The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 65 - 64: You Promised

The man looked her up and down, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing right through her. Gu Yuwei shivered and instantly lowered her head.

Gu Yuwei recognized him. He was Xue Yue’s brother. Back then, in the He family’s courtyard, he had sent He Ze flying two meters with a single kick, breaking two of his ribs and leaving him bedridden for half a month. She had seen it happen from the courtyard and was scared witless.

Xue Xingzhou glanced at Gu Yuwei again, and his eyes inadvertently fell upon Wang Shumin, who was standing not far away. When he saw her face, Xue Xingzhou froze for a moment.

Wang Shumin also saw Xue Xingzhou. Their eyes met for an instant before they both looked away.

On the way back, Xue Xingzhou asked Xue Yue, "There was a girl standing in the corner just now, dressed very stylishly. Does she have some sort of grudge against you?"

Hearing this, Xue Yue looked at her brother. "You must be talking about Gu Yuwei. She’s an educated youth who stayed with the He family for a while. We had some friction."

Xue Xingzhou said, "Those educated youths are a complicated bunch. Be careful."

Xue Yue nodded. "I know."

Xue Xingzhou didn’t tell Xue Yue that he had seen someone who looked a bit like her. In his previous life, Xue Xingzhou had seen plenty of such cases at the police station, so it was nothing new to him.

Xue Xingzhou didn’t go back with Xue Yue and the others. Instead, he left the brigade headquarters and went straight home.

Yang Xiaoxia didn’t leave, walking behind Xue Yue and He Lang. And trailing behind her was He Zhendong.

It wasn’t until they reached the front door that He Zhendong glanced at Yang Xiaoxia and said to the others, "Brother, Sister-in-law, I’ll be heading back now."

He Lang nodded.

Back home, Xue Yue first told Yang Xiaoxia to go wash up. When she returned to their room, she saw He Lang looking at her with a pained expression.

An idea flashed through Xue Yue’s mind, but she said nothing.

Seeing that Xue Yue was ignoring him, He Lang sidled up to her and whispered, "You promised me before that no matter who came to visit, you wouldn’t make me sleep in a separate bed."

Xue Yue replied, "And?"

He Lang looked at Xue Yue with righteous indignation. "I don’t care. You promised, and that’s that."

Xue Yue laughed in exasperation. "Yes, yes, we won’t sleep separately. Happy now?"

Only then did He Lang breathe a sigh of relief.

Xue Yue shot him a look, wondering how she was going to tell Xiao Xia to stay in the guest room. ’I can’t just say that He Lang insists on sleeping with me, can I?’

When Yang Xiaoxia came out of the bathroom, she saw Xue Yue waiting for her in the courtyard.

She let out a soft sigh. "Ah, a bath feels so good. Xiao Yue’er, you really know how to live. I love this bathroom."

Xue Yue smiled and said, "You can build one for yourself in the future."

Yang Xiaoxia nodded. "That’s a definite possibility."

Then she looked at her again. "Did I take too long? Were you getting impatient?"

Xue Yue found it a bit hard to bring up. After hesitating for a moment, she said slowly, "Xiao Xia, it looks like you’ll have to sleep by yourself tonight. I’m pregnant and my belly’s gotten big, so I’m always getting up to use the toilet at night. I’d just wake you. Why don’t you sleep in that other room? The bedding and everything is new."

Yang Xiaoxia didn’t think much of it. "It’s fine, I can sleep anywhere. Actually, I shouldn’t sleep with you anyway. I’m a restless sleeper, and it would be terrible if I accidentally kicked you. But... I still have something to tell you."

Xue Yue said, "We’ve had a long day. Let’s talk tomorrow."

"Alright, then."

After finally getting Yang Xiaoxia settled, Xue Yue quickly washed up and returned.

When she went back to their room, she saw that He Lang was already lying in bed.

Xue Yue looked at him in disdain. "You haven’t even washed up yet."

He Lang kept his eyes closed. "I waited so long I got sleepy. I’ll wash up tomorrow."

