“Future Second Sister-in-law, your skin is so fair!” Zhou Qingya said enviously.
“This is my younger sister, Zhou Qingya. This is my eldest brother, Zhou Dongping, my sister-in-law Qin Baozhu, my younger brother Zhou Jingyuan, my nephew Zhou Xu, and my niece Zhou Tong.”
Zhou Beihan introduced everyone one by one.
“Hello, everyone. Please take good care of me in the future.”
By now, even Ye Qinglan’s ears had turned red.
“Don’t stand outside. Let’s all go inside and talk.”
After Zhou Baoguo spoke, everyone followed him into the main hall.
Ye Qinglan glanced around the Zhou family home.
It was very spacious, with blue brick walls and tiled roofs throughout. There were plenty of rooms, more than enough for the family. The courtyard was neat and tidy, with several vegetable patches growing inside.
“By the way, Qinglan, what furniture do you need? Let Beihan move it over for you. Pick whatever you like. Consider it a gift,” Li Chunxiang said generously.
“Auntie, I have to pay for the furniture. As for gifts, there’s no rush. Can we do it my way?”
Ye Qinglan had no intention of taking advantage of anyone.
“Alright, alright. Auntie will listen to you. You’re such a good child.”
The more Li Chunxiang looked at her, the more she liked her.
Qin Baozhu brought over a bowl of brown sugar water.
This was considered the best hospitality in the countryside.
Ye Qinglan nodded in thanks, and Qin Baozhu even stuffed two handfuls of peanuts into her hands.
It seemed this sister-in-law was easy to get along with.
“Thank you, Sister-in-law. You’re so kind.”
Ye Qinglan didn’t sense any ill intentions from her.
“Qinglan, come visit me whenever you’re free. I stay home with nothing much to do except cook and take care of the children. I’ve never even worked in the fields.”
Qin Baozhu spoke softly.
“Qinglan, why don’t you eat with our family? The food at the educated youth residence is probably terrible. They can’t even grow vegetables properly on their private plots, so I doubt they can cook well either,” Li Chunxiang suggested.
“Auntie, I won’t be eating with them. Tomorrow I’ll buy a coal stove and cook for myself. That way I can eat whatever I want.”
Ye Qinglan hadn’t married into the family yet, so she didn’t plan to eat with them.
“That works too. I’ll go with you tomorrow to buy what you need. We’ll also buy plenty of coal briquettes—enough to last you through the entire winter,” Zhou Beihan immediately said.
“Come help me choose some furniture. I still need to wipe down the straw mat and let it dry before I can spread my bedding.”
Ye Qinglan turned to Zhou Beihan.
“Beihan, give her two extra stools. Don’t forget a broom and dustpan. Those are gifts, so don’t charge her for them,” Zhou Baoguo suddenly said.
“Alright, Dad.”
With that, he led Ye Qinglan to choose her furniture.
All the furniture was stored in one room.
Ye Qinglan picked a table, a chair with a backrest, a kang cabinet, a wardrobe, a storage cabinet, and a washstand.
Even with all those items, the total only came to twenty-two yuan.
She also received two small stools, a broom, a dustpan, and a straw mat for free.
“Let’s go. I’ll take everything to the educated youth residence for you.”
Zhou Beihan had already loaded everything onto a handcart.
“I’ll go say goodbye to your family first.”
With that, she walked toward the main hall.
Watching her leave, Zhou Beihan felt his affection for her deepen even more.
Many people in the army had tried to introduce girls to him.
Some of them were delicate young women, and there were even star performers from the military art troupe.
Unfortunately, none of them had ever caught his eye.
Although some were pretty, not one of them made his heart race.
Only now did he realize it had all been destined.
He would never let this girl go.
“Uncle, Auntie, I’m heading back to the educated youth residence to finish cleaning my room. I’ll come visit again when I have time.”
Ye Qinglan politely said goodbye.
“Qinglan, come eat with us whenever you’re free. If you come, I’ll slaughter a chicken and make some nourishing soup for you.”
Li Chunxiang stood up and took Ye Qinglan’s hand.
