Chapter 3 Blind Date His name is Qi Fang, and he works at Jinchuan Forest Farm.
When Bai Xiuzhen heard that someone was being introduced to Yan Xue, her eyelids jumped.
However, before she could react, her great aunt Yan Xue had already limped to the main house to call Yan Songshan, and then went to the west to call the second old lady.
The six of them squeezed into Yan Xue's room, making the small, rural mud house seem a bit cramped. Yan Songshan was fine, maintaining a gentle smile on his face, but Bai Xiuzhen's face had already fallen.
My great aunt didn't waste any words and directly took out a small stack of big unity notes and placed them on the kang. "This is one hundred yuan, the betrothal gift from the man."
Without waiting for anyone to speak, he added, "If you don't like it, the money will be returned. If you do like it, the clothes, bedding, and household items will all be given to you separately."
Bai Xiuzhen shut her mouth again.
She really couldn't say that the betrothal gift was too little. Some families in the village couldn't even afford that much when they got married.
But I was still unhappy and couldn't help but say, "What kind of person can come up with so much money? Is there something wrong with him?"
"I'm not that black-hearted relative who's selling my child for favors."
The old lady glanced at her, then turned to introduce her to Yan Xue. "He's the grandson of one of my oldest sisters. He went to Northeast China with his family a few years ago and now works as a worker in a forest farm. I know his grandmother, grandfather, father, and mother all well. They're all honest, capable, and good-looking people. They're about 1.8 meters tall."
As a worker, it's no wonder that he only earns 100 yuan. It's unlike them in the countryside where they can hardly make a penny all year round.
Bai Xiuzhen began to feel a bit irritated. "Why did you find someone from the Northeast? I heard that people over there run over there because they can't get enough food. There are no rules at all. Women are even allowed to sit at the table."
In the past, people were very attached to their hometowns and would not leave unless they could no longer make a living there.
But my great aunt's eldest daughter, Shan Qiufang, also married in the Northeast. After she came back, she still sat at the table to eat according to the habits she developed there. When people saw her, they laughed at her for a long time.
The old lady didn't say anything, but raised her eyelids and looked at Bai Xiuzhen again.
Yan Songshan frowned, as if he also felt that his wife couldn't speak, let alone Yan Xue.
There were some things that she could never adapt to or accept no matter how many times she experienced them. Fortunately, these broken rules had long since disappeared before she traveled through time.
Amidst the awkward silence, it was my great aunt who spoke first. "I've also told them about Jigang's situation."
She was too lazy to argue with the other person. To put it nicely, Bai Xiuzhen was straightforward, and to put it bluntly, she was heartless. She had done all the bad things, but she hadn't seen any benefits fall into her pocket. Instead, she allowed others to hide behind her and pretend to be good people.
Seeing Yan Jigang, who had been listening quietly, raise his head with an uneasy look on his face, the old lady gave him a reassuring smile and said, "Don't worry, they didn't say anything over there, otherwise they wouldn't be able to send the betrothal gift over."
Now Bai Xiuzhen was really speechless.
The conditions were so different that if she mentioned the guy she introduced again, even if nothing happened, it would seem like an insult.
She couldn't help but shift her gaze towards the large stack of unity. However, her great aunt was quicker than her and had already picked it up and stuffed it into Yan Xue's hand. "They're busy in the winter at the forest farm, so they can't take leave. If you think it's suitable, go over and take a look. Coincidentally, your Aunt Qiufang is also there, from the same town. I'll ask her to accompany you."
Shan Qiufang is the eldest daughter of my great aunt.
As the matter was about to be finalized, Yan Songshan finally spoke up, "It sounds like the conditions are good. Her aunt and I also think it's good. It's just that it's too far away, and my family can't help me with anything."
Remembering that his great aunt's daughter was also there, this reason might not be enough. He continued, "Besides, Xiaoxue hasn't finished mourning yet. I don't know if they can wait for two years."
"Yes." Bai Xiuzhen quickly agreed. No matter what, they had to get rid of this matter first.
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Xue looked over in surprise. "A few days ago, Auntie came to introduce me to someone, and she said that it's not important now, and that a one-year relationship is enough?"
At that time, my great aunt and the second old lady all looked at Bai Xiuzhen with meaningful expressions, which made people feel uncomfortable.
Bai Xiuzhen was so embarrassed that she stood up and left.
Yan Songshan still cared about his face and explained, "Xiuzhen had something to do and was just about to go out." Then he found an excuse to say goodbye, and his face gloomy as he went out.
After all, they are not Yan Xue's parents. They can't force the cow to drink water even if it doesn't want to.
But just as they made some moves, Nizi's aunt came to propose marriage to her. This was too much of a coincidence...
In Yan Xue's room, as soon as Yan Songshan and his wife left, the second old lady, who had been silent all this time, looked up at Yan Xue and asked, "You went to find that person, right?"
Before Yan Xue could say anything, Yan Jigang, who had been sitting next to her and listening, was surprised.
