The game of power begins with the police officers at the local police station.

Wang Yanhong went to cook for her mother, while Chen Shi and the old man sat by the fire, staring at each other in silence.

The old man puffed on the welding fumes, tapped his pipe on the ground, and knocked out the ashes.

She looked up at Chen Shi and asked, "Little Chen, how old are you this year?"

"Born in 84, 25 years old."

"She's not young anymore. She's a year older than my Xiaohong. It's time for her to get married."

Chen Shi was speechless, unsure how to respond.

The old man continued, "How many brothers do you have in your family?"

"I have two brothers and one older sister. I am the youngest."

How old are your parents?

"My dad was born in 57, and so was my mom, she's 52 this year."

"I was born in 58, so you're a year older than me."

Chen Shi looked at the old man and said, "You're only 51, but you look 61 to me."

The two chatted awkwardly for a while, but when they couldn't continue the conversation, they fell silent.

Wang Yanhong brought over a small pot, placed it on the fire stand, and began to stir-fry the vegetables.

Now I know why Wang Yanhong's cooking is so delicious—it's because she's trained; she cooks at home a lot, and her movements are very skilled.

The old man looked at Wang Yanhong with a doting expression: "Our Xiaohong can cook when she is five years old. At home, she basically cooks all the meals. No one who has eaten her cooking has ever said it is not delicious."

Whoever marries our Xiaohong is in for a treat!

What does the old man mean? Is he pressuring us to get married? Wang Yanhong is so wonderful, we should marry her as soon as possible.

Wang Yanhong rolled her eyes at the old man: "Dad, is it proper for you to praise your own daughter like that?"

"My daughter is outstanding, what's wrong with praising her a bit? You're the first college student in Gaipai Village, you're beautiful, you can cook, you're a city girl, no one can compare."

Wang Yanhong remained silent for a moment, ignoring the old man.

Wang Yanhong's mother came over, carrying sliced ​​meat and tofu.

Chen Shi quickly stood up and took the two plates of food from her mother's hands.

"Auntie, let me serve you."

He handed the sliced ​​meat to Wang Yanhong and started stir-frying it in the pan.

Chen Shi placed the stir-fried dishes on the table, and someone else carried the table over and placed it next to the fire.

Soon, the dishes were cooked, six dishes and a soup were served, and we began to eat.

Chen Shi quickly served rice to the two elderly people, and the two elderly people were generally satisfied with Chen Shi's performance.

When Chen Shi first met his parents, he was a little reserved. He sat up straight and ate two bowls of rice. He originally wanted to eat three bowls, but he resisted and didn't eat the third.

She put down her chopsticks and said, "Uncle and Aunt, I'm full. You can continue eating."

Wang Yanhong's mother looked at Chen Shi: "A grown man like you, eating so little, how can you possibly be full?"

Chen Shi smiled apologetically and said, "I'm full, Auntie."

"Treat him like your own home. A son-in-law is like half a son. We don't have a son, but from now on, he'll be your son, and the house and land will all be yours."

Chen Shi thought to himself, "Who would want this barren, mountainous land?" But he still smiled, boiled water in the teapot, made a cup of tea for the old man, and made one for himself.

Wang Yanhong was clearing away the dishes when her mother looked at Chen Shi and asked, "Xiao Chen, when are you planning to get married?"

Chen Shi was in a dilemma. What could he say? If he didn't want to get married, wouldn't that be delaying someone's daughter? If he did want to get married, that would obviously be lying, and he certainly didn't want to get married.

"I haven't been working for long. Once I've saved up some money, I'll at least buy a house in the county town before I plan to get married."

"Why buy a house? We don't need to. We're mountain people, not city people. I've seen houses in the county town. So many families are crammed together. If there are more people in a family, there's not even enough room for them to stand."

We only have one daughter. We don't need any dowry or anything like that. We only have one request: that you treat our Xiaohong well and take good care of her.

We are two old people, still able to work, we don't need your care, much less your retirement.

People in the mountains, no matter how old they are, all work in the fields and have no problem supporting themselves.

