Chapter 72
Xu Yuansheng hesitated, but ultimately could not make up his mind.
She thanked the educated youth who cared about her, bit her lip, and said, "They are my family after all, I really can't do this... But thank you, I'll try to find another way to see if I can persuade them."
When the educated youth heard her say this, they couldn't help but sigh, but it wasn't surprising.
Many people in the countryside are not well-educated, have conservative and backward ideas, and many are even blindly filial, believing that no one in the world is not their parents, and that parents are the heavens. As children, they rarely dare to disobey or defy their elders, let alone directly sue their parents.
This is still too much to ask of her.
However, they still couldn't bear to see a perfectly good girl forced to marry a fool.
Several of the female educated youth here had received help from Xu Yuansheng.
When educated youth were sent to the countryside, they arrived in an unfamiliar place and rarely got along well with the locals. There was a big generation gap between urban and rural people, and their lifestyles were different. When they were sent to the countryside, they really couldn't adapt to anything, couldn't do any work, and were even harassed by some ill-intentioned young men in the village, which terrified them.
When Xu Yuansheng saw this, he grabbed a broom and beat those people up, then reported it to the brigade leader.
The brigade leader took this matter very seriously. He made an example of the men who harassed the female educated youth, severely criticized them, and punished them by making them clean the latrines. Finally, this bad trend was brought down, and no one dared to do it again. The villagers and the educated youth got along better.
Although Xu Yuansheng learned to make clothes from the old tailor, he would also go to the fields to earn work points when there were no clothes to make. He was very hardworking and impossible to dislike.
If she sees them unable to work, she will help them out.
She also taught them how to do farm work, without looking down on them for being delicate or scolding them for being pretentious. She would even find some herbs to apply to their hands after they got blisters from doing farm work, which felt cool and comfortable.
These are all life skills of country people, and only country people know them. She is generous in teaching them.
It can be said that most of the female educated youth in the educated youth settlement had a good relationship with Xu Yuansheng. Some even went to her to make clothes in order to help her. Unexpectedly, the clothes made by Xu Yuansheng were very beautiful. While conforming to the general environment, they always had some small creative touches that made the clothes look exceptionally well-matched.
“Xu Yuansheng, don’t be afraid.” The older sister at the educated youth settlement comforted her, “Whether they forced you to marry a mentally challenged man against your will, or your father beat you, none of these are right. You can file a complaint with the Women’s Federation.”
"Think it over first. If you've thought it through, tell us and we'll go with you to sue them."
"Yes, don't be afraid, we will all help you."
"..."
Xu Yuansheng's eyes reddened, and tears finally streamed down his face as he sobbed, "Thank you, thank you all!"
She eventually said she would think it over carefully, and then left the educated youth settlement with her younger sister.
The educated youth watched the two sisters leave, and couldn't help but sigh.
Some of the educated youth here had been in the countryside for several years, so they knew about the Xu family's situation and that Xu Yuansheng's parents favored sons over daughters and didn't treat their daughters as human beings.
The Xu sisters are like good bamboo shoots emerging from bad bamboo; in such a family, they were able to raise two simple, kind, and helpful girls.
Unfortunately, those parents didn't know how to cherish it.
Xu Yuansheng said she would try to find a solution, but they felt that there was no other way except to file a complaint with the Women's Federation.
**
After leaving the educated youth settlement with his younger sister, Xu Yuansheng did not go home, but went to the brigade leader's house.
It's the off-season for farming now, and there's not much work to do in the fields. The team leader and his wife are doing chores at home today, along with some members of the Xu family, who are sitting around the fire warming themselves.
When Tian Qiaolian saw Xu Yuansheng coming over with a swollen face, a broken lip, and bruises all over his body, looking miserable, she was almost furious.
She angrily shouted, "Your dad actually hit you? What is he trying to do?"
How much force did that take? It's incredible how it got to this point.
When Xu Yuansheng saw her, tears welled up in his eyes, and he threw himself into Tian Qiaolian's arms and cried.
Xu Huaisheng also started crying.
Although her second sister had told her to cry as much as she could when she saw the brigade leader and the others, and not to say anything, she was actually very scared. Seeing her second sister being beaten like that by her father made her feel sad and resentful.
The two sisters cried so hard that the brigade leader had a headache. He cursed Xu Dagui and his wife in his heart, thinking that they were not human. Didn't they think their daughter was their own child?
Tian Qiaolian led the two sisters into the house and brought them a basin of hot water to wash their faces.
Xu Yuansheng wiped away her tears and said with red eyes, "Aunt Tian, we came here today to ask you for a favor. Could you ask the brigade leader to give me and Huaisheng two letters of introduction? We want to go to the army to find my older sister."
"What?" Tian Qiaolian exclaimed in surprise, "Go to the military base to find Xixi?"
A thought suddenly occurred to her: if the two sisters went to the army, the Xu family would have no way to force Xu Yuansheng to marry the mentally challenged man. This was not a bad idea.
She couldn't bear to see a perfectly good girl being "sold" to a mentally challenged man by her family, wasting the rest of her life.
