Chapter 228 Extra Chapter 06: The Red Flag

It's impossible to get the marriage certificate in the afternoon.

There are still many things to do before getting the marriage certificate.

At the very least, shouldn't we ask Xiao Jin if she agrees?

After the meal, just as Jin Junwei was hesitating whether to ask about the results directly, Engineer Su arranged for Zhou Hongqi to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy two packs of pastries.

No sooner had Zhou Hongqi left than Engineer Su asked, "Xiao Jin, what do you think of Hongqi? If you think it's a good match, you two should get engaged and register your marriage another day."

Upon hearing this, Jin Junwei breathed a sigh of relief and nodded hurriedly, "I think it's a good idea. Let's see when Sister Hongqi is free. I'm just sitting at home doing nothing. How about tomorrow?"

Today is Sunday, so the staff at the marriage registration office should be off work. You'll have to go on a weekday.

Ms. Su and her husband almost couldn't help but laugh. Despite being two young people, one outgoing and the other reserved and shy, they were remarkably in sync when it came to getting their marriage certificate.

Seeing them smile, Jin Junwei was puzzled, but the smiles seemed quite friendly, so he figured the deal was likely to go through.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel happy.

Last Sunday, he heard from his neighbors in the family compound that Engineer Su, who came to help the factory solve welding technical problems, was from the automobile factory. At lunchtime, she asked the technical department if there were any outstanding single men, because her apprentice was still single and planned to find one.

Su's apprentice was a level four welder at the car factory, not very old, and in good health. Logically, this kind of good opportunity shouldn't have come his way, but the older sister next door said that Su had quite a few requirements. She had gone through all the single men in the factory, and none of them were suitable.

He scoffed to himself: What do you mean no? Isn't he quite suitable?

He was sent to a small, unknown theater troupe before he could even remember anything, and spent a few years with his master. 56 years later, during the socialist transformation, small theater troupes like theirs were either merged or abolished, and his master's troupe simply disappeared.

The drama troupe was gone, and his master left with him. He was then sent back to his biological parents' home.

His parents and their entire family had moved to the city over the years, but he returned at the wrong time, just when food was scarcest, so he was sent back to his hometown to live with his second uncle's family.

His second uncle and aunt were not bad people, and they tolerated him. It was just that he couldn't bear the hardship of working in the fields, so every now and then he would ask for a letter of introduction to go to the city to ask for food and clothing.

He was sent back to his hometown, but after a few days he ran back to the city.

His parents were annoyed and wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible. Actually, he wasn't too happy staying at their house either.

Although the people in the family compound laughed and said that this was not looking for a partner, but clearly looking for a son-in-law to live with them!

He doesn't care about the title; as long as he has enough to eat and wear, he doesn't care about being served or dismissed.

So, yesterday he spent half a day squatting at the gate of the boiler factory, and finally met Engineer Su, who volunteered to help him.

Today, I came to Mr. Su's house for a blind date.

You made the right choice.

—

Zhou Hongqi came out of her master's house with her people, carrying things in both hands. On one side was a net bag of food given to her by her master, and on the other side were pastries that her master had told her to bring home to Xiao Jin.

Take a few steps, look back, and wait a bit.

"Hongqi, you're having dinner at your master's house again?"

The older woman who asked the question pursed her lips, her eyes scanning back and forth across the things in her hands, a sour feeling welling up inside her.

Zhou Hongqi looked up and recognized the woman. The woman's son wanted to become her master's apprentice, but her master refused, seeing her as a thorn in her side.

What business is it of hers if her master doesn't accept her?

She wasn't initially considered her master's apprentice; at most, she was helping a friend's child make a living. But her aunt was clever; she privately instructed her to only regard Engineer Su as her master.

After she kept calling him that for several years, her master finally accepted it, even though he didn't like it.

Thick-skinned, well-fed.

So, her mentor told her that as soon as this young man, Xiao Jin, heard that he could have enough to eat if he lived with her, he secretly ran off to meet her. She felt that they were kindred spirits.

She wasn't just attracted to his good looks, good temper, and delicious cooking.

Zhou Hongqi ignored the old lady and beckoned Jin Junwei to follow.

"Hey, Hongqi, is this man a relative of your master?" The old lady's eyes darted around, and she said with a smile, "This relative of Engineer Su is really handsome."

That's right.

There wasn't a single man in the entire Five Star Automobile Factory who was more handsome than him.

Zhou Hongqi replied loudly, "Aunt Chen, this is my boyfriend, Comrade Jin Junwei."

Jin Junwei was startled by her sudden loud voice. After regaining his senses, he quickly greeted her, "Hello, Aunt Chen."

