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Outside, Zhou Guiyun and Han Shiguo’s Mother, along with Jiang Qian’s Father and Han Shiguo’s Father, had plenty to talk about. However, after more than an hour, Han Shiguo’s Father and Han Shiguo’s Mother decided it was time to leave.
As for the gifts Han Shiguo had brought, the Jiang family hesitated a little at first, but since it was a gesture of goodwill from the Han family, they finally accepted them.
By keeping Han Shiguo’s gifts, it was clear that no further words were needed.
Though neither family had discussed the matter of Han Shiguo and Jiang Qian directly, both understood each other without saying much.
And now, this task was left to Matchmaker Zhang, who would work between them, conveying their intentions and leaving room for flexibility.
So, Matchmaker Zhang came out, asking Han Shiguo’s Father, Han Shiguo’s Mother, and Han Shiguo to wait for her at the village entrance while she stayed behind.
“There’s no time today, but how about tomorrow? Let Shiguo take Qianqian to the city for a walk,” Matchmaker Zhang asked, smiling at Zhou Guiyun after the Han family had left.
Zhou Guiyun was in a great mood. She had a very good impression of the Han family. From what she could see, Han Shiguo’s Father and Han Shiguo’s Mother were kind-hearted people, not the mean-spirited type of in-laws.
Jiang Xiaogu knew this best, having been married to the Han family for over ten years.
If Han Shiguo’s Father and Han Shiguo’s Mother were scheming and deceitful, even if Han Shiguo were outstanding, she would never have returned to her parents’ house to talk about him.
But clearly, Han Shiguo’s Father and Han Shiguo’s Mother were good people.
That’s why Jiang Xiaogu was bold enough to take the lead on this matter.
Since the elders were good people, and Han Shiguo also met her standards as a potential son-in-law, Zhou Guiyun didn’t hesitate for a second before agreeing for her daughter, saying, “Alright, tomorrow, let your third sister-in-law take over the class. Let Qianqian go to the city with Shiguo for a walk. Just have Shiguo come pick her up.”
A woman of decisive nature like Zhou Guiyun didn’t hesitate when making decisions, and her straightforward agreement made Matchmaker Zhang’s smile grow even wider. “Shall I have Shiguo come around 8 a.m. tomorrow?”
“That works.”
After Zhou Guiyun agreed, Matchmaker Zhang wasted no time and headed straight to the village entrance.
Han Shiguo’s Mother quickly asked, “How did it go?”
“No problem, no problem! Shiguo, come to Jiang Qian’s house to pick her up at 8 a.m. tomorrow and take her around the city. If you can’t borrow a bicycle outside, just come by my house to borrow one. You know where I live, right?”
Han Shiguo replied, “My uncle has one. I’ll come on time tomorrow to pick her up.”
This quick and efficient response made Han Shiguo’s Father and Han Shiguo’s Mother exchange a look, both of them smiling.
They had thought he wasn’t in a hurry to get married, always saying he was too busy or unavailable when they tried to nudge him.
In fact, there was a period when Han Shiguo’s Mother couldn’t sleep well, constantly worrying about her younger son’s marriage.
A few times, she almost considered sending a telegram that read: Mother is critically ill, please return immediately!
The reason they didn’t end up sending the telegram to trick him into coming back was because, on two separate occasions, they called only to be told he was on a mission—so it was clear he was genuinely busy.
But no matter how busy he was, he couldn’t be too busy to get married!
They were anxious, but it didn’t help; he clearly didn’t take it seriously.
Now, though, it seemed he wasn’t so indifferent after all.
Look at him now, when he saw someone he liked, he was more attentive than anyone else!
Han Shiguo didn’t mind his parents’ teasing, and he looked in the direction of Jiang Qian’s home with a smile in his eyes.
A man of integrity wouldn’t be against marriage; it’s just that he hadn’t met someone who captured his heart until now.
But now that he had, of course, he was eager to bring the obedient young girl home as his bride.
He returned home with his parents.
