Chapter 9: Proposing Marriage (Revised)

Aunt He finally managed to contact the operator of her son's unit, but she got some worrying news: "What? He's out on a mission! Oh, when will he be back? I don't know... But I have something important to tell him. Okay, can you leave a message? Then tell him that the marriage partner his grandfather arranged for him as a child is going to the island soon, so tell him to hurry up and report the marriage!"

After hanging up the crank phone, Aunt He handed five cents to the team members.

The phone call didn't last long and the price was really painful, and the key point was that I still hadn't been able to talk to my son.

However, Lin Xiang could not wait any longer, so Aunt He hurriedly asked the production team leader to issue a certificate. Pointing to the childhood marriage certificate between the He and Lin families, she asked someone to issue a certificate and a letter of introduction for her to go to the city. She hurriedly walked five miles to the entrance of the commune, waited for the bus to arrive, and got on the bus to go into the city.

The operator who received the call from Captain He's mother was left at a loss, muttering to herself: "Captain He is getting married. How many lesbians will be sad about this..."

——

In the 1970s, people still had a one-day-off system, working and studying six days a week, and having a day off on Sunday.

But everyone is used to getting up early, and few people sleep in. Early in the morning, when it is just light, the sounds of households preparing breakfast can be heard around.

Lin Chuchu was still quarreling with Qiu Aiying, blaming her mother for not helping her. Lin Jianxin was not interested in anything. He didn't care when his family members arranged a job for him and was indifferent to his sister giving up her job. But when he heard that Sun Yaozu, the son of the factory director, was coming to propose marriage, he was excited.

If nothing else, he had heard that Sun Yaozu was good at playing poker, skating, and was even a good fighter...

Lin Jianxin thought it was a good thing to have such a brother-in-law, and he could still follow him in the future, so he immediately joined the army that persuaded Lin Xiang to get married.

Lin Xiang was no longer as repulsive as she had been in the past few days. She wore a dress with worn cuffs and collar that had been washed bleached, and sat at a square table, drinking tea.

After all, there will be a big show later.

Sun Yaozu brought the matchmaker to the house with great fanfare. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Lin Xiang in the living room. Her tattered and old clothes could not hide her beauty at all, and her fluffy gray coat made her look even more cold.

It is this power that makes people even more fascinating.

"Oh, Comrade Sun is here!" Qiu Aiying's face was full of smiles as she greeted him enthusiastically. Lin Guangming slowed down a few steps, but he was too arrogant and acted like his future father-in-law.

Lin Jianxin greeted people with an excited look on his face, while Lin Chuchu was the most unhappy person in the Lin family. She was unhappy in her heart but wanted to perform well in front of Sun Yaozu, hoping that he would change his mind after seeing her now. However, she did not even attract a glance from Sun Yaozu.

"Uncle Lin, Aunt Qiu, this is my first visit. I brought a can of tea and a pound of egg cake."

It was rare for Sun Yaozu to be so polite, and the matchmaker who was used to acting as a matchmaker in the factory was secretly amazed. As expected, even the most tyrant would be honest in front of his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

In the whole house, there was only one person who did not react to the arrival of Sun Yaozu and the matchmaker.

"This must be Lin Xiang!" The matchmaker was used to saying one thing to one person and another thing to another person. She also noticed the slightly weird atmosphere in the room. The girl's parents were happy, but the person involved had a dull expression, and even looked at Sun Yaozu with a hint of disgust in her eyes.

She knew clearly that Lin Xiang was not very willing.

"I haven't seen her much in the past few years, and she's really getting prettier! She and Yaozu are really a perfect match." The matchmaker livened up the atmosphere in the room and got straight to the point, "Today, I'm here to congratulate your family. Yaozu has come to propose marriage to Lin Xiang. You two will be relatives to the factory director in the future!"

What a great honor it was! The matchmaker's face was almost broken with laughter. Similarly, Qiu Aiying couldn't hide her joy. Lin Guangming tried to restrain himself, but a smile still overflowed from the corners of his eyes.

