Rebirth: Starting from a Trainee Teacher

Chapter 580 Proposing Marriage to My Cousin

After staying at grandma's house for half a day, Zhou Jing and his friends went back to grandpa's house after dinner. They didn't have the children's things, so it was inconvenient to stay at grandma's house at night.

October 3rd was the day to propose marriage to the son of my third uncle. We had lunch at home and set out. There were five people in the "negotiation team", in addition to my third uncle and the male protagonist Zhou Bo, there were Zhou Jing, my fourth uncle's second uncle, and a brother of my third uncle. They drove two cars, one of Zhou Jing's and the other of my fourth uncle's second uncle.

Zhou Bo took Zhou Jing's car, and his third uncle's two brothers took his second uncle's car. Everything was ready, and Zhou Jing went first.

"This car looks luxurious. Which model of Mercedes is it?"

Zhou Bo saw the Mercedes-Benz logo and thought it was a Mercedes-Benz.

"Maybach." Zhou Jing found a pack of cigarettes and handed it to his cousin, who was one year younger than him, saying, "Help yourself with the cigarettes."

"Forget the car, this is a Maybach, how much is it?"

Zhou Bo had only heard of Maybach before, and this was the first time he saw it.

"About three million."

"Brother Jing is amazing. One car is enough for many people to work hard for thirty or forty years."

Seeing Zhou Jing talking about a car worth more than three million yuan so lightly, Zhou Bo was extremely envious. He wished he could have one-tenth of Zhou Jing's talent and would not have to worry about the tens of thousands of dollars for the bride price.

Zhou Jing smiled and said, "Does your job require you to go down to the mines?"

"If you need it, you can choose not to go down to the mines. The wages are higher."

Zhou Bo studied mining in college and worked in a coal mine in Shen County after graduation. He chose a job in the mine because of the high salary.

Zhou Jing said, "Your partner is a teacher in our county, so it's not very convenient for you two, but it won't have much impact. A little separation is better than a new marriage. Is there a train from Shen County to Qing County?"

"Two trips."

Zhou Bo was helpless. He and his girlfriend said that the place where they worked was neither far nor close, and it would take more than six hours to drive there.

"How's your brother doing driving a loader this year?"

Zhou Jing did not continue talking about his cousin's work. His cousin could do well without help from others. Working in a coal mine was quite profitable. Both husband and wife worked, and after getting married, it would not be a problem to save enough money to buy a car or a house two years later.

"Not bad. I'm also working in a coal mine this year. Brother Jing's company should have high professional requirements for recruitment, right?"

Zhou Bo nodded and said.

"It depends on the position. R&D departments require higher education, while those in production need a college degree."

“Is the mobile phone produced by your own company?”

"Part of the reason is that the production capacity of our own workshop is not large, and most of the production is done by other electronics factories, that is, they produce on behalf of the brand. In the electronic digital industry, the brand usually develops products and then finds electronics factories to do the production."

Zhou Jing explained briefly.

"I see. Smartphone technology should be very complex. What are the key technologies?"

Zhou Bo nodded and said.

Zhou Jing said: "The core is the processor. All domestic mobile phone brands now rely on imported processors, and the operating system is also modified based on foreign open source versions. The advantage of globalization is that some technologies and accessories can be used first, and technological breakthroughs can be sought while making products."

“The more complex the technology, the more it requires cross-company and even cross-national collaboration.”

Zhou Bo is an intellectual and understood it immediately. Just like Boeing aircraft, which require spare parts from thousands of companies in dozens of countries, globalization can promote the development of human science and technology to a great extent.

My cousin's girlfriend's home is in a town not far from the county town. When they were almost at the destination town, Zhou Jing stopped the car and waited for his second uncle's car. After his second uncle's car caught up with them, he greeted them and kept a safe distance.

Hearing the car driving into the yard, the woman and her family went to the yard to greet it.

"It is a great honor to have Mr. Zhou come to my home. Welcome, welcome."

My cousin’s girlfriend is called He Juan. The girl came to Zhou Jing first, stretched out her hand and said with a smile on her face.

"No way, no way. It's an honor to share in your joy."

Zhou Jing shook the girl's hand and said with a smile.

"Thank you for your good words, big brother. Thank you for your concern for me and Zhou Bo."

He Juan had a bright smile on her face and was chatting and laughing freely.

"I love bringing lovers together the most. If I can't bring them together today, I won't leave."

Zhou Jing also chatted and laughed freely.

My cousin's girlfriend wears a pair of square glasses, looks refined and well-spoken. The girl is the same age as my cousin and one year younger than Zhou Jing, which means she is 23 years old this year. Her words and actions are generous and natural, and she is much more eloquent than my cousin.

"I can rest assured that."

He Juan's favorable impression of the big boss, who is one year older than her and whom she had only heard of but never met, increased greatly. Before, every time Zhou Bo talked about this cousin, he always "bragged" and made him seem so unattainable, which sometimes made He Juan a little disgusted. But when she saw him in person, He Juan felt that this cousin of Zhou Bo was much more low-key and elegant than Zhou Bo said.

