Chapter 915: Model Worker and Fellow Villager Cui Cuiping

The Veterinary Station. The Cui Family Home!

Seeing the girl coming toward him, Li Yi felt a sense of familiarity and couldn’t help but take a second look.

Seeing this, Xiaogouwa hurriedly said, “Sister Cuiping, come over here first!”

Upon hearing this, Cui Cuiping immediately walked over and asked, “What’s the matter?”

She then looked at Li Yi and the others and asked, “Who are these comrades?”

“Sister Cuiping, let me introduce you. This is Brother Yi, Li Yi—the one I’ve often told you about!”

Then Xiaogouwa turned to Li Yi and said, “Brother Yi, this is my senior classmate, Cui Cuiping—she’s also my fiancée!”

Li Yi immediately greeted her, “Hello, sister-in-law. I’m Li Yi. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

“You… you’re Brother Yi? Zizhong talks about you all the time!”

Big Cui chimed in, “Cuiping, don’t worry about the laundry just yet. Go pour Comrade Li Yi a glass of water!”

“Sure thing, Dad!”

With that, the young woman named Cuiping turned and walked toward the inner room.

And just as she turned, Li Yi finally realized why she looked so familiar—they had met before!

That’s right—Li Yi had met Xiaogouwa’s senior classmate and fiancée before.

It was in his previous life, at a national model worker commendation ceremony.

In his previous life, Li Yi had been deeply committed to charity and public welfare, frequently traveling to the Northwest to lead local residents in their efforts to lift themselves out of poverty and achieve prosperity. As a result, at the age of forty-eight, he was selected as a National Model Worker and attended the commendation ceremony that year.

At the ceremony, this young woman, Cui Ping, had taken the stage alongside him to receive the award.

Since they were fellow villagers from the same commune, Li Yi had inquired about her background. From what he learned, Ms. Cui Cuiping came from a poor family and was widowed at a young age.

Yet through sheer determination, she raised her three children and sent them all to college. Most importantly, starting in the 1990s, she began reclaiming saline-alkali land, building greenhouses, and experimenting with vegetable cultivation.

Through her tireless efforts and the successful cultivation of greenhouse vegetables, she not only lifted herself out of poverty but also rewrote the history of the region, which had previously been unable to grow delicate vegetables.

Later, she registered an agricultural cooperative and adopted a development model of “company + association + base + farmers,” organizing farmers across the entire township to establish a branded agricultural product operation. By pursuing industrialization for greater efficiency, she achieved the goal of common prosperity.

In fact, the potatoes she grew were even sold to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and exported overseas, lifting tens of thousands of people out of poverty and into prosperity under her leadership.

From what Li Yi had gathered, this young woman from his hometown might not be exceptionally beautiful, but she was undoubtedly kind-hearted, capable, and determined.

Although he had no idea what kind of luck had befallen Xiaogouwa to end up with this girl, Li Yi was thoroughly satisfied with the match from the bottom of his heart.

No, it wasn’t just satisfaction—the bond between these two had to be welded shut, with no escape for either of them.

Just to be on the safe side, Li Yi decided to take action!

“Sis-in-law, wait a moment—I have a few words to say to both of you!”

Cui Cuiping was taken aback at first, then asked immediately, “Yi… Brother Yi, what do you want to say?”

Li Yi first set the gift he was holding in the corner of the main hall, then said, “Uncle Cui, Sister Cuiping, I came over today for two reasons: first, to take Zizhong to the county livestock station to register, and second, to ask how the preparations for his marriage to Sister Cuiping are coming along.”

Cui immediately said, “I think that’s about it. There’s nothing much to prepare anyway—the two kids said they don’t plan on throwing a big party!”

“That’s fine by me!”

Then Li Yi spoke again: “Uncle Cui, you know Zizhong’s family situation. His third uncle and aunt are both gone. Matters like marriage and finding a bride should naturally be handled by me, his older brother. Just tell me how much dowry is needed—we absolutely must not shortchange Sister Cuiping!”

Before he could finish, Cui Cuiping spoke up firmly: “I don’t want a single penny in dowry. As long as Zizhong treats me well, that’s all I need!”

Hearing this, Li Yi nodded in satisfaction. It seemed the girl had truly taken a liking to Xiaogouwa—she was an honest girl, after all.

