Chapter 69: Visiting the Fiancée’s Home

It was another early morning. Zhou Yimin packed 100 jin of corn and 100 cans of canned yellow peaches into his backpack.

In this era, canned yellow peaches were not only rare but also expensive. If you brought even two cans as a gift while visiting relatives or friends, it was considered extremely impressive.

In later generations, canned yellow peaches practically became a shared memory of an entire generation. They held a kind of magical power—”a cure-all”—if you were sick, just eat some canned yellow peaches and you’d be fine.

This actually stemmed from many adults buying canned yellow peaches to coax children into taking their medicine when they were ill. Over time, it became common to say you should eat canned yellow peaches when sick.

It was more of a psychological comfort than a medically proven remedy, but sometimes psychological comfort was even more effective than medicine.

Today, Zhou Yimin planned to visit Uncle Zhang’s home.

“Grandma, I’m off to work!” Zhou Yimin said after finishing the breakfast his grandma made.

“Go on! Be careful on the road.”

On the way, Zhou Yimin pondered what would be suitable to bring when visiting.

He decided to bring a few cans of the freshly “refreshed” canned yellow peaches.

He didn’t know if Uncle Zhang’s family lacked food. The elderly couple were still alive but didn’t live together. They had three daughters. Zhou Yimin’s fiancée, Zhang Yan, was the eldest; the second daughter, Zhang Yu, was still in high school; and the youngest, Zhang Lu, was in middle school.

After some thought, Zhou Yimin pulled out five bundles of noodles he had previously purchased for one yuan. Each bundle weighed about a jin.

He also sliced off five jin of pork.

With these three items, he figured he would not lose face visiting his future in-laws.

…

At this time, the upper management of the steel factory was holding another meeting.

A certain product had been brought into the meeting room.

If Zhou Yimin had been there, he would’ve immediately recognized it—it was the solar cooker he had requested.

“So this is Comrade Zhou Yimin’s latest invention? What does it do?” Factory Director Hu looked at the item before him, completely puzzled.

Workshop Director Liao nodded. “Director, I suggest once again that we transfer Comrade Zhou Yimin to our workshop. His talents would truly shine—”

“You damn Liao, shut your filthy mouth. Dreaming in broad daylight?

Comrade Zhou Yimin belongs to our logistics procurement department. Go ask around—who here doesn’t know that? You’re trying to poach someone right in front of me? Poach my man? You’ve got some nerve!”

Director Ding was completely infuriated, launching into a tirade at Director Liao.

Director Hu had a headache just watching them and quickly stepped in to mediate. “Since Comrade Zhou Yimin prefers to stay in his current position, we should respect his wishes. The matter of transferring departments can be discussed another time.”

In truth, Director Hu also thought keeping Zhou Yimin in logistics procurement was a bit of a waste.

How long had it even been? And he had already come up with another invention. The only issue was—they still didn’t know what it actually did.

“For now, let’s discuss this product’s purpose and function.”

The room fell silent.

Zhou Yimin hadn’t told anyone what it was for, so who could say?

“Maybe… we should just call Comrade Zhou Yimin back,” suggested a deputy factory director.

If the inventor wasn’t even present, what were they supposed to guess?

And so, they decided to send someone to find Zhou Yimin.

…

At this moment, Zhou Yimin had arrived at Zhang Jianshe’s compound.

One of the elders at the gate actually recognized him and teased, “Aren’t you Yanzi’s man? What’s your name again? When are you two getting your marriage certificate?”

Zhou Yimin respectfully offered him a cigarette. “Uncle, I’m Zhou Yimin. As for when we’ll get married, that depends on Yanzi.”

“Mm! Good lad. Go on in!”

As soon as he stepped inside, the women in the courtyard began gossiping—it was like a stage play unfolding.

“I saw the pork and thought he was here to propose!” In this era, food was scarce, let alone meat. If you brought meat to someone’s home, what else could it be for?

“Exactly! By the way, what does Yanzi’s boyfriend do? Is he in college too?”

“I heard old Zhang mention it once—he’s working now, a Procurement Officer.”

“A Procurement Officer? That’s a good job!”

“Is he good enough for Yanzi, though? Yanzi’s a college student now.”

“So what if she’s in college? Bet you didn’t know—her boyfriend is an inventor. He even made it into the newspapers recently.”

Those who didn’t know the details were completely stunned.

…

“Oh! Yimin’s here, come on in. You haven’t visited since starting work. Just last night, your Uncle Zhang and I were talking about you.”

A short-haired woman was hanging clothes and broke into a wide smile when she saw him.

She was Zhang Yan’s mother—Zhou Yimin’s future mother-in-law.

“Aunt Zhang, I’ve been a bit busy since starting work, and I also went back to see my grandparents, so…” Zhou Yimin started to explain.

Aunt Zhang smiled warmly and nodded. The more she looked at Zhou Yimin, the more pleased she was.

In fact, the whole family had been paying attention to Zhou Yimin.

When they found out that he had chosen to work instead of continuing his studies, the family had felt a bit regretful. They hadn’t expected that Zhou Yimin would quietly end up in the newspapers.

“We know, we know—you even invented that hand-pump well. Your Uncle Zhang and I read about it in the papers.”

She sighed inwardly: truly, like father like son. Old Zhou was amazing, and even if his son didn’t pursue school, he was still just as capable.

This engagement? Her daughter had really lucked out.

“Aunt Zhang, I didn’t invent the pump well…” Zhou Yimin hurried to clarify.

Aunt Zhang waved it off. “It’s all the same, all the same.”

“Brother Yimin!” From inside the house, two girls came out and greeted him. They were his future sisters-in-law, Zhang Yu and Zhang Lu.

At that moment, both girls had a hint of admiration in their eyes.

“Xiaoyu, Xiaolu, aren’t you two in school?” Zhou Yimin asked in surprise.

“Brother Yimin, it’s a holiday today!”

He hadn’t paid attention to the school schedule, only knew Aunt Zhang was usually home around this time, which was why he came then.

He pulled out a handful of White Rabbit milk candies and handed them to Zhang Lu. “You two can share.”

“Mom, Brother Yimin gave us White Rabbit candy!” Zhang Lu showed off happily. Even though she was in middle school, even adults would be delighted to receive White Rabbit candy.

“Yimin, why give them so much? Keep some for yourself.” As she spoke, Aunt Zhang’s eyes lingered sternly on her younger daughter, clearly warning her not to be greedy.

Zhou Yimin smiled. “A friend gave it to me. I don’t really eat this stuff—too sticky. Aunt Zhang, let Xiaolu and them enjoy it.”

Then he pulled out the pork, noodles, and canned peaches from his basket.

The three women in the house were stunned.

These were all rare and valuable items!

Recently, even their household had started eating cornmeal again.

They had a dozen or so eggs saved up at home, but Old Zhang had secretly taken them to the research institute. Aunt Zhang had gotten angry over it, and little Zhang Lu had even cried her eyes out.

“Oh my! Yimin, take these back, take them back,” Aunt Zhang said quickly.

If he were here to propose, she’d accept the gifts. But he wasn’t!

“Aunt Zhang, you know I’m in procurement. I have access to these things. And I’m the only one in my city home—how much can I eat?”

“Take them back for your grandparents,” she insisted again.

“They already have some. I’ve been going back home almost every day lately…” Zhou Yimin coaxed and explained until she finally accepted the goods.

“Zhang Lu, go call your father. Zhang Yu, go get your sister,” Aunt Zhang instructed her daughters.

(End of Chapter)