"The family also worked at the textile factory, their dad was in a different department from mine, but their mom was in the same group as mine. The person worked at the machinery factory, and was even a team leader."
Xu Er's face tightened instantly, and he felt a surge of inferiority, forcing a smile: "That's great!"
"What's wrong? I think that family is pretty well-off." Xu Er said, suppressing his feelings of inferiority.
Qiu Ye shook her head: "But I don't like him!"
Xu Er was startled, a hint of curiosity in his eyes: "Then who do you like?"
Qiu Ye stayed silent, staring straight at Xu Er.
Xu Er also looked at Qiu Ye, his palms sweaty, fear growing in his heart: "Why aren't you speaking?"
Qiu Ye glared at Xu Er and handed him a note, then quickly ran away pushing her bicycle.
"Qiu Ye, you didn't say!" Xu Er was desperate, he liked Qiu Ye but he never fantasized about marrying her.
He remained unmarried, partly out of selfishness, thinking maybe if Qiu Ye also never married, she might end up being left on the shelf.
Then no one would marry her, and he could propose to her.
But now, hearing that someone was arranging a marriage for Qiu Ye, a sense of loss washed over him, originally he had planned to find out who Qiu Ye liked and compare himself.
But Qiu Ye ran away without saying, leaving Xu Er even more panicked.
Xu Ying walked over with Shitou and Hu Zi, seeing her brother's despondent look, she felt oddly: "Second Brother, did Sister Qiu Ye leave?
What did she want with you?" Had she guessed wrong? Did Sister Qiu Ye not like her second brother at all?
Xu Er listlessly nodded: "She left, Qiu Ye said someone proposed a match for her."
Xu Ying looked puzzled: "She came to tell you this? Anything else?"
"She said she doesn't like that man, I asked her who she likes but she firmly refused to say, then she left this and walked away." Xu Er's eyes were filled with sadness, his whole demeanor listless.
Xu Ying was utterly speechless, she even wanted to curse; could her second brother be such a clueless man, chasing after someone asking whom they like!
No need to say more, Xu Ying was sure now, Sister Qiu Ye must like her second brother, or else she wouldn't have come all this way to say such things.
She reached out to Xu Er: "Second Brother, if you're afraid to look, let me see it for you."
Xu Er immediately shook his head, that wouldn't do, this was a letter from Qiu Ye, definitely not something to show others.
Even if it was his sister.
Xu Ying rolled her eyes: "Then hurry up and see, maybe Sister Qiu Ye has something urgent to tell you but is too embarrassed to say it directly.
If you won't look, then let me, hurry up."
Hearing this, Xu Er immediately refused, and opened the note. The bold words made Xu Er jump with excitement.
"Qiu Ye, she, Qiu Ye, little sister, I need to take a day off tomorrow, I need to find Qiu Ye."
Xu Ying was curious about what was written on the note, but seeing her second brother's foolish happy smile, like he had eaten honey, it must be good news.
"Second Uncle, what did Aunt Qiu Ye write?"
Shitou tilted his head, curious.
Xu Er scratched his head, a bit embarrassed: "This can't be told, it's not for kids to inquire about, I'm going home first."
With that, Xu Er ran back home like a streak of smoke.
Xu Ying had brought Shitou and Hu Zi back home with her.
The next day, nobody knew what Second Brother Xu and Mr. Xu had talked about, but Mr. Xu had agreed to let him take leave directly.
Even Mrs. Xu wasn't cursing like usual but instead she surprisingly said, "Second son, your little sister's friend found her a Bicycle Ticket a few days ago. It'll expire if it isn't used.
Go to the cooperative in town and see if you can buy a bicycle. It'll make going to town easier for us in the future.
Also, take this cloth ticket and buy some fabric at the cooperative. I'll make you some new clothes when you return."
Second Brother Xu's clothes were hand-me-downs from Xu, and Xu's clothes had been hand-me-downs from Mr. Xu.
As they were passed down, the clothes became more tattered. Second Brother Xu was taller than Xu, so the clothes ended half short on him, looking quite comical.
But Second Brother Xu had never complained, clear about the hard times the family was going through.
Second Brother Xu took the money and tickets, gleefully heading out the door.
Originally, Mrs. Xu, upon hearing her second son wanted to take leave, was entirely against it, directly throwing a shoe at Second Brother Xu.
But when Second Brother Xu mentioned that he was going to see Qiu Ye, Mrs. Xu's demeanor changed instantly, and with a smile, she handed him the money: "Second son, don't hesitate to spend on Qiu Ye.
This money, use it to take her out to eat. Chasing a girl requires skill; you have to be willing to spend to make her happy."
Second Brother Xu rubbed the head where he'd been hit, internally marveling at how quickly his mother could change her face.
"Mom, I got it. I'll be going now."
Mrs. Xu watched Second Brother Xu leave with a smile, then smilingly went back inside and boastfully said to her husband, "Jianguo, do you think our second son could marry Xu Ren Guo's daughter?"
Xu Jian Country chuckled dryly, his smile somewhat strained: "Our second son isn't bad, but we can't compare to the Ren Guo family."
Xu Ren Guo was an accountant in the textile factory in town, his wife also worked there, and Qiu Ye was employed at the cooperative; they were a family of laborers, simple farmers.
How could they ever match up to Xu Ren Guo's family!
Mrs. Xu thought differently; her eldest son was capable enough to have married a worker's daughter from the county, so her second son wasn't bad either. He definitely could do it.
Xu Ying smiled at Mr. Xu, "Dad, I really think Second Brother can make it."
What she meant by 'can make it' wasn't that Sister Qiu Ye liked her Second Brother and so it could happen, but that she had a plan.
Mr. Xu was a bit stunned by his daughter's comment, "How can he make it, eh? Your brother doesn't even have a job; it's simply not possible."
"What if Second Brother did have a job?" Xu Ying countered.
Mr. Xu laughed, "Daughter, jobs aren't just there when you say there are. If they were that easy to find, why would there be so many people without jobs, still having to work in the fields!"
Xu Ying wasn't joking; she stepped closer to Mr. Xu and said, "Dad, I heard that our commune is hiring a primary school teacher. I think my Second Brother could take that job."
Second Brother Xu didn't attend high school, not because he failed to qualify, but because his cousin was in a car accident and needed money urgently.
Not wanting to burden the family, he dropped out himself.
He might not be good enough to teach middle school, but teaching primary school? Second Brother Xu could definitely handle it.
Mr. Xu's expression faltered, "Where did you hear about that?"
It was indeed something that had been mentioned in the team, but it hadn't been confirmed, and he hadn't told anyone yet; how did this girl know?
Xu Ying sheepishly smiled at Mr. Xu, "I overheard you and several leaders from the commune discussing it last time."
It wasn't that she wanted to mention it; it was just that if she didn't, given her father's nature, he wouldn't even consider the people in his own home.