Chapter 93: It Depends on Whether They Are Destined to Be Together

Chapter 93: It Depends on Whether They Are Destined to Be Together

Zhang Xiuping was truly surprised when she heard this. She hadn't expected that her husband's childhood friend would fall in love with her younger sister, who had grown up alongside her.

After the initial shock, Zhang Xiuping couldn't help but feel touched. She recalled something that had happened a month and a half ago. The three sisters had gathered to chat, and during their conversation, they learned that Zhang Xiuping had set a date to visit her fiancé's home. She was soon to be married into Thatchfield Village, part of the Help and Correct Brigade. Her two sisters had expressed sadness, saying that the three of them would have less and less time to spend together in the future.

After all, Zhang Xiuping was going to marry into Pine Mountain Commune. Given the transportation conditions of this era, if they didn't live in the same commune, it wouldn't be easy for them to see each other unless they had a specific reason to visit.

At the time, the three of them had felt a little down. Zhang Xiuping had then proposed a solution: after she married into Thatchfield Village, she would try to help her two sisters find partners and have them marry into Thatchfield Village or nearby villages. This way, they could all live in the same brigade, making it much easier for them to meet.

Her sisters had agreed to this idea.

Now, before she could even take any action, someone had already taken an interest in one of her younger sisters—and this person happened to be a childhood friend of her husband. She was both surprised and felt that this was a rare stroke of fate.

With great interest, Zhang Xiuping asked, "Brother Tai, which of my sisters has your friend taken a liking to?"

Deng Yuntai replied, "He's interested in your younger sister, Ou Guohua."

Zhang Xiuping wasn't surprised by this. Of her two sisters, the elder sister, Ou Guofang, wasn't as good-looking as the younger sister, Ou Guohua. She nodded and said, "I see. Tell me a bit about your friend. I'll go back and ask my sister if she has any interest in him."

Deng Yuntai hummed in acknowledgment and began to explain: "A Yuan is the same age as me, just a dozen days younger. He has five siblings—an older sister, an older brother, a younger brother, and a younger sister. He's the middle child.

His family's conditions aren't great. They only have three mud-brick houses. Before his siblings got married, his parents lived in one house, the three brothers shared another, and his sisters lived in the third. It was just enough for everyone to have a place to sleep.

But ever since his brother got married, the house has become too cramped.

Now, his parents have one room, his brother and sister-in-law have another, and he shares a room with his younger brother. His sister has no place to stay, so she has to live with a friend in the village."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiuping frowned slightly and said, "Brother Tai, A Yuan's situation is really quite poor. Even if my younger sister is willing to marry him, where would they live after getting married? She can't share a room with her brother-in-law, can she? That wouldn't be right."

"Don't worry about that. If A Yuan gets married, his brother will move in with their parents, freeing up a room for A Yuan and his wife."

"Ah, A Yuan's situation… how am I supposed to explain this to my sister?"

Deng Yuntai understood her concern. After all, Zhang Xiuping had married into a good family, but the partner she was considering for her sister had such poor conditions. It was a bit unreasonable, and he felt somewhat embarrassed to bring it up.

He quickly mentioned his friend's greatest advantage: "Sister Ping, A Yuan's family conditions aren't great, but we shouldn't judge someone solely by their circumstances. A Yuan has a good personality and works hard. He's currently working at a tile factory, earning 60 yuan a month!

Moreover, I'm teaching him how to make large vats. Once he masters the skill, his income will increase significantly. If your sister marries him, her life shouldn't be too difficult.

Besides, A Yuan is my childhood friend, and your sister is your childhood companion. If they face difficulties in life, we certainly can't stand by and do nothing, right?"

Zhang Xiuping was moved by his words. After a moment of thought, she said, "Brother Tai, you're right. I'll talk to her when I get back. If she's not interested, then we'll forget about it. But if she thinks A Yuan is a good match, we can help bring them together."

Deng Yuntai smiled and said, "Xiuping, please put in a good word for A Yuan. If they do end up together, you'll have someone in the village you can talk to."

Zhang Xiuping nodded and said, "I'll do my best to help and speak well of him. Whether it works out or not depends on their destiny."

After that, the two chatted for a while longer before Deng Yuntai bid farewell to Zhang Xiuping and rode his bicycle back home.

…

More than an hour later, Deng Yuntai returned home.

At that time, Deng Shirong had just finished peeling a pomelo. Seeing his eldest son return, he broke off a piece and handed it to him, asking, "How did it go? Did everything go smoothly?"

Deng Yuntai took the pomelo, then pulled out the marriage certificate from his inner pocket and handed it to his father, saying, "Everything went well. Here's our marriage certificate."

Deng Shirong took it, glanced at it, and handed it back, saying, "Keep it safe."

Deng Yunzhen quickly chimed in, "Brother, let me see it."

"It's just a marriage certificate. What's so interesting about it?" Deng Yuntai said, but he still handed it to his older sister.

Deng Yunzhen took it and looked it over. The certificate had the words "Marriage Certificate" printed in bold at the top. Below were the names, genders, and ages of the bride and groom. The next line stated, "Voluntary marriage," followed by a note confirming that the marriage complied with the provisions of the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China.

The last line showed the date of issuance.

It was so concise that Deng Yunzhen finished reading it in just a few seconds.

She handed the certificate back to her brother and said with emotion, "It feels like just yesterday that Dad and I met Sister Ping for the first time three months ago. Now she's officially my sister-in-law. Time really flies!"

Deng Yuntai took the certificate and put it away. As he removed the core from the pomelo, he smiled and said, "Time does fly. In another year or two, it'll be your turn to get married."

Deng Yunzhen immediately shook her head and said, "I don't want to get married so soon. I want to enjoy a few more years of happiness with Dad!"

Deng Shirong couldn't help but laugh and said, "As the old saying goes, 'A grown daughter shouldn't be kept at home, or she'll become an enemy.' I doubt you'll feel the same way in a couple of years!"

Deng Yunzhen replied, "Dad, my feelings won't change. I'm so comfortable at home, eating well and living well. I don't want to get married so soon and suffer."

Deng Shirong's heart twitched at her words. The marriages of his two daughters in his previous life had indeed proven her point—marrying had brought them hardship. He said firmly, "Don't worry, Zhen. Dad will make sure to find you a good partner so that you can marry and live happily, not suffer."

(End of this chapter)