Xu Yuansheng said, "A few days ago, didn't my eldest sister call? She wanted Huaisheng and me to go to the army. She didn't want me to marry a mentally challenged man. But I felt that Mom and Dad might not really marry me off for the sake of the bride price, and besides, we're not related to my eldest sister by blood, so we didn't want to bother her..."
At this point, she choked up, and tears silently streamed down her face.
Tian Qiaolian was deeply distressed by what she saw and couldn't help but sigh.
The child always had illusions about her parents, thinking that they might not really marry her off to a fool for the sake of the bride price, but in the end, they still disappointed her.
How heartbroken must he be? No wonder he finally made up his mind to go to the army to find Gu Xi.
However, Xu Yuansheng's concerns are valid. Gu Xi is not a child of the Xu family and has no responsibility to take care of her two younger sisters. Her willingness to pay for their education shows her kindness and loyalty, but this does not mean that Xu Yuansheng and the others can accept her sacrifices with a clear conscience.
Therefore, Xu Yuansheng has not mentioned this matter to anyone these days.
“...But today, the idiot’s family came to propose marriage. I heard that my father has already accepted their betrothal gifts. I have no choice but to marry them. If I refuse, they will definitely break my legs and lock me in the house until I get married.” Xu Yuansheng said with a bitter expression, “I have no choice but to go to my eldest sister’s place to avoid this situation for a while.”
Tian Qiaolian said, "It's good that you think that way; you should go."
As she spoke, she got up and went to the door to call the captain over.
When the battalion commander walked in, he was equally surprised to learn that he had asked Xu Yuansheng and her sister to write letters of introduction for them to go to the army to find Gu Xi.
Tian Qiaolian said with a serious expression, "You should quickly get them letters of introduction... Don't tell their families about this, don't tell anyone. Tomorrow, have someone secretly take them to the county town to catch a bus and leave."
If Xu Yuansheng leaves, the marriage will fall through, and Xu Dagui will have no choice but to return the betrothal gifts.
After hearing this, the captain felt that it was indeed a good idea.
As for how angry the Xu family will be when they find out that Xu Yuansheng has run away, there's nothing they can do about it. Can they really run to the army and bring him back?
He said, "Okay, I'll write you a letter of introduction right away."
While the brigade leader went to write the letter of introduction, Tian Qiaolian poured a glass of warm water for the two sisters and talked to them, asking them what Gu Xi had said.
She was actually very curious, wondering why Gu Xi wanted to bring her two younger sisters to the army, as she hadn't heard her mention it before.
Xu Yuansheng pursed his lips and said, "Actually, there's another reason why my older sister called me to the army."
"What's the reason?" Tian Qiaolian asked curiously.
Xu Huaisheng held the water glass and drank, looking confused. Could it be that her second sister hadn't told her something?
Xu Yuansheng lowered his head slightly, looking quite embarrassed: "My older sister said she's going to find me a partner in the army. There are many unmarried young men in the army, and once I get married there, my parents can't pressure me anymore. Breaking up a military marriage is illegal..."
Upon hearing this, Tian Qiaolian slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "That's great! Marrying a soldier is better than marrying a fool!"
People these days have great admiration for the People's Liberation Army. Although being a military wife is hard work, soldiers receive salaries and various subsidies. Isn't that better than working in the fields? Isn't that better than marrying a mentally challenged person?
“Xixi is right. If you find someone you like, you should get married over there,” Tian Qiaolian said. “This is much better than what your parents would choose. Your parents only care about the bride price and don’t care who you marry. You must not let them find you a partner.”
Xu Yuansheng remained shy and did not speak, as if he had tacitly agreed with her words.
The battalion commander took the stamped letter of introduction and was stunned to hear that Gu Xi was going to introduce Xu Yuansheng to a potential partner in the army.
“My cousin’s son is an officer in the army, I heard he’s already a regimental commander. He must know a lot of suitable young men, finding a partner for Yuansheng will be a piece of cake. Isn’t that better than finding one here?” Tian Qiaolian said, then sneered, “Just you wait and see, Xu Dagui and the others will regret it one day. What can they get by marrying their daughter off to a fool for such a small dowry?”
Xu Yuansheng thanked the captain for the letter of introduction and said to them, "Captain, Aunt Tian, Huaisheng and I will leave tomorrow. We need to leave as soon as possible, otherwise we won't be able to leave if they find out." She bit her lip, "If my parents find out after we leave, they will definitely come here and make a scene... I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
"It's nothing!" Tian Qiaolian waved her hand and sneered, "Let them make trouble if they want! It's good that they forced you to marry a fool and beat you up like this..." She looked at Xu Yuansheng's swollen face, which was even starting to turn blue, "I was even thinking of going to the Women's Federation to report them."
Suddenly, she thought of something and said, "Why don't you go to the Women's Federation and complain about them before you leave?"
When the Women's Federation comes to their door, Xu Dagui and his wife will definitely be in a flurry of activity. Even if they know the two sisters have left, they won't have time to chase after them, which is good.
Xu Yuansheng stared at her blankly, as if he were frightened.
