Lin Lan thought for a mont, then nodded. "If we get engaged in the last month of the lunar year, we’ll have to find ti to go back to Shilian."
’She felt they already understood each other well, making the engagent just a formality. The important thing was the marriage—knowing for sure that he was the person she could build a life with. But since Li Xiangyang wanted it, she was happy to respect his wishes.’
Li Xiangyang held Lin Lan’s hand and said with a grin, "How about this? When your dad goes back, we’ll go with him."
Little Douzi had co out at so point and piped up from behind them, "Mom, I want to go to Grandma’s house too."
Lin Lan quickly let go of Li Xiangyang and shot him a quiet, playful glare.
"Okay!" Li Xiangyang said, laughing as he ruffled the boy’s hair. "When Grandpa goes back, the three of us will go together."
Little Douzi’s eyes crinkled into a smile as he nodded eagerly. "Yeah! We’ll all go together."
"..." Lin Lan rolled her eyes at Li Xiangyang.
Li Xiangyang smiled and waved to them. "Douzi, I’m heading out!"
Little Douzi waved back. "Be careful, Uncle Xiangyang!"
After seeing Li Xiangyang off, Lin Lan closed the courtyard gate. Little Douzi washed up and went to bed.
Lin Changyou said to Lin Lan, "Little Lan, Xiangyang’s father is a kind and generous man. When you marry into their family, you must be sure to take good care of your elders. From what I can see, Xiangyang’s family is well-off. You need to be diligent and frugal when you run the household, not careless like you used to be!"
Lin Changyou stressed his final point. "Don’t take the kindness others show you for granted. In life, you must always be grateful and cherish your blessings!"
He had observed Xiangyang over the past two days and could see the young man was genuinely good to Little Lan. He was just afraid that his daughter would take that kindness for granted and fail to reciprocate. Even the warst heart can turn cold if it’s not appreciated.
Lin Lan listened and replied seriously, "Dad, don’t worry. I understand everything you’ve said."
Seeing the look on her face, Lin Changyou knew she truly understood. He nodded in relief. "Good, as long as you understand. That’s good!"
"Xiangyang said that when you go back, we’ll go to Shilian with you."
"It’s good to go back and have everyone et," Lin Changyou said, then rembered sothing else. "Co spring, you’ll have to plant the rice seedlings. You’ve never done that before. During your etings, did they say if the brigade will provide the seeds, or do we have to buy them from the seed station ourselves?"
Lin Lan smiled. "They didn’t ntion that in the eting. I’ll go ask ihua tomorrow." ’She knew how to select seeds and raise seedlings. Even though her family had been small, and her parents had doted on her and her sister, they had also been very strict. She had learned every skill a farr’s daughter should know.’
Lin Changyou nodded. "Yes. When it’s ti to plant the seedlings next spring, I’ll have your older brother and sister-in-law co help you."
"Thank you, Dad!" Lin Lan looked at him, her heart filled with a mix of emotions. "You’ve been drinking, so you should get so rest. Yuezhen and I will go to bed after we finish making the pea flour cakes."
Lin Changyou chuckled. "Still being so formal with your old dad? I’m off to bed. You two should get so sleep soon, too!"
Lin Lan nodded with a smile. She and Lin Yuezhen finished making the pea flour cakes and kidney bean rolls before she went to her room to sleep.
Li Xiangyang went ho and told Old Li that he wanted to get engaged to Lin Lan in the twelfth lunar month.
Old Li thought for a mont. "If you get engaged in the twelfth month, will there be enough ti to buy everything? Did they say what they want?"
Li Xiangyang shook his head. "No, Little Lan doesn’t care about that stuff."
Old Li glared at him. "It doesn’t matter if she cares or not, you’re still buying them! My son, Li Yidao’s son, is getting a wife. We can’t do it without proper betrothal gifts!"
Li Xiangyang started to laugh. "I’ll listen to you. I’ll buy whatever you say."
