Bringing Good Luck to your Husband in the 70s - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Proposal

After Hehua and Taohua finished eating noodles, Old Lady Han returned with Han Aiguo. Han Aiguo’s face was, as always, expressionless, giving nothing away, but Old Lady Han’s face clearly showed displeasure. At a glance, it was obvious she was unhappy.

In front of the children, Old Lady Han didn’t mention what had just happened. Instead, she told the Hehua sisters, “If your mother doesn’t feed you in the future, come find me. Grandma will support you.”

The two sisters looked worried and confused, but they still nodded happily. After that, the old lady said no more and continued making pastries.

By the time it grew dark, all the pastries were finished. Seeing that dinner was ready, the old lady asked Su Yue to stay and eat before going back. There was plenty of food left over from noon, and she reasoned that they should simply heat it up in the evening; otherwise, it would spoil by tomorrow.

Su Yue agreed.

Old Lady Han also insisted that Hehua and Taohua stay for dinner, but although Hehua was tempted, she shook her head firmly. “No, no, Taohua and I will go home to eat. Our rations aren’t here, so we can’t keep eating yours.”

The sisters had already eaten well that day. If they ate more, Grandma’s rations might not be enough.

Old Lady Han was touched by Hehua’s sensibility, but her anger at the second couple’s favoritism grew. She rubbed the child’s hair gently. “It’s fine. There are plenty of dishes left from lunch. I’ll just make some corn pancakes to go with it.”

The second daughter-in-law still hadn’t come to call the two sisters home for dinner. Perhaps she was angry with them. Whether they would have anything to eat if they went back was uncertain.

Seeing this, Hehua hesitated. Then, noticing her younger sister’s eager gaze, she finally nodded.

When Old Lady Han was about to hand over the fifty cents for helping light the fire, Hehua quickly shoved the money back into her hand. “Grandma, from now on I’ll light the fire for free. Instead, could you give me two pieces of cake every day?”

Their mother never gave them enough to eat. At night, she and Taohua were often so hungry they couldn’t sleep. If they could get two cakes from Grandma each day, they wouldn’t be afraid of starving.

Old Lady Han understood immediately. Given the second daughter-in-law’s attitude, these two children were certainly not eating their fill. They were still growing so how could they keep going hungry? Of course, as a grandmother, she could give them a couple of cakes daily. She didn’t need to take money from them.

But thinking of how the second daughter-in-law made money off the girls’ work and still didn’t feed them properly, Old Lady Han decided to make a point. She nodded. “Alright. From now on, I’ll give you and Taohua two cakes each day.”

As for the money, she would hold onto it and later use it to make clothes or save it for their dowries. Knowing their mother, she wasn’t likely to prepare dowries for them.

Hearing that each of them could have two cakes a day, Hehua and Taohua were overjoyed. But Hehua quickly realized she would have no money to hand over to her mother that evening. If her mother found out she had traded it for cakes, she would be furious.

So she whispered, “Grandma, if my mother asks, please don’t tell her about the cakes. Otherwise, she’ll beat me to death.”

Of course, Old Lady Han understood. She reassured her, “Don’t worry. Just tell your mother that Grandma wasn’t willing to pay you. If she has any objections, let her come to me.”

Hehua felt relieved. Grandma was so powerful that even her mother was afraid of her.

When the second daughter-in-law later demanded money, Hehua repeated exactly what Old Lady Han had told her. Upon hearing it, the woman froze. “After you worked so hard, she wouldn’t even pay you?”

Hehua nodded.

The second daughter-in-law’s face darkened. Her heart clenched. Was the old lady angry about what had happened that day and deliberately refusing to pay Hehua anymore? Did that mean Hehua would have to work for free from now on?

How could that be! How could the old lady do such a thing?

She was furious, but she couldn’t go confront the old lady directly. That night, while lying in bed, she told her husband, Han Lao-er, “Your mother didn’t pay Hehua today. She even said she wouldn’t pay her in the future, making her work for free.”

