Chapter 1139: Chapter 1139: Decision
"Good. Really good, even Man Jiang’s stature looks good."
Today Li Cunshan arranged for the female youths to come and work at the threshing ground.
Because they performed quite well this week, Li Cunshan assigned them lighter tasks today.
The female youths were very grateful to the Captain. They knew that he had a fair sense of judgment, so as long as they were obedient and honest, they wouldn’t be mistreated.
The female youths were also gazing at Li Manjiang. Wang Menglin squinted a bit, as she liked Qu Xiaoli, and Man Jiang was her eldest son. If she could marry him, wouldn’t she and Qu Xiaoli be family?
With this thought, Wang Menglin’s gaze at Li Manjiang changed.
Her conclusion was that this man seemed all right.
She just didn’t know what his temperament was like.
"Cousin?" Tao Yanzhen noticed her cousin staring at someone for a good while.
Wang Menglin leaned closer to Tao Yanzhen, "Do you think he could be your cousin-in-law?"
Tao Yanzhen was startled. Her cousin was indeed daring in speech.
"Would Grandpa agree? Our mom told us both that we absolutely shouldn’t marry here."
Tao Yanzhen whispered, worried others might hear and it might damage her cousin’s reputation.
"Grandpa will definitely agree. Look at his actions; he seems to be trained, and we all know this isn’t ordinary training one would receive."
"Cousin, be honest. You should call Grandpa first and investigate before deciding."
Wang Menglin nodded. That’s for sure; even if she really liked him, if there’s a conflict with the family, or the family didn’t agree, it definitely wouldn’t work.
"I’ll request leave tomorrow to go to the county."
"You two go, big brother. I’ll stay behind; it’s awkward to request leave at this time."
"Yes, I’m in a hurry. Maybe cousin shouldn’t go either. I’ll directly go to the county to find Jin Erlin and call Grandpa from there."
"I don’t know about this; let’s talk to brother tonight, let him decide." Tao Yanzhen admired her cousin’s straightforwardness. She herself hadn’t such courage.
Li Manjiang knew he was the focus of everyone’s attention but wasn’t bothered. He walked to Qu Xiaoli.
"Mom, I’m back."
"Good, it’s good you’re back. Hurry and start working. The sorghum ears there are running short."
Li Manjiang smiled and nodded, heading off to work.
"Xiao Li, why not let the child rest since he’s just returned?"
"Rest? He’s young and strong, been outside for years, and now that he’s back for the harvest, he must work. He grew up eating the meals from Li Family Village."
The elders nodded approvingly; they genuinely liked Yun Gui’s wife.
The remaining six female youths also kept their eyes on Li Manjiang.
The four older youths knew of someone like him but saw him for the first time today.
The four each developed thoughts. Yun Gui’s son from here, if they wanted to stay in Li Family Village, who else had better prospects than Yun Gui’s son? Besides, at a glance, he’s obviously a soldier.
These conditions are simply too good. Each had their own thoughts.
Qu Xiaoli didn’t realize that many were already considering her son; she was still thinking about matchmaking for him in a few days.
This time the holiday is long; it can last forty days at home. If they could settle the engagement, that would be wonderful.
Wang Menglin looked around, noticing the female youths all had ideas. She thought she must let cousin check in advance to decide what to do.
She leaned over, "Xiao Zhen, I’m going to find cousin."
Tao Yanzhen was speechless, observing her cousin. What had gotten into her?
Wang Menglin found Tao Chunhe.
"Meng Lin, why have you come over?"
"Cousin, come on over. Let’s take a trip to the threshing ground."
Her cousin’s sudden, unclear suggestion left Tao Chunhe puzzled.
"Where’s Xiao Zhen?"
"Xiao Zhen is working."
Since the two younger sisters were fine, Tao Chunhe felt reassured.
He found the captain for permission to take leave and followed his cousin to the threshing ground.
"Cousin, I’ve taken a liking to someone; you take a look. If you think it’s good, I’ll call Grandpa."
Tao Chunhe was stunned by his cousin’s words. He looked at his cousin in surprise.
Had she found herself a man? "Who is he?"
"Li Yungui’s eldest son, who served in the army, just returned today."
"Just returned?"
"Yes, you go check."
"Meng Lin, isn’t this too rash?"
"You go look. I like the village chief’s aunt, like Village Chief Li, like Village Chief Li’s children."
Tao Chunhe was again stunned by his cousin’s words. Does she want the man from the family she adores? What kind of logic is that? His cousin was indeed different from others.
When the two arrived at the threshing ground, Tao Chunhe immediately spotted a distinctive man.
His cousin had good taste. Li Yungui’s son seemed very fine.
"He’s fine."
Wang Menglin understood her cousin’s meaning, feeling delighted.
"Cousin, I’ll go to the county tomorrow to make the call myself."
"Alone?"
"It would be a bit awkward for both of us to request leave, and if you go, I’m afraid you might not explain well."
Tao Chunhe looked at his cousin, feeling speechless. Was he being taken lightly?
"Alright, cousin, you can head back."
Tao Chunhe felt he merely came for a round and now was returning.
Wang Menglin continued sitting beside her cousin. "Cousin said it’s fine. I’ll go to Village Chief Li tonight to request leave."
"Cousin, are you serious?"
"Yes, I am serious."
Tao Yanzhen admired her cousin; she was really daring?
Wang Menglin suddenly felt much happier.
When work was done, the two sisters went straight home.
"Cousin, weren’t you planning to request leave?"
"We’ll wait until after dinner."
Tao Yanzhen understood her cousin, she had her own considerations.
Tao Chunhe followed after they returned, "Meng Lin, are you really sure?"
"Yes, I like the Li Family."
"Just because you like the Li Family?"
"Yes, what’s wrong with that?"
"Aren’t you going to live with a man for a lifetime?"
"He’ll be in the military, I’ll be at home, won’t I still be living with the Li Family?"
Tao Chunhe suddenly felt his cousin made perfect sense.
At night, the three siblings ate rice and water, stir-fried eggs with pickled vegetables.
After eating, Wang Menglin took her cousin to the Li household.
"Cousin, shouldn’t brother come with you? Isn’t it inappropriate for two girls to be seen?"
"It’s okay; if he likes you, it’s fine too. Don’t worry, marrying into the family is quite good."
Tao Yanzhen understood. Her cousin had no interest in Li Yungui’s eldest; she thought well of the Li family. Was she marrying into the Li Family rather than just the eldest?
The two sisters chatted softly. They arrived at Li Yungui’s home.
"Aunt." Wang Menglin greeted Qu Xiaoli warmly.
"Wang Zhiqing and Tao Zhiqing are here? Come in and have something."
