Chapter 8 I Marry! (Revised)
Lin Xiang carefully considered this marriage.
He Hongyuan, the son of Aunt He, is the most reliable soldier of this era, and has a promising future. He was promoted to the head of a regiment at a young age and stationed on an island. The island is far away from Xifeng City, and he can avoid the calculations of his biological father and stepmother's family, as well as the pervert Sun Yaozu who is always staring at him.
Not to mention, the island faces the sea, with blue sky and clear blue sea, and abundant seafood, including fish, shrimp, crab, clams, and clams... everything you can think of.
Looking down at the man in the photo again, she saw that he had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and was handsome and strong. He was more handsome than the male stars in later generations. Lin Xiang was indeed moved.
This man is perfect for her aesthetic!
Before meeting Lin Xiang, Aunt He had been thinking of coming to the city to ask. If the Lin family was willing, then they would get married. If not, then they could cancel the engagement amicably. But when she met Lin Xiang, she found that such a pretty and smart girl was rare. She liked her at first sight, and she had a selfish thought in her heart that it would be great if she could really marry her youngest son and become her daughter-in-law.
As she thought about this, she heard Lin Xiang's wish, and a smile instantly appeared on Lao Mai's face: "Do you really want this child marriage?"
No matter how selfish she was, she had to say a few more words: "It's just that Hongyuan is too far away, on some island. I said I would let you get married and then let you go to the island to join the army. I'm too embarrassed to do that."
It would be so painful for a good city girl to join the army and suffer.
Lin Xiang knew that Aunt He, like many other people, had a "prejudice" against the island. The main reason was that she didn't understand it. She always thought it was a deserted island. After all, there was not much development of seafood in the 1970s, and people didn't care much about the sea view. But Lin Xiang knew that she came from the future and always loved the sea view. So she comforted Aunt He and said, "Aunt, I heard that the island is not bad. There are a lot of seafood to eat, such as fish, shrimp, crabs, etc. It's not worse than here."
Hearing this girl's words of not fearing hardship or fatigue, she is a perfect candidate to be a military wife. Aunt He was immediately moved and took Lin Xiang's hand and said, "You have high ideological awareness! What a good child! Then it's fine if you are willing to marry. It's too high for us to marry! I have to visit your family to propose marriage and discuss the gift and..."
"Auntie, please don't come to my house." Lin Xiang hurriedly stopped Aunt He. If Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying knew about this, it would definitely not work out. They both just wanted to marry her to Sun Yaozu so that they could get benefits from the factory director's family in the future.
Lin Xiang told Aunt He that her biological father and stepmother had forced her to give her job to Lin Jianxin and to marry the factory director's son. Aunt He became furious and frowned in anger when she heard this.
Originally, she thought that Lin Xiang was the precious daughter of the Lin family, and she couldn't bear to see her follow her son into the army and suffer hardships. However, she never expected that after Lin Xiang's mother died, Lin's father remarried, and Lin Xiang became a poor little girl.
Not only did he force his daughter to give up her job, but he also planned to marry her to the violent son of the factory director. How could a human being do this?
"Don't worry, girl. This is a new society. You won't let anyone mistreat you like this!"
Lin Xiang looked at Aunt He and thought of Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying. It was true that the aunt she had just met was kinder than that scumbag stepmother. She discussed the future plans with her future mother-in-law. After all, Aunt He had only received a two-day introduction letter when she came from the country and had to return home tomorrow.
That afternoon, the big courtyard was bustling with activity, and Lin Xiang finally made up her mind.
She went to handle the sale of the job, and after finishing the remaining matters in the next few days, Aunt He went back to contact He Hongyuan to discuss their marriage.
====
After lunch break, Lin Xiang returned to the steel rolling mill and went to see Sister Li in the workshop.
The factory director's son, Sun Yaozu, was arrested just yesterday. Sister Li is still very passionate and denounces this pervert's audacity.
It should be said that women at that time could hold up half the sky. They were not afraid even if they scolded the factory director's son. The factory had stable jobs and emphasized freedom and democracy. Even if the factory director did something wrong, the older employees dared to point it out. This was much more confident than being a social animal under the oppression of capitalists in later generations. No matter how much grievance they suffered, they had to endure it. Thinking about the car loans and house loans they had to pay, who dared not to be humble in front of the boss?
Lin Xiangcun went over to eavesdrop and learned that Sun Yaozu was dealt with impartially by his father, the factory director who "killed his own relatives for the sake of justice". He was fined half a year's salary, suspended from work, and criticized internally.
