Chapter 64

Ye Manzhi's understanding of marriage proposal comes almost entirely from literary works.

When her eldest sister first started working at the drama troupe, she invited her to see Chekhov's one-act play, "The Proposal." However, because the actors' lines contained a lot of corny terms like "dear," "my precious," and "my darling," the young and ignorant girl was too shy to pay much attention to the plot.

Later, she and Qingmei read the Soviet novel "How the Steel Was Tempered" together. While others were praising Paul's bravery and iron will, the two of them were still discussing the scene of Paul proposing to Daya and getting married.

Later, she read a commentary in the People's Daily titled "Butterfly-like People." The article, which largely referenced Andersen's fairy tale "The Butterfly," satirized butterfly-like characters. But she didn't pay attention to the author's criticism; she was simply captivated by the fact that the butterfly had proposed to the pea flower. Even butterflies can be so romantic!

Ye Manzhi had secretly fantasized about being proposed to, but she didn't hold out much hope for it.

It is not popular for young men and women to propose marriage nowadays. After both parties have met their families, the marriage can basically be settled.

Wu Zhengrong was several years older than her and a man who never kissed even when in military uniform. She thought their future would develop like other men and women, and they would just choose an auspicious day to get married.

Unexpectedly, Wu Zhengrong would propose to her!

She read the contents of the note silently twice again. The tingling sensation made her heart beat faster, and blood rushed from her chest to her limbs, and then boiled and rushed to her brain.

It was not until Wu Zhengrong noticed something was wrong with her and took her to the Binjiang Hotel across the street and sat her in an unfamiliar restaurant that she felt the blood gradually flowing back to her fingers and carefully put the note into her coat pocket.

"What are you doing at the hotel?"

Wu Zhengrong looked at the blush on her face and said with a helpless smile, "Since I want to propose, I have to find a decent restaurant, right?"

The restaurant of Binjiang Hotel serves both Chinese and Western food and is very famous in the city.

He felt that since Ye Manzhi liked the Western restaurant in the workers' club, she would definitely like this place.

That's why I put the music box in the consignment shop opposite the restaurant.

According to his plan, Ye Manzhi bought the music box in the store and then came to the restaurant for dinner. At least he would not see the note until he ordered the dishes.

Unexpectedly, plans cannot keep up with changes, and people discovered it on the road!

After Ye Manzhi sat down, she didn't even take a good look at the elegant environment of the restaurant. She hurriedly ordered a few dishes and put all her attention on the music box.

She opened the lid, took out the wooden figure holding the pipa and examined it carefully.

The girl was wearing a pink cheongsam and had her hair tied up. There were indeed two strings missing from her pipa.

The rest of the room is in natural wood color, only the little girl who is constantly spinning is colorful.

She played with the wooden figurine for a while, then tilted her head and asked, "Did you make this music box yourself?"

Wu Zhengrong chuckled and admitted, "It's my first time, so the carving isn't very good."

"You also played 'Flower Tune'?" Ye Manzhi asked incredulously, "Didn't you say you didn't understand these?"

"I really don't understand it, but I asked the president of your concert to help me get some simple music. I made six movements before I got one that was barely in tune."

Ye Manzhi felt that all this was incredible, and she recalled the whole incident.

"Aren't you worried that I won't come to China Street for shopping today? If I choose to buy gifts on Stone Road Street, won't all your efforts be wasted?"

Wu Zhengrong looked at her and smiled: "If that's the case, I will do everything I can to persuade you to come to China Street for a stroll."

“What if I don’t get into the consignment store?”

"How could you not go in?"

They have been in love for quite some time, and he has a basic idea of ​​Ye Manzhi's preferences.

Even the counters of the supply and marketing cooperatives had to be looked at one by one, not to mention the shops lining the commercial streets.

"If we really hadn't gone into the consignment store," Wu Zhengrong thought for a moment and said hypothetically, "I might have skipped giving you the music box for now, and then invited you to dinner at the Grand Hotel, and then found a chance to propose to you."

He took out a square box from his coat pocket, opened the lid and handed it to the girl.

"Ye Manzhi, I formally propose to you today. Are you willing to accept me, marry me, and become my lover and lifelong partner?"

We were having a normal conversation one second, and then he suddenly proposed to me the next!

Ye Manzhi was mentally prepared after reading the note, but when this moment really came, she was still surprised!

Her eyes were sore, and the tears that suddenly gathered made her vision blurred, and she couldn't see clearly what was in the box.

When they first confirmed their relationship, she privately asked Wu Zhengrong why he used the straightforward term "dating" instead of the more implicit term "revolutionary comrades" to describe their relationship.

Wu Zhengrong said that he had many revolutionary comrades in the army, but he only had one lover.

The uniqueness of loved ones makes them precious enough.

Hearing him once again define their relationship as "lover" and "partner", Ye Manyzhi felt a wave of heat rushing from her heart into her throat and eyes, making her speechless.

The relationship between the two came naturally, and Wu Zhengrong was actually quite confident about proposing today, but it was his first time doing such a thing after all, and it was difficult to suppress his nervousness.

At this moment, Ye Manzhi looked at him with tears in her eyes without saying a word, and Wu Zhengrong's face showed some panic, which was rare.

"Why are you crying suddenly?" He put the jewelry box aside and found a handkerchief for her to wipe her tears.

Ye Manzhi clutched her handkerchief, thinking of the music box he had made by himself, the five scrapped movements, and the wooden doll wearing a pink cheongsam, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

She asked in a nasal voice, "Why are you so nice to me?"

"It's okay actually. As long as it's within my ability, I will try my best to give you the best."