"Thank you for making this trip, big sister. Please take a seat." As the mistress of the family, Qiu Aiying was in charge of this matter. She turned around and called her future son-in-law, "Yaozu, please take a seat. Let's discuss the engagement!"

No one in the room asked for Lin Xiang's opinion. The two sides had already started discussing the matter in a lively and noisy manner, and even attracted many people in the tube building to watch.

Everyone saw the factory director's youngest son bringing the matchmaker into the Lin family's house, and then listened again. Wow, this is really a happy event!

Some were envious, some were jealous, some felt that Sun Yaozu got a loss by marrying an ordinary worker's daughter, and some thought that Lin Xiang got a loss by marrying this pervert who peeked into the women's bathhouse.

There were constant whispers in the corridor, and the bride price had already been discussed in the house.

As the son of the factory director, Sun Yaozu's dowry was truly astonishing: "I discussed it with my parents, and the dowry is 666 yuan, and we also need to prepare 72 pieces of furniture with legs and three turns and one ring. This must be unique in the steel rolling factory!"

Qiu Aiying and the people watching at the door took a deep breath at the same time. When other people marry off their daughters, the maximum gift would be 810,000 yuan. But this factory director's son was truly extraordinary, and his offer was 666!

Listening to the discussions in the corridor outside the house, the Lin family straightened their backs a little. From now on, they were no longer an ordinary working-class family, but the in-laws of the factory director!

Lin Guangming had always been acting like a father-in-law, but now he couldn't stand it anymore. The corners of his mouth turned up, and he couldn't close them anymore: "Comrade Xiaosun, you are so thoughtful. It's a blessing for our Xiangxiang to marry you..."

"I can't marry Sun Yaozu."

Just when everyone was happily saying all kinds of festive words, a cold voice suddenly interrupted the room.

Lin Xiang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke, and her few short words instantly aroused the anger of several people at the table.

Lin Guangming suppressed his anger and shouted angrily, "Lin Xiang, what did you say? Shut your mouth!"

Lin Xiang glanced at this scumbag father, turned around and said to the crowd outside the corridor watching the excitement: "Now it is a new society, the feudal autocracy has been overthrown, I don't want to, do you still want to force me to marry?"

The matchmaker who was writing the engagement letter was shocked when she heard this. How could she be so rude? "Miss Lin Xiang, isn't marriage arranged by parents? Your parents love you so much that they arranged such a good marriage for you."

Sun Yaozu looked sinister and threatened in a hoarse voice: "Lin Xiang, don't be ungrateful!"

He gave Lin Xiang enough face. If it was any other woman, how could she be so kind? But if Lin Xiang insisted on hitting him in the face, Sun Yaozu didn't mind being tough. Her parents were on his side, what could a helpless woman like her do to resist!

Qiu Aiying jumped out to smooth things over, singing the good cop song, and advised: "Xiangxiang, don't be so petty, your parents are doing this for your own good. Go ask around and see how many people want to marry into such a good family but can't."

Before we knew it, quite a few people had crowded into the corridor. Today was Sunday, a day off, and with the excitement of marriage proposals going on, who wouldn't be excited?

Especially when the proposal is halfway through, the girl actually disagrees. This is very strange!

They all stuck their heads in, eager to sit at the table and watch the fun while cracking melon seeds.

"Okay, forget about her. A young girl like her knows nothing! When it comes to marriage, you should listen to your elders!" Lin Guangming has always been strong, and he made a decisive move immediately.

The matchmaker knew that Lin Guangming was the head of the Lin family, and the girl was in a bad mood at the moment, so it didn't matter. It was enough for Lin Guangming to accept the marriage.

"Okay, Comrade Lin Guangming is still open-minded. Come, come, come and see if the betrothal gifts and dowry are correct. If there is no problem, we will complete the engagement and wait for the marriage certificate later..."

A little girl is surrounded by enemies on all sides, with internal and external troubles, and is plotted against everywhere.

Just when everyone ignored Lin Xiang, Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying looked at each other and decided that if Lin Xiang really didn't obey, they would tie her up and bring her into the house to get engaged smoothly, when suddenly there was a noise in the corridor.

