Chapter 21 : This is probably the first one in the entire commune!

The morning light was just breaking, and a few stars were still twinkling in the sky.

Xiao Yuyan returned from town with a basket full of engagement gifts.

“Mom, I’m back.”

Xiao Yuyan opened the door, and Lin Lan had already prepared breakfast.

“Hurry up and wash your hands and eat. After breakfast, we’ll head to the educated youth site.”

“Your Aunt Hongxia will bring her sisters-in-law and her two little sons along with their belongings.”

After saying this, she glanced at the backpack and felt relieved when she saw something sticking out.

Lin Lan was always afraid of her daughter being wronged, even though her own son was a very good person.

But the Xiao family today was only the Xiao family of Xiangyang Village.

“Okay, Mom!”

“I’ll take everything out and sort them, so everyone can carry one.”

Xiao Yuyan neatly placed everything into the basket.

Not long after breakfast, Aunt Hongxia arrived with three people.

“Sister Lin, shall we set off now?”  

Aunt Hongxia couldn’t hide her happiness, she felt even more joyful than when her own son proposed.

However, her two sons were still too young to discuss marriage. If not, she would have missed this opportunity when she returned from the county school yesterday.

She had brought them along specifically to see Xiao Yuyan.

Aunt Hongxia really liked Xiao Yuyan. He was an officer at such a young age. Her husband said it was a high-ranking position, but only a few people truly understood its significance.

Alas, she didn’t have a daughter at home only sons. Otherwise, she would have tried to bring Xiao Yuyan into her own family.

As soon as the door opened, Aunt Hongxia saw six baskets placed in the yard.

Rice, flour, pork belly, fabric, tobacco, alcohol, candy, and pastries.

This sight left all four of them dumbfounded.

It seemed the Xiao family truly valued Ye Suiwan!

This was the first time she had seen such generous engagement gifts. No, not just her perhaps the entire Xiangyang Village and even the whole commune!

After all, she had never seen what happened in other villages.

“Aunt Hongxia, Aunt Zaohua, Qingfeng, Qingshan, thank you for your hard work today.”

As Xiao Yuyan spoke, he walked up to them and handed each a red envelope and a handful of candy.

As for additional gifts for Aunt Hongxia, his mother had taken care of them.

This was just his personal token of appreciation.

“You, this child, we don’t need this, we’re happy to help!”  

Aunt Hongxia quickly responded.

“How can I not share the good fortune?”

“Let’s go!”

“The men will carry the heavy items, and you and the aunts take the lighter ones.”

Xiao Yuyan didn’t allow them to refuse, stuffing the gifts into their hands before grabbing the heaviest item first a 20-kilogram bag of flour.

He knew that Ye Suiwan was from Beijing in the north and might prefer pasta, so he had prepared more flour than anything else.

Seeing this, the others quickly tucked away their red envelopes and candies and began picking up the items, smiling even more than before.

“Sister Lin, your Yuyan is truly amazing. You two should learn from him in the future,” Aunt Hongxia said.

“Yes, Mother!”  

Jiang Qingfeng and Jiang Qingshan replied in unison.

Along the way, villagers working in the fields cast curious glances at them.

When someone saw what they were carrying, their expressions became more complicated.

“That… that really is the Xiao family’s boy. You know, he and Ye Suiwan are a perfect match.”

“Yes, he’s an officer. Even if Ye Suiwan is from Beijing, he is worthy of her!”

“That’s right. The daughter of the Shu family must be heartbroken.”

“Tsk tsk, they went to visit the county town, and when they returned, the son-in-law they had chosen was already taken. Do you think they’re cursing in anger right now?”

“Look at that basket, it’s filled with all sorts of good things, isn’t it?”

“Oh my god, this is the first time I’ve seen so many precious items.”

—

Ye Suiwan naturally had no idea about these discussions.

When they arrived at the entrance of the educated youth site, Aunt Hongxia knocked on the door.

“Is Ye Suiwan here?”

Just as she finished speaking, Jiang Sui opened the door.

Behind him were Zhou Jingjing and Miao Yan, who had taken time off to accompany Ye Suiwan.

“Aunties, please come in. Everyone, please come in.”

Jiang Sui knew that Ye Suiwan truly wanted to get married, so his attitude naturally became more welcoming.

He only hoped that the Xiao family would treat his sister well in the future.

Although he had inquired about the Xiao family’s background and received good feedback about everyone, who knew what happened behind closed doors?

So, he was still worried especially for Ye Heng, who had loved his sister dearly since childhood.

“Hey, we’re here to deliver the engagement gifts.”

“Come in, come in!”  

Aunt Hongxia walked into the yard, followed by the others.

“Let’s go to the main room.”

At the educated youth site, there was a room specifically used for receptions and meetings. It was also used as a dining room in winter.

Ye Suiwan came out, greeting each person by name and nodding politely to those she didn’t know.

“Ye Suiwan, if you have any other requests, just let us know.”

“Sister Lin and Yuyan are both easy to talk to. Look at how sincere they are.”

“I’m telling you, girl, you’re the first in our Xiangyang Village, and probably even in the whole commune.”

She wasn’t entirely sure if that was true, but she said it anyway.

That was just how Aunt Hongxia thought.

“Auntie, I don’t have any requests. I’m very satisfied.”

“I’ve also prepared my own dowry, including the betrothal gifts. When the time comes, I’ll take them back.”

Ye Suiwan hadn’t expected Xiao Yuyan to prepare such an extravagant gift. It seemed like there was a lot of white flour, had he found out that she liked pasta? But she also liked rice.

Jiang Sui naturally noticed this detail and felt even more satisfied with Xiao Yuyan.

After all, as her only family member here, he had to be cautious.

Zhou Jingjing and Miao Yan were also very shocked but didn’t show it on their faces. Especially Miao Yan, who had to suppress her excitement and surprise to avoid embarrassing Ye Suiwan.

Ye Suiwan had allowed them to stay because she considered them friends.

“Sister Lin, Yuyan, look how wonderful Ye Suiwan is. Oh, your family is truly blessed!”

“Ye Suiwan, you know that Yuyan is only home to visit his family for a short time. The aunts have discussed some good dates. How about we wait for the marriage report to come in and choose the soonest possible date for the wedding?”

“Yuyan has prepared 200 yuan and the ‘three turns and one ring’ as the betrothal gift. Do you think that’s acceptable?”

When Aunt Hongxia heard this, she was completely stunned!

200 yuan! No one in this area, within ten miles, had ever given such a high amount. Even a bride price of 10 or 8 yuan was considered generous.

But when she thought about Ye Suiwan’s background, she felt that 200 yuan wasn’t much at all.

And the ‘three turns and one ring’ she hadn’t expected Xiao Yuyan to be ready for that as well.

But she knew he was in the military, so he would definitely have access to purchase coupons.

Aunt Hongxia felt that this matchmaking arrangement was the highlight of her life, something she could boast about forever.

“Okay.”

Ye Suiwan didn’t care much about the ‘three turns and one ring.’ She had told Xiao Yuyan this in private, so she wouldn’t say more at this moment.

“Alright, then it’s settled today. We should know the wedding date soon.”

“Then we’ll be heading back now.”

“Yuyan, help Ye Suiwan bring everything into her room!”

Aunt Hongxia had to go to work. Today, she would undoubtedly be the most popular woman in the village.