Lin Xun had thought this trip would just be for shopping, but as the car went further, she realized the surroundings were becoming more and more desolate. They were not on the way to the county.
As she was thinking, Huo Yanzhou stepped on the brake. “Get out.”
She got out and saw several yurts not far away, which were the homes of the locals. Outside, hunting dogs were tied up.
As they took a couple of steps forward, the dogs began to bark. A Mongolian man wearing a cotton jacket then appeared, his face full of a warm smile.
Huo Yanzhou walked over and spoke with him. Lin Xun realized he could speak the minority language fluently, and with his deep voice, it sounded very pleasant.
Curious, Lin Xun asked, “What are we going to do here?”
Huo Yanzhou explained, “You said you wanted to work at the farm. After marriage, walking from the residential area to the farm takes about half an hour. In summer it is fine, but now it is too cold.”
The weather has been relatively good these days. Snow had fallen but lightly. When the heavy snow came, it could cover calves. Even local men would not dare walk through it, let alone a slender young woman like Lin Xun.
This had troubled her. She could not ride a bicycle on the grasslands because it would be too slippery. She could not ride a horse either. When the weather became harsh, she did not know what she would do. She could not move into the farm itself.
She had planned to solve the work situation first and then ask someone for advice.
But before she could speak, Huo Yanzhou had already made all the arrangements.
His deep voice explained, “This local’s name is Batel. He has a mule and can do woodworking. He will make a small mule cart and fit it with wheels. It will make commuting much easier for you.”
Mule carts were very stable. Even in heavy snow, slipping would not be a problem. Mules were gentle, smaller than horses, and easy to control, making them perfect for a beginner like Lin Xun.
“Make sure the cart is secure. Add blankets, so it is not cold. It gets dark early here. Tie a flashlight to the top for extra safety.”
After saying this, Huo Yanzhou noticed Lin Xun staring at him. “What is it?”
Lin Xun shook her head. She had just thought about her two previous marriages.
Before marrying Xu Zhicheng, he had made grand promises about how well he would treat her. But once they were married, no matter how difficult Cai Jinhua made things, he remained indifferent and only expected her to endure everything.
Huo Yanzhou was different.
He said they were just partners living together and that marriage was to satisfy their elders, but where she could not see, he had thought of everything for her.
Looking at the man’s handsome and deep side profile, Lin Xun smiled, feeling a sudden happiness. “Thank you.”
On the grasslands, there were many animals, but mules were rare. They were crossbreeds of horses and donkeys, difficult to breed, and few people raised them.
Batel had met Huo Yanzhou during disaster relief, so he was especially enthusiastic and brought out his own mules for Lin Xun to choose from.
Lin Xun had never handled mules before, but their habits were similar to horses. When selecting one, she checked the skin, teeth, and hooves. Then she led it a few steps on the rope. If it followed steadily, it indicated a gentle temperament.
Since the mule would be with her in the future, Lin Xun was very careful. She finally chose a small mule with big ears and a white ring around its nose.
Batel gave her a thumbs-up and praised her choice.
Lin Xun smiled. “When can I take it?”
Huo Yanzhou negotiated with Batel and said, “He said once the cart is ready, you can take them together.”
The cart needed to match the mule in size, and Batel would also train the mule so that Lin Xun could handle it easily.
Lin Xun nodded. “Okay, thank you.”
Batel asked if she wanted to learn to drive the cart. Lin Xun understood and asked, “Will you teach me?”
Batel was about to agree when Huo Yanzhou interrupted. “I will do it.”
Lin Xun was delighted. “You can drive a mule cart? Amazing.”
Even the commander who could fly planes felt his ears turn red, and he cleared his throat lightly. “It is okay.”
Lin Xun did not notice his pride. Looking at her little mule, her mood improved even more.
After choosing the mule and cart, they prepared to leave. Halfway there, Huo Yanzhou said, “I have something to do. Wait in the car.”
Lin Xun assumed it was official business and did not ask further. She obediently went to the car, unaware of the big surprise Huo Yanzhou had prepared for her.
The mule cart would take at least five days to complete. Meanwhile, Lin Xun continued to help at the farm. The sheep affected by scrapie had already been dealt with, and the pens relocated. The remaining sheep needed herbal feed to improve their health.
She was not working for free. She earned fifty cents a day and received a lunch meal.
