Li Xiu looked at the low-headed Zhou Lian, then glanced at her mother and sister not far away. "What do you think of me?" he asked softly.
"I'll do as my parents say," Zhou Lian replied without looking up at him.
"But do you like me?" Li Xiu asked again.
"I'll do as my parents say." Zhou Lian didn't move.
Li Xiu raised a hand and rubbed his face. "Can you look up at me?"
Zhou Lian glanced up at him before lowering her head again. Li Xiu watched her quietly for a moment before speaking. "May I have a word with your mother and sister?"
Zhou Lian looked up at him, nodded, and turned to walk toward her mother. Li Xiu started to raise his hand, then let it fall. 'Just wait,' he thought. 'Just a little longer, and I'll bring her home as my wife.'
As his prospective mother-in-law and sister-in-law approached, Li Xiu rubbed his eyes. "Ma'am, Sister," he greeted them.
"What did you want to say?" asked Zhou Lan, Zhou Lian's older sister.
"Sister, Zhou Lian said she'll follow her parents' decision. I wanted to ask her mother—what are your requirements?"
"And what are your thoughts?" Mrs. Zhou asked in return.
"I'll make the formal proposal and present the betrothal gifts according to your wishes. Once we're married, I'll separate my household from my family's. I'll go back, get a residential plot approved, and build a house. What else do you require?"
"Do you like Zhou Lian?" Zhou Lan asked before her mother could reply.
"I do!"
"Alright then. For the proposal and betrothal gifts, we'll just follow the local customs. The betrothal gift will be 100 yuan. Now, tell us more about separating your household and the new house," Zhou Lan said directly.
"The family separation will be clean, with no debts. The new house will be a five-room, tile-roofed home, fully furnished. The responsibility of caring for my parents will be split equally among me and my four younger brothers," Li Xiu quickly answered. He knew his future sister-in-law had the authority to make the decision.
"Let's leave it at that for now. I'll go home and discuss it with my family. If there's anything else, we'll speak to the matchmaker." With that, Zhou Lan helped Mrs. Zhou turn and walk back.
Li Xiu followed behind them, a smile spreading across his face. 'It's settled. She's still going to be my wife. I need to tell Second Brother's wife to proceed with the formal proposal in a couple of days. We can do the betrothal gift ceremony before the New Year and get married next spring. The weather will be warmer then, and my wife can wear a beautiful dress when she marries me.'
"We'll be heading back now. Your daughter is wonderful," Aunt Li said to Mrs. Zhou with a smile. "If you have any requirements, just tell his second sister-in-law. We'll do whatever we can. There's just one thing—Li Xiu isn't young anymore, and we'd like him to start a family soon. But Sister, you can rest assured, we will absolutely not let your daughter be mistreated!"
"Alright. I'll have her sister talk to you all tonight," Mrs. Zhou replied, also smiling.
Only after his second sister-in-law, his future wife, and his future mother-in-law had left did Li Xiu turn to walk back with Aunt Li. "That girl is quite nice, isn't she? Do you like her?" Aunt Li teased, looking at Li Xiu. She had noticed her nephew's eyes never left the young woman; he was clearly smitten.
"Aunt Li, she's wonderful." Li Xiu didn't try to hide his feelings. He wanted everyone to know he liked Zhou Lian, so no one would look down on her. "Aunt Li, as soon as I get back, I'm going to the production team to get a residential plot approved. I'll start building the house in a couple of days. Could you and Uncle help me organize things?"
"Of course. The farm work in the fields is all done for now, so it's a good time to build a house."
"Tonight, let's invite Uncle and the younger ones, plus Third Uncle's family, over to my place for dinner. Second Brother's wife and her husband will be there too. I'll also invite the village chief and the team leader to formally divide the household."
"Have you thought this through? The proposal, the betrothal gifts, the gift money, building a house, and buying furniture... The little bit of money your parents gave you won't be enough."
"I know. Things are difficult at home. Li Hua is nineteen, Li Man is sixteen, Li Yi is eleven, and Li Yong is ten. Dad's health isn't good either. I know how much money the family has. But I'm the eldest son, the eldest brother. Aunt Li, I'll be fine. I can always provide for my own wife and children. I know you and Uncle are worried about me, but I'll figure something out. Don't worry. I'm a grown man now. I've always supported myself. It's okay. I can take good care of my wife and kids. Please don't worry, you and Uncle. To be honest, it makes me happy that you care so much."
"Child, you've had it rough."
"I haven't, Aunt Li. Grandma, you, Uncle, and Third Uncle—you've all always been very good to me. I know that."
Aunt Li wiped the tears from her face, patted Li Xiu on the shoulder, and sighed, saying no more.
Upon returning to the village, Aunt Li went straight home. Li Xiu watched her go, then turned to find the village chief. 'In my last life, my father was the one who got the housing plot approved. I had more than enough of living in that awful place, and it was too close to the old family house. This time, I have to get far away from the old house and not get mixed up with them.'
"Uncle, I'd like to apply for a residential plot," Li Xiu said, having found the village chief at the edge of the fields.
"Where are you thinking of building?" asked Village Chief Ge Dayu.
"Uncle, what do you think of that plot of land behind the cannery?"
