1952: Walking through Nantongluo Alley

As I rode my bicycle out of the courtyard gate, I found that the matchmaker and Qin Huairu had already walked far away and were about to leave the alley and go to the Old Drum Tower Street.

Chen Xiao didn't say anything and rode his bike to chase after him.

"Aunt Wang, Aunt Wang..."

Chen Xiao shouted at the matchmaker Aunt Wang while riding his bicycle.

At this time, Aunt Wang had just walked to the Old Drum Tower Street. When she heard someone calling her, she looked back.

Chen Xiao, the matchmaker, looked familiar, but he couldn't remember whose child he was.

she asked tentatively.

"Who are you???"

Chen Xiao stopped his bike. Because he had just ridden too fast, his breathing was a little unstable and he was breathing heavily.

After his breathing stabilized, Chen Xiao replied.

"Aunt Wang, have you forgotten? I'm Chen Xiao, and Li Xiuqin is my mother!"

"Xiuqin? Are you Xiuqin's son?" The matchmaker Aunt Wang's pupils dilated slightly, and her tone was slightly excited.

"I can't believe you've grown up so big in the blink of an eye, and you've become such a handsome man."

"Unfortunately, Xiuqin had an accident last month. My niece-in-law was in the countryside taking care of her during her postpartum confinement. Because of this, I was unable to see Xiuqin for the last time."

As she spoke, matchmaker Aunt Wang's eyes became red.

At this time, Qin Huairu was squatting behind Aunt Wang, stealing glances at Chen Xiao from time to time.

Seeing that Aunt Wang's eyes were a little red, Chen Xiao comforted her.

"Don't mention Aunt Wang's past anymore."

Then Chen Xiao went straight to the point.

"Aunt Wang, are you introducing a date to Jia Dongxu today?"

"Yes, since you asked about this, are you going to get married too?"

"That's right. You're not young anymore. It's time for you to get married. Since you're so handsome now, Auntie Tianwang will introduce you to a good one next time."

"No need to introduce, I think Qin Huairu is good." Chen Xiao said, pointing at Qin Huairu behind Aunt Wang.

"I know Jia Dongxu looks down on Qin Huairu because she has a rural household registration, but I, Chen Xiao, don't mind. True and affectionate love can overcome the gap in status."

As he spoke, Chen Xiao looked at Qin Huairu lovingly.

At this time, Qin Huairu's little face became even redder, and even her chest rose and fell slightly.

"But Aunt Wang has already introduced her to Jia Dongxu, and Jia Zhang also gave me a lot of things..." Aunt Wang said in confusion.

Chen Xiao directly stuffed the meat bun in the oil paper bag into Aunt Wang's arms.

"Here are ten meat buns. I'll give you another five dollars after you finish the job..."

Now that things have come to this, Aunt Wang can no longer refuse.

After all, Jia Zhang was a little dissatisfied with Qin Huairu just now, so it would be better to introduce her to Chen Xiao.

"Aren't you embarrassing me, Aunt Wang?... Well... forget it. Seeing that you two are so in love, I won't get involved."

Then she took Qin Huairu's little hand and whispered to her.

"You're lucky that Chen Xiao likes you. Not only is he handsome, but he's also a family member of a martyr. He also has a stable job at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, earning nearly 20 yuan a month."

"Qin Huairu, you must seize this opportunity. If you miss it, you won't get it again."

After saying that, Aunt Wang happily left with the meat buns.

At this time, only Chen Xiao and Qin Huairu were left.

Looking at the shy Qin Huairu in front of me, it is hard to associate her with the vampire in the TV series.

Actually, if you think about it, in this era, a widow with so many children has no choice but to suck blood. She does it all to survive.

After all, most widows in period dramas are like this. For example, Liang Ladi in "Man of Iron, Rice of Steel" is just like Qin Huairu, always sucking Nan Yi's blood.

"Have you ever had Quanjude's roast duck?" Chen Xiao asked.

Qin Huairu shook her head at first, then answered with a red face and lowered her head.

"No... I haven't eaten there. I heard that a roast duck there is quite expensive, costing several dollars."

"Since you haven't eaten it before, let's go eat it now and let you taste Quanjude's roast duck."

Chen Xiao took Qin Huairu's hand and asked her to sit on the back seat of the bicycle.

The first time Qin Huairu was shaken by a member of the opposite sex, her face turned even redder.

Riding on bicycles, Chen Xiao took Qin Huairu to ride on the Old Drum Tower Street.

……

On the other side is the Jia family.

"Mom, I've made up my mind. I want to marry Qin Huairu."

Jia Zhang sighed. She still felt that Qin Huairu, who had a rural household registration, was not worthy of her Dongxu.

"But she's from the countryside!"

"What's wrong with having a rural household registration? I just like Qin Huairu, and I will marry no one else in this life!!!" Jia Dongxu said in a firm tone.

"Well...whatever, it's come to this. As your mother, I won't say any more. As long as you don't regret it later, that's all that matters."

With his mother's support, Jia Dongxu was very excited, and then he told Qin Huairu about her request.

"Mom... Qin Huairu just made a request. In addition to the five-yuan betrothal gift, she also wants a sewing machine..."

When Jia Zhang heard Qin Huairu asking for a sewing machine, she sat up directly from the bed.

"What? Five dollars for a betrothal gift is fine, but you even dare to ask for a sewing machine? How can she, a country girl, deserve it?"

"No! I don't agree. There's no way I can get a sewing machine!!!"

"Mom..." Jia Dongxu said coquettishly.

"The betrothal gift is only five dollars, take it or leave it!"

Then, Jia Zhang stopped paying attention to Jia Dongxu, picked up the basin and went out to wash clothes.

Jia Dongxu looked dejected. He kicked the door frame and slammed the door shut.

"If you don't agree, I'll go on a hunger strike! I don't care. I, Jia Dongxu, will marry Qin Huairu in this life!!!"

Chen Xiao brought Qin Huairu to the entrance of Quanjude.

After getting off the car, Qin Huairu looked up at the tall plaque of Quanjude.

She had heard old people talk about Quanjude's roast duck before, and heard that one duck cost 8-10 yuan.

I should have known that the people in her village only earned a few dollars a year.

At this time, Qin Huairu was a little hesitant and stood at the door of Quanjude, reluctant to leave.

"Why don't we go to another place? I heard the roast duck at Quanjude is really expensive, several dollars a piece."

"You're already thinking about your man before you even get married? Don't worry, your man and I have money."

After saying that, Chen Xiao took Qin Huairu's hand and walked into the door of Quanjude.

"Boss, give me a roast duck!"

"Please come in, sir!"

The waiter asked Chen Xiao and the other man to sit down, took the towel off his shoulder and wiped the table a few times, then shouted inside.

"Two distinguished guests at table 2, one roast duck."

The waiter then brought a pot of tea and filled it for Chen Xiao and the other person, then went off to work somewhere else.

Sitting face to face, Qin Huairu felt a little reserved.

This is somewhat inconsistent with my impression of Qin Huairu. Doesn’t she talk a lot in the TV series?

I guess Qin Huairu is still a virgin, so she is a little reserved.

"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Chen Xiao. I'm the only one left in my family. I have no brothers or sisters. My father died heroically while aiding Korea. My mother worked at a steel mill and later died in a work-related accident. I took over my mother's job and am currently an apprentice. My monthly salary, including food allowance, is 17.5 yuan."

Chen Xiao began to introduce himself.