However, he knew that in matters like this, she didn’t have the final say; ultimately, it would require Uncle Cui’s approval.

Immediately, Li Yi turned to Old Cui and asked, “Uncle Cui, what do you think?”

Big Cui smiled and said, “If Cuiping says she doesn’t want a dowry, then let’s not have one. To be honest with you, Comrade Li Yi, I only have four daughters and no sons. Money wouldn’t do me any good anyway. As long as Zizhong takes care of me in my old age and sees me off when I die, that’s all I ask.”

Xiaogouwa immediately chimed in, “Master, you’ve been so kind to me. Even if I don’t marry my senior sister, I’ll still take care of you in your old age and see you off when you pass away!”

Hearing this, Li Yi couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

If you don’t know how to speak, then just keep your mouth shut.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Cui Cuiping couldn’t help but glare at Xiaogouwa, her face full of exasperation.

Li Yi smiled and said, “Uncle Cui, sister-in-law, it’s your choice not to ask for a dowry, but we can’t break with tradition. What family marries off a daughter without giving a dowry? People would laugh at us if word got out.”

“I don’t know what Zizhong told you, but today, as her older brother, I’ll make a clear statement: We’re willing to pay a dowry of 888 yuan, three bicycles and a motorbike, plus five large tiled-roof houses, four sets of bedding, and four new outfits… And I, as her older brother, will cover all the wedding expenses!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xiaogouwa hurriedly interjected, “Brother Yi, I’ve got money—you don’t need to pay…”

“Alright, stop refusing. It’s not just for you—Dongzi, Qiangzi, and Shitou will all get the same. No matter which one of you gets married, I’ll prepare a gift for you!” Li Yi said.

“But…”

Before Xiaogouwa could finish, Li Yi cut him off and said, “Your fiancée is willing to forgo the dowry and even keep the wedding simple—that’s because she’s kind-hearted. As a man, you can’t let her suffer any injustice.”

“Not only are we going to give a dowry, but we’ve also got to follow all the proper rituals. Once we’ve finished registering, we’ll go out and get everything we need for the wedding. When we get back, we’ll have Grandma Zhang come over to formally ask for her hand!”

Xiaogouwa glanced at his fiancée beside him, then nodded and said, “Brother Yi, I’ll do as you say!”

It was only then that Big Cui realized what was happening. He immediately said, “Big Brother, there’s really no need to make such a scene. My Cui Ping truly doesn’t want such a large dowry. People who don’t know us might think we’re selling our daughter!”

“Uncle, if people find out, they’ll only envy you. Who’d dare to gossip about it?”

There were still three or four months until the twelfth lunar month, so they needed to formalize the engagement. With such a fine young woman, Li Yi didn’t want anything to go wrong and ruin this match.

Seeing that the Cui family father and daughter were about to say more, Li Yi quickly changed the subject: “Uncle Cui, I’ve already put in a good word for Zizhong at the county livestock station. I’m about to take him there to register. Do you have any final instructions for him?”

Old Cui hurriedly said, “Zizhong, there’s an old hand at the livestock station named Old Liang. He’s particularly skilled at treating sick pigs. Once you get there, be sure to ask him for advice.”

“Also, the station’s deputy director, Zhou Wenbing, graduated from the Provincial Agricultural and Animal Husbandry School. He’s not only skilled at treating large livestock but also has a deep understanding of farming. If you get the chance, learn as much as you can from him—he’s always eager to teach young people.”

“Got it, Master!” Xiaogouwa replied.

Li Yi glanced at his watch and said, “All right, if there’s nothing else, let’s get going. We’ve got to be back by noon!”

“Alright…”

Just then, Cui Cuiping suddenly said, “Wait!”

“What’s wrong, Senior Sister?” Xiaogouwa asked instinctively.

“Go inside and change into some clean clothes. You can’t go out looking so filthy—people might look down on you!”

With that, before Xiaogouwawa could say a word, Cui Cuiping grabbed his hand and led him into the inner room.

Seeing this, Li Yi’s lips curled slightly upward, and he thought to himself that this silly kid, Xiaogouwa, was truly in luck—his days of good fortune had finally arrived…

………..