He planned to take Yu Jiu with him to the commune; asking for money was just a side thing. Now that he was done with his work, he could take Yu Jiu to the commune for a stroll and then have a meal at Zhou Chunrong's house. Zhou Chunrong had been clamoring to see Yu Jiu for a long time, so it wouldn't hurt to grant his wish. After all, he had already won her over, and he really couldn't let it go without showing her off.
"Going to the Party Secretary's house for dinner? Probably not."
Yu Jiu scratched her face, not really wanting to go. She didn't really like communicating with others, let alone a leader like the Party Secretary. She always felt that he would be difficult to get along with, and she didn't want to be scolded by him while eating.
"Go ahead, go ahead. He and I are best buddies, and I know the secretary's wife well too. Don't worry, they're both easy to get along with and won't do anything to you. It's just a simple meal. I mainly want to show off that I'm going to have a wife soon! And my wife is so beautiful, so kind, and so considerate!"
"Wife, can't you even grant me this small request?"
Xu Zi looked at Yu Jiu expectantly, his face clearly showing his desire to show off his wife.
Vanity, so vain! Who was it that said they didn't care about looks when looking for a wife, but now they think it's a source of pride to bring this pretty partner out in public?
"We can't go now. It's not right for me to go to someone else's house with you before we're even married."
Yu Jiu shook her head with difficulty. The team members let them fool around, but that didn't mean the secretary really had no thoughts. If he turned his back on her, she and Xu Zi would both be finished.
“There’s nothing wrong with it. I’m taking you to his house for dinner not only so they can meet you, but also so the secretary’s wife can help me find a good day to get married. I’ve lost my parents, and I’m not close to my uncle’s side of the family. The only elders I have are these two couples.”
"Little Jiu, I want to find a good day and marry you as soon as possible, okay?"
Xu Zijiang held Yu Jiu's hand and said earnestly, his deep eyes burning with passion.
"Fine, fine, you're in charge."
Yu Jiu couldn't help but smile and nodded in agreement.
He's smart enough to bring up the topic of setting a wedding date. If he had let her follow him around in a murky way, she would have smashed his head in!
"Let's go, we'll go now!"
Xu Zi was overjoyed; he would soon be able to marry his beautiful wife! Once the wedding date was set, he immediately began preparing the betrothal gifts—the three essential items (sewing machine, watch, and cigarette) and the one essential item (shock, sewing machine, and cigarette) were all indispensable!
"Wait, let me change my clothes first. After all, I'm a guest, so I can't be too casual."
Yu Jiu still cared about her image. It was like an ugly daughter-in-law meeting her in-laws. Although she wasn't ugly, Yu Jiu thought happily as she went back to her room to change into a brightly colored dress.
While described as bright, it was really just light blue. She didn't wear orange, red, or yellow clothes; most clothes in that era were quite dark, so light blue was already considered quite playful. She wasn't wearing a skirt, still dressed in trousers, and had simply restyled her hair.
Clean, fresh, playful, and beautiful, even in coarse linen clothes, her almond-shaped eyes shone like stars, she had a high nose, double eyelids, fair skin, and rosy lips. Anyone who stood in front of her would have to say she was beautiful!
Yu Jiu was confident in her simple attire. She straightened her chest and went to the commune with Xu Zijiang, but the two of them only visited the supply and marketing cooperative.
"What would you like to eat? I have some snack tickets. How about mung bean cake? Or walnut shortbread? Candied hawthorn? Candy? Or soda?"
Xu Zi brazenly pulled out a wad of cash and bills, repeatedly asking Yu Jiu questions, like a nouveau riche, as if afraid Yu Jiu wouldn't know how to spend the money.
Yu Jiu helplessly covered her lips and whispered.
"I don't want anything. Can you please tone down your attitude? People who know you will say you're here to buy something, but people who don't will think you're here to rob us."
"What kind of temperament do I have? I've already taken out the money and tickets, who would want to rob them? Okay, okay, then I'll be serious, alright? So what do you want to buy? Or how about buying a little of everything?"
Xu Zijiang sat up straight for a second, but his serious demeanor lasted only two seconds before he asked in a low, nonchalant voice.
"Buy some snacks and candy; after all, we're visiting, so we should bring something."
Yu Jiu replied without hesitation, while Xu Zijiang mumbled something with a rough face.
"I bought it for you, not for him."
Yu Jiu glanced at him sideways, and Xu Zijiang immediately nodded solemnly.
"I'll buy it for him!"
This guy just needs to be taught a lesson. Yu Jiu shook her head and stopped glaring at him. After buying the things, the two of them didn't go anywhere else and went straight to the commune office.
"Secretary, I've come to ask when our team's subsidies will be issued? Everyone's waiting for the money to build houses."
There was more than one secretary in the office, but Xu Zijiang still got straight to the point, relentlessly pressing Zhou Chunrong for answers, until Zhou Chunrong was getting a headache from all the questions.
"Isn't this the money to be distributed? Look, the money has all been allocated. This is for the seven households in your team to build houses, fifteen yuan per household. This is for your team, five yuan per household. The educated youth in the educated youth settlement each receive three yuan. Count them and see if it's enough."
Zhou Chunrong opened the drawer, took out an envelope with the words "Beitang Production Team" written on it, and slapped it in front of Xu Zijiang.
"The subsidy for building a house is only fifteen yuan? How many bricks can you buy with fifteen yuan?"
While frowning and complaining, Xu Zijiang skillfully opened the envelope and counted the money. The educated youth in the settlement were all single, and three yuan per person was already a lot. After all, each household in the team had at least three or four, or even five or six people. If they were given more, the team members would have objections.
"There's still five yuan left, which makes twenty yuan in total. That's about right. Who told you to build brick houses? What's wrong with thatched huts? Just add a little more money, and you can build two decent houses. That's all. That's the standard they gave us."
Zhou Chunrong said irritably, "This kid just knows how to take advantage of me, but he can't make the decisions about the money all by himself!"
"Fine, fine, you're all right. Let's go."
Xu Zijiang stuffed the money into his pocket and gestured for him to leave.
Where to?
Zhou Chunrong couldn't keep up with his train of thought.
"Of course we're coming to your house for dinner. Is your wife home? I'm bringing my girlfriend... my boyfriend. She's waiting outside. Hurry up and stop dawdling, she must be getting impatient!"
Xu Zi urged impatiently, and Zhou Chunrong grabbed her notebook and slapped him on the arm.
"Why didn't you say so earlier! You didn't even give me a heads-up. Where are you going to get so many groceries in this rush!"
While cursing him irritably, Zhou Chunrong got up to go and see what kind of person Yu Jiu was. She was quite the character; she could make Xu Zijiang fall head over heels for her with just an ordinary face. What a remarkable person!
Of course, he had no problem with Yu Jiu at all. He knew that Yu Jiu was also interested in him, and that the two were in love. He was overjoyed, but he still wanted to see for himself what kind of person she was.
As soon as Zhou Chunrong stepped out of his office, he saw a young woman with her back to him. Her slender shoulders and neck revealed her youth. Yu Jiu heard the noise, slowly turned around, smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling, and her voice, clear as a spring, flowed out.
"Hello, Secretary."
"Thump."
Zhou Chunrong bumped his head against the door frame, staring blankly into the distance.
This is Yu Jiu?! He was supposed to be ordinary-looking! Was this the person he saw that day? Did he see a ghost in broad daylight?!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
