Chapter 1140: Chapter 1140: The Decision
"Auntie, go have your meal, we’ve already eaten." Meng Lin said with a smile.
Suddenly, Tao Yanzhen understood why her cousin was acting this way, seeing her interact with the village chief’s wife, it was like a daughter relating to a mother.
Tao Yanzhen felt a bit sad at heart; her aunt was a very self-centered person, she liked her husband, and rarely interacted with her cousin.
Besides, she always thought that the man liked sons, but ever since giving birth to her cousin, she never had another child, so that’s why she was always lukewarm.
This is her cousin yearning for maternal love.
Tao Yanzhen felt her nose getting sore.
The Li Family was eating in the courtyard, so both parties could clearly see each other.
Wang Menglin now observed Li Manjiang more closely.
He is about 175 or 178 in height, looks ordinary, quite similar to Li Yungui, without Qu Xiaoli’s refined features.
Li Manjiang has strong senses, he noticed this female educated youth has been watching him.
He already knew she was an educated youth in the village, but being watched like this felt a bit off.
Wang Menglin formed a more detailed comparison of Li Manjiang and then stopped looking.
Li Manjiang glanced at the girl who had been looking at him, first impression being she was pretty. He suddenly realized something, this girl should be very fond of her mother, her gaze always followed her mom.
Li Yungui finished eating and left the table.
Wang Menglin immediately stood up, "Village Chief Li, I’d like to request leave tomorrow to go to the county, and try to return by noon."
Li Yungui’s first impression of this Wang Zhiqing wasn’t particularly good, but ever since arriving at the Li Family Village, she had been diligent and there hadn’t been any problems.
"Are all three of you asking for leave?"
Wang Menglin shook her head, "Just me, to call my family."
Li Yungui frowned slightly, "No, a girl going alone isn’t safe, let Tao Chunhe, the educated youth, accompany you."
Wang Menglin and Tao Yanzhen were a bit moved, though Village Chief Li somewhat disliked them, he was a rare kind person.
"Village Chief Li, then the two of us sisters will go."
Li Yungui nodded, thinking it was matters concerning girls, so male comrades tagging along wouldn’t be convenient.
Qu Xiaoli also finished eating, the children were responsible for clearing the table, she came over to chat with Wang Menglin.
"You two girls must be careful."
"Auntie, we know, I’ll just go make a call home and will be back in the afternoon for work."
"Don’t rush, since you’re going to the county, think through what you need and bring it back. Life will get busier later, and taking leave again, your uncle will find it difficult."
Wang Menglin enjoyed listening to Qu Xiaoli’s chatter, just standing there patiently listening.
On the way home, Tao Yanzhen held Wang Menglin’s hand, "Cousin, I agree with your decision."
"You also think the Li Family is good, right?"
"Yes, but I don’t know if Grandpa can agree."
"He should be able to. Let Grandpa investigate, Cousin has already found out which unit Li Manjiang is in.
Grandpa seeing his character will likely agree."
After the two female educated youths left, the brothers surrounded Li Manjiang.
All boys have a dream to be soldiers, of course love listening to tales about the military.
"Alright, hurry up and wash up, then sleep. Aren’t you tired?"
Li Xue and Guodong also returned, "Second uncle, the Red Army wants you to come over."
Li Manjiang stood up, "Dad, I’ll go over to see the Red Army with you."
Along the way, Li Yungui briefed his son on the village’s situation this year and talked about going to Tangjiazhuang.
"Dad, haven’t you fixed Grandpa’s hunting rifle?"
"No, it isn’t needed now, leaving it broken is safer.
Manjiang, your mom is really anxious."
Li Manjiang understood his dad’s meaning, "I’ll listen to Mom."
"Your mom has looked at a few prospects for you, we can spare time these days to go have a look."
"Okay, I have no objections." He can understand his parents’ feelings. His age really isn’t young anymore. Better just listen to his parents.
The father and son arrived at the field and saw the tractor heading back, so they waited by the field edge.
"Dad, our village has another bumper crop this year."
"It’s alright, the corn cobs aren’t big, Xiao Wei says if there were fertilizer, it’d be much better, but where can we get that?"
"Does Mr. Wei have any contacts?"
"Xiao Wei didn’t mention it. If he had connections, he’d surely tell me."
"I’ll also ask my demobilized comrades if they know something?"
"Yes, you should ask."
The Red Army spotted his second uncle at the field edge, stopped and turned off the engine, "Brother, you’re back?"
"Sure am, Red Army, how are you? Tired?"
"It’s alright, manageable."
Li Manjiang saw his brother smiling cheekily, and joined in with a smile.
"Second uncle, this bag of wheat seeds is faulty. I put it in the seeder, and it wouldn’t plant, just came back out. Could you check what’s the matter?"
Li Yungui heard this, immediately activated his flashlight.
"Were these seeds delivered together?"
"I didn’t notice; I was responsible for sowing during the day. So that’s when I found out."
"I see, I know now. Don’t over exert yourself, take breaks."
"It’s no problem. Second uncle, you should head back, just make sure to look into these seeds, it’s crucial for the whole year’s crop."
"I understand. We’ll take this bag with us first, you tell Jiushang and the others to be cautious, this concerns the year’s harvest."
Li Manjiang carried the bag of wheat seeds himself, the father and son went straight to Li Cunshan’s house.
Li Cunshan checked the evidently sprouting grains, also furrowing his brows.
"The wheat seeds were delivered by me this morning."
"Brother Cunshan, check the other grains in storage, don’t let them get spoiled."
"I’ll head to the storeroom tomorrow morning."
This is a big deal, absolutely cannot be careless; the hard work of a year depends on the stored grains, if something goes wrong, it would be catastrophic.
Wang Menglin and Tao Yanzhen got home, Tao Chunhe had finished his bath.
"How did it go, no troubles, right?"
"Not only no trouble, they wanted you or Xiao Zhen to come with me, Cousin, you stay here and work, us two will go."
Tao Chunhe didn’t mind either way, "You two be careful."
He saw his cousin was quite happy, she really took it to heart.
The two sisters washed up and lay on the kang, "Sis, have you really made up your mind?"
"Yes, I believe my time with the Li Family will be happy."
"Good, I support you, I will also speak to Grandpa."
"Thank you, Xiao Zhen." Wang Menglin doesn’t want to marry into a family without warmth.
She loves warmth, loves a loving home.
As for Li Manjiang, she doesn’t dislike him, but can’t say she likes him either. After marriage, they wouldn’t spend much time together anyway, so it didn’t matter who it was.
As long as the family brings her happiness, that’s all she asks for. Truly, no high expectations.
She doesn’t believe in men, and doesn’t want to believe.
