Annual Date Picking Festival

According to those who found excuses to visit Shaoan's home, this girl was completely different from He Fengying!

Although He Xiulian's face wasn't too fair, her appearance was very pleasant to look at. With thick eyebrows, large eyes, a mouth full of white teeth, and a full figure, she was precisely the "goddess" of farmers' dreams.

Even more admirable was that when she arrived at Sun Shaoan's dilapidated house, she didn't show the slightest hint of disdain.

And as soon as she arrived, she helped Sun Yuhou's wife with the housework; at the same time, she kept calling "Grandma," "Mom," and "Dad," which made the entire Sun Yuhou family incredibly happy!

Besides all this, the most remarkable thing was that her parents reportedly didn't ask for a single penny in bride price!

Oh my, no bride price? Is there really such a good thing in this world? This Sun Shaoan truly had dog piss on his brain, he got incredibly lucky!

When Shaoan appeared in the village, a bit shy, the farmers all came forward to ask him, "Their family really didn't want a bride price?" Shaoan didn't speak, he just nodded. He himself felt that he had truly gained, having married such a good wife.

Some peers even more crudely asked, "Did you sleep together??" This made Sun Shaoan's face instantly flush red, and he dared not answer.

Currently, while Sun Shaoan was very happy, many accompanying embarrassing matters were also troubling him.

He needed to solve all of them immediately within a very short time!

Happiness and distress in his heart were like two intertwined ropes, a tangled mess with no clear beginning or end.

Fortunately, Shaoping had already arranged for Xiulian to stay with Jin Xiu and Lanxiang, while he himself still lived in the small cave dwelling. What bothered him most now was the wedding banquet for the "Spring Festival wedding." Although Xiulian's family didn't ask for a bride price, he still had to give them a decent wedding; he couldn't let Xiulian be wronged.

He also needed to make several new outfits for Xiulian, and ideally, sew a new comforter or a sheepskin greatcoat for his future father-in-law. He himself also needed a new overcoat; he couldn't wear patched-up clothes anymore, as it would be too undignified for a wedding.

And where would they live after getting married?

These questions constantly swirled in his mind, making Sun Shaoan's head throb with a buzzing pain.

Zhao Dongchuan was aware of these circumstances. He knew the situation of Sun Shaoan's family. According to the normal pace of the original work, the money would be borrowed from Jin Bo's family, and the grain would be borrowed from the brigade's reserve grain, as promised by Tian Futang.

Tian Futang, of course, was eager for Sun Shaoan to finalize his marriage quickly, so that his Runye would no longer be able to long for Sun Shaoan.

Zhao Dongchuan himself didn't proactively tell Sun Shaoan that he had money to lend, as that would make him seem very rich. If things followed the plot, he would attend the wedding and give a red envelope. If he was asked to lend money, he would earn a favor and lend 200 yuan to Sun Shaoan. With his city parents providing cover, he wasn't afraid of anyone suspecting him.

In the following period, with Sun Shaoan's return, Shaoping also returned to school as usual. In the evenings, Zhao Dongchuan no longer needed to tutor Shaoping. He continued to do his own homework as usual.

Before falling asleep, he would cultivate the Qi Refining Introduction. He wondered if it was because of the mountains and water in the countryside, but Zhao Dongchuan clearly felt his Qi sense growing stronger during his time in Shuangshui Village.

.........

Unbeknownst to him, Zhao Dongchuan had been in Shuangshui Village for almost a month. The Mid-Autumn Festival was in a few days. After careful consideration, Zhao Dongchuan decided to return home for the New Year instead, and not for the Mid-Autumn Festival. This way, he could stay longer during the New Year, which wouldn't seem too excessive.

Zhao Dongchuan took the time to write a letter and send it back to his Hometown, along with a remittance of 50 yuan. He didn't dare to send too much, fearing it would be difficult to explain.

The fourteenth day of the eighth lunar month, the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, was the liveliest day in Shuangshui Village. It was Shuangshui Village's annual grand festival—the "Date Picking Festival."

Shuangshui Village was immersed in an atmosphere of immense joy. On this day, almost everyone, young and old, in the entire village would lock their doors, carry bamboo baskets, and shoulder long poles, heading together to the date tree forest at Miaoping.

Of course, Zhao Dongchuan would not be absent on such a day. He also took a large bamboo basket, borrowed a long pole from Sun Shaoan, and enthusiastically participated in the Date Picking Festival.

Shaoping, Jin Bo, and Tian Runsheng also rushed back from school to participate in this traditional festival of Shuangshui Village.

With a shout from Village Party Secretary Tian Futang, "Open the orchard, pick the dates, let's celebrate!"

Everyone eagerly grabbed their tools and began to pick dates with a crackling sound. Some nimble young men directly climbed the trees, scurrying through the forest like monkeys.

Of course, Zhao Dongchuan didn't climb the trees; he was very "civilized," wasn't he!

"You can only eat, not take!" Sun Yuting, like a disciplinary committee member, constantly warned the villagers in the forest.

Only Tian Er, this simple old man, was an exception; the villagers ignored him and let him pick as he pleased.

Tian Er ate large red dates while stuffing the dates that others had knocked down into the two large pockets of his jacket, making them bulge.

He also chuckled and mumbled, "Things are going to change, things are going to change..."

Jin Junwen's wife, Zhang Guilan, watched with a playful smile, and then, without a trace, also grabbed a handful of dark red dates and stuffed them into her pants pocket. At such times, even if someone saw her, they would turn a blind eye; what's the big deal about taking a few dates home to eat?

Zhao Dongchuan also got into the fun, relying on his superhuman abilities, he wielded the bamboo pole like a small stick, and dates fell like raindrops, clattering down. A large pile accumulated in front of him, astonishing the villagers.

This young Zhao has a lot of strength in his hands. Is this the "virgin's cultivation" developed from being single for many years?

Through their interactions during this time, everyone also realized that Zhao Dongchuan was still the same Zhao Dongchuan. He hadn't distanced himself from them just because he went to work in the city and got a public job.

Naturally, the villagers also started to joke with him.

"Dongchuan, you have quite a strong grip. Are you also looking for a wife!" teased Tian Haimin, the brigade accountant and the village's chief tractor driver.

"Brother Haimin, you'll have to ask your Yinhua if she's willing to leave the door open for me tonight!" Zhao Dongchuan retorted directly.

Everyone burst into laughter.

The speaker had no intention, but the listeners did. Many aunts and grandmothers who had long had ideas seized on this topic and asked Zhao Dongchuan if he had a partner, wanting to introduce their daughters, nieces, or granddaughters to Zhao Dongchuan as a wife.

This was like poking a hornet's nest; anyone in the village with a daughter had to ask a few questions.

It made Zhao Dongchuan's head spin.

"Thank you, all aunts and grannies, I'm still young, and I'm not considering this issue for now!" Zhao Dongchuan said helplessly.

He really hadn't thought about finding a partner so soon. In those days, dating was a very serious matter; basically, if you dated someone, you would get married. If, after a period of time, you found it unsuitable and wanted to break up, it would greatly affect the girl's reputation. Moreover, to this world, he was ultimately just a passerby.

He would talk about it in a few years!

The crowd urged him a few more times, and seeing that Zhao Dongchuan still didn't agree, they temporarily gave up. They temporarily gave up, knowing that Zhao Dongchuan would still be in Shuangshui Village for a while. During this time, they could find ways to set him up, couldn't they? Such a prize catch, they couldn't let him "get away"!!!

Zhao Dongchuan also didn't expect how "difficult" his upcoming days would be!