Wu Zhengrong did not wipe her tears in public, but only held her hand under the cover of the tablecloth.

"Ye Manzhi, I don't want to deceive you with sweet words. What you see now is the happy and beautiful side of love and marriage. However, my job is quite special, and I often have no choice. My family situation is not satisfactory either. If one day in the future you feel wronged, I only hope that these 'best' things can give you some motivation to persevere..."

There were still tears in Ye Manzhi's eyes. Relying on Wu Zhengrong's tall stature, which could block most of the view outside the booth, she threw herself into his arms without a care in the world.

"Aren't you proposing to me? Why are you saying such depressing things? If other military families can live like this, I can certainly live like this! However, your attitude is still worthy of recognition! You really should be nicer to me and leave all the best for me! Of course, I will also leave the best for you!"

"Alright, be more restrained outside." Wu Zhengrong patted her waist and asked in a low voice, "So, did Comrade Ye Manzhi accept my proposal?"

Ye Manzhi raised her eyes and looked at him, thinking that she was so in love with him just based on this face, not to mention that the military representative was so outstanding, so of course she had to accept him.

However, after a moment's hesitation, she still asked, "If I agree to you, do I have to get a marriage certificate tomorrow?"

"Your acceptance of my proposal is only the first step. With your nod, I can submit a marriage report to my superiors. After the report is approved, both parents will need to discuss the betrothal gifts and wedding date. From what my grandmother said, we may have to look up the almanac to find an auspicious date." Wu Zhengrong said with embarrassment, "As for your wish to get the marriage certificate tomorrow, it may not be possible to realize it."

When it comes to getting a marriage certificate, Wu Zhengrong's consistent principle is to listen to his female comrades.

However, matchmaking usually leads to marriages very quickly. They've known each other for almost a year now, and if they don't take the next step, people might start gossiping about them again.

That's why he planned to propose on Ye Manzhi's birthday. With a positive response, he could file for marriage registration. After all, they had to go through pre-marital investigation and political review, and the report approval would take quite a while.

Ye Manzhi glanced at him and said, "Who wants to get married tomorrow? Taking wedding photos in winter will make you look so bloated. I want to wait until the weather warms up and I can wear nice clothes before taking photos!"

Wu Zhengrong pressed the issue again: "So, Comrade Ye Manzhi, do you accept my proposal?"

Ye Manzhi pursed her lips in a smile, and under his fixed gaze, she gave a clear answer: "Yes, I accept. I accept Comrade Wu Zhengrong's proposal!"

"Then you should take this as well," Wu Zhengrong was infected by her joy and smiled as he pushed the jewelry box in front of her. "This is what my mother left behind before she returned to the base. My sister-in-law and eldest sister also have a set. This one is for you."

In the jewelry box were a gold bracelet, a gold necklace, and a gold ring inlaid with emeralds.

The style is an old one from decades ago and is actually not very suitable for young girls to wear.

He didn't want to propose with the gifts his parents gave him, so he made a music box that Ye Manzhi would like.

Ye Manzhi had seen Chang Yue'e's dowry. There were several gold plaques in the jewelry box. She was quite experienced in this regard, but she still sighed, "Isn't this too expensive? Auntie is always so generous!"

When visiting the Wu family during the Chinese New Year, although Wu Zhengrong's mother was not very warm, she gave a particularly large red envelope.

After she returned home that day, she discovered that Grandpa Wu and Grandma Wu each gave her a red envelope of fifty yuan, Aunt Wu and Uncle Wu gave her five yuan, and only Wu Zhengrong's mother gave her a hundred yuan at once!

Even if daddy gets a share of it, it’s still quite a lot!

When relatives exchange gifts, even if it is a gift for a new daughter-in-law, it is normal to give something like what Aunt Wu did.

Wu Zhengrong said calmly, "Just keep it if she gives it to you. If you don't like the style, you can melt the gold and make a new one of your favorite style."

"I'm a neighborhood official. Which official do you see wearing gold and silver? I think these styles are very beautiful. I will keep them well!"

After she gets home, you can try it on secretly.

Hehehe.

*

Being proposed to on my birthday and receiving gifts doubled the joy and surprise.

I don’t know if it’s because of the change in their relationship or because Wu Zhengrong dressed up specially today, but whenever Ye Manzhi looks at him, she can’t help but want to kiss him.

As a result, she didn't dare to make eye contact with him later. They always paid attention to their impression when they were outside and were a serious couple!

After finally finishing the meal, Ye Manzhi finally had the opportunity to formally invite Comrade Wu Zhengrong to visit her new home.

Comrade Wu Zhengrong also agreed seriously.

The two serious men kept a distance of one meter and walked to the yard on Xincheng Street, one in front and one behind.

As soon as the door was closed, Ye Manyi hugged his neck and kissed him hard several times.

Wu Zhengrong was not satisfied with her chicken-pecking-at-rice kissing style, so he pulled her over and gave her a passionate kiss.

They are usually restrained and never go overboard even at Wu Zhengrong's house.

Today's kiss was forceful and deep. Ye Manzhi clung to him with weak legs, her chest rising and falling with her breathing. She felt as if her soul was being sucked away.

She was kissed unconscious, and when their lips and tongues parted, she couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh from her throat.

However, this moan made both of them stunned. Ye Manzhi's brain instantly stopped working, her ears turned red, and she wanted to break free from his embrace and run away ashamed.

Wu Zhengrong hugged her and smiled: "Why are you running?"

Catching a glimpse of the music box on the table, Ye Manzhi quickly thought of a solution. Blushing, she stammered, "Didn't you make this music box? I, I'll go get the fifty cents back!"