Chapter 67
After a few days of peace, Bei Bitang's family all thought that she was following the routine with Fei Litong.
After a few days of peace, Bei Bitang's whole family thought that she was dating Fei Litong in an orderly manner.
On Saturday night, as usual, Miao Xiuxiu bought some meat dishes, half a pig's trotter, chopped it into small pieces, and stewed the pig's trotter and soybean soup in a pressure cooker, which was nutritious and oily.
A family of five was gnawing on pork bones and drinking delicious soup when someone knocked on the door and called out, "Is Mommy Bitang here?"
It was the voice of an unfamiliar middle-aged man.
Miao Xiuxiu stood up and went to open the door, asking, "Who is it?"
The person outside the door didn't answer. When the door opened, the night wind blew in. Miao Xiuxiu tucked in her clothes.
Miao Xiuxiu squinted her eyes at the people outside the door and asked in confusion, "Director He? Why are you here?"
Lin Bilan moved when she heard the voice, but she didn't know what she was thinking about, and she sat back down without any intention of standing up to greet the leader.
He Zhiguo strode in, followed closely by He Dafei carrying something.
One on the left and one on the right, one red and one green, both net bags are filled with good things.
He Zhiguo smiled and said, "We're eating. Braised pork trotters with soybeans, not bad. You guys eat first, don't worry about us."
Miao Xiuxiu, who was standing behind him, curled her lips and rolled her eyes as she said, "Director He, just say what you want to say."
He Zhiguo raised his chin towards He Dafei, and He Dafei immediately put the gift down.
Bei Bitang didn't even look at it, just drank the soup and chewed the soybeans.
No one greeted him, so He Zhiguo found a small stool and sat down. He Dafei kept glancing at Bei Bitang.
He Zhiguo said casually, "Mother Bitang, you haven't been to my house for a long time. Mother Dafei is worried about you."
Miao Xiuxiu spat inwardly, "Bah, if I had known that your family was thinking about my little cabbage, I would never have come to your house no matter what."
No one responded. He Zhiguo looked at Lin Bilan, looking for a way out. He smiled and said, "Bilan, has your work been going well lately? If you feel tired, you can tell your uncle He."
Upon hearing this, Lin Bilan stood up immediately like a dog smelling a bone, served tea and water to He Zhigang, and invited them to sit over and eat together. She was extremely attentive.
Miao Xiuxiu couldn't bear to watch it anymore, she felt it was too embarrassing.
Miao Xiuxiu gave Lin Bilan a look and reminded her, "Director He, just say whatever you want to say. Don't use riddles. Our Bitang is tired from going out on a date today and needs to go to bed early."
Hearing this, He Zhiguo's face froze, and He Dafei stared at Bei Bitang fiercely.
He Zhiguo curled his lips, smiled, and praised, "Bitang is not bad. She's young, beautiful, and hardworking. She's been pursued by many young men. Our Dafei is in trouble. He likes Bitang, but he doesn't dare to talk to her. So he asked me, his father, to come and give him courage."
Lin Bilan regained her composure and said triumphantly, "What a shame, you guys came too late. Are you afraid that no one will want our Bitang? She's getting married soon!"
He Zhiguo nodded hurriedly and agreed, "Yes, yes, our Bitang is very popular."
The more Bei Bitang listened, the tighter her brows furrowed. This He Zhiguo was too stubborn.
Miao Xiuxiu waved her hands and said reluctantly, "No, who's talking to you? Ours? There are five surnames in my family, and every one of them with the surname He hasn't been a family for five hundred years!"
He Zhiguo smiled and said, "Mom, you should reconsider Bitang's marriage. We haven't even got the marriage certificate yet, so things can change. Look, my family, Dafei, is close by. If Bitang marries into my family, she can come back to her parents' home from time to time to honor you. We work in the same factory, so we can help each other. Bilan wants to find a lighter job, so I'll take care of the whole family!"
Lin Bilan's eyes lit up when she heard this. She wished she had two sisters, one to the Fei family and one to the He family. That way, she could get all the benefits.
Miao Xiuxiu pressed Lin Bilan's hand hard, telling her not to be impulsive and speak nonsense, which would embarrass her sister.
