Ch 7: The Scumbag’s Daily Wife-Doting Life [QT]

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was the day Xie Li had arranged to meet the black market contact again.

Before setting out, the four of them agreed to meet at the village entrance.

Xie Li and Hu Dezheng arrived early and waited there. Watching the two girls approach hand in hand, Hu Dezheng finally asked for confirmation:

“So you really managed to win her over?”

Xie Li glanced at him and nodded.

“I’ll marry nobody else but her.”

Hu Dezheng’s expression grew complicated.

“If you marry her, then you really will be trapped in the countryside forever. You’ll never return to Beijing.”

Both of them had come from Beijing, which was why they were closer than the others. Hu Dezheng desperately wanted to return home, so seeing Xie Li seemingly give up on his future made him feel awful.

“You’re overthinking it.” Xie Li’s tone remained calm and composed. “I’m marrying her. And I’m going back to Beijing too.”

Hu Dezheng stared at him in shock.

“You’re taking her back to Beijing with you?!”

“Of course.” Xie Li sounded as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “If she marries me, then wherever I am, that’s where she’ll be too.”

“But…”

But would your family agree to that?

Hu Dezheng studied desperately because he hoped to become a worker-peasant-soldier university student and use that opportunity to return home. He had never once considered marrying a village girl.

No matter how pretty the countryside girls were, after endless field labor their skin was darkened and roughened. Compared to the fair-skinned girls in the city, there was simply no comparison. Hu Dezheng’s parents would definitely never accept him bringing home a rural girl.

Still, after thinking it over, he swallowed those thoughts.

After all, this was Xie Li’s own choice. Besides, their family situations were different. Maybe what his own family rejected, Xie Li’s family might accept.

Instead, another worry surfaced in his heart. He sighed heavily.

“I just don’t know when we’ll finally get the chance to apply for university.”

To apply as a worker-peasant-soldier university student required at least three years of agricultural labor. They had already spent two years in the countryside and only lacked one more year to qualify. But there were countless educated youths, plus people who had worked on farms, in factories, or in the military since childhood, all competing for those opportunities.

Successfully applying in one attempt was easier said than done.

Hu Dezheng wanted the opportunity. Everyone else did too. The competition was brutal. He worried about it so much he felt like his hair would soon fall out.

“Xie Li, after you marry Li Tiantian, you’ll probably have a much easier time applying than me…”

Xie Li paused without speaking.

It was currently spring of 1976. The restoration of the college entrance examinations was still two years away. For safety reasons, he did not intend to openly predict the future. But he also did not want Hu Dezheng to remain so anxious forever. After some thought, he casually hinted:

“You know what my family situation is, right?”

Hu Dezheng froze.

“What about it?”

Only Hu Dezheng knew the truth about Xie Li’s background. Everyone else thought he was just an ordinary educated youth. Only Hu Dezheng understood they were completely wrong.

“At most another three years…” Xie Li glanced at the sky, speaking as casually as if discussing the weather. “Certain things will change. By then, I might just bring my wife and children back to Beijing together.”

Hu Dezheng’s expression shifted from confusion, to shock, to delight, and finally overwhelming ecstasy.

“Y-you… what do you mean?”

Xie Li nodded.

“Exactly what it sounds like. Just wait and see.”

Hu Dezheng’s heart began pounding wildly…

“What are you guys talking about?”

Li Tiantian had arrived with Qian Lanxiang and happened to hear the tail end of the conversation. Curious, she asked the question aloud.

Xie Li shook his head.

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

Li Tiantian hummed in agreement and hurried to catch up beside him, her face sweet with happiness. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. Qian Lanxiang understood perfectly why she was present, so she wisely stayed quiet and walked behind them alongside Hu Dezheng, wearing the delighted expression of someone enjoying juicy gossip.

As the four of them headed out, they unexpectedly ran into Li Jianguo.

Li Tiantian had sneaked out after only informing Wang Cuihua. The moment she saw her father, her face turned pale and she instinctively hid several steps behind Xie Li.

By now, Li Jianguo had already heard about Jia Xiaotao’s public scene in the fields.

Knowing that Xie Li had protected Li Tiantian at the time and prevented her reputation from being ruined, Li Jianguo’s attitude toward him had noticeably softened. There was no longer scrutiny or wariness in his eyes. He only said calmly:

“Go early and come back early.”

Hearing that, Li Tiantian cautiously peeked out from behind Xie Li.

Pretending not to notice, Li Jianguo inwardly shook his head, both helpless and amused, before turning around and leaving.

“It’s alright now,” Xie Li said gently to the girl behind him.

Li Tiantian sighed in relief and smiled brightly.

