Director Li was taken aback, but then he began to understand what was going on.
He glanced at the crowd of onlookers behind him, smiled nonchalantly, and said, "Thank you, comrade."
Everyone assumed that Postman Huang knew it was Director Li's daughter's big day, so his opening remarks were perfectly normal.
"Comrade postman, today is Director Li's daughter's wedding. What brings you here?"
Some people were impatient and asked first, but they couldn't hide the gloating expression on their faces.
What good could come from someone seeking you out on a day like this?
Uncle Li works at the town's post office, so the Li family members are very familiar with the postmen there, and they sometimes get together for a meal.
The postman, Huang, smiled and pulled a large document bag from his military green satchel. "This is an urgent mail from the provincial capital. Our director was worried about delaying Director Li's important business, so he specifically asked me to bring it."
Director Li quickly thanked them again and warmly invited them into the courtyard for a meal.
Postman Huang waved his hand and patted the heavy bags in the basket, on the frame, and on the back seat of his vehicle: "Director Li, I still have to deliver mail. I'll come to your house for your wedding banquet another time!"
Ke Yuanda also came out, smiling as he handed someone a gift that the girl had packed.
The exquisite little bamboo basket was sprayed with red double happiness symbols, and inside were two portions of various pastries, as well as candies in a brocade bag.
Huang the postman initially refused, but eventually accepted it with a smile, thinking to himself that he would definitely have his family give a gift when the Li family returned home for their wedding.
After everyone left, they all stared at the large envelope in Director Li's hand.
"Oh my, Director Li, where in the provincial capital did this come from? Why is the envelope so big?"
"Yes, what could be so urgent that it needs to be expedited?"
Everyone knew each other well; they knew that the Li family's only connection to the provincial capital was a big shot in the supply and marketing cooperative who was about to be transferred to Shanghai.
At this crucial moment in the competition for positions at the provincial capital's supply and marketing cooperative, Director Li suddenly received an envelope.
As the rumors circulating in town about the Li family intensified, the people looked at him with a mixture of hidden pleasure and pity.
Every position in an organization is a one-person-one-hole job, and many people find it difficult to advance beyond their current position for decades.
Director Li is already this age, it's probably unlikely he'll get another chance.
Moreover, each graduating class of college students is more capable than the last. Perhaps in a few years, Director Li won't even be able to keep his current position.
Amidst the eager gazes of the crowd, Director Li opened the envelope. Inside were few items: a registration certificate and a bright red and gleaming letter of appointment.
The three large, bright characters on the appointment certificate stunned everyone.
What's going on?
Doesn't the people in the organization care about the rumors that Director Li is spreading everywhere?
They dare to employ a junior leader who might change his daughter-in-law at any time for the sake of his grandson?
Can such a person win the respect of the masses?
"Director Li, is this...is this real?"
Director Li chuckled and nodded, flicking the appointment letter with his fingers; the crisp sound of the paper clicking was still pleasant in the bustling winter midday. "How could this be fake? Who would dare to forge it?"
As he spoke, he began to read his letter of appointment: "Letter of Appointment: Comrade Li Yezhou was elected as the Director of the Chengnan Supply and Marketing Cooperative of N Province in the election and reshuffle on January 5, 1975. The term of office is five years, from February 1, 1975 to January 31, 1980!"
He spoke in a loud voice, with a thick accent from Jixian County, N Province, reciting each word clearly.
People inside and outside the courtyard gradually quieted down, all listening intently.
As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers, led by Ke Meiyu, clapped enthusiastically. The clapping startled the birds in the treetops and caused the village dogs to bark in unison.
The city dwellers awkwardly clapped twice in response.
The difference between the director of a provincial capital and the director of a small county town is huge, not just because they are separated by the county's supply and marketing cooperative.
The provincial capital is very large, with five districts: South, North, West, East, and Central. Each district has more than a dozen supply and marketing cooperatives, which radiate to the surrounding streets, factories, and various units. They are all named after the streets and vary in size and scale.
Chengnan Supply and Marketing Cooperative is the largest supply and marketing cooperative in Chengnan District, even larger than the city's main supply and marketing cooperative. Moreover, it is located in the university town, and seven or eight out of ten customers are students. Anyone who works here is very prestigious!
Who would have thought that such a position would be held by the director of the supply and marketing cooperative in Huayuan Town, a town that was backward in many aspects in Jixian County?
Moreover, this was under the circumstances when Director Li's rumors were extremely rampant and malicious in Huayuan Town!
Seeing the grim expressions on the faces of the neighbors who used to be jealous of their success, Director Li smiled faintly and said, "Today, our Li family is truly blessed with three great joys."
"Director Li, what's this triple celebration?"
My daughter's wedding is one joy, Director Li's promotion is another, but where is the third joy?
At this moment, Li Guosheng helped Dong Ermai out and said with a smile, "Our Dongmai is pregnant. We found out last month. We originally wanted to wait until she was three months pregnant before telling everyone, but there are too many happy things to say, so we're telling everyone all at once so that everyone can share in the joy."
The neighbors in the compound wanted to say that they were not happy at all!
The Li family was already the envy of many, their only weakness being their lack of offspring. Li Guosheng, in particular, had been married for several years without any news. Meanwhile, Li Juanmei was already nineteen and still single.
Now that the Li family has become extremely wealthy, there's nothing about them that can give anyone any peace of mind!
So, they spent ten yuan, squeezed onto a tractor, and endured a bumpy ride to see the spectacle, only to have their hearts nearly pierced...
Their only consolation was that at least the wedding banquet was of a high standard, costing three to five yuan even in a state-run restaurant. With a small bamboo basket of snacks and candies worth a few yuan, they could barely break even.
Their hearts were breaking, so much so that as soon as the wedding banquet ended, they rode back home in one of the five tractors, braving the cold wind.
The Geng family, in particular, who had come here in high spirits, returned with limp faces, their eyes red with jealousy.
Once everyone else leaves, all that's left are close relatives and dear friends.
Everyone couldn't help but offer their sincere congratulations to the Li family.
Regardless of whether Dong Ermai gives birth to a boy or a girl, as long as the woman is happy, she will definitely have one child after another in the future.
The Li family is truly grateful to Ke Meiyu. If it weren't for her, Dong Ermai would have been unable to have children for the rest of her life due to the curse of the villain. Given Li Guosheng's feelings for her and the pure kindness of the Li couple, they certainly wouldn't have abandoned her.
But Dong Ermai is stubborn and might force Li Guosheng to divorce her.
Or perhaps, although the family stays together strong, they experience many regrets due to gossip from neighbors and envy of other families with children.
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