He didn't like doing hard labor, but he was a polite person. After all, he and Sister Hongqi had gotten their marriage certificate, so the car factory had to allocate them housing, and they might even become neighbors with Aunt Chen.

Aunt Chen stood there, stunned.

After a long while, Aunt Chen slapped her thigh, turned around and ran towards the crowded area of ​​the residential compound, telling everyone she met, "Su's apprentice, Zhou Hongqi, has found a boyfriend!"

"Really? Who is it?" Everyone was curious.

At the end of last year, the country introduced a new policy that required unemployed and unmarried educated youth in the city to respond to the call to go to the countryside.

The young people who used to look down on Zhou Hongqi have gradually changed their minds. Many of them asked acquaintances to help them get introduced to potential partners, but now it's Zhou Hongqi's turn to look down on them.

Moreover, Zhou Hongqi is already a level four welder, and his salary is at least equivalent to that of one and a half workers.

With high wages and a small population, their lives must be incredibly comfortable!

Some people wanted to back out and go on another blind date with Zhou Hongqi, but before they could even start, they heard today that Zhou Hongqi already has a girlfriend.

a bolt from the blue!

"A man surnamed Jin, he looked very young and unfamiliar, I don't know whose he is."

Then everyone started counting which family in the factory had the surname Jin.

"Jin Hongchang from the parts factory? But didn't he just lose his wife? Hongqi is seeing him?"

Aunt Chen waved her hand, "It's not Jin Hongchang. Jin Hongchang is a big, burly guy; he's not the same person at all."

Who else in the factory has the surname Jin?

—

On the other side, Zhou Hongqi became happier and happier as he walked.

I'll also tell my new girlfriend about my future plans.

“Since your household registration is in your hometown, we’ll get our marriage certificate after you go back there to get a letter of introduction. Once we have the marriage certificate, I’ll apply for housing allocation at the housing management office. Don’t worry, I’m a level four welder now, so I’ll be among the first to qualify for housing allocation.”

“However, my mentor said that given the current situation at the factory, we might not be able to be assigned to the new staff quarters.”

"Oh, this is where my master lives now. It's the factory's new staff housing compound. There are apartment buildings and villas all here. The factory also has another staff housing compound, which is a whole alley with single-story houses."

Jin Junwei listened and nodded, "I'm fine with living anywhere. You just need to go to work, and I'll take care of the house."

Overjoyed, Zhou Hongqi turned and led him in the opposite direction from taking the bus, saying generously, "There's a state-run store up ahead. I'll take you there to buy some cloth to make you some clothes. I've saved up a lot of cloth coupons that I haven't used yet."

Jin Junwei's smile became even more genuine, and he readily uttered flattering words, "Thank you, Sister Hongqi."

He knew he had made the right choice coming to this blind date.

—

When Jin Junwei got into the car, his arms were stuffed with a lot of things.

Fabric for making clothes, pastries and candies for eating. There was also a lunchbox that Sister Hongqi took out of a mesh bag; it contained half a box of pork ribs and half a box of white rice.

Sister Hongqi told him to eat more, saying that being skinny wasn't good-looking.

Jin Junwei almost burst into tears at that moment.

Jin Junwei, who had finally returned to his hometown in the countryside, went straight to his second uncle and aunt's house and announced that he had found a girlfriend in the city and was going to move to the city to become a live-in son-in-law.

Uncle Jin and Aunt Jin were not surprised. Junwei had never liked doing farm work since he was a child, but his parents sent him back to his hometown and he became a rural resident.

Fortunately, he has a rural household registration; otherwise, he would have had to go to the countryside last year. Going to other rural areas is less desirable than staying in his hometown.

This kid once said he wanted to be a live-in son-in-law.

But in the countryside, hiring a son-in-law to live with you doesn't mean you'll be fed and clothed. Even if you are, you'll still have to work in the fields, and it will be heavy work. That's why he has never been able to become a son-in-law.

Hey! He actually found a girlfriend in the city.

Uncle Jin, with a stern face, asked about the woman's situation.

"Technicians at car factories, level four welders, earn high salaries."

"You can apply for housing allocation after you get married."

"I only have a mentor and an aunt in Northeast China, and no other relatives."

"The person is healthy."

The more they listened, the wider Uncle Jin and Aunt Jin's mouths gradually widened. So, this kid really struck gold?

"He's only six years older than me."

Seeing that his second uncle and aunt's smiles were about to crumble, Jin Junwei immediately said, "Anyway, I think it's fine."

A woman three years older than her husband is considered lucky. A woman six years older is considered lucky, even if she's already married.