Chapter 54 Secret

Qin Huairu smiled helplessly and shared the news she had heard from Yushui with the deaf old lady. "He went to Teacher Ran's house to pay a New Year visit. Yushui told me that."

Upon hearing this, the deaf old lady seemed to suddenly understand something. She nodded and repeated, "Oh, Zhuzi went to Teacher Ran's place."

Seeing the old lady's sudden realization, Qin Huairu couldn't help but laugh.

She turned to the First Elder and said in a low voice, "Look at the old lady's ears—sometimes good, sometimes bad. It really keeps people guessing."

The First Elder just chuckled and said nothing.

He knew very well that although the deaf old lady's hearing was poor, her mind was as clear as a mirror, and she understood everything.

As the smiles on the three faces gradually faded, Qin Huairu finally couldn't help herself and spoke with a sorrowful expression, "If it were the old days, how would I ever need to hear about He Zhuzi going to Teacher Ran's place from a little girl like Yushui?" Her words carried a trace of helplessness and heartache, as if their past intimacy had already vanished into thin air.

At this emotional juncture, Qin Huairu's eyes inevitably turned red, and tears shimmered in them.

Meanwhile, the deaf old lady acted as if she hadn't heard a thing. She maintained a blank expression, staring blankly at Qin Huairu with empty eyes, as if the joys and sorrows of this world had nothing to do with her.

At this moment, the First Elder, that usually amiable elder, offered sincere comfort. "Huairu, you mustn't be too sad, nor should you take this matter too much to heart."

"Zhuzi, he has just gotten stuck in a dead end and hasn't figured things out for the moment."

"Rest assured, in time, once Zhuzi settles down and establishes his career, the deep bond between your two families will return to how it used to be. It won't change."

However, the First Elder's words only added insult to injury for Qin Huairu. The grievance in her heart grew even stronger, and her tears flowed uncontrollably. "If He Zhuzi truly gets married, I'm afraid our families' relationship will become even harder to manage.

When that time comes, not only will he himself be afraid of having any association with our family, but even his wife certainly won't be happy to let him stay too close to a widow's household like ours."

Hearing this, the First Elder frowned deeply and muttered unconsciously, "Earlier, I was even hoping the two of you might end up together. Who would have thought it would turn out like this now?"

"First Elder, what do you mean by that?" Qin Huairu's voice suddenly sharpened, tinged with a hint of displeasure.

Startled by this interrogation, the First Elder suddenly realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly explained, "Oh, Huairu, I was just speaking casually. Don't take it to heart."

The deaf old lady, who had remained silent all along, suddenly chimed in, "Those unreliable words and unreliable deeds must never be mentioned, let alone done. You're such an old person, how can you be so devoid of sense!" The deaf old lady's words were filled with reprimands, making Qin Huairu's expression rather awkward.

Qin Huairu took a deep breath, tried to calm her emotions, and changed the subject. "As a lonely widow raising three children, how could I ever dare to harbor extravagant hopes of living with He Zhuzi?"

"I merely hoped to be good neighbors with him and not end up looking like sworn enemies."

"Besides, our family has never done a single thing to wrong him. What right does he have to look at us with such hostility!"

"Old lady, First Elder, both of you must still remember. Just a couple of days ago at the courtyard meeting, those few words of his clearly showed he harbored doubts about our family and didn't trust us!"

The more Qin Huairu spoke, the more agitated she became. The grievance in her heart surged like a breached dike, completely out of control.

She poured out all the hardships she had endured over the years, along with He Zhuzi's misunderstandings of her, in one breath.

By the time she left the deaf old lady's room, the sky had grown completely dark.

Before leaving, Qin Huairu repeatedly pleaded with the deaf old lady, hoping she could put in a good word and explain things to He Zhuzi on her behalf.

Yet the deaf old lady's reaction was entirely unsurprising.

"What did you say? I didn't catch that, speak louder!"

"Oh, your voice is too soft. My ears aren't what they used to be, I can't hear a thing."

The old lady's words left Qin Huairu feeling utterly helpless.

She raised her voice, but the old lady still acted as though she couldn't hear, occasionally shaking her head to indicate her helplessness and confusion.

Knowing that continuing like this would be futile, Qin Huairu had no choice but to leave the old lady's room with a raspy voice and a chest full of pent-up resentment.

In truth, before meeting Ran Qiuye, He Zhuzi's view on marriage had always been quite traditional.

He believed that only after spending enough time together and gaining a deep enough understanding of each other could two people possibly enter the palace of marriage.

However, all of this underwent a earth-shattering change after he met Ran Qiuye.

He Zhuzi felt as though he and Ran Qiuye were bound by a predestined fate, meeting each other too late.

From their very first meeting, they left a deep impression on one another.

As their understanding deepened, their affection for each other grew stronger, even sparking the thought of spending the rest of their lives together.

On the tenth day of the lunar new year, He Zhuzi headed to the Ran family household. His purpose was not merely to pay New Year respects to Ran Qiuye's parents, but more importantly, to formally propose marriage to the Ran family.

Regarding this vital matter, apart from the deaf yet perceptive old lady, no one else knew the inside story.

He Zhuzi was well aware that his younger sister held no fondness for Ran Qiuye, and he feared that her loose tongue might cause unnecessary trouble for him.

Therefore, he decided to carry out all preparations in complete secrecy, ensuring his sister remained entirely unaware.

Alone, he shuttled through the bustling market streets, using the various ration coupons rewarded by the system to exchange for generous betrothal gifts.

Meat coupons, cigarette coupons, and alcohol coupons transformed one by one in his hands into heavy, tangible goods, packed into carefully prepared cloth bags and firmly tied to his old bicycle.

To ensure these precious gifts would not be damaged by bumps along the road, He Zhuzi decided to push the bicycle the entire way, walking step by step toward the tenement building where Ran Qiuye lived.

The sunlight fell upon his face, reflecting his resolute gaze and inner anticipation.

He knew that this proposal was not only about his own happiness, but also a sign of respect and sincerity toward Ran Qiuye and her family.

When He Zhuzi appeared at Ran Qiuye's doorstep, carrying bags of gifts in his hands, he looked particularly striking.

Upon seeing this, Ran Qiuye's parents uttered words of mild reproach, but their eyes were filled with joy and satisfaction.

They knew these gifts were not just material offerings, but a manifestation of He Zhuzi's high regard and genuine sincerity toward their daughter.

Welcomed into the house, He Zhuzi deeply felt the warmth and friendliness of the Ran family.