Fang Miyan scared her father away before returning to the construction site, where she started stewing a pig's head and also killed and marinated a saury.
She finished preparing lunch and dinner in the morning, and after lunch, she rode her bike home to embroider sweaters for Shi Xingchao.
She didn't return to the construction site until four o'clock to start making dinner.
This is another hardworking person...
Shi Zhen spent most of the next few days at the construction site.
Until the end of December, he left the construction site and went to Changxi City.
This year, New Year's Day falls on a Monday, so Guan Baiyu's school moved Monday's classes to Friday, held Friday's classes on Saturday, and gave them a two-day holiday on Sunday and Monday.
Shi Zhen went to Changxi City on Saturday, when the No. 1 Middle School in the city only had half a day of classes.
Near Changxi No. 1 Middle School, there is also a junior high school. The area is quite densely populated, so naturally there are stationery stores there.
The stationery store had a sign that read "Huaguang Stationery Store".
Shi Zhen went inside and took a look, and found that most of the ballpoint pens inside were Huaguang brand.
He didn't buy any pens, but Guan Baiyu brought home a lot of pens. He didn't lack pens, but he did buy two booklets of receipts—his father's side of the business didn't sell these.
After buying his things, Shi Zhen went to wait at the school gate. A short while later, he saw Guan Baiyu come out.
Guan Baiyu had contacted Shi Zhen before and knew that Shi Zhen would come to pick her up. As soon as she saw Shi Zhen, she ran over with a smile.
Shi Zhen reached for his schoolbag.
"Brother, I can carry it," Guan Baiyu said. How old was he? It would be too embarrassing to ask Shi Zhen to carry his schoolbag.
Shi Zhen withdrew his hand and said, "Let's go eat hot pot."
This winter, hot pot is the most popular food in Changxi City. It's definitely a good choice to eat hot pot in the dead of winter.
Shi Zhen planned to take Guan Baiyu out for a bite to eat before going home, and then buy her a cake on New Year's Day.
There were some tricycles soliciting passengers at the entrance of No. 1 Middle School. Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu got on one and headed straight for the hot pot restaurant.
"Grandma, look, that's Guan Baiyu's brother!" Sun Qiqi pointed at Shi Zhen and said to her grandmother who had come to pick her up.
Fei Ping looked over and saw Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu leaving together. The two young men were both tall and handsome.
After realizing she had misunderstood Guan Baiyu, and discovering that her granddaughter's grades in chemistry and physics had improved thanks to Guan Baiyu's notes, Fei Ping began to like Guan Baiyu.
She never met Guan Baiyu alone again, but she heard about him from many other people.
Among the people she knew were many whose grandchildren studied at the No. 1 Middle School, and she also knew quite a few of the teachers there. All of these people had a good opinion of Guan Baiyu.
Therefore, as the end of the semester approached, she specifically reminded her granddaughter to borrow Guan Baiyu's class notes.
As for Guan Baiyu's brother... she only realized she had seen him before when she met him.
These days, this man has been bringing many gifts to visit Mr. Xu, who lives near their home, saying he's here to learn about construction.
The young man was good-looking, and one of her friends even considered introducing her daughter to him. However, after inquiring about him with Engineer Xu, she learned that he was a contractor and had no formal education, so she gave up on the idea.
"Qiqi, did you manage to borrow Guan Baiyu's notes?" Fei Ping asked.
"I borrowed it; I finished copying it a few days ago."
"Then study hard these next two days. If you don't understand something, just ask someone," Fei Ping said. Where they lived, they could easily find someone to ask about high school knowledge.
“Okay.” Sun Qiqi nodded. They were already in their second year of high school, and the studies were much more intense than in their first year. In order to maintain her grades, she was now preoccupied with studying.
Even her best friend Qiu Yunxin has been saying all the time lately, "I must study hard so that I can go to university in the same city as Guan Baiyu in the future."
Seeing that her granddaughter was focused on her studies, Fei Ping was even happier: "Did your uncle buy you some study materials? You can give Guan Baiyu a copy."
“Okay!” Sun Qiqi readily agreed.
When Shi Zhengang was reborn, he was really broke and had many expenses. Even when he brought Guan Baiyu to Changxi City, he could only afford to take him to eat fast food.
But now that he has money, he naturally doesn't need to mistreat Guan Baiyu anymore.
When Shi Zhen arrived at the hot pot restaurant, he ordered some of Guan Baiyu's favorite dishes and chatted with Guan Baiyu while eating.
Guan Baiyu and Liang Qinxuan's company has been doing quite well recently. They are planning to open a factory after the New Year to specialize in producing ballpoint pen barrels.
Shi Zhen will also help build the factory.
However, Liang's father will make some additional investments at that time, so Guan Baiyu's shares will be diluted to some extent.
In response, Liang's father spoke with Guan Baiyu and promised him a certain amount of cash compensation.
Guan Baiyu has already agreed.
After opening a factory, the company will grow in size and acquire assets, so although his shares will decrease, their actual value will increase.
"Brother, Liang Qinxuan's dad is planning to compensate me with 20,000 yuan. I don't need the money anyway, so you can take it!"
