Helping an old lady cross the street was risky, but she had not been afraid at the time, since two students had been with her.
So when she saw that Auntie in trouble, she stepped forward to help.
That Auntie asked about her identity. Jiang Qian stood upright and acted honorably, so what was there to fear?
She briefly introduced herself, saying that she was the daughter of the Jiang family from Five-Star Brigade and had come to town to teach at the elementary school.
Han's mother was delighted when she heard this and pulled her into conversation, saying that her son was engaged to her older female cousin. They would be relatives in the future!
However, her relationship with Jiang Yue was only ordinary, so she did not take this distant future connection to heart and merely gave a polite smile.
She had never expected that she would eventually become the one having a blind date with her son. The ways of the world were truly unpredictable; things really did go around in circles.
At this thought, Jiang Qian smiled as well. “There was such an incident, but it was a long time ago.”
Matchmaker Zhang beamed. “It was a long time ago, but Aunt Han has always remembered it. As soon as I said I wanted you to have a blind date with Shiguo, she agreed right away. If it had not been too late yesterday, she would have wanted me to come over that very night. But it is not a problem; today is still soon enough. I came first thing this morning to ask what you all think. If you are willing, why not have a blind date? Qianqian has the day off today, does she not? Everyone can meet and see whether Qianqian is satisfied with Shiguo. If she is, the forty-eight legs will all be provided, without a single item missing. Shiguo has also promised that, besides one hundred yuan in betrothal money, he will prepare the three rotating items and one sounding item as well. Oh my, just look at these betrothal gifts! And Han Shiguo is such a fine-looking man. You cannot say he is anything but extremely pleased with Qianqian!”
At these words, not only did Zhou Guiyun and the three sisters-in-law glance sideways, but even Jiang Qian could not help feeling surprised.
The three rotating items and one sounding item were a radio, a bicycle, a sewing machine, and a wristwatch. The term had only appeared in the late 1950s.
It was generally used in discussions of marriage between men and women, as a form of betrothal gifts.
However, only wealthy families in big cities might possess the three rotating items and one sounding item. In 1968, only a few years had passed since the famine, and many families were so poor they could not even afford enough trousers to wear!
Having a thirty-six legs set at the time of marriage was already considered extremely respectable.
Previously, because the Jiang family had been reluctant to become related by marriage to the Wang family, the Wang family had offered a forty-eight legs set and promised a sewing machine as well. The monetary gift was fifty yuan.
That was actually a very generous offer.
It proved that the Wang family was genuinely satisfied with Jiang Qian and sincerely wanted to marry her into their family.
Precisely because of this, and because the Wang family's conditions were indeed quite good, the Jiang family had agreed to the blind date.
But the conditions offered by the Wang family had now been crushed into dust by the Han family.
“Did they hear about the betrothal gifts offered by the Wang family and want to outdo them?” Zhao Aifeng could not help asking.
Could Matchmaker Zhang have told them that the Wang family had nearly arranged a blind date with the younger sister?
“No, no.” Matchmaker Zhang hurriedly explained, “I am not that indiscreet. Once I promise not to say something, not even an iron shovel could pry my mouth open. This was all Han Shiguo's own idea. As soon as he heard that I was talking about Qianqian, he added the three rotating items and one sounding item!”
That sincerity could be called exceptionally substantial!
However, Zhou Guiyun and the other women in the family all looked at Jiang Qian. They were very good at grasping the key point. “Han Shiguo is satisfied with our Qianqian? Just because Qianqian helped his mother?”
Jiang Qian said nothing, but the handsome soldier from yesterday unconsciously surfaced in her mind. Could he be Han Shiguo?
That was indeed the case. Matchmaker Zhang smiled and said, “That is right. Shiguo saw Qianqian. He said that on his way back yesterday, he happened to see you. He heard the elementary school students call you Teacher Jiang and described your appearance to me, asking whether it was you. When I told him it was, he said that besides the forty-eight legs set, he would also arrange the three rotating items and one sounding item as betrothal gifts. He added all of those after hearing that it was you!”
Jiang Qian was only moderately interested in large items such as a wristwatch.
But she was genuinely surprised. She had not expected that the soldier brother she met yesterday really was Han Shiguo.
She had even wondered which lucky sister would end up with such a handsome soldier brother. In the end, perhaps she would be the lucky one?
Hmm, Jiang Qian decided to meet him. If he was a decent man, she would marry him!
“Younger sister, do you still remember what Han Shiguo looked like? He saw you, but did you see him?” Su Zhirou asked with a smile.
When she looked up and saw everyone watching her, Jiang Qian's face reddened. Against her true feelings, she said, “I seem to have a vague impression.”
“Then what do you think?” Matchmaker Zhang hurriedly asked. “A young man like this is not easy to find!”
Thinking of how that handsome soldier brother had been so satisfied with her that he was willing to pay such a high price to marry her, even Jiang Qian, a couch potato, now had a bright red face.
Her mother and the others also wanted to hear her attitude, so she spoke the classic words that had been repeated throughout the ages: “I will listen to my parents regarding this major matter of marriage.”
Well, if she was satisfied, she would leave the decision about her lifelong marriage entirely to her parents. If she was dissatisfied, she would say that their daughter still wanted to honor her parents for another two years.
Seeing her daughter's expression, Zhou Guiyun naturally understood. Moreover, she was delighted that the prospective husband's family had such good judgment, and a trace of that happiness appeared on her face.
She smiled and said to Jiang Father, who was keeping watch at the doorway, “Dear, shall we have the Han family come over for a blind date? Qianqian happens to be free today.”
“All right.” Jiang Father had heard every word Matchmaker Zhang said and nodded.
“Then we will trouble you to make another trip, Matchmaker Zhang. Could you go over there and tell them?” Zhou Guiyun asked with a smile.
Of course, a matchmaker was delighted when things proceeded so smoothly.
Matchmaker Zhang immediately beamed. “All right, all right, all right. I will make another trip to the Han family and tell them. You should prepare as well!”
She was about to leave when Zhou Guiyun hurriedly said, “Why are you in such a hurry? Drink some brown sugar water before you go.”
Matchmaker Zhang cheerfully drank the sickeningly sweet brown sugar water. She was very satisfied inside, though, and did not linger. She left at once as if riding a pair of wind-and-fire wheels.
After the matchmaker left, Zhou Guiyun asked her daughter, “You saw Han Shiguo yesterday. What did he look like?” Judging from her daughter's expression, he should have been quite good.
Before Jiang Qian could say anything, Second Sister-in-law Zhao Aifeng said with a smile, “Mother, what are you asking? If the younger sister were dissatisfied, she would not have agreed to let them come over for a blind date today.”
“We just do not know how good he is to have made the younger sister secretly fall for him so quickly.” Eldest Sister-in-law Zhao Aiying smiled as well.
Although Jiang Qian's face was flushed, she was not afraid of her sisters-in-law's teasing. “You will know when they come over.”
His looks truly matched her aesthetic preferences perfectly.
However, being handsome alone was not enough for married life. She would have to observe him in every way, and only if there were no major problems could she marry him.
But in the eyes of the Eldest and Second Sister-in-law, this maidenly coyness clearly meant that the younger sister-in-law had taken a liking to him, and they could not help smiling.
Su Zhirou, the Third Sister-in-law, also found it difficult to suppress her laughter. However, she did not tease the younger sister-in-law, instead asking the most practical question: “If they like each other, will Qianqian have to accompany the army after she marries?”