The Han family left first, but Jiang Xiaogu (Jiang Qian’s aunt) didn’t rush to leave. Although she had come as a guest, it was a rare occasion for her to visit her family, and as the eldest sister-in-law, Zhou Guiyun insisted she stay for lunch before leaving.
Jiang Xiaogu (Jiang Qian’s aunt) didn’t stand on ceremony with her sister-in-law. They had a very close relationship, and it was Zhou Guiyun who had raised her like a daughter.
Even when she married into the well-off Han family in Han Family Village, it was her sister-in-law who had arranged the match with the matchmaker. Zhou Guiyun had even personally inquired about the family, and once she confirmed they were a good match, only then did she feel at ease letting her marry.
People often said that Zhou Guiyun was more like a mother than a sister-in-law, and there was no exaggeration in that.
Jiang Xiaogu was deeply grateful to her older brother and sister-in-law for everything they had done for her.
Now that she had the chance to repay them, she was naturally happy. After the Han family left, she smiled and asked, “Sister-in-law, what do you think of Han Shiguo? Are you satisfied?”
Zhou Guiyun smiled and said, “His external conditions are good, but whether he’s a good match for Qianqian (Jiang Qian) depends on her feelings. She’ll have to take a good look for herself.”
When Jiang Xiaogu saw her sister-in-law’s response, she knew that the match was as good as settled.
She then went on to tell her sister-in-law more about Han Shiguo’s situation, “This man, you’ve seen for yourself, so I won’t repeat things. But there are some details I’ll share with you. Han Shiguo is twenty-six this year, he’s a regular at the battalion, earning seventy yuan a month. The most important part is, once he gets married, the Han family will separate their family!”
“Really?” Zhou Guiyun responded with surprise.
She had already learned about his age and military rank, and while seventy yuan a month was a decent salary that certainly made an impression, what Zhou Guiyun cared about the most was the matter of the family division.
The high salary of the son-in-law and the division of the family property was definitely a good thing.
As a mother, who wouldn’t want the best for their daughter?
As long as her daughter is happy, Zhou Guiyun didn’t care if others gossiped about her; she wasn’t bothered by it!
Jiang Xiaogu added, “I only heard from Aunt Han on the way here today, but it sounds like after the marriage, Qianqian will need to follow the army.”
Zhou Guiyun had no objections to that, “If it works out, it’s only right for Qianqian to go with Shiguo. How could a newlywed couple be living separate lives?”
“Following the army is good. There, she’ll be in charge of her own life, and there won’t be any issues with mother-in-law and daughter-in-law or sister-in-law problems!” Jiang Xiaogu said, her face beaming with joy when she saw her sister-in-law seemed to be in favor of the match. There was no need to say anything more.
She then noticed her niece standing at the door and called her over, “Qianqian, take your time and get to know Shiguo better. Your aunt really has high hopes for you two!”
Jiang Qian’s face turned red.
“Tomorrow, go around the city and have a good look. If everything goes well, the Han family will probably come to propose soon. Once a suitable date is found, they’ll come to marry you,” Zhou Guiyun said, a mix of reluctance and happiness in her tone.
Jiang Qian had long adapted to local customs, including the fast-paced nature of marriage in this era. If two people were compatible, there was no hesitation—they would marry right away!
But she still feigned hesitation, “Isn’t it a bit too fast? We’ve only known each other for a few days. I don’t even know what kind of person he is. What if he turns out to be someone who beats his wife?”
“That’s absolutely impossible,” Zhou Guiyun said confidently. “The Han family doesn’t have that kind of tradition. Han Shiguo’s father listens to his wife, and his older brother is also someone who follows his wife’s lead. Don’t be fooled by how big and strong Shiguo looks. Based on my experience, he’s probably a ‘wife-controlled man.’ Besides, how much does he like you? Just look at the gifts he brought! I also heard from Matchmaker Zhang that besides the hundred in cash, forty-eight legs of gifts, he’s also preparing the ‘three turns and one sound,’ right? You won’t find anyone else in this area who can offer such a marriage gift. So, tell me, does Shiguo care about you or not?”
Jiang Qian also had to admit that Han Shiguo was indeed very pleased with her.
So, if things felt right tomorrow, she would marry him!