When Bai Jiaojiao got home, she discussed the matter with Shen Heng: "Brother Heng, Zhigao's father left us an address last time. Why don't we ask him to help us get Third Brother into the army?"
"You can make the decision. I just don't know if your third brother has any objections. Is he willing to join the army?"
"I'll have to go back and ask him, but I think he'll be willing. There aren't many other options these days. Look at Zhu Shengping, he was so popular here before he retired from the army."
The main reason is that Bai Jiaojiao discussed with Bai Zhiman today that if Bai Shibao stays at home any longer, he might get entangled with Wang Qiumei again, which would be bad.
Judging from the things their family has done, they are not a good family. No matter how good Wang Qiumei is, she will not be a simple girl if she is influenced by such a family.
Bai Shibao, however, was straightforward and easy to please. If he got involved with Wang Qiumei, he would definitely suffer.
Bai Zhiman agreed, but he was troubled by not being able to get Bai Shibao to leave. After all, it was the time when you had to report to leave the village, so where could Bai Shibao go?
Bai Jiaojiao could only find a way to get Bai Shibao to join the army.
This is the best way out.
As for the black market business, Deng Min could only help her make meat floss cakes, and Wang Fushun was saying that there weren't enough to sell.
That evening, Bai Zhiman called Bai Shibao to his room, explained the current situation to him, and said that Bai Jiaojiao would try to find him a way to join the army.
"Isn't this too much trouble for my younger sister and brother-in-law?"
Bai Shibao wasn't someone who knew nothing. They were all old farmers; how could they possibly get something done like this? It was all thanks to the favors they had accumulated before.
He wasted every bit of his favors on others, and Bai Shibao felt utterly ashamed.
"Don't you think it's too late to say all this now? Can you guarantee that if Wang Qiumei comes looking for you again, you won't be with her?"
The Wang family is now at its wits' end, and if Wang Qiumei tries to reconcile with him again, her methods will only be more ruthless.
"Father, I can."
"You can't even dream about it! Didn't you get angry for days when you came back last time? And then what? You still went back to Wangjiazui, didn't you? How can you guarantee you can now?!"
After being scolded by Bai Zhiman, Bai Shibao became honest: "I just feel sorry for my younger sister. How can she hold her head up in front of her brother-in-law like this?"
Bai Zhiman said, "Use this ladder to climb up as high as you can. If you can make something of yourself, you can come back and support your little sister, understand?"
Both are flesh and blood; Bai Zhiman couldn't bear to part with Bai Jiaojiao, nor could he bear to let others ruin Bai Shibao like this.
Hearing him say that, Bai Shibao nodded: "I am willing to join the army, Dad. If I go to the army, I will definitely work hard and I can endure any hardship."
"Then you should tell your younger sister yourself tomorrow, and when you go there, thank your brother-in-law. He saved your life this time."
Bai Zhiman gave instructions.
The next day, Bai Jiaojiao wrote a letter to Su Yangang and Su Zhigao. The letter to Su Yangang contained only greetings and the matter at hand, while the letter to Su Zhigao simply asked him how he was doing lately.
She put a small envelope inside the large one and sent it to the town post office the next day.
Su Yangang took this matter very seriously and sent a telegram in reply, saying that he would definitely make arrangements for Bai Shibao and that Bai Shibao should buy a train ticket to come to Yancheng to find him.
Bai Jiaojiao told the Bai family the news, and Bai Shibao's worried expression finally eased after several days, revealing a smile: "Little sister, this matter has really troubled you."
"If there's anything I can do for you, it'll be a pity for you, sister-in-law. Please prepare some things for your third brother to take with him. He'll definitely suffer hardships in the army, so it's good to be well-prepared."
"Don't worry, we'll make sure your brother has everything we can carry." Deng Min was even happier for Bai Shibao than for making money.
Doing business on the black market is not a long-term solution, and it should be done secretly. You wouldn't even dare to mention it openly when going on a blind date.
But if he were just a young soldier, the matchmaker would definitely think highly of him, and Bai Shibao's future would be guaranteed; he would be on the right track.
Bai Shibao never imagined that he would become a soldier one day. He was so excited that his face turned red, but he was not good with words and kept rubbing his pants, not knowing what to say.
Bai Shibao happened to be among those who enlisted in March, and time was very tight, so the Bai family was scrambling to prepare for his enlistment.
Wang Qiumei arrived the day before her departure.
When Bai Shibao returned from the fields, he saw Wang Qiumei standing far away on the ridge, asking him about him. His first instinct was to hide.
But then I thought again, he's a grown man, he should be more open about his actions, what's wrong with hiding and not seeing anyone?
So Bai Shibao picked up his hoe and went to meet them.
"Xiaomei, what do you want from me?"
"Brother Bo, why haven't you come to see me? Are you blaming my dad...? Our family dragged you down, I'm sorry. But I'm sincere towards you, you can't ignore me, Brother Bo."
Wang Qiumei's eyes were filled with tears. She wasn't particularly pretty, but because her father was a black marketeer, her family was quite well-off and nutritious. Her figure and face were incomparable to those of other girls in the village.
Bai Shibao said, "I am sincere towards you, but we are really not suitable. After this incident, I have already caused too much trouble for my family. If I continue to be with you, I am afraid it will lead to consequences that my family cannot bear."
Bai Shibao's first relationship with a girl was naturally one where he genuinely liked Wang Qiumei. Otherwise, he wouldn't have softened and continued dating her after she apologized to him last time.
But this lesson was too painful. His family was right. Wang Qiumei was raised this way since she was a child, and her behavior will not be much different from her parents'.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