Han Lao-er was stunned. After a long silence, he said, “If she doesn’t give it, then let it be. Hehua only helps burn the fire half a day anyway. Consider it our filial piety.”

His words nearly drove his wife mad. She twisted his arm hard. “You say it so lightly! Can we just throw away fifty cents a day? Are we so rich?”

Han Lao-er hissed in pain, pulling his arm away. “What are you doing! Do you want me to ask my mother for wages? She’s hehua’s Grandma so can’t she ask her granddaughter to help? Should we stop Hehua from helping her over money? Then, when you make Hehua work, should we pay her wages too?”

“That’s different!” the woman snapped. “Hehua is my daughter; it’s only natural for her to work for me!”

“Then my mother is her grandmother,” Han Lao-er countered. “If Grandma asks her granddaughter to help, does she also have to pay?”

His wife choked on her words. Furious, she turned away and ignored him.

Han Lao-er, unconcerned, quickly fell asleep and soon began snoring.

Watching him sleep so easily, while she tossed and turned, drove her crazy. She spent the whole night thinking of what to do.

The next day, when Hehua went to light the fire, her mother followed her into the kitchen, unable to bear the loss of fifty cents a day. Smiling sweetly, she asked, “Mother, why aren’t you paying Hehua anymore? Didn’t you agree to fifty cents a day?”

Old Lady Han didn’t even look at her. With a sullen face, she snapped, “I never asked you to support me in my old age, did I? My granddaughter helps me now so why should I pay her? Why can’t I use my granddaughter’s help?”

The second daughter-in-law smiled awkwardly, rubbing her hands. “Mother, Hehua’s a big girl now,mshe can do labor. Our family relies on just her father and me to support everyone. It’s really hard. If she doesn’t work for points, how will we survive?”

Old Lady Han threw down the rag in her hand. “Hehua’s not even ten years old yet. How many work points can she earn? And you still have the nerve to count on her? If you want her to earn work points then go-ahead, but then I won’t ask her to work for me again and if you run into trouble later don’t come to me!”

The second daughter-in-law was furious but didn’t dare block Hehua from working for the old lady. What if the old woman really refused to help in the future? Just thinking about childbirth; if she had another baby, she’d need the old lady’s care during confinement. If she lost that support, she couldn’t survive.

Swallowing her anger, she left in frustration.

Hehua looked at Old Lady Han with admiration.

But Old Lady Han only felt weary. She had wanted peace after the separation, but instead things had grown noisier. Now that the family had split, everyone pursued their own selfish interests, scheming for small advantages.

Comparing her daughters-in-law, she found Su Yue far better. She ought to marry her in quickly as her eldest daughter-in-law so she could finally feel at ease.

Just as she was thinking this, Maomao from the third family rushed in. “Grandma! Someone’s looking for Eldest Uncle!”

“Who?” Old Lady Han looked outside, but saw no one.

Han Aiguo went out and saw a postman in a green uniform on a bicycle.

“Comrade Han Aiguo?” the postman asked.

“I am,” Han Aiguo replied.

“There’s a letter for you.” The postman handed him an envelope.

Han Aiguo thanked him, glanced at the sender’s name, and couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips.

Old Lady Han followed him out, curious. “Who’s it from?”

“A comrade,” Han Aiguo said. He opened it and pulled out a bicycle coupon.

Old Lady Han gasped. “Where did this come from?”

“My comrade gave it to me. Yueyue wants to buy a bicycle but doesn’t have a ticket.”

Hearing this, Old Lady Han’s eyes lit up with joy. She carefully took the coupon, examining it over and over. “Perfect! I was just thinking about this, and you’ve already got it. This is a good thing.”

Puzzled, Han Aiguo looked at her.

She handed the coupon back, then pulled out 150 yuan from her money box. “I was planning to prepare a big gift for Yueyue, since we can’t afford the entire three style betrothal gift. A bicycle will do. Take this money and buy it with her tomorrow.”