He was still worried before, but he didn't expect things to suddenly take a turn for the better. While he breathed a sigh of relief, he was still a little slow to react.
The great aunt sitting across from the kang smiled when she heard this. Although she didn't say anything, her attitude was definitely one of tacit agreement.
The second old lady's eyes also showed a smile, "I knew you were not that easy to deal with."
"I'm prepared for any eventuality. I was planning to change places anyway." Yan Xue smiled and poured hot water for the two elders.
Not only were Yan Songshan and his wife waiting for her to come of age, she was also waiting for herself to come of age.
So when she found out that Bai Xiuzhen was being too attentive for no reason and that her behavior was not right, she immediately went to Shanjia Village to try to take the initiative into her own hands.
Yan Xue approached her great aunt and asked, "What kind of person is that?"
"You little girl, you're too shy." The great aunt said angrily, but she took out a photo from the cloth bag she brought with her. "We were in a hurry, so I didn't get a recent photo. This is when he was a child. Take a look."
It was a family photo. Yan Xue hesitated for a long time before she followed the old lady's finger and saw a little boy of six or seven years old.
Because there were many people in the photo and it was in black and white, the face was not very clear. I could only vaguely make out that the facial features were regular and the eyes were not small.
"Your Aunt Qiufang saw him a few years ago. He was a pretty energetic young man. His family didn't have much of a burden. His parents died in the 1960s when they ran out of food. He has no brothers or sisters. He grew up with his aunt and uncle, but there's still a layer of distance between them. If you really marry into their family, they won't be able to control you."
No wonder he didn't care that her parents were dead and was willing to let her take her younger brother with her.
No one to supervise me, no burden, a formal job, and I look pretty good...
Given Yan Xue's current situation, even if she delayed further, she might not be able to find someone better than this. She made a quick decision, "Then it's him. I'll leave in two days."
After seeing off the great aunt, the second old lady did not rush to leave. Instead, she stood at the doorstep. Seeing Yan Xue coming back, she sat back on the kang and said, "Jigang should not go with us on this trip to the Northeast."
Yan Xue paused as she entered the room, and Yan Jigang suddenly raised his face with fear in his eyes.
The second old lady patted him hurriedly and said, "I told you to go later, not to stop going. You have to let your sister gain a foothold first, right?"
The second old lady was not worried about whether Yan Xue could live a good life in a strange place.
You can tell by how she handled the matter. On the one hand, she tried to stabilize Yan Songshan and his wife, and on the other hand, she asked her great aunt to introduce another partner to her. She was calm and composed, and did not seem like a girl who had just turned eighteen.
But no matter how capable she is, if she brings her younger brother with her to marry, she will be inferior to others from the beginning and it will be difficult for her to stand up straight.
The second old lady had obviously thought it over carefully. "Xiaoxue will go first. Once she's established herself there, or has a child, we can still bring Jigang over. As for Jigang, you don't have to worry. I'm here, right? Grandma may not be good at other things, but she's good at egg-crushing. You won't starve."
She is famous for her ability to hatch chicks from eggs, and she can make some money every year by selling chicks. If she just waited for others to feed her, she would have been looked down upon countless times.
But the Second Old Lady had always kept a low profile and hadn't interacted much with them before. After Yan Baishan passed away, she did tend to the siblings, but it was all done in secret. She had never taken on such a huge responsibility herself.
Yan Xue subconsciously wanted to refuse, "Grandma..."
The second old lady seemed to know what she was worried about. "Jigang is my grandson. There's an adoption certificate and the villagers can testify to it. Even if others want to intervene, they have to see if I'm willing. When the family was divided, I also got a share of the belongings. I have two rooms and a box."
Her eyes were very serious when she said this, completely unlike the usual widowed old lady who was indifferent to the world and seemed invisible.
Yan Xue wanted to say something, but Yan Jigang loosened his clenched fist and said, "Sister, please let me stay. I'm not afraid."
The young boy looked up at her. Although there was still uneasiness on his face, his eyes were firm. "Wait until you can stand firmly, then come and take me over."
Think about his stuttering, his fear of going out, and then think about his pretending to be strong and sensible...
Yan Xue gritted her teeth and said, "Half a year at most." Reluctance would not solve any problem. She only gave herself half a year to gain a foothold there. At least she had to find a way to make money. She couldn't expect others to help her raise her brother.
On the day Yan Xue left, none of Yan Songshan's family came to see her off. Although a few of the younger ones tried to peek out, they were quickly called back by their parents.
The couple was really upset. They originally thought that the marriage would fail. At least the person was gone and the house could be vacated for them. However, they didn't expect that Yan Xue would keep Yan Jigang.
Doesn’t this girl care about her younger brother the most?
You can't have been pretending all along and then rush to throw away the burden as soon as you find a good future, right?
But no one cared whether they came to see her off or not. Yan Xue had two old ladies see her off to the gate of the courtyard, and her younger brother saw her off to the outskirts of the village.
Seeing that they were getting farther and farther away, and the young boy who was helping her carry the bag showed no sign of stopping, Yan Xue finally stopped.
