On the fourth day, as soon as they were able to meet, Xu Zijiang rushed over to the educated youth settlement, carrying breakfast with him. He looked at Yu Jiu with a pained expression.
"You've lost weight. Have you not been eating properly these past few days? Hurry up and eat the steamed egg custard I made for you, and I also made you some meat patties!"
The first time I saw my fiancée after our engagement, I was shocked to find she had lost weight! This is terrible! It must be my fault as her fiancé!
····
The remaining wine left him speechless, choked with emotion.
"Where do you look thinner? We haven't seen each other for three days, not thirty. Stop with this melodramatic act! Come on, let's go to your place for breakfast!"
Yu Jiu, feeling embarrassed, pushed Xu Zijiang forward, leaving the educated youth settlement. So many people had heard Xu Zijiang's silly words, and she blushed with shame.
It's not that I'm shy, I just feel embarrassed!
"You really haven't lost weight? I just think you have. What's wrong with saying it? We're engaged, so anything we say is reasonable! I'd like to see who dares to gossip about me behind my back!"
Xu Zijiang snorted coldly, completely unaware of his mistake. Yu Jiu didn't bother with him and pushed him home.
The engagement is set, and the people who will help out on the day of the banquet are also arranged. The villagers will bring pots, pans, and other utensils to help them out. These days, there's nowhere to rent bowls and chopsticks. When something big happens, the villagers all chip in to help each other out.
The only thing left to prepare is the ingredients. Many families start saving meat for their sons many years in advance, so that it can be used for the wedding banquet when their sons get married.
If a family has many sons, those that are not well-off will generally have to wait several years before their second son can get married, simply because it is too difficult to save up meat.
Although it can be made into cured meat and stored away for several years without any problem, the issue is that farming families rarely have the opportunity to buy or handle meat, which is why it is so difficult for them.
The wedding banquet is a matter of face for everyone for a lifetime. If someone's wedding banquet doesn't include any meat dishes, they will be ridiculed for decades to come.
Therefore, no matter how poor or miserable a family is, they will always grit their teeth and manage to get a little meat before they start preparing for a banquet.
They have cured pork, but I'm not sure if they should also get some fresh meat, and other dishes need to be prepared in advance. But it's still early, so there's no rush. We can prepare everything two weeks in advance.
Yu Jiu told Xu Zijiang her thoughts, and Xu Zijiang couldn't help but chuckle slyly, then leaned over to ask her.
"I told you I'd handle it. Why are you so worried? Are you in such a rush to marry me?"
"Yes, yes, I'm in a hurry, I'm in a hurry. Also, after we get married, you should tidy up the yard and fence off a small area so we can raise chickens."
Yu Jiu gave him a perfunctory reply and then turned to planning the small courtyard.
When Xu Zijiang was alone, he didn't raise chickens. He wasn't lazy; he was good at all kinds of housework. He just found it troublesome. Anyway, he had money and could get meat coupons. He could just buy meat when he wanted to eat it, and he could buy eggs from his neighbors. So he didn't bother with these trivial matters.
But Yu Jiu thought it wouldn't work. From now on, they would be a family, and they should manage their business just like everyone else. They should raise chickens and grow vegetables. They could save the money for later, such as for starting a business or buying a house.
Although Yu Jiu didn't live that long, she passed away just as the country was opened up, but with the opening up and such huge changes, Yu Jiu felt that buying a house must be a good investment!
Yu Jiu, with her unique perspective, was certain that the price would rise and that she could make money!
Xu Zijiang was unaware that Yu Jiu was already planning to make money. He crossed his arms and lazily watched Yu Jiu eat breakfast while planning her future life. He felt particularly happy.
This is the kind of life he wants to live!
"By the way, things aren't too busy in the fields lately, so why don't we take this opportunity to get the goods out first? We're getting married in October, and then we'll be busy with the double harvest in November. If we delay any longer, it'll be Chinese New Year."
Yu Jiu remembered the batch of goods they had bought at a high price. They could sell them slowly, so there was no rush. However, they needed to sell some to recoup their costs first, and having some cash on hand would make things easier.
