Chapter 15
Xia Qingtang smiled inwardly, knowing that Zhao Meizhen and the other two were here to give him money, so he said goodbye to the workers and moved towards them: "Are you here?"
"This envelope is for you." Xia Daming rolled up a half-worn brown paper envelope and handed it to Xia Qingtang, then asked, "Are you feeling well?"
Xia Qingtang did not answer, but just opened the envelope in the corner and counted it. It was indeed two hundred yuan, which should be what Xia Daming withdrew from the bank today.
Zhao Meizhen's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and her eyes were red. She probably didn't sleep well the whole night. When she saw Xia Qingtang accept the envelope, she said, "Come with me. I asked Director Wu, and Xiao Kong is willing to see us now."
Xia Qingtang nodded: "Let's go, let's go together. This matter concerns your precious son, you have to kneel down and beg them together."
Xia Daming looked very embarrassed, but he said nothing. He just followed Zhao Meizhen silently, and the three of them went to Director Wu's house together.
After all, it was a private matter, and Kong Liangchao was the evil one, so he and the Xia family were willing to resolve the matter in a secluded place.
When they arrived at Director Wu's house, herbal tea and a plate of grapes were already placed in the clean and tidy living room. There was no one else in the room. Kong Liangchao sat in the middle of the sofa, staring at the embarrassed Xia Qingtang with smugness.
Although Xia Qingtang looked very embarrassed, she was young and beautiful. Her messy hair and flushed cheeks made her look pitiful, which made Kong Liangchao's heart beat faster. He also felt even more regretful that he had not been able to accomplish anything on the 31st.
"Xiao Kong, Comrade Kong, we brought Qingtang here to apologize to you. Qingtang has thought it through. She was sick before and her mind was confused. She told me that she likes Comrade Kong very much and she is so happy to be able to date Comrade Kong. Comrade Kong, you are a good comrade and you know a lot. You must know that people will be confused when they are sick. Please be magnanimous and forgive our Qingtang. She really likes you, Comrade Kong." Zhao Meizhen nodded and bowed, wishing she could kneel down to say these words.
Director Wu was a warm-hearted man, and he quickly chimed in, "Yes, Xiao Kong, you are a gay man, so you should give in to the lesbians. Now that Xiao Xia is no longer shy and is willing to date, that's a good thing. Gay men should be caring, don't you think?"
Kong Liangchao didn't say yes or no. He looked at Xia Qingtang's charming face and asked, "Xiao Xia, are you really willing to date me?"
Xia Qingtang lowered her head, making it hard to see her expression. She said quickly, "I don't want to date..."
The atmosphere suddenly changed, but before Kong Liangchao could sneer or curse, Xia Qingtang continued, "I think we can get engaged as soon as possible."
The tense atmosphere in the room suddenly disappeared, Zhao Meizhen's legs went weak and she almost fell down.
Director Wu immediately laughed and said, "Yes, you two are of the right age now. Since you like each other, you should get married quickly. Xiao Kong, aren't your parents urging you to get married soon? In my opinion, we should set a date quickly and go through the procedures. I will be the matchmaker and we will go to Xiao Xia's house to propose marriage, which will also allow both of your families to meet each other."
Zhao Meizhen nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, if you ask me, the sooner the better, this month is good enough."
Xia Daming didn't say anything. He just looked at Xia Qingtang sadly, his hands tightly clutching his pants.
Kong Liangchao still stared at Xia Qingtang and asked, "Why did Comrade Xia suddenly change his mind? And why are you so anxious?"
"Why do you say that?" Xia Qingtang raised his head, his expression extremely humiliated. "Don't you know what you did? You've almost killed me, what else can I do?"
"Oh, from the tone of your voice, are you feeling aggrieved?" Kong Liangchao sneered.
"I was already feeling wronged."
"If you talk to me like this, it's obvious that you haven't been wronged enough." Kong Liangchao didn't like Xia Qingtang's current attitude. Why was she so arrogant? Shouldn't she kneel down and beg him?
Xia Qingtang suddenly said, "You all should know that Yang, the political commissar of the provincial military region, lost his lover last year, and someone is introducing him to a girl this year. They have already asked me about this. I'm young, I have a good job, and my family is clean, so they are very optimistic about me."
Director Wu's face suddenly changed. She knew that someone was introducing a new partner to Political Commissar Yang, but she was from the street office and it was not her turn to deal with matters related to the military region. She didn't expect that the introducer would actually ask Xia Qingtang.
Of course, this story is fake. Xia Qingtang just knew that someone was introducing a date to Political Commissar Yang at that time, so he told this story to blackmail them.
Kong Liangchao had no connections in the military region. Even if he did, he would not go and ask someone whether they really wanted to introduce Xia Qingtang to Political Commissar Yang. Whether it was true or not, the introducer would not answer him.
Kong Liangchao's face also changed greatly. He even stood up in surprise: "Political Commissar Yang? Do you know how old Political Commissar Yang is? You want to marry an old man?"
