The Educated Youth Who Changed His Mind (5) 

“Jiang Zhe faster, we have to speed up. It's not early any more, it's not good to go back too late.” 

Xiang Cheng reminded Jiang Zhe. 

Going to town this time, other than some necessities, they also needed to buy some items for the New Year. 

Although he was still alone, but he still had to treat himself well over the New Year. 

They had already bought most of the necessities on the list, but Jiang Zhe still refused to leave, wandering around seemingly looking for something. 

Xiang Cheng couldn't understand and asked: “Jiang Zhe, what are you looking for?” 

Jiang Zhe: “I want to buy something.” 

Other educated youths also came over, “Jiang Zhe, what do you want to buy?” 

Jiang Zhe: “I want to buy some cloth.” 

Xiang Cheng: “Buy cloth, what do you need to buy cloth for?” 

Jiang Zhe: “Buy for Qing Qing.” 

“Oh~~~” The others began to holler, Xiang Cheng didn't know whether to cry or laugh, “Say so earlier. Right, do you still have money? Do you need me to lend you some?" 

Jiang Zhe shook his head. "I still have some." Then he paused again: "Or, how about you go back first. I'll continue looking for it in the town. If worse comes to worse, I'll just come back tomorrow." 

Xiang Cheng: “Don't. Otherwise, the team leader will think we are letting you run away.” 

Jiang Zhe's face darkened: “Then I'll trouble you to wait for me here.” 

Xiang Cheng and the others: “En, go." 

Jiang Zhe bid farewell to his friends, turned into a small alley, and only came out after an hour, holding a big package in his hand. 

He went to the state-run restaurant and bought seven or eight buns before he re-joined the group. 

Jiang Zhe handed over the buns: “Sorry, I've let everyone wait for a long time. Eat some buns to fill your hunger.” 

They were all from the same courtyard, so the other educated youths didn't stand on ceremony.

“Wow, it's actually stuffed with meat. It's really fragrant.” 

“I couldn't tell that Jiang Zhe you are so luxurious. I've looked till my poor citizen eyes have turned red.” 

“Right, Jiang Zhe, what does your family do?" 

” …………” 

Everyone was talking, but Jiang Zhe just smiled the whole way. When they mentioned his family, he just gave a few perfunctory sentences. 

The original soul was very guarded, and never opened his heart to others. Therefore, it was normal for the other educated youths to remain unaware of his situation. 

However, Jiang Zhe was also quite restrained. He only tried his best to improve the quality of his life as much as possible, doing just the bare minimum for everything else. 

He always kept this sentence in his mind: the gun shoots the bird that stands out. This was especially so in such a volatile era. 

During the few days of the Laba Festival, Jiang Zhe brought some items and knocked on the Xu family's door. 

Mother Xu opened the door for him, saw that his hands were not empty, her face was gleeful, and her heart was very satisfied. 

He was a polite boy. 

Although Xu Zhi Hong still had no expression on his face, but after Jiang Zhe sat down, he still invited him for lunch. 

Jiang Zhe smiled and thanked him. 

He handed the gift to Mother Xu and accompanied the Xu family's men to chat over tea. 

Xu Zhi Hong was talking most of the time, Xu Shou Yi answered him, occasionally asking Jiang Zhe's opinion. Jiang Zhe also avoided heavy topics, and chatted about light topics, trying his best to go around it. 

Some topics were too sensitive, he needed to guard against eavesdroppers. 

Xu Zhi Hong was not satisfied with his sly character. In his eyes, sly people tend to overthink. His daughter was such an innocent lady, if she fell into Jiang Zhe's hands, she would be eaten whole. 

Therefore, when food was served on the table, he took his sons and took turns drinking with Jiang Zhe. 

Jiang Zhe didn't refuse. Even though his face turned red from drinking, he still maintained a calm and strong appearance. 

Xu Qing was very distressed, “Dad!!”

Mother Xu didn't agree with it either, and secretly pulled his clothes under the table. 

Xu Zhi Hong avoided her hand and continued to fill Jiang Zhe's cup. Taking advantage of his drunken state, he continually interrogated him. 

Xu Zhi Hong: “Youth Jiang is handsome and knowledgeable, how did you come to like Qing Qing?” 

Xu Qing was not happy. Did he have to badmouth his own daughter in front of her partner?

Xu Zhi Hong didn't care about his daughter, his gaze s.h.i.+ning as he looked at Jiang Zhe, waiting for an answer. 

Jiang Zhe had a lot he could say. He wanted to praise Xu Qing's kindness, liveliness, and cuteness. But as he was about to say it, it changed. “It's a kind of feeling. When I see Qing Qing, I think about how fortunate I would be if I could spend the rest of my life with her.” 

Xu Zhi Hong was not satisfied, what kind of answer was this?

Xu Zhi Hong: “Qing Qing has only completed primary school education. She also doesn't look very bright. Of course, it's still considered excellent within our team. If you want to talk about temper, I, her dad, am the most clear. She can't be considered very gentle and considerate. Like this, do you still like her?” 

Jiang Zhe swayed his gla.s.s, looking at the reflection in the wine, his eyebrows slightly arched. “Since I like her, I will naturally accept all her good and bad points.” Not waiting for Xu Zhi Hong to make things difficult, he continued: “If I follow your standards, then other than me having a little knowledge, I'm even more worthless. There are many outside who are better than me. Don't tell me if Qing Qing one day sees someone who is better than me, she would change her target of affection?” 

