I am Jia Dongjin in the Siheyuan (Courtyard House)

Chapter 49 Marriage

"Aunt Li, don't be so polite. It's just two salted fish. It's too much of a loss for you to exchange them for ten pounds of cornmeal. Eight pounds will do."

"Jia Dongjin, you don't need to be so polite. At market prices, ten catties of cornmeal can't buy these salted fish. Auntie understands."

Unlike Director Wang, Li Lan was unexpectedly enthusiastic and asked about his marriage prospects for a long time. Jia Dongjin honestly confessed that Jia Zhangshi would go to find Matchmaker Wang after the New Year.

"Jia Dongjin, your aunt has to criticize you. When choosing a wife, you should choose a virtuous one. You should look for someone who can make a good life together. It's not good to just look at someone's appearance."

After discussing her partner's good looks, Li Lan brought up Jia Zhangshi's household registration issue, urging Jia Dongjin to pay attention to changes in household registration policies and promptly transfer Jia Zhangshi's household registration to the city so she wouldn't feel uneasy living there.

At that time, in order to control the urban population, the city of Sijiu did not allow rural residents to live in the city for extended periods.

Considering that Jia Zhangshi was old and had no one to rely on, the neighborhood committee turned a blind eye and did not send Jia Zhangshi to the countryside, but she was still a potential problem.

Jia Dongjin naturally thanked her repeatedly, and the two chatted more and more warmly. Thinking that she might introduce her cousin to the young man, Li Lan found Jia Dongjin more and more pleasing to the eye. Before leaving, she gave enough hints that the person who reported Jia Dongjin was not Yan Fugui.

"What's past is past. Don't cause trouble. Director Wang will never allow you to pursue this matter."

Jia Dongjin quickly assured himself that he was a law-abiding citizen. He was shocked. There was an undercurrent of unrest in the courtyard. The instigator must be someone from the courtyard.

Xu Damao wouldn't report him. Since the person who reported him wasn't Yan Fugui, it must have been that person. No doubt about it!

For children, the Lunar New Year is a wonderful and joyful time, while adults are busy but more relaxed than usual. Jia Dongjin also visited his adoptive parents and several friends to wish them a Happy New Year.

The difficulties have not yet reached the city; everything is as usual, and the festive atmosphere is intoxicating.

Subsequently, the Jia family's house was located in the west wing of the central courtyard.

"Please sit down, have a seat!"

Jia Zhangshi looked at Li Guolan with a smile. This girl looked like she could bear children and was also quite good-looking. She treated her with respect. Jia Dongjin's foster mother, Li Liushi, personally brought her daughter to the Jia family to pay New Year's respects, and her words revealed enough hints.

The woman came to the door first, and her attitude was already extremely humble. As long as Jia Zhangshi nodded, a good marriage was within her grasp.

Li Guolan has an urban household registration and a formal job at a textile factory, earning 18 yuan a month. Her brother is a salesman, one of the eight key employees, and her parents both have pensions. The Li family is well-off, much better off than the Jia family, and was the marriage partner that Jia Zhangshi had once dreamed of.

Back then, the Jia family was poor, so Jia Zhangshi had to find Qin Huairu to be her daughter-in-law in the countryside. Now the situation has reversed, and city girls are taking the initiative to marry into the Jia family.

Li Guolan was quite attractive, definitely above average. Jia Zhangshi was overjoyed. Just as she was about to speak frankly, Qin Huairu, sitting behind Jia Zhangshi, subtly tugged at Jia Zhangshi's clothes.

Madam Jia was startled, but on the surface she remained as usual. However, she suddenly understood the reason: Jia Dongjin was depressed on New Year's Eve, and the arrival of the Li mother and daughter was abrupt. Li's mother spoke in a cryptic manner.

Most importantly, Jia Dongjin had just returned from paying New Year's visits to the Li family. He only mentioned that Li's mother would be coming to the Jia family, but he didn't mention the marriage at all, nor did he show any joy. He was no different from usual, which actually showed his attitude.

Now that Jia Dongjin is the pillar of the Jia family, Jia Zhangshi has no choice but to consider his opinion, which is why Qin Huairu gave her a hint at a crucial moment.

However, from another perspective, if Jia Dongjin disagreed, he would definitely have informed Jia Zhangshi, but he said nothing, which reflects Jia Dongjin's inner turmoil.

Once Li's mother hinted at it, Qin Huairu almost figured it out. Unlike Qin Jingru, who would only grieve in secret, Qin Huairu keenly sensed Jia Dongjin's inner turmoil.

She knew Jia Dongjin was definitely unwilling. They had grown up together for over a decade, and if Jia Dongjin had been willing, they would have been happily married long ago.

The only thing that could make Jia Dongjin waver was Li Guolan's special status. Jia Dongjin owed the Li family a debt of gratitude for raising him, a debt so great that Jia Dongjin could not refuse.

Jia Dongjin is well-off and will definitely get married in the next few years. He has his own ideas and will not let Jia Zhangshi or others manipulate him.

Qin Huairu had already made up her mind. She was also preparing to strengthen the family ties by marrying Qin Jingru to Jia Dongjin. She didn't know if Jia Dongjin liked Qin Jingru, but she knew in her heart that Jia Dongjin didn't dislike his younger sister.

Qin Huairu was a very clever person. After thinking things through, she acted decisively. With just a gentle tug on her clothes, she persuaded Jia Zhangshi to stop, cutting off the Li family's only chance of success and leaving Qin Jingru with a glimmer of hope.

But that was far from enough. Qin Huairu lowered her head to breastfeed Xiaodang, but her heart was in turmoil.

