Two hours later.
Qin Laidi held a red hard-covered booklet in her hands. One side was printed with shining quotations from a great leader, while the other contained their information. The most eye-catching part was the three bold words centered at the top: “Marriage Certificate.”
He Liansheng didn’t even look at what the booklet looked like. Seeing her gaze linger on the certificate, he said, “We’ll make up the photo later. I have to leave tonight on urgent business. We’ll talk about the wedding after I return.” Although marriage certificates in this era didn’t require a photo, young couples usually took a black-and-white picture by default.
Qin Laidi wasn’t someone who cared much about formality, especially since she knew why he was in a hurry. “Alright, go take care of your business.”
“Stay safe.”
So straightforward.
That thought flashed through He Liansheng’s mind, but he said nothing. The two of them, like strangers, kept a one-meter distance between them as they returned to Wulitun. Beneath the large locust tree at the village entrance, dozens of onlookers had already gathered.
“Little Chili Pepper will definitely regret it.”
“She might regret it halfway there. I bet they didn’t even make it to the Civil Affairs Bureau.”
“I think so too. Back when she was with that guy, didn’t they break up just like that? With her temper, what man could stand her?”
“Exactly. Remember that one? I heard she almost kicked his manhood off. He stayed in the hospital for over half a month!”
However, not only did the two of them get their certificate, they even returned “safely.” When getting off the tractor, He Liansheng even reached out to help her.
And Little Chili Pepper placed her hand in his, as naturally as if they were an old married couple!
“Oh my, are my eyes playing tricks on me? These two who had nothing to do with each other actually became a couple? That Xiao He… he doesn’t seem bad either?”
Widow Liu grinned so widely her back teeth were almost showing. It seemed her granddaughter had been right—Little Chili Pepper’s temper couldn’t withstand provocation. The more others approved of something, the less she wanted it; the more they opposed it, the more determined she became.
But other matters aside, treating marriage—a life-changing decision—so lightly… sooner or later she would regret it deeply!
Twisting her still-charming waist, Widow Liu had just entered the house and barely sat down when the front gate creaked open.
“Auntie, busy?” It was Wang Lifen, the production team leader’s wife, carrying a bamboo basket on her arm and smiling brightly.
Widow Liu’s eyes shifted. “Oh, such a proper daughter-in-law.”
Wang Lifen glanced around. The courtyard was large but messy like a pigsty. Then she thought of Qin Widow’s house next door—though small, it was neat and orderly, the dirt ground tamped flat and firm. She thought to herself that although Aunt Qin was hot-tempered, she was excellent at managing a household. As for Aunt Liu’s home… well, if she hadn’t been entrusted with this task, she wouldn’t have come.
“Auntie, your Baozhu is nineteen this year, right?”
Widow Liu, experienced as ever, replied, “Nineteen by nominal age. Time really flies—she’s become a grown girl. Back then, I raised her with my own hands…”
Wang Lifen quickly interrupted with an awkward laugh, afraid she would start complaining and asking for things. “There happens to be a good match right now. I wonder if you’d be interested.”
She paused, noticing the east room door was slightly ajar, and deliberately slowed her speech. “Do you remember Zhao family’s third son at the village head?”
Zhao Qingsong was the most promising young man in the village. He had enlisted in the army at fifteen or sixteen and had been promoted several times. His first wife was from the city, reportedly a nurse at a military hospital, and they had a son and a daughter. But they divorced two years ago due to long separation.
“He’s been single for two years now. The organization is very concerned about his personal life and has been urging him to remarry. So the Zhao parents think your Baozhu is a perfect match.”
As soon as Widow Liu heard the name Zhao Qingsong, her grin stretched from ear to ear.
It seemed her granddaughter had become uncannily perceptive after her illness. Just a few days ago, she had predicted that Little Chili Pepper would fall into the water today, even identifying who would save her and that Qin Widow would extort compensation. Following her granddaughter’s advice, she had deliberately spoken ill of Xiao He in front of Little Chili Pepper, and that foolish girl had stubbornly rushed into it.
As long as Little Chili Pepper chose Xiao He, wouldn’t Zhao Qingsong belong to her Baozhu?
“Don’t mind that he’s been married before. He’s still young, only twenty-eight, in his prime.”
“The key point is that he’s about to be promoted again in the second half of the year, and he’ll be assigned family housing near the provincial capital. If Baozhu performs well or learns a skill, the army will even arrange a job for her—with state grain rations!”
Widow Liu licked her yellowed teeth. “Really?”
“Of course. The leaders said once the marriage certificate is issued, they’ll arrange the job immediately.”
“The Zhao parents also said they won’t interfere. As long as the young couple lives well on their own, that’s enough.”
In short, by marrying into the Zhao family, she could take charge of her own household, gain a job that would change her fate, and even become the wife of an official.
The more Wang Lifen spoke, the more enthusiastic she became, practically praising Zhao Qingsong to the heavens. After drinking two large bowls of plain water, she reluctantly wiped her mouth and nudged the bamboo basket on the ground.
“These are gifts from their family. If you like them, keep them to nourish yourself. Tomorrow Qingsong will come visit you, and the young couple can meet and get to know each other.”