“Alright, Auntie. Next time I’ll come drink your chicken soup. Just don’t complain if I eat too much.”
Ye Qinglan truly liked Li Chunxiang.
Her future mother-in-law seemed like a wonderful person.
“Second Brother, help Qinglan finish setting everything up before you come back. Why didn’t you bring a wooden bucket and basin? How is she supposed to wash vegetables or carry water?”
After saying that, Li Chunxiang hurried off to fetch a wooden bucket and basin.
“Thank you, Auntie. I won’t stand on ceremony. I’ll come visit again in a few days.”
After speaking, Ye Qinglan left with Zhou Beihan.
The two of them looked perfect together.
The brigade leader watched them leave, then immediately went next door to visit.
“Big Brother, what brings you here at this hour?” Zhou Baoguo asked in confusion.
“Baoguo, this Educated Youth Ye is an excellent girl. Beihan is lucky if he can marry her.”
Deep down, the brigade leader was actually thinking that if things didn’t work out, he would let his own son pursue her instead.
“Our whole family approves of her. My wife likes that girl very much, and Beihan treasures her like a precious jewel. They’re even going to the commune together tomorrow.”
Zhou Baoguo wasn’t foolish.
Since even his older brother thought so highly of her, she must have exceptional qualities.
“That’s good. She graduated from high school, so finding work won’t be difficult. If she marries Beihan, she can accompany him to his military post.”
The brigade leader still felt it was a pity.
Back at the educated youth residence, Zhou Beihan helped his girlfriend move in the furniture.
Ye Qinglan wiped down the straw mat with hot water and left it in the courtyard to dry.
“Qinglan, where did you get all this furniture?”
After seeing it, Tan Siyu wanted to buy some as well.
“I got everything from Beihan’s family. You can all go there now if you want. If you’re too late, they’ll head to the fields for work.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the group ran off as fast as they could.
Even Ye Bailian followed them.
Zhou Beihan smiled as he looked at Ye Qinglan.
He decided he needed to submit his marriage application as soon as possible.
If his future wife ran away, he would cry himself to death.
When you find the girl you love, you have to hold on to her.
Zhou Beihan first wiped all the furniture clean.
After it dried, he carried everything into the room.
Finally, he pushed the handcart back home.
When he arrived home, his eldest brother and younger brother went to the educated youth residence to deliver more furniture.
Meanwhile, Zhou Beihan returned to his room to organize his clothes.
After locking the door, he took out his bankbook and looked at the balance.
After they got married, he planned to hand everything over to his wife.
“Beihan, open the door. Mom needs to talk to you.”
Li Chunxiang called softly from outside.
“I’m coming. Mom, what’s the matter?”
Zhou Beihan asked curiously.
“This is the allowance you’ve sent home over the years. Keep it safe for your future wife. Our family has enough money, so you don’t need to worry. The money for your wedding will come from the family’s shared savings. It’ll be the same for your younger brother. Don’t be foolish. This belongs to your future wife, so hide it well. And don’t accidentally tell anyone in the family.”
After saying that, she quietly left the room, leaving behind the money and a wooden box.
Zhou Beihan locked the door again and opened the box.
At the bottom were twelve gold bars.
On top of them lay several jade bracelets.
These were all part of Li Chunxiang’s dowry.
Zhou Beihan had seen them once when he was a child.
All of the family’s valuables were stored inside this box.
It seemed his mother truly liked Qinglan.
Li Chunxiang’s family all lived in Hong Kong.
Other than Zhou Baoguo, no one else knew this secret.
After marrying Zhou Baoguo, she became part of a poor peasant family.
The way they had met was quite dramatic.
Years ago, Li Chunxiang had been attacked by robbers while traveling.
Zhou Baoguo stepped forward to save her, was stabbed with a knife, and ended up in the hospital.
As they spent time together, they gradually fell in love.
Her family did not object to the marriage.
In fact, becoming part of a poor peasant family turned out to be a good thing.
They gave Li Chunxiang a generous dowry, and afterward, the rest of her family moved to Hong Kong.