Reborn in 1966

Chapter 101 Entrusting a Matchmaker

Zheng Tonghui witnessed Li Lei's relationship with Zhou Manni. Of the four female educated youths who came, Zheng Tonghui thought Zhou Manni was the most beautiful and always hoped to have a further relationship with her. However, because of Li Lei's presence, Zhou Manni didn't even give Zheng Tonghui a second glance. Now, Zhou Manni left Li Lei to join the army and was going back to the city to work. It was Li Lei who had to continue toiling in the fields. Zheng Tonghui was overjoyed.

That afternoon, after work, Zheng Tonghui started mocking Li Lei again. Li Lei didn't take him seriously and acted as if he hadn't heard him. But then Zheng Tonghui got really into it.

Zheng Tonghui said, "Li Lei, you're just a peasant, how could you associate with Zhou Manni? Don't you even know your own worth? What kind of person is Zhou Manni, and what kind of person are you? Zhou Manni has been gone for quite some time now, has she written you a single letter? You're just so stubborn."

Qi Xiangnan couldn't stand it anymore and said, "Zheng Tonghui, we all know you're going back to the city. What's the point of you still saying these things here?"

Zheng Tonghui said, “It’s interesting, how could it not be interesting? I know you look down on me and think I’m not good at my job. So what if I am good at my job? If I am good at my job, I have to keep working here. Qi Xiangnan, don’t try to persuade me. I just don’t like Li Lei.”

Li Lei, who was washing clothes by the well in the yard, said, "Zheng Tonghui, I don't need you to like me. And don't keep barking like a mad dog. I really don't take you seriously."

Zheng Tonghui said, "Whether you see it or not, I'm going back to the city anyway. I know your family's situation isn't good, and you don't have much hope of going back to the city. I just don't understand. You know your own worth, so why are you hanging out with Zhou Manni?"

Li Lei said, "Zheng Tonghui, whether Zhou Manni and I end up together is none of your business. You're a man, why are you so petty?"

Zheng Tonghui said, "I'm petty, I just can't stand you." As he spoke, Zheng Tonghui walked from the doorway to the well, stood next to Li Lei, and said softly, "Li Lei, you're just destined to be poor. You have no hope of going back to the city. I advise you to find a wife here and have a few more poor kids."

After listening to Zheng Tonghui's words, Li Lei stared straight at Zheng Tinghui. Zheng Tonghui felt a little uneasy. It is said that honest people do not get angry easily, but when they do, they are very scary. He wondered if he had really touched a nerve with Li Lei. This look in his eyes was quite creepy.

Li Lei said softly, "Zheng Tonghui, are you done?"

Zheng Tonghui nodded blankly, and Li Lei gave a soft "hmm," then suddenly raised his clenched fist and punched Zheng Tonghui in the face...

Qi Xiangnan and Li Lei went to the grove behind the brigade headquarters. Qi Xiangnan took out a pack of cigarettes for Li Lei and said, "Have one."

Li Lei glanced at the cigarette pack in Qi Xiangnan's hand, took out a cigarette, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and said, "You smoke now?"

Qi Xiangnan also lit one up and put it in his mouth, saying, "I only smoke one when I'm extremely bored; it's not a big addiction."

Li Lei took out a matchbox from his pocket, struck a match, lit cigarettes for the two of them, took a deep drag, and said, "I'm incredibly bored every day. I haven't found anything interesting since I came here."

Qi Xiangnan said, "You clearly know what kind of people those two are, yet you still act like them. Is it worth it?"

Li Lei said, "I don't want to argue with them, but they crossed my line, and I won't allow them to insult me ​​like that."

Qi Xiangnan said, "Zhou Manni has already joined the army, so try to be more open-minded in the future."

Li Lei smiled and said, "Xiang Nan, to be honest, I didn't have any feelings for Zhou Manni. It was all Zhou Manni's own idea. I felt that she was just a young girl with a bad family background, so I helped her if I could. Zhou Manni told me that because of her family's bad background, she would probably have to stay here forever. If she couldn't go back to the city, and I couldn't go back either, she would live with me. I really didn't take it to heart."

Qi Xiangnan said, "That's good. To be honest, I don't think it's easy for me to go back to the city. But I don't want to settle down in the countryside right now. I want to see when this situation will end. Even if I get older, I don't care."

Li Lei said, "I haven't asked you yet, is your family's background bad?"

Qi Xiangnan said, “My father was in the army. After he was overthrown, he was isolated and investigated. I was just starting high school at the time and didn’t have time to join the army. Otherwise, I could have stayed in the army like my older brothers. My father’s comrades tried to send me here to work in the countryside, telling me to behave well and try to join the army here. But judging from the situation, I think it’s unlikely.”

Li Lei said, "If I can't go back to the city, I can't go back. As long as I work hard here, I won't starve. I'll think about it some more and then settle down here."

Qi Xiangnan said, "Have you thought this through? If you settle down here, it will be troublesome to go back to the city later."

Li Lei said, "Xiang Nan, you know my family's situation. Not to mention that my family is not well-off, even if there were a quota for returning to the city, my younger brothers would have to be given priority. I have been taught since I was a child to give way to my brothers. Besides, the conditions in the rural areas where my brothers were sent are much harsher than here. Do you think I would have the nerve to go back to the city?"