After a moment of silence, He Zhiguo looked at Bei Bitang and said seductively, "Bitang, you're not going to work at the small vegetable market anymore, are you? It's such a tiring job, and people in the small vegetable market gossip a lot. How can it be suitable for a delicate and precious girl like you? Listen to me, as long as you are willing to marry Dafei, you can be a young lady for the rest of your life. If you want to go to work, I will arrange it immediately. If you want to stay at home, you can eat and drink well at home."
Bei Bitang said softly, "Director He, everyone has their own aspirations. Your idea is not suitable for me."
He Zhiguo tutted his words twice and said with a fake smile: "Look, young people nowadays all talk in one way and another, and even an old man like me can't understand them."
He Zhiguo continued his monologue, and he had to make his words clearer. He said, "I came here tonight with a sincere intention to propose marriage. As long as you are willing to marry into my family, you can make any request."
After saying that, He Zhiguo turned his head and glared at He Dafei fiercely.
You little bastard, if it weren't for you, would your father have to come up to you with such a humble attitude, and let others step on his face?
After rumors about Bei Bitang's innocence came out, Feng Jiaqing gave up the idea of having Bei Bitang as his daughter-in-law. He Zhiguo and his wife had the same idea.
My own son must be handsome and rich, educated and have a cadre job, have good character and a house. Are you still worried about not having a wife?!
He Dafei also seemed to have given up. In fact, he just wanted to control Bei Bitang and make her come to him and beg him to marry her.
Unexpectedly, Miao Xiuxiu never reveals her true identity and has a childhood friend.
A senior intellectual, with a salary of over a hundred yuan, more than sixty houses at home, and a younger sister living far away in the United States.
The man fell in love with Bei Bitang for his only son, but Bei Bitang still didn't like the woman even with such conditions.
After much persuasion, Miao Xiuxiu finally agreed to meet him reluctantly.
This time, there was another small cake and the only umbrella left for Bei Bitang. The young man went home in the rain.
The two began to talk about dating, and He Dafei, who was hoping to get a bargain, was dumbfounded and anxious.
He cried and made a fuss at home, and his family members couldn't do anything about him.
They quickly prepared gifts and asked He Zhiguo to negotiate the marriage between the two families.
Feng Jiaqing should have come, but she was stubborn and didn't want to have a slutty daughter-in-law, so she didn't want to come.
It's too late.
He Zhiguo said all the nice things he could, but Miao Xiuxiu and the others remained indifferent. If he had come earlier, Lin Bilan would have been tempted, and with her encouraging her, Miao Xiuxiu would have been a little shaken.
Miao Xiuxiu waved her hand to send the guest away, saying, "Are you done talking? Then please leave and take your things."
Miao Xiuxiu was not polite at all, but Lin Bilan still retained a hint of politeness. She smiled and said, "Director He, it's dark out. I'll use a flashlight to take you downstairs."
He Zhiguo was furious. He said with his eyes wide open: "No need, Dafei, let's go!"
Miao Xiuxiu picked up the things, stuffed them into He Zhiguo's hands, and said, "Goodbye, I won't see you off."
He Dafei was reluctant to leave, so Miao Xiuxiu pushed him out of the door and slammed it shut.
Miao Xiuxiu looked back at her family and said, "Okay, let's eat."
Picking up the bowl and chopsticks again, Miao Xiuxiu turned her head to look at Bei Bitang and asked, "How are things going between you and Fei Litong?"
Bei Bitang said vaguely: "That's it."
After watching what happened just now, she didn't dare to tell the truth. If Miao Xiuxiu and the others knew that she and Fei Litong were not dating at all, they would definitely not protect her like they did just now.
Miao Xiuxiu asked again, "When do you plan to come and propose marriage? Has he told you?"
This time Bei Bitang answered quickly, "No."
Seeing Bei Bitang's calm expression, Miao Xiuxiu spoke well of Fei Litong, "Then don't worry. Girls are more precious. Maybe the Fei family has already arranged a date for her to come."
Bei Bitang seemed to have heard it and said "hmm".
