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Today, the close group of friends had their first open conversation about such matters, so Mingyuan and Mingcheng had no reservations. Zuo He would be their future brother-in-law, but whether their sister would agree depended on this young man’s abilities. They could only support and assist him, leaving the rest up to him.
Mingyuan chuckled, put his arm around Zuo He, and spoke up, “Kid, I’ll be your big brother from now on. Haha, who would’ve thought you’d reach this point. Bro, it’s my turn to take on a big role now.”
Seeing Mingyuan’s proud smile, Mingcheng playfully tapped his head, “You rascal, our little sister is still young. This matter needs to progress slowly. Besides, she hasn’t agreed yet. Why are you in such a rush? Maybe there are others pursuing her at school.”
As soon as Mingcheng finished speaking, Zuo He furrowed his handsome brows, “Bro, that’s a real concern. We’ll have to visit their school from time to time. Let’s see who dares to have any improper thoughts about Qianqian.”
At this point, Mingyuan felt some sympathy for Zuo He, “Brother, don’t worry. Qianqian is our girl. Only someone clueless would not see her worth. Our little sister’s main focus is on earning money and studying. Given the gender imbalance at their school, she probably wouldn’t even bat an eyelid. Rest assured, we’ll keep an eye on things for you.”
Zuo He happily embraced his future brother Mingyuan, saying, “Mingyuan, I want to thank you in advance. We are brothers, and brothers help each other, not outsiders.”
Taking advantage of the situation, Zuo He pulled his two brothers into his camp, and Mingcheng and Mingyuan wholeheartedly supported him.
“Of course, we are close brothers who grew up together. If we don’t help you, who will we help? We trust you completely. We’re even cautious about those men outside. You can rest assured. If my parents knew about your intentions, they would be thrilled,” Mingcheng assured.
Zuo He shook his head, “Let’s not tell Aunt and Uncle about this just yet. Let things progress naturally. Otherwise, Qianqian might feel awkward.”
Mingyuan couldn’t help but sigh. Zuo He truly understood his sister. Apart from caring about family and money, he hadn’t noticed any other interests Qianqian had. He realized Zuo He might face challenges in the future.
Feeling a tinge of sympathy, Mingyuan glanced at Zuo He, who responded with a charming smile.
“Brothers, please help whenever you can. I believe in the near future, we will be family. It’s already morning, your stomachs must be growling by now. Young people digest food quickly, can’t keep up with us old folks,” Zuo He said.
Eager to assist, Zuo He and his friends hurried to shower and eat. The speed at which they showered even surprised Hao Lianchun. It seemed they had barely gotten wet before rushing out.
Hao Lianchun arrived with his four brothers, bringing cotton and fabric vouchers for Zhang Lan. Despite economic development, these vouchers were still essential for purchasing goods.
Zhang Lan and her husband were delighted with the invaluable gifts Hao Lianchun brought. They had even contemplated buying some from the black market, but before they could act, Hao Lianchun arrived with them.
“Auntie, this is such a precious gift. We were worried yesterday, but you’ve brought them over. How will your family manage from now on?” Zhang Lan wondered.
Hao Lianchun affectionately patted her hand, “Silly Lan, at our age, a few changes of clothes are all we need. Our grandchildren still have their parents. Besides, these vouchers are issued every year. Hurry and use them to shop. I’ll go out later to inquire about the housing situation.”
Hao Lianchun also assigned tasks to the younger family members to gather information while conducting business, ensuring they had multiple sources of information.
The Wang family mobilized once again, with Wang Qian accompanying Zhang Lan to shop. With her space, Wang Qian was more efficient than a porter and saved money.
Mingyuan and Zuo He asked her to make a call back home to update them on Weiguo’s matters. They wanted Geng Lianhua and Zhang Wanyou to decide whether to hold Weiguo’s celebration in the capital or elsewhere. If they opted for tradition, the elderly couple should come early, and the banquet would be held at their residence.
Zhang Weiguo took Mingcheng and Zuo Hao to scout for a suitable house nearby while the rest continued with their business dealings.
When they returned in the afternoon, everyone had good news to share. Zhang Weiguo had found a house nearby for sale, but it was too small and located in a crowded courtyard shared with various families. Everything was communal, and he didn’t want his future wife to live in such conditions. Even if it meant borrowing money, he wanted to buy a better place.
Wang Qian organized the information they had gathered, listing details such as location, size, and condition of the houses. She handed the written information to Zhang Weiguo.
