Chapter 93: It All Depends on Their Fate
Chapter 93: It All Depends on Their Fate
Zhang Xiuping was genuinely surprised by the news. She never expected her husband's childhood friend to have taken a liking to her childhood friend.
After the initial shock, Zhang Xiuping's heart stirred. She remembered a conversation from a month and a half ago when the three of them had gathered to chat. They had learned that Zhang Xiuping had already set a date to visit her fiance’s family, and she would soon be marrying into the Bangjie Brigade in Naye Village. Her two friends had then expressed their sadness, saying that the three of them would have fewer and fewer opportunities to meet up in the future.
After all, Zhang Xiuping was going to marry into the Songshan Commune, and with the transportation conditions of that era, living in different communes meant that seeing each other wouldn’t be easy unless there was a specific reason to visit.
At that time, the three of them had all felt a bit low. Zhang Xiuping had then suggested a solution: once she was married to Naye Village, she would try to help her two close friends find suitable matches and get them to marry into Naye Village or one of the nearby villages. This way, they would all live in the same brigade, and meeting up would be much easier.
Her two friends had agreed with the idea.
Now, before she had even started to act on her promise, someone had already taken a liking to one of her friends, and that someone was her husband’s childhood friend. This made her both surprised and grateful for the unexpected opportunity.
So, Zhang Xiuping asked with great interest, "Brother Tai, which of my friends has your friend taken a liking to?"
Deng Yuntao replied, "He has his eye on Ou Guohua."
Zhang Xiuping wasn’t surprised by this. Among her two friends, the elder sister, Ou Guofang, was indeed less attractive than her younger sister, Ou Guohua. She nodded and said, "I see. Tell me a bit about your friend, and I’ll go back and ask my friend if she’s interested."
Deng Yuntao nodded and began to introduce his friend, "Aiyuan is the same age as me, just a few days younger. He has five siblings: an older sister, an older brother, a younger brother, and a younger sister. He’s the middle child.
Their family isn’t well-off; they only have three mud-brick houses. Before his sister and brother got married, his parents lived in one room, the three brothers in another, and his sister and younger sister in the third. It was a bit cramped, but they managed.
However, after his brother got married, the house became too small.
Now, his parents have one room, his brother and sister-in-law have another, and he shares a room with his younger brother. His younger sister has no place to stay, so she’s living with a friend in the village."
Hearing this, Zhang Xiuping couldn’t help but frown. "Brother Tai, Aiyuan’s situation is really tough. Even if my friend agrees to marry him, where will she live? She can’t share a room with her brother-in-law, that would be inappropriate."
"Don’t worry about that. If Aiyuan gets married, his younger brother will move in with their parents, and the room will be left for Aiyuan and his wife."
"Still, Aiyuan’s situation... How am I supposed to talk to my friend about this?"
Deng Yuntao understood her concern. After all, Zhang Xiuping had married well, and it would be embarrassing to suggest a match with someone in such a difficult situation.
He quickly pointed out Aiyuan’s strengths, "Sister Ping, Aiyuan’s family may be in tough conditions, but we shouldn’t judge a person based only on their current situation. Aiyuan has a good character and is hardworking. He works at the pottery factory and earns sixty yuan a month!
Moreover, I’m teaching him how to make large vases. Once he becomes a master potter, his income will be much higher. If your friend marries him, their life shouldn’t be too bad."
Besides, one of them is my childhood friend, and the other is your childhood friend. If they run into any trouble, we can't just stand by and do nothing, can we?"
Zhang Xiuping was moved by Deng Yuntao's words. After a moment of contemplation, she replied, "You make a good point, Yuntao. I'll talk to her when I get back. If she's not interested, then that's that. But if she thinks A-Yuan is a good match, we can help them get together."
Deng Yuntao couldn't help but smile. "Piaomei, thanks for your help. If you can get them to match up, you'll have a good friend to confide in around the village."
Zhang Xiuping nodded. "I'll do my best to put in a good word, but whether it works out or not is up to fate!"
They chatted a bit more before Deng Yuntao bid Zhang Xiuping farewell and rode his bicycle back home.
...
An hour later, Deng Yuntao returned home. His father, Deng Shirong, had just peeled a pomelo and, seeing his eldest son, offered him a piece. "How did it go? Did everything go smoothly?"
Deng Yuntao took the pomelo and pulled out the marriage certificate from his inner pocket, handing it to his father. "Everything went well. Here's our marriage certificate."
Deng Shirong took it, looked it over, and then handed it back. "Keep it safe."
Deng Yunzhen, the eldest daughter, chimed in eagerly, "Brother, let me see it."
"It's just a marriage certificate, what's there to see?" Deng Yuntao said, but he still handed it to his sister.
Deng Yunzhen took it and saw the words "Marriage Certificate" in bold letters at the top. Below that were the names, genders, and ages of the couple, followed by a statement that they had voluntarily married and that the marriage met the requirements of the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China. The date was written at the bottom.
It was simple and to the point, and Deng Yunzhen finished reading it in just a few seconds. She handed it back to her brother with a wistful look. "Three months ago, Dad and I met Sister Ping for the first time, and now she's really going to be my sister-in-law. Time really does fly!"
Deng Yuntao put the certificate away and started removing the seeds from the pomelo. He smiled. "Time does fly. In a year or two, it'll be your turn to get married."
Deng Yunzhen shook her head quickly. "I don't want to get married so early. I want to enjoy a few more years with Dad!"
Deng Shirong chuckled. "As the old saying goes, a daughter grown up is hard to keep. In a couple of years, you might change your mind!"
Deng Yunzhen insisted, "Dad, I won't change my mind. It's so comfortable at home, with good food and a nice place to live. I don't want to get married and suffer just yet."
Deng Shirong felt a pang in his heart, remembering how his daughters' marriages had indeed turned out to be a source of suffering, as his eldest daughter had said. He spoke with determination. "Don't worry, A-Zhen. I'll find you a good match, someone who will make you happy, not suffer."
(End of Chapter)
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