"Lin Guangming! How can you treat your daughter like this? Are you worthy of your deceased ex-wife?"

Liu Qiuping pushed her way through the crowd and entered the Lin family's house with great momentum, accompanied by the director of the family home and the director of women's affairs at the steel rolling mill.

"Xiangxiang doesn't want to get married at all, but you two are so mean and want to force her to get married? Is this the old society?"

Lin Guangming's eyes darkened. He didn't expect that this damn girl was so bold that she dared to find these people to support her. But she was also naive.

It is said that even an honest official cannot settle family affairs. Does she really think that a few directors can manage their own family affairs?

"This is our Lin family's business. You don't need to worry about it." Lin Guangming was unhappy.

Qiu Aiying was also surprised, but as long as the head of the family was still holding on, she would naturally cooperate: "Guangming, everyone is kind-hearted, don't get angry. Qiuping, Director He, Director Bai, why are you here? Today is a good day for Xiangxiang's engagement, you should also drink some tea to share in the festive atmosphere."

Lin Xiang looked at her furious father and her hypocritical stepmother, thinking that the two of them worked together very well. One played the good cop and the other played the bad cop, and it was really easy to fool people.

She stood up and said to the director of the family home and the director of women's affairs called by Liu Qiuping: "Director He, Director Bai, please make the decision for me. I don't want to marry Sun Yaozu, but my father and stepmother insist that I marry him. They even said that if there is no other way, they will tie me up and force me to marry."

After these words were spoken, the people watching the excitement in the corridor became even more excited. This was really going to be a big excitement!

There was an immediate uproar.

"Feudalism is no longer popular now. The country advocates free marriage leave."

"It's obvious that Lin Xiang doesn't know what's good for her. How can a parent harm a child?"

"You're not even satisfied with marrying the factory director's son? That's too wild."

Sun Yaozu's face darkened as he heard the constant discussion. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and had never suffered any hardship, nor had he been slapped in the face like this. He suddenly stood up and tried to use force to suppress others: "Aunt He, Aunt Bai, I'm here today to get engaged. I've discussed it with the Lin family. If you don't have anything else to do, you should go and do your work elsewhere. My parents will also ask about the engagement later."

The implication is self-evident.

He is using the factory manager to put pressure on others.

No matter how capable the director of the family home and the women's director of the steel rolling mill are, are they really going to interfere with the family affairs of the factory director?

Director He and Director Bai looked at each other, and then at the frail Lin Xiang in front of them. They couldn't bear it, and the director of women's affairs stood up and said, "Even if Comrade Lin Xiang doesn't want to, we can't force her to marry. We need to ask about this matter clearly."

Lin Xiang looked at the two directors and Liu Qiuping, and felt more confident. She said, "Dad, Mom, you keep saying that you are doing this for my own good, but you are actually marrying me to a pervert who peeks into the women's bathhouse. Is this really for my own good, or do you want to gain benefits by becoming the factory director's in-law?"

No matter how others guessed, they thought it was an outsider. But now that Lin Xiang pointed it out directly, everyone became suspicious and felt that something was fishy!

"Lin Xiang! I think you are really brave!" Lin Guangming had never been resisted by a child like this before. He slapped the table with a loud bang, walked quickly to the lady, raised his hand and was about to slap Lin Xiang in the face.

Liu Qiuping rushed over and stopped Lin Guangming, scolding him: "Lin Guangming, is this how you treat Huiling's only daughter?"

"This is our family affair, who are you to interfere?" Lin Guangming did not hide his anger, his eyes were red, and he shouted at these uninvited guests as if he wanted to eat someone, "Don't think I'm afraid of you. You always use chicken feathers as your authority, so what? I can't control my own daughter? Get out of here, don't delay our engagement!"

Lin Guangming was too domineering, and the two directors were a little shaken. This was indeed a family matter, and they should argue again and try to fight for the poor girl Lin Xiang...but they didn't know if it would be useful.

Just as Director He was about to speak, there was another commotion at the door.

Several police officers in uniform hurried over and said to Sun Yaozu, "Comrade Sun Yaozu, someone has reported that you stole state-owned assets from the steel mill and embezzled public funds for high-temperature subsidies for factory employees. Come with us now."