"What old man? He's the political commissar! If this really works, no one will bully me anymore!" Xia Qingtang had an unyielding expression, "I've already given in to this extent, Comrade Kong, I think you're a man with a dignified appearance, if you really won't give me a way out, then what does it matter if I marry an old man? It doesn't matter who I marry, anyway. As long as my family can live a good life, I'm fine with anything!"
Zhao Meizhen was not panicking at all at this moment. She walked to Xia Qingtang and pulled her, smiling like a flower: "You kid, why didn't you tell us about such a good marriage? Political Commissar Yang is not that old. Besides, what's wrong with being older? Older people will feel sorry for others! Director Wu, don't you agree?"
Director Wu glanced at Kong Liangchao and said quickly, "Of course not. An old man is an old man. Do you really want to plant a beautiful flower like your Qingtang on cow dung? Even if you as parents don't feel sorry for Xiaoxia, others will. In my opinion, it's better to find someone of the same age, so that you can match Xiaoxia."
Zhao Meizhen was getting arrogant at this moment. She said, "We want to find someone who won't age, but the one who won't age doesn't agree to it. He's even putting on airs with us. Director Wu, do you think Qingtang from our family would be suitable to be the wife of a political commissar?"
Director Wu smiled awkwardly: "Xiao Kong didn't say no. Before you came, Xiao Kong told me that he really likes Xiao Xia. He has been worried about Xiao Xia's affairs recently and has lost a lot of weight. Xiao Kong, is that right?"
Kong Liangchao finally reacted. He also realized that although his family had some capabilities, if Xia Qingtang really decided to marry Political Commissar Yang, he would not only lose face, but also be retaliated against for bullying Xia Qingtang and the Xia family.
He is indeed a smart man, and his reaction is very quick. He smiled and said, "Aunt Zhao, I was just mad at Xiao Xia. She was mad at me last time, so I can be mad at her too. Isn't it normal for young people to do this? I am sincere to Xiao Xia, and I also want to get engaged to Xiao Xia as soon as possible. My family also knows that Director Wu is helping me introduce a partner. Since we all agree, let's ask Director Wu to help us set a time this month, and my parents and I will go to propose marriage."
Now that Zhao Meizhen feels that her daughter has a better choice, she will definitely not favor him anymore, so all he can do is propose and settle the marriage as soon as possible.
Anyway, Kong Liangchao would never give up Xia Qingtang, this piece of fat meat at his fingertips, and he also couldn't let her marry other dignitaries, lest she turn against him.
The marriage proposal process in this era was very simplified. Most of the time, the man's family would visit the woman's home, and the two sides would amicably discuss details such as the time to get the marriage certificate, whether to hold a wedding banquet, where to live afterwards, and so on. The two families would then go to a state-owned restaurant together for a meal, and the engagement would be considered a success.
Those who are a little more simple-minded may not even be able to eat, so they can just save the food coupons.
When Xia Qingtang was engaged to Kong Liangchao in her previous life, they did not go to the state-owned restaurant for dinner. Kong's mother did not even drink a cup of tea and left in a triumphant manner.
Director Wu looked at Zhao Meizhen's face and said, "Old Zhao, how about getting engaged in the middle of the month? The 17th is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and everyone has a day off that day, which is perfect!"
Zhao Meizhen said: "Don't worry, I haven't spoken yet."
"Comrade Zhao, please speak." Director Wu quickly looked at her.
"Xiao Kong, my inner retreat..."
"Aunt Zhao's retirement will be processed this week, and you will be able to return to the city within this month. In my opinion, if you work faster, you can catch up with Xiao Xia and I's engagement." Kong Liangchao was flexible and did not hesitate at this moment. He added, "I think Xiao Xia's incident in the warehouse was a misunderstanding. Don't go to work tomorrow. I will ask Director Qi to resolve the misunderstanding first, and then you can go back to work after you get a better position. Aunt Zhao, do you think this is okay?"
Zhao Meizhen smiled and sat down, then said slowly: "Just like this, Xiao Kong, you are not sincere enough. Our Qingtang will never have trouble finding a husband. Tell me, if she marries Political Commissar Yang, how much dowry will he give us?"
Kong Liangchao cursed in his heart, but still smiled: "Regarding the betrothal gift, it must be done as I told Auntie before. After three turns, I will make up for your family and give another 200 yuan for the betrothal gift. I guarantee that Xiaoxia will be the most respectable bride in the entire cotton mill in recent years!"
"In that case, I can reluctantly agree." Zhao Meizhen said, "Okay, let's do this for now. We will wait for you at home on the Mid-Autumn Festival. I will discuss the details with your parents later."
Although Kong Liangchao was a little unhappy, he finally settled down with Xia Qingtang and smiled at this moment.
Xia Qingtang also laughed. She looked at the faces of the people in the room and her smile was sweeter than honey.
Mid-Autumn Festival... Mid-Autumn Festival is a good day. When the time comes, she will definitely bring Xie Jinxuan there and give everyone a huge surprise.
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