Chapter 20 The Laziest Man in the Countryside
(The previous chapter has been added.)
"You even let your wife get in the car! Look how big her belly is! They're all such a handful!"
Taking the opportunity, Ji Huaizhi went inside and spoke to Ji Hong first: "I got a bicycle voucher today. I originally wanted to trade it for something, but I thought about how far I have to go to work now, and that I haven't been assigned a dormitory yet. I don't think I'll have the energy to walk back and forth to work every day, so I'm thinking of keeping it to buy a bicycle myself."
Ji Huaizhi never mentioned how he obtained the ticket.
Ji Hong assumed the money came from illegitimate sources, so she dared not speak up.
Of course, he didn't want to ask any more questions now; it would be pointless anyway, and they wouldn't listen to him at all.
"So you borrowed money to buy a car?" Ji Hong used tongs to pick up a flint and light his pipe. The smoke billowed out, and the three children ran out because they thought it smelled bad.
“I originally wanted to come back and discuss it with you, but the person who gave me the ticket said that this was the only one left in the department store. He asked me to reserve it for him and said he would lend me the money to buy it first, and I could pay him back later when I got another one.”
Ji Huaizhi's words were watertight: "So that someone else doesn't buy this car later, then we'll lose money."
"What kind of friend is this? So generous, it sounds unreal to me," Ji Hong frowned.
At this moment, Wang Xiuju and the others also came in. The three brothers were scolded and pushed the car in.
Wang Xiuju: "What kind of friend are you? This person is so generous, I'm afraid you'll be sold out."
Ji Huaizhi: "Don't worry, he's very rich and not a bad person."
Ji Hong: "I don't believe it. Bring the person here so I can see for myself."
“Yes, this is no small matter. Your friend is so generous, you should treat him to a meal. I’ll go get the meat ration coupons and invite him over to our house,” Wang Xiuju chimed in.
Others were also curious: what kind of friend was so generous?
Ji Huaizhi shook his head: "Alright, you'll have a chance to meet in the future."
“Now is not the time. His family is very rich and has some power. If I were to invite him to dinner, I would definitely take him to a state-run restaurant.”
Because this friend doesn't exist.
Therefore, Ji Huaizhi couldn't get anyone to come.
"How much money do you owe?" This was also what Ji Hong was most concerned about.
"155, I owe 150."
"My goodness! You're really bold. 150! Do you know how long it would take for our family to save money without eating or drinking?" Wang Xiuju's shrill voice almost shattered everyone's eardrums.
She was just a rural woman.
Having never experienced famine, people would jump for joy upon hearing about 150 yuan.
"Isn't the bicycle 170cm?" Boss Ji asked.
“This is the Flying Pigeon brand; the ones over 170 are Phoenix and Forever brands.” Ji Huaizhi pulled Wang Xiuju aside: “Don’t worry, what are you afraid of with a son as capable as yours?”
"This is no small sum..." Wang Xiuju was interrupted by Ji Hong before she could finish speaking:
"We bought it, so we bought it. It was something we needed anyway, so we'll just consider it a new addition to the household." Ji Hong looked at his son and daughter-in-law: "What are your thoughts? Eldest son, you go first?"
Ji Laoda: "I also think that it would be much more convenient for Huaizhi to have a bicycle to go to work every day, and the family can also use it."
"What about the second son?" Ji Hong asked, looking at his second son.
“I don’t care, I’m going to ride it anyway. If you’re going to pay off his debts, I’ll ride it even more. Of course, I won’t argue with him about going to work.”
"Third brother."
Ji Laosan shook his head: "I think you all have a point. This money is not a small amount, but it is indeed useful."
Ji Hong nodded after hearing their words: "Let's cook first, and we can talk about this when we eat. Didn't you say you had something else to do?"
Wang Xiuju asked in confusion, "What is it?"
He slapped his forehead as if remembering something: "I almost forgot, Pearl should have already gone over there. Youngest brother, go to the back mountain."
She pinched his arm and said, "We'll talk about the bicycle when you get back. Make a good impression on Pearl later."
Ji Huaizhi rubbed his shoulder in pain: "Then I'll go by bicycle."
Wang Xiuju was so angry that she slapped him twice: "Why are you so unsteady? You're asking for it!"
When Ji Huaizhi saw that she had raised her hand again, he quickly ran out.
No one expected him to be so mischievous.
~
Today, it wasn't Li Zhenzhu's turn to cook at the educated youth settlement, so she arrived early.