Such a punishment seems severe, but Lin Xiang always feels it is a pity. It would be better if he could be completely dealt with.
After all, the plot of the book mentioned that Sun Yaozu was a big disaster. After marrying the original body, he committed domestic violence. At the same time, he was still having affairs outside. He also used his power as the factory director's son to coerce and seduce women. He was simply a scumbag.
Lin Xiang learned very little about the plot. She vaguely remembered that after the original body was killed by domestic violence, the Sun family continued to prosper until the late 1990s, when a wave of layoffs hit the country. The major state-owned factories that were once regarded as iron rice bowls suffered continuous losses and were on the verge of bankruptcy. Employees were laid off and many state-owned factories were even sold. The steel rolling mill, which was once the pillar industry of Xifeng City, also gradually declined, and the Sun family also declined.
As for Sun Yaozu, he has never done anything good from beginning to end, and it seems that he has done a lot of bad things in the factory...
Xifeng City welcomed the hottest season in early August. There were waves of heat in the high-temperature workshop. Lin Xiang was thinking about Sun Yaozu's affairs until she got off work. When her colleague who took over came, she hurriedly took off her work clothes and bought a bottle of Arctic Ocean soda at the factory gate. The orange-yellow soda in the transparent glass bottle was emitting cold air. This was sold in the Popsicle Alley. It was icy and cool, and it was simply a magic weapon to cool down in summer.
Drinking Arctic Ocean soda, Lin Xiang walked under the banyan tree on the street. The golden sunlight passed through the gaps between the leaves, and the light and shadow danced on the corners of Lin Xiang's eyes and eyebrows, and were mottled on his shoulders, back and arms.
Workers were coming and going on their way home from work on bicycles. Lines of people in dark blue work clothes were shuttling back and forth on the asphalt road. On the wall, large red characters were written with the mark of the times. Lin Xiang glanced over them quickly.
【Learn from Dazhai in agriculture and Daqing in industry】
【Grasp the revolution and promote production】
【Down with the American Empire】
【Down with Soviet revisionism】
【Unity is strength】
......
As she was looking, Lin Xiang caught a glimpse of an unpleasant figure as she approached the gate of her family compound.
Sun Yaozu, who was escorted by female employees to the security department to seek an explanation from the factory director yesterday for peeping into the women's bathhouse, has been released.
At this moment, he was standing by the wall at the gate of his family's courtyard, standing there lazily. As he looked around, his eyes lit up, and he ran towards Lin Xiang with a bruised face and a pig-like look.
"Xiangxiang, let's go see a movie." Sun Yaozu held two movie tickets in his hand, looking as if nothing had happened, and wanted to invite Lin Xiang to see a movie.
Lin Xiang was unwilling to give this man a good face: "Sun Yaozu, you just peeked into the women's bathhouse yesterday, and now you're let out? It seems that having a factory director dad is really good."
Sun Yaozu didn't understand the hidden meaning of Lin Xiang's words. Instead, he thought that Lin Xiang was attracted by his family background, so he said arrogantly: "Xiangxiang sister, don't worry, as long as you follow me, no one in the factory will dare to bully you in the future, and you will have a good life with good food and drink."
Lin Xiang sneered, but she didn't want to linger on the busy street: "I don't have such luck, I won't marry you, and you don't have to think about it."
"That's hard to say." Sun Yaozu looked at Lin Xiang. She used to be so weak and seemed easy to control, but now she has a charming face, especially the unconquerable arrogance between her eyebrows, which makes Sun Yaozu even more excited.
He stared at Lin Xiang fiercely with his lustful eyes, as if he was staring at a plate of Chinese food. With a somewhat cold and determined aura, he took a step closer and threatened: "I'll tell you the truth, I've prepared the betrothal gift for you, where can you hide?"
In the book, the original character was coaxed into agreeing to get married by her biological father and stepmother, but now Lin Xiang is not easy to deceive. It seems that the plot has changed. Sun Yaozu, Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying have reached an agreement privately.
Lin Xiang straightened her back and looked at the man warily: "This is a new society. Do you really think my father and my stepmother can marry me off casually?"
"Heh." Sun Yaozu didn't pretend to be nice at this moment, but sneered, "You are an employee of the steel mill. My father has the final say in the steel mill. Even if you leave the steel mill, you are still a person from Xifeng City. If you don't obey, where can you fly to? I can catch you back wherever you fly. Xiangxiang, I really like you. I don't want to marry any other woman outside, but you. Be good and obedient, and prepare to marry me in a few days. Don't force me... Otherwise, it's not impossible to make it a done deal."
