Just like yesterday, she stood at the gate, acting clingy, as if afraid that his green military uniform wouldn’t stand out enough so calculating.
“Xiaodie, tomorrow morning we’ll come to formally propose,” Gu Jingzhou’s eyes practically overflowed with eagerness.
After the proposal, Xiaodie would officially be his fiancée just thinking about it made his heart bubble with joy.
Su Die pressed her lips together. “Mm, I’ll wait for you.”
At that moment, Aunt Zhang walked over from a distance. “Xiaodie, this must be your fiancé, right? The young man is really handsome, perfectly suited for you.”
Aunt Zhang was one of the few kind-hearted people in Yangliu Alley. She had gone back to her hometown a few days ago and only returned today.
As soon as she entered the alley, she saw Gu Jingzhou’s tall, straight back a sight that commanded respect.
“Hello, Aunt Zhang. I’m Xiaodie’s fiancé, Gu Jingzhou. I’ll come tomorrow to formally propose. Once the marriage approval goes through, we’ll register,” Gu Jingzhou said politely to Aunt Zhang.
Su Die: “…”
“Xiaodie is a good girl. After marriage, you must treat her well.”
While chatting warmly with Aunt Zhang, Niu Zhenzhu and Su Lan came back from work. Duoduo, from afar, called sweetly:
“Uncle-in-law”
Gu Jingzhou loved hearing those three words so much that he immediately pulled out a handful of candy from his pocket, stuffed it into the little girl’s hand, and even unwrapped one to feed Su Die.
Su Die rolled her eyes at him. “We’re outside. Someone might see… it’s not proper.”
In those days, when men and women were strictly segregated, even married couples with a marriage certificate wouldn’t dare show intimacy in public.
Seeing his fiancée upset, Gu Jingzhou quickly admitted his mistake. “Then I’ll feed you at home from now on.”
Su Die’s face turned red as she urged, “Let’s go back quickly. We’ve been out all day.”
“Alright… I’ll go, and I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow.”
Reluctant as ever, Gu Jingzhou dawdled until nearly sunset before leaving.
To avoid disturbing the couple’s private time, Niu Zhenzhu and Su Lan had already gone inside.
“Are they gone?”
Niu Zhenzhu craned her neck to peek outside, smiling so widely it reached her ears.
“Xiao Gu is truly devoted to you. I’ve never seen a son-in-law so thoughtful.”
Su Die wholeheartedly agreed. “Grandpa Ge said he… handles things well.”
Not just “handles things well” he knew how to impress.
The four boxes of so-called “local specialties” he gave Niu Zhenzhu alone must have cost several hundred yuan, all hard-to-find, in-demand items: dried shark fin from Shanghai, brown sugar, tea, and dried mushrooms from the Northeast.
Even Su Die knew that in a time of scarce resources, these were not easy to come by.
It was clear he had put a lot of thought into it.
And he didn’t brag about it naturally winning the heart of Niu Zhenzhu, the future mother-in-law.
“Grandpa Ge said he’ll come tomorrow to back me up,” Su Die said.
The old man worried that the Gu family might underestimate Su Die’s background, so he wanted to support her.
In his youth, Ge Wenhan had even saved high-ranking leaders.
After the turmoil began, many intellectuals fell, yet he remained safe and continued to be respected a testament to his influence.
Even the Gu family had to show him respect and dare not act rashly.
Su Die was truly grateful for Grandpa Ge’s help both in life and career, he had been her mentor.
Niu Zhenzhu thought for a moment and said, “Grandpa Ge has no children. From now on, you’re like his granddaughter. Our family will help take care of him in his old age.”
Such a kind elder was a thousand times better than the vultures in the Su or Niu families.
Speaking of the Su and Niu families, Su Lan laughed outright:
“Xiaolu from the supply and marketing cooperative, her sister-in-law is a nurse at the city hospital. She said the Su and Niu families really have a fate they ended up in the same ward.
After Grandpa left our house last night, he had a stroke. The two old ladies didn’t get along and started fighting as soon as they saw each other, almost overturning the whole ward.”
Su Die snorted coldly:
“They didn’t make any money, and they even got hit by me. Having nowhere to vent, they ended up fighting.
If our mothers were any weaker, those bloodsucking wolves would have completely devoured us.”
Kind people are often bullied.
The softer you are, the more others take advantage of you.
To deal with the Su and Niu families bullies who prey on the weak you had to beat them thoroughly. Once subdued, they would never dare cause trouble again.
For dinner, they had mushroom tofu soup with two-part steamed buns.
One sip of that soup could make your taste buds dance.
Niu Zhenzhu sipped the soup and sighed:
“Finally, our hardships are over. But Xiaodie will go so far away with the army, and she might not even return once a year. I can’t bear it…”
Su Die smiled warmly. “Mom, you’ll retire in a year. After that, come find me in the Northwest and keep Grandpa Ge company.”
Niu Zhenzhu slapped her thigh. “Yes! After I retire, I’ll cook for you and take care of the kids.”
After graduation, Su Die didn’t have a job. Initially, Niu Zhenzhu considered transferring her work to her, but Su Die refused.
Niu Zhenzhu worked in logistics at the steel factory light work and decent pay.
But Su Die didn’t like it. A life with nothing to challenge her held no interest.
Besides, Niu Zhenzhu needed her retirement salary for living expenses. If she transferred her job, she’d have nothing.
Su Die had resources in her own space and the ability to provide for herself. Even if the situation didn’t allow her to fully spread her wings now, she had no worries.
The three women finished dinner, washed up, and went to bed.
The next day was the third day of the eighth lunar month, an auspicious day for marriage proposals and weddings.
Ge Wenhan, in a Zhongshan suit, hair perfectly combed, clean-shaven, sat upright in the Su family’s main hall, exuding the aura of a scholarly gentleman.
Gu Jilin, accompanied by Zhao Shuyi and Gu Jingzhou, arrived smiling, carrying various gifts for the proposal.
“Mr. Ge, how is your health?”
Even in a high position, Gu Jilin bowed in respect in front of Grandpa Ge.
Ge Wenhan lifted his teacup, sipped slowly, and said:
“My health is fine, enough to see my granddaughter married and having children.”
The “granddaughter” he referred to, of course, was Su Die.
From the moment Gu Jilin and Zhao Shuyi entered, they observed Su Die carefully.
Not only was her appearance exceptional, but her entire demeanor was striking.
Poised and confident, graceful yet firm, her eyes steady as rock yet clear and lively.
Her gaze radiated confidence and determination, giving her an air of calm composure.
It immediately impressed Gu Jilin and his wife.
“Jingzhou really has an eye for talent he brought home such a fine bride.”
Zhao Shuyi had immediately approved of this daughter-in-law.
A wise wife blesses three generations, while a foolish one ruins a family. Kindness and discernment were especially important.
“Mr. Ge, this is the dowry the Gu family has prepared for Xiaodie.”