Tian Qiaolian patted her head affectionately, "Don't be afraid. This time it was your parents who were wrong. Even if you go to the Women's Federation to complain about them, everyone will understand."
Tears streamed down Xu Yuansheng's face. He wiped his face and said with a determined look, "Aunt Tian, I understand."
**
Xu Yuansheng, carrying two letters of introduction, returned home with Xu Huaisheng.
When they got home, the mentally challenged man's family had already left. Inside, Xu Dagui was drunk, and He Guihua was cleaning up the mess while muttering something to herself.
Upon seeing the two sisters return, she raised an eyebrow and was about to start scolding them, but when she saw Xu Yuansheng's swollen and bruised face, she choked back her curses.
"You two brats? Where did you run off to earlier?" He Guihua scolded. "Huaisheng, aren't you going to come and help tidy up? Yuansheng, go back to your room and rest, take good care of your face. In a few days we'll take you to the county town to buy some wedding supplies. The Pang family said they'd give you money to buy wedding items, a whole hundred yuan..."
This hundred yuan was not included in the bride price; it was given separately, which shows how generous the Pang family is.
The money is already in her pocket; she can just buy some things for that brat to make up the difference, and there will still be plenty left over.
Xu Huaisheng obediently went to help.
Xu Yuansheng pretended not to hear, turned around and went back to his room, hid the letter of introduction, and then went to pack his luggage.
The next day, Xu Yuansheng's slapped face looked even more terrifying, shocking and chilling to the bone, making everyone who saw it feel her pain.
Just how hard did Xu Dagui hit?
When she went out with that face, everyone looked at her with even more pity.
Xu Yuansheng went to the commune's women's federation office with this face to report Xu Dagui and his wife.
Her face is the best evidence; it was worth it for provoking Xu Dagui to take action in front of everyone, as all of them were witnesses.
When Xu Dagui and his wife were taken away by the Women's Federation members who came to their door, the couple were terrified and looked at Xu Yuansheng with such fierce eyes that they seemed ready to devour him.
Xu Yuansheng seemed frightened and hid.
Once no one was home, Xu Yuansheng turned and went into his parents' room.
A little while later, she came out.
Then she took her younger sister and their luggage, walked along a side path to find the brigade leader, and took the brigade's tractor to leave for the county town.
**
Gu Xi has been busy ever since Xu Yuansheng agreed to come to the army.
She cleared out the room next to the kitchen, moved the clutter inside to the study, and ordered some furniture from the logistics department.
The logistics team was very efficient; they delivered the furniture she requested—a bed, cabinets, and shelves—the very next day.
Now that we have the furniture, we need to prepare daily necessities for our younger sisters.
Now that the weather is getting cold, we need to prepare some warm clothing for them.
Just recently, with Ye Fenghua's help, she bought some defective fabric from the town's textile factory and stocked it up, which she could then take to the town's tailor to make into a four-piece bedding set.
There was fabric readily available, and the tailor could finish it quickly and pick it up the next day.
Then Gu Xi bought some cotton from a fellow villager nearby and took it to a cotton-fluffing shop in town to have it fluffed into two cotton quilts.
The prices here are as follows: a cotton quilt costs 2.8 yuan, and if you add cotton yarn as padding, it costs an extra 50 cents.
Because Gu Xi speaks fluent local dialect, her fellow villagers give her discounts; whether she buys cotton or cotton quilts, the prices are very cheap.
She even bought chickens and ducks from a fellow villager's house, paying a few cents less than at the market, and they also gave her some dried sweet potatoes that they had sun-dried themselves.
Gu Xi and Yu Xiaoyue have been learning the local dialect for over a month and can now speak it fluently.
When she went to the town market to buy things, she spoke the local dialect and was easily mistaken for a local.
Indeed, the same language is the easiest way to integrate into the local community. After learning the dialect, Gu Xi did have a lot of convenience when shopping.
After the cotton quilts were fluffed, Shen Mingzheng accompanied Gu Xi to the town market to help carry the two quilts back. He was shocked to see her chatting with the cotton fluffer in dialect.
When I first heard her say that she had a talent for languages, I didn't really notice it. But when I learned that she had only studied with Yu Xiaoyue for a little over a month and was able to master the local language fluently, and saw her communicating with the locals without any sense of awkwardness, it was truly amazing.
On the way back, Shen Mingzheng rode his bicycle with two quilts tied to the back, and Gu Xi sat on the crossbar in front of the bicycle.
Shen Mingzheng said, "Xixi is really amazing. It seems that you must speak English and Russian very well."
"Of course!" Gu Xi sat on the crossbar, leaning against him, and said confidently, "If you don't believe me, I'll tell you."
With no one else around, she made no attempt to hide it and read a passage from an English version of a foreign classic she had previously read online.
When Shen Mingzheng was in military school, he was more familiar with Russian and could also speak English, but his accent was not as pure as hers.
After listening to her read the passage from the classic work, although I didn't know what article it was, the fluent sentences were indeed very pleasant to listen to.
He rode his bicycle, lowered his head and nuzzled her face. He could sense that she was very happy about the upcoming arrival of her two younger sisters. Even when she was busy with chores, she was still happy every day.
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