Sun Yaozu relied on the fact that Lin Xiang worked for the steel rolling mill and that he could not get anything out of this situation no matter how hard he tried. Even if he gave the job to the youngest son of the Lin family, she would be a jobless little girl who could only rely on her family. Wouldn't she be even more at the mercy of Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying?
No matter how he thought about it, he was determined to win Lin Xiang.
As long as she dares to make trouble, I don't mind making it a fait accompli and ruining my reputation, and then see if she will marry me.
But Lin Xiang is different from those women out there. She is a pretty girl who graduated from a serious high school. Sun Yaozu was worried that he might scare her, so he canceled the movie tonight: "Go back and have a rest, be obedient and prepare well, I will come to propose marriage in two days."
At this moment, Lin Xiang deeply felt the despair of her original self. She was indeed surrounded by enemies. In terms of power, her biggest rival was the family of the steel mill director. In terms of ethics and morals, she was still controlled by her biological father and stepmother.
However, Sun Yaozu never imagined that she was a time traveler. After knowing the subsequent plot, Lin Xiang looked at Sun Yaozu's leaving back and thought about what he had just said. She finally remembered a detail that could completely solve this problem.
====
As soon as she got home, Lin Xiang was spotted by Qiu Aiying.
These days, Lin Xiang was a real favorite in Qiu Aiying's eyes, and she was called upon to do work less often. When she saw him coming back, she hurried over to greet him warmly.
"Xiangxiang is back, come back to the house and have a rest, it's too hot today, Chuchu, where's the cooler you put in the fridge for your sister?"
Lin Chuchu reluctantly handed over an enamel cup, but Lin Xiang didn't care because she wasn't the one being angry.
The corridor was filled with smoke, and the sound of spatulas colliding with iron pots could be heard incessantly. It was at this moment that Qiu Aiying spoke.
"Xiangxiang, I have good news for you. Sun Yaozu has really discussed with his family and wants to marry you. You are so lucky."
Lin Guangming also agreed: "Going to the countryside to do farm work is tiring, and a little girl like you can't stand it. It's great for you to marry into the factory director's family."
He knew that if it weren't for her pretty face, the daughter he had with his ex-wife would never have been favored by the factory director's son.
"But didn't he peek into the women's bathhouse? Who would dare to marry a man like that?" Lin Xiang said timidly.
Lin Guangming's throat choked, and he just thought that this girl was stupid: "It's not a big deal! You'll just have to get married and make him settle down."
Sun Yaozu came to me and my lover today and promised that as long as Lin Xiang married him, he would let me move up one level in the employee grade rating next year.
Lin Guangming has been stuck at the third-level worker position for several years. If he can be promoted to a fourth-level worker, his salary and benefits will increase significantly, and his status in the factory will also be higher.
Not to mention, Sun Yaozu can also help his brother-in-law, and Jianxin will also have the opportunity to climb up in the factory in the future.
As the head of the family, Lin Jianxin was more and more satisfied with the situation, and immediately made the decision: "Okay, marriage is decided by parents, just follow their arrangements. Your mother and I have already arranged it for you. I will go with Sun Yaozu to get the marriage certificate in three days. Then the Sun family will hold a wedding banquet at the state-owned hotel, and it will be lively."
Lin Xiang knew Lin Guangming's violent temper very well. If she dared to object, she would probably be locked up at home by him and then forced to marry him off. She would have to maneuver around.
She had to leave as soon as Aunt He finalized the marriage and prepared her letter of introduction.
However, Lin Xiang did not strongly oppose this marriage. Someone else in the room objected loudly. Lin Chuchu heard that Sun Yaozu's marriage to Lin Xiang was a done deal and said anxiously, "Dad, Mom, why should Lin Xiang marry? Haven't you forgotten that I am a few months older than her? I'm not married yet!"
Lin Chuchu has always been jealous of Lin Xiang because the factory director's son took a fancy to her.
She was a temporary worker in the steel rolling mill, earning only 18 yuan a month, which was far less than the salary of regular workers. Occasionally, when she passed by the two-story building in the family compound, she would see the factory director's independent house with its own gate and yard, and its spacious and imposing appearance, and she would be filled with envy.
She had had enough of this shabby house and didn't want to be squeezed in a small and crowded room where it was difficult to turn over.
However, it was Lin Xiang who was chosen.
"Why are you joining in the fun?" Qiu Aiying looked at the daughter and felt that she was not doing well. Sun Yaozu was not a good person, and she didn't know what the daughter was fighting for. She pushed her into the house and whispered, "Mom will arrange other things for you. Let's find a good man."