"Wow, Maybach."

He Juan's brother walked to the back of Zhou Jing's car and noticed the Maybach logo on the small window of the rear door with surprise. He took He Juan's smartphone to check Maybach S680.

He Juan took the cigarette from her father and handed it to Zhou Jing: "Brother, have a cigarette."

"I don't smoke."

Zhou Jing raised his hand to block it and said.

"Do you really not smoke or are you just not used to these low-grade cigarettes?"

He Juan was holding the Furong King at this time, thinking that she had forgotten to buy a Zhonghua.

"I never smoke."

Although Zhou Jing always smokes cigarettes in his car, he rarely smokes himself.

"The more successful people are, the better their habits are. Zhou Bo should learn from them."

He Juan looked at Zhou Bo and said.

He Juan's brother checked Zhou Jing's car and walked over to He's parents and whispered, "This car is worth more than three million."

The girl's parents were busy entertaining other people and were very enthusiastic. Zhou Jing's arrival completely messed up the girl's family's established ideas. He's father and mother were very opposed to this marriage at first, but they reluctantly agreed when they learned that Zhou Bo had a relative like Zhou Jing. Also, knowing that Zhou Bo's family conditions did not ask for too high a bride price, and today when Zhou Jing came in person, He's father and mother's defenses became even lower.

"Zhou Bo said that Big Brother had also been a teacher for a year. What made Big Brother think of quitting his job and starting his own business?"

When they got into the house, He Juan poured Zhou Jing a cup of tea and said.

"I saved some money by writing novels online during my internship in my senior year, and a classmate of mine happened to know computer technology, so I started a business."

Zhou Jing said with a smile.

"Writing online novels?"

He Juan's brother He Teng asked curiously.

Zhou Jing nodded.

"What's the name of the novel?"

"One is "The Great Ancient God"

"I've read it. It turns out it was written by you. I've also read your other book. It's amazing."

He Teng is a fan of online novels, but he was too embarrassed to say that he was reading pirated copies.

“I didn’t expect that my elder brother is also a great writer.”

He Juan's view of online writers changed greatly.

The girl's family prepared cold dishes, tea, wine, melon seeds, peanuts, etc. After a while of greetings, the male negotiation team and the girl's parents, uncles, aunts and other negotiating representatives began to discuss business. Zhou Jing, Zhou Bo, He Juan and other young people talked on the other side.

Zhou Jing learned a lot from attending such an event for the first time. Proposing marriage is really like a negotiation, and the bride price is like compensation. Both sides argue over the bride price. The girl's parents have worked hard to raise their daughter and train her into a talented person, so they don't think it is easy and want more, while the boy wants less, and the argument is quite intense.

"To be honest, I sometimes feel wronged. I finally convinced my parents, but Zhou Bo's family couldn't get along. I think I understand Zhou Bo's family very well. It's really not easy for my parents to support me in school. I want to help them improve their lives a little before I get married. Big brother, please be fair. Is my request excessive?"

He Juan looked at Zhou Jing and said.

"I understand. Compared to your relationship, we are just bystanders. We can help with some things, but we can't interfere too much when it comes to family affairs. Every family has its own problems. No matter what, we still need more mutual understanding and tolerance from both of you."

Zhou Jing expressed his understanding but said he had no right to make a decision.

He Juan sighed and was speechless.

"How about I make up for the difference?"

Zhou Bo looked at He Juan who had a helpless look on her face and said.

Zhou Jing said: "This is not the same thing. Your salary will be handed over in the future. Buying a car and a house requires money for many things."

He Juan looked at Zhou Bo, feeling even more helpless. He had graduated from university for more than a year and still said such things. Even if he had such an idea, he couldn't say it in such an occasion. He Juan's brother was busy playing games on his smartphone. After a game, he said to Zhou Jing, "How can I buy your company's smartphone? The store in Yu City is out of stock. You have to make an appointment."

"We will not expand production capacity this year. Please leave your phone number and address and I will ask the company to send you one during the holiday."

"I worked hard to earn money to buy it."

He Juan said to her brother.

"Where does your brother go to college?"

Zhou Jing changed the topic to ease the atmosphere.

"I'm a senior at Yushi University. I didn't study hard in high school, so I can't choose a good major when I apply to Yushi University. I'm assigned to the Internet of Things major, but I don't know if I can find a job next year."

He Juan sighed again and said.

"The Internet of Things major is very good. Employment opportunities for this major will get better and better in the next few years. I have software companies in Tangdu and BJ."

Zhou Jing understood what He Juan meant. The biggest beneficiary of the bride price would be her brother-in-law. If he could help He Teng in a different way, the issue of the bride price would be easier to discuss.

"Why don't you thank me, brother?"

He Juan said to her silly brother.

"Thank you, brother. Here's a toast."

After reacting, He Teng added some water to Zhou Jing's teacup and said.

Zhou Jing drank a little symbolically and said, "Does the school arrange internships?"

