RYEY – Chapter 195 A Woman Who Knows the Times

“Why don’t you go home? My eldest, Damao, is about to start school. He still has several years to study—don’t hold up your daughter.”

Cuihua grew a little impatient. She still wanted to go to Cheng Qiao’s house to help, since the place had been burned and cleaning it would be troublesome.

“And what about Ermao? Ermao’s almost sixteen, right? Should start looking for a bride.”

“Ermao can wait. Let Damao get married first.”

Cuihua brushed the dust off her clothes and was about to leave. Chen Weidang wore a stern face, and the other village women didn’t dare approach, leaving disappointed.

Once the house was finally quiet, Damao also sent Ermao out, then took out the scarf and snacks that Cuihua had specially bought for him, rolled them together, tucked them under his arm, and ran toward the location chosen by the educated youth (Educated Youth).

Han Chunmei held a piece of dark green cotton fabric, making clothes for little Cheng Li. The cloth and cotton had, of course, been given to her by Cheng Qiao, and the clothes she made were truly beautiful.

“Sister Chunmei, making new clothes for little Cheng Li again?”

Zhang Yuefang smiled, holding a frozen pear as she started eating. It had been sent by Cheng Qiao, after all, so she couldn’t just let Han Chunmei’s efforts go unrewarded.

Han Chunmei generously placed the frozen pear on a small table in the dorm. Anyone could take it, but everyone was thoughtful—if they ate something from Han Chunmei, they’d offer something in return.

“Zhang Yuefang, Chen Damao is looking for you.”

Zhao Xiaobao knocked on the door. Zhang Yuefang blushed, almost choking on her frozen pear, yet her heart fluttered with excitement.

“Go. Don’t be in a hurry to refuse; after this village, there’s no store like this.”

“Sister Chunmei, you…”

“Go.”

Han Chunmei snatched the frozen pear from Zhang Yuefang’s hand and pushed her outside. Zhao Xiaobao shook his head, smiling. He knew Damao had liked Zhang Yuefang for a long time but had never dared to speak.

Now that he dared, it was probably the university giving him courage. He thought that going to college made him worthy of Zhang Yuefang.

“Educated Youth Zhang, this is for you.”

Seeing Zhang Yuefang come out, Damao felt both happy and nervous. All the words he had prepared boiled down to the simplest one.

When Zhang Yuefang saw it was a gray wool scarf, she realized it wasn’t cheap and quickly pushed it away. One shouldn’t accept gifts from a young man for no reason.

But as she pushed it away, the snacks inside the scarf fell to the ground. Luckily, there was snow; otherwise, the treats would have gotten dirty.

“Why did you put snacks in the scarf?”

Zhang Yuefang hurriedly crouched to pick them up. Damao did the same, and their heads bumped together. Damao quickly stepped back, seeing Zhang Yuefang hold her head, wanting to help massage it, but he didn’t dare.

Suddenly, Chen Damao pulled Zhang Yuefang up, speaking seriously: “Educated Youth Zhang, I like you. Will you marry me?”

Zhang Yuefang’s face turned crimson. She wanted to nod but didn’t dare. Her eyes didn’t know where to look, and in the end, she shook her head.

Seeing Zhang Yuefang refuse, Damao panicked, forgetting all the groundwork he had prepared, and blurted out his plan:

“Educated Youth Zhang, I heard that after graduating from the military-agricultural university, one can stay and work in Chuncheng. I sincerely want to marry you. I’ll take you to Chuncheng, and we can live well together.”

“And… your parents’ opinion?”

“My father doesn’t care. My mother said the betrothal gift will be two hundred, and we’ll buy a bicycle too. If you agree, we can get engaged tomorrow.”

“No. I have no dowry. My family is poor… we’re… not suitable.”

Zhang Yuefang was really tempted. Marrying Damao meant escaping the rural household registration and becoming a city dweller. But what could she do in the city? And she had no dowry.

“I don’t care. My father said, ‘No one dies of poverty, only of laziness.’ Trust me, just trust me once, okay?”

Zhang Yuefang still shook her head, leaving without hesitation. She lacked the courage; the pride she had when first sent to the countryside had long been worn down to dust.

Watching her leave, Damao’s face showed disappointment. He regretted confessing too late. After the New Year, he would leave, and he might truly lose this young girl.

Zhao Xiaobao, who had been peeking from behind the door, finally laughed and stepped out, patting Damao on the shoulder. “Silly, that’s not how you pursue a girl.”

Damao was confused. What had he done wrong? Zhao Xiaobao put the snacks in his own mouth; the sweetness filled his taste buds. Delicious.

“Educated Youth Zhao, if you like this, it’s yours. Just show me a way, that’s all.”

Damao quickly handed all the snacks to Zhao Xiaobao, eyes full of hope. Zhao Xiaobao was from the city, and city people understood city people—surely he had a plan.

“Damao, do you remember how Huanzai pursued Cheng Qiao?”

Damao’s eyes lit up. Of course—it was persistent pursuit. The young girl was shy and couldn’t agree immediately. He couldn’t truly give up.

He handed the wool scarf to Zhao Xiaobao, asking for help. If Zhang Yuefang could accept the scarf, half the battle would be won.

Zhao Xiaobao nodded. Zhang Yuefang just lacked confidence. Once she realized Damao’s sincerity, she would naturally agree.

The hope of returning to the city was slim. Now that a road to the city lay before her, she would eventually understand.

Cuihua keenly sensed Damao’s difference. She wanted to ask, but Chen Weidang stopped her. Looking at his son, it was obvious he hadn’t yet won her over; otherwise, he would have acted differently.

“Child’s father, do you know which girl Damao likes?”

“Not sure. Probably a Educated Youth.”

“Educated Youth…”

Cuihua felt a bit displeased. Among those educated youth girls, only Han Chunmei was diligent; the others were delicate. But Han Chunmei was much older than Damao.

“I must ask.”

Cuihua tugged at Chen Damao to inquire. Damao initially didn’t want to speak, but under her coaxing, he finally revealed the name:

“Zhang Yuefang.”

“Mother, you won’t disagree, right?”

“Son, what do you see in her?”

Cuihua couldn’t understand her son. Zhang Yuefang wasn’t especially pretty, was too thin to seem likely to bear sons, and though not cunning, liked to take little advantages.

“Mother, I like her intelligence, her understanding of the times. I won’t be a mud-legged farmer anymore. I need a woman who knows when to advance and retreat.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve been paying attention to her. From her attitude toward Cheng Qiao, I know she’s a woman who seizes opportunities. Mother, would the daughter of that family in Xiangyang Village behave like this?”