Sun Aiju was almost frantic, "What about it, village chief? How come you can't do the math on this? Yes, Su Junyan gave an extra hundred yuan, but Shen Lie has a higher rank and salary than him. He'll earn back that hundred yuan in less than two months."
"This money is hard-earned, not easy to come by. I heard that it's not very peaceful over in the South China Sea. Who knows, Shen Lie might be going to the battlefield soon," Ning Weiguo said. "Do you want our daughter to be a widow?"
Sun Aiju rolled her eyes, "If you don't have an education (I don't know how to make this phrase better), it's not called being a widow, it's called being a martyr's widow. Yes, it's not peaceful in the South China Sea, but we can't guarantee that there will be a war for sure. Even if there is, I don't regret my daughter marrying a soldier who defends our country."
After finishing speaking, Sun Aiju even clicked her tongue and criticized Ning Weiguo, "Why are you so backward in your thinking?"
Ning Tang used a pair of tongs to take out the sweet potatoes from the stove, peeled them while watching Sun Aiju and Ning Weiguo argue with relish.
Sun Aiju looked at Ning Tang, who was afraid of getting burned and struggling to peel the sweet potatoes while touching her ears with her hands. She grumpily took the sweet potato from her hand and helped her peel it. "Children are really a burden. Your brother is already in his thirties and still not married. As for you, we are discussing your marriage, but you don't seem to care at all, just listening to jokes like this."
Ning Tang took the peeled sweet potato from Sun Aiju, blew on it to cool it down, and took a big bite, speaking unclearly, "I am listening, aren't I?"
Ning Weiguo squatted on the ground, smoking one cigarette after another. When the room was filled with white smoke, he also made up his mind, "Then let's choose Shen Lie."
"Exactly," Sun Aiju said with satisfaction.
Ning Tang was not like what Sun Aiju was thinking, who was not paying attention and only eating. She observed Shen Lie and Su Junyan almost thoroughly during this meal.
What Ning Tang saw was Shen Lie taking the plate that Ning Xue couldn't hold and helping to set up the dishes and utensils. Sun Aiju also noticed it.
Sun Aiju's good impression of Shen Lie was rising rapidly in her heart.
"What's wrong with a man who's full of energy like this? Besides, their little daughter doesn't do housework or work, so she needs someone like Shen Lie who can work.
When a couple is living together, they need to complement each other.
Ning Tang is already lazy and greedy, so if she's paired up with someone who's just as lazy and doesn't work, how will the couple survive? It's better for them to both die and hang a big cake around their necks, whoever eats it first dies first.
Ning Guo also thought of Ning Tang's inability to cook, and couldn't help but mutter, "Our daughter doesn't know how to cook, what will they eat after they get married?"
Ning Tang blinked her eyes, "So, before they get married, nobody in his family eats? How come they didn't starve to death?"
After a night of discussion, both families had almost made up their minds.
The next morning, Ning Weiguo and Ning Weidang had a conversation, and they were pleased to hear that the two families had chosen different people.
With the bride's side settled, they now had to consider the groom's side.
After breakfast, Ning Weidang's family pulled Su Junyan into the house and discussed the details of the marriage.
It's unclear what they discussed, but judging from the happy smile on Su Junyan's face when he walked out of the house and the shy expression on Ning Xue's face, it must have been a good discussion.
It's Shen Lie's turn now. Ning Weiguo led Shen Lie into the room, with Sun Aiju and Ning Tang accompanying them.
At the rectangular table in the hall, Ning Weiguo, Sun Aiju, and Ning Tang sat on one side, while Shen Lie sat directly opposite the three of them. It felt like a three-way trial.
Ning Weiguo started the conversation and asked Shen Lie directly, "So, Comrade Shen, what do you think of my daughter?"
Feeling uneasy, Shen Lie picked up his water glass to take a sip, but almost spit it out when he heard Ning Weiguo's straightforward question.
Shen Lie cleared his throat and said, "Uncle, I joined the army and was in the same squad as Jun. When I was serving in the western frontier, if it weren't for Jun, I might not have made it back. Both my parents passed away when I was young, and since you are Jun's father, I also treat you as my own father. I won't hide anything from you. If there's something, I'll tell you directly."
After a pause, Shen Lie continued, "I am aware of my own situation. I am a widower with three children, and people outside say that I am cursed as an unfortunate star who brings misfortune to his family. So, it doesn't matter how I view your daughter. It's only important if she chooses me."
Hearing Shen Lie's self-disclosure, Sun Aiju had initially frowned, but as she listened, her frown gradually eased.
Shen Lie, at first glance, was unremarkable. But as soon as he opened his mouth, it was hard not to want to listen to him. Moreover, Shen Lie didn't mention any of his advantages, such as a high salary or rank. Instead, he placed himself in a low position and gave Ning Weiguo and his wife and daughter the right to choose.
Sun Aiju had a high opinion of Shen Lie's attitude towards matchmaking.
Ning Tang was originally peeling and eating longans but as she listened, she forgot to eat them and started to scrutinize Shen Lie up and down.
She became interested and threw the longan shells aside, then asked Shen Lie with interest, "Hey, are you really cursed as an unfortunate star? What if I marry you, and you end up bringing misfortune to me?"
Sun Aiju glared and said, "Pah, what nonsense about living or dying."
Shen Lie felt a little embarrassed as Ning Tang stared at him intently. "Those are all rumors spread by others. My parents died from overwork, and my deceased wife passed away from illness."
He scratched his head, as if afraid that Ning Tang wouldn't believe him, and added, "If I really had the fate of a lone star, then how come my three children are doing well?"
"You have children, and three of them?" Ning Tang exclaimed.
