Reborn in the 70s: Pampered by Regiment Commander-Chapter 37 - Why Don’t You Marry

37: Chapter 37: Why Don’t You Marry?

37 -37: Why Don’t You Marry?

Old Lady Zhao had just stepped out of the door when Chuxia entered the house right behind her, gathering all the dirty clothes that the old couple had changed out of.

Old Master Zhao was long accustomed to his youngest daughter’s diligence and filial piety and didn’t stop her.

Holding his dry tobacco pipe, he puffed away and said, “Your mother likes to wait until there’s a pile to wash, but somehow the pile always ends up in your hands.

Chuxia, do you think your mother is being lazy on purpose, saving them all for you to wash?”

Chuxia knew that Old Master Zhao was just teasing her, but she couldn’t help defending Old Lady Zhao: “Dad, I grew up right in front of my mother’s eyes.

It’s not like I don’t know her habits; she’s doing it to save on soap.”

“What’s there to save?

You have to use soap for each piece anyway.

I think your mother is just lazy.” Old Master Zhao continued, poking Chuxia, “Chuxia, do you think what your grandpa is saying is right?”

“Grandpa, if my grandma heard you talking about her like this…” Chuxia glanced at Old Master Zhao’s tobacco pipe stem and stopped mid-sentence.

Old Master Zhao chuckled, “Chuxia, if your grandma won’t give grandpa tobacco, can’t you bring some for grandpa?”

“Nope.” Chuxia took the tobacco jar away from beside him, “Smoking so much is bad for your health.

I’d rather grandma cut off your tobacco supply.”

“This cheeky girl…” Old Master Zhao shook his head, amused, “Both your great-grandpa and great-grandma smoked and lived to nearly ninety.

There are several in the village of a similar age who didn’t smoke and didn’t even make it to eighty.

How do you explain that?”

“Grandpa, it has to do with personal constitution.

Maybe if great-grandpa and great-grandma didn’t smoke, they could have lived to over a hundred,” Chuxia argued.

“Chuxia, once you find a husband’s family, it’ll be up to you to supply grandpa’s tobacco, alright?”

“Grandpa!”

“After all, grandpa doesn’t ask for much, just tobacco.

If you’re too stingy to give it, then forget it,” Old Master Zhao simply played the rascal.

Out of options, Chuxia came up with a trick: “I promise grandpa that once I find a husband’s family, I’ll do my best to provide grandpa with good tobacco.

But grandpa also has to promise me that he won’t smoke anything except the tobacco I give him!”

“This cheeky girl…” Old Master Zhao shook his head, resigned yet amused, “Chuxia, did you understand what your daughter just said?

It seems she’ll only supply me with a pound of good tobacco a year, and after that, I’ll just have to hang in there…

No need for you to supply it, cheeky girl!”

“Grandpa, ‘A gentleman’s agreement is worth more than a horse’s effort,’ it’s too late for you to go back on your word now.

Besides, books say that tobacco contains nicotine…”

Listening to Chuxia’s incessant chatter made Old Master Zhao’s head spin, and he waved his hands in surrender, “Alright, alright, grandpa promises you.

When you find a husband’s family, if you give grandpa a little more, he will smoke only that bit extra, not one puff more, okay?”

“Deal!” Chuxia reached out to grab Old Master Zhao’s tobacco pipe bowl, “Grandpa, you’ve already smoked two pouches, take a break.”

“This cheeky girl…” Old Master Zhao looked at Chuxia with a wry face, then turned to Chuxia, “Chuxia, we need to find you a good husband’s family, or else daddy won’t have any tobacco to smoke.”

“Dad, I’m back.

Oh, is my little sister also here?” Before Chuxia could respond, a middle-aged woman about fifty years old barged in.

Chuxia looked over and saw it was her aunt Zhao Yuying, so she greeted her with a smile, “Hello, auntie.”

