Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Ma Erjin looked puzzled: "What's wrong?"

"Although Wanqing and I have registered our marriage, we haven't had a ceremony yet. I always feel like I owe her too much." Zhang Dabiao's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and exceptionally firm.

"Since we're leaving tomorrow, I'd like to take advantage of this time tonight to hold a wedding ceremony for her right here at the educated youth settlement. Please, everyone, and the villagers, be our witnesses!"

"Pfft—cough cough cough!"

Ma Erjin was so choked by this shocking idea that he inhaled a mouthful of smoke into his lungs, coughing violently until tears streamed down his face.

He waved his hands repeatedly, looking at Zhang Dabiao as if he were a madman: "Nonsense! Utter nonsense! Do you think this is a grand hotel in Beijing? It's a year of famine, the commune members can't even fill their stomachs, where would we get the food to host a feast for you? Aren't you just asking for trouble?"

These days, getting married is a big deal, and it's a matter for the whole village.

Even if you pay for it yourself, grain and vegetables are scarce resources. If your family has a wedding, it means that the brigade's reserves will be used. Even if you can borrow money and ration coupons and buy all the brigade's supplies at once, what will happen when others want to buy them?

Consuming other people's food supplies will incur public wrath.

Faced with Ma Erjin's fierce opposition, Zhang Dabiao was not worried at all; instead, he smiled.

He shrugged, speaking as casually as if he were talking about something as trivial as buying a bottle of soy sauce at the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Captain Ma, you've misunderstood. How could I possibly use the brigade's supplies?"

He pointed in the direction of the brigade headquarters he had come from and grinned.

"I brought everything I need for the wedding."

"Huh?" Ma Erjin's coughing stopped abruptly.

"The things I brought to that room in the brigade headquarters were for my wedding," Zhang Dabiao said matter-of-factly.

Ma Erjin was completely stunned, his mind unable to process what was happening.

He pointed at Zhang Dabiao, then at the direction of the brigade in the distance, and stammered, "You...you rode that beat-up motorcycle all the way from Beijing, more than a thousand kilometers away, just to...bring things here for your wedding?"

"And I remember you also brought a dog, a goose, and two hens?"

"You brought all this stuff just for the wedding?"

The motorcycle carried quite a lot of things. Ma Erjin instinctively thought it contained painting tools, as well as bedding, clothes, and other daily necessities, and enough food for two or three months...

But I didn't expect that I would bring so much stuff and travel so far just for the wedding.

The gasoline used along the way must have cost several hundred yuan, right?

And you need gasoline coupons too!

Even if you're a ministerial-level official, this isn't the way to waste money, is it?

Zhang Dabiao nodded matter-of-factly: "What else can we do? We can't let my wife suffer like this in this desert without even a proper ceremony, can we?"

He looked at the distant sea of ​​sand, his voice deepening: "She's suffering in this desert while I'm living the high life in my office in Beijing. Am I even human? I'm here to suffer with her and, incidentally, to complete the publishing house's tasks."

"The supplies we brought will spoil easily if left unattended. Since we're heading to an even tougher place tomorrow, why not have a wedding today and spend it all? Let everyone share in the joy!"

Ma Erjin stood there with his mouth agape, unable to close it for a long time. He simply couldn't understand what this young man was thinking.

At this moment, Mu Wanqing finished her call and came out, asking with a puzzled look, "What were you talking about?"

------------

A group of educated youth who came to the commune on business overheard their conversation and then relayed the news back to the commune.

Then, the news spread like wildfire throughout the entire Balasu Brigade's educated youth settlement.

When Zhang Dabiao rode his motorcycle back to the educated youth settlement, carrying the still bewildered Mu Wanqing and the equally dazed Ma Erjin, almost everyone rushed out.

Zhao Weiguo, Liu Yuanchao, and the others surrounded Zhang Dabiao's motorcycle, staring at him as if he were a monster.

"Brother Biao... are you really crazy?" Zhao Weiguo muttered softly, "Those foods are our lifelines, and you've ruined them all... all of them just for one meal?"

The worldviews of other educated youth were also severely impacted.

They looked at Mu Wanqing, who was enveloped in happiness and shock, with envy, and then thought back to how they had argued heatedly over a piece of compressed biscuit just a few days ago, their hearts filled with mixed feelings.

This kind of madness and boldness in doing anything for the one you love is something they have never seen or could never imagine.

In their worldview, it is incomprehensible.

Even capitalists wouldn't do that!

Inside the female educated youth dormitory, Yang Yibai listened to the commotion outside, her face ashen.

wedding……

Zhang Dabiao wanted to give Mu Wanqing a title and a grand ceremony witnessed by everyone in this desert land she despised the most.

This was not just a declaration of sovereignty, but more like a resounding slap across her face, exposing all her dark schemes and pitiful self-esteem to the light of day, crushing them to dust.

So what if you, Yang Yibai, tricked Mu Wanqing into coming to the countryside? Mu Wanqing has her husband protecting her!

Her husband has plenty of money!

At noon, amidst the complex gazes of the crowd, Zhang Dabiao, accompanied by Ma Erjin, opened the door to the brigade headquarters office.

He didn't offer much explanation, but simply patted the several bulging canvas bags, and then, in front of everyone, untied one of them.

wow-

A piece of smoked pork rump, weighing at least ten kilograms and wrapped tightly in oil paper, rolled out and slammed heavily onto the ground.

Next came neatly bundled scallions, dried chilies strung together with rope, a large bag of dried vegetables, and several bundles of vermicelli.

Zhang Dabiao opened another bag, inside were two bottles of Xifeng liquor with big red "double happiness" characters on them, a 20-jin bag of fine rice, a large bag of flour, as well as cured meat, dried chicken, salted fish...

Apples, oranges, candies, melon seeds, peanuts... tobacco, alcohol, sugar, tea, sacrificial animals, and dried goods—you name it, they have it!

These New Year's goods, which are considered luxuries even in Beijing, are now casually piled on the yellow earth, emitting an enticing aroma and amazing energy, enough to set up four or five decent banquet tables.

Everyone was stunned; the air seemed to freeze.

This isn't just a few canvas bags, it's practically a mobile supply and marketing cooperative!

Not only that, Zhang Dabiao also took out two brand-new blue Lenin suits from the innermost bag, one men's and one women's, each with a small red flower pinned to its chest.

He tossed the heavy piece of pork directly to the dumbfounded Zhao Weiguo, grinned, and his loud voice echoed throughout the entire courtyard.

"What are you all standing there for? Get ready!"

"Captain Ma, could you please be the officiant at our wedding tonight?"

"Everyone else, if you want meat, come and help! Those chopping vegetables, those kneading dough, get moving!"

"Tonight, I, Zhang Dabiao, am getting married. All you can eat!"