Captain Huang picked up an apple, brought it close to his nose, and a richer, sweeter aroma immediately filled his nostrils, making his mouth water.

Thinking of his wife and children, Captain Huang put down the apple while suppressing his drool: "This one apple is equivalent to two pounds of fine grains, and it was even squeezed out of the mouths of Duofu and the others. They didn't make a fuss?"

The apples are large, each weighing about a pound, and they can sell for one or two yuan a pound here. So it's not an exaggeration for Captain Huang to say that one apple is equivalent to two pounds of fine grains.

Two pounds of refined grains couldn't even buy an apple. After all, the South grows two crops a year, and refined grains can be grown by themselves. Whether in the city or the countryside, even the poorest families have eaten refined grains.

Apples, however, had to be imported from other places. In an era when buying and selling was not allowed, everything depended on supply. The limited quantity was quickly snapped up by city dwellers, and these rural people rarely saw apples for several years.

Gao Shujing: "The commune distributed several, so they have something to eat. Besides, this kind of thing is not common in the South. It's enough to just have a taste; we can't eat it every day."

Captain Huang: "When are you and Yu, the educated youth, planning to get married?"

Gao Shujing blurted out, "It will take another year, five months, and twelve days before we can get our marriage certificate."

Captain Huang had only asked casually, but he didn't expect to get such a reply. He stared at Gao Shujing with a half-smile and said, "You've calculated the dates so clearly?"

Gao Shujing's ears turned slightly red, and she changed the subject: "Speaking of which, someone came to propose marriage to me today."

Captain Huang's expression shifted slightly: "Who's so blind?"

If it weren't for Gao Shujing having someone he truly loved and being unwavering in his feelings for her, and his own daughter being too young, he would have already considered introducing his daughter, Xiaoyu, to Gao Shujing.

A man who is capable, good-looking, from a good family, and has a good temperament is hard to find even with a lantern.

Gao Shujing: "It was Zheng Lanlan's mother. Although I refused, she made some harsh words before she left, saying she would make me suffer."

“I’m not worried about what she’ll do to me, I’m just worried that she might use some tricks. Duofu and the others were young last year, so we kept them at home.”

“Now that they can all walk and jump, it’s not appropriate to keep them cooped up at home. If they find out about Rujia and me, will they turn their attention to Duofu and the others?”

Captain Huang had Zheng Lanlan with him when he dealt with Gao Shujing's unwanted romantic advances last time. He didn't expect her to still be so persistent. If she angered Gao Shujing and Yu Rujia, even he, as the captain, would be held responsible.

Gao Shujing comes from an extremely good family; he's the son of a high-ranking military officer. His family has a telephone, and he's at least a regimental commander or higher. His younger brother has to use a truck to carry all the things he brings when he comes over. And he himself is a capable person.

Yu Rujia is the daughter of a martyr, and her parents' comrades are taking care of her. If she hadn't insisted on going to the countryside, with her medical skills, she would have been just as popular as Gao Shujing if she had reported to the government.

Both of these people are talents he wants to keep, and even if he can't keep them, he can't afford to offend them;

Otherwise, if they were driven away to the commune or the government, and if they said a few bad things about Shangfen Brigade there, it would be much more difficult for Shangfen Brigade to do things in the future.

No brigade can be inhabited only by people who are refined and elegant. Where there are people, there will be disputes. It's just that some things are not usually mentioned, and everyone pretends that nothing has happened.

If we were to bring it up, their brigade's reputation would be ruined, and the marriage prospects of unmarried young men in Shangfen Brigade would be jeopardized.

Captain Huang's face showed slight anger: "It's only the beginning of the year, and someone is already trying to cause trouble. I'll go see Old Zheng's family later. Our Shangfen Brigade is a place that upholds the law, and we certainly won't let them cause trouble."

Gao Shujing: "I'll leave this matter to the brigade leader. To be honest, I'm quite happy in Shangfen Brigade and don't want to let a few individuals affect my mood."

Team Leader Huang: "We don't have so many rules in our countryside. Holding a banquet means you're getting married. Why don't you and Yu, the educated youth, hold the banquet first, and then get your marriage certificate when you're old enough?"

Gao Shujing: "I don't want to wrong Rujia." He had been thinking about marriage for a long time, counting down the days, otherwise he wouldn't have given a definite answer as soon as Captain Huang asked.

When Li Xiaoyuan returned home, Zheng Lanlan, who knew that she had found a matchmaker to propose to Gao Shujing, had been waiting for her to come back ever since she left. Now that she saw her, she disregarded her shyness and asked her questions.

Zheng Lanlan: "Mom, what did Officer Gao say?"

After finally managing to appease Matchmaker Wu, which cost her two cents, Li Xiaoyuan was heartbroken.

When she saw her precious daughter coming over, and thinking of Gao Shujing's tough attitude, she immediately forgot about the two cents she had lost and started to feel sorry for Zheng Lanlan.

Damn Gao Shujing, how come he doesn't like Lanlan, who is so good to him?

Despite her thoughts, Li Xiaoyuan answered Zheng Lanlan's question truthfully: "Officer Gao does not agree to marry you."

Zheng Lanlan exclaimed in disbelief, "Mom, how is this possible? Did you not talk to Cadre Gao properly? Otherwise, why wouldn't he marry me?"

Zheng Lanlan was indeed quite beautiful, and having been well-cared for since childhood, she had delicate skin and tender flesh, unlike any country girl.

She and Huang Lijie were the most popular girls in the Shangfen Brigade, and many boys fawned over them.

She's usually the one rejecting others; it's never her turn to be rejected. That's why, even though Gao Shujing had rejected her before, she didn't take it seriously.

She thought that people from the city were educated and valued etiquette. She thought that since Huang Xiaoyuan had brought a matchmaker to propose marriage, Gao Shujing would have no reason to refuse. However, he still refused to marry her.

Zheng Lanlan, who was always successful with men, experienced failure for the first time, and her eyes reddened.

Seeing this, Li Xiaoyuan felt a pang of pain in her heart: "Lanlan, Mom will find you someone better in the future. Don't be like this. It's not worth getting angry over Cadre Gao."

Zheng Lanlan said angrily, "Where is there a better one? You always said you would find me a worker in the city, but after so many years, I'm already married, some even have children, but I don't even have a boyfriend."

“Officer Gao’s conditions are better than those of the workers in the city, so I want him.”

Eighteen is the prime of life, but in the countryside, it's almost considered an old maid. Zheng Lanlan still hasn't found a husband, so it's no wonder she's so anxious.

Li Xiaoyuan didn't blame Zheng Lanlan for her bad attitude. Gao Shujing was indeed a golden catch, and missing out on him made Li Xiaoyuan feel very bad. Unfortunately, her family was just an ordinary member of the Shangfen Brigade and couldn't do anything to Gao Shujing.

Li Xiaoyuan could only advise Zheng Lanlan to think more positively: "Lanlan, Officer Gao is blind and can't see how good you are. Let's find someone better than him in the future and make him furious."