"You guys should go back. My daughter Da Mao is going to school soon. She will study for several years. Don't let her delay your daughter."
Cuihua was getting a little impatient. She still wanted to go to Cheng Qiao's house to help. The house was a mess after being burned down, and it would be very troublesome to clean it up.
"What about Ermao? He's almost sixteen, so it's time for him to find a wife."
"It's too early for Ermao, let's wait until Damao gets married."
Cuihua brushed the dust off her clothes and was about to leave, while Chen Weidang had a fierce look on his face. The village women did not dare to come forward and could only leave in disappointment.
Seeing that the room was finally quiet, Damao drove Ermao out, took out the scarf and snacks that Cuihua had bought for him, rolled them up and stuffed them in his arms, then ran towards the educated youth point.
Han Chunmei was holding a piece of dark green cotton cloth in her hand and was making clothes for little Cheng Li. Of course, the cloth and cotton were given to her by Cheng Qiao. The clothes she made were really beautiful.
"Sister Chunmei, I'm making new clothes for little Chengli again."
Zhang Yuefang smiled as she took a frozen pear and started eating it. This was sent by Cheng Qiao, and she couldn't let Han Chunmei eat it for nothing.
Han Chunmei was very generous. She put the frozen pears on the small table in the dormitory and anyone who wanted to eat them could take them. But everyone was sensible and would always give some other food in return after eating Han Chunmei's frozen pears.
"Zhang Yuefang, Chen Damao is looking for you."
Zhao Xiaobao knocked on the door. Zhang Yuefang blushed. She almost choked to death on the half-eaten frozen pear, but she felt indescribably excited in her heart.
"Go ahead. Don't be so quick to refuse. If you miss this opportunity, you will miss it forever."
"Sister Chunmei, you..."
"Go ahead."
Han Chunmei snatched the frozen pear from Zhang Yuefang's hand and pushed her out. Zhao Xiaobao smiled and shook his head. He knew that Damao had liked Zhang Yuefang for a long time, but he had never dared to speak up.
The reason he dared to speak up now was probably because the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University gave him the courage. He felt that since he was able to go to university, he should be worthy of Zhang Yuefang.
"Zhang Zhiqing, this is for you."
When Damao saw Zhang Yuefang coming out, he was both happy and scared. All the words he had prepared long ago finally turned into the simplest words.
As soon as Zhang Yuefang saw that it was a grey wool scarf, she knew that it was worth a lot of money. She quickly pushed it away. How could she accept a gift from a gay man if she had not done anything for him
But when I pushed it open, the snacks in the scarf fell out. Luckily there was snow on the ground, otherwise the snacks would have been dirty, which would have been so sad.
"How do you put snacks in your scarf?"
Zhang Yuefang quickly squatted down to pick it up, and Chen Damao also squatted down. Their heads bumped into each other. Damao quickly stepped back and saw Zhang Yuefang covering her head. He wanted to rub it for her, but he didn't dare.
Suddenly, Chen Xiaomao pulled Zhang Yuefang up and spoke very seriously:
"Zhang Zhiqing, I love you. Will you marry me?"
Zhang Yuefang's face was already red. She wanted to nod, but she didn't dare to. She didn't know where to look, and finally shook her head.
When Damao saw Zhang Yuefang's refusal, he was so anxious that he forgot all the preparations he had made and directly stated his plan:
"Zhang Zhiqing, I heard that after graduating from the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, you can stay in Chuncheng to work. I really want to marry you. When the time comes, I will take you to Chuncheng and we will live a good life together."
"You...what about your parents' opinions?"
"My father doesn't care. My mother said that she will give 200 yuan as a betrothal gift and buy a bicycle. As long as you are willing, we can get engaged tomorrow."
"No, I don't have a dowry, and my family is poor. We are... not suitable."
Zhang Yuefang was really tempted. Marrying Damao would mean getting rid of her rural household registration and becoming a city dweller, but what could she do in the city, especially since she had no dowry.
"I don't care. My father once said that there are no people who die of poverty, only ghosts who die of laziness. Believe me, just believe me this time, okay?"
Zhang Yuefang still shook her head and turned away without any reluctance. She really had no confidence. The pride she had when she went to the countryside had long been worn out.
Damao looked at Zhang Yuefang who turned and left, with disappointment on his face. He regretted that he confessed his feelings too late. He would leave after the New Year, and then he would really lose this girl.
Zhao Xiaobao had been hiding behind the door and peeking. Finally, he couldn't help but came out with a smile and patted Damao on the shoulder, saying, "You idiot! How can you chase a girl like this?"
Damao didn't understand what he had done wrong. Zhao Xiaobao put the snack in his hand into his mouth. A sweet and greasy taste filled his taste buds. Mm, it was delicious.
"Zhao Zhiqing, if you like to eat this, then I'll give it to you. All I ask is that you show me the way."
Chen Damao quickly put all the snacks in his hand into Zhao Xiaobao's hand, with hope in his eyes. Zhao Xiaobao is a city person, city people understand city people, so he should have a good solution.
"Da Mao, do you still remember how Huanzi pursued Cheng Qiao?"
Chen Damao's eyes lit up, he understood, it was just a matter of pursuing her relentlessly. The girl was shy and embarrassed to agree right away, but he couldn't really give up.
He handed the woolen scarf to Zhao Xiaobao and asked for his help. As long as Zhang Yuefang could accept the scarf, half of the good thing would be done.
Zhao Xiaobao nodded. Zhang Yuefang just lacked confidence. Once she understood Chen Xiaomao's true feelings, she would naturally agree.
You know, the hope of returning to the city is very slim. Now there is a road leading to the city in front of her, and she will eventually figure it out.
Cuihua keenly sensed that Damao was different. She wanted to ask something, but was stopped by Chen Weidang. Judging from her son's appearance, he obviously had not yet dealt with the other party, otherwise he would have started yelling.
"Dad, do you know which girl Da Mao likes?"
"I'm not sure. They should be educated youth."
"Educated Youth..."
Cuihua was a little unhappy. Among the girls in the educated youth site, except Han Chunmei who was relatively hardworking, the other girls were all spoiled. But Han Chunmei was several years older than her own Damao.
"No, I have to go ask."
Cuihua pulled Chen Damao to ask him more. Chen Damao didn't want to say it at first, but couldn't resist Cuihua's coaxing and deception, and finally said Zhang Yuefang's name.
"Zhang Yuefang"
"Mom, you won't disagree, will you?"
"Son, what do you like about her?"
Cuihua was a little confused about her son. Zhang Yuefang was not really pretty and was too thin. She didn't look like someone who could give birth to a son. And although she was not a sneaky person, she always liked to take advantage of others.
"Mom, I like her intelligence and her ability to know when to act. I won't be a peasant anymore, and I need a woman who knows when to act and when to retreat to help me."
"How do you know?"
"I have always cared about her. From her attitude towards Cheng Qiao, I know that she is a woman who knows how to seize opportunities. Mom, the daughter of that family in Xiangyang Village would be like this."