Xue Yue insisted, "No way. It’s so hot today, you’re covered in sweat. If you don’t wash up, don’t even think about cuddling me later."

He Lang opened his eyes and looked at her. Seeing that she was standing her ground, he sighed, climbed out of bed, and went to wash up.

Not long after Xue Yue lay down, He Lang returned, bringing a chill with him.

After lying down, he deliberately touched her with his cold skin. Xue Yue asked him, "You always use cold water to wash. Aren’t you cold?"

Xue Yue felt she could never get used to bathing with cold water, not even on such a hot day. The moment the cold water touched her skin, she would instantly get goosebumps.

He Lang reached around from behind to hug her, resting his hand on her round belly. He nuzzled the crook of her neck. "I’m used to it."

He Lang used to always come home in the middle of the night and was too lazy to heat water, so he gradually got used to using cold water.

Meanwhile, as soon as He Zhendong got home, his mother pulled him into her room.

"Zhendong, was that the girl you were with tonight?"

Nearly two months had passed, and He Zhendong’s mother was starting to lose hope. But tonight, seeing the two of them walking and talking together, with He Lang and his wife also present, she felt this must be the one.

He Zhendong smiled and nodded. "Yes, that’s her."

Aunt He slapped her thigh excitedly. "I knew it! That girl looks like a good one, Zhendong. What did she say? Do her parents approve?"

Uncle He was also watching He Zhendong, his ears pricked.

He Zhendong said calmly, "Xiao Xia said her father wants to meet me. I plan to go to town tomorrow to buy some things, and then visit her home the morning after to meet her parents."

Uncle He nodded. "That’ll work. Honey, give Zhendong some extra money. Have him buy some more things at the supply co-op tomorrow so we don’t look rude."

He Zhendong’s mother nodded, opened a cabinet, and took out ten yuan, handing it to He Zhendong.

"Don’t be afraid to spend it. Do you think you should buy a new shirt, too?"

He Zhendong shook his head. "I don’t need a new one. I have a relatively new shirt I can wear."

Uncle He took a puff of his cigarette, exhaled, and added, "When you get there, speak confidently and openly. Her father is the brigade leader; he definitely won’t approve of a timid, petty man."

He Zhendong nodded. "I know, Dad."

After He Zhendong left, Auntie He said to Uncle He, "I hope everything goes smoothly. That whole business before really scared me. I’m so afraid something will go wrong."

Uncle He sighed. "Let’s just let nature take its course. Worrying won’t help."

The next morning, Yang Xiaoxia had to leave. She needed to go home and tell her family the news, and she told Xue Yue that He Zhendong would be visiting tomorrow.

"If you’re worried, I can bring Zhendong over tomorrow," Xue Yue said.

Yang Xiaoxia shook her head. "Forget it. You’re pregnant; I can’t have you running back and forth. Besides, it’s not that far. He can just come by himself. I’ll wait for him at the village entrance tomorrow."

"That works, too."

Xue Yue didn’t ask He Zhendong about it afterward. However, she did see him on the day the brigade was distributing grain.

Xue Yue asked him about the visit, and He Zhendong smiled and nodded. "Xiao Xia’s father said he can’t bear to let her get married this year and wants to wait until next spring. But my family is planning to make the formal proposal right after the grain distribution."

Xue Yue nodded. "Congratulations." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He Zhendong beamed. "It’s all thanks to you and my brother, Sister-in-law. You’re our matchmakers."

Xue Yue laughed. "I can’t take credit for that. It was destiny that brought you two together."

He Zhendong shyly scratched the back of his head.

"Oh, right, Sister-in-law, since Third Brother isn’t here, I’ll help you get your grain share home later."

Xue Yue had been worrying about that very thing. She had been thinking of asking Mr. and Mrs. He for help. Even though it probably wasn’t a lot of grain, they didn’t have a cart at home, and it would be difficult for her to carry it back with her big belly. By the time the brigade announced the grain distribution, He Lang had already left for work.

"Thank you, Zhendong. I was just worrying about that."

As the two were talking, they heard a commotion break out up ahead where the grain was being distributed.