Chapter 80 (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
She spoke so bluntly, yet Long Buxi showed no sign of anger. He pointed to the courtyard and said, "That wild boar in the yard is part of the betrothal gifts. I also have a lot of gold and silver jewelry at home, kept in the room where my parents live. I don't need those things, so I'll give them all to Cheng Ying. I know you Han people like money. In a while, I'll hunt some more wild boars and gather some medicinal herbs to sell and earn enough for the betrothal gifts for Cheng Ying."
As for the future, I may not necessarily become the clan chief of Pucang Village. Even if I do, whether or not I leave Pucang Village is up to me.
Uncle, you don't need to worry that Cheng Ying will go hungry or have no money if she follows me. In our Pucang Village, besides digging for herbs, selling grain, and hunting to make money, we also use Gu magic to make money.
Although Miao medicine is unconventional and eccentric, it can resolve many difficult and complicated illnesses. With Cheng Ying following me, I will certainly not mistreat her.
Miao medicine has been renowned since ancient times. Although many people think of the Miao people and their use of witchcraft when they think of the Miao people, Miao medicine has been famous throughout the country for its bone-setting techniques, snakebite treatment, and nine-section tea.
People like Long Buxi, who are born into the Miao ethnic group, usually use Gu (a type of poison) to treat illnesses.
For example, if someone is seriously ill and the other party asks him to cure them, he will inevitably use a precious live Gu poison to cure them.
If he wants to use the life-saving Gu to save his life, the other party will have to pay a lot of money to persuade Long Buxi.
Thinking about it this way, Long Buxi is actually not short of money at all, or rather, he has always had the ability to make money, so Cheng Ying won't suffer losses by following him.
Having figured these two points out, Cheng Jiantong noticed that Long Buxi's expression had improved considerably. He cut to the chase and said, "When we Han people get married, the betrothal gifts are traditionally 'three turns and one sound.' Giving just a wild boar isn't enough. Besides buying a watch, a sewing machine, a bicycle, and a radio for our Xiaoying, you also need to give us, her parents, at least one hundred yuan as a betrothal gift. In addition, you need to buy Xiaoying clothes, shoes, socks, and other things. In short, you need to have at least five hundred yuan in your hands."
Where is Long Buxi going to get so much money all of a sudden?
Cheng Ying frowned, about to speak, when Long Buxi interrupted, "No problem, I will earn money for Cheng Ying as soon as possible, and when we get engaged and married, we will follow all the customs of your Han people."
Wan Shuhui was extremely pleased with his thoughtfulness and understanding. "Then it's settled. Long Buxi, you rarely leave your village, right? Since you're here, stay at our house for a couple more days and let everyone see how handsome and capable my eldest daughter's boyfriend is! Oh my, a wild boar weighing over 100 pounds! He caught it so easily. I think we should use this wild boar to hold an engagement banquet. Anyway, we have more wild boar meat than we can eat. It's perfect for an engagement banquet to broaden everyone's horizons."
Wan Shuhui was initially opposed to her eldest daughter marrying a Miao man from a remote mountain village, but now, persuaded by the two young people, she feels that her eldest daughter has truly found the right son-in-law.
Even though Long Buxi is from an ethnic minority, he is capable of making money and protecting his eldest daughter. He doesn't have the stingy, poor, and chauvinistic attitude of Han Chinese men, who would take a wild boar without hesitation.
You know, this wild boar can fetch a lot of money. Normally, villagers eat three to five catties of meat a year, which is considered a lot; it's a sign of a wealthy family.
Moreover, in today's world, even if you have money, you can't buy meat to eat without meat coupons.
Sending such a large wild boar as a betrothal gift to their family is quite a show of respect.
Most importantly, this son-in-law is just too handsome!
She had never seen such a handsome young man in the surrounding area. She was afraid that Long Buxi would change his mind and run away, so she thought that there was no better time than now and decided to settle down.
Anyway, Long Buxi's parents have passed away, and he lives alone, so he can make his own decisions.
Cheng Xue objected, "Mom, isn't this too hasty? It's only the first time my future brother-in-law has come to visit."
When the words "future brother-in-law" were uttered, Cheng Ying froze, glancing at Long Buxi instinctively, feeling a strange unease in her heart.
Long Buxi smiled slightly, glancing at her with great pleasure, then turned to Wan Shuhui and said politely, "Auntie, I have no objection."
Cheng Jiantong also felt it was too hasty. After all, they had only just found out that Cheng Ying was dating someone, so how could they rush into making a decision?
Ignoring the father and daughter, Wan Shuhui asked Cheng Ying directly, "Xiao Ying, what are your thoughts? Are you going to get engaged or not?"
Cheng Ying thought for a moment and said, "Since you want to get us engaged, Mom, then let's get engaged. We'll have to take this step sooner or later anyway. Why don't we do as you said and get engaged on a special day, and just invite some close relatives and friends over for a meal?"
Her main goal was to settle down with Long Buxi as soon as possible and inform everyone that she already had a boyfriend, so that Wei Muchen wouldn't suddenly come looking for her again and act crazy.
"That's great! The engagement banquet will be held tomorrow. Go to the post office first, ask for two days off, and get this sorted out. Your sister and I will go to town later to buy some things and dishes for the banquet. We'll set up a few tables so everyone can get to know Long Buxi. The dowry money Mom saved for you is finally coming in handy!" Wan Shuhui slapped her thigh, making the final decision.
