Chapter 70

After discussing for a whole morning, the two of them had figured out everything they needed to buy for the wedding.

“Xiao Di, Chaoyang, dinner is ready.”

“We’re coming, Grandma.”

Zhang Chaoyang closed his notebook and went out with Xu Di to wash their hands in the bathroom.

“It smells so good. What delicious food did Aunt Wu make?”

“Home-cooked food. Xiao Xu and Chaoyang, try it.”

Aunt Wu had started working at the house two years ago. This was Zhang Chaoyang’s first time meeting her.

“Grandma, you sit.”

Xu Di helped Grandma Qian pull out a chair, then sat on her left, and Zhang Chaoyang sat on her right.

“Little Wu, come and eat too.”

Grandma Qian called out to Aunt Wu, who was busy in the kitchen. They all ate together in her house.

“Aunt Qian, I’ll be right there.”

Aunt Wu wiped down the cabinets and brought over a bowl of rice.

“Alright, eat. Xiao Di, eat more. Try your Aunt Wu’s cooking.”

Grandma Qian first picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, and the others started eating too.

There were four dishes: red-braised pork, shredded cabbage salad, shredded potato stir-fry, and stewed tofu.

Xu Di tasted each dish. It was delicious!

After dinner, Zhang Chaoyang and Xu Di hurried to the department store to look at furniture.

It wasn’t far. They went out and walked a few steps before they arrived.

The furniture was on the other side of the first floor, unlike the food and other goods, which were all at the front.

Furniture in the 1970s was mainly practical and didn’t have many fancy designs.

Xu Di didn’t have many requirements. She just wanted solid wood furniture, sturdy and durable.

But she ruled out the ones painted red right away. She chose the ones made of natural wood with clear varnish.

A double bed, a large wardrobe with four doors. She didn’t choose the kind with a mirror, just solid wood doors.

The bedside table was also chosen in natural wood. She also liked a bookcase with glass doors, just the right size to fit next to the wardrobe.

After choosing the furniture, Zhang Chaoyang took Xu Di to choose a watch.

“What kind of watch do you want?”

“Let’s go have a look. I don’t really know.”

Xu Di wasn’t familiar with watches from this era. She vaguely remembered seeing some called “Meihua” or “Haiou” in TV dramas.

Watches and bicycles were both on the third floor. They went to look at the watches first.

“Do you want to buy one? I have a watch ticket too.”

Xu Di suddenly remembered that she also had a watch ticket. She had won it in a lottery.

“I don’t need one. I have a watch. Choose one you like.”

Zhang Chaoyang’s watch was quite nice. It was even waterproof.

“Then I’ll choose one for myself.”

Xu Di looked at the various watches on display and chose a silver rectangular dial with a black leather strap.

The saleswoman was friendly and took the watch out to let Xu Di try it on.

“What do you think?”

“It’s not bad. How’s the strap?”

“It’s comfortable. I don’t like metal straps.”

Xu Di liked it and asked the saleswoman to write up the ticket. Zhang Chaoyang went to pay for it.

They took the wrapped watch and went to look at bicycles.

“Xu Di, do you want a women’s 26-style bicycle or a 28-style one?”

Xu Di took a look. The two bikes weren’t much different.

They were both quite large. The only difference was that the women’s 26-style bicycle didn’t have a crossbar in the front.

Xu Di stood in front of the 28-style bike and measured it. Her height should be able to reach the pedals.

“Zhang Chaoyang, let’s get this 28-style one. It’s more practical.”

Xu Di thought, she wouldn’t have a private car for another ten or twenty years.

She wanted two children. In the future, when they went out, one in front and one in the back would be just right.

“The 28-style is more practical, but the 26-style is easier to ride.”

“It’s not much different. My height should be able to reach the pedals.”

Zhang Chaoyang smiled. Xu Di was about 5’5″, so she would have no problem reaching the pedals.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you. We’ll get the 28-style.” They chose the bicycle, and the saleswoman wrote up the ticket. Zhang Chaoyang went to pay.