When people inside and outside the house heard this, they all cried out in surprise.

====

Lin Xiang recalled earlier that the plot briefly mentioned that Sun Yaozu had begun stealing state-owned assets from factories and selling them on the black market as early as the 1970s, and even used the convenience of working in the Finance Department to embezzle public funds for personal eating, drinking and entertainment.

Some of these include high temperature subsidies for factory workers.

Yes, the welfare in this era is quite humane. There is a high temperature subsidy for three months in midsummer, which is a welfare for regular employees. However, he relied on his status as the son of the factory director and colluded with the factory director to secretly deduct one-third of the high temperature subsidy from each worker and put it into his own pocket. The people above did not pursue it because of the factory director's face, and no one below knew about it.

But unfortunately, Lin Xiang was a person who traveled through the book.

She knows!

Lin Xiang wrote down some of the bad things Sun Yaozu had done in the letter and sent it directly to the deputy director of the steel rolling mill - this righteous leader who could not stand Director Sun's various behaviors but could only tolerate them.

In the letter, Lin Xiang reported anonymously, and specifically emphasized that this matter could be covered up at any time, and that if one wanted to deal with Sun Yaozu, one must act quickly.

No, the police showed up.

The deputy factory director really seized the opportunity and within two days, he quickly and secretly investigated and collected evidence based on the information in the report letter, and reported it to the police for arrest.

Lin Xiang had made two preparations. Aunt Liu and the crowd were one layer of insurance. Even if they were unable to stop Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying's actions, they could at least buy time for herself. The deputy factory director was the second layer of insurance, but she didn't expect him to act so quickly and arrive at the right time!

The police officer's words shocked Sun Yaozu and everyone in the room.

"What nonsense are you talking about? I have never done anything stealing. I warn you, my father is the factory director!" Sun Yaozu was flustered and spoke without thinking to the police. The only thing he could think of was to bring up his father, the factory director.

"Whether it's true or not, go to the police station and tell them!" Stealing state-owned assets and embezzling public funds are no small matters. Factories these days are all state-owned and do not belong to any private individual. It's useless even if you are the son of a factory director.

Qiu Aiying was dumbfounded. How could the factory director's son do such a thing and even be taken away by the police!

"No, is there a misunderstanding here?"

Lin Guangming's heart was shocked. How could his son-in-law...be taken to the police station in the blink of an eye?

But that's the police!

He dared to challenge his ordinary worker neighbors, but he did not have the courage to challenge the police.

As Sun Yaozu cursed, everyone could only watch him being taken away.

The factory workers originally thought that today was just an ordinary Sunday, but they were almost tired of seeing the excitement this morning.

Who could have imagined that a marriage proposal would involve resistance from the woman, suppression from her father, and ultimately the man being taken away by the police!

This matter will be discussed at least a hundred and eighty times, and it will spread throughout the steel mill in less than half a day!

"Dad, Mom, this is the good match you picked for me, right?" Lin Xiang pressed on, shouting that she wanted to tear the two of them apart. "He watched lesbians bathing, stole state-owned assets and sold them for money, embezzled public funds, and the embezzled funds were the high temperature subsidies for the workers in the steel mill... The son-in-law you picked is really amazing."

Lin Xiang listed Sun Yaozu's deeds one by one, and the crowd became visibly agitated when he talked about high temperature subsidies.

If you were to say that Sun Yaozu peeped into the women's bathhouse, many people would at most call him a pervert, and many others would not care, as they weren't the ones looking at it. Another case is that he stole some old equipment from the factory and sold it for money. The equipment just sitting there had little to do with the workers, so at most people would just talk about it a few words. But the public funds he embezzled were for everyone's heating subsidies, so that was a big deal.

Each worker receives a high temperature subsidy of three yuan. If one-third of it is reduced, it is one yuan less, which is definitely not a small amount. It is enough to buy a pound of meat!

Everyone was furious and began to curse Sun Yaozu for being shameless and black-hearted. They even cursed the factory director, believing that the director had protected his son and caused him to do such a thing.