“Does this mean he’s accepted you?”

Who knew?

Xie Li did not answer. Instead, he motioned for everyone to hurry and set off before they became late.

…

Hu Dezheng needed to buy daily necessities, so the group planned to accompany him first.

As for where to go…

“Let’s go to the department store,” Xie Li suggested.

With his suggestion decided upon, the four headed straight for the county department store. It had only recently opened and looked extremely grand, the tallest building in the entire county. It had two floors. The first sold snacks and groceries, while the second contained household goods and clothing.

Xie Li had already heard about it during his previous trip, but he had been too rushed to visit then. Today he finally had the chance.

The moment they entered, Xie Li spoke up.

“You guys look around first. I need to step out for something and will be back in half an hour.”

Hu Dezheng had no idea what he meant, but still confidently thumped his chest and assured him not to worry.

Xie Li nodded. The department store was huge enough that a proper stroll through it would take around half an hour anyway, so he felt reassured.

Before leaving, he paused briefly, then handed all the money he carried over to Li Tiantian while gently coaxing her:

“Some things here don’t require ration coupons. Buy whatever you like. Be good and wait for me to come back.”

Li Tiantian frowned slightly.

“What are you going to do?”

“Just taking care of something. I’ll definitely be back within half an hour.”

Since he was heading off to sell vegetables, Xie Li obviously could not explain directly and could only answer vaguely.

Li Tiantian looked somewhat unhappy, but still nodded obediently.

“Then come back quickly.”

Hearing those words, Xie Li could not help quickening his pace.

Half an hour later, he returned exactly as promised.

In that short time, all the eggplants and napa cabbage in the space had already been sold off, and another eighty yuan now rested inside his pocket.

But when Xie Li hurried back, he saw Li Tiantian standing outside the department store empty-handed.

He could not help frowning.

“You already finished shopping?”

“There wasn’t really anything I wanted.” Li Tiantian looked bored, but her eyes lit up the instant she saw him. “So I just waited here for you.”

Xie Li believed her at first and had just begun saying, “If that’s the case, then let’s go…”

When Qian Lanxiang suddenly interrupted:

“You obviously liked that dress inside.”

“I did not!” Li Tiantian immediately denied it. Then she quickly glanced at Xie Li, afraid he might misunderstand, and repeated firmly, “Really, I didn’t.”

Xie Li froze briefly before immediately understanding the situation. Laughing helplessly, he asked:

“Were you trying to save money for me? You don’t need to do that. Come on, let’s go look again so I can see what kind of dress you liked.”

Hu Dezheng naturally had no objections to wandering the department store another time. Qian Lanxiang’s eyes rolled mischievously before she leaned over and whispered a few words to him.

His eyes widened. After thinking for a while, he nodded.

Then the two of them approached Xie Li together.

“You two keep shopping yourselves. We’ve already bought pretty much everything we needed, so we won’t stay with you anymore. Let’s meet back at the department store entrance at two in the afternoon before heading home. Sound good?”

Xie Li looked at the pair somewhat surprised, immediately understanding they were intentionally giving him and Li Tiantian time alone together.

“Thanks for helping us out.”

With the two third wheels gone, what followed was naturally a sweet little date of their own.

The two of them headed straight upstairs, where Xie Li finally saw the dress Li Tiantian liked.

It was a pale cyan cotton dress decorated with scattered little floral patterns of the same soft color. The style was unique, with a fitted waist design. Though clearly meant for young girls, it carried a quiet elegance, like poetry and distant landscapes.

The moment Li Tiantian saw it, her eyes brightened slightly, though she quickly forced herself to look away.

“Comrade, how much is this dress?” Without waiting for her to speak, Xie Li had already noticed how much she liked it and directly asked for the price.

Department stores in this era were not like modern supermarkets. All the merchandise sat behind counters. Customers were not allowed to touch anything, only look. If they liked something, they could ask the price and buy it.

The saleswoman glanced over the pair of them.

“Five yuan. No ration coupon needed. No bargaining.”

“So expensive…” Li Tiantian immediately wilted. The little excitement in her heart disappeared at once as she shook her head. “Xie Li, I don’t want it anymore. Let’s go.”

That amount of money could buy fifty jin of pork. Li Tiantian still deeply resented how all the meat the other day had been eaten by her cousin’s family.

Xie Li said nothing and simply reached into his pocket for money.

The saleswoman looked surprised.

“You really want to buy it? We only got one of these in stock. There aren’t any other sizes.”

“This one’s fine.” Xie Li swept his gaze over the dress once, confirming it would fit Li Tiantian perfectly before speaking decisively.

