Chapter 81

When the shouts of laborers rang out in the quiet night, Xu Yuansheng and her sister were startled awake from their sleep, sitting up abruptly with blank and helpless expressions on their faces.

"Second Sister? What's that noise?" Xu Huaisheng asked in a panic. "Are we getting up?"

Xu Yuansheng said uncertainly, "It might be a sound used in the military to wake people up..."

Hearing a soft commotion outside, Xu Yuansheng put on his clothes and got out of bed.

As he opened the door, he saw Shen Mingzheng, who had already washed up and was ready to leave. Seeing the two sisters peeking out from the guest room, he said to them, "It's not dawn yet, you can continue sleeping, you don't need to get up so early."

Winter days are long and the sky is dark. Only a dim light shines under the eaves, and a cold wind blows.

Xu Huaisheng peeked at him and asked in a low voice, "Brother-in-law, what was that sound just now?"

"It's the army's bugle call, it sounds at the same time every day," Shen Mingzheng explained.

After Shen Mingzheng left, the two sisters went back to their room and lay down.

At this moment, neither of the sisters was sleepy and had nothing to do, so they snuggled in bed and whispered to each other about their feelings about coming to the army.

Xu Huaisheng stood close to her second sister, her suppressed voice filled with joy, "Second sister, I'm so happy! Eldest sister is here, and the three of us sisters can be together again. As long as you're here, I'm not afraid of anything..." Her voice trailed off at the end, "Second sister, I don't want to leave you, and I don't want to go back to Xujiatun..."

She preferred to stay with her two older sisters rather than in Xujiatun, and she cherished the place where they were.

After Xu Huaisheng was born, she was raised by her two older sisters. In her heart, her two older sisters were closer than her parents.

Their parents didn't like them. Later, after their younger brother Xu Baosheng was born, their parents' attention was all on Xu Baosheng. The three girls were treated as if they had been adopted. They were only called upon when they needed to do chores, and otherwise they were ignored.

Xu Huaisheng could not feel any attachment or affection towards her parents.

Xu Yuansheng said, "Don't worry, you won't go back. You'll stay wherever I am."

She dared not leave her younger sister at home. The Xu family was not a place for normal people. Unless they were boys, their fates were not good. How could she leave her innocent younger sister there?

Even if she gets married in the future, she needs to make arrangements for Xu Huaisheng before she can feel at ease about the marriage.

Hearing her words, Xu Huaisheng felt relieved and kept laughing and joking with her sister, showing how excited she was to come to the army with her sister.

Before we knew it, it was dawn.

The two sisters didn't get up immediately. When they heard noises outside again and realized that Gu Xi had gotten up, they got up as well.

When Gu Xi saw them, her eyes crinkled into a smile, and she asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

"I'm fine," Xu Huaisheng said in a light voice. "The blanket is warm and smells nice. I slept soundly until dawn."

She had never used such a good quilt in her entire life. The cotton quilt was very soft, and the fabric of the quilt cover was also very good. It felt soft and smooth to the touch, and she could smell the residual fragrance of the laundry soap on it. She didn't wake up from the cold all night.

Gu Xi was relieved after confirming that they had rested well.

She went to the kitchen to take out the breakfast that was keeping warm in the pot and invited them to come and eat.

Today's breakfast consisted of steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and pancakes. Gu Xi also made three cups of milk to eat with them.

The Xu sisters were a little stunned. This food was too good. Wouldn't it cost a lot of money if they ate like this every day?

Suddenly, Xu Yuansheng felt an urgent need to buy a sewing machine and make money, because he couldn't keep relying on his older sister and brother-in-law.

After breakfast, Gu Xi told them to change their clothes: "I'll take you out for a walk and let you get familiar with the surroundings."

The two sisters changed into clean clothes and braided their hair into two braids. After confirming that their appearance was acceptable and they wouldn't embarrass their older sister, they went out with her.

At this time of year, people are either at work or in school, or doing housework at home. There aren't many people outside, so the residential compound is quite quiet.

As Gu Xi walked, she introduced the surrounding environment to them.

They walked all the way to the supply and marketing cooperative, where Gu Xi led them to see what they needed to buy.

There weren't many people in the supply and marketing cooperative at the time. When the three of them went in, the sales clerk subconsciously looked over. When she saw the injury on Gu Xi's face, she was shocked and couldn't help but take a few more glances. Her face showed a look of pity.

How did such a beautiful face get injured like this?

Gu Xi was used to people's reactions when they saw the injury on her face and didn't care about the stares of those around her. When she found out that fish were for sale today, she bought a grass carp and some tofu, planning to make tofu and fish soup for lunch, and then blanch some vegetables and vermicelli for a perfect meal.

When it's cold, she prefers to eat hot, steaming food.

While Gu Xi was buying groceries, someone else came over.

When she finished shopping and turned around, she found Xu Yuansheng chatting with several elderly women from the residential compound, and they seemed to be having a good time.

As she walked over, she overheard someone ask, "Are you relatives from Comrade Gu's hometown?"