She sat behind the rock for a while, and when she heard footsteps, she quietly peeked out and saw Ji Huaizhi tilting his head and looking at her.
Why didn't you say anything when you arrived?
“I made a sound, didn’t you look over when you heard my footsteps?”
Li Zhenzhu was speechless for a moment, then got up and wrung out her clothes without saying a word.
Unexpectedly, he didn't say anything either.
Li Zhenzhu looked up and glared at him: "Your mother said you want to marry me?"
"Why don't you speak for yourself?"
Ji Huaizhi: "I suggested that we ask a matchmaker to propose marriage directly, but she said that was not a good idea."
Li Zhenzhu: "It's really not good. Aunt Xiuju is much more thoughtful."
Ji Huaizhi: "You get along really well with my mom, so there will definitely be no mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conflicts in the future."
Li Zhenzhu blushed and stammered, "Ji Huaizhi, I don't want to hide it from you. I know you already know, but I still have to tell you once more."
Looking towards the cowshed, Li Zhenzhu continued, "My parents live in there. I came here for them."
Ji Huaizhi: "Yes, very filial."
“Their class background is problematic. If we get married, and people find out about our relationship, it will definitely affect you,” Li Zhenzhu said, looking at his face.
I don't want to miss any expression.
"What you said is fine, I can accept it."
Li Zhenzhu hesitated for a moment: "Can you accept that?"
Seeing him nod seriously, Li Zhenzhu found it unbelievable: "People will say you married a wife with a bad family background, and it might even affect the job you just found."
"Yes, I really don't mind that. After you marry me, I won't let anyone gossip about you."
Seeing that she still wanted to say something, Ji Huaizhi directly pulled Li Zhenzhu to the cowshed not far away.
Li Zhenzhu's heart was pounding as her hand was being pulled. She looked around anxiously, thankfully finding no one else.
Li Decheng and his wife were stirring wild vegetable paste in a broken earthenware pot when they heard a noise and quickly got up. To their surprise, they saw Ji Huaizhi and Li Zhenzhu come in.
Pearl's hand was still being held by Ji Huaizhi.
Li Decheng frowned and stepped forward, about to speak, when he heard Ji Huaizhi say:
"Uncle and Aunt, I want to marry Pearl."
The two were stunned by his words. Li Zhenzhu hadn't expected him to bring her directly to her parents' door.
“She just told me about your relationship. Although I already knew, she still feels uneasy. I promise you here, in front of you, Uncle and Aunt, that I will definitely protect Pearl.”
“I have a job now, which can support her. She won’t have to do heavy work in the fields in the future. It may not be possible to eat meat every day now, but I will not let Pearl go hungry with me.”
(I'm staying home tomorrow to finish my manuscript. After the May Day holiday, I'm going to go back to my hometown to avoid the peak travel period. Don't wait up, I'll try to be there early tomorrow. Goodnight~)
~~
"So sudden?" He Xianglan looked at her daughter.
Li Decheng then sat down and looked at Ji Huaizhi: "Zhenzhu's decision not to hide it from you is giving you a chance to regret it. She didn't hide it from you before the marriage, so you can't bring up her class background after you get married."
"I know."
“Thanks to you, we’re doing well in the village, but even if things were like before, we wouldn’t hold you back,” Li Decheng said sincerely. “So we hope you’ll treat her well.”
Li Zhenzhu's eyes were red, and she suddenly felt like crying.
Ji Huaizhi: "Uncle and Aunt, don't worry, she married me, and I will definitely protect her and be filial to you."
“Let’s forget about us. She’s our only concern. Huaizhi, I know your family is good. I admit that I was initially attracted to your family’s background and conditions in the village. But I promise you, as long as she marries you, even if she’s an educated youth who can return to the city later, we will make sure she can live a peaceful life with you.”
“Wherever you two want to go in the future, discuss it yourselves.” He Xianglan knew she had said too much: “Of course, I’m just making a hypothetical statement.”
He Xianglan also wanted to reassure him, as the uncertainty for educated youth was whether they could return to the city in the future.
Ji Huaizhi was not worried about this.
"Uncle and Aunt, it will be alright."
*
In her previous life, the original owner of this body was saved by them once, but in the end, she still committed suicide. The fate of the Li family of three was also not good.
Those Red Guards often came to the village to cause trouble. Ji Hong and his wife aged overnight because their youngest son died, and they could no longer manage the affairs of the village.
He could only give the Red Guards who came to make trouble in the cowshed a break and send them some food after the struggle sessions were over.
The fact that Li Zhenzhu was their biological daughter was also exposed.
