Chapter 2

Finding a Partner

Feeling the softness of Xu Jiajia’s body against him, Shen Yuebai stiffened, his ears turning red.

Xu Jiajia pulled back from the man’s embrace and looked up at him.

Her eyes widened.

His features were sharp and defined.

Wearing a military uniform, he exuded an aura of righteousness, making him look even more handsome and imposing.

Xu Jiajia’s gaze was too intense, making Shen Yuebai feel uncomfortable. “Comrade Xu!”

Xu Jiajia’s heart skipped a beat.  He was not only good-looking, but his voice was also pleasant. “Who are you?”

Did he know the original owner?

This handsome guy, why did the original owner have no memory of him at all!

Shen Yuebai took a silver ring from his pants pocket. “I’m Shen Yuebai from the village next door. Is this yours?”

Xu Jiajia looked puzzled. “It’s mine, but how did it end up with you?”

This was the ring that Song Ran’s deceased grandfather had given to the original owner.

The ring wasn’t big, with a peach-shaped pattern on the face, rough craftsmanship, and a simple design.

Shen Yuebai explained truthfully, “I found it on the bank.”

Xu Jiajia remembered that on the day she fell into the river, the original owner had put the ring in her pocket.

“How did you know it was mine?”

Shen Yuebai said slowly, “I saw you wearing it.”

Xu Jiajia stared at Shen Yuebai’s face for a few seconds before suddenly leaning close to him. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

Her warm breath tickled Shen Yuebai’s face, making his cheeks burn.

“No.”

Xu Jiajia’s eyes lit up. “…”

Her father had said he would have a matchmaker introduce her to someone. But why go through that when she could find someone herself?

This guy was not only good-looking, but judging by his clothes, he seemed to be a soldier.

She decided to act on her impulse.

Xu Jiajia began to introduce herself. “My name is Xu Jiajia. I’m eighteen this year, an only child. Would you be interested in getting to know each other?”

Shen Yuebai understood immediately. “Don’t you have a boyfriend?”

Xu Jiajia calmly said, “I’m breaking off the engagement tomorrow. I’ll be single soon.”

These words reminded Shen Yuebai of the rumors circulating in the village. “Comrade Xu, did your fiancé break off the engagement because of the incident where you fell into the river?”

Xu Jiajia shook her head and said in a dismissive tone, “No, he has someone else he likes. That person is a real creep, a lovesick puppy.”

Shen Yuebai: “…”

He wanted to ask what a “lovesick puppy” was.

But he was afraid that asking would make him seem ignorant.

“I’ll bring a matchmaker to your house the day after tomorrow to discuss the engagement with your parents.”

He had saved Xu Jiajia from the river, and many people had seen it. Her reputation was affected, so he felt responsible.

Xu Jiajia was stunned. This was so fast, faster than the high-speed trains in the future. “Uh, don’t you think that’s a bit too fast?”

Shen Yuebai said in a matter-of-fact tone, “It’s not fast at all. My comrade got engaged and married in five days.”

Xu Jiajia: “…”

Oh my god.

This was like opening a blind box!

Shen Yuebai didn’t understand why Xu Jiajia was surprised, but he didn’t ask. Instead, he told her about his situation. “I’m twenty-two this year. I’ve been in the army for six years and am now a deputy battalion commander. If we get married, you can join me in the army, but there’s no housing available at the moment.

So, after we get married, you’ll have to stay at home.

When we get assigned housing, I’ll send you a telegram.

But during the time you’re at home, I’ll send you sixty yuan a month.”

His salary was eighty-eight yuan.

He would keep twenty-eight for himself.

The rest would go to his wife.

Xu Jiajia was overjoyed. Workers only earned thirty yuan or so a month. She wouldn’t have to work and would still get this much money. This life was simply too good!

“No problem.”

The man was rich, handsome, and generous. Anyone who hesitated for even a second would be disrespecting money.