“I have money,” Shi Zhen laughed. “Take it, buy whatever you want… You’ll be going to university soon, and you’ll need more money.”
“It won’t cost that much money, brother, don’t be so distant with me,” Guan Baiyu said.
Guan Baiyu was somewhat irritated.
Sometimes, when Shi Zhen is too clear about things, it makes him unhappy.
Shi Zhen noticed that Guan Baiyu's mood was not quite right, and immediately said, "Then leave it with me for now."
Guan Baiyu then smiled.
Seeing this, Shi Zhen started talking to him about other things, such as Shi Xingchao's marriage.
"Brother, he even gave you wedding candy?" Guan Baiyu was a little surprised—given Shi Xingchao's personality, he wouldn't normally buy wedding candy.
"I guess it was given to him when someone in the village got married," Shi Zhen said with a smile.
While Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu were discussing Fang Miyan and Shi Xingchao's marriage, the Fang family was also talking about it.
"Third daughter is such an ingrate, all that effort in raising her wasted." Mr. Fang has been very angry these past few days, feeling utterly humiliated.
His daughter eloped with someone! I wonder what people will say about her!
Fang's mother said, "Then you should find a way to bring her back..."
Although Fang Miyan used to appear and disappear mysteriously, she would help with the housework. But these past few days, she's been gone... Fang's mother is finding it a bit difficult to cope.
They keep ten pigs and four sheep at home, and they ask her for food all day long!
The sheep is alright; you can find some grass nearby, or give it vegetable leaves from the field to eat. It can even eat straw and leftovers, but it can't eat too much.
But pigs are different... they have huge appetites!
Of course, if they buy feed and don't mind the pigsty being a little messy, raising ten pigs is much easier than raising silkworms.
But they didn't have the money to buy feed.
Previously, Fang's mother would have Fang Miyan go to town to collect swill and mix it with some sweet potatoes to feed the pigs. But now... there aren't enough sweet potatoes for the pigs.
Pigs can eat rice, of course, but what about ten pigs? If you let them roam freely, they could eat all of their grain!
She wanted her son to empty the slop buckets, but he pretended not to hear her. As for her husband... he might not be able to lift a bucket of water right now.
“She refuses to come back, what can I do? She’s hooked up with the big boss’s brother, she looks down on us!” Mr. Fang said.
Fang's mother worried: "The big boss's brother, would he really be interested in her?"
It's no wonder that Fang's mother didn't believe it; she always thought that her youngest daughter was the least attractive of her three daughters.
Her first two daughters married well, but her youngest daughter... she never shows any expression, never smiles, and doesn't like to greet people. I'm afraid no one would like her.
She had even thought she would never get married.
“Who knows? Maybe they’re missing an arm or a leg,” said Mr. Fang. Then he suddenly realized that he was lame, and his already flushed face turned even redder.
"What should we do?" Fang's mother asked anxiously.
“She was willing, what could I do?” Mr. Fang grumbled again.
As he was cursing, Mr. Fang suddenly thought of something and said to Mrs. Fang, "Go find her and have Xiao Liang take you there. Marriage is fine, but the bride price must be paid, and a wedding must be held... Aren't they big bosses? Make them give us 10,000 yuan as the bride price!"
If they could get a dowry of 10,000 yuan, things would be much easier for them. They could pay off most of their relatives' loans, and as for their two daughters, they could wait.
Fang's mother gasped, "Isn't ten thousand too much?"
Mr. Fang said, "Where is the extra? He's a big boss! And he's probably an old bachelor who can't find a wife... We must make him give us more money!"
He actually wanted to receive 40,000 yuan, but these days in the countryside, people usually only give 3,000 to 4,000 yuan for weddings, so 40,000 yuan is unrealistic.
When Fang's mother sat on the back of Fang Miliang's bicycle, she was still worried about her daughter.
Her daughter, I don't even know what kind of person she married.
If he were a perfectly normal person, with a big boss as his brother, he would definitely look down on her daughter. Does that person have something wrong with him?
Fang Miyan's wedding had been going on for several days. Fang's father had already found out where Fang Miyan was and quickly found Guanjia Village. After asking around, he found Shi Xingchao's place.
Small villages can't keep secrets. The people of Guanjia Village already know that Shi Xingchao has found a girlfriend.
Now that Fang Miyan's mother has arrived... someone immediately led the way for her.
Fang's mother was filled with anxiety and wanted her son to go first, but he stood behind her and wouldn't move... so she had no choice but to walk forward herself. "So Mi Yan is your daughter! She's quite diligent, cooks well, and is a good girl," said the person leading Fang's mother.
The young lady liked to gossip about family troubles and go to great lengths to belittle her daughter-in-law in public.
But Chen Xiaofen wasn't that kind of person. She always believed that family scandals should not be aired in public. She would never tell anyone if there was anything bad happening in the family, but if there was anything good happening, she would definitely tell everyone.
For example, she never tells anyone about Shi Xingchao's stinginess; she only says that her son is capable, hardworking, and can do any job.
In addition, Shi Xingxing was praised by everyone in the village, which made many people in Guanjia Village want to arrange marriages for her.
