Fighting to destiny

Chapter 3 Que'er (Page 2/2)

The girl's name is Liu Que'er. She is from this village and lives in the east of the village. The girl has a hard life. Her father Liu Dayou died of illness four years ago, leaving her, her mother and a younger brother. The three of them depend on each other for survival and live a tight life. Zhang Xiaozu goes to help with the work whenever he has time, which makes Que'er's mother very happy.

Que'er's mother is an open-minded woman. She has long said in front of the whole village that when Que'er comes of age, she will be married to Zhang Xiaozu. If anyone dares to have the idea of ​​​​taking Zhang Xiaozu, don't blame her, a widow, for blocking the door and cursing. The villagers feel sorry for the three of them and think that this marriage is indeed a good one. Zhang Xiaozu is a hardworking and capable person. If he marries Que'er, Zhang Xiaozu's enthusiasm is enough to support the two families. So they all smiled and told Que'er's mother to be at ease. No one will compete with her for the son-in-law, and everyone is waiting to drink the wedding wine. Zhang Xiaozu and Que'er have been together day and night, and they have already developed feelings for each other, but they just haven't broken the window paper.

Although there is a thumbnail-sized birthmark on Que'er's left cheek, which ruins her appearance, Zhang Xiaozu doesn't care at all. What he likes is Que'er's kindness and ability. Before today, Zhang Xiaozu had always felt guilty and felt that he was not worthy of Que'er because he was a rootless person and could not give Que'er a stable home. But today, his worries were gone, just like he let out a breath of pent-up anger, and felt unprecedented comfort. Next year, Que'er will be an adult and can get married. I don't know if there are any wild boys in the village who are interested in Que'er. No, I have to find time to warn them one by one. Thinking that there may be a rival in love who is secretly coveting Que'er and may snatch his future wife away at any time, Zhang Xiaozu couldn't help but get nervous, clenched his fists, and prepared to warn all the unmarried boys in the village with his fists one by one. Zhang Xiaozu thought about it and wandered until the afternoon before he came back to his senses. The wheat had been soaked, and was taken out and put into a pre-prepared bucket, and then brought to the stone mill to start grinding. The gray paste with white pulp was spit out from the mill mouth and fell into the bucket under the mill mouth.

Zhang Xiaozu was strong and worked efficiently. He finished grinding in two quarters of an hour. Just as he was about to take the ground batter to the kitchen to make pancakes, the courtyard door was pushed open. Zhang Xiaozu hurriedly put down his work and greeted him, smiling: "Aunt, Que'er, you came at the right time. I just ground the batter and prepared to make pancakes. I was about to call you to come and help. Where is Xiaoci, why didn't you come with me?"

Xiaoci is Que'er's younger brother. He is twelve years old this year and is a half-grown boy.

"Leave the cooking to me, and you go do other things. Clothes, insect repellent, hunting tools, etc., there are many dangers in the deep mountains and old forests, and these preparations cannot be sloppy. Que'er, go and help Xiaozu pack up."

Que'er's mother is just in her early thirties, but after the man in the family passed away, all the burdens fell on her. The double pressure of spirit and life made her look much older than women of the same age. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaozu has helped her a lot in the past two or three years, which has greatly reduced the burden on her shoulders.

Que'er seemed a little reserved today. She had been shyly hiding behind her mother. When she heard her mother asking her to help Zhang Xiaozu pack up, she responded and walked to the front.

Zhang Xiaozu looked at Que'er and was a little stunned for a while. In the past, Que'er was always wearing a patched grey cloth dress with two ponytails hanging on her shoulders, but today Que'er was different. Her hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, and she was wearing a red flowered jacket, red flowered trousers, hard-soled shoes with red cloth uppers, and a little makeup on her face. It was as if this bud had suddenly blossomed overnight, beautiful and dazzling.

When Que'er's mother saw Zhang Xiaozu staring at her daughter in a daze, she laughed and pushed Que'er, urging her, "Why are you still standing there? Go and help your brother Xiaozu pack up."

"Hey," Que'er agreed hurriedly.

"Xiaozu, you go with me. Just let Que'er pack anything you need."

"Oh. OK." Zhang Xiaozu's cheeks flushed. He knew he had lost his composure. He avoided looking at Que'er's mother and hurriedly followed Que'er away as if fleeing.

Que'er's mother happily entered the kitchen and started to work alone.

Liu Que'er and Zhang Xiaozu entered the house one after another. Liu Que'er had already let go and was no longer shy. She turned around and asked Zhang Xiaozu: "Brother Xiaozu, just tell me what you need to prepare. I'll help you pack it."

Zhang Xiaozu scratched the back of his head and said, "I've packed everything. Que'er, you-you look really good today."

"Is that so?" Que'er's cheeks suddenly flushed. She lowered her head and pinched the corners of her clothes with both hands. Her palms were sweaty.

"Looks good, really good." Zhang Xiaozu nodded vigorously.

"Then-then-then-" Que'er opened her mouth, thinking about her mother's exhortation before coming, but she couldn't say it when she came to her mouth. It was really embarrassing. The blush on her face became more and more intense, like a blooming red peony.

"What is that?" Zhang Xiaozu was tickled by Que'er's hesitant "that", and couldn't help asking. Que'er gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and said with a heroic attitude, "How about marrying you as your wife?