Gu Qingyao looked up at Gu Yunshen. “Father, you want to ask me what kind of job I want, right?”
Gu Yunshen did not know what to say.
Yao Yao had not encountered a good era. She was a young village girl who had been unable to continue her education once classes in the school stopped. She was uneducated and had no way of looking for a job. She was not a child anymore, but also not quite grown up. She could not do anything.
Who knew when these dark times would be over. What could Yao Yao do in the future?
As for Mo Beihan, they all knew his intentions. Even Yao Yao herself was aware of part of it. The two families had always gotten along well…
Gu Yunshen took a deep breath and came to the point. He said to Gu Qingyao, “Yao Yao, you’ve grown up and will be of marriageable age in two years. Are you willing to be engaged to Beihan now?”
Gu Qingyao actually wanted to say that she was willing.
But she knew it would not be appropriate to be so direct. It would probably displease her father. He might even think that she was too young and immature.
So she said, “Father, Elder Brother Beihan has always been good to me and we know his family well. You watched him grow up. Marriage is a very important matter to a girl. I only know that I won’t be scared or worried if I have to marry Elder Brother Beihan. But I am not at all willing to marry someone else.”
Gu Qingyao raised her head. “Father, why are you discussing this with me when I’m only sixteen? There are girls in the brigade who get married at my age, it won’t be too late if I marry a couple of years later either.”
Gu Yunshen sighed again. He understood Gu Qingyao’s meaning.
Actually, parents all hoped their daughters would marry someone they knew well and who would be good to their daughter. Mo Beihan completely fit the bill.
“Your Aunt Jiang has spoken to your grandma. She asked if we are willing to allow you to be engaged to Beihan, although you will only get married in two years’ time, when you are grown up. If we cannot bear to let you go, then they’ll wait another two years.”
“Father, what do you think?” Gu Qingyao asked.
“Father has no objections to that boy, Beihan. But… I just can’t bear to let you go!”
Gu Qingyao smiled. “Father, even if I get married, I’ll still be your daughter. The Mo house is not far from ours. I can come back anytime.
“Anyway, it’s just an engagement and not marriage. Don’t worry, I’ll still be at home.”
Gu Yunshen: “…”
She showed no reluctance to leave her father?
Gu Yunshen felt bitter!
Lunch was especially sumptuous. There was a big plate of braised meat. Gu Jinlin marveled when he saw it.
She had cooked a fish and made a big pot of bone soup. It was milky white and looked delicious.
It was the new year. They must certainly have a drink. Gu Qingyao had specially made some boiled peanuts to go with the wine.
She braised some chicken and made a portion of sour and spicy shredded potatoes, a portion of eggs with green pepper, and a dish of wild mushrooms.
She had made plenty of braised meat. Gu Qingyao filled a large soup bowl with it, then poured some bone soup into a ceramic jar. She told Gu Jinlin to give these to the old folks who had been demoted. They were all her teachers!
And some peanuts too. These were more expensive. Gu Qingyao especially gave them shelled peanuts so they could be eaten directly and were less easily detected.
She also sent them some wine.
The old people were all very particular. They would definitely like these things.
Everyone began to eat when Gu Jinlin returned.
Gu Jinlin had a huge appetite. He felt that his younger cousin’s cooking was extremely good. Given the same ingredients, someone else might not be able to create something so tasty.
After eating her cooking for so many days, he was rather worried about how he would survive once he went home.
