“It’s not your problem,” Yang Shumei explained. “It’s my own problem. I don’t want to rely too much on others.”
“But I’m not just anyone; I want to be someone you can rely on.” Zhao Jianbin’s sincerity was so genuine that he wanted to lay bare his heart for Shumei to see.
Yang Shumei knew this, which was why she didn't want him to invest too much. The future was uncertain, and if they were to go their separate ways one day, she didn't want Zhao Jianbin to become too deeply entangled in the situation.
To date, she still has many concerns about this relationship and is unable to fully commit like Xie Yuyao.
Besides the uncertainty of his own future, Zhao Jianbin also faces the attitude of his parents.
She remembered very clearly that her mother opposed her son marrying a female educated youth, and Liu Dazui even got into a fight over it in the fields. The reason she hadn't interfered these days was because Zhao Jianbin was studying high school knowledge with her, trying to get a spot in the worker-peasant-soldier university next year.
This was told to her by one of the kids from the lawnmower team. Apparently, Zhao Jianbin overheard his parents talking about it outdoors.
If he really goes to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University next year, while she has to take the college entrance exam and return to Beijing, their life trajectories will diverge, and the hope of being together in the future will be slim.
As for her own side, if she still can't return to the city in three to five years, Zhao Jianbin's parents will definitely urge her to get married, which is suffocating to think about.
With these unknowns hanging over her head, she simply couldn't rely on Zhao Jianbin as someone she could depend on.
Only by acknowledging his various efforts can we find an opportunity to repay him.
*
Unlike Zhao Jianbin's bumpy love life, Zhao Honghui's has been quite smooth.
These days, he has been scrambling around and has finally gathered all eight betrothal gifts: wedding cigarettes, wedding wine, wedding tea, wedding candy, wedding cake, noodles, fish, and meat.
All the gifts were in even numbers, and apart from the large carp and the pig's hind leg, the other items were of the highest quality and most upscale.
Meanwhile, his mother had already received the results of the Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny) analysis brought back by Sister Qiao: a harmonious match.
The Six Harmonies (六合) is the best horoscope for marriage, meaning that the five elements of both parties are in harmony, and their personalities and temperaments are also very compatible. It is the most suitable marriage, also known as a match made in heaven.
In addition, Sister Qiao's cousin also gave her two most auspicious dates for marriage next year, in March and October respectively.
Sister Qiao said at the time, "My uncle said there won't be any good days this year, the earliest will be next March."
Zhao Honghui, who was standing to the side at the time, groaned inwardly, "It will take another six months!"
But his mother was very satisfied: "Getting married is not a casual matter. We have to prepare betrothal gifts and dowry. There are so many things to do!"
Although the wedding is still a few months away, the marriage proposal can be put on the agenda.
Yang Chunhua immediately took out a perpetual calendar and found the nearest auspicious day—the day after tomorrow, she would go to propose marriage.
Please ask Sister Qiao to tell the Youth Team that Xie Yuyao's family home is too far away, so the Youth Team will be considered her family home.
Upon receiving Sister Qiao's words, Li Weidong swallowed his bitterness and instructed the educated youth to prepare a banquet.
In the past five years, the educated youth team has helped two female educated youths get married. One of them married into the commune and taught at the commune primary school, while the other married into the brigade and became a genuine farmer.
Having prior experience, Wu Lihong and others sprang into action, some buying supplies, others cleaning, and Xie Yuyao only needed to contribute money.
Before they knew it, the day of the marriage proposal arrived. Xie Yuyao wore a red coat, her slender fingers weaving through her thick, black hair, braiding a loose plait that hung diagonally over her shoulder, giving her a unique charm.
Zhao Honghui, his parents, three uncles, his highly respected second uncle, and the matchmaker, Sister Qiao, a group of eight, arrived at the educated youth compound carrying gifts.
Li Weidong and Wu Lihong led the way and guided everyone to the back room.
Xie Yuyao's captivating peach blossom eyes met Zhao Honghui's dark and deep gaze.
Upon arriving at the backyard, Zhao Honghui acted like the host, inviting his family to sit down for tea, fruit, and snacks.
Fruits that are rarely seen on ordinary days were laid out on the table in five or six plates, including apples, oranges, pears, pomelos, and green dates.
There were also several plates of tea snacks such as nougat, white rabbit figurines, and mung bean cakes.
This left many people speechless, having long heard that Xie, a sent-down youth, enjoyed good conditions, and now they had a direct experience of it.
Xie Yuyao wanted to cut the orange, and just as she picked up the fruit knife, Zhao Honghui took the knife from her, saying, "I'll do it."
She didn't stand on ceremony and even ordered, "Cut the apples too later."
After being entertained by Li Weidong and Zhao Honghui, Xie Yuyao, seeing that there was nothing for her to do, went to the front yard to see if there was anything she could help with.
Because they had no shortage of money, the meal gave the group of female educated youths room to express themselves.
Xie Yuyao helped out, and in accordance with the auspicious meaning of "perfection," everyone prepared ten dishes.
Braised carp, mutton stew with vermicelli, braised chicken with chestnuts, braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens, braised lion's head meatballs...
With two stoves and a coal stove working together, dishes were cooked one after another.
Xie Yuyao went to the backyard and invited everyone to move to the front yard to begin the banquet.
One after another, hearty dishes were laid out on the table, and Xie Yuyao also brought out the fine wine she had prepared to treat everyone.
The meal was a great success, and many people were a little unsteady on their feet when they left.
After the meal, Zhao Honghui's family and Sister Qiao left first, while Zhao Honghui stayed behind.
Seeing that he reeked of alcohol and his ears were red, Xie Yuyao told him to go back to his room and lie down for a while, and then prepared a basin of hot water for him to wash up.
"Ouch!" Just as she wiped her face, her wrist was grabbed forcefully, and she was pulled down onto his hard chest.
Are you drunk?
Xie Yuyao looked up and saw that the person in front of her had affection in his eyes, but was not very drunk.
"It stinks, let go." The smell of alcohol made her feel uncomfortable. Xie Yuyao struggled a few times to get up, but the man wouldn't let go. The more she struggled, the tighter he held her.
Zhao Honghui wanted nothing more than to pull Yao Yao into his body, and whispered, "Yao Yao, I'm so happy."
Hearing this, Xie Yuyao stopped struggling, looked up and touched the newly grown beard on his chin. It was slightly prickly and very sexy.
She wanted to say something more, but saw that the person beneath her was already fast asleep.
Xie Yuyao carefully slipped out of his embrace. Seeing his brows furrowed and his hand reaching out to pull at him, she casually covered him with the blanket. "Be good, get some sleep."
Zhao Honghui, perhaps having heard her voice, obediently stopped moving.
Seeing that he was sleeping so peacefully, Xie Yuyao tidied her appearance at the dressing table, then chuckled and went out.
She had just closed the door when Yang Shumei, who was washing teacups outside, asked, "Is he asleep?"
"Yeah, I drank a bit too much."
Xie Yuyao squatted down to help wash, but Yang Shumei stopped her: "Go to the front yard and see, there are some leftovers, they asked if you want them brought over."
"Alright then, I'll go take a look."
When we arrived at the front yard, everyone had already finished eating and was sweeping and washing dishes.
Seeing Xie Yuyao go over, Wu Lihong asked while washing the dishes, "Yaoyao, are there any leftovers? I'll take them to you later."
"No need, you can keep it for yourselves. We owe you all so much for your help today."
Xie Yuyao was truly grateful to them; if she were alone, she probably would have been completely lost.
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