As soon as Han Chen returned to the educated youth center, Zhou Bing stopped him and pulled him into his room. "Han Chen, what's been wrong with you these past two days? You've been gone since work. And you were dressed like that last night. Could it be that Liu Xuemei agreed to your pursuit?"
Han Chen nodded sheepishly, then quickly added, "Zhou Bing, Xuemei has agreed to be my girlfriend, and my uncle and aunt have also agreed. But I haven't discussed it with Xuemei yet and told anyone else, so don't tell anyone yet!"
"Okay, I get it. You're capable! You even managed to deal with the father-in-law and mother-in-law at once!" Zhou Bing said enviously.
"No, my uncle and aunt have only agreed to let Xuemei and I be a relationship. What happens in the future will depend on my performance!" Han Chen explained.
Zhou Bing said unhappily, "That's fine too. As long as you perform well, you'll definitely achieve your wish! Unlike me, I can't even see anyone right now, let alone make any progress."
Han Chen was not in a position to interfere in matters of the heart, so he could only pat Zhou Bing on the shoulder to comfort him.
…
On April 17th, as soon as the sky was just getting light, Xuemei got up and went to the kitchen to knead dough. She planned to make a mixture of corn flour and white flour.
Just as I finished kneading the dough, Liu's mother came in.
"Xuemei, what are you doing this morning? Why are you up so early?" Liu's mother put down the firewood in her hand and asked.
"Today is Han Chen's birthday, I plan to make him some birthday noodles, and by the way, we can have noodles together in the morning!"
Mother Liu looked at the noodles in the wooden basin and asked, "Xuemei, how about making some white flour for Han Chen?"
Xuemei replied as she lit a fire: "Mom, he eats whatever we eat in our house. At most, I'll fry him an egg later!"
"That's right, family members should eat the same food and not be treated differently! I'll get you some eggs," said Liu's mother.
Xuemei looked at Liu's mother as she walked out of the kitchen and shouted, "Mom, take a few. We'll make some egg and scallion soup later. Oh, and those dried shrimps!"
After Xuemei finished kneading the dough, Qingya came in.
"Sister, that man is here!" Qing Ya said unhappily.
"Qingya, speak nicely! You should call him Han Zhiqing or Brother Han. A grown-up should be polite!" Liu's mother said unhappily while watching the fire from the side.
Qingya only found out Xuemei was dating Hanchen after she came home yesterday afternoon. She was the last one in the family to know, and she was very upset! It's also possible that Qingya felt Hanchen was trying to steal Xuemei away, and she was upset, so she took her anger out on Hanchen!
Xuemei looked at Qingya and said, "Qingya, you can't look at Han Chen with tinted glasses just because he's my boyfriend. Even if you don't like him, you should still be polite!
Didn’t I tell you last night? Now, except for my family, no one else knows that he is my boyfriend. I was thinking of telling everyone after you come back from vacation!
Mother Liu understood as soon as she heard it, and said with a smile, "This silly girl can't bear to leave you. Qingya, come with me to the room! I'll talk to you!"
As soon as Liu's mother He Qingya went out, Han Chen came in.
Xuemei looked up and said, "Here you are! Just in time to help me watch the fire! I've already made the egg, scallion and shrimp soup. Now I'll fry you an egg and cook the noodles!"
Han Chen stared blankly at Xuemei who was dividing the noodles. He felt so happy at that moment, and his whole body was warm.
Xuemei put some lard in the large iron pan and prepared to fry the eggs. Seeing Han Chen staring at her motionlessly, she asked, "What's wrong? Are you staring at me?"
Han Chen finally replied, "It's nothing, Xuemei! Thank you, I'm so touched. It's been a long time since someone specially cooked a meal for me!"
Xuemei deliberately said, "You still have plenty of opportunities to be moved. Hurry up and sit down and watch the fire!"
After Xuemei cooked the noodles, she scooped a bowl for Han Chen, put a fried egg on it, poured soup from a small iron pot, handed it to Han Chen, and said, "Han Chen, happy birthday! I wish you all the best. After eating these longevity noodles, may you live a long and peaceful life!"
Han Chen took the noodles from Xuemei's hand with great emotion and said, "Xuemei, thank you. I really like this birthday gift!"
Xuemei smiled and said, "This isn't your birthday present yet. I'll give it to you after you finish eating the noodles. Don't take the bowl away so quickly, it's scalding! And call my brother and sister in to get something!"
Han Chen looked at Xuemei in surprise, nodded, and carried the noodles out of the kitchen.
After breakfast, Liu's father and mother went to work. Han Chen asked for leave from the village today. Recently, the village does not need to drive tractors, and it is not very busy, so not everyone is required to work every day.
Xuemei looked at the dishes on the table, and watched Ruirui and Feifei signal to each of them to wash the dishes. Ruirui and Feifei both pointed at Qingya, and Qingya kept looking at Han Chen.
Han Chen also understood, and said while clearing the dishes on the table: "I'll go wash it!"
After Han Chen walked out of the main room with the dishes, Qing Ya said to Xue Mei, "Sister, don't blame me. He took the initiative to wash the dishes!"
"I don't blame you. Boys should do more work, otherwise it would be so easy for me to be your partner! Ruirui and Feifei, you should be more hardworking in the future!" Xuemei said.
Qingya also nodded in agreement, and glanced at Ruirui and Feifei.
Xuemei ignored the quarrel between Qingya and the other two and continued, "Wait a minute, your eldest brother Han is going to the county town with me. You guys should come too!"
Villagers who borrowed tractors had to pay for the tractor's gas and two cents to the village government for the trip to the county town. As for the tractor driver's labor fee, the driver paid it at his own discretion. This was considered a profit for the village, and the tractor driver also made extra money!
Qingya asked happily: "Really? I haven't been to the county town for a long time!"
"Really? Who among you guys should go to Second Uncle's house now to ask what to bring for Big Brother and Cousin?" Xuemei ordered.
Xuemei and Han Chen discussed and decided this together. They were afraid of attracting the attention of the Red Guards if they went out together. Taking advantage of the fact that Qingya was at home today, Han Chen drove a tractor to take Xuemei, Qingya and the other two siblings to the county town to play for a day!
Mingzheng and Xinyan took leave on Mingwen's wedding day and probably won't be back this month. Although they took a lot of things with them when they went to the county town the next day, since Xuemei and the others were going there today, I wanted to ask if there was anything else they wanted to take with them.
"Ruirui and I will go, Feifei will stay at home!" Qingya said and then pulled Ruirui away.
"Okay, Feifei, then please help me pick some fresh vegetables from the yard and give them to your sister Yaoyao later!" Xuemei said to Feifei.
When Han Chen finished washing the dishes and came out, he saw Xuemei putting things into the backpack.
Han Chen asked doubtfully, "Where are Feifei and the others? Where are they going? Didn't you say you would take them to the county town? Xuemei!"
Xuemei put the backpack away and said, "Qingya and Ruirui went to my second uncle's house to get something. They will be back soon! Feifei is picking vegetables in the yard! Wait a moment, I'll get something for you!"
After Xuemei finished speaking, she went straight into her room without waiting for Han Chen's reaction.
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