“The money in the passbook is from the bonuses I earned while carrying out missions. I’ve spent these past few years constantly on assignments. Since we don’t have powerful connections, the only way to advance is by earning military achievements. Someone my age becoming a battalion commander is only possible because of the merits I’ve accumulated over the years.”
Although Zhou Beihan had been promoted to battalion commander, he still faced unfair treatment.
“Beihan, if you ever decide to leave the army, come make a fortune with me. Your wife has more money than you can imagine. What you have is just pocket change.”
Ye Qinglan didn’t want to hide it from him forever.
One day he would find out.
For now, however, she still intended to keep the secret of her space.
“Qinglan, the current situation isn’t good yet. Let’s talk about it again in a few years.”
Zhou Beihan had no intention of leaving the army for the time being.
Besides, he wouldn’t know what to do after retiring.
“You’re right. We’ll talk about it in a few years. It’s still too early anyway. Business isn’t even allowed right now.”
After speaking, she glanced at him.
Zhou Beihan said nothing more.
He quietly ate the porridge Ye Qinglan had cooked.
It was fragrant, delicious, and incredibly flavorful.
He finished every last bite.
“You’re an excellent cook. I’ll learn from you in the future. Once I know how, I’ll cook for you. As for everything else, we can talk about it later.”
Zhou Beihan understood very well that everyone had desires.
No one disliked money.
“Alright. I promise I won’t drag you down. You just don’t need to interfere too much in what I do.”
Ye Qinglan hated men who constantly tried to control or criticize her.
“No problem. I won’t interfere, but you can’t break the law. I don’t want to lose you.”
Zhou Beihan spoke seriously.
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to me.”
Ye Qinglan had once considered secretly selling grain.
Now she realized the target would be far too obvious.
It was better to give up on that idea.
“Remember this. Once we’re married, we’ll be one family. If anything ever happens to you, I’d give up my military career to save you.”
Zhou Beihan wasn’t joking.
If he couldn’t protect Ye Qinglan, then the two of them would simply disappear and live in seclusion.
“Beihan, hearing you say that really touches me. I’ll be careful. Nothing will happen to me.”
Ye Qinglan was genuinely moved.
Zhou Beihan knew his future wife wasn’t an ordinary woman.
Everything about her was unusually bold, yet she carried herself with the grace and refinement of a young lady from an influential family.
She never made noise while eating.
She never ate until she was overly full.
She never picked only the best dishes for herself.
She always balanced meat and vegetables, paying close attention to healthy eating.
The savings and valuables he had given her barely seemed worth mentioning in her eyes.
It was obvious that she had seen far more of the world than most people.
She probably had quite a bit of money of her own as well.
“Tomorrow at noon, my family will come with a formal marriage proposal. I’ll help you work in the fields from now on. You don’t need to do heavy labor anymore. I’ll speak with my eldest uncle in advance.”
After saying that, Zhou Beihan held onto Ye Qinglan’s hand and refused to let go.
“Beihan, I hope you’ll never betray me. I can’t tolerate betrayal.”
Ye Qinglan was making her position clear from the very beginning.
“Don’t worry. I swear on my life that I’ll never betray you.”
Zhou Beihan made his promise solemnly.
“Good. I believe you. But if one day you do betray me, I’ll disappear from your world forever.”
Ye Qinglan wasn’t joking.
One act of betrayal was enough to destroy all trust forever.
Zhou Beihan nodded in agreement.
After leaving the educated youth residence and returning home, he found himself even more fascinated by this remarkable woman.
The next morning, Ye Qinglan got up early and cooked plain rice porridge.
She preferred eating something light in the morning.
She also boiled several eggs so she could eat them later whenever she got hungry.
The new educated youths still hadn’t adjusted to village life.
They only got out of bed after hearing the loudspeaker announcement and rushed to work in the fields on empty stomachs.
Ye Qinglan couldn’t help finding it amusing.
“Welcome, everyone! These are our newly arrived educated youths. Let’s all give them a warm welcome!”
The production team leader forced a smile as he addressed everyone.
“Oh my! City people really are different. They dress so well and look so handsome and beautiful.”
One middle-aged woman said enviously.
“If you ask me, they’re just here to eat without contributing. It’s a waste to give them any grain.”
Another woman remarked sarcastically.
“Alright, everyone, quiet down. All the new educated youths will be pulling weeds today. I’ll have someone teach you how.”
