Xie Jinlan actually didn’t know Lu Shaotang at all; she hadn’t even exchanged a word or a glance with him.

Her entire perception and impression of him came from hearsay and her own imagination.

She imagined Lu Shaotang as a distinguished officer with a high salary, tall and handsome, all of which were extremely appealing to her.

He represented a good match, not as a person, but as an ideal symbol.

She had always harbored a sense of discontent: if Lu Shaotang ever looked at her, he would surely like her.

Now that he was finally looking at her as a living person standing right in front of her, she suddenly felt weak in the knees.

Although it was just a fleeting glance, less than a second, the overwhelming sense of pressure made her frown, her hair stand on end, and her back feel cold.

She didn’t understand why she felt this way.

It was terrifying!

Soldiers are indeed rough; they are frightening!

No, she couldn’t be with someone like that.

Inside the house, everyone had made way for Lu Shaotang to enter.

“Wow, he is really tall. He has to lower his head to come in.”

“Don’t say, just by his looks and height, he matches well with his third cousin.”

“Hey, do you think he might be abusive? He looks pretty fierce.”

Lin Shu hadn’t expected Lu Shaotang to actually come.

She stood up from the edge of the kang and extended her hand to introduce him to the secretary’s wife and others.

Lu Shaotang, however, instinctively reached out to take her hand, naturally holding it and not letting her withdraw.

Lin Shu wasn’t embarrassed, just proceeded with the introductions.

The secretary’s wife and the brigade leader’s daughter-in-law complimented Lu Shaotang on his good looks and upright demeanor.

Other curious neighbors snickered and whispered.

“Hey, look, they’re even holding hands.”

“Such young people, so clingy.”

In those days, no matter how bold a woman was outside, even daring to flirt with men or make lewd jokes, she would still feel embarrassed to hold hands with her man in public.

It was so awkward, so shy!

She could scold men, but holding hands? No way.

Look at this young couple, so sweet it’s almost unbearable.

They even rushed to pick her up, while her own man wouldn’t come to fetch her no matter how late it was.

Lu Shaotang arrived, and Lin Shu took the opportunity to chat with Old Lady Xie.

After bidding farewell, they had a meal of hand-pulled noodles and left with thirty yuan, a quilt, and two pounds of cotton.

Oh, and they didn’t forget the scissors; the child carried them.

Although they hadn’t brought any gifts when they arrived, they left with so much, making it look like a return gift, which surprised those who didn’t know.

“Wow, the Old Xie family is so generous! They gave their granddaughter so many return gifts?”

“It’s really unlike them to be so generous. To be this generous to their daughter?”

“Really? That’s the eldest daughter-in-law borrowing from the Lu family’s estate, for years. The Lu family’s old lady was worried she’d forget, so she had to remind her.”

“Oh, having to go to the door like that is so embarrassing. The Lu family’s old lady isn’t afraid of people saying she’s not giving her daughter-in-law’s relatives face?”

“So what? If anyone owes us thirty yuan, no matter who it is, I can get it back. Who cares about face these days?”

Aunt Xie was fuming.

So Lin Shu didn’t bring anything and just had a meal of hand-pulled noodles, and she got nothing beneficial from it?

What kind of generosity is this, if money can be returned so easily?

Regardless of her feelings, her face remained smiling and friendly, constantly inquiring about Lu Shaotang—was he hungry?

Offering him hand-pulled noodles.

She wanted to keep Lu Shaotang for dinner.

She wanted to get closer to Lu Shaotang, hoping he could help arrange for her eldest grandson to join the army or find a job for her younger son.

Naturally, Lu Shaotang refused, saying it was getting late, and his parents were waiting at home.

Panpan said, “Grandma-Aunt, I’ll come back to visit you later.”

Tiantian stuffed a piece of milk candy into Old Lady Xie’s mouth in front of many people.

The onlooking women envied, “Look at these two children, they’re really filial.”

Old Lady Xie felt pleased.

Although the family had lost money today, it didn’t affect what she had on hand, so she didn’t feel any loss.

Lu Shaotang carried the two children out, signaling Lin Shu to follow and avoid the crowd.

Lin Xia was stifling her laughter, thinking they should leave quickly.

These two kids were really something.

Although the Xie family didn’t give the children New Year’s money, they didn’t give anything to the Xie family’s children either.

It was truly the children’s contribution, saving the family money.

Old Lady Xie personally used her cane to see them off.

As they reached the courtyard gate, Secretary Jie, his eldest son, and the brigade leader came over, warmly greeting Lu Shaotang.

“Come, let’s go to the house and have a drink. We, your father, the brigade secretary, and the brigade leader are all old friends.”

Lu Shaotang was impatient with these social niceties.

If they were friends, you could just—

He also showed a faint smile for his wife and children but firmly declined.

The secretary’s wife handed out money to the two children.

The brigade leader’s daughter-in-law also gave some.

Each gave fifty cents.

This was a customary gesture, presenting money to children as New Year’s gifts while maintaining social connections with adults.

The two children, of course, refused!

Their grandparents had said, “No work, no reward.”

Although they were curious about the New Year’s money, they insisted it should come from their own relatives.

If relatives didn’t give it, it was considered stingy. If outsiders gave, it was unacceptable.

Lin Shu thanked them one by one.

Since Lu Shaotang didn’t like small talk, she made sure to express gratitude meticulously, covering all aspects of politeness and respect.

This made the secretary, brigade leader, and others feel quite comfortable, both in appearance and in their hearts.

At the village entrance, Secretary Xie said enviously, “Your commune is doing well this year; you’ll be able to buy a few more tractors. Our commune also wants to buy, but nowadays, it’s really hard to get them even if you have money.”

Lin Shu could only take this as envy.

After all, she didn’t have the clout to ask Director Gu from the tractor factory for a spot, right?

A few more words and they reached the village entrance.

Lu Shaotang said to Secretary Xie and others, “Please stay here.”

Secretary Xie replied, “Shaotang, give my regards to your father and your commune’s secretary.”

Lu Shaotang agreed.

It was rare for Xie Laotai to be so active in the cold weather, as she warmly said goodbye to Lin Shu and the children, “Come and visit often.”

To outsiders, it seemed very warm and affectionate.

From afar, Xie Erjiu(Second Uncle Xie) and Erjiu Ma(Second Aunt Xie) held two crumpled paper bills, intending to give them as New Year’s money to the children.

Second Aunt Xie urged him, “Hurry up, hurry up, they’re leaving.”

But Second Uncle Xie hesitated, feeling embarrassed to push through the crowd.

In the end, he watched as Lu Shaotang, standing out among the crowd, slowly disappeared.

When they returned to the Lin family home, it was already dark.

Lin Mu quickly set the table, “You must be hungry. Come and eat.”

Lin Fu hurried to get them inside, telling the children to warm up, “You must be freezing. Take off your shoes and cover yourself with a blanket.”

Panpan and Tiantian reported on the visit to their great-grandparents.

“Great-grandmother is doing well, no issues at all.”