Chapter 43 The requirements for finding a partner are indeed quite unique…

Chapter 43 The requirements for finding a partner are indeed quite unique...

"Well, actually, I've always wanted to find someone..." Shen Moer came back to her senses, thinking that Fu Zhiqing's behavior today was truly unexpected. She hadn't expected him to suddenly return, nor had she expected him to ask this question. However, the way he asked it made her laugh softly, "I've always wanted to find someone who's a bit poor."

First, they have to be good-looking, and second, they have to be poor.

Actually, long before she became familiar with Fu Mingze, she had noticed that there was a Fu Zhiqing at the educated youth group who was fair-skinned and good-looking, more than any so-called dashing scholars she had secretly seen in Great Liang. Moreover, he was quite poor, always wearing tattered clothes with more patches than anyone else, yet he was always clean, making him quite likable.

If it weren't for the pride he carried despite his apparent poverty, if it weren't for the possibility that the college entrance exams might reopen and the educated youths might leave the countryside, with too much uncertainty about the future, if it weren't for a few lingering concerns, she probably wouldn't have hesitated, nor would she have thought about going on blind dates.

After all, after nearly becoming a casualty under rebel swords, and after suddenly finding herself in a completely unfamiliar world, Shen Moer valued a stable life above all else.

Only as she grew more familiar with this world and her life stabilized, as she built a new house, found a job, moved to the city, and felt the country's stability and vitality, that the feeling of being a stranger in this world, which had lingered since her arrival, gradually faded.

Like morning mist over the fields, it vanished under the growing sunlight.

Who cares about the future? Whether it's Zhang Junliang or anyone else, even if they're willing to be a live-in son-in-law, what does it matter if they're not attractive? Even if they don't have an unreasonable mother, she still wouldn't like them.

No need to consider anyone else—just that good-looking and quite poor Fu Zhiqing.

He's the one.

Shen Moer didn't know when this thought had started in her heart.

If she hadn't been so busy since school started, she would have found a way to nudge Fu Mingze. She had already planned to arrange this after the provincial competition ended. Who knew this guy... Shen Moer laughed, looking at Fu Mingze and saying openly, "So, it's possible."

From the moment Shen Moer spoke, Fu Mingze was stunned.

He had considered that Shen Moer might agree, or even refuse, but he never expected her to say she had always wanted a poor partner.

This requirement for finding a partner was indeed quite unique.

But then Fu Mingze realized that what Shen Moer said was actually very familiar... Before he went to the countryside, his elders had earnestly advised him that if he met someone suitable, he could also settle down in the countryside, as long as they were from a poor peasant family for generations, being poor was enough.

Fu Mingze looked at the girl standing in front of him. She seemed different now, but if you go back a few months... during the grain distribution at the threshing ground, he first noticed her. At that time, she was disheveled, dressed in rags, and her family was notoriously poor in the village, even fainting from hunger in the fields because their grain was stolen... If you talk about being poor, that was truly poor.

But actually, that day he discovered that although the girl was dark and thin, she was actually quite good-looking, especially her eyes, which were clever with a hint of cunning, not quite like the obedient and submissive image others described.

The elders told him to find someone poor, fearing that if something happened, he would be implicated by his family. If he married a wife with a good background, even if it didn't work out, as long as he cut ties with his family, the young couple wouldn't be too affected.

Strangely, Shen Moer also said she wanted to find someone poor.

Her family background was impeccable, poor peasants for three generations, red class. If she wanted to find someone poor, it obviously couldn't be for the same concerns as his, so it must be that her ideological awareness was particularly high.

Thinking of this, Fu Mingze even absurdly suspected that she hadn't accepted Zhang Junliang because that guy wasn't poor enough?

After all, a skilled worker in a textile factory earns a bit more than an ordinary formal worker.

Then almost immediately, Fu Mingze felt a subtle sense of guilt. If Zhang Junliang didn't meet the condition of being "a bit poor," then obviously, he didn't either.

Although on the surface it seemed like he did, in reality, it was a world of difference.

His family had donated a lot to the public, but it was obvious that for the sake of their descendants' future, the elders couldn't have really handed over all their assets, they must have hidden quite a bit... Not to mention the family, just himself, the money and belongings he brought to the countryside were actually quite a lot, not really fitting the "a bit poor" description.

If Shen Moer really was aiming to find a "a bit poor" partner, Fu Mingze felt he really didn't have much competitiveness, maybe a bit on the surface, but essentially not at all.

Although Shen Moer said "it's possible," after thinking it over, Fu Mingze didn't feel a bit of joy. On the contrary, a sudden chill rose from the bottom of his heart, and he couldn't help but frown slightly, asking, "You, why do you want to find someone who's a bit poor?"

Shen Moer hadn’t expected him to have this kind of reaction. Naturally, she couldn’t say it was because she and her father were too wealthy, and finding a less well-off partner might make her feel more at ease.

She pondered and found an excuse: "My family is poor. If I find someone with better financial standing, I’m afraid we won’t be well-matched, and I might face difficulties. Besides, having less money isn’t bad; we can work hard together and gradually improve our lives."

After a pause, she added, "Of course, besides having less money, they also need to be good-looking."

Fu Mingze raised an eyebrow, surprised: "Good-looking?"

Shen Moer met his gaze confidently: "Yes, I like good-looking people."

Hearing this, Fu Mingze’s frown relaxed.

