The next morning, Han Shiguo, who was coming to the Jiang family to take both the basin and the flowers away, arrived right on time, pedaling his bicycle to their door.
However, he had not come empty-handed. A basket hung from the front of the bicycle, its bottom lined with oil paper, with more than half a basket of meat buns placed inside.
“Auntie, I went out and bought some meat this morning to make buns. I brought some over for you all to try, too. What do you think of the buns I made?”
Han Shiguo arrived bathed in the morning light. When he saw Zhou Guiyun, he handed over the basket, wearing a hearty smile.
Zhou Guiyun had already been looking at this prospective son-in-law with the increasingly pleased eyes of a mother-in-law viewing her son-in-law. Now that she saw him bringing over a whole basket of buns first thing in the morning, the smile on her face deepened further. She said warmly, “You made the buns yourself? You even know how to make buns?”
“I do. I also spent some time in the Cookhouse Battalion before, so I basically know how to make everything.” Han Shiguo answered immediately.
“Shouhai and the others can’t do that. They’re not as good as you in that regard.” Zhou Guiyun smiled, then asked him, “Have you eaten yet?”
“I ate at home.”
“All right, then. When you come back from the city, stay for dinner. After you eat, you can go home.” Zhou Guiyun said this directly.
Going into the city for a stroll was merely a formality. This marriage was practically certain, so there was no need to remain so distant. She had to give her prospective son-in-law a clear indication of her approval.
Han Shiguo was a clever man, and immediately said with a smile, “Then I won’t stand on ceremony with you, Auntie.”
“Why stand on ceremony with me?” Zhou Guiyun was very pleased.
As they spoke, Jiang Shouhai, Jiang Shoutao, and Jiang Shouhe, the three brothers, came out of their respective rooms. They had deliberately stayed home today because they wanted to see Han Shiguo.
And sure enough, after seeing him, all three brothers were satisfied as well.
While Han Shiguo was speaking with the three brothers-in-law, Jiang Qian had already changed her clothes and come out.
She wore the Lenin-style outfit favored by young women of that era. The neat clothes sat properly on her, while two long, jet-black braids rested on either side.
She wore no makeup or anything of the sort, merely applying a little clam oil.
Jiang Qian was naturally beautiful, and even dressed so simply, she could not conceal the collagen covering her lovely face.
Her entire person possessed a natural, unadorned beauty. When those limpid, lovely peach-blossom eyes turned toward Han Shiguo, the heart of the twenty-six-year-old bachelor beat three times faster.
The whole family was present by then. Knowing that their younger sister had gotten up early to dress herself, her brothers and sisters-in-law all wore smiles, their eyes filled with pride.
Their own younger sister was not merely kind-hearted and skilled at cooking; she was also a beauty known throughout the surrounding villages!
With her black braids, limpid large eyes, and fair complexion, what young man would not lose his head upon seeing her?
It was Jiang Qian’s first time going out with her sweetheart in front of her family. Her face flushed as she said, “Father, Mother, we’ll go into the city for a walk, then.”
“All right, go ahead,” Zhou Guiyun said with a smile.
Jiang Father said to Han Shiguo, “Take it slow on the road.”
Han Shiguo agreed. “Uncle, don’t worry. I will.”
Jiang Qian followed him outside, and the entire family watched as she sat demurely side-saddle on Han Shiguo’s bicycle.
After picking up his sweetheart, Han Shiguo said to her future father-in-law and mother-in-law, “Uncle, Auntie, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Qianqian.”
“Good.” Zhou Guiyun replied with a smile.
After nodding to Jiang Shouhai and his two brothers, as well as Zhao Aiying and the other sisters-in-law, Han Shiguo pedaled away with Jiang Qian riding behind him.
“Hey, the way he spoke just now, it sounded as if he’d already taken our younger sister home with him.” Second Brother Jiang Shoutao joked with a smile.
Zhou Guiyun laughed and scolded him, “Then what should Shiguo have said?”
“Tsk, Mother, you’re already defending him? He isn’t your son-in-law yet.”
That teasing remark made the entire family laugh.
The brothers also made their positions clear. Jiang Shouhai said, “Father, Mother, this brother-in-law is a good one!”
Jiang Shoutao and Jiang Shouhe also gave their unanimous approval. “He leaves that fellow surnamed Wang miles behind!”
Did Zhao Aiying, Zhao Aifeng, and Su Zhirou, the sisters-in-law, not feel the same way?
If this marriage could be settled, it would truly be wonderful!
Zhou Guiyun and Captain Jiang were also in excellent spirits. Their impressions of Han Shiguo were impeccable.
Moreover, judging from their daughter’s coy demeanor, anyone could tell what she was thinking.
When the villagers and nearby neighbors saw Han Shiguo carrying Jiang Qian into the city, they were envious as well.
Everyone knew that this marriage was practically a certainty.
Naturally, the news also reached the second branch of the family.
Second Uncle Jiang did not have much of an opinion. Things had already reached this point, and Jiang Qian was his own niece, so this could indeed be considered keeping the benefits within the family.
But Madam Sun saw things differently.
The same went for Shouliu's wife. She had heard about it first thing that morning and could not help bringing it up with Madam Sun. “Shouliu and I happened to have some free time yesterday, so we secretly went to look at that fellow surnamed Wang, too. He’s nothing special in appearance. He looks like he can neither lift a load nor carry anything, like a spineless shrimp. How could he compare with Han Shiguo? Han Shiguo has such an imposing bearing; at a glance, he looks like someone destined to become a high-ranking official. And he has genuine ability, too. He became a battalion commander at only twenty-six. Who knows how far he’ll go in the future? Our younger sister is truly being ridiculous. She rejected someone like that and chose such a spineless shrimp!”
Madam Sun had seen Han Shiguo before as well. One could say that Han Shiguo was exactly the kind of young man who appealed to a mother-in-law’s sense of beauty; whoever saw him was satisfied.
If even Zhou Guiyun was satisfied, needless to say, Madam Sun was too.
She had tossed and turned all night and could not sleep.
She had even vaguely dreamed that Han Shiguo had become successful and Jiang Qian had become a military officer's wife. The couple returned in a military sedan, coming home in glory and attracting everyone’s attention!
All around her were people congratulating and flattering Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou Guiyun, while mocking and ridiculing her.
They said that her family had too little fortune and she had too shallow a connection, which was why she had failed to secure this marriage.
She was so furious that she gnashed her teeth. She had even dreamed that, upon learning her daughter was pregnant with Wang Hesong’s child, she hurriedly ordered her daughter to get an abortion. Once it was done without anyone knowing, her daughter could still marry him!
As for the wedding night, would it not be enough to prick her finger and pretend the blood was real?
But then she dreamed that her daughter suffered severe hemorrhage from the abortion. This frightened her badly and even woke her up.
In any case, she had spent the entire night dreaming one bizarre thing after another, so her temper was poor that morning.
Now, upon hearing her daughter-in-law mention it, Madam Sun glared at her. “How do you know he’s a spineless shrimp? He’s an officer in a department at his work unit. If he performs well, he’ll rise through the ranks in the future. He may not necessarily be worse than Han Shiguo!”
Shouliu's wife curled her lip. Wang Hesong did not look to her like someone destined for success, but she ultimately did not dare say anything. Who knew? Perhaps they would really need his help someday.
“Mother, now that our younger sister is getting married, does that mean I’ll get to do her job?” Shouliu's wife asked.
Madam Sun naturally disagreed. “You? Do you think they’ll want you? You don’t even recognize a single character!”
Shouliu's wife: “…” Her face was darker than the bottom of a cooking pot!