Lin Bilan curled her lips and said, "Men are all the same. Once they get something, they won't cherish it. The first time they meet, he'll give her a cream cake and take it home. The second and third times, there's nothing at all. He doesn't even care about the woman's family. I remember when Dashan and I were dating, he kept asking what you like. Humph, one is as good as the other..."
Where is that thing? Miao Xiuxiu and Bei Bitang both had this question in their minds.
During this period of time, Miao Xiuxiu had been secretly observing Bei Bitang's expression when she came back from outside.
Bei Bitang's face never showed the expression of her eldest daughter and second daughter when they were dating. From time to time, they were lost in thought, in a daze, pouting, and giggling.
Seeing Lin Bilan belittling Fei Litong, she made him look like the dirt on the ground.
Miao Xiuxiu was worried about her younger daughter. As she listened, she became dissatisfied with Fei Litong. Miao Xiuxiu knocked on Lin Bilan's bowl with chopsticks to stop her from talking nonsense.
"Eat yours."
The moonlight is cold and white, and the autumn insects make faint calls, singing their last songs with all their might. It won't be long before they hibernate, and it's possible they won't live to see the next spring.
Bei Bitang put the bathtub in front of her and went to the bathhouse.
Feng Guangmei came over from another path, leaned close to Bei Bitang's ear and whispered, "Bitang, come with me. I have something to tell you."
Bei Bitang followed Feng Guangmei and walked to a dead end corner.
The two stood by the wall, and Bei Bitang asked, "What did you say?"
Feng Guangmei's face was serious. She said, "He Zhiguo came to your house to propose marriage, right? It's only been one night, and the news has spread everywhere."
Bei Bitang said nonchalantly, "My mother didn't agree, so they are just doing it for no reason."
Feng Guangmei breathed a sigh of relief and said calmly, "I was almost scared to death. Come closer. I have something to tell you about the He family."
When Bei Bitang came over, Feng Guangmei told her all the dirty things she had heard.
"Do you know how He Dafei's grandmother became lame? She was beaten by her grandfather! It's horrible. Just because his wife couldn't have children, he hit her with a shovel and broke her leg!"
Bei Bitang felt a chill in her heart. He Dafei's grandfather looked like a kind man, but she was surprised to see that he would beat his wife and be so cruel.
Feng Guangmei was also frightened by what she said. She covered her chest and continued, "I heard that He Dafei's ancestor was a castrated woman from the palace. They spent a lot of money to get cured, and then they married and had children. But it took a long time for his wife to give birth? He Dafei was born after his father was married for more than ten years, and he is the only child in his family. Isn't it strange? Isn't it abnormal?"
These days, only workers working in factories have some knowledge about eugenics and good parenting. Even so, workers' families generally have three or four children.
He Dafei's family cannot afford to raise a child, nor can they want only one child.
Feng Guangmei's voice trembled as she said, "If you marry He Dafei, you'll be in trouble. It will take at least a decade to conceive, and there are so many elders in his family who are watching you intently. There's even a precedent of wife-beating in his family, and He Dafei is a hooligan who peeked into the women's bathhouse!"
After hearing the He family's secret, Bei Bitang felt like she had escaped death.
Bei Bitang held Feng Guangmei's hand and said gratefully, "Guangmei, thank you."
Feng Guangmei's complexion returned to normal. She smiled and said, "You're welcome. You're my friend after all!"
As she spoke, she playfully bumped Bei Bitang lightly with her shoulder.
Bei Bitang said: "Don't worry, I will never marry He Dafei, you don't have to worry about me."
Feng Guangmei said worriedly again, "I'm afraid your mother and the others will find out that there's nothing going on between you and Fei Litong. They..."
Bei Bitang pulled Feng Guangmei out of the corner and changed the subject, saying, "When you reach the mountain, there will always be a way out. When you reach the bridge, you will find your way out. Tell me, where did you hear that?"
Bei Bitang blinked and asked in a riddle.
Feng Guangmei said proudly, "Have you forgotten where I work? A grocery store! If I'm not well-informed, who is?! If you need any information in the future, feel free to come to me! But you have to do it sooner rather than later, or I'll quit after the New Year."
Bei Bitang couldn't help laughing.
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