“Uncle, start looking at houses tomorrow. If there’s a suitable one, finalize it on the spot. Let’s get the house sorted before my mom and dad leave. Once they’re gone, we need to hurry and prepare the house. Time waits for no one. Remember to take Aunt Jianing to see the house tomorrow. After all, she’ll be the lady of the house, so consider her preferences,” Wang Qian advised.
Zhang Weiguo gratefully thanked the elders and younger family members present, “Thank you all. I’m lucky to have you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know when I’d find a house.”
Yang Nuo jokingly shouted to Zhang Weiguo, “Uncle, remember to treat us to a drink on the wedding day. Just to clarify, I want to drink the wine brewed by Qianqian.”
In good spirits, Zhang Weiguo playfully tapped Yang Nuo’s head, “You rascal, you know what’s good. It’s been a while since I had some. When the season comes, we’ll have Qianqian buy some grapes to make wine for you all. But for now, we’ll have to wait.”
It had been a while since Wang Qian had brought out the wine, as it wasn’t in season. To avoid suspicion, Zhang Lan refrained from serving it openly, so Wang Zhenhe and his wife had to sneak some sips in their space.
Wang Qian smiled at everyone and said, “Brother Yang Nuo, if we don’t have grape wine, we have plum wine here. But it’s freshly made, so you’ll have to wait until my uncle’s wedding day to taste it. Stay tuned for the flavor!”
Since it was the season for plums, there was no issue with serving the homemade plum wine. These plums were not bought but grown on trees in the space, giving Wang Qian confidence in the quality.
The money for the shopping trip was provided by the Wang family, and Zhang Weiguo had only two coins left. Although he had tried to return them, Wang Zhenhe refused to accept, understanding his financial situation. Wang Zhenhe suggested waiting for the dividend distribution before considering repayment, indicating that he wasn’t expecting the money back. It was more about making Zhang Weiguo feel better.
After organizing the items purchased that day, they realized they had covered most essentials. For anything they had overlooked, Zhang Lan instructed Wang Qian to provide money for the rest. They were set to depart the day after tomorrow, and Wang Qian suggested they rest at home until then.
The next day, Zheng Furong came to assist. In rural traditions, only individuals with both sons and daughters are supposed to be involved in making wedding quilts. This signifies a wish for the newlyweds to have both sons and daughters.
Since Grandpa Wu had children of both genders, it was fitting for Grandma Wu to work on the quilt, with Hao Lianchun assisting. Hao Lianchun helped with the cotton stuffing since Grandma Wu, lacking a daughter, had the desire but couldn’t actively participate. With her assistance, Zheng Furong’s work progressed more efficiently.
As for the banquet arrangements, Zuo He and his friends took charge and confidently assured they would seek help from the Bai family’s brothers. Wang Zhenhe trusted these youngsters and believed in their capabilities. Despite their young age, he was confident in their abilities to handle tasks effectively. With the presence of the elders, he was certain everything would be well taken care of.
Zhang Weiguo, accompanied by Bai Jianing, visited each house as per the information provided by Wang Qian. Bai Jianing was particularly pleased with a house closer to the Wang family, featuring three rooms and a separate courtyard. It offered a serene and convenient setting, with additional rooms for any visiting elders. Due to the owner’s work relocation, they had to sell the house.
The couple was satisfied with the house, finding it spacious enough and requiring minimal decoration. The homeowner even gave them some furniture, unable to move the larger pieces, effectively benefiting the young couple.
After negotiating the price, Zhang Weiguo and Bai Jianing agreed to finalize the deal in the afternoon, exchanging money and signing the contract with the seller.
Wang Qian noticed the joy on their faces when they returned, indicating that they had finalized the house.
“Uncle, how did it go? Have you decided on the house? Are you going to make the payment?” Wang Qian inquired.
Bai Jianing felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing this question. Zhang Weiguo had informed her that the house was a gift from her sister’s family, making her hesitant to have the Wang family cover the cost. However, with their current savings combined, they couldn’t afford even one room in the house.
Zhang Weiguo took Wang Qian’s hand, smiling subtly, “Qianqian, we’ve settled on the house not far from here. We plan to go over this afternoon to make the payment.”
Understanding his reluctance to bring up the financial aspect, Wang Qian nodded with a smile. She glanced playfully at Zhang Weiguo and said, “Uncle, I’ll go prepare the money now. You and Aunt Jianing can come inside and sit. I’ll go find my sister.”