Liu Taohua said with a happy expression, "It was Jiang Zhen. He told me that he liked Da Ni, but Da Ni was worried that we were from the countryside and that we would be a burden to him, so she didn't want to marry him. And guess what Jiang Zhen did?"
Mother Wei asked in confusion, "How was it done?"
Liu Taohua said excitedly, "He found me a temporary job at a scrap metal recycling station, the same as mine, eighteen yuan and fifty cents..."
Mother Wei was also very happy. They trusted the Zhao family, and besides, Liu Taohua had been working there for so long, she naturally had her own plans.
Since everyone says Jiang Zhen is a good person, then he must be a good person. Their happiness isn't entirely because Da Ni is trying to climb the social ladder, but because they're sure this person really likes their Da Ni.
Just then, Wei Dani returned, put the large bundle of firewood on the woodpile, rubbed her shoulders, washed her face, drank a ladle of water, and hurried into the kitchen. Seeing her grandmother and mother beaming with joy, she asked suspiciously, "What's wrong? Is there some happy occasion in our family?"
Liu Taohua said happily, "Great news! Let's eat first."
Liu Taohua cooked noodles that had been rinsed in cold water, mixed them with minced garlic, shredded cucumber, and shredded pickled vegetables, heated up four steamed buns, and also took two pieces of stinky tofu. The three of them started eating. Wei Dani was really hungry. She ate two big mouthfuls of noodles, used her chopsticks to pick up some stinky tofu and spread it on the steamed bun, took a big bite to make her stomach feel a little better, and then said, "What great news is this!"
Looking at her with a smile, Wei's mother said, "Your uncle spoke with Jiang Zhen, and he agreed!"
Wei Dani's face changed, and she lowered her head, saying, "Grandma, I don't agree! Didn't you teach me from a young age that I shouldn't be a woman who has to rely on others? I have my own hands and feet, and I can earn my own living. Why should I drag him down?"
Liu Taohua advised, "Da Ni, Mom knows what you're thinking, but Jiang Zhen is truly a rare and good person. Knowing your concerns, he even found you a temporary job at the scrap metal recycling station. That kind of work is sheltered from the wind and rain. If he didn't care about you, would he go to such lengths for you? It's not easy to find a job these days!"
Wei Dani immediately lost her appetite, lowered her head, and after a while said, "I still think it's not appropriate!"
Mother Wei tentatively asked, "Do you have someone in your heart? Or..."
Wei Dani blushed. "I don't have anyone! I'm right under your noses all day long, I..."
Liu Taohua also sensed something was wrong and asked, "Da Ni, don't you like Jiang Zhen?"
Wei Dani's eyes widened in confusion. She was only 17 years old and had no idea whether she liked it or not; she just felt something was amiss.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could tell that she was clueless. Liu Taohua said, "Dani, I've seen it with my own eyes during the years I've worked in the cafeteria. Jiang Zhen is someone you can entrust your life to. If you miss this opportunity, you may never find someone as good as him again in your life. Of course, if you really don't like him, don't hurt others."
Mother Wei nodded and said, "Although it may not be pleasant to hear, if you feel you can live a good life with him, then accept the job openly, and be a good wife and mother after marriage. If you don't feel it's right, we can't take advantage of him. Let your mother tell him back."
Wei Dani's expression wasn't good either. Liu Taohua exchanged a glance with her mother-in-law and said, "What are you hesitating about?"
Wei Dani sighed and said, "I don't want to get married so early!"
Liu Taohua frowned. "There are quite a few people in the village who get married at fifteen or sixteen. You're not young anymore; you'll be eighteen in two months."
Wei Dani hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm still scared..."
Mother Wei asked, "What are you afraid of?"
Wei Dani shook her head. "I don't know either!"
Looking at Wei Dani, Wei's mother said, "Dani, if Grandma were to let you marry Jiang Zhen, could you guarantee you wouldn't be fickle and would stay with him until old age?"
Wei Dani frowned and said, "Grandma, how could I do such a thing?"
Mother Wei nodded and said, "Then let's agree! We won't harm you!"
Without looking at Wei Dani's expression, he told Liu Taohua to reply to Jiang Zhen.
Wei Dani felt empty inside. She didn't know what love was, but she vaguely felt that Jiang Zhen wasn't her type.
When Jiang Zhen received Liu Taohua's message, he beamed with joy. He went to find Zhao's father and hesitantly told him about it. Zhao's father readily agreed, saying, "Don't worry about the ticket, I'll give it to you this afternoon. We definitely can't let your family pay for it..."
Jiang Zhen, stubborn as ever, said, "Master, this is my wife, I'm happy to pay for her!" and then left.
Father Zhao chuckled and scolded his stubborn son, but he was also secretly pleased that Zhao Aiguo had inherited the Zhao family's keen eye for people, which was a good thing. He wouldn't have to worry about his rascal misjudging people when he ventured out into the world.
He went to the factory director's office, asked for sixty industrial recruitment quotas, and gave them all to Jiang Zhen. Jiang Zhen thanked him profusely, quickly found his senior, made the arrangements, and walked with the recruitment quotas in hand, almost stumbling over. He greeted Liu Taohua and they went together to pick up Wei Dani.
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