He had even casually wondered that if people outside knew she wanted to choose a poorer person as a partner, many would probably start having ideas. After all, so far, the villagers had assumed her family wanted to find a son-in-law who would live with them, and since both her father and she had jobs, even if they were to find such a son-in-law, they wouldn’t choose someone too bad.

But as for good-looking, Fu Mingze really didn’t think there was any man in the village who was good-looking. Not that they were ugly, but at least they were all quite ordinary.

As for him, he had been praised for his looks by the neighbors in the neighborhood since he was a child.

The key point was, Shen Moer’s words actually meant she thought he was good-looking.

Fu Mingze couldn’t help but smile and glance away. Shen Moer glanced at him, her eyes lively and charming, and teased, "What, are you so happy just because I said you’re good-looking?"

Fu Mingze smiled at her: "Of course, I’m happy to be complimented on my looks." He paused, then curled his lips, speaking softly and slowly: "Especially when it’s my partner who says it."

At least he met one of the two conditions: being good-looking and having less money.

Moreover, as long as no one dug up his past, as long as he stayed in Yangliu Brigade, he would definitely remain poor. By that logic, he could barely count as poor.

By the same reasoning, he could be considered to meet her requirements. Since she said it was okay, they were now in a relationship.

Shen Moer’s face flushed from his words, but she didn’t show any embarrassment. Instead, she seemed to playfully challenge him, reminding him: "You don’t have a partner yet. My saying it’s okay doesn’t count; I still need to ask my father first."

This was also true. She and her father had relied on each other for so many years, and such matters naturally needed his opinion first.

Fu Mingze was momentarily speechless, then nodded with a resigned smile: "Alright, then you ask your father first. I’ll strive to perform well and get approved soon."

Shen Moer couldn’t help but laugh.

Just then, Fu Mingze suddenly remembered: "Your father should be back soon, right?"

Shen Moer nodded: "Since he got a bicycle, he gets home much quicker after work."

Fu Mingze hesitated, then said: "Then I’ll head back first."

At this moment, he definitely couldn’t bump into her father directly, or her father might take offense. When his cousin’s partner first brought his cousin home, they unfortunately ran into his uncle at the door, and his uncle almost hit the guy with a broom. He wasn’t afraid of being hit, but he was worried her father might take offense and directly disapprove of their relationship.

Thinking he should leave quickly, his feet felt rooted to the spot. Fu Mingze couldn’t help but look at Shen Moer again. Her cheeks had a faint blush like a soft glow, and her eyes were exceptionally moist and bright, so beautiful they seemed to glow.

He clearly said he was leaving, but he hadn’t moved at all, and his gaze was direct and intense. Shen Moer’s heart pounded as she looked at him, and she couldn’t help but say, "Aren’t you leaving? What are you looking at!"

Fu Mingze murmured: "I’m looking at my future partner."

Shen Moer couldn’t help but glare at him. Fu Mingze curled his lips and smiled: "I’m leaving. See you tomorrow, Comrade Shen Moer."

After saying that, he decisively turned and strode away. As he approached the courtyard gate, he even started running.

The autumn wind caused his white shirt to flutter. Shen Moer saw that his back was already soaked with sweat, and his tall, straight figure was wrapped in the damp fabric, faintly exuding a youthful aura.

Shen Moer’s previous impression of Fu Mingze was that he seemed more mature than his age, especially since he didn’t talk much, which made him appear steady yet...

There was a hint of mystery about him.

But at this moment, watching him run out of the yard as if chased by a wolf, Shen Moer couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

It was rare to see Fu Zhiqing in such a hurry, fleeing in disarray.

*

Fu Mingze ran all the way back to the educated youth group, paused outside the courtyard, thought for a moment, and then turned towards the vegetable garden.

After setting up a bathroom at Shen Moer's house, the educated youths had the whimsical idea to install one, but soon gave up due to the high cost.

However, they later discussed digging a composting pit and set aside a small plot in the vegetable garden as an "experimental field."

The "experimental field" is mainly managed by Fu Mingze and Zhang Zhiqiang. The idea of composting was proposed by Fu Mingze, and the others had no idea about it, unable to take charge even if they wanted to.

As for Zhang Zhiqiang, he is the leader of the educated youth group and is "supervising" the progress of this project. Of course, Fu Mingze wouldn't let him idle either; under the pretense of supervision, he actually got Zhang to do a lot of heavy and tiring work.

Under their careful management, the "experimental field" is currently doing very well.

After entering the vegetable garden, Fu Mingze first checked the vegetables planted in the "experimental field," then stood there lost in thought.

He hadn't planned to ask Shen Moer today initially; it would have been more appropriate to wait until the autumn harvest was completely over or after her provincial competition.

But as he walked out of her house and onto the village path, he suddenly wanted to go back and see her again. And when he rushed back to her house, he blurted out.

Very suddenly.

So suddenly that even he was startled.

But it seemed quite good, although they weren't officially a couple yet, at least he could be considered a "temporary partner."

Fu Mingze smiled.

"No, what are you grinning at the vegetable field for?" Zheng Jiamin walked over at some point, his face showing a startled expression. "Wang Qiutong said you were back in the vegetable garden, and I didn't believe it. But not only are you really here, you're even grinning foolishly at the vegetable field. Have you gone mad?"

Fu Mingze glanced at him and asked, "What do you want?"

Zheng Jiamin: "Right, that's more like it. This expressionless, indifferent look suits you better."

Without waiting for Fu Mingze to ask further, he leaned in close and whispered, "I saw Shi Wei going through your stuff."