After saying that, the team leader continued assigning everyone else’s work.
Ye Qinglan carried a water bottle and a pair of gloves.
Soon afterward, Zhou Beihan appeared in the field she had been assigned to.
News of their relationship spread throughout the village almost immediately.
“Go sit under that tree and rest. I work quickly. Just wait for me.”
After saying that, he squatted down and began pulling weeds.
Ye Qinglan walked beneath the tree to enjoy the shade.
Ye Bailian was consumed with jealousy.
Tan Siyu was also envious, though hers was simple admiration rather than resentment.
Thinking about everything Zhou Beihan had given her the previous night, Ye Qinglan couldn’t help feeling that the man was a little foolish.
That wasn’t a small amount of money.
Most men would be willing to hand over only a few hundred yuan at most.
Yet Zhou Beihan had willingly given her every bit of his savings.
Savings passbooks in this era didn’t require passwords.
As long as someone had the official seal, they could withdraw the money.
Zhou Beihan had even handed over the seal together with the passbook.
Ye Qinglan could withdraw every cent whenever she wanted.
He had placed absolutely no guard around her.
Was Zhou Beihan really that foolish?
Not at all.
Ye Qinglan wasn’t a village girl.
She was beautiful, highly educated, and outstanding in every way.
Keeping a woman like her by his side wouldn’t be easy.
She could change her mind and leave at any moment.
After all, they weren’t married yet.
Many engaged couples still ended up breaking off their engagements.
As soon as he returned to the army, he planned to submit his marriage application immediately.
He had no intention of letting this “cooked duck” fly away.
As for Ye Qinglan’s money…
He wasn’t interested in it.
As long as he had enough money and ration coupons to get by, that was sufficient.
What he truly wanted was her.
Ye Qinglan leaned against the tree trunk, resting.
By a little after ten in the morning, all the work had already been finished.
Zhou Beihan even called over the work-point recorder and specifically asked him to take good care of Ye Qinglan in the future.
“Qinglan, I’ll take you back to the educated youth residence first. My mother will come over later with the marriage proposal.”
Zhou Beihan said happily.
“Alright. I’ll go change into another outfit and make myself look prettier.”
Ye Qinglan didn’t want to appear too plain.
After taking her back to the educated youth residence, Zhou Beihan returned home, took a bath, and changed into a brand-new military uniform.
Li Chunxiang invited the matchmaker to accompany her to deliver the marriage proposal.
She had skipped work that morning to buy the engagement gifts.
There were two tins of malted milk, a piece of red fabric, a piece of polyester-cotton fabric, two bottles of canned fruit, a box of peach pastries, and a betrothal gift of eighty-eight yuan.
Every future daughter-in-law in the family received the same treatment.
In this era of shortages, such generous gifts were considered extremely lavish.
Even the educated youths couldn’t hide their envy.
“Comrade Ye, if you have any other requests, just let us know.”
Li Chunxiang was worried that her future daughter-in-law might change her mind.
“Auntie, this is already more than enough.”
Ye Qinglan truly didn’t care about material things.
Ye Bailian stood in the distance watching everything unfold.
The jealousy in her heart grew stronger by the moment.
Ye Qinglan deliberately glanced at her.
Frightened, Ye Bailian immediately ran back into her room.
Seeing the scene, Zhou Beihan almost laughed.
It seemed his future married life would never be boring.
Qinglan clearly had a side of herself that few people knew about.
He really wanted to witness it with his own eyes.
“Comrade Ye, Beihan is already a battalion commander. After you get married, you’ll be able to accompany him to his military post. I’ve even heard the army provides family housing. Your good fortune is only just beginning.”
The matchmaker was very good at saying all the right things.
“Qinglan, once I return to the army and get my application approved, I’ll take leave and come back for our wedding banquet. After we register our marriage, you’ll come with me to the military base.”
Zhou Beihan had no desire to live apart from his wife.
“Alright. I’ll leave everything to your arrangements.”
Ye Qinglan wasn’t in a hurry to start selling supplies over the next few years.
Everything inside her space was far too modern.
Besides, regulations were still extremely strict.
She decided to wait until the era of economic reform and opening-up before starting any business.
After all, nothing stored inside her space would ever spoil.
Just like that, the two of them officially became engaged.
After locking her room, Ye Qinglan went to the Zhou family home for dinner.
To celebrate the occasion, they had even bought pork.