Chapter 39: Call Me Brother Yuan

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“Grandma, why are you here asking for a betrothal gift?” Bai Xue calmly stood beside Zhang Yuan and looked at Old Madam Bai.

“Of course I’m… Stupid good-for-nothing. Of course, I want the betrothal gift from the boy! How can he not give the betrothal gift when he wants to marry someone from our family? You actually sided with an outsider! Don’t forget, you haven’t married yet!” Old Madam Bai scolded righteously.

“Grandma, it’s not even time to talk about marriage yet, and you’re already so anxious to ask for the betrothal gift. In any case, this betrothal gift shouldn’t go to you. Even then, it’s not due yet! Can we not embarrass ourselves? There are so many people watching!” Bai Xue actually wanted to kick this old woman away, but she could not do it for the sake of her reputation! Just as the old lady mentioned just now, she might not care about her reputation, but her younger siblings would be implicated.

Her reputation was already very bad for having a private engagement with Zhang Yuan. She could not make things worse by being unfilial.

“What do you know? Go away! I have to talk to this boy here!” Old Madam Bai did not dare to scold Zhang Yuan because he was from the capital. She was a little afraid.

“Xue, let me do the talking!” Zhang Yuan pulled Bai Xue behind him and faced Old Madam Bai.

“Grandma, the day after tomorrow, I will arrange a betrothal banquet at Xue’s house. When the time comes, I will definitely clarify the issue of the betrothal gift. I am not ready yet! I will definitely invite all of you over the day after tomorrow!” Zhang Yuan enunciated each word clearly. His voice was a little loud, and the people around him could hear him. “I am serious about Xue. I will not let her date me for no reason and ruin her reputation!”

“Are you serious? The day after tomorrow?” Old Madam Bai’s eyes lit up, full of calculation.

“Of course it’s true! I never lie!”

“Okay! Then I’ll wait!” Old Madam Bai replied happily, “Xue! It’s cold outside. Hurry up and go home! Don’t let Yuan catch a cold! I’m heading home first!”

As she spoke affectionately, she turned around and dragged Li Guihua back.

She was afraid that Zhang Yuan would come back for her if she lingered for too long.

She had to go home and think about how much money to demand from him.

Zhang Yuan was from the capital, so his family must be very rich. She might as well ask for an exorbitant price. When the time came, Ruying would have enough money to go to school, and her family could even renovate the house that was leaking everywhere.

Old Madam Bai’s plan was quite good, but Bai Xue and Zhang Yuan were not fools.

“The day after tomorrow, I’ll invite the captain to the betrothal dinner!” Bai Xue uttered a single sentence. Wang Xuehua was relieved as she walked over.

“Xue, I thought you were bullied by your grandma again, so I rushed over! With my father guarding you, she shouldn’t be able to bully you anymore!”

“Xuehua, let me introduce you to my boyfriend, Zhang Yuan!” The original owner of the body was best friends with Wang Xuehua. Bai Xue also liked her personality very much, so even if she had changed inside, she did not want to break up with this best friend.

“Hello! My name is Wang Xuehua!” Wang Xuehua stretched out her hand to greet Zhang Yuan without any fear.

“Hello!” Zhang Yuan only shook hands with Wang Xuehua and did not say anything else.

The other people from the Educated Youth Section had witnessed everything from beginning to end. They finally felt that the previously cold and taciturn Comrade Zhang Yuan had returned.

“Xue, when did you get together with your boyfriend? We haven’t seen each other for half a month and you already have a boyfriend!” Wang Xuehua asked slyly.

“You made it, just in time!” Bai Xue said.

“Are you sure?” Wang Xuehua did not believe it. “I heard that you guys are talking about marriage. Didn’t your grandmother invite all the people from the Disciplinary Department to come over? They’re still at my place!”

“My grandma wanted to extort some money using the betrothal gifts. How could you believe her?” Bai Xue rolled her eyes. “Didn’t she just see her?”

“I don’t really believe it entirely! Maybe just a little!”