"I know, we'll go in the next couple of days. The betrothal gifts I prepared for you have just arrived—three turns and a ring, a watch, everything you need. When I get them back, I'll show them to you. If you don't like them, I'll get you something else."
Xu Zijiang leaned over and pinched Yu Jiu's cheek, saying cheerfully.
"It's fine as long as we have it. What's there to like or dislike? But maybe we shouldn't get the sewing machine. I don't know how to sew, so it would be a waste to bring it back."
Yu Jiu was reluctant to waste the money. She figured she might never learn to make clothes in her life, so the garment was useless; her hands were perfectly capable of handling simple mending.
"It won't be a waste. I know a little bit. If you can't learn it, I'll learn later and make clothes for you and the children."
Xu Zijiang raised an eyebrow, then suddenly thought of something interesting. He rolled his Adam's apple and smiled in a strangely lewd way.
"Alright, from now on, the mending and sewing will be your responsibility!"
Yu Jiu was quite satisfied as he collected the empty bowls and prepared to wash them.
"You don't need to wash it, I'll do it. I married you so you could enjoy life with me. Leave all this to your man, go have fun."
Xu Zi took a bite out of Yu Jiu's fair and tender face and made her leave the kitchen.
Yu Jiu didn't argue with him about it. She went back to his room to pack his things and also to see if he needed a cabinet made so that there would be a place to put her things when she moved over.
The two were so affectionate even while working that it made everyone around them envious.
On the other side, Li Nannan had also stayed in Xitang Team for a few days. These days she had truly lived a life worse than death. She and Chen Yuan were locked together, and they were given nothing but water. They could only go to the toilet in this cramped room.
She used to be alone, and the time she was locked up wasn't long, so she could tolerate the smell when she urinated. But now it's been several days, and Captain Xitang still has no intention of letting them out.
And while she could barely tolerate her own smell, Chen Yuan's smell was truly disgusting! She also needed to use the restroom! She simply couldn't take it anymore, and Li Nannan broke down, frantically banging on the door.
"I want to go back, I want to go back to Beitang Team, waaaaaah!"
"What's all the noise about! You wretched woman, wailing like a harbinger of doom! It's all your fault! You're a jinx!"
After lying in bed for several days, Chen Yuan, who had become incontinent, finally couldn't help but get up and pounce on Li Nannan, slapping her several times.
His face was full of scars, making him look like a demon. He hit Li Nannan with extra force, as if he wanted to beat her to death. He didn't care what Li Nannan was blaming. Anyway, Chen Yuan's lower body was crippled by Xu Zijiang's kick. He was no less devastated than Li Nannan. He lay there for a few days with a heart full of despair, but he still couldn't help but get up and want to strangle Li Nannan, this troublemaker!
"You stole someone's personal clothing, so you deserved to have it kicked to pieces by Xu Zijiang! You disgusting slut!"
Li Nannan has been beaten up several times, and now she has mastered fighting skills. Besides, Chen Yuan is still injured, so she is not afraid of him at all!
Furthermore, she was disgusted by Chen Yuan's attempt to steal the girl's underwear, especially since he hadn't even succeeded. Otherwise, he could have also annoyed Xu Zijiang and Yu Jiu! That useless man!
"So useless! What kind of man are you?!"
Li Nannan cursed viciously and kicked Chen Yuan in the groin.
"ah!!!"
Chen Yuan's already injured genitals were now likely completely rotten. He sat on the ground in agony, his legs turned inward, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.
This was exactly the effect Captain Xitang wanted: let these two troublemakers fight it out themselves. Whoever got hurt or died was none of his business, since he hadn't done it.
After handing over the troublesome Li Nannan to Captain Xitang, Xu Zijiang and Yu Jiu finally had some peace and quiet. Xu Zijiang also brought back the sewing machine in the past two days, eager to make a dress for Yu Jiu.
A... barely-there lingerie outfit!!!
This was a brilliant idea he came up with in a flash of inspiration! He can't even imagine how beautiful his little wife would look in it!!!
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