Ge Dayu gave him a long look. "That plot is big enough for nearly six rooms."
"Uncle, you know my family's situation is difficult. I can't afford bricks, so I'll be building with stone. The walls will be as thick as two normal walls, so the interior space will be smaller. Besides, that plot is on the far east end of the village. It's so remote, no one else is competing for it," Li Xiu said, grinning at the village chief.
"You little sly fox!" the chief chided with a laugh. "Come on, let's go to the village office and get your permits approved. The ones for the stone and wood, too."
"Great! Thanks, Uncle! Oh, right, come to my place for dinner tonight." "What for? Trying to bribe me?" "Don't say that, Uncle! It's for official business. I'm separating from my family, and I need you and the team leader to act as witnesses."
"Why separate the household now? Is the marriage settled?"
"More or less. I have to do it sooner or later, so it's better to get it over with."
"As long as you know what you're doing."
"I know you're looking out for me, Uncle. Don't worry, I'll be a good son to you," Li Xiu joked.
"Get lost! I don't need you to be a good son. Just take care of yourself, and that'll be enough." 'This kid,' he thought, 'he started herding cattle for the village at six and was earning a full 10 work-points as a laborer by twelve. It seems he really knows what he's doing.'
"I'll definitely take care of myself. By the way, Uncle, my intended is from Zhou Family Village. My future father-in-law is a doctor. Do you know him?" Li Xiu already knew the village chief must know him; the chief's wife was his future father-in-law's goddaughter.
Ge Dayu's hand, which had been opening the door, froze. He turned and stared blankly at Li Xiu, only speaking after a long moment. "You... your match is Zhou Kun's daughter?"
Li Xiu pushed the door open, ushered Ge Dayu inside, and then said, "That's right! His second daughter. She's incredibly beautiful!"
Ge Dayu sat down on a stool by the table. He thought for a moment, then said, "From now on, you still have to call me 'Uncle'!"
Li Xiu gave him a sly grin. "Of course I'll call you 'Uncle.' What else would I call you?"
"'Brother-in-law'!" As soon as he said it, Ge Dayu cursed himself for the slip of the tongue.
"Brother-in-law? How do you figure that?"
"My wife is your future father-in-law's goddaughter. How do you think it figures?" Ge Dayu snorted.
"Approve some extra stone for me, and we'll keep things as they are. I'll still call you 'Uncle.'"
"What do you need so much stone for?"
"The plot is a bit remote. I want to build the courtyard wall a little higher, so my wife won't be scared in the future."
Ge Dayu let out a cold laugh. "So, you have your moments too, kid. You walk around with a stone-cold face all day, making everyone think you don't know how to smile. Fine, I'll approve some extra for you!"
Li Xiu took the three permits—one for the residential plot, one for the wood, and looked at the quantity of stone approved on the third. He smiled. "Thanks, Brother-in-law. See you at my place for dinner tonight."
"I know, now get out of here!" Ge Dayu watched Li Xiu leave the village office and shook his head. 'Damn it,' he thought. 'Just like that, I've dropped a generation in seniority!'
Li Xiu stopped by the team leader's house, then headed over to Second Brother Ge's. "Second Brother, what are you busy with?"
"Li Xiu, you're here. Where's your sister-in-law?" Ge Ye asked, coming out of the kitchen.
"She hasn't come back yet. She's heading back this afternoon after finishing up."
Handing Li Xiu a stool, Ge Ye asked with a smile, "So? Is it a done deal?"
Li Xiu took the stool and sat down. "Pretty much. It's all thanks to Sister-in-law."
"Are you satisfied?"
Seeing the mischievous grin on Ge Ye's face, Li Xiu nodded. "She's wonderful. Thank you, Second Brother, and thank Sister-in-law for me."
"Hey, what's there to thank me for? Don't be a stranger with your second brother."
"Second Brother, you and Sister-in-law should come over for dinner tonight."
"No need. You can treat us after you're married," Ge Ye said, shaking his head.
"I'm separating my household. I need you and Sister-in-law to be witnesses. The village chief and the team leader are coming too."
Ge Ye handed Li Xiu some tobacco, rolled a cigarette for himself, and lit it before asking, "Why separate now? You're not even married yet. Have you really thought this through?"
Slowly rolling a cigarette and lighting it, Li Xiu said calmly, "Second Brother, I won't beat around the bush with you. With a mother like mine, if I don't separate from the family, how can I expect my wife to live? The Zhou Family's Sister is a good, honest girl. If she fell into my mother's hands..." Li Xiu gave a cold laugh and continued, "I couldn't bear it. Second Brother, the Zhou Family's Sister is wonderful. I can't bear to let her suffer at my mother's hands because of me. I'm separating the household now so I can get everything in order. That's the only way she won't be mistreated when she marries me!"
Ge Ye looked at Li Xiu. "You're doing all this for the Zhou girl? Have you even met her?"
"Yes. I went to Zhou Family Village to see her in secret." Li Xiu lied without batting an eye, not wanting Ge Ye to be suspicious.
"Alright then. Leave it to me. I'll make sure she marries you!"
"Great. Second Brother, I'm heading back for now. We'll talk more tonight."