There were quite a few items: two cans of mandarin oranges, two jin of brown sugar, and six eggs—all rare goods in this era, even by city standards. Widow Liu looked at them greedily, feeling even more satisfied. This showed the Zhao family did not look down on them.
This match had everything—family background, appearance, character, job, ability. What was there to be picky about? As for being a second marriage… nothing in life is perfect.
Just as she was about to agree, a voice came from the east room:
“Thank you, Auntie, for your effort. We’ll definitely invite you to the wedding banquet.”
An eighteen- or nineteen-year-old fair-skinned girl walked out. Her hair, braided before sleep last night, was now loose and slightly wavy. Though her features weren’t as striking as Laidi’s, she was still a rare beauty.
Thinking of Laidi, Wang Lifen felt a bit regretful. She had always thought highly of Laidi and had tried to find her a match over the past two years, but nothing worked out. Liu Baozhu, on the other hand, was always gentle and soft-spoken, yet Wang Lifen felt something off about her. When working, she often shirked responsibilities and constantly compared herself to Laidi. If Laidi got an easier task, she would complain to her husband in tears; if Laidi got a harder one, she would twist her waist and watch with amusement.
Sigh… but the Zhao family favored her because she had many brothers. After all, the Qin family had no male heirs.
Qin Laidi and He Liansheng parted at the Zhao family’s gate. After casually responding to her grandmother at home, she lay down and fell asleep.
She was getting older and used to taking naps. Now that a major concern had been resolved, she could sleep for three days and nights.
Since becoming displaced, today was the most peaceful she had felt. When she woke again, she heard hushed voices in the courtyard.
“Xiao He, from now on you two will live your own lives. I’m old and won’t be able to help much longer. Please be tolerant of Laidi. She was spoiled by me since childhood—quick-tempered and prone to causing trouble…”
“Mm.”
Then came some rustling sounds. He Liansheng took out a few items from his luggage. “Things were rushed. This is a small token.”
Qin Laidi found it amusing. This guy really knew how to win a woman’s heart. In her previous life, during his later years, although his hair had turned white and his back hunched, he was wise and humorous. Many women admired him. Even when he gave lectures at universities, female students would bring flowers and ask for photos with him.
Of course, she wouldn’t be jealous. She knew those female students were educated young women who simply admired him.
“You’re awake, so get up. Rolling around like a monkey.”
Qin Laidi paused. Based on her grandmother’s personality, she knew what would come next.
Sure enough, the old woman sighed, “If only this temperament belonged to a boy…”
Qin Laidi smiled. The names of her and her sisters were proof enough of her grandmother’s obsession with having a son.
But she also knew her grandmother only complained verbally. She used to think her grandmother was old-fashioned and favored boys, often arguing with her. Only years later did she understand—some people spoke of virtue but would abandon you when it mattered, while others had sharp tongues but soft hearts. During the three years of famine, even when her grandmother was swollen from hunger, she never abandoned any of the sisters…
She knew several girls from the same village who had been sent away or disappeared during those years.
“Grandma, who are you talking to?” she asked deliberately.
“Xiao He.” Qin Guihua opened the door slightly and gestured to her. “Your man is about to leave. Aren’t you going to say a few sweet words?”
Qin Laidi: “…”
He Liansheng didn’t enter the room. He stood at the doorway, eyes straight ahead. “I left in a hurry and didn’t bring much money. Keep this for now.” Without waiting for her response, he set the money down and turned to leave toward the village entrance.
Qin Laidi had wanted to say a few caring words—telling him to take care and stay safe—to show her qualities as a “virtuous wife.” But he didn’t even turn back, walking faster than a mule!
If she hadn’t been reborn with memories, she would never have imagined this old man could be so devoted!
She took a deep breath. Forget it. There would be plenty of time to train him in the future—after all, they were now legally married.
“Stop daydreaming and go cut pig grass.”
Only then did Qin Laidi realize that according to yesterday’s task assignment, her job today was to cut pig grass. Afterward, she had to carry it to the team office to be weighed. The scorekeeper would check it carefully to prevent cheating—only a full thirty jin would earn five work points.
She couldn’t handle heavy labor with her thin arms and legs. Cutting pig grass was considered light work, something many young women competed for. If she went late, all the good grass would be gone…
Qin Laidi quickly grabbed a basket and headed toward the back hill.
But just as she reached the end of the village, she saw a crowd gathered in front of a small, low house. Everyone looked anxious.
“Did the call go through?” Team leader Li Benfen shouted.
“It… it did, but the commune said Doctor He doesn’t know when he’ll return,” the communicator replied quietly.
Everyone sighed and quickly asked, “What about the livestock keeper from the neighboring team? Did you find him?”
“N-no. He’s gone for training in the district. He won’t be back until tomorrow.”
Now everyone stomped their feet in frustration. “It’s giving birth now! Who can wait until tomorrow? It’s clearly a difficult labor—this loss will be huge…”
“Exactly. We raised it with such care for a whole year, and now… why is our team so unlucky?”
At first, Qin Laidi was confused, but when she heard “difficult labor,” a thought suddenly struck her.
“Uncle, I can do it!”