In the end, the grandparents and grandchildren worked together in the kitchen. While doing housework, Xu Qinghe shared with Qin Chunmei the interesting things that happened in the supply and marketing cooperative in the past few days, which made the old woman marvel.
Oh, after hearing my granddaughter’s description, doing business seems simple and interesting!
Especially those people in the supply and marketing cooperative, they got along so well with each other, completely different from the sales clerks in her memory who always had stern faces.
No, I still have to praise our Qinghe for his ability!
Qin Chunmei felt a sense of pride in her heart, and she wished she could chat with everyone she met for half a day and brag about her precious granddaughter.
The sales problem of fermented bean curd has been solved, and the design of new products for the next season has been completed. Xu Qinghe can finally bury himself in the sea of books with peace of mind and has not stepped out of the house for several days.
As the sun sets, Zhang Xiaocui goes to play with Xu Qinghe, carrying a bag of homemade pickled radishes.
The dried radish was crisp and delicious, with a rich flavor that was very appetizing. Xu Qinghe grabbed a few without hesitation and started chewing them, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Qinghe, my parents said they're going to arrange a blind date for me..."
Looking at Xu Qinghe's satisfied look as he immersed himself in the food, Zhang Xiaocui's eyes flashed with sadness. She sighed unconsciously, then slowly opened her lips and revealed the worries hidden deep in her heart.
These words were like a heavy hammer, shattering the wonderful taste of the dried radish in Xu Qinghe's mouth, making it tasteless.
The married life of Zhang Xiaocui described in the book is like a heavy ink painting, full of gloom and despair.
The husband, who appears gentle and polite on the surface but is actually violent, is like a two-faced person. He is gentle and kind in front of outsiders, but turns around and beats his wife.
He carefully chose those corners that were difficult to notice to inflict his violence, leaving Zhang Xiaocui with no way to express her pain. In the end, she died in this silent torture at a young age.
Xu Qinghe's deep friendship with Zhang Xiaocui made it impossible for her to sit idly by and watch her best friend fall into misfortune.
She was determined to intervene in this matter and stop this seemingly happy but actually tragic marriage at all costs, and would not allow Zhang Xiaocui's future to be tarnished by that devilish man.
The tip of his tongue gently brushed across the chili oil between his fingers. Xu Qinghe pretended to be relaxed and asked in a probing tone, "Whose family is this young man from? Proposing marriage should be a happy occasion, so why don't you look happy?"
Zhang Xiaocui's eyes were slightly dull, and her voice was somewhat helpless: "It's a family from the neighboring county, and they have some relatives with my mother's family. I heard that they are quite good people."
As she spoke, Zhang Xiaocui's expression became even more exhausted. Without waiting for Xu Qinghe to question her, she continued, "The key is that the place is too remote. Once I marry there, the number of times I can go home to visit will be few and far between. Besides, the rural conditions there can't compare to here. I'm able to work comfortably in the tofu workshop now, but I'm afraid I'll have to take on even more hard work there. I really don't want to leave."
After getting used to a comfortable life, facing hardships is undoubtedly a huge challenge.
Zhang Xiaocui lives a comfortable life in Fengtai Village, so how could she be willing to go to a foreign land and endure the hardships of life?
Xu Qinghe caught on to this sentiment and offered a suggestion: "That's right. You work in the tofu workshop and are already an apprentice recognized by my grandmother. If you marry someone nearby, not only will you not have to change jobs, but your daily commute will also be convenient. Why do you have to marry far away?"
In today's society, it is not easy to find a decent job. Although the small workshops in Fatai Village cannot be compared with the large factories in the city, they are much easier than farming in the fields.
With Zhang Xiaocui's conditions, it would not be difficult for her to find a suitable marriage in the surrounding villages. Why should she leave her hometown and endure unnecessary hardships?
Thinking of how Zhang Xiaocui in the original novel almost cut off contact with her family after marrying far away, and how her family only learned of her experience a long time later, and how her father, who missed his daughter so much, went to visit her in person and discovered that his daughter had already passed away, Xu Qinghe felt even more determined.
"Indeed, there's nothing wrong with marrying closer. But my mother feels that since it was introduced by a relative from my mother's side, it's hard to refuse directly. She also hopes that through this relationship, they will take better care of me in the future."
Zhang Xiaocui sighed again. She understood her mother's painstaking efforts, but it was this deep love that made her, as a daughter, feel even more embarrassed. She didn't know how to express her unwillingness.
Seeing her resigned expression, Xu Qinghe quickly spoke out to dissuade her, "Don't think that way. They're so far away, who can guarantee they'll treat you well? Distant water can't quench a nearby fire! You should have a frank discussion with your mother. After all, things haven't been finalized yet, so there's always a chance to salvage the situation."
Even if everything is settled, Xu Qinghe secretly decides to destroy this marriage at all costs and fight for freedom and happiness for his friend.
"Really... can we do this?"
Zhang Xiaocui's heartstrings were touched. What she feared most was her mother's words "It's all for your own good." Once these words came out, her opposition seemed to lose its weight.
"How do you know if you don't try? Don't worry, I'll support you."
Xu Qinghe actively encouraged her, hoping that Zhang Xiaocui could muster up the courage to fight for her own happiness.
"You're right, I should give it a try! I really don't want to be so far away from home!"
After saying that, Zhang Xiaocui suddenly stood up and rushed to the door. When she was close to the door, she suddenly remembered something and turned around and shouted, "If you like that dried radish, eat more. I'll bring you some tomorrow!"
Before he finished speaking, the person had disappeared like the wind, leaving Xu Qinghe shaking his head and smiling. No matter how delicious the dried radish in his hand was, it had lost its appeal at this moment.
She stood up, carefully packed up the dried radishes, put them back in the cupboard, sat down again, and began to ponder this chapter of Zhang Xiaocui's story.
According to the development of the original novel, Zhang Xiaocui had initially firmly resisted this marriage. After all, the two places were far apart and it was inconvenient to travel between them.
So what was the force that ultimately led Zhang Xiaocui to embark on the path that led to misfortune?
Xu Qinghe pondered over it, vaguely recalling that there seemed to be a turning point, which caused Zhang Xiaocui's reputation to be damaged and she was eventually forced to give herself to that man.
Although the specific details have become unclear, Xu Qinghe firmly believes that Zhang Xiaocui must not be allowed to have any chance of contact with the man alone.
Although it might be a little late to intervene now, she decided to find Zhang Xiaocui tomorrow and remind her to stay vigilant and prevent herself from falling into someone else's trap again.
At noon the next day, Xu Qinghe hurried to the tofu workshop to look for Zhang Xiaocui.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaocui was not there. After asking Qin Chunmei, she learned that she had taken leave in the morning due to family arrangements and did not come to work.
A feeling of uneasiness surged in Xu Qinghe's heart. Everything was fine last night, so why did he suddenly ask for leave today?
Could it be that something went wrong with his marriage and he was locked up at home by his mother?
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