Because of her outstanding work, she did not eat with the regular staff. Instead, she ate with Director Xiong, Secretary Sun, and others, enjoying meat and milk.
Yuan Yaqing had to eat dry grain cakes with the other educated youth. They worked poorly and were lazy every day. The farm staff did not pamper them. The more you worked, the more you ate. If you did not work, you would go hungry.
The regular staff had bread and pickled vegetables, but the educated youth did not even have hot water. The dry grain cakes were hard, and eating them could cut the throat.
Yuan Yaqing’s eyes were full of resentment and jealousy.
Scrapie was never a good thing. Secretary Sun had blocked information, so the educated youth had no knowledge. Seeing Lin Xun eat well made Yuan Yaqing more certain that she had gained Director Xiong’s favor. Jealous and scheming, she thought Lin Xun was worthless for two bites of meat.
She thought, “Just wait until I marry Xu Zhicheng. Once I become the richest woman, you will regret it.”
Thinking of this, Yuan Yaqing went to see Xu Zhicheng. She planned to ask about the bride price, but upon arriving at the hospital, she found Xu Zhicheng’s expression dark.
“Zhicheng, why are you in a bad mood?” she asked softly.
Xu Zhicheng ground his teeth. “Lin Xun refuses to attend our wedding.”
“What? That is impossible!” Yuan Yaqing was even angrier. This was her chance to make Lin Xun look ridiculous, and she wanted to see it happen.
The next day, when Lin Xun arrived at the farm, Yuan Yaqing followed. She planned to persuade her again but overheard Lin Xun speaking to Secretary Sun.
“Secretary, I am getting married the day after tomorrow. Please come to the wedding.”
Lü Yuzhi had suggested inviting a few more people. Lin Xun had few friends but was grateful to Secretary Sun and Director Xiong for giving her work, so she wanted to invite them.
Secretary Sun smiled and agreed. “Okay, I will go. Where is it?”
“At the Military District cafeteria.”
Outside the window, Yuan Yaqing was delighted. The day after tomorrow at the cafeteria, this clashed perfectly with her wedding.
She hurried to the hospital to tell Xu Zhicheng the good news.
Xu Zhicheng was puzzled. “I am a doctor at the Military District Hospital, so only I can hold a wedding in the cafeteria. That man, surnamed Xiong, is just a farm director. How can he qualify?”
Previously, it was the third floor of the guesthouse. Now it was the cafeteria. Xu Zhicheng felt something was increasingly wrong.
Yuan Yaqing did not care. “Who cares, Zhicheng? This is better. Holding the weddings together will show a clear comparison.”
Xu Zhicheng was carried away by excitement.
Yes, he would host the wedding spectacularly, completely overshadow Director Xiong, and make Lin Xun feel humiliated.
After work, Xu Zhicheng went home and told Cai Jinhua. She was thrilled.
Xu Zhicheng said, “Mom, we must hold a good wedding this time and regain the lost face.”
Cai Jinhua said, “I know, but Yaqing, do you know how much Director Xiong earns per month?”
Of course Yuan Yaqing knew. In her past life, she had been on the farm for several years. “About forty yuan.”
“Forty? And he drinks. He probably has little savings. Son, fifty yuan is enough for the banquet.” Cai Jinhua clicked her tongue.
Fifty?
Yuan Yaqing was stunned. That was too little. She not only wanted to surpass Lin Xun but also show off to the educated youth.
Xu Zhicheng frowned. “That is a bit too little.”
Cai Jinhua said, “Too little? In rural weddings, twenty yuan is nothing.” She looked at Yuan Yaqing with some displeasure. Lin Xun had only a fifty yuan bride price and fifteen yuan for the banquet.
Yuan Yaqing wanted a bride price of two hundred. Did she even realize her worth?
Yuan Yaqing asked, “Mom, at the banquet, at least two meat dishes per table, right?”
Cai Jinhua said, “One stir-fried chili with meat, one stir-fried chili with eggs. Add more chili. How is that not meat?”
Yuan Yaqing gritted her teeth. That old woman was infuriating.
After almost arguing, Xu Zhicheng said, “Enough, Mom. Let’s give one hundred yuan. We cannot wrong Yaqing.”
Hearing Xu Zhicheng speak for her, Yuan Yaqing was deeply touched. He was indeed a good man.
Meanwhile, in the Military District cafeteria, upon seeing Huo Yanzhou’s banquet menu, the steward was stunned.
This is too lavish.