“Go to hell! Believe it or not, we just confirmed our relationship! I’ll go back first! It’s too cold!” After Bai Xue finished speaking to Wang Xuehua, she turned to Zhang Yuan to speak.

She was still in a daze. The second benefit she received in this era was getting engaged to a handsome man who looked like her idol. She might even get married and give birth to a bunch of little idols…

At the thought of this, her face turned red. She looked at Zhang Yuan’s face and stuttered.

“I’ll send you back. It’s almost time for dinner!” Zhang Yuan looked at Bai Xue and revealed an extremely doting smile.

Everyone’s eyes almost fell to the ground.

Bai Xue looked at the furious Zhao Hongmei standing in the courtyard. It was still a different era. In her era, if the person she liked was engaged to another woman in front of her, she would definitely step up and fight for it. However, Zhao Hongmei was so angry that her eyes turned red. She stared at her and did not do anything else.

“Xue, I’ll go back and tell my father. Your grandmother informed the comrades from the Disciplinary Department and went to sue you in the morning for messing around with men. She even accused Comrade Zhang Yuan of ruining your reputation!” Wang Xuehua said.

“Is the Disciplinary Department really here?” Li Jianshe, who was standing aside as an invisible person, suddenly asked.

“Otherwise, how would I know about you guys? My father asked me to come over and find out more about the situation first. Xue’s mother is in confinement. Wouldn’t Aunt Cuihua be frightened if he suddenly showed up with people from the Disciplinary Department?” Wang Xuehua waved her hand. “Alright, I’ll leave first. My feet are freezing!”

Then, she gave Bai Xue a look and ran away.

“This crazy girl…” Bai Xue was amused. Wang Xuehua’s personality was really to her liking.

“Let’s go too!” Zhang Yuan brazenly pulled Bai Xue’s hand and walked out of the courtyard. He could finally do what he had always dreamed of doing without any scruples.

Speaking of which, his journey to woo his wife was actually very smooth. He was overjoyed.

Bai Xue did not push his hand away. The two of them held hands and walked out.

However, the surrounding people who had been watching the commotion with their arms crossed could no longer remain calm.

“At such a young age, she’s already holding hands in public. Oh my…” A gossipy woman shook her head and waved her hand. “She’s ruining the reputation of the Fifth Battalion!”

“That’s right! Bai Ruxue is too casual!” Someone else chimed in.

Only then did Bai Xue realize that this was the 1960s, not the era where people were used to kissing on the streets. She had unintentionally caused her sisters to be criticized again.

She hurriedly pulled her hand out of Zhang Yuan’s hand. “Walk properly. Why are you holding my hand?”

“What’s wrong? Weren’t you fine just now?” Zhang Yuan looked at Bai Xue with dissatisfaction.

When he held her soft and slightly cold hand, it made his heart flutter. He felt empty when it was suddenly pulled out.

“Didn’t you see what those people said? Don’t ruin the reputation of my three sisters. I might have no trouble getting married, but my sisters won’t be able to do the same!” Bai Xue said half-jokingly.

Zhang Yuan felt happy hearing that she was marrying him. He no longer insisted on holding her hand and spoke ingratiatingly.

“Your sisters are all pretty and have good personalities. How can they have trouble marrying? When the time comes, as their eldest brother-in-law, I’ll be there to help them pick the right guys!”

Zhang Yuan’s face turned red when he said the words “eldest brother-in-law”.

“I don’t know what to say! Hurry up and go, Eldest Brother-in-Law! I’m freezing to death!” Bai Xue quickly took two steps to distance herself.

“Why are you calling me eldest brother-in-law? You should call me Brother Yuan!” Zhang Yuan quickly ran forward and gave Bai Xue a loving glare.

“Brother Yuan? Go to hell! I can’t call you that!” Bai Xue had goosebumps all over her body.

“Then how about…”

“I’ll call you Zhang Yuan! You’re not allowed to have any other requests! Otherwise, I’ll change my mind about marrying you!” Bai Xue said seriously.

“Alright, alright, alright! Zhang Yuan it is then!” Zhang Yuan compromised.

The two of them bantered as they walked home. Bai Xue felt that it was not cold despite the cold weather.