"Have you heard? The village chief's nephew, that Gu Chen, has actually gotten together with that brat Lin Yuxi." Zhang Shufang said softly as she sat in the courtyard, cracking sunflower seeds.
The woman beside her glanced at her and said, "Zhang Shufang, don't interfere. You've already eaten the meat, so why are you still talking so rudely?"
Zhang Shufang glared at her. "What do you mean I spoke so rudely? She threw chicken poop on me, how could I speak nicely?"
She still harbored resentment over that basket of chicken droppings; just thinking about it made her angry. Gu Chen, that old bachelor, had already gotten married, while her three sons avoided matchmakers like the plague.
"They may have a bad class background, but they're capable. Don't you know you're being unfairly treated? Besides, they're not dating anyone, so it's normal for them to hit it off, isn't it?"
Zhang Shufang was displeased. "Why are you taking her side?"
...
A good day should be chosen for a marriage proposal.
Luo Yueying's mother, Aunt Qixi, was a matchmaker.
Aunt Qixi has seen plenty of engagements, but this is the first time she's seen a soldier like Gu Chen looking for a job after being demoted. In all things, Lin Yuxi is marrying above her station.
Love and future—this means giving up the future for love.
I've introduced him to Gu Chen before, but no girl in the village has been interested in him. They all think he's too big and rough. But now it seems like he's finally old enough to be a good wife.
The mud-brick house was unusually lively today.
The small room was packed with people. The two elderly people sat in the seats of honor, while Aunt Qixi pulled Lin's mother to sit on the side. Gu Zhixiang and his wife were also there.
“Sister-in-law, look at this betrothal gift that Gu Chen prepared for Xixi: eighty yuan in cash, six sets of new clothes, and a set of three turns and one ring for her. If you ask me, June 1st is the perfect date. We can set up two tables in the courtyard and have a lively engagement dinner behind closed doors. That will settle the engagement.”
As Aunt Qixi spoke, she handed the wrapped gift list to people, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy.
In the yard outside, there was a brand-new women's bicycle, a sewing machine, a women's watch, and an electric fan, all three items were tied with big red flowers.
"On the day of the engagement, you can change how you address me."
June 1st is just around the corner. The family will have a meal together, reconnect with each other, and give each other a "change of address fee" before the new address is made.
"Okay, okay, we'll see how they arrange things then." Grandma Lin couldn't stop smiling. Although Gu Chen was old, he was honest and hardworking, so of course she liked him.
Lin's mother held Wang Caixia's hand and chuckled, "We'll be in-laws from now on."
The door to the room was open, and the space was small, so the voices could be heard clearly.
Gu Chen stood under the gray eaves, holding a wet cotton cloth in his hand. His slender fingers rubbed the gaps in the bicycle through the cloth, and in no time, the bicycle was polished to a shine.
"Try it out and see if it fits." His voice was a little hoarse, as if it had been sanded. "I've added a basket in front for you to carry things, and the tires have been enlarged so the road to town will be less bumpy."
Lin Yuxi pinched the brake with her knuckles and rang the bicycle bell. The crisp sound startled people inside the house who kept looking out.
The crooked tire tracks on the muddy ground were bathed in the afterglow of the sun, and the strands of hair on my head also shone with a warm yellow light.
As the front wheels rolled over the rocks on the sloping hillside, I heard restrained footsteps behind me.
Gu Chen held onto the back of the bike, his warm breath brushing against her head. "I've lowered the seat by an inch for you, I'll raise it a little later."
Lin Yuxi slammed on the brakes, and the chain made a stiff, jerky sound.
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