Zhang Li quickly blushed and refused Ma Tao. "Brother Tao, I need to go home, otherwise my mom will scold me."
"Tsk, looks like I'll have to marry you sooner rather than later." Ma Tao was dissatisfied, but seeing Zhang Li's aggrieved look, he couldn't bear to get angry at her, so he could only let go of her in frustration.
Zhang Li straightened her disheveled clothes and kissed Ma Tao's cheek, which made Ma Tao's complexion improve considerably.
"Alright! Go back now! It's your birthday in a couple of days, I'll take you to buy some new clothes." Ma Tao put his arm around Zhang Li's shoulder and walked out. After letting go of her, he grabbed her chin and smiled at her.
"Thank you, Brother Tao." Zhang Li's eyes lit up, and she smiled sweetly.
"I love the way you call me Brother Tao, it's so charming," Ma Tao said with a smug smile. Zhang Li took a few steps, then turned around and waved.
But Ma Tao had already turned and left. When Zhang Li looked back, she only saw Ma Tao's back, and her expression was inscrutable.
Ma Tao is not the person she likes; she likes Li Ming.
However, Li Ming's family was not well-off, and her mother did not agree to her relationship with Li Ming and insisted on finding her a husband.
When they went to the matchmaker, they discovered that the person they were supposed to meet was actually Ma Tao...
Ma Tao knew about her relationship with Li Ming, but after learning that Li Ming was not accepted by her family, Ma Tao brought people to her house the next day to propose marriage.
The exorbitant dowry of 300 yuan plus three large gifts caught Ma Tao off guard, but also astonished his entire family.
Both sets of parents were all smiles after meeting, but no one asked her if she was willing.
Zhang Li found Ma Tao, but Ma Tao said...
“Li Ming’s family is dirt poor. What good is it for you to marry him? His family lives in a tenement building, with seven or eight people crammed into a small room. If you marry him, you’ll be serving the whole family.”
"Look at me again. Although I'm not as good-looking as Li Ming, my parents both have jobs, and we live in a three-bedroom house. If you marry me, I can support you even if you don't work!"
"If you agree to marry me, I'll definitely treat you well! Li Ming only gives you hair ties and clips every time, what are those things worth?"
"But I'm different. If you marry me, all the pretty clothes he can't buy for you, I can buy for you. After we get married, we can move out and you won't need to take care of my parents. You'll be in charge and can spend money however you want..."
"I'll give you two days to think it over. Will you marry me or that poor guy Li Ming?"
Ma Tao's words struck her heart like a hammer blow. She wanted to say that she didn't care about Li Ming's poor conditions and that she was willing to endure hardship with him.
She knew how poor Li Ming's family was. Li Ming had taken her home to see it. At that time, the family of seven or eight people were crammed into a small house, with no place to even sit.
Since there were two beds already set up in the living room, they were covered with mats.
Her mother knew that she was thinking about Li Ming, and tried to persuade her with earnest words. Zhang Li originally wanted to firmly choose Li Ming.
As a result, when Li Ming's sister came to see the movie that day, she actually boasted to her friends that her sister-in-law was a ticket collector and asked her to let her and her classmates in to watch the movie.
Seeing that she couldn't even come up with two cents made Zhang Li back down.
She eventually agreed to Ma Tao's proposal, but she didn't know how to tell Li Ming. Ma Tao didn't rush her either, since they were already engaged anyway.
She will be his wife from now on.
She was torn every day, and perhaps it was her hesitation and indifference that caught Li Ming's attention.
Li Ming wanted to spend money to ask Director Wu to promote him to ticket inspector. She thought that if Li Ming could become a ticket inspector, perhaps she and Li Ming would have a chance.
In the end, Li Ming still failed...
Zhang Li walked home in a daze, unsure of what to do.
Qin Yu said that her troubles were none of his business; he just wanted to be closer to his wife.
After using Du Qiang's kitchen to cook a meal for his wife, Qin Yu went to the department store. After a day of activities, Xia Lan was restocking with everyone.
Upon seeing Qin Yu arrive with a lunchbox, someone immediately teased him.
"Comrade Xia Lan, your wife has brought you food!"
Xia Lan looked up and saw Qin Yu walking towards her; her face instantly turned red.
"Oh dear, oh dear, you're blushing!"
"Haha, young couples have such a good relationship."
"Oh my, I'm so envious! My man has never brought me food before!"
"That's great!"
Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Xia Lan tidied up her counter and stood up to greet Qin Yu.
"You're here." Xia Lan smiled shyly at Qin Yu. "I still need to get ready a little longer. Why don't you go home and wait for me?"
"I'll help you." Qin Yu took Xia Lan's hand and walked to the counter she was in charge of, helping her organize the goods.
"Wow, this is like having a free helper! That's great!" The lady at the next counter watched as Qin Yu effortlessly carried over dozens of kilograms of candy, her eyes lighting up.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Qin Yu glanced at Xia Lan, whose face was flushed, and smiled at everyone.
"Oh! Young man, I've been waiting for you to say that. Come on, help me carry this over." The auntie said without any hesitation.
She had been waiting for Qin Yu to say those words.
"Xia, can I borrow your man for a bit? I'll return him right away!" the auntie asked Xia Lan.
"Auntie, I can help, but I can't lend my husband to you."
Xia Lan glanced at the aunt and smiled slightly.
Everyone looked at Xia Lan in surprise, thinking she would be embarrassed, but unexpectedly she stood up for her in front of everyone.
Qin Yu had to admit that he was quite taken with Xia Lan's unabashed and protective behavior.
"Hahahaha... Oh dear, we can't underestimate Xia! She's protecting us!" Everyone burst into laughter.
Xia Lan was laughed at by everyone and, embarrassed, hid behind Qin Yu.
Qin Yu ruffled Xia Lan's hair. "How should we arrange it?"
"I sorted the candies by color." Xia Lan pointed to the boxes in front of her, each containing candies of the same color.
"It looks good." Qin Yu nodded affirmatively; it was clearly Xia Lan's idea.
"Go help the aunties! Those goods are really heavy." Xia Lan blushed and nudged Qin Yu, gesturing for him to help others.
My job is simple, just a bit tedious.
"Okay." Qin Yu nodded and helped the others move the heavy goods to the counter.
"Thank you!" Many people looked at Qin Yu gratefully. Normally, it would take several of them to move these things.
Qin Yu could pick it up by himself.
"Oh, you must be Xia's husband! You've been working so hard." Minister Yang and several male colleagues were unloading goods when they noticed a man helping out in the store.
Seeing that it was Qin Yu, she recognized him as Xia Lan's lover and was surprised that he would come to help.
"Thank you all for taking care of Xia Lan. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'm practically a colleague to you," Qin Yu said with a smile, his words revealing his high regard for Xia Lan.
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