"Mom, I don't want to marry one of those first-class workers. They don't make much money, and they have to live in a place like this and support a big family. I want to marry Sun Yaozu. Don't let Lin Xiang marry him. Let me marry him."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Qiu Aiying frowned and whispered in her daughter's ear, "Sun Yaozu is not a good person. He is lustful and likes to beat people, even women. What good can you expect from marrying him?"
"That must be all nonsense. Many people are jealous of his good family background and want to say bad things about him." Lin Chuchu didn't believe it. He had met Sun Yaozu. Besides being a bit plump, he smiled most of the time and spoke in a humorous and interesting way, unlike those silly idiots.
Qiu Aiying was almost so angry that she fell backwards. She poked the lady's forehead with her fingertips and gave her an ultimatum: "Don't let me have wild thoughts. This is Lin Xiang's marriage. You better behave yourself. When this matter of going to the countryside is over, I will find a suitable target for you."
Qiu Aiying has a pair of children. Her son is unemployed and has to go to the countryside. She put a lot of effort into coaxing and persuading Lin Guangming to agree to let Lin Xiang give up her job. After solving her son's problem, she still has to worry about her daughter's marriage. There are so many things to do, and she never has a moment of peace.
She really is tired.
Because Lin Xiang was relatively submissive, although she did not directly agree to marry Sun Yaozu, she did not strongly oppose it either, so Lin Guangming did not restrict her personal freedom.
Early in the morning, Lin Xiang went to the post office before going to work.
Yesterday, Sun Yaozu's casual remark reminded Lin Xiang that the steel rolling mill was run by Sun Yaozu's father, but the deputy director had actually been secretly competing with the director. Among all the bad things Sun Yaozu had done in the factory, peeping into the women's bathhouse would not cause a big stir, but there were other things that could cause a big stir.
After buying some stationery and envelopes at the post office, Lin Xiang hurriedly wrote a letter, briefly and clearly describing all the evil deeds that Sun Yaozu had committed while working in the factory's finance department... Relying on the plot in the book, Lin Xiang appropriately pointed out some evidence and sent a report letter to Qin Yiwei, the deputy director of the rolling steel plant, under an anonymous name.
When I traveled through time, I was just an ordinary person with no power. When it comes to fights of the factory director's level, they have to fight on their own. This is also a good way to get rid of harm to the factory employees.
The deputy director who had always been under someone else's wing finally got hold of evidence that could make the matter worse and cause serious damage to Director Sun. Lin Xiang recalled the description of the deputy director in the book and was sure that he would not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
After sending the letter, Lin Xiang went to work as usual. After lunch, she went to the factory cafeteria to eat. Thanks to Liu Qiuping's care, there were two more pieces of meat in her aluminum lunch box than for others.
"Thank you, Aunt Liu." Lin Xiangchong smiled sweetly.
Liu Qiuping was dazzled by the laughter of her deceased friend's daughter. She thought to herself that the girl was really too pretty. But at a time like this, being too pretty was not necessarily a good thing.
By the time Lin Xiang finished her meal, there were fewer employees in the cafeteria. Everyone went back to rest and waited for work in the afternoon. However, Liu Qiuping came to Lin Xiang with a lunch box.
The cafeteria staff had to wait until they had finished getting their meals before they could eat, but everyone would sneak a bite in the back kitchen so they wouldn't be starving.
Liu Qiuping looked at Lin Xiang and asked her about her future plans: "Xiangxiang, what are you going to do with your work and marriage?"
Liu Qiuping has always been a kind-hearted person. People always say that one should mind other people's family affairs, but she still doesn't want to see Feng Huiling's only daughter suffer.
"Aunt Liu, I just want to ask you for a favor today." Lin Xiang waited for a while after work before coming over so that she could talk.
"You tell me, I will definitely help if I can." It was the first time that Liu Aiping heard Lin Xiang asking her for help, and she immediately said seriously.
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At the same time, in the office of the Yonghe Production Brigade of Wuxing Commune, Yiyang County, which is under the jurisdiction of Xifeng City.
Aunt He was using the team's rocker phone to call the 119th Division stationed on Langhua Island, thousands of miles away.
Aunt He has been frugal all her life and would never make a phone call unless it was something important. However, her son's marriage is a big deal to her!
After many transfers, Aunt He got in touch with the operator of her son's brigade: "Hello, comrade, I am the mother of He Hongyuan, the commander of the 5th Regiment of your 2nd Brigade. Yes, I have something urgent to discuss with him! It's very important!"