Qi Xiangnan said, "However, Shenjia Village is a good place. There's not much empty talk here. If you work hard here, you can live a good life. That's for sure."

Li Lei said, "When you're less busy in a couple of days, come with me to Grandma Hua's house and see if she can help me find a wife."

Qi Xiangnan said, "Alright, alright, are you really serious? Just listen to Zheng Tonghui's words and don't take them to heart. Besides, they're leaving soon. Are you really going to do the same as them?"

Li Lei said, "I'm not trying to spite Zheng Tonghui. I just think this place is pretty good, and it would be nice to settle down and start a family here."

Qi Xiangnan said, "Li Lei, I think you're a real man now. You did this for Zhou Manni, right? From now on, we're brothers."

Li Lei said, "I'm doing this for myself, not for Zhou Manni. Xiang Nan, we should take control of our own lives, not in the hands of others. I'm already 23 years old, and I feel it's time for me to settle down. This place has a simple and honest folk culture, and it's a place where I can live a good life."

Seeing that Li Lei's mind was made up, Qi Xiangnan inquired about what gifts to bring to the matchmaker's house, then went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy four kinds of gifts, and accompanied Li Lei to Aunt Hua's house.

After explaining their purpose, Aunt Hua was in a dilemma because Li Lei was not a local, and it wouldn't be easy for him to find a local wife. You see, some of these educated youth had already returned to the city. If he went back to the city, would the wives in the countryside still want him? Even if he could go back to the city with her, the villagers knew their place. What if he was looked down upon after going there?

Aunt Hua reluctantly agreed to Li Lei's request. Qi Xiangnan said to Aunt Hua, "Grandma Hua, you know what kind of person Leizi is..."

Aunt Hua said, "Xiang Nan, you and Lei Zi are not strangers, so let me tell you something. Lei Zi wants to find a wife here, which is a good thing. But look, many of the educated youth have returned to the city. If Lei Zi goes back to the city, what will happen to his wife?"

Li Lei said, "Aunt Hua, I have several children at home, so I guess I have nothing to do with going back to the city."

Aunt Hua said, "I still feel it's not safe. There's no such thing as a done deal. You say you're going back to the city now, which doesn't concern you. But what if the policy changes and you educated youth are forced to go back to where you came from? Will you go back or not? What will happen to your wife if you leave? If she's willing to go with you, what will your whole family eat and drink when you go back? If others leave but you don't, can you feel at ease?"

Qi Xiangnan also looked at Li Lei with a troubled expression. Li Lei sat on Aunt Hua's kang with his head down, thought for a few minutes, and then said very firmly, "Aunt Hua, I've made up my mind. I'm going to settle down here. They say a man's word is his bond. This will be my home from now on. I won't go back to the city. I'll stay in our Shenjia Village with my wife and children."

Aunt Hua said, "In that case, Grandma Hua will keep an eye out for you. If we find a suitable one, we'll talk about it and see."

On the way back to the dormitory, Qi Xiangnan said to Li Lei, "Leizi, this is a major life event. I think you've been a bit hasty."

Li Lei said, "What's so hasty about this? People have to work to live, and it doesn't matter where you work."

Qi Xiangnan didn't say anything and followed Li Lei, who was walking back with his head down, back to the dormitory.

After Qi Xiangnan and Li Lei left, Aunt Hua locked the door and went to Aunt Shengquan's house.

Ever since Shen Peihong's daughter, Er Ya, told her that she wanted to find a son-in-law to live with her family, Aunt Hua had been keeping an eye on things. Now that Er Ya was almost eighteen, she wondered if she could introduce her to Li Lei. But she wasn't sure, so she thought she should talk to the Sheng family first to see how to connect the two families.

After finishing work in autumn, there was still a sliver of light on the horizon. With that last bit of light, everyone would quickly wash up, cook, eat, and then go to bed. Otherwise, burning the midnight oil would waste kerosene, which was money to be had.

The Sheng family had just finished eating and cleared the table. Several girls were here following the Sheng family's study group. Aunt Hua saw that Meng Ruolan and Er Ya were also there. Even Pei Yin from the Sheng family was there with her little sister Pei Jing, who was holding a needle and sewing in a very professional manner.

Aunt Hua thought it was a good idea to talk to Er Ya about it and see if Er Ya was willing, and what she meant by "willing".

When Aunt Shengquan saw Aunt Hua arrive, she quickly led her to the kang (heated brick bed) and said to the girls who were holding batons, "Put down your batons and go to Jinhua's room to talk. I want to talk to your Grandma Hua."

Aunt Hua was happy to see several girls who looked like sixteen, seventy, or eighteen years old, each as beautiful as a flower. After they all left, she said to Aunt Shengquan, "Looking at these girls makes me realize how old I am. I'm already over fifty."

Aunt Shengquan said, "That's right, Aunt Hua, your Shengkui needs to find a wife, doesn't he?"

Aunt Hua said, "The last letter said that he should be promoted first and then look for someone else. He said that the daughter of one of their leaders' relatives works in their health team and has a bit of a crush on him. As for children's affairs, I won't get involved unless I'm asked to help. If I get involved, I can't do what I want and people will complain."

Aunt Shengquan said, "Aunt Hua, that's why we all like talking to you. You don't look very old, but you are more open-minded than us, and we are willing to listen to what you say."

After exchanging a few more casual words, Aunt Hua said, "I called you here today because there's something I want to discuss with you."