The eldest daughter-in-law of the Jin family, Tian Dani, wanted to say that she could certainly find a good husband for Chunhua. However, the families she had her eye on didn't want to marry a girl from the countryside, and the families who were willing to marry a country girl didn't have much to offer. "I... I haven't found a suitable one yet."
Old Man Jin replied, "Then ask Chunhua if she’d be willing to marry a soldier. She’s already nineteen; if this drags on any longer, she’ll be an old maid."
Tian Dani hesitated. "But... what if..."
"Marrying someone who works the land is stable," Old Man Jin interrupted. "Or would you rather have her marry another farmer?"
"This..."
Old Man Jin continued, "I want her to marry someone with good prospects and a stable life, too. But where are those opportunities? It’s not like there’s a shortage of pretty girls in the city. Why would they choose a country girl? To let you sponge off them?"
"I never intended to sponge off anyone!" Tian Dani protested. "I just don't want Chunhua to spend her whole life digging in the dirt."
"You may not have intended it, but that's what they fear. Enough. It's decided. If Chunhua is willing, she can go for an introduction."
Old Man Jin called Chunhua in directly. "Your aunt has arranged a match for you. The man is a Deputy Regiment Commander. If you don't mind that he’s a soldier, go take a look. I'll tell you this, a Deputy Regiment Commander as young as him is a rare find."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chunhua replied, "I'm willing."
Old Man Jin nodded. "Then go get yourself ready."
"Okay," Chunhua said.
"I'll help her get ready," Tian Dani offered.
"Sit down," Old Man Jin commanded. "I’m making the call on this one." If he let her interfere, his eldest granddaughter might still be unmarried three years from now.
Tian Dani looked over at Jin Ping.
Jin Ping pretended not to notice. "I’m going. Third and Fourth, you two go with them. Once it’s done, Third, bring Chunhua back, and Fourth, stay in Taojia Village to give the mother and daughter some backup."
"Understood," Jin Xi and Jin Le replied.
Granny Miao chimed in, "I'll go get some eggs for Yanyan. Every time something good happens, Yanyan thinks of her cousin."
Jin An’s wife, Ding Honghua, added, "That’s right. If only Qiuhua and Donghua could have such good luck when they get older."
Tian Dani: "..." So, she was the only one in the whole family who wasn't happy?
Chunhua washed her face, braided her hair, and changed into her best clothes.
When Jin Xing returned with her two younger brothers and her niece, Wei Tiechui was busy teaching Xiao Rushan how to box.
Chunhua had always had a fondness for soldiers, and watching Wei Tiechui box, she found him quite impressive. Her heart skipped a beat instantly.
Seeing Chunhua arrive, Wei Tiechui immediately stood at attention.
Chunhua shyly lowered her head.
Seeing her eldest cousin act shy, Xiao Yanyan knew there was a spark. "Ahem! Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, eldest cousin, why are you here?"
Jin Le picked Xiao Yanyan up. "You little rascal."
"Hehe... come inside, come on in."
Xu Zhaodi had been watching from afar. Seeing Chunhua, she guessed why Wei Tiechui was there.
Granny Tian and Old Man Tao were wondering why Tao Wenrui had sent Xiao Yanyan back. Xu Zhaodi walked in, looking furious. "What's wrong with Third? Why wouldn't he think of his own niece when something good comes up instead of an outsider?"
Granny Tian glared at her. "Are you losing your mind again?"
"I'm not losing my mind! Do you know what that Comrade Wei is here for? He’s here to find a wife, and he doesn’t look like some common soldier. Why didn't Third introduce him to Juanjuan? It's about time she found a husband."
"Is Comrade Wei here to find a wife?" Granny Tian asked.
"Who did Third introduce him to?" Old Man Tao asked.
"His ex-wife's eldest niece."
"How do you know?"
"I saw Jin Xing calling her niece over. That niece was dressed up like a little flirt. She’s clearly there for an introduction."
"This..." Granny Tian hesitated.
"It must be Yanyan's mother," Old Man Tao reasoned. "She saw Comrade Wei’s status and called her niece over. Third is so busy, when would he have the time to play matchmaker?"
