Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

"That's the problem." Zhou Rui scooped the little rice cake that was crawling on the corner of the table back into his arms, preventing her from touching the scalding hot kettle.

"The Zhao family values ​​their reputation above all else. Making their grandchildren change their surname to Chen is like slapping them in the face!"

"So you secretly got the marriage certificate, and the deed was done. Even if they want to make trouble, they won't have a chance to do anything about it."

"If anyone dares to come to our door and act tough, the captain will be there to protect us. After all, the marriage certificate is issued by the state, and no one can take it away."

Chen Datou stared blankly at the can of oranges on the table for a long time, his rough hands rubbing together on his knees until his knuckles turned white: "But...but I didn't even give her a decent betrothal gift."

"She's endured so much hardship all these years, I don't want her to marry me without any fanfare."

Zhou Rui pulled something wrapped in oil paper from his pocket and slammed it on the table.

He unwrapped the oil paper and found a silver bracelet inside, its edges polished to a shine; it was one he had acquired on the black market.

It's not particularly valuable, but it's the perfect time to bring it out.

"Take this and give it to Aunt Zeng."

"It's not anything valuable, but it's a genuine old item, which is better than you having to sneak around looking for it yourself."

Zhou Rui sat for a while longer before preparing to leave, not out of disdain, but because Chen Datou didn't even have anyone to properly prepare lunch.

"Oh, right, there's something I want to ask you before I leave."

"Even if you don't have a wedding banquet, everyone will know that you're making money now that you're married. Otherwise, Aunt Zeng would never have married you."

"So, what kind of explanation have you prepared? You know, we can't miss out on gathering herbs, or you and Xiaohuahua won't make any money next year."

"Hehe... Ruiwa, since you asked, have you already thought about this question?"

Chen Datou's mind is extraordinary. Lazy people have their advantages, such as being good at reading people's expressions.

Zhou Rui, holding Xiao Niangao's hand, nodded at Chen Datou: "Uncle Datou, you... sigh..."

"Just tell them that when you and Xiaohua were picking wild vegetables on the mountain, you found an old ginseng and exchanged it for some money."

Chen Datou frowned: "We don't usually see clubs on this back mountain."

Zhou Rui turned around and carried Xiao Niangao out, saying, "Just because you don't see it normally doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If all else fails, you can just say you found a large Ganoderma lucidum."

That evening, two uninvited guests arrived at Zhao Youzhi's house.

The visitor also brought some things, including a few colorful fruit candies.

"You mean you two are getting married?" Zhao Youzhi took a few puffs of his pipe, and the pipe burned down a bit.

Zeng Ping kept her head down and didn't say anything. Chen Datou leaned forward slightly and casually took out a cigarette and handed it to her.

Since he made some money selling herbs, he found dry tobacco too strong and only carried cigarettes in his pocket.

"Yes, Secretary Zhao, I want to marry Zeng Ping. We'll go to town to get our marriage certificate first thing tomorrow morning."

Zhou Rui taught him to say this: "Don't beat around the bush, just lay it all out in the open."

Zhao Youzhi is the village party secretary, and according to the rules, there is no reason for him to block someone's marriage without a reason.

"And what about you? What do you say?" Zhao Youzhi turned to look at Zeng Ping.

"Secretary Zhao, Zeng Ping is willing," Chen Datou interrupted before Zeng Ping could speak.

Zhao Youzhi frowned and glared at Chen Datou: "Let her say it herself."

In his opinion, perhaps Zeng Ping had some kind of leverage that Chen Datou had over her.

Otherwise, even if Zeng Ping wanted to remarry, she would never have married such an idle and lazy man.

"Secretary Zhao." Zeng Ping looked up, her eyes fixed on Zhao Youzhi, her gaze devoid of any other emotion, only her usual indifference.

She didn't address people according to the Zhao family's seniority, but only maintained a professional and businesslike demeanor, her tone as calm as a deep pool.

"I voluntarily agree to marry Chen Datou. I would appreciate it if Secretary Zhao could issue me a letter of introduction."

Zhao Youzhi suddenly let out a long sigh, his voice deep and heavy: "Zeng Ping, don't forget, you used to be a daughter-in-law of the Zhao family..."

Zeng Ping's voice was completely flat, yet every word was like a pebble hitting the table: "Secretary Zhao, I've raised the Zhao family's children for over a decade, but over all these years, not a single person has truly treated me as a member of the Zhao family."

"From now on, I don't want to be a nominal widow of the Zhao family anymore."

Zhao Youzhi stared into her frighteningly calm eyes, knowing in his heart that he couldn't stop what was happening today.

He sighed heavily, all his pent-up words turning into a helpless sigh.

In the past ten years or so, he, as the Party Secretary, has hardly ever offered any real help to these orphans and widows.

At most, when I punished her last time, I didn't have the heart to make her parade through the streets and lose face.

But how can such trivial favors be enough to keep a woman who has endured more than ten years of hardship?

He knew perfectly well that if he signed this letter of introduction tonight, the village would definitely be in an uproar tomorrow.

If those stubborn old fogies from the Zhao family really start making trouble, even he, the Party Secretary, might not be able to control them.

Zhao Youzhi tapped his pipe twice on the table, sending sparks flying which were quickly extinguished in the darkness.

He glanced at Chen Datou, then at Zeng Ping's expressionless face, and finally hovered his fingertips over the edge of the blank letter of introduction, not putting pen to paper for a long time.

"If you two really get married, those old fogies from the Zhao family will definitely be blocking my door and cursing me tomorrow."

Zhao Youzhi's voice was very low, with a hint of an undeniable headache.

"Chen Datou, let me make this clear from the start."

"If the Zhao family really makes a scene at your doorstep, don't just roll up your sleeves and start a fight. If blood comes out, this matter will be completely out of control."

In the village, the most taboo thing is fighting between two families.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Chen family used to look down on Chen Datou and never even spoke to him.

But if someone from another family were to block the door and bully someone of the same family, the Chen family would absolutely not stand by and watch.

This isn't just about helping Chen Datou alone; it's about upholding the bottom line of the entire clan and protecting the reputation of the whole family.

Chen Datou stiffened his neck, about to pat his chest and say that he would never be ambiguous, but was glared at by Zhao Youzhi and stopped him.

He held the half-burnt cigarette in his hand, swallowed back the harsh words that were about to come out, and replied in a muffled voice.

"Secretary Zhao, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. If things really get out of hand, I'll lock the door tightly and not give them any reason to fight."

Zhao Youzhi finally relaxed a little, and the nib of his pen finally landed on the red-lined paper of the letter of introduction. The scratching sound of writing was particularly clear in the quiet main room.

He carefully filled in the names, ages, and addresses of the two people, stroke by stroke.

Finally, the brigade headquarters' red seal was stamped on with a snap, the vermilion ink gleaming solemnly under the kerosene lamp.

"Here you go." Zhao Youzhi handed over the neatly folded letter of introduction, pressing his fingertip against the edge of the paper.

"Go to town tomorrow, leave before dawn, and don't linger at the village entrance, lest you run into the Zhao family."

"Don't make a fuss after you get the certificate. Go back to your shabby yard and hide for a couple of days until things calm down."

Chen Datou carefully folded the letter of introduction twice, stuffed it into the innermost pocket of his clothes, pressed it down repeatedly, as if afraid it would grow wings and fly away.

Zeng Ping looked at Zhao Youzhi and, unusually, said something gentle: "Secretary Zhao, thank you."