Ning Weiguo couldn't help but sigh. Her daughter really didn't listen carefully. She didn't know which part she remembered and which part she didn't.
"Yes, two sons and one daughter. The eldest son is seven, the second daughter is five, and the youngest son is three," Shen Lie said truthfully.
Ning Tang couldn't help but wonder in her heart if Shen Lie having children meant he wouldn't ask her to have any.
A young woman in their village gave birth before the New Year. She went to the city hospital to give birth and ended up dying along with her baby.
Even in Ning Tang's era, there was no guarantee that childbirth was completely safe, let alone in this era of backward medical conditions. Ning Tang didn't want to gamble with her life.
Ning Tang asked what she was thinking, "Since you already have children, would you ask me to have a baby?"
Shen Lie didn't expect Ning Tang to ask this, but he stared seriously into Ning Tang's eyes. "It mainly depends on you. I respect your opinion, but..."
He looked at Ning Tang strangely, "You married me and became the stepmother of three children. Normally, don't women want to have their own children?"
Sun Aiju agreed and nodded. She leaned over to Ning Tang's ear and whispered, "Raising other people's children, aren't you afraid they won't be close to you? Who will be filial to you in the future?"
Ning Tang rolled her eyes and said, "Just because someone is your biological child doesn't mean they will be filial. For example, Mrs. Sun who lives at the entrance of our village. She has three sons, all biological, but none of them are willing to support her after her husband passed away. Mrs. Sun begs for food from house to house every day with a broken bowl. Mom, don't you remember? Two days ago, when Mrs. Sun passed by, you even gave her two steamed buns."
"Similarly, non-biological children may also be filial. It depends on the individual. Of course, in general, biological children are usually more filial than non-biological ones." Ning Tang's words left both sides speechless.
Sun Aiju couldn't help but clench her fists and knock Ning Tang, "You, always so stubborn like me."
Shen Lie found Ning Tang's remarks quite interesting, "If I pass away before you, I will definitely arrange things for you beforehand. Even if my three children are unwilling to support you, it won't be a problem."
Ning Tang carefully looked at Shen Lie and found that he became more and more attractive to her.
Ning Tang introduced herself formally, "My name is Ning Tang. Nice to meet you."
Shen Lie looked into Ning Tang's eyes and shook her hand, "I'm Shen Lie. Nice to meet you too."
Both Sun Aiju and Ning Weiguo were stunned. They didn't expect that this blind date would end up like this.
Ning Weiguo tentatively asked, "So, is this a done deal?"
Shen Lie was straightforward and took out two hundred yuan from his pocket and put it on the table, "This is the betrothal gift."
Ning Tang didn't hesitate to take the money and handed it all to Sun Aiju, "Mom, you take it."
Sun Aiju glared at her and handed the money back, "Silly girl, your father and I have money. Your brother sends us his salary every month. We are saving up. This two hundred yuan can be your secret fund. Your father and I will give you additional subsidies."
Ning Jun can make money, and Ning Tang knows it. The army provides food and accommodation, and in addition to salary, there are many subsidies every month. Ning Jun hasn't spent a penny and has sent it all to Sun Aiju.
Over the years, Sun Aiju has also saved a lot of money, and Ning Tang did not hesitate to put 200 yuan into her pocket.
After Shen Lie left, Sun Aiju pulled Ning Tang aside for a small meeting.
"Have you thought it through? Even if you really marry Shen Lie, no matter how good his conditions are, he is a widower with three children. You will become a stepmother if you marry him."
After being reminded by Sun Aiju, even Ning Guo hesitated, "Should we forget it then? Although our daughter is a bit older, she is still a maiden. There's no need to be a stepmother. Why not find someone in the village to marry? After all, it's her first marriage."
Ning Tang thought about it and said, "Dad, Mom, I know you love me, but I have considered it and I think Shen Lie's conditions are still suitable for me."
First of all, Shen Lie has a high salary and is still a soldier, which means that her material conditions will not be worse off after marrying him. If she marries a villager in the same village, she will probably still have to work in the fields.
Ning Tang has tried working in the fields before, and it's no exaggeration to say that the scorching sun can burn off a layer of skin. After a day's work, her whole body feels like it has been run over by a wheel, with a sore back and waist. It's not something that someone who used to work in an air-conditioned office every day before crossing over, and hasn't worked in production after crossing over, can tolerate.
Secondly, Shen Lie has three children, which is actually an advantage for Ning Tang.
Ning Tang didn't want to have children in the first place, and with Shen Lie having three children, she wouldn't have to give birth. Moreover, these three children are not young, they have basic self-care ability, and with Shen Lie as their biological father, Ning Tang would only need to keep an eye on them.
"Just think of it as living with three kids," Ning Tang tried to convince herself.
Besides, she was a stepmother, and it's not easy to treat non-biological children well. Would anyone dare to criticize her for that?
Moreover, based on her previous experience, the plot's inevitable forces would bring everything back on track.
It's like how she couldn't do business, but the plot forced her to be a stepmother in the control group. This blind date was not just about marrying Shen Lie; in the future, she would have to marry divorced military officers like Wang Lie and Zhang Lie, who have children.
In that case, it was better to marry Shen Lie. At least he looked like a decent person. The next one might not be as good.
That night, Ning Tang discussed these thoughts with Sun Aiju and Ning Weiguo.
Sun Aiju and Ning Weiguo were still a bit confused, but there was nothing they could do. After all, Ning Tang had made her own decision. If things didn't go well, they could always report to the higher-ups and divorce Shen Lie. They would take care of Ning Tang for the rest of their lives.
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I put the wrong link for Chapter 5 at NU. I don't know how to remove it and make it right. Please just click the next page here at Wattpad. (T_T)
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