On Sunday, Xia Dahe asked Zhao Danxiang what clothes she wanted to wear early in the morning. Zhao Danxiang said impatiently, "Didn't I make you two new outfits before? Just wear those." Xia Dahe said, "Okay, I was thinking of saving them for my grandson's one-month celebration. I didn't expect to see my in-laws wearing them first."
Around 3 PM, Gu Yanxiao arrived on his bicycle to pick up Xia Liang. Xia Dahe rode another bicycle with Zhao Danxiang, Xia Rong rode another with Zhou Xiaohui, and Gu Yanxiao took Xia Liang. The group headed to the state-run restaurant. Upon arrival, they found a middle-aged couple waiting outside. The man appeared to be in his forties, wearing a Zhongshan suit with a pen in his breast pocket—clearly a cadre. The woman beside him looked younger than him, with a slicked-back hairstyle, and dressed in polyester clothing; she also seemed to be a leader. She had driven towards them from a distance. Xia Dahe asked Gu Yanxiao, "Are these your parents?" Gu Yanxiao replied, "Yes, Uncle." In the blink of an eye, Gu Weiguo and Han Yulan arrived. Gu Weiguo smiled and said, "These must be Xia's parents? Hello, we are Yanxiao's parents." He extended his hand to shake hands with Xia Dahe and Zhao Danxiang, and Han Yulan also shook hands, gesturing for the Xia family to go inside. Knowing that the county party secretary had ordered the meal, the state-run restaurant had reserved a private room for them.
The private room was decorated in a simple and elegant style, completely different from the main hall. The attitude of the restaurant staff was also quite different. After Gu Yanxiao invited Xia's parents to sit down, a waiter brought in a teapot. Gu Yanxiao took the teapot and then dismissed the waiter, pouring tea for everyone himself. Gu Weiguo was supposed to be a county party secretary, but he wasn't the kind of person who would prey on the people. He knew a lot about crops, if not everything, and chatted with Xia Dahe about things in the countryside. Han Yulan noticed that Zhao Danxiang's clothes were beautiful and asked, "Sister, where were your clothes made?" After all, the clothes sold in department stores these days were mostly made in garment factories, and there was basically no style to speak of. Zhao Danxiang was initially quite reserved, but when Han Yulan asked about the clothes, she smiled and said, "This was taught by A Liang." "It's mine. She drew the design, and I made it myself. If you like it, give me your measurements, and I'll make one for you another day." Han Yulan was trying to ease Zhao Danxiang's nervousness, so naturally she wouldn't refuse. She smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you, sister." Zhao Danxiang smiled and said, "No trouble at all. I'm at home all day with nothing to do, so I'll finish it in a day or two." Han Yulan flattered her, "Sister, you're really amazing. My needlework is terrible; I sew clothes all crookedly. Teach me sometime, and come to my house to play sometime. I'll also come to your house to visit you when I have time." How could Zhao Danxiang refuse? She was naturally a gentle and easy-going person, especially since this was her daughter's future mother-in-law.
Soon, the waiter came in to serve the food, and the conversation stopped. Han Yulan kept putting food on Zhao Danxiang's plate and urged Zhou Xiaohui to eat more, while telling Gu Yanxiao to take care of Xia's father and Xia Rong. Towards the end of dinner, Gu Weiguo brought up the couple's marriage: "Brother Xia, you see, my Yanxiao and your A Liang have been dating for almost a year, and they've decided to become comrades-in-arms. What do you and your wife think?" Xia Dahe, blushing slightly from drinking, said, "As long as they've decided, we will definitely respect our daughter's opinion." Gu Weiguo smiled and said, "Brother Xia is a straightforward man. Let's see what your customs are for marrying off your daughter, and do it the way you do. We'll fully cooperate." Finally, Xia Dahe said that as long as his daughter was happy, no other formalities were necessary. A wedding date was set. Gu Yanxiao would return to his unit to submit his marriage application; once approved, he would have marriage leave and could return to get married. Xia Liang would also need to submit her marriage application to her unit. After the parents of both sides said goodbye, Gu Yanxiao escorted Xia Liang's family home and then returned to the county government compound.
When the Xia family returned home, Xia Rong said, "Your future in-laws hold such high positions!" Xia Liang replied, "I only found out the day I went to their house." Zhao Danxiang said, "But Comrade Han is very approachable! He's not pretentious at all, unlike the families of other commune leaders I've met before." Xia Liang smiled but didn't say anything.
The next day, Gu Yanxiao sent Xia Liang to the provincial capital to get the marriage application printed so they could get married when they returned. He didn't let his family see her off today; instead, Gu Yanxiao went with Xia Liang to the train station. He had gotten up early that morning and bought several large meat buns from a state-run restaurant, handing them to Xia Liang. She ate two and was full, and the rest went into Gu Yanxiao's stomach. The two boarded the train, found their seats, and Gu Yanxiao put Xia Liang's luggage away before sitting down next to her. They held hands tightly and snuggled together, and Xia Liang fell asleep. Gu Yanxiao woke her at noon, saying, "Liang, get up and have lunch." Xia Liang rubbed her sleepy eyes, looking at Gu Yanxiao with a dazed expression. She had never bought lunch on the train when traveling alone; she always prepared some snacks before boarding. Seeing the two meals laid out before her, Xia Liang took a bite, then frowned and whispered in Gu Yanxiao's ear, "It's awful, and it's expensive too." Gu Yanxiao nodded with a smile. Xia Liang ate a few more bites and then gave the rest to Gu Yanxiao, who accepted it all without saying a word, finishing every last bite. Xia Liang, having just woken from her nap, wasn't so sleepy anymore and leaned back in her seat to read. Gu Yanxiao didn't disturb her, simply sitting quietly beside her.
Upon arriving at the garment factory dormitory in the provincial capital, Gu Yanxiao helped Xia Liang carry her luggage upstairs. Zhao Weiting, seeing Xia Liang return, said, "Weren't you supposed to take leave until the day after tomorrow? Why are you back today?" Gu Yanxiao, seeing Xia Liang's roommates, also greeted them warmly, and Zhao Weiting returned the greeting. Xia Liang said, "I came back early to submit my marriage application." Zhao Weiting was stunned: "You're getting married already? So fast! You're not that old!" Xia Liang smiled and said, "It has nothing to do with age. If I don't meet someone I want to marry, I won't want to get married even at forty." She turned to look at Gu Yanxiao, and seeing him looking at her with the same loving gaze, Zhao Weiting couldn't bear to look. After seeing Xia Liang off, Gu Yanxiao was about to leave, and Xia Liang followed him to find a guesthouse. After finding the guesthouse, Gu Yanxiao escorted Xia Liang back to her dormitory. Xia Liang laughed, "We've been going back and forth like this all day." Gu Yanxiao found it amusing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com