Li De couldn't stand up anymore because he was protecting his daughter, so He Xianglan held on to her last breath and went from house to house begging for help.
But all they could do was give things; they didn't dare to rescue anyone.
After Li Zhenzhu was taken away by the Red Guards, it took a long time before she was sent back to the cowshed. By then, she was almost insane, and her hair had been shaved off.
The people at the educated youth settlement were terrified of her, but only He Yingying and Zhang Miao secretly went to see her.
Seeing his daughter being abused like this, Li Decheng felt both hatred and pain. When he saw the Red Guards arrive, he went straight to his daughter and, like a madman, smashed them to death with that broken pottery jar.
Li Decheng was executed, and He Xianglan died that winter.
When Li Zhenzhu felt she could no longer go on living, she was taken back by Wang Xiuju, and she thought of the original owner of the body who had committed suicide.
Wang Xiuju advised her to live on, saying that if she lived on, there would be a way out.
The villagers hid Li Zhenzhu.
After some time, two cars arrived in the village. The people who came were Li Zhenzhu's uncle and Li Decai's apprentice. The two thanked the villagers, especially Wang Xiuju.
It turns out that when the two were taking revenge on Li Decheng's eldest apprentice in the provincial capital, they were pushed to the limit, and he then reported Li Decheng's daughter.
That's why their affair came to light.
That man has been sent to a farm, and although he is living a miserable life, his brother's family has been completely ruined.
Li Zhenzhu was taken away by them.
The ending was tragic and painful.
Ji Huaizhi was to marry Li Zhenzhu before the incident occurred.
As long as she marries someone from the village, she won't be taken away by the Red Guards.
When Wang Xiuju proposed marriage, she asked Liu Sufeng to be the matchmaker. Liu Sufeng was very surprised when she found out and blamed her for keeping such a big matter from her.
Ever since Wang Xiuju caused a scene in the field last time, the atmosphere between the two has been somewhat awkward.
Therefore, Wang Xiuju asked her to be the matchmaker in order to ease the tension between them.
"Don't worry, I'll handle things perfectly for you. Your family has kept this a really tight secret. You only told me when Li Zhiqing and your youngest son were getting married, and you didn't say a word about your son getting a job either."
Liu Sufeng said in a resentful tone, "You can't still be blaming me, can you?"
"What do I resent about you? We're like family!" Wang Xiuju coughed. "You can see that I did have the idea of making Li Zhiqing my daughter-in-law, but I didn't expect that the two of them had already gotten together without saying a word."
"And about my son's job, we only knew about it a day or two earlier than you."
Liu Sufeng's eyes widened: "Your son is really resourceful. He found himself a job without saying a word."
He smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Don't forget me when you're living a good life in the future."
"How could that be? We're the best of friends in the whole village."
Liu Sufeng laughed when she heard her old friend say that: "That's right! Back in the day, when we fought with people in the village to steal mountain produce, who could beat us?"
“I checked the auspicious dates, and tomorrow is a good day. There’s not much work to do right now, so I’ll go to the educated youth settlement tomorrow to act as a matchmaker for your son.”
"I guarantee I'll handle things perfectly for you."
Wang Xiuju smiled: "You're still the most considerate."
Several major events have recently occurred in the village.
No one expected that the first thing would happen was that the village secretary's youngest son was going to marry Li Zhiqing. No one knew when the two had started dating, as there had been no indication of it at all.
The second thing was that the Ji family got a new bicycle. You should know that in the city, people who ride bicycles are mostly workers.
The village party secretary's family is living a much better life.
The third thing, which everyone envies the most, is that his youngest son has a job, and it's at the hospital.
Everyone surrounded the Ji family, asking what was going on, assuming that the village secretary had bought the job with money.
He even went to the other members of the Ji family to ask them if they had any opinions and how much the job cost.
The implication was that the Ji family elders were biased; they had never seen their youngest son work, yet they had found him such a good job.
The Ji family is known for its strong unity.
They remained unfazed by these comments. If anyone accused them of favoritism, not only their three sons, but also the other three wives of the Ji family would disagree.
When people got angry, he even defended Ji Huaizhi, saying that he found the job himself and didn't spend any money.
Even the bicycle at home is thanks to him.
Otherwise, we wouldn't have bought this big item.
Everyone laughed and didn't say whether they believed it or not. After all, jobs in the city aren't that easy to find.
I felt they weren't telling the truth.
But no matter what, the Ji family has really risen up. Some members of the family are now eating subsidized food. How could he not help out the other children in the family in the future?
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