Xu Qing stood up fiercely, her voice resounding: “Certainly not. I, I," she looked at Jiang Zhe, her eyes moving around quickly, "No matter what you're like, I, I will love you and only you.” 

Jiang Zhe laughed, “Me too.” 

Xu family: ………

Xu Zhi Hong was angered, this foolish daughter of his was always siding outsiders. 

He drank another gla.s.s of wine with resentment, but didn't continue saying anything nasty. 

Jiang Zhe lowered his eyes, his gaze sharp, knowing in his heart that he had agreed to them. 

………… 

“Ugh—-“

Jiang Zhe covered his mouth, his face flushed, and his body smelled like alcohol. 

Although it was only in the afternoon, he was so drunk, the Xu family didn't send him back to Zhi Qing courtyard. Tidying up a room, they let him sleep in the house.

Xu Qing was extremely distressed and whispered in resentment: “Dad and Brothers are too much. They saw that you were drunk, but still let you drink.”

However, thinking of her father's silent acquiescence in the end, she could not stop the sweetness in her heart. 

How could Jiang Zhe be so good? 

The luckiest thing is that such a good man was now hers, Xu Qing's. Happy. 

She couldn't wait to jump three rounds on the spot, but she remembered that girls had to be reserved. 

She closed the door and shouted Jiang Zhe's name a few times, but there was no response. 

Xu Qing was happy. She went closer forward, and even the thick smell of alcohol couldn't deter her. Gently, gently she kissed the corner of the youth's lips. 

Then she retreated suddenly, covering her mouth, her eyebrows arched happily, looking like a thieving cat. 

System: “Qing Qing is so cute.” 

Jiang Zhe: “En.” 

System: ←_← 

Xu Qing stayed for a while before leaving. Jiang Zhe opened his eyes, looked at the empty room and quickly closed his eyes again to rest. 

At this moment, in the Xu family's master bedroom. 

Xu Qing leaned in close to her mother's side to see the gift brought by Jiang Zhe. 

Mother Xu: “Wow, there is actually cloth. Looking at the size, it should be enough to make a set for you.” 

Xu Qing took the cloth and compared it to her body for a while, looking beautiful, “This color also looks good.” 

Mother Xu: “Yes, yes, it fits our Qing Qing the most.” 

Xu Zhi Hong snorted heavily at the side. 

Mother Xu gave him a side look. “Choked? If your throat isn't comfortable, then go drink some water.” 

Xu Zhi Hong coughed and became more honest. 

The remainder were all common snacks, pastries and other specialties from other places. 

Mother Xu suddenly exclaimed in shock: “Heavens, this is beef jerky.” 

Xu Zhi Hong also came over, picked up one to taste, his face changing, stammering "En".

Mother Xu resisted the urge to laugh, Xu Qing grinned at her dad. “Dad, you see how sincere Jiang Zhe is."

Xu Zhi Hong's face darkened, “He wants to s.n.a.t.c.h my baby girl, of course he has to fake a little.” 

Xu Qing: ………… 

Xu Qing: “Dad~~” 

Xu Zhi Hong snorted from his nose, "Females are always looking towards the outside, this old saying is really correct." 

Xu Qing wasn't angry, it was good as long as her father agreed. 

In the evening, Jiang Zhe had dinner at the Xu family before returning to Zhi Qing courtyard. 

Xu family, Father Xu and Mother Xu were discussing over and over again. 

Mother Xu: “I think Jiang Zhe that child is not bad. He is very polite and he also treats our Qing Qing very well.” 

Father Xu: “Wife has long hair, but is short-sighted.” 

Mother Xu pinched him in anger. “You're far-sighted, then what do you think about Jiang Zhe?” 

Father Xu: “Just, just like that.” 

Mother Xu smiled in anger, “Like what?” 

Father Xu's embarra.s.sment turned into anger, and he s.n.a.t.c.hed the quilt, “Are you sleeping? If you're not sleeping then I'm going to sleep.” 

Mother Xu pressed her lips together, and harrumphed. 

The next day, Xu Zhi Hong went to investigate Jiang Zhe. There was no way around it, his two sons were disappointing, still needing him this old man to do it himself. 

However, when he got the information, he frowned fiercely. 

He asked people to call Jiang Zhe over, going straight to the point, “Both your parents have pa.s.sed away?” 

Jiang Zhe's eyes drooped, his face expressionless, "Yes."

Xu Zhi Hong frowned: “When did it happen?” 

Jiang Zhe: “During the incident when I went to catch wild animals.” 

Xu Zhi Hong: “When did you” When the words came out, he reacted. 

Speaking suddenly became exceedingly difficult, and he did not know what to say for a while.

After a long while, he finally said: “You should have brought it up with me.” 

He was not an unreasonable person. 

Jiang Zhe: “I forgot in a moment of emotions.” 

Xu Zhi Hong nodded. 

The two were silent and the atmosphere gradually became awkward. 

After a long time. 

Xu Zhi Hong: “When you get married with Qing Qing, you will teach in the primary school. We will look after you a little. You and Qing Qing's days will not be too difficult.” 

Jiang Zhe lifted his eyes and looked at him. Xu Zhi Hong was a little uncomfortable. 

Xu Zhi Hong: “What are you looking at, go home and prepare. After celebrating the New Year, marry Qing Qing.” 

Jiang Zhe: “Alright.” 

Jiang Zhe walked out of the gate and leisurely strolled along the narrow road. 

Thinking about Xu Qing's previous reaction, he made another origami gra.s.shopper. 

System: …………