Everyone ignored what Zhang Zhenye said next and was overjoyed.
Yang Yongjian patted Zhang Xingguo, who was sitting next to him, and said, "Now we're in-laws."
Zhang Xingguo was even happier, "That's right, it's unbelievable that we can become in-laws."
Gu Yaozu chimed in, "Great-grandfather, grandfather, parents, grandfather from the Zou family, uncles and aunts, Haiyin and I also feel that we get along quite well, so we are now boyfriend and girlfriend."
The Zou family was all smiles. Although they hadn't intended to curry favor with the Zhang family, becoming in-laws with the leader's family would certainly change things.
Zhang Hongmei smiled and looked at Zhou Yuling, "Sister Zhou, I'm really right to call you 'sister'."
“Hongmei, we’re family now. Haiyin is such a spoiled child, you should teach her a thing or two.”
"Sister Zhou, are you showing off to me? I could spoil my daughter all I wanted. You'll have to worry about that in the future. I'll definitely treat Haiyin like my own daughter, so don't be jealous then."
"That's wonderful! Having a mother-in-law like that is a blessing for Haiyin. I'd be happy even if you took my daughter away from me."
This made the atmosphere in the living room even better.
Gu Chuanming coughed. "In that case, let's set a date for their engagement, shall we?"
Everyone in the living room was looking at him.
Zhang Zhenye laughed, "Great-Grandpa, we've only just met!"
"Didn't you just say that you're dating with marriage in mind? This engagement is also a guarantee to Lijun and Haiyin."
Now the Zhang family was silent. Yang Yongjian laughed heartily, "Old Chief, your suggestion is too good. You set the date. Once the engagement is complete, Lijun will be part of your family."
Zou Shiming smiled and nodded, "Then we'll do whatever Elder Gu says."
Zhang Hongmei looked at the old man speechlessly. There was no such thing as this.
However, the two girls genuinely liked each other, so they decided to get engaged.
“Old Zou, Lijun and Haiyin are good friends, and they’re going on a blind date together today. Why don’t we let them get engaged together? That way it’ll be more lively for them,” Yang Yongjian said to Zou Shiming with a smile.
"Hehe, I really have no objection. I think Lijun and Haiyin should be the happiest people this way."
"Xiao Yang, your suggestion is good. Chengzi, go and find the perpetual calendar. Zhenye and the others will be leaving in twenty days, so let's choose during this period."
Seeing Gu Chuanming's high spirits, no one could dampen his good mood.
It'll be the same sooner or later, so let's just go along with the old man's wishes.
The three elderly people were studying the perpetual calendar. Zhang Hongmei did not participate, and Zhang Shouyi sat there the whole time, only saying a few words.
He had no objections; engagement was fine. They'd already gone through the arranged meeting, so what was wrong with an engagement?
Zhang Zhenye and Yang Lijun exchanged a glance, and both saw helplessness in their eyes.
Gu Yaozu and Zou Haiyin were both still smiling, and they had no objections.
Finally, they chose the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month to get engaged.
Zou Shiming smiled and sighed, "In that case, our family won't be going back home for the Spring Festival this year. We'll call our family later and ask them to come over."
“Yes, time is too tight. Zhenye and the others left on the fifth day of the first lunar month. If they stay for this period of time, it will allow them to develop a relationship.” Yang Yongjian also thought of this.
Now they are truly in-laws. In this era, engagement is equivalent to marriage, and almost no one breaks off an engagement. This time, promises were still highly valued.
"Alright, let's go home too. There are still many things to prepare. It's only a few days away. This is our first time marrying off our granddaughter, and there's still a lot to prepare."
Zhang Hongmei smiled and took Zhou Yuling's hand, "Uncle Zou, why don't you stay for dinner? It's no big deal." In the end, both families stayed.
"You four go and talk to yourselves. You don't need to stay with us old folks. As long as you get along well and get married quickly, that's the greatest way you can show your filial piety to us."
The two little girls blushed deeply; the old man's words were far too blunt.
Zhenye stood up with a smile and took Yang Lijun's hand. Yang's face turned even redder, as she had never been in contact with a man like this before.
Gu Chuanming and Zhang Xingguo were very pleased with Zhenye's performance.
The four of them returned to their respective studies once again.
Next, we will discuss the details of the engagement.
"Mr. Gu, I think we shouldn't have a big celebration. Let's just have a simple ceremony and a meal with our relatives. What do you think?" Zou Shiming asked Gu Chuanming for his opinion.
"Yes, old commander, it's enough for us to witness it. The children are all in school, and I'm afraid that some people might want to take notice of them."
"Okay, we'll do it your way. Actually, even if you didn't say it this way, their engagement and wedding wouldn't have been very grand."
Both elderly people understood this, given their social standing.
“Hongmei, I need to use the home phone to inform my second brother and sister-in-law that my third brother and his family are coming over tomorrow, otherwise we won’t make it to the engagement ceremony in Shanghai.”
"Sister Zhou, let's go to my study. We'll leave this to the others and take a break."
Zhou Yuling genuinely liked Zhang Hongmei. Although Zhang Hongmei was six years younger than her, from the outside, Zhou Yuling appeared to be more than ten years older. Furthermore, Zhang Hongmei was a truly good person, not just someone who appeared kind on the surface.
I dialed home, and my second son's family answered. They explained that the engagement would take place on the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, and that they should pack their things and come over the next day.
The family was very surprised. They only knew that their father-in-law and elder brother's family had gone to the capital and that the leader's family had taken a liking to Haiyin. They never expected that it would actually happen.
The family was stunned for a long time when they received the news before they accepted the fact.
I hurriedly packed my things, including what my father had told me to take with me before he left. I never imagined that my family could become related to the leader's family.
"Sister Zhou, we won't invite you over tomorrow. Two other girls are coming tomorrow."
"Is this a blind date for Wei Yu and Rui Feng?"
"Yes, my grandpa is in a hurry. He's at that age, and we don't want to upset him, so we'll just let him do whatever he wants. Anyway, the wedding is tonight."
"Hongmei, which girl is a good match for Weiyu?"
Zhang Hongmei laughed heartily. "She's a sixteen-year-old girl. She's not as pretty as Haiyin, but she has a great temperament. I like her quite a bit. I'll let Weiyu meet her. If he doesn't agree, there's nothing I can do."
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