“Yes, after Sister Xi joined the army, the elders were very concerned about her situation, so they asked us to come and see her,” Xu Yuansheng said without changing his expression. “We have a good relationship with Sister Xi, and since it’s the off-season for farming and there’s not much work to do in the fields, they asked us to come over.”

"So that's how it is!"

An older woman looked Xu Yuansheng up and down and asked, "How old is Comrade Xu?"

Xu Yuansheng blushed slightly. When the older women asked her age, she knew they wanted to play matchmaker. She said shyly, "I am eighteen years old this year."

"Has Comrade Xu received any education? What did he do back in his hometown?"

Xu Yuansheng said frankly, "I'm educated. I just graduated from junior high school in July. I learned to make clothes from a tailor in my hometown and later took over his job. If you want to make clothes, you can come to me."

"That's great! We'll come visit you sometime."

"Okay, welcome, sisters-in-law and aunties. I'll give you a discount."

"..."

Gu Xi looked at it and couldn't help but sigh, her second sister could get along well no matter where she went.

This is also a unique ability belonging to Xu Yuansheng.

If she's socially awkward, then Xu Yuansheng is a socially adept person. Socially adept people can easily adapt to any environment, so there's no need to worry about them not adapting well here.

After shopping, Gu Xi led her two younger sisters back home.

Xu Huaisheng asked curiously, "Second sister, were those older women trying to introduce you to potential partners?"

She was very experienced in this. Ever since her second sister took over the old tailor's job, many people in the village wanted to play matchmaker for her. Even at the educated youth settlement, some male educated youth expressed their desire to date her.

"I guess so." Unlike other girls who blush and become shy when introduced to potential partners, Xu Yuansheng was not like them. Even if she did blush and become shy, it was just for show. In front of her sisters, she was very calm.

Xu Huaisheng thought for a moment and said, "Second sister, I won't object if you want to get married here. It would be more convenient for you and eldest sister to travel back and forth if you both married here."

Xu Yuansheng patted her head and said, "I know. If there's a suitable person, I'll consider it."

Gu Xi was a little confused and said in surprise, "Yuansheng, you really want to find a partner?"

"If there's a suitable one." Xu Yuansheng wasn't against finding a partner. Girls should get married when they reach a certain age. If they don't get married, people will talk about them and say all sorts of things, which is quite annoying.

Rather than letting the Xu family marry her off to some random person, it would be better for her to find someone she likes here.

Gu Xi remained silent for a moment, and in the end, she didn't say anything.

Xu Yuansheng is an adult with her own thoughts. Even if she thinks eighteen is too young, it's not really her place to say anything. And what if she meets a suitable partner? Can she really stop her?

Whether or not to get married is a personal choice and should not be imposed on her by others.

-

In the afternoon, Gu Xi took the two sisters to the communications room and called Xujiatun Commune to tell Tian Qiaolian that Xu Yuansheng and her sister had arrived at the army base safely.

Upon hearing that the two sisters had arrived safely, Tian Qiaolian breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "That's good, I'm relieved."

Gu Xi sensed something was amiss and asked, "Aunt Tian, ​​is there something else?"

Tian Qiaolian sighed and said, "It's nothing, it's just that Xu Dagui and He Guihua have been making a lot of noise these past few days..."

Then Tian Qiaolian told them that when Xu Dagui and He Guihua were called over by the Women's Federation for re-education, the police from the local police station also came after receiving a report from the educated youth.

After all that commotion, Xu Dagui and He Guihua were exhausted and even angrier at Xu Yuansheng, planning to beat her up when they got back.

To their surprise, when they got home, they found that Xu Yuansheng and Xu Huaisheng were missing.

Xu Dagui thought Xu Yuansheng was hiding outside because she didn't want to marry a fool.

Just as he was getting angry, the battalion commander came over to tell him that Xu Yuansheng and Xu Huaisheng had gone to the military base to find Gu Xi because Gu Xi wanted to introduce her to a military officer.

Xu Dagui and his wife were stunned on the spot.

If Xu Yuansheng marries a military officer, what will happen to the mentally challenged man in the county? They received 800 yuan as a bride price from the man's family.

He Guihua was also extremely anxious and shouted for someone to go to the army to bring Xu Yuansheng and her sister back.

The behavior of Xu Dagui and his wife aroused the contempt of countless people in the village.

Even the most greedy person would understand that marrying their daughter to a military officer is far better than marrying her to a fool. Officers have high salaries and various benefits and subsidies. It is an honor for the parents to have their daughter marry an officer, and it might even be more helpful to the bride's family.

The villagers all approved of Xu Yuansheng marrying a military officer, and even praised Gu Xi for being kind and righteous. After so many years, she still took care of her two younger sisters and introduced them to military officers, instead of marrying them off to a mentally challenged man like their parents did.

When Xu Dagui and his wife heard everyone praising Gu Xi, they felt like they wanted to eat people alive.

In their hearts, Gu Xi was an ingrate. They had raised her for over ten years for nothing. After returning to her biological parents' home, she never sent them a single penny or anything back. They heard that her biological parents were both government officials and certainly didn't lack money. If they had spared her a little, she would have plenty of money to spend. But she would rather send money back to pay for her two good-for-nothing children's education than give them a single penny.

