The words weren't harsh, but the two were indeed in the same boat. Liu Jiefang himself wasn't really wrong, it's just that he had bad luck, stuck with troublesome parents and a younger brother, turning a perfectly good kid into a quiet and withdrawn person.
Even Tan Yajun herself couldn't say for sure whether Liu Jiefang felt more guilty towards her or if he really had other thoughts.
However, in her own words, she didn't care. After so many years in the countryside, she had long since grown disillusioned with her family. In fact, she was also somewhat lost.
"Over the years, if it weren't for you, if it weren't for Jian Dan, after coming to Liujiatun, and after that accident when I came back, I would have given up long ago."
During those days, I cried in bed every night, and several times I stood by the well, you wouldn't believe it, would you?
It's easy to talk about this now, but the desolation and suffering they endured back then can only be glimpsed by outsiders through cold, hard words.
“I know your concerns,”
At that time, marriage was for life, and divorces were extremely rare, so the educated youth were worried that she might act impulsively and regret it later.
Tanya Jun seemed to have figured it out on her own.
"I can manage on my own, so having another person isn't a bad thing. If there's really no affection between us, then I'll just treat him as someone to do the work, someone to share the burden with, and I'll be the one who benefits."
That makes sense. Blind marriages did exist at that time. Many were arranged by parents and matchmakers. The couple would meet a few times before the wedding and could only see each other's faces. As for their temperament and character, that was like drawing a blind box. If they got a gentle and kind family, that was just luck.
If you draw that kind of vicious mother-in-law, then you'll truly be living in a den of wolves for the rest of your life.
Liu Jiefang is a man that all the old folks in the village know well. He's an honest kid, otherwise he wouldn't have been bullied so badly by his parents and younger brother. After spending so much time with him, Tan Yajun's impression of him has changed quite a bit.
Because of what happened before, he will be more accommodating to Tan Yajun even if there are conflicts in the future.
To some extent, Liu Jiefang's current situation can be described as having no parents above him and no younger siblings to burden him. If the two of them were to get together, it is true that there would be no one to help them, but at the same time, there would be no burdens either.
The two of them can quietly close the door and live their own little lives.
After discussing it, the two quickly set up a banquet.
Previously, the Liu family's house was in a very dilapidated state. However, since the three people were in prison and might return in the future, Liu Jiefang did not want any further disputes. So, he applied for a plot of land far away from the Liu family's house and built a house there.
Although it was a mud-and-straw house, it was a new house and their own home, so the two of them held a banquet, and Tan Yajun happily moved into the bridal chamber.
Liu Erhong was left alone and didn't dare to live there by herself, so she moved back to the educated youth compound. Fortunately, the educated youth in the compound were not the kind who would nitpick, so it was relatively peaceful.
Immediately afterwards, the village entrance became lively. The three newly arrived families had their house plots right across from Jian Dan, and as soon as the weather warmed up, they began to break ground on their houses.
Adhering to the principle of settling down, the villagers are also very simple and honest. Seeing their plight, many people have extended a helping hand. One family gives a few mud bricks, another family gives some sand, and the men from each family come over to lend a hand whenever they have free time.
Everyone knew their situation, and no one brought up wages; on the contrary, they were all very dedicated.
By the time the village was ready for planting and the villagers started working, these three families had already moved into their new homes. When they went to work, their eyes shone with hope, and Jian Dan could occasionally hear the sounds of children playing and laughing coming from the opposite courtyard.
The tractor, with its plow, led the way, while villagers followed behind, using tools to break up large clods of earth.
Spring is the season of hope, and the villagers' faces are all smiles as they talk about this year's crops and harvest, hoping for favorable weather this year.
The educated youth followed behind. This work wasn't too tiring, and although the work points weren't many, it was a good opportunity for people who had rested all winter to stretch their muscles.
"When I went to work this morning, I saw an oxcart going to the commune. They said it was going to pick someone up."
Do you think another wave of educated youth is coming?
They've adapted to their current life since last year, and the educated youth compound is in harmony. They're a little worried when they hear that more people are coming.
Whether they like it or not, if it's a good person, they're fine with it. But if another troublemaker comes along, their peace will be shattered again.
Jian Dan looked a bit listless on the side. He didn't stop working, but he just kept looking dejected.
She never expected that after the New Year, it would be like a switch had been flipped, and several groups of matchmakers would come to her.
First, it was a few aunties from the village who said they were nephews or nieces.
Then it was Wang Guihua's turn, who said she was asking for some young man in the village.
Finally, someone, I don't know who, brought Liu San Nai to our door.
The old lady smiled but didn't say anything. Seeing her displeasure, she realized her attitude and didn't say much either. She treated it as a casual visit, sat for a while, and then went back.
However, it was just a few simple, upsetting days.
After more than five years in the countryside, she turned twenty by the New Year. In the countryside, that age is considered old. People usually start looking for a spouse when they are sixteen or seventeen, and at the latest eighteen or nineteen. If someone is older and still has no one in the family, they are considered an outlier in the village.
Either they have a health problem, or their family is dirt poor.
Either it has some kind of reputation, like being cursed by relatives, or it's associated with some kind of ghost or spirit.
Occasionally, a few might genuinely have high standards and not want to compromise, but such people are extremely rare. They are probably the kind of people whose families have the means to be picky. I haven't found any like that in Liujiatun yet.
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