Chapter 212 Xie Yunze Comes to Propose Marriage
The next day, Xu Zhili went to see Li Dacui.
Li Dacui was hanging clothes out to dry in her yard when she saw Xu Zhili, and she looked a little flustered.
"Sister Da Cui, the commune came to investigate yesterday, why didn't you come to the studio?" Xu Zhili asked directly.
Li Dacui forced herself to remain calm.
"Really?" Xu Zhili looked into her eyes. "I heard someone reported us. Does Sister Da Cui know who it was?"
The clothes in Li Dacui's hands fell to the ground, her face turning pale: "I...how could I have known..."
Xu Zhili sighed: "Sister Da Cui, I know you have good craftsmanship and want to earn more work points. Actually, we are going to participate in the county's exhibition next month, and we need to design new styles. If you are interested, you can work with Sister Xia Zhu on the design work, and the work points will be adjusted accordingly."
Li Dacui was stunned, a complicated look flashing in her eyes: "You...you don't suspect that I reported you?"
Xu Zhili smiled: "I won't make wild guesses without evidence. The important thing is for the sewing team to unite and work together to make the business a success."
Li Dacui lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.
Three days later, Li Dacui took the initiative to apologize to Xie Xiazhu.
It turned out that she was really dissatisfied with the work points issue and, in a moment of confusion, went to the commune to report it.
"Xia Zhu, I'm sorry, I... I was confused for a moment."
Li Dacui choked up and said, "Seeing how well the sewing group is doing, and that you've become the person in charge, I... I'm jealous."
Xie Xiazhu gently held her hand: "Let bygones be bygones. Zhili is right. The important thing is that we stay united. You have excellent skills, and we'll need your help with design work in the future."
This incident actually made the sewing team more united.
At Xu Zhili's suggestion, they improved the work point system and added skills improvement rewards so that everyone who made progress could be recognized.
On the day of the county's handicraft exhibition, the booth of the Xiangyang Brigade's sewing group was surrounded by people.
Several garments designed by Xu Zhili and Xie Xiazhu were particularly popular and received numerous orders.
"I never expected that a rural sewing team could make such fashionable clothes."
The director of the county textile factory personally came to the booth, holding up a dress and praising it highly.
Xie Xiazhu confidently introduced the design concept to the factory manager, her demeanor completely different from a few months ago.
Xu Zhili stood aside, watching this scene with satisfaction.
She recalled Xie Xiazhu, who was in tears when she first returned to the village, and then looked at the confident and composed head of the sewing group in front of her, deeply feeling the power of growth.
After the exhibition, the sewing team received its largest order since its establishment: to make uniforms for all the staff of the county guesthouse.
On the way back to the village, Xie Xiazhu walked briskly and quietly approached Xu Zhili: "Zhili, I have something to tell you. Yesterday, Baosheng asked someone to pass on a message, saying that he wants to go back to the village for a few days during the holiday."
"I am no longer the Xie Xiazhu I used to be."
She let out a soft sigh, her tone filled with relief, "He didn't acknowledge me as his mother back then, so be it. Life has to move on."
Xu Zhili's eyes lit up, genuinely happy for her: "Sister Xia Zhu, you've really changed so much. Now, talking about these things makes you so cheerful."
Xie Xiazhu's eyes welled up slightly, but she smiled and said, "Yes, I've changed a lot, all thanks to you being by my side."
As Xie Xiazhu spoke, she raised her hand to straighten her clothes. The sunlight fell on her straight back, revealing a hint of openness.
"The sewing group's work is going more and more smoothly, and Ya Ya is well-behaved by my side. Everyone likes Ya Ya because she is a polite and good child."
She turned to look at Xu Zhili, her smile genuine and bright. "I used to be afraid of people talking behind my back, but now I understand that life is for yourself. If you have a firm footing, you won't panic."
The two smiled at each other and walked side by side.
As the sun set, their shadows stretched long along the country road.
Xu Zhili knew that this was not just the success of a sewing group, but also the beginning of self-awakening and growth for a group of rural women.
And all of this is just the beginning.
With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, every household in the village is preparing for the holiday, and the air is filled with a festive atmosphere.
Xu Zhili was discussing the design of a new batch of winter clothes with Xie Xiazhu in the sewing group when she suddenly heard a commotion outside.
Ya Ya ran in, panting, her little face red from the cold: "Aunt Zhi Li, the People's Liberation Army has come to the village! They're driving jeeps."
Xu Zhili's heart skipped a beat, and she almost dropped the ruler in her hand. Xie Xiazhu smiled knowingly: "Go and see, maybe someone has come back."
Xu Zhili straightened her clothes and walked out of the studio, trying to appear calm.
Sure enough, there was a military green jeep parked in front of her house, and a tall figure in military uniform was getting out of the car. Who else could it be but Xie Yunce?
"Xie Yunce!" Xu Zhili couldn't help but exclaim.
Xie Yunze turned around, a warm smile on his face. He walked quickly to Xu Zhili and carefully examined her face: "I'm on vacation. This time I have a whole month off."
Xu Zhili then noticed that two other people had gotten out of the jeep: one was Xie Yunze's political commissar, and the other looked like a clerk, carrying several boxes in his hands.
"This is..." Xu Zhili asked, somewhat puzzled.
Xie Yunze rarely showed a nervous expression: "I've come back this time to formally propose marriage."
Xu Zhili was stunned: "Now? So suddenly?"
“It’s not sudden anymore,” Xie Yunze said earnestly. “I’ve waited too long.”
Just then, Xu Zhili's maternal grandparents, mother, and younger brother An'an also rushed over upon hearing the news. Xu's mother was startled by the scene: "Yun Ce, what's going on?"
Xie Yunce stood at attention and gave Xu's parents a standard military salute: "Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt, I've come here specifically to propose marriage to Zhili."
More and more villagers gathered to watch, all curiously observing this rare sight.
Jeeps, officers, and those gifts that looked very valuable—this was the first time such an event had ever occurred in the Xiangyang Brigade.
Mr. and Mrs. Xu looked at each other, both surprised and at a loss.
The mother quickly said, "Quickly, please come inside and sit down."
With an apologetic smile, Xu Zhili said to the villagers who had gathered around, "Everyone, I'm so sorry, I have some urgent matters to attend to at home."
"I won't be able to entertain you all today. Let's get together another day. Please understand." With that, he stepped aside to indicate that everyone could leave.
People gradually dispersed, leaving only Xu Zhili's family and a few people from Xie Yunze's group in the courtyard.
The group arrived at the Xu family's courtyard, and Xie Yunze had his clerks carry the gifts into the house one by one.
Xie Yunze brought quite a few gifts: two bolts of fine Dacron fabric, four boxes of exquisite pastries, two Jinhua hams, four bottles of Fenjiu liquor, and a small box containing a pair of Shanghai brand watches.
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