The ti had co, and several people had gone to class. At ho, only Li Manjiang was left. He sat down to light the fire; soon, Mom and Dad would be back too. Snowflakes were already drifting outside, aning it was going to snow heavily. Fortunately, he didn’t have to run into that.
After tidying up, Xiao Li hurried ho, seeing smoke coming out of the chimney and a smile on her face.
She knew her own child; his eyes were open and alert, never needing to be told what to do.
Once inside, mother and son sat by the hearth chatting. "Manjiang, didn’t you say you were bringing your wife ho?"
"Mom, it fell through."
"What happened?"
"She found soone more capable than ."
Xiao Li sighed. "Manjiang, this shows you weren’t ant to be together. Don’t take it to heart."
"Mom, I found out only right before returning from my mission, which is why I ca back late."
"It’s no big deal, Manjiang. Should we look for soone around here?" Actually, Xiao Li hoped to find soone nearby, but she didn’t want to pressure her son. If he wanted to find soone at ho, that would be fine. If not, he could look elsewhere.
"Mom, I don’t have that idea right now."
"Manjiang, that’s not good. Is it because you don’t like local girls, or is there another reason?"
"It’s not that I don’t want to find soone from ho; it’s just that I don’t want to find anyone right now."
"But you’re already twenty-two, and Hong Lin, who’s a year younger, is already married with kids."
Li Manjiang looked at his mom, really wanting to say that he had no such idea, but he was afraid his parents would worry about him.
"Manjiang, I’m not forcing you, but could you at least consider eting so girls? If you like one, you can start sothing; if not, then forget about it."
Seeing his mom’s eager expression, he nodded in the end.
"Manjiang, there’s a particularly nice girl in Han Family Village. She’s seventeen this year, the youngest in her family, and her dad knows your dad quite well. She’s pretty, a junior high graduate, and now works as a temp at the supply and marketing cooperative."
"Alright, I’ll follow your lead, Mom."
"Nonsense, it’s your life together in the end; you have to want it yourself."
"Mom, I don’t want to find a hotown wife because my rank isn’t high enough yet to bring a wife with in the army. Leaving her at ho, I feel embarrassed."
"Manjiang, you’re overthinking this. Others from nearby villages who joined up with you are already married with kids, and their families have elder care, so why not? But if you’re really unwilling, I won’t force you. I want you to marry soone you like. Your uncle divorced, and he hasn’t had a happy life; I don’t want my son to be like that."
"Mom, sure, I’ll listen to you. But isn’t the girl a bit too young?"
"There aren’t any good ones of the right age. I’ve taken a liking to this girl. Before I got your letter, I even thought of asking Chaoyang to write to you about this. When I heard you were seeing soone, I let it go. A while ago, when people from their village ca over to eat, I inquired discreetly; she’s not seeing anyone yet, and her family wants to keep her at ho for a few more years."
"Then, Mom, you make the arrangents."
Xiao Li nodded with a smile. "I’ll find a matchmaker to inquire shortly."
Li Manjiang thought since he’d promised his mom, he would give it his full cooperation.
"Mom, it’s snowing out; be careful."
"I know what I’m doing." Xiao Li went off excitedly to find a matchmaker. She still felt it was better to find a well-known daughter-in-law.
Li Manjiang returned to his room, lay down, and thought about that woman, biting his teeth in anger. Maybe finding a hotown wife was best, as she wouldn’t be overly scheming and two-faced.
He had been sincere with her, but how could she have done this to him? Perhaps he had already been the butt of jokes without knowing it.
Now, beyond anger, he only felt fortunate that he found out early; otherwise, he would truly have been a fool in others’ eyes.
Li Yungui also returned ho, and Li Manjiang sat up.
"You stay lying down; it’s too cold outside. I’ll light the fire."
"Dad, I’ll just bunk with Chaoyang and them. We brothers can spend so ti together."
"Alright, then let’s light fires in both rooms. It’ll be warm by the ti they get back from school."
Li Manjiang and his dad went to light a fire together.
"Dad, isn’t it too dangerous for Chaoyang to go out tomorrow?" This hand-held tractor, especially on a snowy road, was much more dangerous than a regular four-wheeled truck.
"I don’t know. It’s tough for Wang Shulin. Finally, Xiao Wei arranged for him to pick up his vehicle, but it’s snowing heavily now. With such snow, even trains might not run."
Li Yungui sighed. If Wang Shulin had spoken earlier, the tractor would already be ho by now.
"Dad, does Master Wei have such capabilities?"
"Yes, he’s sothing special. I once thought of sending Chaoyang to be a soldier, but now that he wants to follow Xiao Wei, let’s keep him ho."
"What’s Chaoyang’s opinion?"
"I haven’t asked yet. But this opportunity to go to the Capital, Xiao Wei specifically asked Chaoyang, and Chaoyang wishes to stay by Xiao Wei to continue learning. Actually, this is quite good; the village will certainly get better next year. Manjiang, if you could co back, that would be nice too. Give it so thought."
"Dad, I like being a soldier."
"If you like it, continue. Your mom and I will never hold you back."
Li Manjiang felt bittersweet in his heart. At his age, he couldn’t be filial, and worse, still let his parents worry.
Both rooms now had fires going, and the father and son sat on the heated bed, chatting.
"Why isn’t your mom back yet?"
"She went to Auntie Ma’s place."
"Why did she go there?"
"To introduce to soone; she said soone from Han Family Village."
"Manjiang, you have to understand your mom."
"Dad, I know. If it works out, I’ll get married."
Li Yungui didn’t want to force his son into anything, either. His eldest brother was the best example; out of the four brothers, only the eldest had an unhappy marriage, while the others were harmonious.
"Manjiang, we’re not pressuring you; it has to be your decision. You can just consider our opinions."
At that mont, a voice ca from the yard.
"Wang Shulin is here." Li Yungui quickly got down to dress and went out.
In no ti, Wang Shulin ca in. He had already brushed off the snow in the main room.
"What kind of luck is this? Finally able to pick up my vehicle, and then it snows heavily."
"Actually, the snow ca later this year. Without snow, our at wouldn’t taste as good. Manjiang, greet Uncle Wang." Old Wang was my eldest son, just returned today.
"Uncle Wang, please have a seat on the heated bed. Let get you so hot water."
"What a fine young man, looks just like your uncle, very gentlemanly."
"Oh, you flatter . Please co up to the warm kang; it’s too cold out."
"I won’t stay. I’m afraid it’ll snow harder later; it took enough effort to get here already."
User Comments
0 comments from readers