After Wan Shuhui finished speaking, she went out with a smile on her face to inform her close relatives and friends that they would be coming to her house for the engagement banquet the next day.
Cheng Ying then led Long Buxi toward the town.
Long Buxi was dressed in a dark blue Miao costume, his handsome appearance almost otherworldly. Cheng Ying was also beautiful and spirited, wearing a light pink Miao dress that Long Buxi had given her. The two of them walked together, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, attracting a lot of curious glances as they walked into town.
Upon arriving at the town's post office, Cheng Ying took the mailbag that Long Buxi was carrying off his back, took out the letters and small packages that he had mailed for the mountain people, and put them into the mailbox.
When the branch chief saw the man beside her, he exclaimed in surprise, "Long Buxi, why did you leave the village? You've grown so much taller than before."
When Cheng Jiantong was injured or sick and unable to deliver mail, the branch manager would do it for him. Therefore, he knew Long Buxi.
Long Buxi recognized him and said calmly, "I've come out to deliver the betrothal gifts."
"Dowry?" The branch chief looked at Cheng Ying, his eyes questioning what was going on.
Cheng Ying packed the mailbag and told him about her relationship with Long Buxi. Finally, she said, "Branch Chief, I need to take two days off. Tomorrow, Long Buxi and I will get engaged. Please come to our house for the engagement banquet. You must come!"
After she finished speaking, she repeated the same words to the other two postmen and invited them to her home for her engagement banquet.
The branch chief was stunned. "Wait, when did you start dating Long Buxi? And you're even getting engaged to him? This is too sudden!"
Cheng Ying slung the neatly packed empty mailbag over her shoulder and smiled slightly at him, saying, "It's a long story, but it's true that we're dating and engaged. You must do me the honor of coming to the banquet."
The branch manager hesitated, then asked, "After you marry Long Buxi, will you still be a postman?"
Cheng Ying: "Of course I'll do it. Being a postman is my job. Whether I'm engaged or married, I will never stop working. I will never stay in a family for anyone and lose my way."
When men marry women, the vast majority expect the woman to stay at home, take care of her husband and children, and be a full-time housewife, serving everyone in the family wholeheartedly.
Women spend their days revolving around their elderly parents, children, and husbands, leaving them no time to care for their own feelings, nor do they have their own work or social life. Over time, they become disconnected from society, their appearance and figure gradually deteriorate, and they become "yellow-faced women" in the eyes of men. In the end, they are disliked and abandoned by men, leading to marital quarrels, falling out, and ultimately divorce.
A woman marries a man with great joy, thinking that after marriage and having children, it will be a perfect ending. Little does she know that married life is just the beginning of many trials.
No matter how good or handsome Long Buxi is, or whether she likes him or not, Cheng Ying will never give up her career for Long Buxi, nor will she entrust her future to a man.
She needs to have her own career, her own job, her own social circle, her own friends, and her own confidence, so that she doesn't depend on anyone for survival. That way, even if Long Buxi changes his mind one day, becomes impatient with her, or stops loving her, she will still have enough confidence to live well on her own.
Long Buxi naturally reached out and took her mailbag, carrying it on his back, as if he hadn't understood or didn't mind what she said.
The branch manager breathed a sigh of relief. He had watched Cheng Ying grow up. Cheng Ying had suffered a lot since childhood and became a female soldier. She could have had a bright future, but because of Cheng Jiantong, she returned to her hometown without hesitation to become a postman.
Although delivering mail is hard work, the branch manager thinks highly of her and intends to train her. He plans to have Cheng Ying take his place as branch manager after he retires in a few years.
It would be a real shame if Cheng Ying got married at this critical juncture, gave up her job for her husband and children, and became a full-time housewife.
Now that Cheng Ying has personally said she wouldn't give up her career for a man, the branch director is relieved. He takes a sip of tea and says, "You've only been in office for a little over three months and you've already suffered two serious injuries, wasting a lot of time. This postal route in Ma'anshan is still too dangerous for a woman like you. If you want to change the postal route, I can do it for you."
This was the second time the branch manager had mentioned changing the postal route to Cheng Ying.
Cheng Ying refused again, "Branch Chief, thank you for your kindness, but there's no need to change the postal route. My two injuries were due to my own negligence, not the postal route. I'm used to running this route. If you ask me to change, someone else might not be able to handle it. I'll continue running this route for now, and we can talk about the future later."
The branch manager put down his teacup and laughed, "Alright, as long as you think you can make it, I've approved your leave. I'll definitely come to your house for drinks tomorrow. Keep up the good work; the future of our post office rests in the hands of you young people."
This was a subtle way of reminding her that he intended to groom her as his successor.
Having lived two lives, Cheng Ying understood his meaning perfectly. Somewhat surprised, she nodded without saying anything and led Long Buxi out of the post office.
She actually had a plan for the future: to continue working as a postman until the collective system was abolished in the 1980s and the reform and opening up began. She would then transfer the postman job to a trustworthy person, go south to do business, and create a career of her own.
However, after seeing the advice given to her by the branch manager, she changed her mind. In fact, staying in her hometown and becoming the branch manager of the town's post office was not a bad idea.
The branch director is a leader, and his job is easy and leisurely. He can stay at home in town and take care of his family, so he doesn't have to be separated from Long Buxi for too long.
In the 1980s, she could have implemented a land contracting system, leading her family and the entire village to prosperity and embarking on a completely different path from her previous life. Thinking about it, it was a pretty good choice.
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