Jiang Qian left home on Han Shiguo’s bicycle, and everyone in the village saw them.
Now Jiang Qian was sitting on the back of Han Shiguo’s bicycle, her face still a little flushed.
There was nothing she could do about it. The neighborhood aunties were all exceptionally enthusiastic.
Especially when she ran into the wife and daughter-in-law of her Second Granduncle’s family just now—they had even called her down specifically for a little chat.
But Han Shiguo was the one chatting with them the whole time. She only needed to sit there and serve as decoration.
Who would have thought? He looked aloof and unapproachable, yet he was actually quite talkative.
Actually, Han Shiguo was not talkative. It was as the saying went: if he wanted to marry someone’s daughter, then he had to have the awareness of becoming their son-in-law, understand?
These were his father-in-law’s family and relatives, not soldiers under his command!
Still, the more of her relatives Han Shiguo met, the happier he became, because it amounted to recognition of his status!
He was in an excellent mood as they left the village. Pedaling the bicycle, he searched for a topic and said, “Did you used to go into town to study with your Fourth Brother?”
Han Shiguo was twenty-six this year, while Jiang Shouchuan and Jiang Qian were fraternal twins who were only twenty.
Han Shiguo was six years older.
But if he and Jiang Qian succeeded in becoming a couple, he would have to call him Fourth Brother.
It was a matter of seniority. Once he married her, he would belong to the same generation as her.
But it was far too soon for that, and he really did not dare call him that yet.
Jiang Qian was inwardly grumbling about how contrived this was, but outwardly she said, “Yes, I went into town to attend high school with my Fourth Brother.”
It really had not been easy. They walked from the countryside to town, then walked all the way back from town.
They returned once a week to collect food supplies; otherwise, they lived at school.
Even so, the siblings were among the few people from the surrounding villages who went into town to attend high school.
In those days, education truly was not valued. Besides, as educated youth from the cities were sent to the countryside, even the cultured educated youth from the cities could only come to the countryside to do farm work. What use was studying?
In the end, everyone had to work in the fields anyway. Who would still be willing to let their children attend school and waste time?
With that time, they might as well go work in the fields and earn work points.
That was the genuine thinking of the vast majority of families at the time.
Jiang Qian felt that she was truly very fortunate to have parents like her father and mother. They had given her the opportunity to attend school and even come to the county town for high school.
Han Shiguo said, “You two are impressive. I only studied through junior high before joining the military unit. After discovering that my education was insufficient, I taught myself high-school material and took the exam for a high-school graduation certificate.”
So you are telling me that you also graduated from high school and would not be unworthy of me, right?
Jiang Qian smiled inwardly and gave him an encouraging response as well. “Really? Your training is so busy, yet you can still find time to improve yourself. You are so disciplined.”
She wondered whether that sounded too awkward. She had no experience dating, after all.
Clearly, it did not. Han Shiguo’s eyes held a smile as he received her praise. “I am still continuing to study. If I get the chance, I want to raise my educational level to university.”
Jiang Qian was genuinely surprised this time and gave him wholehearted approval. “You are right. If you get the chance, study more and strive to earn a university graduation certificate. It will benefit your future greatly.”
“I have accumulated quite a few books in the military unit. You can read them later if you want. We can take the exams together,” Han Shiguo said.
Jiang Qian smiled when she heard that. The fellow had not mentioned marriage once, yet two out of every three sentences were hints about getting married.
Hearing her laughter from behind him, the corners of Han Shiguo’s mouth lifted as well. He could feel that she had a favorable impression of him.
Because he was so happy, he failed to watch the road and ran into a medium-sized stone. The jolt made Jiang Qian instinctively wrap her arms around his waist.
Although the weather had turned cold, Han Shiguo ran hot and was not wearing much.
As a result, she had felt it clearly!
Firm abdominal muscles!
Jiang Qian’s expression remained calm, but inwardly she was screaming.
Han Shiguo lowered his head and looked at her slender, pale hands wrapped around his waist. He was delighted inside, of course, but did not forget to explain, “I was not watching carefully just now. The road is a little uneven, so hold on tight.”
Jiang Qian was quite reluctant to let go of that sensation, but it was their first meeting today. How could she dare keep hugging his waist? After releasing him, she gripped the back seat and said softly, “The road is difficult to travel. Ride more slowly.”
The young girl’s delicate, soft voice made Han Shiguo’s heart soften as well. Although he felt a little regretful, he knew she was embarrassed, so he said, “Then I will slow down.”
Jiang Qian changed the subject and asked about his military unit. When dating and chatting with someone you were seeing, you had to talk more about the other person’s affairs and let them say more.
You could observe how they handled things through what they told you.
Although this was Jiang Qian’s first time dating as well, she had at least read three thousand novels. Her practical experience was nonexistent, but her theoretical knowledge was still very rich.
“Our military unit is quite busy. Daily training is also something we must do. The body is like a treasured sword. No matter how sharp a sword is, if you do not temper it, it will still rust.”
Han Shiguo was also willing to tell the young girl about the military unit. He very much wanted her to understand it better, because then she would like that place more.
So he told Jiang Qian quite a lot.
As Jiang Qian listened to him talk about the training, she asked gently, “Are you tired?”
Han Shiguo froze for a moment. Warmth welled up from the depths of his heart, but what he said aloud was, “I am not tired.”
“People are not machines. Even machines occasionally need to shut down and rest, have some oil applied, and get their parts replaced, let alone a body of flesh and blood.” Jiang Qian’s voice was gentle. “While realizing your own value in life, you should also take better care of your body. Your body is the capital of revolution.”
“All right, I will listen to you. I will definitely be more careful from now on,” Han Shiguo said with a brightened mood and a smile.
He heard the voice in his heart with absolute clarity: he had to marry this girl!
After flirting with the man, Jiang Qian’s face was flushed. In the end, she lacked experience, and she still found some things difficult to say.
But everything was difficult at the beginning.
She believed that after saying more in the future, it would gradually become natural.
Thinking this, Jiang Qian glanced at his back again. A back like that truly made her feel safe. “I heard that Han Family Village was moved here from the south. How did you grow so tall?”
“Maybe I take after my maternal uncles. They are quite tall,” Han Shiguo replied.
Everyone in the area around Han Family Village had moved there more than fifty years ago. The place had originally been wasteland, but after they reclaimed it, the area became Han Family Village.
Jiang Qian smiled. “My mother is from the south.” Her mother, Zhou Guiyun, had also fled famine and come here when she was young.
Her father was a true local, and he was considered tall as well.
Although her mother was a southern girl, she was also tall and slender. Because of that, their generation had genuinely benefited.
Her Eldest Brother and Second Brother were at a slight disadvantage, standing around one meter seventy-five, but her Third Brother was very tall and sturdy at one meter eighty. He was the tallest in the entire family.
Her Fourth Brother was not as tall as him, but he still stood at one meter seventy-eight, which was considered very tall in those days.