Chapter 100 : Let’s Get Married

To be honest, Fan Yanxing never expected Fan Fangming to agree to his marriage, so when he heard Zhu Weiqing’s message, he stood there in a daze for a long while before coming to his senses. He then suddenly lifted his hand to touch his cheek.

The five clear handprints that were once there had long disappeared, but the lingering pain seemed to still be present, etched deeply in his memory.

If a slap could bring about such a result, it was worth it.

As for sincerity… seeing is believing, and it can be quite bothersome.

“Alright, I understand. Tell him not to worry, I won’t disappoint him,” Fan Yanxing said as he lowered his hand and finally smiled at Zhu Weiqing. In a very good mood, he suggested, “How about staying for a meal before you leave?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Weiqing, surprised by the attention, smiled and shook his head, “Thank you, Comrade Fan, but no need. I need to hurry back and report to the leaders.  I will definitely do it next time.”

Fan Yanxing did not insist on keeping him. Smiling, he said,  “Okay, then I’ll go to the county with you by bus”.

“Ah?” Zhu Weiqing was startled and quickly waved his hand, “No need to see me off. I can go back by myself.”

Fan Yanxing looked at him with an odd expression, half-smiling, and said, “Next time, I’ll definitely see you off, but this time, I’m heading into town to make a phone call.”

Hearing this, Zhu Weiqing realized he had been overly sentimental. With an awkward laugh and a scratch on his nose, he extended his hand, “Then let’s go.”

The two took a bus to the county town and then parted ways. Fan Yanxing made his way directly to the post office. After a short wait, someone on the other end of the line picked up, and a familiar voice came through.

“Hello, Hongfeng Community Broadcasting Station, who would you like to speak to?”

“Qingqing, it’s me.”

“Fan Yanxing?” Liang Qingqing was genuinely surprised to receive his call at this time. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work today?”

“No, I’m not. I wanted to tell you this last time. I’m reporting to the country finance bureau the day after tomorrow, so I’ve been preparing my personal information and haven’t been at work these past few days,” Fan Yanxing said, patting his forehead. He had meant to tell her during their last meeting, but the joy of seeing her had clouded his mind, and with all the busyness of taking photos and buying wedding supplies, he had completely forgotten.

“How could you forget something so important? Were you trying to drive me crazy?” Liang Qingqing sighed, looking up at the ceiling. Sitting in her chair with her legs crossed, her tone was filled with helplessness, but she couldn’t help but be curious, “How did you get into the country finance bureau?”

In today’s world, job positions in the city are as scarce as needles in a haystack. Finding an opportunity feels almost impossible.

“I was fortunate to be recommended by the commune leaders and then passed the assessment and interview.”

Although Fan Yanxing spoke lightly, Liang Qingqing knew it wasn’t that simple. Moreover, his achievements in Daping Village over the years could hardly be summed up with just “luck.”

“Let’s not talk about that. I called to tell you that my dad has agreed to our marriage!” Fan Yanxing’s voice rose slightly at the end, and you could tell he was thrilled just by listening to him.

“Is that true?” Liang Qingqing was genuinely shocked. She jumped up from her chair, her eyes wide with disbelief. “I think I saw your dad yesterday…”

She briefly recounted the events, and it seemed incredibly coincidental. Not only did she find it a remarkable twist of fate, but Fan Yanxing also thought it was like finding a needle in a haystack!

“That means he must have a very good impression of you. Thanks to you, my dad agreed so quickly.”

After his words, both fell silent for a few seconds, then laughed simultaneously.

“Qingqing, I’m really so happy.”

Fan Yanxing spoke softly, sharing his emotions with her, his eyes sparkling with hope and softened the sternness of his features.

Liang Qingqing couldn’t help but imagine Fan Yanxing’s expression at that moment. She smiled, her long eyelashes fluttering, and sat back down in her chair, responding gently, “I’m happy too.”

“Since my dad hasn’t returned to Beijing yet, how about we have a meal together so you can meet him officially?”

The thought of meeting Fan Fangming again made Liang Qingqing’s legs tremble unconsciously. The reason was simple: his aura was too overpowering. Just sitting there without speaking was enough to make one feel overwhelmed.

But she couldn’t refuse. As the saying goes, “The ugly daughter-in-law must still meet her in-laws.” Besides, she didn’t want to dampen Fan Yanxing’s excitement, so she nodded and said, “I don’t mind, but I’m not sure if your dad will have the time.”

“I’ll give him a call and check.” Fan Yanxing wasn’t sure about Fan Fangming’s schedule, so he didn’t make any absolute promises. He then added, “The house is nearly finished. In about half a month, we can start moving things in and settle down.”

The words were said with deep meaning, but Liang Qingqing immediately understood what he meant. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She fidgeted with her fingers on the table, cleared her throat, and tried to sound calm as she said, “That sounds pretty good.”

“I’ve already had the carpenter from the village custom-make the dressing table and closet you mentioned last time. They’re supposed to deliver them to us by next Monday,” Fan Yanxing said, apparently not caring whether she understood his hint or not.

