Zhang Xiaomei had no objections and handed her household registration book to Zhang Liunian.
"Xiaomei, you can hold onto it yourself. Later, you and the mute will come with me to the county town to get the marriage certificate, and then go to the police station to sort out the household registration."
Zhang Xiaomei felt a bit shy and nodded before returning to her work.
As soon as she left, Zhang Liunian also got busy. He put the glutinous rice he had soaked the previous day into a steamer and, after telling Jiang Qingqing, went to the female educated youth dormitory.
Time flew by, and it was soon the time for deliveries. This time, quite a few people were going to the county town: Jiang Qingqing, Hua Bao, Zhang Xiaomei, the mute, and Du Ziteng, a total of six people.
Since the mute was going to the county town, Zhang Liunian decided that Zhang Qian, who was scheduled to drive the truck, should stay behind to prepare for the afternoon's shipments.
Zhang Qian did not object, though he was curious as to why so many people were going to the county town. However, he was not one to gossip and did not ask any questions upon seeing them.
They arrived at the county town smoothly. Zhang Liunian first asked Xiaomei and the mute to get their marriage certificate while they went to deliver goods to Grandpa Tang.
Strangely, Third Uncle Zhang Wenjun did not appear again. Zhang Liunian did not inquire further and then went to the machinery factory.
Zhao Zhijie was supposed to be on his day off, but he came to the factory to meet Zhang Liunian.
After watching the crayfish and braised meat being weighed, Zhao Zhijie personally helped Zhang Liunian settle the payment.
"1100 catties of crayfish, 200 catties of braised meat, a total of 840 yuan. Please count it." Zhao Zhijie handed the money over.
Zhang Liunian calmly accepted it and, in turn, handed it to Jiang Qingqing, who was standing beside him in a daze.
"Do you have anything else to do?" Zhao Zhijie asked Zhang Liunian after the payment and goods were settled.
"I still need to deliver fifty catties of braised meat to Mu Mingliang later."
"Let's go together!" Zhao Zhijie was not working today and had plenty of time.
Zhang Liunian did not object. As he was about to walk out of the supervisor's office with Zhao Zhijie, he stopped and walked to his wife's side, asking with concern, "What's wrong?"
"Oh! It's nothing, nothing. Let's go!" Jiang Qingqing came back to her senses, clutching the 840 yuan in her hand, feeling as if she were walking on clouds.
She had long known about her husband's cooperation with the machinery factory, but she had not expected the cooperation to be so easy. They weighed the goods and paid him immediately, with no delays. The entire process had shocked her with its swiftness.
One should not underestimate this process. It was not easy to have daily settlements with the factory. Without considerable influence, it would often be a monthly settlement at the very least.
Yet, her husband had managed to achieve daily settlements, which showed that his relationships with these people were genuinely good.
Thinking this, Jiang Qingqing's large eyes couldn't help but steal glances at the exceptionally handsome man in front of her. The more she looked, the more her face flushed and her heart pounded. She felt as if she had struck gold to marry such a good man.
When Zhang Liunian turned to look at her, he noticed something amiss. He lagged a step behind and came to her side, whispering, "What's wrong?" Why was she blushing?
"I, I'm fine." Jiang Qingqing shyly tidied the hair at her forehead, her head turned to the side, not daring to look at him.
"Are you too hot?" Zhang Liunian, seeing this, assumed she was hot. He looked up at the scorching sun, placed one hand on her shoulder, and the other on top of her head to shield her from the sun.
Seeing her husband act this way, Jiang Qingqing's lips curved into a wider smile. In the end, she chose not to reveal her thoughts and was silently happy.
"Liunian, this must be your wife! You're quite fortunate to have found such a beautiful wife."
Zhao Zhijie had been busy with deliveries earlier and hadn't had time to pay attention to Zhang Liunian's wife. Now, walking on the road out of the factory, he had some free time.
Taking this opportunity, he seriously looked at Jiang Qingqing. With her large eyes, small face, and cherry lips, her appearance was impeccable. Her expression also seemed agreeable. As far as he could tell, she was a good woman.
However, Zhang Liunian's evident concern for her did surprise him.
"Hello, Uncle Zhao. My name is Qingqing, and I'm Liunian's wife." Jiang Qingqing's small face turned red as she introduced herself upon hearing her uncle-in-law praise her.
Zhang Liunian, half-embracing his wife, smiled at her, not giving Zhao Zhijie any extra attention.
Zhao Zhijie twitched the corner of his mouth and chuckled, "Good, good, good. You're a good child. It's truly Liunian's fortune to have married you."
Jiang Qingqing felt her own fortune was even greater. "It is also my good fortune to have married Liunian."
Zhao Zhijie was taken aback, seeming to understand why Zhang Liunian cherished this wife so much. He said, "You both have good fortune, good fortune."
"My fortune is greater, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to marry such a beautiful and considerate wife," Zhang Liunian said, gazing affectionately at his wife in his arms, filled with pride.
When Jiang Qingqing met her husband's gaze, her heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of her chest. Her face turned incredibly red, and her small hand unconsciously squeezed his large hand, signaling him to temper his words. However, he simply clasped her fingers in return.
Jiang Qingqing struggled a bit but couldn't break free. She eventually gave up, as she didn't dare to act out in public.
Zhao Zhijie noticed their hands entwined, his eyes full of smiles. Their relationship was truly wonderful, so wonderful that he, an old man, was somewhat envious.
"Daddy!" As they just walked out of the machinery factory, a little dumpling suddenly ran towards Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Liunian let go of his wife, bent down, and picked up his daughter. "What's wrong, Hua Bao?"
"Hua Bao misses Daddy and wants Daddy to hug her." Hua Bao raised her small face and clung to Zhang Liunian's neck with all her might.
Zhao Zhijie's old face lit up instantly upon seeing the little dumpling. "Liunian, is this your daughter?" That would make her his god-granddaughter! Excellent, he had a god-nephew, and now he had a god-granddaughter.
"Yes, Uncle Zhao, this is my daughter Hua Bao. Hua Bao, say hello to Grandpa Zhao. He's your grandpa from now on." Zhang Liunian introduced his daughter to Zhao Zhijie.
Hua Bao was very sensible and obedient. When Zhang Liunian told her to call him Grandpa, she did so, "Hello, Grandpa. I'm Hua Bao!"
"Hua Bao, that's a very nice name. Come, let Grandpa hug you." Zhao Zhijie had never held a child before, and seeing the adorable Hua Bao, he suddenly felt the urge.
Hua Bao saw another person wanting to hug her and looked at Zhang Liunian with confusion. "Daddy, why do all adults want to hug me? Is it because Hua Bao is too cute and everyone likes me?"
"Yes, they like you because they see how cute and pretty Hua Bao is, which is why they want to hug you. However, Hua Bao, you're a girl and shouldn't let just anyone hug you, okay?"
"Hua Bao is very obedient, so she didn't let Uncle Du hug her."
Du Ziteng was speechless. So, Zhang Liunian was being protective of him, which was why he hadn't let him hug Hua Bao.
Honestly, it was just a daughter, but was it necessary to be so protective, like warding off a wolf?
Zhang Liunian shot Du Ziteng a sideways glance and happily kissed his daughter's little face. "Well done. From now on, if Daddy isn't around, no one is allowed to hug you, understand?"
"Mmm, Hua Bao listens to Daddy the most."
"..." Zhao Zhijie felt that the conversation between Zhang Liunian and his daughter was a bit odd. What did he mean, 'no one is allowed to hug her'?
Who would harm his daughter? They were all acquaintances; he shouldn't be doing this, should he?