“Xu Di, Grandma said you can choose a sewing machine you like. She doesn’t use a sewing machine, and she doesn’t have one at home.”

Zhang Chaoyang thought, they had bought the three turns. Now they just needed the one ring.

“She doesn’t have one at home? Then we need to buy one. It’s more convenient to use a sewing machine for making clothes.”

Xu Di hadn’t noticed whether Grandma Qian had a sewing machine. They really needed one.

They had bought the three turns. Xu Di didn’t want the one ring.

Grandma Qian’s house had a TV and a radio. There was no need to buy another one. She didn’t listen to them much anyway.

Zhang Chaoyang and Xu Di took the things back home. They also bought four boxes of gifts to visit the Xu family.

They arrived just in time for the end of the workday. As soon as they entered the compound, they were surrounded.

“Xu Di, you’re dating?”

“Yes, Aunt Zhang. This is my partner, Zhang Chaoyang.”

“The young man looks so spirited!”

“Xu Di, are you bringing your partner to introduce him to the family?”

“Grandma Wang, is dinner ready? My partner, Zhang Chaoyang, is here to introduce himself.”

Xu Di greeted everyone along the way, saying the same thing many times.

“Comrade Xu Di is quite popular. So many people greeted you along the way.”

“We live in the same compound, so we basically all know each other. When there’s nothing else going on, everyone’s interested in who’s dating. It’s a hot topic that everyone can gossip about for days.”

Xu Di was already used to it. In this era, there wasn’t much entertainment, so they relied on gossip to get through their days.

“Good attitude.”

Zhang Chaoyang saw a different side of Xu Di. She was quite open-minded.

“We’re here. Come in.”

Xu Di opened the door and led Zhang Chaoyang inside.

“Second Sister, you’re back. This is Brother Zhang, right?

Hello, I’m Xu Jun. I’m my sister’s protector.”

Xu Jun, who usually came back the latest, greeted Zhang Chaoyang seriously, trying to act like an adult.

“Hello, Comrade Xu Jun. I’m Zhang Chaoyang.”

Zhang Chaoyang didn’t expect his brother-in-law to be so interesting. He was quite protective of his sister.

“Chaoyang is here. Come in.”

Xu’s mother had come back a little earlier and had already prepared several dishes.

“Hello, Aunt. I’m disturbing you.”

Zhang Chaoyang quickly greeted her. He still couldn’t get used to calling her “Aunt.” He felt a little embarrassed.

“We’re all family now. Come in and sit down. Xu Jun, pour a cup of tea for your Brother Zhang.”

Xu Di told Zhang Chaoyang to put the things on the five-drawer chest and took him to the living room.

“Brother Zhang, have some tea.”

Xu Jun placed the teacup in front of Zhang Chaoyang and secretly took several glances. His eyes were small, at least smaller than his second sister’s.

But he looked like a soldier. He was very upright.

“Second Sister, Dad and Brother will be back soon. Sister-in-law is working the late shift. Brother will pick up Ping’an later.”

Xu Jun had gone to the factory before coming back to confirm.

“I know. You’re working hard. Chat with Comrade Zhang Chaoyang for a while. I’ll go check on the kitchen.”

Xu Di washed her hands and went into the kitchen.

“What are you doing in here? Your father and brother haven’t come back yet. It’s not good to leave Zhang Chaoyang alone in the living room.”

“Little Jun is here. He can entertain him.”

“You got your marriage license. Was it smooth? Did you see the room? Is anything missing?”

Xu’s mother asked several questions in a row. Xu Di was thinking about which one to answer first.

“We got the marriage license. It was smooth. I saw the room. I’ve picked out the furniture. We’ll have it delivered tomorrow.

We also bought a watch, a bicycle, and a sewing machine this afternoon. They have a radio at home, so I didn’t buy one.”

Xu Di told her mother about what they had done that afternoon. The two of them chatted as they cooked.

In the living room, Xu Jun was chatting happily with his newly appointed brother-in-law, acting like a little adult.