"Su, what's wrong?"
Su Ranran tugged at He Wan and whispered, "Zhang Zhiqing is crying inside. Come with me and try to comfort her."
While closing the door, He Wan pretended not to know and asked about the situation.
When they entered the room, they saw that Zhang Cuicao's eyes were red. Looking at the straw shoes in front of her, she said, "These straw shoes are nice. Who made them?"
Su Ranran said, "She used a bag of brown sugar to have the second child's father in the village make it."
He Wan said, "A pound of brown sugar? Sister Cui Cao, you're really generous."
Su Ranran snorted: "That's why I say she's stupid."
Zhang Cuicao wiped away her tears and said, "I've been watching him all this time, and he's only been wearing one pair of cotton shoes. With this much snow, he gets completely soaked after just a short walk outside."
Su Ranran said irritably, "So you feel sorry for me?"
Zhang Cuicao turned her head to the side and remained silent.
He Wan sighed softly, "Sister Cui Cao, you like Liang Zhiqing, have you inquired about his family situation?"
Zhang Cuicao shook her head shyly.
He Wan said, "I know. His parents are ordinary workers in a printing factory. There are five siblings in his family. He is the eldest, with three younger sisters and one younger brother. His second sister is seventeen and will graduate from high school next year. His third sister is fifteen and in the third year of junior high school. His fourth sister is in junior high school, and his fifth brother is only seven years old. His family lives on his parents' wages and they live a very frugal life."
When he came to be a sent-down youth, he sent home the dried goods and grain he had stocked up on in the fall. If he were to marry his girlfriend, he would likely have to use half of his savings to support his younger siblings until they came of age. Think about it, his youngest brother is only seven years old.
Zhang Cuicao asked in confusion, "He Zhiqing, how do you know so much?"
He Wan let out a sound of surprise, coughed lightly, and made up an excuse, saying, "I once overheard his conversation with Zhang Jianjun when I was picking dried goods on the mountain."
Su Ranran said, "Cui Cao, his family's conditions are far worse than yours. Your parents definitely won't agree, right?"
He Wan nodded in agreement. Zhang Cuicao's family wasn't exactly wealthy, but they were doing quite well compared to ordinary families. One of her parents was a manager at a department store, and the other worked at the Women's Federation. She had an older brother and a younger sister.
The older brother drives a truck for a transport team, and the younger sister is about to graduate from high school. When Zhang Cuicao graduated, it was the time when her father was getting a promotion, so he sent her to the countryside first.
Two years ago, there was a job that could have transferred her back, but it was snatched up by one of her father's old rivals.
Otherwise, Zhang Cuicao would have returned to the city as well.
"But...I'm not afraid..."
"Hey, don't say you're not afraid of hardship. The word 'endure hardship' is actually very abstract. You may think you can suffer losses, but in reality, you may not be able to endure those hardships."
Sister Cuicao, imagine your husband taking half of the food that you two already barely have enough to eat and giving it to the family. Imagine him giving away the new clothes you painstakingly saved up with cloth ration coupons for a year to his sister.
Imagine you finally landed a great job, only to have your partner give it up to her sister out of pity.
"Can you tolerate all of this..."
Before He Wan could say much, Zhang Cuicao trembled all over.
Su Ranran then added, "Liang Zhiqing is just a bit handsome, but these days being handsome can't put food on the table."
Look at you, only Chen Zhiqing treats him like a treasure. Last time she mocked him, and you still went for it.
"Didn't you realize that Liang, the educated youth, liked Chen Qing? What a fool you were to stay at the educated youth settlement for so long!"
Zhang Cuicao pursed her lips and remained silent.
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