But Han Aiguo refused. “Mother, keep it. I already have money, my comrade repaid me a debt. I’ll use that for the bicycle.”

Still, Old Lady Han pressed the money into his hand. “Then buy her a watch too. It’s practical, and we can’t treat Yueyue poorly.”

Han Aiguo thought for a moment and accepted. He had already planned to buy Su Yue a watch.

That evening, he went to the educated youth spot again. When he arrived, Li Xiaoqing and Wu Xiaoxiao tactfully gave the couple privacy.

Su Yue immediately hugged his waist with a smile. “Comrade Han Aiguo, why are you here? Did you miss me?”

Han Aiguo pinched her nose, then silently took a bicycle coupon from his pocket.

Her eyes widened. “Ah! A bicycle ticket! Is this real? Can I buy a bicycle now?”

Seeing her joy made Han Aiguo’s own heart light. He rubbed her hair softly. “Take tomorrow off. We’ll go buy one together.”

Su Yue nodded eagerly. Her heart raced with excitement, she was really going to have a bicycle!

As she was lost in happy thoughts, Han Aiguo pursed his lips, cleared his throat, and said in a tight voice, “Yue’er, let’s get married.”

Su Yue froze. She hadn’t expected that.

Han Aiguo’s back stiffened, his heart pounding. He had rehearsed this countless times, but standing before her now, he was still nervous; more nervous than when facing enemies on the battlefield.

“I… I want to marry you, Yue’er. I want to live with you every day and take care of you for the rest of my life,” he said earnestly.

Was this… a proposal?

Su Yue’s eyes blinked rapidly, her heartbeat quickening.

In two lifetimes, this was the first time she had ever been proposed to. There were no flowers, no ring, no kneeling or flowery words. Yet his simple sincerity touched her deeply.

Han Aiguo held her hand in his, his gaze steady. “My legs will recover soon. The army already knows my condition. Once I recover, I’ll be called back and I may not return even once a year. I can’t bear to leave you behind. Yue’er, I want to marry you before I go back, and then take you with me. With my position, I can apply for a family member’s house. Will you come?”

Su Yue had never doubted marrying him. She had come to this time and place for him. She liked him deeply so how could she refuse?

“I do,” she answered shyly.

Relief flooded Han Aiguo. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if he wanted to press her into his chest.

Su Yue’s heart melted at his excitement. The thought of marrying him filled her with sweet anticipation.

“I’ll ask Mother to choose a good day,” Han Aiguo said quickly.

Su Yue nodded.

“Should you write to your parents to inform them?” he asked carefully. She had never mentioned her family, but surely marriage was too important to keep from them.

Su Yue shook her head. “No. They’re far away. I can decide for myself.”

Understanding dawned on Han Aiguo. He didn’t press the matter, instead handing her a thick stack of bills that were three or four hundred yuan. “Here, take it.”

Su Yue gaped. “Why so much money? Where did you get this?”

“My own savings, plus what Mother gave me. Tomorrow we’ll buy a bicycle and a watch as your betrothal gift. Later, I’ll get a sewing ticket and buy you a machine too.”

It wasn’t the entire three style betrothal gift, but he would make it up to her.

Su Yue’s heart warmed. Still, she shook her head. “I have money. I can buy a bicycle myself. Keep this for your leg treatment.”

But Han Aiguo only stroked her hair. “The money required for treatment is already enough. This is a gift for you. Don’t refuse.”

Touched, Su Yue finally tucked the money away with a grin. She saluted playfully. “Alright then, I’ll accept Comrade Han Aiguo’s betrothal gift!”

Han Aiguo’s heart surged with joy. “Now that you’ve accepted, you’re my wife. Don’t regret it! We’ll set a day to register.”

Su Yue squinted at him teasingly. “Fine, Comrade Han Aiguo. Just don’t do anything to make me regret it.”

Chuckling, he bent down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll go back now and let Mother choose a date.”

With that, he left swiftly, so swiftly that Su Yue had never seen him walk so fast.