The Li family mother and daughter, just a meter away, were laughing and chatting happily, drinking tea. Little did they know that behind Jia Zhangshi, the docile woman was pinching her skin so hard her fingernails were almost breaking it, and she was single-mindedly trying to ruin Li Guolan's marriage.

At this point, the safest course of action for Jia Zhangshi is to stall, neither refusing nor agreeing; ambiguity is the best response.

Madam Jia was willing, and she hinted at her attitude by holding Li Guolan's little hand and asking her all sorts of questions. She even personally led the Li family mother and daughter to the front courtyard to inspect their future new house.

As long as Jia Zhangshi agrees, the marriage is more than half done. The joy on Li's mother's face grows stronger and stronger, and the two soon act like sisters who have not seen each other for many years.

The exterior of the house is gray and unremarkable, but the interior is simple and elegant.

Surprisingly, there was a shoe rack inside, with cloth shoes for changing on it. The room had a wooden floor, and there was a kang (a heated brick bed) in the side room. There was a stove at the head of the kang and a cupboard next to it. The facilities were quite complete. Once the door was closed, it was a small home.

There is also a coal stove for heating in the new house. Next to the stove is a desk with some tools and a disassembled radio waiting to be repaired.

To the right of the entrance is a wall of cabinets, opposite which is a double bed. On one side of the headboard of the bed is a foldable dining table with four stools.

The house was clean and tidy, with a pot of asparagus fern on the folding dining table and several books next to it. It had an understated elegance and generosity that was quite different from what was usually seen, revealing the owner's unique taste.

"Xiao Lan, this is a bed that Dong Jin made. There are two large drawers under the bed, which can be used to store clothes, bedding, and other things. You can also put things in the stool. There's a room next to it with a heated kang bed, which includes a kitchen. There's also a small toilet outside, so you can use it at home instead of having to squeeze into a public toilet. Sister-in-law, you can show Xiao Lan around as you like. I don't know anything about this. Dong Jin went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some candy and will be right back."

Madam Jia was extremely attentive, but in her heart she was just wondering what her youngest son was being so stubborn about. Li Guolan was a very good match, someone the Jia family would have a hard time finding even with a lantern.

Seeing that the Li mother and daughter were reserved, Jia Zhangshi gently patted Li's mother and said with a light laugh, "Sister-in-law, what's the relationship between our two families? You take your time to look around, especially that combination cabinet and drawer bed. I'll go get some side dishes, and we sisters can have a good drink later."

As soon as Jia Zhangshi left, Li Guolan became lively again, flitting around the room like a little bird.

"My God, is this a place where people live? Brother Dongjin is really capable. He built the house like a palace. You can't tell from the outside at all."

Li Guolan first looked at the kitchen and the toilet, then returned to the bedroom, opened and closed the two large drawers under the bed several times before studying the modular cabinet.

"Mom, this furniture is really nice. It's practical and doesn't take up much space. The room isn't big, but it looks spacious. It must be very comfortable to live in. Oh dear, there are two new outfits hanging in this closet. One of them is a Zhongshan suit. Why doesn't he wear it for the New Year? Men just don't know how to manage money. They have nice clothes but don't know how to wear them."

At that time, a monthly salary of 51 yuan was considered top income among ordinary young people, more than even cadres who had just started working. Li Guolan and Jia Dongjin had grown up together since childhood and knew each other well, so it was normal for her to be attracted to him; it was only natural.

After seeing the new house and furniture prepared by Jia Dongjin, Li Guolan was even more captivated. She said to her mother in a coquettish tone, "Mom, tell Aunt Zhang later that the Jia family has just started to get better, so our family shouldn't have the three turns and one sound. I will help my sister-in-law's side in the future, but Dongjin's salary must be under my control. That's the rule in our Beijing."

Li's mother was also looking at the furniture in the room, her expression shifting between anger and uncertainty as she recalled her husband's instructions before he left.

"It would be best if the marriage could go through, but it's not a big deal if it doesn't. But we can't let things get too tense. At least Xiaolan will still have Jia Dongjin as her brother. Our Li family isn't bad off, so there's no need to put all our eggs in one basket. That's why it's inconvenient for me to go. We need to leave some room for maneuver and not force them. You take Xiaolan with you and first find out what Dongjin's mother thinks."

Before the Lunar New Year, Old Li had hinted at something to Jia Dongjin, but the other party pretended not to understand. At that time, the old couple knew that things would not be easy to handle.

However, Li Guolan insisted that Jia Dongjin was a legally estranged adopted son, and that he was no better than a son-in-law. Li's mother decided to talk to Jia Zhangshi again, and Li's father agreed, which led to this trip to the Jia family.

Things were progressing smoothly. Jia Zhangshi was clearly willing to get married, and the good thing was more than half done. Even if Jia Dongjin had gone out, as long as he mentioned it at the dinner table later, Jia Zhangshi would definitely not be able to refuse.

Jia Dongjin has always been gentle and mild-mannered. No matter how unwilling he was, he would have no choice but to agree when the time came, and the marriage would be a done deal!

Looking at her charming daughter, Li's mother's face lit up with joy, and the two had another heart-to-heart talk.

It's said that pursuing a woman is like climbing a mountain for a man, but pursuing a man is like piercing a thin veil for a woman.

In the central courtyard of the Jia family compound, Qin Huairu lowered her voice and began to plot.

"Jingru, the most important thing for a woman is to marry the right man. If you want your family to have enough to eat, you must seize Dongjin's opportunity. Don't be foolish!"