The two of them walked to the door and happened to see Little Chuan running towards them.
"Big Sister, you're back? Mom and Dad were worrying to death, come inside quickly!" Little Chuan had been pacing back and forth at the gate since Bai Xue went to the educated youth center, waiting, looking around, worrying that his sister might suffer. He wanted to go find her, but she had told him not to, and he didn't dare.
"Why are you waiting outside in such cold weather? Aren't you cold?" Bai Xue looked at her brother's red cheeks and asked with concern.
"Big Sister, I'm not cold, it's good that you're back!" Little Chuan squeezed past Zhang Yuan and linked his arm with Bai Xue's as he spoke.
Suddenly pushed aside, Zhang Yuan nearly slipped and fell, but steadied himself and looked at Bai Xue with a pitiful expression, as if his food had been snatched away.
"Why didn't you greet him? Is this the manners Big Sister taught you?" Bai Xue was speechless at Zhang Yuan's expression but still nudged Little Chuan.
"Hello, Comrade Zhang Yuan!" Little Chuan greeted reluctantly, but it was no longer the intimate tone he used to have when calling him Brother Zhang.
"Little Chuan!" Bai Xue gave him a stern look.
"Alright, alright, let's go inside quickly! It's cold outside!" Zhang Yuan mediated.
He didn't want to be the reason Xiao Xue and her siblings had a falling out; that would be a grave mistake.
As soon as he finished speaking, Little Chuan dragged his sister into the yard, his expression unchanged, not even sparing Zhang Yuan a glance.
He was blaming Zhang Yuan for affecting his sister's reputation and causing his parents to worry.
Zhang Yuan rubbed his nose and followed the three into the house.
"Mom, Dad, I'm back!" Bai Xue called out as soon as she entered.
"Xiao Xue… Xiao Xue is back!" Wang Cuihua couldn't care less about sitting through her confinement period; she hurriedly got off the bed, not even wearing shoes, and ran out.
Bai Daliang also anxiously got up, looking towards the door.
Bai Rushan, Bai Ruyun, and Bai Ruxia stood up seriously, their expressions tense.
They were afraid once Big Sister returned, people from the rectification office might come to take her away.
"Mom, why are you getting up barefoot? Get back on the bed! I've just come back; it's hardly any time to get inside!" Bai Xue pushed Wang Cuihua to get her back on the bed.
But Wang Cuihua immediately noticed Zhang Yuan who had followed them in.
"Xiao Yuan! Did his grandma give you a hard time?"
Wang Cuihua's response was unlike Little Chuan's. She was worried Grandma Bai had made things difficult for Zhang Yuan and spoke apologetically.
"No!" Zhang Yuan replied, and in the time it took him to reply, Bai Xue had already pulled her mom back inside and onto the bed.
"Let's talk inside! Why is everyone just standing around?" Bai Xue got Wang Cuihua back on the bed and glanced at everyone standing around; the house-building needed to be put on the agenda, this house was too small, there wasn't even a place to stand when guests came.
"Xiao Xue, why did you bring Xiao Yuan back? If the people from the rectification office come, things will be even harder to explain!" Bai Daliang got on the bed at his daughter's urging, but his mouth didn't rest.
"Dad, Mom, don't worry! The people from the rectification office won't come!" Bai Xue smiled mysteriously. "Can you guess why?"
"Big Sister! Hurry and tell us, Mom and Dad were worried to death for you!" Bai Ruxia was impatient and couldn't wait to speak.
"Yes, Big Sister! I'm scared to death too!" Bai Ruyun murmured softly.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you." Bai Xue waved her hand for her two sisters to stop speaking.
"Xiao Xue, let me tell them!" Zhang Yuan stepped forward and took Bai Xue's hand.
This gesture made everyone widen their eyes in disbelief.
"Let go of my Big Sister! What's the matter? Let go of my Big Sister's hand!" Little Chuan was the first to shout out what everyone was thinking.
Bai Xue blushed looking at Little Chuan. "Little Chuan, do not be disrespectful to your brother-in-law!"
"What? Brother-in-law?" Bai Ruxia shouted, because Little Chuan was thunderstruck and was frozen, not knowing how to react.
The other two widened their eyes and mouths, staring at Zhang Yuan.
The couple on the bed looked at each other in disbelief, wondering how to begin their questions.
"Uncle, Aunt!" Zhang Yuan's call woke everyone in the house.
"Xiao Xue! What's happening?" Wang Cuihua spoke seriously to Bai Xue for the first time.
"Auntie! Let me speak!" Zhang Yuan said, then knelt down.
The action startled Bai Xue, and she instinctively tried to pull him up, but was stopped by Zhang Yuan's look. She watched him.
"Uncle, Aunt, I like Xiao Xue and I want to propose. Will you marry Xiao Xue to me?"
"Xiao Yuan… This isn't the only way to solve this problem. We can let the brigade head help us talk to the rectification office…" Bai Daliang said dazedly.
"Uncle, proposing to Xiao Xue is not just because of this. I liked her the first moment I saw her. Don't worry, if you marry Xiao Xue to me, I will ensure she will never cry in her life!" Zhang Yuan promised confidently.
The couple was stunned by his words. Their marriage was arranged, so they didn't really understand what true love was. Bai Daliang felt softhearted when he heard Zhang Yuan promise she would never cry.
"Xiao Yuan, you are an educated youth. If you marry Xiao Xue, what are your plans for the future?" Wang Cuihua was thoughtful; some educated youths who married locals would abandon their partners if they had the chance to return to the city.
"Don't worry, Aunt. If I have to leave one day, I'll definitely take Xiao Xue with me! If you're concerned that you'll miss Xiao Xue, I can take the whole family!" Zhang Yuan replied to Wang Cuihua.
"Without an urban household registration, Xiao Xue can only temporarily follow you!" Bai Daliang understood this. If Xiao Xue wanted to go to Capital City with him, she needed an urban household registration.
"Uncle, don't worry, I can manage the urban household registration!" Zhang Yuan promised firmly.
Bai Daliang and Wang Cuihua looked for a moment, seeing satisfaction in each other's eyes. Wang Cuihua looked up at Bai Xue.
"Xiao Xue, what's your own thought? Do you like Xiao Yuan? Are you ready to follow him to distant lands?" Wang Cuihua suddenly became poetic, speaking of distant lands.
"Mom, Dad, I like him, at least his looks. I don't know what the future holds, but if I marry Zhang Yuan and leave here, I will take you with me!" Bai Xue said.
Zhang Yuan felt a pang when she mentioned liking just his looks, but quickly regained a steady gaze.
He was confident he could make Xiao Xue fall for him and never leave him.
"Big Sister, so Zhang Yuan is our brother-in-law?" Bai Ruxia asked.
Bai Xue nodded. "If Mom and Dad agree to our engagement, then he will be your brother-in-law!" Bai Xue looked at her parents as she spoke.
"If you like him, we have no objections! Xiao Yuan is a good kid, Dad saw this a long time ago! Since you both like each other, then get engaged!" Bai Daliang and Wang Cuihua exchanged glances and agreed.
"Thank you, Uncle, Aunt, for granting my wish! I promise not to disappoint your trust!" Zhang Yuan bowed firmly.
"Get up quickly! The floor is cold!" Wang Cuihua smiled at Zhang Yuan, truly embodying the saying, 'mother-in-law looking at son-in-law…'
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