Shen Yuebai continued to talk about his family troubles. “My father and stepmother don’t like me. After we get married, you can still live with your parents.”

Xu Jiajia was so happy she almost fainted. Oh my god, this was too good to be true! “Okay, you’ll be my father’s son from now on.”

…

The next day.

At eight in the morning, Xu Jiajia was woken up by Old Lady Xu. “Jiajia, wake up!”

Xu Jiajia remembered that she had to go to the Song family today. She quickly got out of bed and changed her clothes. “Grandma, are we walking?”

Old Lady Xu didn’t want her granddaughter to go to such an occasion. “Well, why don’t you go?”

Xu Jiajia was stunned. “Why?”

Old Lady Xu rolled her eyes at her. “Breaking off an engagement isn’t a good thing. Why go?”

Xu Jiajia held Old Lady Xu’s arm and used a baby voice to act cute. “Grandma, let me go! I promise I won’t cause any trouble.”

This sweet voice was irresistible. Old Lady Xu agreed.

But it was too late when she realized what she had done. She poked Xu Jiajia’s forehead with a mixture of affection and helplessness. “You!”

After washing up, Xu Jiajia went to the living room. There was already a plate of wild vegetable cakes and porridge on the table, along with an egg.

The egg was cooked by Old Lady Xu for Xu Jiajia.

She had just recovered from a fever and was still weak. The old lady wanted to give her some nourishment.

“Jiajia, eat the egg.”

Xu Jiajia looked at Old Lady Xu, who was thin and frail, and felt touched. She said, “Grandma, you and Dad should eat better when you go to work. You should split the egg!”

Old Lady Xu deliberately put on a stern face. “What nonsense are you talking about? Don’t dawdle, eat!”

Xu Jiajia knew she couldn’t argue with the old lady, so she simply divided the egg into three parts. “Grandma, we’re a family, we can’t treat each other differently!”

“Good, good, no special treatment, everyone gets a share, everyone gets a share.” Old Lady Xu laughed with her eyes closed.

She picked up the bowl and the egg that Xu Jiajia had given her and went to the neighbor’s house. She was beaming with pride as she boasted, “I cooked an egg for Jiajia to nourish her body. That girl insisted on dividing it into three parts so that we could eat it too. She said that we’re a family and we can’t treat each other differently.

That girl, she’s so good, just too filial.”

Old Lady Liu was about the same age as Old Lady Xu. They often bickered, but they were good friends.

She looked at the egg in Old Lady Xu’s hand and suddenly felt that the sweet potato porridge in her bowl wasn’t so delicious.

She said sourly, “Yes, yes, your granddaughter is the most filial!”

After showing off, Old Lady Xu took a big bite. “Oh my god, this egg is so delicious today!”

Old Lady Liu couldn’t stand it anymore. She glared at her and said, “Go, go, go, go back to your house and show off!”

Old Lady Xu looked at the coarse grain porridge in her old friend’s bowl and couldn’t help but say a few words. “This porridge is too thin. If you take a pee, your stomach will be empty.”

Old Lady Liu thought of the five grandsons at home and sighed. “Half-grown boys, they eat us out of house and home. Those kids eat more than adults. If we don’t save some, the food at home won’t last until the grain distribution.”

Old Lady Xu: “…”

She was trying to make her jealous!

She knew that her family had fewer mouths to feed, yet she still said that!

…

It was ten kilometers from Shifeng Village to town.

It would take about two hours to walk.

Xu Jiajia had only walked a third of the way when she was already tired.

Xu Jianguo was about to carry her when a Flying Pigeon bicycle appeared.

Xu Jianguo recognized the person and was surprised. “Shen, you bought a bicycle?”

Bicycles were not only expensive, but they also required coupons and were in short supply.

You couldn’t get one without some connections.

This kid was something else!

“Uncle, I borrowed this from a comrade. Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride.”

