Zhao Honghui rushed home and told his parents about moving to the backyard of the educated youth compound after his marriage. Unsurprisingly, he was met with his mother's opposition: "You have your own house at home, why do you want to live in the educated youth compound?"
“But we need to build a separate kitchen at home, and there’s only one main room. I’ve already discussed this with Yao Yao. Who do you think we should ask to be the matchmaker and formally propose marriage?” Zhao Honghui’s eyes flashed with a hint of shyness, and his tone was slightly anxious.
Yang Chunhua didn't make things too difficult for him. Since things had come to this, she could only hope that they could live happily ever after.
"I'll go ask Sister Qiao to be the matchmaker, and then pick an auspicious day to propose marriage." Yang Chunhua couldn't wait to take off her apron, went to the storage room to get two catties of brown sugar, and went out to find Sister Qiao.
Sister Qiao is the women's director of Qingshantun. She often mediates the relations between the villagers. In previous years, the educated youth would ask her to be the matchmaker when they got married.
Upon hearing Yang Chunhua explain her purpose, the warm-hearted woman immediately agreed: "Congratulations, sister! There's no one else as good as Xie Zhiqing."
They're already dating, so there's no need for the usual arranged meeting. Go home and prepare the betrothal gifts; once the date is set, I'll go tell Xie Zhiqing.”
“Okay, I’ll go back and prepare right away,” Yang Chunhua said with a smile. She looked around and lowered her voice: “Sister Qiao, I heard that you have a cousin in the county who can tell fortunes. Could you ask him to help Honghui and Yaoyao match their birth dates?”
“This…” Sister Qiao looked troubled.
"Don't worry, we will never tell anyone," Yang Chunhua assured her repeatedly, pleading with her.
Sister Qiao reluctantly said, "I'll give it a try. If my uncle refuses to do the calculation, don't blame me."
Yang Chunhua quickly replied, "Of course not, then I'll leave it to you. I'll get their birth dates and times later."
In the past decade, the country has advocated breaking down feudal superstitions, but when it comes to weddings and funerals, people still secretly find someone to calculate the auspicious dates.
Yang Chunhua had heard that Sister Qiao's uncle was incredibly accurate in his predictions, but due to the current situation, he no longer offered predictions to outsiders. That was why she sent him brown sugar; as for the matchmaker's gift, she would give it to him later.
Of course, Sister Qiao declined several times before finally accepting the brown sugar.
After saying goodbye to Sister Qiao, Yang Chunhua went directly to the educated youth compound to find Yao Yao, but found no one there.
At this moment, Yao Yao was already sitting in the clinic, chatting with the other two while eating the snacks they had brought.
The weather is no longer suitable for going up the mountain to collect herbs, so the three people at the clinic spend their free time reading or chatting.
Zhang Hongqin, cracking sunflower seeds, said, "My mom said last night that the winter hunting team is starting to select members, and it's expected that quite a few people want to go."
"So early this year?" Zhang Daliang asked in surprise as he shelled peanuts.
"The weather has been very changeable in the last month or two, and the captain's idea is to prepare early."
After listening to their conversation, Xie Yuyao asked in confusion, "Is the hunting team you're talking about going to Daqingshan to hunt? It's the middle of winter, and staying in the snow for too long will cause frostbite and hurt your eyes. Why did you choose this time to go?"
"After it snows, animal tracks are very clear, making it easier to find them. Otherwise, there are many mosquitoes, snakes, and ants around on ordinary days, and without a target, it's even more difficult to hunt them."
So that's how it is. Xie Yuyao realized how ignorant she was.
The three were chatting when they heard a voice calling from outside, "Yaoyao, are you there?"
"Yes!" Xie Yuyao replied, stood up and went out.
Zhao Hongqin recognized her mother's voice and quickly lifted the curtain to greet her, "Mom, what brings you here? Are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm perfectly fine!"
Xie Yuyao also went out and said with a light laugh, "Aunt Yang, you were looking for me?"
Yang Chunhua laughed loudly, "Yaoyao, I just came from Sister Qiao's place. I asked her to be Honghui's matchmaker. Once we've chosen a date, I'll come to propose marriage."
"Okay." Xie Yuyao nodded with a charming smile.
Seeing how decisive she was, Xie Yuyao recalled a proverb: "A son resembles his mother, and a beautiful woman is like a golden wall."
Yang Chunhua moved closer to Xie Yuyao and asked in a low voice, "Yaoyao, do you know what your birth date and time are? I want to have someone calculate it."
Xie Yuyao frowned slightly, then smiled again after a moment: "I know, please come in and sit down, I'll write it for you."
She had just recalled the original owner's memories. One night, her parents found a notebook in the cupboard, which recorded everyone's birth date and the exchange of gifts for weddings and funerals. The original owner accidentally saw her own birth date and time.
In this way, she would be spared the trouble of having to write to inquire.
She could understand Yang Chunhua's actions. Not to mention now, even decades from now, matching birth dates for marriage would still be a common practice in rural areas.
Regardless of the calculated result, she had confidence in Zhao Honghui.
When Yang Chunhua entered the house, Zhao Guangliang had already swept the sunflower seeds and peanut shells on the table into the trash can. He said politely, "Aunt Yang, please sit down."
"Yes!" Yang Chunhua responded, looking around. "This place looks quite nice, not bad!"
"It's quite good." Zhao Guangliang found an enamel mug and poured a cup of hot water for Yang Chunhua.
Xie Yuyao found a piece of white paper, wrote down the original owner's birth date and time, and handed it to Yang Chunhua.
Yang Chunhua didn't stay long. She rushed home to copy her eldest son's birth date and time and sent it to Sister Qiao.
As soon as she left, Zhao Hongqin excitedly asked, "Sister Yaoyao, are you going to marry my brother? Then I'll start calling you sister-in-law!"
"It's still early!" Xie Yuyao said with a charming smile.
Zhao Hongqin retorted, "What do you mean, 'so early'? Given my elder brother's decisive and efficient style, he will definitely marry you as soon as possible."
Xie Yuyao smiled and shook his head. The wedding date wasn't something he could just choose whenever he wanted.
"Congratulations! I'm looking forward to your wedding banquet," Zhao Guangliang said jokingly.
Xie Yuyao blushed and said generously, "Don't worry, you'll be included!"
"Hahaha......"
Everyone chatted and laughed, and a cheerful melody filled the clinic.
Time flies, another day has passed in the blink of an eye.
In the morning, the gong used by the brigade to go to and from work was struck.
Xie Yuyao and Yang Shumei had just finished breakfast when they heard the noise. They exchanged a glance, put on their military overcoats, and went out to see what was going on.
Yang Shumei was wearing a wool military coat that had been mailed from her hometown; it was the thickest and warmest coat she had at the moment.
This uniform is only produced by the arsenal and is exclusively for use by troops in frigid regions. No matter how much money an outsider has, they cannot buy it.
Xie Yuyao's clothes were custom-made at a tailor shop, and Zhao Honghui had made a special trip to the county town to pick them up a few days ago.
The quality of this one is nowhere near as good as Yang Shumei's, but she's not one to compare herself to others, and she really likes this one, especially when she wears the same one as Zhao Honghui.
The two walked to the front yard, where the other members of the educated youth team also came out. The group then walked together toward the threshing ground.
The other educated youth were filled with envy when they saw Xie Yuyao and Yang Shumei wearing thick cotton-padded coats and warm cotton hats. Especially Yang Shumei's military coat, which was not something ordinary people could get their hands on.
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