

After sizing him up, Song's father was very satisfied.

His brother-in-law had good taste and hadn't lied.

Song Song Yulan's mother, older brother, sister-in-law, younger brother, and younger sister were stunned when they saw the things on the bicycle.

Song's mother looked outside the door, and quite a few villagers had already gathered outside their courtyard.

These villagers were all staring eagerly at Cao Cao Weiguo and the things on the bicycle.

Mr. Shen introduced with a smile: "Cao Weiguo, this is Song Yulan's father, this is Song Yulan's mother, this is Song Yulan's older brother and sister-in-law, third younger brother, and fourth younger sister."

Cao Cao Weiguo greeted them politely: "Hello, Uncle, hello Aunt, hello older brother and sister-in-law, hello younger brother and sister, my name is Cao Cao Weiguo."

Song's mother said with a face full of smiles: "Cao Weiguo, come into the house quickly."

Cao Cao Weiguo took the things off the bike: "Uncle, Aunt, this is my first time here, just a little token of my heart, please don't mind."

Song's mother took the two old hens with a face full of smiles, Song's father took the cigarettes and wine, and the older brother and sister-in-law happily took the pork and sausages.

The younger brother held the cotton cloth, the younger sister held the candy and pastries, and everyone was beaming.

"Is this Song Yulan's partner's first time visiting? He brought such a heavy gift!"

"That pork must be seven or eight jin!"

"And cigarettes, wine, candy, and pastries!"

"Those cigarettes and wine are good things that are hard to buy even with vouchers!"

"Song Yulan is going to enjoy a good life after marrying over there!"

Song Hu and those villagers' eyes were straight; Song Song Yulan's partner was too generous.

How much money and vouchers must this have cost!

What kind of family is this!

The villagers were discussing it heatedly, the Song family enthusiastically welcomed Cao Cao Weiguo into the house, and Song Song Yulan's cheeks were flushed with shy joy.

Song's father asked: "Cao Weiguo, I heard you are a chef at the steel rolling mill, and also a deputy director of the cafeteria?"

Cao Cao Weiguo said: "Yes."

The sister-in-law said in surprise: "You became a leader at such a young age, you really have ability."

Song's mother asked: "Cao Weiguo, how much is your monthly salary now?"

Cao Cao Weiguo answered truthfully: "My monthly salary is 87.5 Brother Yuan."

The whole family was shocked and widened their eyes; one month's salary already exceeded their family's annual income.

Mr. Shen said with a smile: "Cao Weiguo is the youngest deputy section-level cadre in our steel rolling mill, and his future is bound to be limitless."

Cao Cao Weiguo said sincerely: "Uncle, Aunt, Uncle Shen should have told you about my situation!"

"I'm the only one left in my family. I came here today to propose to your family and also to make a statement to you two elders."

"If Song Yulan marries me, I will work hard to support the family, care for and love Song Yulan, and I guarantee I won't let Song Yulan suffer any hardship or fatigue with me, and I certainly won't let her suffer any grievances."

The Song family was very happy and satisfied.

Song Song Yulan looked at Cao Cao Weiguo with deep affection, her heart pounding like a little deer.

As soon as Cao Cao Weiguo met Song Song Yulan, he fell for this simple, pure, and beautiful girl.

This was exactly the wife he had imagined in his heart.

Song Song Yulan was also satisfied with him; the two could be said to have fallen in love at first sight.

Song's father and mother, along with their eldest son and daughter-in-law, were also full of joy. Under the guidance of Mr. Shen, who was both the matchmaker and the uncle, this marriage was settled in a few quick strokes.

Cao Cao Weiguo solemnly presented the bride price, and the next step was to register the marriage.

Everyone agreed to get the marriage certificate this Friday and hold the wedding banquet on Sunday.

Song's father vetoed the proposal to go to a state-run restaurant and told Cao Cao Weiguo to just set up a few tables for a banquet at the Sihe Academy.

The wedding should be simplified; as long as the heart is there, that's enough. Money should be saved to live a good life. ===== CHAPTER 70 =====