Now that Fang Miyan has arrived... Chen Xiaofen didn't tell anyone about Fang Miyan and Shi Xingchao secretly getting their marriage certificate. She only said that Fang Miyan was Shi Xingchao's girlfriend and that they would hold a wedding when they went home for the New Year.
Fang Miyan is staying at their house for a while because she has some family matters to attend to, and she shares a room with Shi Xingxing.
The countryside here is actually quite open-minded. For example, engaged couples live together, and nobody seems to think there's anything wrong with it.
If the marriage is called off, as long as the woman doesn't have any major problems, it won't affect her ability to find another partner.
They knew about the Shi family's living conditions. Fang Miyan lived with Shi Xingxing, so there was no one to gossip about her.
In addition, Chen Xiaofen kept praising Fang Miyan...
If the mother-in-law said so, how could it be false?
Fang Miyan is definitely a good girl!
The person leading the way kept praising her, but Fang's mother was a little confused when she heard others praising her daughter like that.
Is her daughter really that good?
Fang's mother really wanted to find out about her daughter's boyfriend, but she couldn't recall his name and didn't know how to ask.
Just as she was struggling with her decision, the other person added, "By the way, your daughter is so lucky to have found such a good boyfriend! So many people in our village have their eyes on Xingchao, but he rejected them all and only took a liking to your daughter."
Fang's mother was stunned: "He's fine?"
"Yes, young man, you're very diligent. It's rare to see such a diligent young person these days." The man praised Shi Xingchao, then pointed to Guan Jianguo and said, "We're here, he's over there!"
When Fang's mother looked over, she saw Shi Xingchao.
Shi Xingchao has been embroidering at home for almost a year and a half, rarely going out, and his face has turned pale from being covered up.
He wasn't as tall as Shi Zhen, but he was still over 1.7 meters tall, which was considered tall in Guanjia Village.
As for his appearance, while he wouldn't be considered exceptionally handsome, his features were at least without any major flaws.
People are generally more forgiving of a man's appearance. If he is neither fat nor thin, tall, and has good facial features, they will think he is handsome.
Shi Xingchao was like that.
He had just gotten married a few days ago, and Chen Xiaofen couldn't stand him wearing old clothes, so she forced him to change into new ones, which made him look even more energetic.
From head to toe, there's not a single bad thing about him.
Especially... he was surrounded by a lot of people, all women in their forties and fifties, all smiling at him. Although Fang's mother didn't know what they did, she was certain of one thing: this young man was very popular.
"Mom." Fang Miliang nudged his mother.
Fang's mother stepped forward, wanting to question Shi Xingchao about why he had abducted her daughter. The tears she had been holding back were about to fall.
This was something they had planned before leaving home. When they met Shi Xingchao, she would stay at his doorstep crying, saying that Shi Xingchao had tricked her daughter away and was forcing him to agree to pay a bride price.
This was the first time Fang's mother had done something like this, and she was just figuring out how to do it when Shi Xingchao saw them.
Shi Xingchao had actually been to the Fang family's place and even made a special trip to meet them, so he naturally knew Fang's mother and Fang Miliang.
Noticing that Fang's mother's expression was a little off, he put on a warm smile: "Mom, why didn't you call me when you came? Please come in and sit down!"
He went over, took Fang's mother's hand, and led her into the house, where he helped her sit down on a chair.
Then he took the kettle and poured water for Fang's mother and Fang Miliang: "You must have been cold on your way here. Have some hot water."
Fang's mother, holding the water, didn't know what to say.
"Mom, you're looking for Mi Yan? What a pity, she's not here, she's out at work," Shi Xingchao said again.
"Wait... why are you calling me Mom? You can't do this, I haven't agreed to your marriage yet..."
"Didn't we agree that Mi Yan would come back to my hometown with me during the Chinese New Year to get married? Why is it not possible now?" Shi Xingchao interrupted her.
When did they agree on this? Fang's mother was extremely aggrieved: "You kidnapped my Mi Yan..."
"Mom, you can't say that. Mi Yan is a grown woman. How could I have kidnapped her?" Shi Xingchao preemptively said, "You can't disagree with our marriage just because Mi Yan's brother lost 40,000 yuan... Dad's dowry is too high. I really can't afford it."
Fang's mother: "???"
After Fang's mother arrived, many people from Guanjia Village came to see what was going on.
Previously, Fang's mother and Fang Miliang glared at Shi Xingchao, and they were wondering what was going on. Now, after hearing what Shi Xingchao said... so that's how it is!
Before Fang's mother could react, Fang Miliang, unable to stay any longer, turned and left.
Seeing this, Fang's mother quickly chased after him, calling out, "Xiao Liang, Xiao Liang..."
Shi Xingchao clapped his hands, looking relaxed.
Shi Zhen and Guan Baiyu saw this scene as soon as they returned...
The Fang family must have come looking for trouble, but unfortunately they didn't get the better of Shi Xingchao. Instead, they were forced to leave in disgrace by Shi Xingchao's few words.
Shi Zhen didn't know what to say. Shi Xingchao was really smart, but his stinginess limited his development.
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