"Right, right," Granny Tian agreed. "Third is a man; men don't think of these things. It's only us women who, whenever we see a fine young man, want to introduce him to the girls in the family."
"Comrade Wei probably won't be interested in her niece," Old Man Tao muttered.
"Exactly," Granny Tian said. "He surely wants someone with an education."
Xu Zhaodi thought about it and decided they were right. Even Third, who already had a child, wanted to marry someone educated.
Next door, Chunhua and Wei Tiechui were discussing the very same thing. Everyone had sensed the chemistry and left them alone.
Wei Tiechui started by introducing himself. "My rank allows me to have my dependents with me. We wouldn't have to live apart."
"I never went to school," Chunhua said. Her aunt’s husband had abandoned her aunt for that very reason; she had to be clear. If he minded, then so be it.
"Do you know why I came here with Yanyan? Because Yanyan said you were very capable—that you could hold a household together all by yourself. You know, I’m a soldier; I could be sent to the battlefield at any time. Rather than someone with an education, I hope for a wife who is strong enough to hold up her half of the sky."
Chunhua felt relieved. "I'm the eldest. I've been working since I was a child, helping my parents take care of my younger brothers and sisters."
"Yanyan told me. I want to grow old with you. Are you willing?"
Chunhua’s face turned bright red. "I... I am." For a girl in the countryside, changing her fate was difficult. She wanted to seize this opportunity.
"That's wonderful." Wei Tiechui took out a stack of money and shoved it into Chunhua's hand. "I don't know if this is enough. If not, I'll borrow more from my Regiment Commander."
"It's too much. Half is enough." Chunhua tried to give the rest back.
Wei Tiechui refused. "Use the rest to buy things."
"I've already accounted for the money for things."
"Then save it for later."
"Ah?"
"Don't 'ah' me. In the future, all the money I earn will be managed by you. Just give me some pocket money."
Chunhua was delighted to hear this. But then she hesitated. "Will your parents be upset?"
"I'll talk them round, don't you worry. I have to go call my Regiment Commander now. Do you want to come?"
"Yes. I've never seen a telephone before. What does it look like?"
Xu Zhaodi was waiting for Wei Tiechui to leave so she could go over and mock Jin Xing. Instead, she saw Jin Xing take her three children and niece away in high spirits to the maternal family’s home to celebrate the engagement.
Xu Zhaodi was both angry and regretful. She was angry that it had actually worked, and regretful that, had she known Comrade Wei’s standards were so low, she would have found a way to have him introduced to her own daughter. Her daughter might not have been as pretty as Jin Xing's niece, but she was fair-skinned and had an uncle in a government position.
Granny Tian was also feeling a bit regretful. "Old man, call Third. Tell him to introduce someone to our Juanjuan, too."
Old Man Tao hadn't expected it to work either. "Calling is too expensive. Write a letter."
After receiving the letter, Tao Wenrui read it over and over again.
Just as Regiment Commander Zhang returned home, Tao Wenrui arrived. "Regiment Commander."
"Sit." Regiment Commander Zhang poured him some water. "Something on your mind?"
"My father wrote that Wei Tiechui is marrying my ex-wife's eldest niece."
"Hmm. If you hadn't divorced your ex-wife, Tiechui would have had to call you uncle-in-law."
"How did Wei Tiechui end up at my hometown?"
"Your daughter kidnapped him. She said she was introducing him to a girl, and he followed her like a puppy."
Tao Wenrui: "..." My daughter is only four. "Regiment Commander, please don't joke."
Regiment Commander Zhang took a sip of water. "I'm not joking. Your daughter really did kidnap him."
"How could Wei Tiechui trust a child?"
"That, I don't know. Ask him when he gets back. His leave is almost up."
"Alright, I'll be going."
"Come by when you have time."
"I will."
Three days later, Wei Tiechui, carrying Xiao Yanyan and accompanied by Chunhua, walked out of the train station and saw Tao Wenrui.
Wei Tiechui felt a bit guilty. "Greetings, Deputy Regiment Commander Tao."
Chunhua turned her head away.
Xiao Yanyan waved at Tao Wenrui from her high perch. "Daddy, I'm back. Did you miss me? I missed you, and I missed Aunt Su, too."