When the day comes that I can no longer work, I'll leave without burdening you all.

Chen Shi was somewhat moved. Parents' love for their children is selfless; they do everything in their power to give their children the best.

That's true for elderly people in rural areas. He's seen too many of them, over eighty years old, still working in the fields. When they can't work anymore, they pass away after two or three years at most.

"Yan Hong and I both have jobs. After we get married, you two won't need to work in the fields anymore. We'll provide you with living expenses."

Wang Yanhong's mother knew it was a lie, but she was still very happy to hear it.

"We don't need you to give us living expenses. Just bring some things when you come."

In these mountains, you can't buy anything even if you have money.

The old man lit another pipe and started puffing away at the soot.

Chen Shi quickly took out a cigarette and handed it to the old man: "Uncle, have a smoke of this."

The old man took the cigarette: "These cigarettes are no good. Smoking a few is not as satisfying as having a bowl of welding fumes."

Chen Shi lit a cigarette and started an awkward conversation with the old man.

Wang Yanhong's mother came to Wang Yanhong's side and helped her clear the dishes.

"This young man seems quite good. I'm very satisfied with him. He's the one. When do you plan to get married?"

Wang Yanhong said irritably, "Are you all just bored and have nothing better to do? Before I had a boyfriend, every time you came back, you urged me to find one. Now that I've brought a boyfriend back, you're urging me to get married."

"After we get married, will you start pressuring me to have children again?"

"A woman's childbearing years are limited. After you turn thirty, you may not be able to have children even if you want to."

"I was born too late. If I had given birth to you when I was twenty, I definitely wouldn't have had a difficult delivery, and you would have been my only child."

Wang Yanhong put the washed dishes into the cupboard.

"If you want to have a child now, I won't stop you. Don't pressure me to get married and have children."

Women aren't just for giving birth; now they can hold official positions, just like men. After my service period ends, I'm going to take the civil service exam too.

Wang Yanhong's mother lowered her voice and said, "I think this boy has a lucky face. He'll definitely not be a policeman in the future; he'll at least become a county magistrate. If you don't seize this opportunity now, don't cry in front of me when you lose it."

"When it's going to rain, it's going to rain; when a mother wants to remarry, she wants to leave. Those who want to leave can't be kept; those who don't want to leave can't be driven away. Everything is up to fate."

After saying that, Wang Yanhong went to tidy up the room, deciding that Chen Shi would sleep in her own room tonight, while she would sleep upstairs.

Of these three old tile-roofed houses, the middle one was not reserved for a room, while the two on the left and right had rooms. My parents lived in one room, and I lived in the other. When guests came, they would temporarily sleep on the floor upstairs.

Chen Shi was different; he was the person she loved, and she couldn't bear to let him sleep on the floor. There were many rats upstairs, and she was afraid of scaring him.

Wang Yanhong made up her bed on the ground. It was already dark. Mountain people go to bed early and get up early. There was nothing much to do. After dark, she washed her feet, and after a long day, she went to bed.

Wang Yanhong prepared water for Chen Shi to wash his feet, gave him her own slippers to wear, and led Chen Shi to her room.

"You sleep here tonight, I'll sleep upstairs."

Chen Shi closed the door and pulled Wang Yanhong into his arms.

"Why sleep upstairs? We'll all sleep here."

Wang Yanhong slapped Chen Shi: "Are you trying to kill me? It's the custom in the mountains that even if you're married and go back to your parents' home, you can't sleep together. Besides, we're not even married yet. If word gets out that we're sleeping together, how will I ever face anyone again?"

Chen Shi kissed Wang Yanhong's lips: "You sleep in the room, I'll sleep upstairs."

"Upstairs, people sleep on the floor; there are a lot of rats, so it's not a good place to sleep."

"If that's the case, then I'm even more determined to go. How can I let you sleep upstairs?"

Wang Yanhong was quite happy. Chen Shi was so good to her that she really had plans to get married. As long as Chen Shi said, "Let's get married," she would immediately agree and marry him without asking for anything in return.

Wang Yanhong kissed Chen Shi on the cheek.