He Teng shook his head and said, "No, you have to find it yourself."

"If you want to do an internship, you can get familiar with the working environment this semester."

Zhou Jing took out a business card of the Tangdu branch of Chuangzhi Technology and handed it to He Teng. In his previous life, his cousin and He Juan had a breakdown in negotiations over the issue of the bride price, so today Zhou Jing could only help his cousin up to this point.

"Okay, I'll go after I finish my school work."

He Teng took the business card excitedly, as he was worried about finding a job this semester.

"Thank you, big brother, for my brother."

By being able to help her brother, He Juan can also give an explanation to her family and no longer have to worry about reducing the bride price.

The parents were still arguing, and after He Juan made up her mind, she called her parents to the other side to discuss reducing the gift price. He Teng's job was resolved, and He Juan's parents no longer had any disagreements about lowering the gift price. It was finally settled at 31800, meaning that all three families would receive the gift together.

"Let's just settle the marriage today. The children all have their own jobs and it's inconvenient for them to travel back and forth during the holidays. Let's first decide on a specific date for the engagement so we can discuss it over the phone."

The second uncle from the fourth uncle's family said in a voice like a drake.

"also."

Of course Uncle San has no objection. The sooner we settle it, the less worries we will have.

The woman also agreed, and Zhou Jing asked his uncle to go to the car together to get the money.

Zhou Jing usually has tens of thousands of cash in his car for emergencies. The money is in a small password box. Zhou Jing opened the box and took out four neatly arranged bundles of new bills and said to his uncle, "Uncle, do you need money for anything else?"

"That's enough. With these, we can solve the big problem. The betrothal gift is 31800 yuan, which is yuan. How much do you want to take out?"

Uncle San had never held so much cash at once before, and he couldn't figure it out for a while.

Zhou Jing closed the car door and said, "Just count out 1,800 from one bundle, and you can keep the rest."

"You guys talked about it together and they suddenly became so cheerful?"

Uncle San was mentally prepared to give 66,600 yuan, but he didn't expect the girl to give more than half less.

"We didn't talk about anything. The girl was very reasonable."

Zhou Jing didn’t say the second half of the sentence “smart and capable”.

"I take this eight thousand two?"

Uncle San counted the money and said.

"You take it."

"If we settle down, we should be able to get married next year. I'm afraid I won't be able to pay you back for a while."

"Don't worry about paying it back."

Forty thousand yuan is not a small sum of money for my third uncle's family.

"Thank you so much, big brother. I must stay for dinner."

He Juan knew without any guessing that the money in her future father-in-law's hand was given by Zhou Jing for emergency. This was the advantage of having a powerful relative in the family. Even if she couldn't become rich, at least there was a place to borrow money if she needed it urgently.

“The key is that you understand each other.”

Zhou Jing said with a smile.

The marriage is arranged, the issue of the bride price is settled, and the prospective in-laws can sit together amicably and talk about other things. Those who don't drive can have a drink.

"The young man is smoking."

The girl's father took out a cigarette and handed it to Zhou Jing.

"I don't smoke."

Zhou Jing took the cigarette and placed it next to the melon seed plate.

The second uncle exhaled a puff of cigarette and said, "How can Jing maintain such a good habit? Does he drink alcohol normally?"

"I drink occasionally, but I never drink and drive."

"Yes, you must not drink and drive."

At this time, the second uncle was craving for wine, but he resisted the urge to drink it.

"Everyone who succeeds has their reasons. He Teng, stop playing with your phone and entertain your future boss."

He Juan gave her mother some instructions before going shopping for groceries.

"Brother, if I drink less and eat less now, it shouldn't affect my driving."

He Teng wanted to toast Zhou Jing, so he poured two glasses and said.

Zhou Jing smiled and said, "I'll just drink tea."

"That's how it should be." The second uncle said, "People who drive frequently should not drink alcohol when they go out. Young man, remember not to persuade people who drive to drink in the future."

"I understand. Then I will offer you wine and tea."

He Teng said as he picked up the wine.

After sitting in the room for a while, Zhou Jing went out and called home. Gu Jia answered the phone and Zhou Jing told her not to leave dinner for him.

Gu Jia smiled and asked, "I invited you to dinner. It seems that the discussion went well. How much did you negotiate for the bride price?"

Zhou Jing: "31800, the money has been paid."

Gu Jia smiled and said, "Your uncle's family has found a daughter-in-law, so they should have prepared some wine and food. Don't drink a drop of wine."

Zhou Jing: “I know.”

"Brother Jing, have some fruit."

Zhou Bo peeled an apple and gave it to Zhou Jing who returned to the house, and Zhou Jing was not polite either.

I had dinner at the girl’s house and returned home around seven in the evening.

"Dad~"

"Can Zhou Zhou see his father?"

Zhou Jing heard the child calling at the entrance of the yard when he was at the bottom of the slope.

"Ha~ Daddy~"

The little girl shouted even louder.

Hearing the little girl's anxious voice, Zhou Jing's pace seemed to quicken uncontrollably.

(End of this chapter)