Yan Jigang understood what she meant without her saying anything. He pursed his lips and finally couldn't help but said, "Sister, you will come back, right?"
"Half a year at most." Yan Xue took off her gloves.
Yan Jigang also took off his gloves and made a pinky promise with her. Without waiting for her to say anything, he stuffed his bag into his pocket and ran away. After he ran a long way, he secretly looked back at her.
Yan Xue couldn't see his expression clearly from too far away, but she could see that after he turned around, he wiped his face with the back of his hand...
Three days later, the old green train stopped at a snow-covered town at the foot of Changbai Mountain.
After hearing the conductor announce that they had arrived at Chengshui Station, Yan Xue wrapped her scarf around her and took her luggage. As she exited the station, she saw someone holding a cardboard sign with the words "Yan Xue" written on it.
She walked over and asked, "Is that Aunt Qiufang?"
The tightly wrapped woman stamped her feet and nodded, looking her up and down. "Are you Xiaoxue?"
Yan Xue said yes, and the other party immediately folded the paper shell, tucked it under her arm, and reached out to take the luggage she was carrying. "I haven't seen you for a few years. You've grown up. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have dared to recognize you."
I asked her again, "Is it cold in the Northeast? When I first came here, I didn't know how severe it was. I got frostbite on my ears and hands. I had to boil frozen water for several years before it healed."
Apparently, this person was talkative, so Yan Xue followed her out. "It's okay. My great aunt specifically told me that it's cold here in the winter, so she asked grandma to help me alter my cotton-padded jacket."
"Your great aunt is always worried. Ever since I told her it was cold here, she's been writing to me every year asking about it."
Shan Qiufang smiled, and Yan Xue's eyebrows and eyes also curved, "Grandma is concerned about you. She also asked me to bring a lot of dried sweet potatoes this time for you and the children to eat."
"I'm asking you to carry things for such a long distance, and you don't mind how heavy it is." Shan Qiufang complained, but the smile in her eyes deepened.
She led Yan Xue out of the crowd and said, "Let's go to my place first. I'll make you something delicious. After you've rested well tomorrow, we can go to the forest farm."
"Let's go to the forest farm first. The sooner we can see them, the sooner we can feel at ease. My grandma and my brother are still waiting for news at home."
After all, they were distant relatives, and they hadn't seen each other for many years, so Yan Xue didn't want to disturb them. Besides, houses were crowded these days, and food in the city was still supplied according to the population. Sometimes, there was not enough food for one's own family, let alone entertaining guests.
She didn't even think about asking Shan Qiufang to accompany her, but Shan Qiufang, seeing that she couldn't persuade him, found an acquaintance and asked him to go to her house to tell her. She insisted on crossing most of Chengshui and took her to Sen Railway Station. "You have to take a small train to get to the forest farm. It's remote over there, and some places haven't been built yet, so buses can't get in."
I couldn't help but ask again, "Why don't you come to my place first?"
"If I really settle down here, why would I worry about not having another chance in the future?" Yan Xue smiled. "Then I'll definitely bring a gift to thank you for your matchmaking."
"As long as you can live well, I'm still greedy for your gift as a thank you for the matchmaking."
The Sen Railway Station was small, consisting of only a row of small bungalows. When the two of them entered, a small train was about to depart. Shan Qiufang asked someone and immediately pulled Yan Xue inside.
"This is the train. Buy your ticket now and it won't follow the same train. You can buy it later when you get on the train."
She pushed Yan Xue forward and was about to go up when someone called out from behind, "Aunt Qiufang! Is Aunt Qiufang here?"
Shan Qiufang had already stepped onto the iron ladder when she subconsciously turned around and asked, "Who's looking for me?"
A little girl of about twelve or thirteen quickly skated over, not even taking off her homemade skates, and jumped onto the stairs, panting. "You, your Daqiang fell into an ice hole. My mom asked me to come over and tell you..."
Before she could finish her words, Shan Qiufang's expression changed instantly. "Daqiang fell into the ice hole? Has he been rescued?"
It's the coldest time of the year, with temperatures dropping to -20 or -30 degrees Celsius. People might freeze to death if they're not careful.
Although the little girl was anxious, she spoke clearly, "They rescued me. There were a lot of people skating nearby at the time..."
"I'll be right back." Shan Qiufang jumped down the ladder and ran. After she'd run about six or seven meters, she thought of something and hurriedly turned back. "Something's going on at home. Xiaoxue, you go ahead. His name is Qi Fang. He's at the Jinchuan Forest Farm. You can find him if you ask."
"I'll go take a look too."
Yan Xue heard it clearly and hurriedly picked up the luggage she had just put down. When she turned around, the train had already started to move.
As the flight attendant slammed the door shut, the two figures, one big and one small, quickly disappeared.
It was not until nightfall, after the child's temperature had been lowered by taking medicine and rubbing the body with strong liquor, that Shan Qiufang suddenly remembered something.
There are two forest farms called Jinchuan here, one Jinchuan and one Xiaojinchuan. She must have been right...
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