“No, no, there are so many of us, we won’t fit.” Xu Jianguo said, pulling Xu Jiajia over. “Daughter, it was Shen who saved you from the river last time. Go thank him.”

Xu Jiajia patted Shen Yuebai’s shoulder. “Why didn’t you say it was you who saved me yesterday?”

Shen Yuebai said frankly, “There’s nothing to say.”

Xu Jianguo noticed their interaction. “You two met yesterday?”

Xu Jiajia saw the people and remembered what she had forgotten last night. She dropped a bombshell. “Dad, he’s your future son-in-law.”

Xu Jianguo’s sharp eyes couldn’t hide his surprise. “What’s going on?”

Xu Jiajia recounted their encounter, ending with a list of Shen Yuebai’s advantages. “He’s tall, has a great physique, earns a salary, gives me sixty yuan a month, and most importantly, even after we get married, I can stay at home.”

After hearing this, Xu Jianguo’s anger vanished without a trace. He stared at Shen Yuebai for a few seconds. “I heard that when you first joined the army, you only got six or seven yuan a month?”

“Yeah, the pay wasn’t high when I first joined. But you can get promoted easily if you go on missions.” Shen Yuebai had climbed to the position of deputy battalion commander in six years, all through hard work and risk.

Old Lady Xu was very satisfied. “Good, good, let’s go quickly. First, we need to break off the engagement.”

She had been worried that Jiajia wouldn’t find a better match after breaking off the engagement.

Now she didn’t have to worry anymore.

Shen Yuebai wanted Xu Jiajia to sit on the crossbar, but he was afraid it would affect her reputation. He looked at Old Lady Xu. “Grandma Xu sits in front, Comrade Xu sits behind.”

Everyone else had a place, except for Xu Jianguo. He was stunned. “What about me?”

Before Shen Yuebai could answer, Old Lady Xu chimed in. “Of course you walk. You’ve walked before. We’ll wait for you at the crossroads.”

Xu Jianguo: “So I’m the extra one?”

Old Lady Xu sat on the crossbar. “You know it.”

After Xu Jiajia got on, Shen Yuebai said, “Uncle, put your foot on the diagonal brace and hold the vertical bar under the handlebars.”

Xu Jianguo hesitated. “What if I fall? It would be so embarrassing!”

Old Lady Xu slapped him on the back of the head. “Don’t you know how to hold on?”

Xu Jianguo was so wronged. “Mom, there are outsiders here, can’t you give me some face?”

Old Lady Xu glared at him. “Shen is not an outsider, he’s family.”

In the end, Xu Jianguo got on the bicycle.

Although the weight was unbalanced, Shen Yuebai rode steadily and quickly, even when turning corners.

With so many people on one bicycle, it felt like a Wuling Hongguang overloaded.

The road wasn’t smooth, and Xu Jiajia was afraid of falling, so she put her hand on Shen Yuebai’s waist.

Her soft hand rested on his waist, like a fire burning.

Shen Yuebai’s body instantly stiffened, his breath became heavier, and his heart was in turmoil.

His heart was in turmoil, and he wasn’t focusing on riding.

He accidentally turned the handlebars 90 degrees.

Xu Jiajia leaned against Shen Yuebai’s back, but he didn’t dare to let his mind wander. He quickly straightened the handlebars, avoiding a collective fall.

Xu Jianguo’s face turned pale with fear. “Shen, can you even ride? If not, I’ll walk.”

Old Lady Xu was also scared. “Old Third, say less, don’t bother Shen with riding.”

Xu Jiajia heard Old Lady Xu call him Old Third and remembered that the book said Xu Jianguo originally had four siblings.

He was the third child.

One day in 1945, a group of Japanese soldiers entered the village and surrounded it.

They demanded to know the whereabouts of the People’s Liberation Army.

The villagers remained silent, not a single one spoke.

The enraged Japanese soldiers, having failed to get any information, killed more than ten villagers.

