Chapter 42: You Cannot Marry Him
This outburst not only drew Yu Haitang’s attention but also caused everyone in the cafeteria to fix their gazes upon them.
“Look at that banner, it clearly says ‘Wishing to grow old together’! It seems Xu Damao intends to propose to Yu Haitang!”
“Wait, isn’t it said that Yu Haitang had been quite close to He Yuzhu? How did the wind shift so suddenly, with Yu Haitang now about to tie the knot with Xu Damao?”
“Oh, what you’re talking about is ancient history. Xu Damao and Yu Haitang have been getting quite cozy lately; look, it’s only natural they’ve reached this point!”
“This is actually the first time I’ve witnessed someone proposing in person! Xu Damao really has a lot of tricks up his sleeve when it comes to chasing girls; he’s quite something!”
Ignoring the surrounding chatter, Xu Damao walked straight up to Yu Haitang and held out the flowers in his hands. However, when Yu Haitang saw the bouquet, her face contorted with a mixture of horror and disgust. It turned out the flowers were artificial, crudely fashioned from red paper by Xu Damao that very morning—the craftsmanship was so poor it was painful to look at.
“Xu Damao, what are you playing at? Aren’t you afraid of being a laughingstock?” Yu Haitang lowered her voice, her tone filled with displeasure, as she shoved the fake flowers back into his arms.
Xu Damao caught them with both hands and held them high again, as if trying to prove something. Just as he was about to speak, he seemed to remember something, glanced around at the surrounding crowd, took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and knelt on one knee before Yu Haitang.
At this moment, the various comments from the crowd flooded into his ears like a rising tide.
“Wow, I’ve only seen this kind of proposal in movies. Xu Damao’s method is so novel; he’s really going out of his way to please her!”
“It really damages the image of our working class. I don’t go in for this kind of petty-bourgeois romanticism!”
“Don’t let the big display fool you; Yu Haitang doesn’t seem to be buying it! Look at her face—it’s so long it could hold an oil bottle!”
Yu Haitang had never experienced such an embarrassing and shameful moment in her life. This street-smart rogue, Xu Damao, was completely out of his league doing something like this. He was wearing a dingy, patched-up cotton jacket and a Lei Feng cap. Perhaps due to the bitter cold, he was sniffling constantly. Dressed like that, holding fake paper flowers while proposing—Yu Haitang wished she could crawl into a hole in the ground.
With a stiff smile on her face, she glared at him and hissed, “Xu Damao, is it appropriate for you to make such a public spectacle out of a proposal?”
“Xu Damao, you haven’t even visited my parents, yet you’re asking me to marry you directly? Isn’t that a bit improper?”
Yu Haitang’s words were subtle, but the refusal in her tone was not lost on Xu Damao. However, he was stubborn; once he had set his sights on her, he was determined to make her his. Without further ado, he said, “You’re right, I should indeed visit your parents first to seek their approval. Haitang, before you take me to meet them, could you at least give me a promise that you’ll be my wife?”
Hearing this, Haitang felt torn. She looked at his expectant gaze, then at the onlookers, and opened her mouth to say “no,” but the word wouldn’t come out. Finally, gritting her teeth, she conceded, “Alright, I agree.” But deep down, she told herself this was only temporary; she still needed to give it some serious thought.
When Xu Damao heard her agreement, he was as happy as a child, grinning from ear to ear.
He Yuzhu, watching from a corner, took it all in, his heart a swirl of complex emotions. Usually, when the long, echoing siren of the Red Star Rolling Mill signaled the end of the shift, he would eagerly grab his mesh-bagged lunchbox and head home. Today, however, things were different.
The crowd in the cafeteria gradually thinned. Only when the last colleague had vanished from sight did He Yuzhu slowly stand, put on his slightly worn jacket, pick up his lunchbox, and step out of the cafeteria. He didn’t rush home as usual; instead, he turned toward the publicity office.
He Yuzhu was harboring a secret. He knew when Yu Haitang left the office every day. Today, he had purposely stayed behind specifically to run into her at the door of the publicity office and speak his mind.
When He Yuzhu knocked on the door, Yu Haitang was busy tidying up files, preparing to end her workday. When she opened the door and saw He Yuzhu standing there, a flash of surprise and panic surged within her. Her heart raced, though she struggled to maintain a calm, cold expression.
“Why are you here?” she asked, feigning indifference while continuing her task.
He Yuzhu took a deep breath, as if resolving himself. “There are things I’ve always wanted to tell you, but I could never find the right moment. Today, I felt I couldn't put it off any longer.”
“Let’s talk on the way, then, so we don’t delay getting home,” Yu Haitang suggested. Her tone remained cold, but a hint of barely perceptible anticipation flickered in her eyes.
They walked side by side, yet an invisible wall seemed to stand between them. Neither spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Yu Haitang broke the silence. “Just say it. Don’t beat around the bush.” Her voice was steady, but upon closer inspection, it betrayed a trace of tension.
“Little Yu, you really cannot marry Xu Damao.” He Yuzhu’s tone was filled with an unquestionable resolve, causing Yu Haitang’s heart to sink.
She widened her eyes, looking at him in confusion, her voice trembling slightly. “Why? Is there… is there some hidden secret?”
Deep down, a part of her was crying out, hoping He Yuzhu would say the words she had long awaited—that he still loved her. But reality was far harsher than her dreams.
“Little Yu, listen to me.” He Yuzhu drew a deep breath, as if gathering all his courage for this moment. “Xu Damao… he has a medical condition. He is infertile.”
The words struck like a bolt of lightning, leaving Yu Haitang frozen in her tracks.