1952: Walking through Nantongluo Alley

"Mom, shouldn't we go find Aunt Wang first? Why did we just leave the city?"

As Jia Dongxu walked along the road, carrying a pound of melon seeds and a pound of candy, he became curious. The road ahead did not lead to Aunt Wang's house, but to the outskirts of the city.

"Dongxu, you're stupid! Wouldn't it cost more money to go to Aunt Wang? Give her a few cents as a bribe."

Jia Zhang sighed and wondered when her son would grow up and become as thrifty as herself.

"Don't you know which village Qin Huairu lives in? Even though we don't know the exact location, we can ask. This way we can save some money."

"That's right." Jia Dongxu nodded in understanding.

"I shouldn't have given that old woman Aunt Wang a bribe. I introduced a country girl to Jia Dongxu, and I didn't give her a single cent of bribe!"

"Mom, let's go! I know where Qinjia Village is. I passed by Qinjia Village once before when I was on a business trip with people from the factory."

……

Jia Zhang and Jia Dongxu walked and stopped along the way, and finally arrived at Qinjia Village when they were almost too tired to walk.

When he arrived at Qinjia Village, Jia Dongxu asked everyone he met about the location of Qin Huairu's house.

The villagers are also wary, and they will definitely not tell strangers the way on the spot if they ask for directions.

An old man looked at Jia Zhang's mother and son in front of him and asked warily.

"What are you doing at Qin Huairu's house? Who are you two? What do you want from Qin Huairu?"

Jia Dongxu took out two pieces of candy from his pocket and handed them to the old man.

"Master, I'm here to propose marriage to Qin Huairu."

"So it's a marriage proposal?" The old man took the candy and put it directly into his pocket.

"Yes, we are here to propose marriage, so where is Qin Huairu's home?"

"You're late. Someone came to Qin Huairu's house yesterday to propose marriage. I heard that Qin Huairu has already agreed, and it seems that they are getting married soon."

"What????"

Jia Dongxu looked ashen, and the candies and melon seeds in his hand fell to the ground.

"How could this happen? How could this happen?" Jia Dongxu murmured.

This news was like a bolt from the blue to him, and the picture of him winning the beauty in his mind slowly shattered into pieces.

"Dongxu, Dongxu." Jia Zhang pushed Jia Dongxu a few times, but seeing no response, she suddenly became anxious.

She knew that this time her Dongxu really fell in love with Qin Huairu.

"Even if Qin Huairu has been proposed to, she should still compare prices. I don't believe that the proposed marriage partner is as good as our Jia family."

"Hurry up and tell us where Qin Huairu's house is."

The old man glanced at the two of them from head to toe. Not only were they not as handsome as others, they didn't even have a bicycle. And they still wanted to compete with others?

Since you want to compete, I will help you two!

"Qin Huairu's house is over there." The old man pointed in a direction and said to the two of them.

After saying that, the old man ignored them and went to work in the fields with his hoe.

After the old man left, Jia Zhang was persuading Jia Dongxu.

"Dongxu, don't be sad. Qin Huairu is a country girl, and the city people don't like her. The man who proposed to them is probably also a country girl."

"Don't forget we are city dwellers. We not only have city hukou, but we also have jobs!"

"Yes! I am a city dweller and I have a job. How can he, a country boy, compare with me?" Jia Dongxu suddenly returned to normal and said proudly with his fists clenched.

"Mom, let's go to Qin Huairu's house and propose marriage now!"

Jia Dongxu bent down to pick up the candies and melon seeds scattered on the ground, then took Jia Zhang and walked towards Qin Huairu's house.

Qin Huairu's home.

Qin Tieniu and Zhang Cuilan were cleaning up the place inside and out, and Qin Huairu was helping out.

Their daughter married into the city, and he is so young and handsome. He not only has a job but also has money. With such a son-in-law, Qin Tieniu and his wife are so happy.

"Huai Ru, after you marry into the city, you must be nice to Chen Xiao and serve him well. You don't have a city hukou and don't have a job. Chen Xiao works in a factory all day. You must keep the house clean." Zhang Cuilan reminded her daughter Qin Huai Ru while wiping the table.

"Mom, you've said this at least ten times this morning. Don't worry, I will treat Chen Xiao well after I get married, and I will keep the house clean." Qin Huairu replied with a blushing face.

"By the way, please don't ask Chen Xiao to help with your brother's affairs. It's hard to find a job in the city right now. I heard that many people in the city can't find a job. Don't let Chen Xiao think that our family is an ungrateful wretch."

"It's a blessing you've earned in eight lifetimes that Chen Xiao likes you, so please don't do anything to let him down."

Qin Huairu nodded.

She had originally thought that after getting married, she would tell Chen Xiao about her brother Qin Huaiguo's affairs and see if he could help him find a job in the city.

It seems that I can’t say it now.

"Is anyone home?"

At this time, Jia Zhang had already arrived outside the yard. Regardless of whether there was anyone there or not, she took her son and walked in directly.

"Old man, go out and take a look." Zhang Cuilan heard the noise in the yard and shouted to Qin Tieniu.

After Qin Tieniu came out, he saw the two strangers and spoke.

"You are?"

Jia Dongxu took a step forward and took out a handful of candy from his pocket.

"Hello, uncle. My name is Jia Dongxu. I'm from the city. My mother and I are here today to propose marriage."

When he heard the proposal, Qin Tieniu pushed away the candy that was offered to him.

"You want to propose marriage? But my daughter is already engaged to someone else and is getting married next week."

"Uncle, I'm from the city and I have a job!" Jia Dongxu deliberately emphasized his tone.

"My son-in-law is also from the city, he has a job and he has a bicycle!"

"What!" Jia Dongxu couldn't believe it.

Jia Zhang said arrogantly from the side.

"Although we're all city dwellers, there are still differences. Do you know what my son does for a living? He works in the fitter's workshop at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill. His future is limitless."

"You guys go away, my daughter has already been engaged to someone else." Qin Tieniu looked at the two superior people in front of him and felt uncomfortable.

I have always emphasized two things: living in the city and having a job.

No matter how promising the family is, looking at the tempers of the mother and son, if the daughter really marries him, she will definitely suffer.

Even though her two daughters have not been proposed to, she doesn't want to agree.

Furthermore, considering his appearance, financial ability, and temper, the man in front of him is not even worthy of carrying Chen Xiao's shoes.

"You can cancel the engagement even if it's done. Don't be so ungrateful as a country bumpkin like you!" Jia Zhang was angry.

"I'll say this one last time. You are not welcome. Leave my house immediately." Qin Tieniu's hand had already reached for the hoe beside him.

"No, I won't leave. I like Qin Huairu and I want to marry her!" Jia Dongxu shook his head and said he was unwilling to leave no matter what.

Seeing that the noise in the yard was getting louder and louder, Zhang Cuilan and Qin Huairu came out.

"Huai Ru, let's go out and see what happened."