Among them were Xu Jianguo’s older brother, second brother, and younger sister.

He was able to escape because he had a high fever that day, and Old Lady Xu took him to town to see a doctor, so he wasn’t in the village.

A family of six.

Three of them were killed by the Japanese soldiers in an instant.

When Old Lady Xu heard the news, she fainted from anger.

When she woke up, she didn’t cry or make a fuss. She seemed like a changed person. She even went to learn skills from others.

After learning some skills, she returned to the village and gathered some quick-witted and intelligent villagers, teaching them various skills.

After a period of training, she selected ten villagers suitable for combat and formed a team.

She led the team in guerrilla warfare around Shanghai, repeatedly cutting off the enemy’s supply lines and capturing many weapons.

She was not only brave and skilled in combat, but also meticulous in her planning. After more than ten battles, the team she led had no casualties, and every battle ended in victory.

After liberation, she returned to the village and became an ordinary village woman.

When Xu Jiajia read the book, she always imagined the old lady fighting.

She admired the old lady at the time.

Unexpectedly, by a twist of fate, she became her granddaughter. It was truly exciting.

…

After this near-miss, Shen Yuebai became more focused.

He didn’t make any mistakes until they reached the crossroads in town.

Xu Jiajia jumped off the bicycle and smiled at Shen Yuebai. “Thanks!”

Looking at Xu Jiajia’s infectious smile, Shen Yuebai also smiled. “We’ll be family soon, no need to be so polite.”

Xu Jiajia didn’t like all those formalities either. “Okay, I’ll be more casual from now on.”

Old Lady Xu looked from one to the other, finding them even more compatible. She imagined their children.

With such handsome parents, the children wouldn’t be bad.

Oh my!

They needed to get married and enter the bridal chamber quickly!

“Go, go, let’s break off the engagement.”

Shen Yuebai wanted to ask about Xu Jiajia’s preferences, but Old Lady Xu pulled her away. He watched their backs disappear: “…”

The Song family.

Song Han Yong, Song Ran’s father, stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at Song Ran expressionlessly. “Didn’t you say the Xu family was coming to break off the engagement? It’s already nine o’clock, why haven’t they arrived?”

People in the countryside were so slow, they had no efficiency.

Song Ran regretted not asking about the specific time. He scratched his head. “They should be here soon!”

Song Han Yong looked at his watch. “Wait another ten minutes. If they don’t come, I’m going to the factory.”

“I doubt they’ll come. They finally climbed up to a good family like ours, how could they possibly break off the engagement?” Song Ran’s mother’s tone was filled with undisguised sarcasm.

As the last word left her lips, Xu Jiajia appeared at the door. She smiled with a raised red lip. “Come on, tell me how great your Song family is, let me hear it too!”

Then, she sauntered into the house and found a chair to sit down.

She had been caught talking bad behind their backs. Song Ran’s mother’s face was not good. “You have no manners, no etiquette at all.”

Xu Jiajia nodded perfunctorily. “Yes, yes, you have manners. Your manners are like a piece of tattered cloth, no beauty, not worth looking at.”

Song Ran’s mother was so angry that her chest was heaving, she wanted to slap Xu Jiajia twice. “You…”

Old Lady Xu was afraid that Song Ran’s mother would hit Xu Jiajia, so she stood in front of Xu Jiajia, her face cold, and said angrily, “You bully a young girl as soon as you come in. This is the way you city people act. Old woman, I’ve learned something today!”

Song Ran’s mother: “…”

Was the old woman blind?

It was clearly the little vixen who started the fight, why didn’t she say anything about the vixen!

Song Ran was dumbfounded: “…”

The air was thick with gunpowder. Should he go outside and hide?

Song Han Yong had things to do and didn’t have time to listen to them bicker. “Ran, go to the room and get the marriage contract.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a chirpy voice suddenly rang in Xu Jiajia’s mind.

【Host, Song Ran’s father has new gossip, want to hear it?】