At this moment, they even called Xu Yuansheng away, wanting to introduce her to officers in the army or something...

Isn't this going against them?

They'd be a fool to be grateful to Gu Xi.

Although having a military officer as a son-in-law is indeed an honor and a source of pride, Xu Yuansheng is unruly and married so far away. How can they control her in the future, let alone get any benefits from her?

It would be better to marry the mentally challenged man in the county town. His house is close by, so if they want something, they can go to his house and ask him for it. If he refuses, they can make a scene.

Even if you gave them the guts, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble at the military base.

Xu Dagui and his wife were furious, but before they could figure out how to call Xu Yuansheng and her sister back, the idiot's family came to their door, demanding that the Xu family return the 800 yuan dowry.

Although the mentally challenged man's parents wanted to find him a wife with good character and strong abilities so that he could take good care of their two mentally challenged children in the future, they also didn't want to get into trouble.

Because the Women's Federation came to their door, they lost face in front of their neighbors.

The parents of the mentally challenged man are not stupid. With this dowry of eight hundred yuan, plenty of people in the countryside are willing to marry their daughters to him. There are even plenty of country girls who are willing to marry him, regardless of whether he is mentally challenged or not. After all, once they marry him, they will be city dwellers, able to eat government-subsidized food and live a decent life. There will always be people willing to do so.

They're just picky; they don't want to make their own children suffer.

Since Xu Yuansheng was unwilling, they didn't force him and went to find someone who was willing.

If the marriage falls through, of course the bride price should be returned.

The family of the fool wanted the bride price back. Although Xu Dagui and his wife were reluctant to part with the 800 yuan, they had no choice but to return it. Besides, Xu Yuansheng had run away and couldn't conjure up a daughter for them anymore.

To their surprise, when they went to collect the money, they found that half of the money in their house was gone.

The couple immediately flew into a rage, thinking someone had stolen their money, and a huge argument ensued. It was the shrewd Uncle Xu who suggested that perhaps that wretched girl, Xu Yuansheng, had stolen the money before she left.

The more Xu Dagui and his wife thought about it, the more likely it seemed. After all, they hid the money in a secret place, and even if people in the village knew they were rich, no one had ever stolen it.

That brat Xu Yuansheng has been a shrewd little devil since she was a child; she probably already knew where they hid the money.

The couple then threatened to report Xu Yuansheng to the police, have her arrested, and force her to return the money.

Unfortunately, no one believed the whole commotion that Xu Dagui and his wife had made.

When the captain was called over, he thought someone had actually stolen money from the Xu family. But when he heard from the Xu family that Xu Yuansheng had stolen it before he left, he immediately became furious.

With the groundwork laid before Xu Yuansheng's departure, the brigade leader was completely convinced that Xu Yuansheng was innocent and had long been biased towards her. He asked suspiciously, "You wouldn't be saying the money was stolen because you don't want to return the betrothal money, would you?"

His question wasn't unfounded; given Xu Dagui and his wife's usual character, everyone completely believed they were capable of such a thing.

Not only did the brigade leader think so, but the villagers who were watching also thought so, and even the Xu family members began to have doubts.

Even their own family members have doubts, which shows what kind of people Xu Dagui and his wife are.

**

“…No one believes what your parents say, after all, you know what kind of people they are usually like.” Tian Qiaolian said tactfully, “They want to report it to the police, but they have no evidence to prove that you took the money, and the police cannot accept the case.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Xi turned to look at Xu Yuansheng and then handed the phone to her.

When Xu Yuansheng picked up the phone, tears streamed down her face. Her voice trembled with sobs as she said, "Aunt Tian, ​​how could I do such a thing? They're just unwilling to part with the bride price, that's why they said I took it. They're trying to force me to go back. If I go back, they can find me another old, lame woman, as long as they can get eight hundred or a thousand yuan as a bride price..."

By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably, looking utterly aggrieved.

Gu Xi and Xu Huaisheng couldn't help but look at her.

The female soldiers in the communications room also looked at her. They couldn't understand Xu Yuansheng's dialect, but they felt sorry for her because she was crying so bitterly.

Tian Qiaolian quickly comforted her: "Don't worry, no one will believe them, not even your grandfather. Tell your parents to return the betrothal gifts."

Although Grandpa Xu didn't treat his granddaughter like a human being, he knew what kind of people his son and daughter-in-law were, and he also believed that Xu Dagui and his wife didn't want to return the bride price, so they were blaming Xu Yuansheng.

Even some educated youths who cared about Xu Yuansheng came over and spoke up for her, all cursing Xu Dagui and his wife for being heartless, not only beating their daughter but also falsely accusing her...

**

After making the call, Tian Qiaolian went to the threshing ground to find her husband, who was leading the villagers in making pickled vegetables.

In front of everyone, she told them that Xu Yuansheng had not taken any money from home, and said, "Xu Dagui is accusing Yuansheng of taking money, probably trying to force her back so he can find her another boyfriend."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt that Xu Dagui and his wife were indeed capable of doing such a thing.

They discussed among themselves that when the police arrived, they should talk to them properly.