He Tingjun knew nothing about the Southwest Development Plan. The next morning, he borrowed a logistics vehicle and took Zeng Qi to the city to buy the six gifts needed for the marriage proposal.
Wedding candy was a must. He Tingjun bought ten kilograms (10 jin), six of which were for the engagement ceremony. These were all high-end milk candies, crisp candies, and flower candies, individually packaged in one-jin portions. The other four kilograms were a mix of various candies, including high-end milk candies, crisp candies, and more affordable hard candies and fruit candies. These were mixed together and distributed to the guests attending the engagement ceremony on the day of the proposal.
As for the other gifts, He Tingjun discussed them with Zeng Qi and his wife yesterday and prepared cigarettes, alcohol, canned meat, cakes, and fabrics.
These things are in limited supply with tickets, and are usually difficult to get. When the time comes, sending them to Yun Qiao's house will be enough to show the man's care and attention, and it will also be an honor for the woman.
As for the tickets to buy these things, He Tingjun borrowed them from his comrades, and then returned them one by one when the tickets were issued next month.
Of course, He Tingjun wasn't the first to do this; others in the military had already done this. After all, everyone only had so many monthly coupons, and without borrowing, there simply wasn't enough. When He Tingjun's roommate Liu Zhi got engaged and married, everyone else pooled their money for him, and He Tingjun participated.
Now it's He Tingjun's turn to get engaged, and naturally he is no exception.
He Tingjun ordered six bottles of Yuquan liquor, a local brand, and six packs of Long cigarettes. Alcohol and cigarettes were rare commodities back then, and He Tingjun bought so much that the supply and marketing department didn't have enough, so they had to temporarily transfer some from the neighboring store. He Tingjun had no choice but to pay and receive the invoice, agreeing to pick it up the next day.
There was nothing much to say about the canned meat and pastries. They were not rare items and were in stock. He Tingjun simply bought six of each flavor.
I only bought two pieces of red fabric. At Zeng Qi's suggestion, I bought the other four pieces in colors like floral print, khaki, navy, and black. The colors aren't too striking, but they're still comfortable for everyday wear, whether it's a top or pants. Unlike red, which only looks good at weddings, it's a bit flashy at other times. After all, society is still very conservative these days, and wearing something too bright might lead to gossip.
In addition, Zeng Qi also asked He Tingjun to buy some colorful melon seeds.
Engagement is not popular nowadays. Most young people, after a blind date, fall in love with each other, agree on the gift and get married directly. Formal proposals and engagements are rare, so there is no meal provided, and guests certainly don't have to pay a gift. The meal and gift money are only collected at the wedding.
But engagement is also a happy event, and when people come to send their blessings, it is not good for the family to have nothing to show for it, so they prepare some melon seeds, candies and snacks for people to eat.
The next morning, He Tingjun drove to the store to pick up some cigarettes and alcohol from the supply and marketing department. Afterward, He Tingjun went to the post office. His parents, knowing he was getting engaged, felt guilty for not being able to attend the event, so they wired him money as compensation.
The amount of money was not small, a full one thousand yuan, which was about half his salary.
He Tingjun took out the money and deposited it into his passbook, intending to give it to Yun Qiao along with his other savings after the wedding.
After leaving the post office, He Tingjun drove to the cannery and told Uncle Ye's family the news that he was going to propose to Yun Qiao the next day. He asked them whether they would go back to the army with him today and stay in the army guesthouse at night, or go to the army base on their own early the next morning?
Ye Yuanzhang immediately asked Director Fang for a day off and chose to return to the army with him.
After all, there are more than sixty or seventy miles of road from Xixi to the military base, and there is no traffic. If I don’t follow Xixi today, I won’t be able to get there every day.
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