“Work together?”
Old Master Zhou carefully read through the proposal in his hands, unable to hide his surprise.
Zhou Hanzhang nodded slightly. “I’ll respond to the Cultural and Historical Affairs Department’s call in the name of the military and take the lead in organizing a cross industry joint project. One of the teams can be made up of local personnel, Mingyuan and the others, along with Jixue.”
At present, various regions were organizing efforts to preserve the oral histories of the older generation, collect scattered cultural relics, and restore and protect important historical sites. It was considered a serious and urgent political task.
And that was exactly what Zhou Hanzhang was planning to do next.
After his conversation with Meng Jixue the previous night, he had come up with this idea.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhou Hanzhang planned to act as the organizer and have the unmarried young men of the Zhou family and Meng Jixue participate as well, forming an independent work team.
The name alone sounded respectable. After all, they would be working for the country.
If he wanted to temporarily take them away from their current work units, Zhou Hanzhang only needed to issue a task to the places where the Zhou family members were working and arrange to have them temporarily transferred. The assignment would last anywhere from half a month to a month.
Old Master Zhou put down the proposal, somewhat puzzled.
“Why did you suddenly come up with this idea? Wouldn’t it be better to have Jixue stay here and spend time with your nephews so they can get to know each other and develop feelings?”
According to Zhou Hanzhang’s arrangements, the place they were going to was a former revolutionary base located deep in the mountains. It was practically isolated from the outside world. Going there would mean enduring considerable hardship.
Old Master Zhou was not worried about his grandsons having to suffer. He was worried that Meng Jixue might not be able to handle it.
She had always lived in the capital and had never left. As far as food and living conditions went, they might not have been the very best, but she had never lacked anything. The Meng family had once been highly respected, and Meng Jixue had never experienced a truly difficult life.
Zhou Hanzhang said calmly, “The Meng family suddenly suffered such a major upheaval, and Jixue is still young. Asking her to suddenly choose someone and marry him is already something frightening and unfamiliar to her. If you have her spend time with them in such an obviously deliberate manner, she may instead develop a rebellious attitude.”
“Besides, yesterday it’s Zhishu, tomorrow Mingyuan or Mingda, and the day after that another one. What meaning would there be in trying to cultivate feelings this way?”
“It would be like merely taking a quick look at each of them, as if they were simply completing a task and going through the motions. It would be of no benefit to Jixue or Mingyuan and the others. It could even affect Jixue’s reputation. People might say she was seeing several male comrades one after another. Those who knew the truth would understand that she was choosing a husband, but those who didn’t might gossip behind her back.”
“This activity is different. It has a genuine work related purpose. Jixue has an excellent hand at painting and calligraphy, so her skills can play a role in the project as well. Later, after she gets married, she might even be able to find suitable work through the connections she makes during this activity. Once she becomes busy with work, she naturally won’t have so much time to dwell on what happened to Uncle Meng.”
At this point, Zhou Hanzhang paused before continuing. “This way, Mingyuan and the others will be going in and out with Jixue and eating and working alongside her. That’s another way of cultivating feelings. Sometimes certain behaviors can be deliberately put on, but when people spend every day together, especially while working hard and enduring difficult conditions, it becomes much easier to see what someone is really like, whether they are suitable for Jixue and whether they will treat her well in the future.”
“Jixue will also be able to experience different kinds of feelings toward them instead of always treating them as older brothers.”
“Dad, since you’ve already decided on this marriage, and our family genuinely wants to help the Meng family, we can’t simply pick some random person for Jixue. That would be letting the Meng family down.”
“This experience will also be good training for those useless boys in our family. They’ve been pampered for too long. Their lives have been far too comfortable, and they’ve forgotten what it means to endure hardship and live simply.”
“I’m also planning to use a points based evaluation system for this assignment. At the end, we can conduct an internal selection. If Jixue still can’t decide which one she prefers, then we can choose the person who ranks first according to the evaluation. At least the top ranked one will have proven that he is worthy of Jixue.”
Of course, Meng Jixue’s wishes would come first. If she still couldn’t decide by then, Zhou Hanzhang would arrange for the top ranked person to marry her. That would give them a more reasonable basis for the decision and would also give Meng Qingsong an explanation.
Everything Zhou Hanzhang had said was logical and well thought out, with even the smallest details carefully considered.
Old Master Zhou truly had no reason to refuse.
Indeed.
His youngest son had always been methodical in everything he did. Without making thorough preparations, he would never casually make a proposal.
While other people might think one step ahead, he had already considered dozens of steps beyond that.
He really had thought everything through.
And this time, Zhou Hanzhang would be leading the team himself. With him, an elder of the family, there, there was no need to worry about Meng Jixue being mistreated.
Old Master Zhou was finally convinced.
However, he still hesitated. “Your idea is indeed good. Those useless boys really should get some proper training. But as for Jixue, I don’t know whether she’ll be willing. After all, she’ll have to leave home for a while. Once she enters the mountains, her food, clothing, and other necessities will have to follow military arrangements. For a young woman, that’s bound to be rather difficult.”
Zhou Hanzhang pressed his lips together. “Dad, I’ll convince Jixue.”
It seemed his youngest son had decided to take full responsibility for this matter, which made Old Master Zhou feel much more at ease.
He figured that with Zhou Hanzhang keeping an eye on those useless boys, they wouldn’t dare cause any trouble.
That finally put Old Master Zhou’s mind at ease.
He smiled. “Fine. I only have one request. Don’t let Jixue suffer any grievances.”
Zhou Hanzhang agreed.
After finishing their discussion about Meng Jixue, Old Master Zhou couldn’t help asking about Zhou Hanzhang’s blind date.
“I heard from your eldest sister-in-law that Miss Zheng is a very good girl. She understands the life of a soldier and agrees with all those strict requirements you have. How did you feel after meeting her? Hanzhang, you’re not getting any younger. Dad…”
Zhou Hanzhang interrupted him expressionlessly. “Dad, the most important thing right now is Jixue’s situation. In two months, Uncle Meng will be sent away for reassignment.”
Old Master Zhou looked awkward, realizing that his son had no intention of continuing the conversation. And what Zhou Hanzhang said was true.
If Zhou Hanzhang went off worrying about his potential marriage partner now, he wouldn’t have the time to handle Meng Jixue’s situation.
Compared with that, Meng Jixue’s marriage was obviously more important.
Still, did he really have to cut him off before he could even finish?
Old Master Zhou couldn’t help muttering, “I’m only asking because I care about you.”
“I know. But I believe the most urgent matter right now is to settle Jixue’s situation. That young woman and I simply aren’t meant for each other, and I shouldn’t waste her youth by making her wait for me. Please tell Eldest Sister-in-law to help find another suitable and outstanding young man for her.”
There was nothing Old Master Zhou could say to that.
His son was right.
They couldn’t expect that young woman to deliberately wait for him while he dealt with everything else. The Zhou family wasn’t that unreasonable.
And having Zhou Hanzhang continue seeing that woman while dealing with Meng Jixue’s situation was simply unrealistic.
Besides, his youngest son was already twenty eight. He had long since passed what would normally be considered the ideal age for marriage. Delaying it a little longer wouldn’t make much difference.
Meng Jixue’s situation was clearly more important.
Old Master Zhou sighed helplessly. “Fine. I’ll tell your eldest sister-in-law. Go to the Meng family first and discuss your plans with Uncle Meng and Jixue. Once Jixue agrees, I’ll call your nephews and have them prepare.”