“Alright then, I’ll take it down for you.”

Faced with such a straightforward customer, the saleswoman moved quickly as well. After taking the money, she immediately removed the cotton dress from its hanger, briefly displayed it to show there were no loose threads or defects, then neatly wrapped it and handed it over to Xie Li.

Before Li Tiantian could recover enough to refuse, the five yuan had already vanished.

She stared blankly at him, her gaze filled with both surprise and complicated emotion, along with obvious heartache over the money spent.

“It’s really expensive…”

“It’s fine. I can still afford this much.” Unable to resist, Xie Li gently rubbed her head and praised softly, “Good girl. Come on, let’s go look at the other things.”

Li Tiantian shook her head frantically.

“No more looking, no more looking. Let’s just go outside.”

After endless pleading from her, Xie Li could only helplessly agree.

But while passing through the first floor and seeing the dazzling displays of pastries and candy, something stirred in his thoughts. He ended up buying several jin of pastries.

Since she had no idea what he intended to do with them, Li Tiantian merely frowned while watching and surprisingly did not stop him.

It was only that evening, when Xie Li came to visit, that she discovered the pastries had once again been bought for her family.

…

Today’s trip into the city had reminded Xie Li of something.

Marriage could wait a little longer, but an engagement had become absolutely necessary.

Otherwise, every time the two of them wanted to go out together, they still needed people to cover for them. Without that, outsiders would point fingers and gossip endlessly.

And if even one careless rumor spread, the damage to Li Tiantian’s reputation would be severe.

That evening, Xie Li deliberately changed into his best clothes, carried the pastries and candy he had bought earlier, and knocked on the Li family’s front gate.

Li Jianguo answered the door.

“Team Leader,” Xie Li greeted.

“Why are you here?” Li Jianguo asked, somewhat confused.

“I came to visit you and Auntie.” Xie Li gestured politely toward the gifts in his hands. “Would it be alright if we spoke inside?”

Li Jianguo vaguely understood something. He stared at Xie Li silently for a long moment before finally turning around to lead the way.

“Come in.”

Xie Li calmly followed him inside.

The Li family had just finished dinner. Wang Cuihua was cleaning up while Li Tiantian helped nearby. Seeing Li Jianguo lead Xie Li into the main room, identical confusion appeared on both mother and daughter’s faces.

“Xie Li? Why are you here?”

Of course Wang Cuihua knew her daughter had been spending a lot of time with an educated youth lately. But the two behaved openly and properly without crossing any lines, so she had never intended to stop them.

She had even quietly observed that educated youth herself and felt he was quite good. In fact, she was rather optimistic about the match.

Honestly, much of that came from the words Xie Li had previously asked Li Tiantian to pass along to Li Jianguo. At the very least, Wang Cuihua had indeed been moved by them.

“Auntie.”

Xie Li greeted her politely before handing over the gifts.

“These are for you.”

Still confused, Wang Cuihua accepted them automatically.

“Sit down first. I’ll go pour some water.”

“No need to trouble yourself. I only came to talk for a bit and will leave soon.”

Xie Li stopped her and invited her to sit before speaking directly:

“I believe you already know Tiantian and I have grown very close lately. So today I came specifically to ask… when would be the proper time for me to formally propose an engagement?”

What?

Li Jianguo and Wang Cuihua exchanged shocked looks.

What kind of young man was this proactive nowadays?

Normally, such matters were handled through family elders negotiating with one another. But Xie Li was alone in the countryside with no elders beside him, meaning he had no choice but to come himself.

Li Jianguo had lived over half his life, yet this was the first time someone had personally come proposing marriage to him directly. The feeling was undeniably strange, though he maintained a calm face outwardly.

The couple felt rather speechless.

Meanwhile, Li Tiantian was so embarrassed she could not even speak. Her face was red enough to look as though rouge had been brushed over it.

“W-why are you being so sudden?” Li Jianguo finally asked.

“I only want to become engaged first. Without an engagement…” Xie Li paused slightly. “Certain people enjoy gossiping too much.”

Wang Cuihua nodded.

That was true. With how enthusiastically her daughter chased after little Xie lately, who knew what kind of wild rumors outsiders might spread if they did not formalize things somehow.

Still, even knowing that, she had absolutely not mentally prepared for this.

“H-how about observing a little longer first?” Wang Cuihua suggested, though inwardly she was already tempted. An engagement was only an engagement, not marriage itself.

Maybe they really could start with that?

Li Jianguo suddenly raised a hand, interrupting the conversation and drawing everyone’s attention.

“If you want to get engaged, that’s fine. Even marriage itself could be discussed.” His expression turned serious. “But I have one condition.”

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