Lin Xiang knows very well that only when it concerns their own interests can people take the initiative to get involved.

Just then, someone set fire to Lin Guangming's head.

"Lin Guangming, look at the kind of son-in-law you've chosen. Luckily, Lin Xiang has a keen eye, otherwise, marrying a man like this would make your life miserable!"

"As expected, if there is a stepmother, there will be a stepfather. I think they all know what kind of person Sun Yaozu is, but they still insist on having Lin Xiang marry him. They have no good intentions at all!"

"Poor Lin Xiangyao, her father didn't love her, and her mother died early. I don't know how much she suffered every day, but we didn't realize it before!"

Lin Guangming has always been very concerned about his reputation, but now that he was criticized by his colleagues and neighbors, his face turned as black as coal and gloomy as if water could drip out of it.

The voices were condemning him, making him breathe heavily. After a moment of silence, he finally clenched his fists and said to everyone with gritted teeth: "We don't know about this matter either. We just found out about the situation when the police came. How could our family not love our daughter? Even if Xiangxiang is willing now, we can't marry her to Sun Yaozu."

No matter how painful and uncomfortable my heart is, I can only cut off my relationship with Sun Yaozu.

He is not a fool. When the police read out the bad things Sun Yaozu had done, the panic and guilt in Sun Yaozu's eyes were very obvious. In addition, the two charges were serious, so Lin Guangming chose to cut ties with Sun Yaozu without waiting for the results of the investigation.

Immediately establish the image of a good father.

"Xiangxiang, Dad will certainly not force you to marry someone he doesn't like, don't worry." Lin Guangming turned sideways to face the crowd, but faced Lin Xiang directly, the lady who made him look at her with new eyes today.

Today she caused him to lose face and fall flat on his face. He must come back early to learn a lesson!

Could it be that she thought she would have a good ending, and even if she didn't marry Sun Yaozu, she could still find someone else to arrange a marriage for her!

Just wait, he is going to teach this disobedient girl a lesson!

"Dad will find you another partner in a few days. This time, I will choose a good one for you."

To the neighbors who were watching, it sounded like Lin Guangming had been deceived, but now he had come to his senses and was looking for a good partner for his child. It was a situation that everyone was happy with.

But Lin Xiang could hear the threat in Lin Guangming's words. This man was indeed not someone who could be easily defeated, and he even wanted to control her.

She smiled, like a spring breeze blowing on her face, and said confidently, "Dad, don't worry about it. I already have someone to marry."

Lin Guangming frowned and his expression suddenly changed, as if he had found Lin Xiang's fault. He was ready to teach this daughter a lesson in front of everyone, acting like a father: "Where did you get a marriage partner? Well, are you looking for a strange man outside? Lin Xiang, do you still have me as your father in your eyes?"

All kinds of dirty words were thrown at Lin Xiang, and the accusation of a young girl looking for a strange man was also put on her, with the intention of destroying Lin Xiang's reputation.

Lin Xiang secretly thought that Lin Guangming really didn't care about his lady's life or death at all.

"Dad, you say I'm seeing a strange man without knowing anything? You're really good at accusing others. Do you want to ruin my reputation without knowing the truth?" Lin Xiang asked back repeatedly, making Lin Guangming's eyes dim.

Just as he was about to curse again, he heard Lin Xiang speak: "My grandfather arranged a marriage for me when I was a child and wrote a marriage certificate. It is legitimate for me to marry my childhood sweetheart."

Thinking of something, Lin Xiang raised her lips and smiled at Lin Guangming: "Didn't you say before that we must listen to the elders when it comes to marriage? Then you have to listen to my grandfather too."

"Child marriage?" Lin Guangming's pupils shrank greatly. He was trying hard to think and recall. Finally, he remembered something from the distant memory of nearly 20 years ago. "What old-fashioned child marriage? That family has lost contact with us for a long time. Who are you going to marry?"

"Of course, marry my son!" There was a noise at the door of the Lin family, and a middle-aged lady came in with a marriage certificate in her hand. "Xiangxiang and our Hongyuan have been engaged since childhood, isn't it legitimate? I came here today to get engaged."