“Mm.” Liang Qingqing responded absentmindedly, feeling her face grow even warmer.

“I consulted someone about an auspicious date, and they said December 20th is a good day for marriage.”

“Mm, mm?”

Liang Qingqing almost choked on her own saliva. She hadn’t yet decided how to respond when she heard Fan Yanxing clearly say, “Qingqing, let’s get married on that day. I can’t wait another day.”

She didn’t remember how she hung up the phone or what she had said to Fan Yanxing. When she finally came to her senses from the chaotic thoughts, she found herself sitting there for a long time. Glancing at the small round mirror on the table, she saw her face was flushed red.

She whispered softly, “Actually, I can’t wait either.”

—

In the end, the meal didn’t happen because Fan Fangming, after finishing his work here, hurried back to Beijing. Before leaving, he called Fan Yanxing to say that he would try to communicate with Qu Qingying, but if she didn’t agree, there was nothing he could do.

After all, a son is nothing compared to a wife.

Fan Yanxing was not surprised at all after all, he was used to it after all these years. Moreover, he was busy with his new job and the new house, so he had no time to deal with this matter.

Not only was he busy, but Liang Qingqing was also similarly occupied. She had been enjoying the relaxed and free work at Hongfeng Community, and according to the usual practice at the broadcasting bureau, as a newcomer, she was supposed to stay in this position for at least a year before being transferred. However, the higher-ups had unexpectedly transferred her to the “Major Cases Unit,” a department typically reserved for veteran employees.

As the name implies, the Major Cases Unit handled all the dirty, tiring, and difficult tasks, but it also meant greater promotion opportunities and higher pay. Moreover, this department was headed by Tian Fengchun, from whom she could learn a lot.

Overall, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, and Liang Qingqing was quite satisfied with the transfer.

At the end of November, Liang Qingqing and the announcers from her department went on a business trip to a neighboring province with Tian Fengchun. It was her first time traveling by train in this era, and being her first long-distance trip, she was so excited that she couldn’t sleep the whole night. As a result, she fell asleep on the train the next day and didn’t see any of the scenery outside or even leave her seat throughout the entire journey.

Liang Qingqing pounded her chest and vowed to make up for the lost time. On the return trip, she sat by the window for most of the day, reluctantly leaving only when it was time to disembark.

Due to her outstanding performance on this business trip, their group not only received a bonus but also was granted a four-day holiday. This made other colleagues envious, as they begrudged themselves for not having secured a spot on the trip and were buried in overtime work.

They were feeling regretful, but Liang Qingqing was completely unaware. She was packing her luggage, happily preparing to go home.

It takes most of a day to travel from Changbei Province back to Daping Village, and since she was alone on the trip, Liang Qingqing was worried about her luggage being stolen and didn’t dare to sleep. Instead, she took out a book from her bag to pass the time.

Perhaps it was the eagerness to get home that made time fly by quickly. She had only read a little over half of the book when the bus arrived in the county town. Without hesitation, she asked for directions and went straight to the Finance Bureau.

However, Fan Yanxing was not there. She ended up missing him. Although she felt disappointed, she was eager to get home and see her family, so she didn’t wait for him to return. She just left a note, bought some items at the supply and marketing cooperative, and then boarded the tractor heading back to the village.

On the tractor were fellow villagers, who greeted her with curiosity.

“Isn’t this Liang’s little sister? After going to the provincial city, you seem different, much more stylish.”

This was not wrong. The provincial city had more resources, and being someone who loves beauty, Liang Qingqing had bought many new clothes during her shopping sprees. Her wardrobe was almost overflowing in just a short time.

“Came back for the holidays to see your parents? They’re doing well!”

Everyone chattered with her, discussing daily life. Liang Qingqing had been away for a long time, and hearing the familiar rural accents felt particularly warm and comforting. She didn’t find it annoying at all; rather, it felt exceptionally friendly. She responded to everyone with care.

The conversation stopped only when they entered the village.

She had returned unexpectedly and hadn’t informed anyone beforehand. So when she arrived home, the house was empty. Liang Qingqing looked at the unchanged, tidy room, and her eyes involuntarily became misty.

Just as her emotions began to surface, she heard two voices from outside the yard that interrupted her.

“I told you to be careful. Don’t you know I worry about you when you get hurt?” The female voice was scolding but full of concern, indicating that she was likely being affectionate.

“I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.” The male voice softly comforted, “You caring about me makes me happy.”

The couple was showing affection as if no one else was around, which made Liang Qingqing, the “eavesdropping” wallflower, blush. She cleared her throat twice, and as expected, the noise outside stopped. Moments later, the door was knocked on, and an uncertain voice called out.

“Little sister? Is that you?”

Liang Qingqing opened the door, pretending she hadn’t overheard their conversation. She tilted her head with a smile and said, “Yes, I just got back not long ago. So, what do you think? Surprised? Unexpected?”