“This child, you’re growing more and more attractive.” Zhao Yuying had already come up close, her rough hands patting Chuxia’s head, then she turned to Chuxia who was battling a big basin of clothes, “Little sister, you’re so diligent and filial, even Yucui and I can’t compare.

No wonder dad and mom dote on you the most.”

“Grandpa, did you miss me?” A pretty young woman in her early twenties walked in, pushing a brand-new bicycle, greeted Old Master Zhao with a beaming smile, and then her expression visibly faded when she turned towards Zhao Yulan, “Is Auntie also here?”

This was Zhao Yuying’s second daughter, Chuxia’s cousin Wang Meifeng.

Out of politeness, Chuxia called her Second Sister, but the cousin only responded faintly and didn’t even deign to glance her way.

Chuxia’s expression also cooled.

She had seen this second cousin over the New Year, and her arrogance was extreme.

The reason for her arrogance was nothing more than securing a son-in-law who worked as an accountant in the town.

Chuxia disliked this kind of person the most.

If it weren’t for Aunt Zhao Yuying being rather kind-hearted, she couldn’t have cared less to bother with her!

Old Master Zhao, curious, pointed at the bicycle Wang Xiaofeng was pushing, “This thing isn’t cheap, is it?”

“Grandpa, this isn’t about being cheap or not.

Even if regular folks have the money, they can’t get their hands on it…”

“Dad, this is the betrothal gift from Xiaofeng’s Husband’s Family,” Zhao Yuying interrupted her daughter, shooting her a glare before continuing, “The date for the engagement is set for the ninth of next month.

I initially planned to deliver the letters to you and Mom today and to Yulan and Second Brother tomorrow, but since Yulan is here, there’s no need to make the trip.

By the way, where’s mom?”

“Your mom went to your second brother’s place, your eldest brother went to the village committee, and your sister-in-law took Qihui back to her maternal home,” Old Master Zhao recounted the whereabouts of everyone in the family.

“Is Qihui doing any better?” Zhao Yuying asked, concerned.

“It’s still the same…” Old Master Zhao let out a sigh, “Your sister-in-law took her back to her maternal home, trying to get Qihui’s uncle to come up with a solution.

Now, Qihui is hell-bent on joining the army unit where Yuanbao once served.”

Zhao Yuying also sighed, “That’s not so simple, is it?

Even if Qihui’s big uncle has the capability to get her into the army, it’s not like he can just send her anywhere.

Isn’t this making things difficult for her big uncle?”

“We’ve all tried reasoning with her, but she’s just not giving up.

Your sister-in-law is out of options and worries that Qihui might become distressed.

Whether it’s possible or not, they’ll go along with her wishes.

Once they’ve tried their best, she won’t have any reason to blame them.”

“My eldest sister is so stubborn!

Has she decided that without that soldier, she can’t lead a life?” Wang Xiaofeng said with a face full of noble disdain.

“Xiaofeng!” Zhao Yuying scolded her daughter sharply, staring at her with stern eyes, “If you dare to spout nonsense in front of Qihui, don’t be surprised if I stop treating you like my own daughter!”

“I know,” Wang Xiaofeng clearly retorted with an indignant face.

“All these messy troubles, they come all at once,” Old Master Zhao sighed, relayed Xue Ligang’s matter to his eldest daughter, and before Zhao Yuying could say anything, Wang Xiaofeng’s eyes lit up, “Auntie, is Grandpa telling the truth?”

“Hmm,” Zhao Yulan muttered in response.

“Why push away such a good opportunity?” Wang Xiaofeng pointed to her bicycle, “If Chuxia could marry into the Xue family, not only would she get a bicycle, but a sewing machine and a watch would surely follow.

Grandpa, Auntie, and Uncle might be confused, but how could you and great-grandma also be muddled?

With my Auntie’s family’s situation, for someone to take an interest in them is really a stroke of good fortune, and still, they hesitate…”

Chuxia, with a faint voice, interrupted her, “Since it’s so wonderful, why don’t

…you marry him?”