Old Li paced back and forth in the room. After a mont, he stopped and looked at Li Xiangyang. "First thing tomorrow morning, go find Liu Da. Ask him to help us get a television, a sewing machine, a decent lady’s watch, and a Forever brand lady’s bicycle. The cash gift will be 888 yuan. I’ll pay for the items, and I’ll cover the betrothal money too."
Old Li paused, then continued, "Tomorrow, you’ll first go to Liu Da’s place to order the items. Then, go to Lin Lan’s house to get her Eight Characters. I’ll find a master to pick an auspicious date."
Li Xiangyang nodded readily. "Okay, I’ll go see Uncle Da tomorrow. It’s getting late, you should get so rest."
「The next morning」
Li Xiangyang returned from the slaughterhouse, took a shower, changed his clothes, and headed to the alley behind the garnt factory.
Liu Da’s ho wasn’t far from Brother Yong’s. The Liu family used to be independent traders. Later, they opened their own general store. They suffered quite a bit during the years of the crackdown on private enterprise.
Once the controls weren’t so strict, Liu Da and his brothers went back to their old trade. Cigarettes, electronics, bicycles, watches, sewing machines... if it could be bought and sold, they had it.
As Li Xiangyang passed Brother Yong’s house, he noticed that the old, paint-chipped courtyard gate looked brand new. Even the courtyard walls had been given a fresh coat of whitewash.
He pushed open the unlatched gate and saw two carpenters working in the yard. When they saw him, the older carpenter smiled. "Master Li, you must be here for Little Zhu. He went to the co-op to buy sothing."
Li Xiangyang smiled. "It’s fine, don’t mind . I was just passing by and thought I’d take a look."
The old carpenter chuckled and pointed to the furniture under the eaves, which was being prepped with putty. "The cabinets, bed, and the tables and chairs are all done. Little Zhu said to make a wardrobe and a vanity too."
"I’ll get going. You guys keep busy," Li Xiangyang said before leaving and heading to Liu Da’s house. He knocked a few tis. A voice called out from inside before the door was opened.
Liu Da was in his fifties, not very tall, with a square face, dark skin, and bright, piercing eyes. As soon as he saw Li Xiangyang, he asked, "Why are you here so early today?" He gestured for him to co in.
Li Xiangyang smiled. "Any news about the things I asked you to look into for ?"
Liu Da nodded. "Yep. The seller has mixers, grinders, ovens, and thermoters. You want all of it?"
Li Xiangyang answered without hesitation, "Yes! And my dad asked if you could help get a TV, a sewing machine..."
Liu Da pointed at him and laughed. "Brother Li asked to buy these things. Does this an you’re getting engaged, you rascal?"
"Yeah!" Li Xiangyang admitted openly. "I’ll have to trouble you, then."
"Since it’s for your engagent, I won’t make a profit off you. For the baking equipnt, just give a hundred yuan for shipping when it gets here. Consider it my engagent gift to you!"
Li Xiangyang smiled and cupped his fists. "Thank you, Uncle Liu!"
Liu Da laughed and clapped Li Xiangyang on the shoulder. "With the friendship I have with your dad, there’s no need for formalities! Tell him to cure so extra hams for next year; I need them for gifts. And rember to invite to the engagent party!"
Li Xiangyang smiled and nodded. "No problem. I have so other things to do, so I’ll be going."
"Alright!" Liu Da walked Li Xiangyang to the door and only went back inside after watching him ride away on his bicycle.
Li Xiangyang arrived at the black market. More and more people were coming to do business there. Most of the at at the stall was already sold, and Wang Zhilin was busy at the counter.
When Zhigang saw him approaching, he smiled. "There are more people buying at than last month. We should prepare more for tomorrow."
Li Xiangyang took a look around. "Bring half a pig more tomorrow!"
Zhigang thought for a mont and said, "I saw Brother Shuiqing co by in a hurry. He said a few words to Brother Yong and then left in a rush."
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