"Comrade, let's get a marriage certificate."

There was only one male clerk working at the place where marriage certificates were issued.

In addition to Ruan Niannian and Pei Yuanzheng, there was another couple in line who arrived later than them.

The two pairs of people form a sharp contrast.

Pei Yuanzheng never let go of Ruan Niannian's hand since he arrived at the office to work on the marriage certificate.

As for the other couple, they were like the two poles of a magnet that repel each other. Even if they looked into each other's eyes, they would immediately look away as if they were frightened.

Ruan Niannian thought that if Pei Yuanzheng hadn't been flirting with her every time he spoke these days, she would have been as shy as that girl and wouldn't have dared to look others in the eye while getting their marriage certificate.

"What are your names? Which brigade are you from? Where do you live?"

Pei Yuanzheng reported his name, the name of the brigade, and the specific address of his home, and then said: "My wife is an educated youth in our brigade. She brought her educated youth certificate with her."

"Oh?" The clerk who was issuing the marriage certificate was obviously more enthusiastic than before. He took Ruan Niannian's educated youth certificate, took a look at it, and wrote Ruan Niannian's name on it.

Then he smiled excitedly and said, "Comrade Ruan Niannian, welcome to take root here. I wish you and your spouse will be together forever."

He told Pei Yuanzheng several times to treat Ruan Niannian well.

Of course, there were more than one couple of educated youth who married villagers, but there were very few educated youth who were willing to get a marriage certificate with villagers.

Most of the educated youth hoped to return to the city, and not getting a marriage certificate was the biggest way out they left for themselves.

After registering in the booklet, filling in their names, and having their certificates stamped, the "certificates" belonging to Pei Yuanzheng and Ruan Niannian soon arrived in their hands.

Pei Yuanzheng grabbed a handful of candy from his trouser pocket and placed it on the table in front of the officer who was issuing the marriage certificate. "Comrade, please have some wedding candy to share in the good fortune."

He didn't bring much with him. He only brought some for the clerk who was going to issue the marriage certificate and the owner of the photo studio.

Pei Yuanzheng folded the marriage certificate with great care, then wrapped it in several layers with a large pinch in the cloth bag and carefully put it into the bag.

With this "certificate of honor", he felt at ease. He had finally found his wife. The next step was to find a good day to hold a wedding banquet and make everyone happy.

After coming out of the office, Pei Yuanzheng prepared to take Ruan Niannian to pick up the photos they had taken earlier, but Ruan Niannian said that she wanted to call her father first, and Pei Yuanzheng naturally agreed.

They didn't ride bikes, but walked side by side. Pei Yuanzheng held Ruan Niannian with one hand and pushed the bicycle with the other.

Before they even reached the post office, the couple in the queue behind them ran over, looking anxious, "Comrade, wait a moment, the two comrades in front of you who just got their marriage certificates, wait a moment!"

They don't think that the other party is in a hurry to catch up with them to exchange candy with them.

The man ran up to them, panting, and asked them, "Comrades, I want to ask you, did the officer stamp your marriage certificate when you just got it?"

"Comrade, of course our marriage certificate is stamped." Pei Yuanzheng asked, "What kind of marriage certificate is it without a stamp?"

How could he not put his stamp on the final judgment he had made about his daughter-in-law?

The woman looked aggrieved and tugged at the man's clothes. "Did he see that we are poor and deliberately not stamp our marriage certificate? Are poor people not worthy of a marriage certificate?"

As she spoke, she glanced at the bicycle Pei Yuanzheng was pushing, and felt even more aggrieved.

"Let's go back and find him!"

The man said this and pulled the woman back.

You have to know that this is not an era where poverty is shameful. Three generations of poor peasants are their best umbrella of protection.

This brief episode did not leave a deep impression on Pei Yuanzheng and Ruan Niannian, and they still followed the agreed itinerary.

First go to the post office to call Mr. Ruan, then go to the photo studio to pick up the photos.

Ruan Niannian dialed the number that she had remembered clearly in her heart with trepidation. After only three rings, the call was connected.

"Hello, Nian Nian." Ruan's father's voice was obviously breathless, he must have run over to answer the call.

Hearing his voice, Ruan Niannian felt her nose sore. She tried her best to make her voice sound normal, "Dad, it's me. Brother Yuanzheng and I went to get the marriage certificate today."

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

After a long while, Ruan's father asked, "Niannian, have you decided on a date for your wedding banquet? Mom and I want to go see you."

He might want to question Ruan Niannian why she so easily married herself to a man she had only known for a few days.

Maybe she was angry about why Ruan Niannian didn't wait for her family to check it out for her before getting the marriage certificate.

In the end, all the questions and anger were dissolved in his stomach. He could be angry and question, but not directed at his daughter.

What did my daughter do wrong?

It's everyone else's fault!

"Dad, let me discuss it with him. It should be in the next few days. If you want to come over, tell me after you buy the tickets and I will set a date. I will call you every other day."

She spoke in a brisk voice, not wanting Mr. Ruan to hear that she was actually choking up.

In her previous life, she had never seen her family or heard their voices since she went to the countryside, so now, being able to see them once was extremely precious to her.

Father Ruan responded immediately: "Okay, okay, I'll buy the tickets after I get off work. Nian Nian, you don't have to wait a day. Let's do it tomorrow. I'll ask your mother to come with me tomorrow. She misses you too. Let her talk to you."

"Okay." Ruan Niannian gritted her teeth and uttered one word, unable to say anything else.

Seeing this, Pei Yuanzheng took the microphone from her and motioned Ruan Niannian to wait for him at the door.

I don’t know what he said to Ruan’s father. They talked for nearly twenty minutes. Ruan Niannian felt heartbroken when she saw him paying the phone bill.

Pah, pah, pah! Why feel sorry for a man? This money is what he should spend. Feeling sorry for a man will bring him bad luck for the rest of his life!

When Ruan Niannian saw him pay the money and come out, she put her hands in the pockets of her skirt.

Although it doesn't look good, she is determined not to give him the chance to hold her hand.

But when Pei Yuanzheng walked up to her, he didn't force her to hold his hand, but just pushed his bicycle and walked side by side with her.

The photo studio was not far away, and the two people walked side by side without speaking.

After getting the photos from the photo studio, Pei Yuanzheng said that he would take Ruan Niannian to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things for the wedding.

Taking advantage of the moment when Ruan Niannian reached out to take a look at the photo, Pei Yuanzheng immediately seized the opportunity and grabbed her hand.

"Just now I was thinking about how to get you to take your hand out, but it's not easy to pull you out on the street, which makes me feel so frustrated."

"You! Hooligan!"

Pei Yuanzheng raised his eyebrows: "Wife, have you forgotten that we just got our marriage certificate? I am not being a hooligan now."

It seems to be the case.

Ruan Niannian angrily pushed the photo into his arms and walked away on her own.

Pei Yuanzheng, however, was not giving up and caught up with her from behind. He put his arm around her shoulders and asked in a low voice, "Wife, are you tired? Do you want to go to my little yard to rest for a while?"