Chapter 269 - 268 Let’s Get Married
But Gao Jiaxing didn’t leave. Instead, he looked at Xia Xiao seriously, not wanting her to escape. Besides, their dating and marriage were all above board and nothing shameful, so Gao Jiaxing was confidently proposing to Xia Xiao.
She thought it would be just the two of them when Gao Jiaxing would kneel down with a bunch of wildflowers to propose.
Xia Xiao had imagined it that way, but obviously, he couldn’t do this in front of everyone. So now, as Gao Jiaxing was proposing in this public manner, surrounded by onlookers, Xia Xiao stared wide-eyed with her cheeks flushing red.
"Gao Jiaxing is proposing to Xia Xiao," the crowd gathered around.
Someone chuckled, "Educated Youth Xia, just marry Gao Jiaxing, now that he’s a soldier of the liberation army and he’s so earnest, you should accept."
"Yes, accept it, the production team all think you two are a great match."
"Exactly, didn’t Zheng Xianghong already set her sights on Xia Xiao as her daughter-in-law?"
...
People chattered away while Gao Jiaxing looked at Xia Xiao affectionally, "Xiaoxiao, marry me, I promise you won’t regret it."
Holding a certificate in her hand, Xia Xiao nodded at Gao Jiaxing, "Okay, I agree to marry you." Then she immediately grabbed Gao Jiaxing’s hand and ran off.
Laughter and cheers erupted from behind, and Xia Xiao was utterly embarrassed.
They ran up the hillside where Xia Xiao realized she was holding Gao Jiaxing’s hand, then quickly let go, "How could you say that in front of so many people?"
Gao Jiaxing replied innocently, "I didn’t know they would come."
"It doesn’t count, you need to pick a bunch of flowers and kneel on one knee to propose to me." This had been Xia Xiao’s dream all her life, always imagining that one day her Prince Charming would kneel before her with a bouquet of flowers and propose earnestly.
Though there were no roses or lilies around, the wildflowers on the hillside were suitable enough, and no one else was around to see.
Now, Gao Jiaxing knelt on one knee, holding wildflowers in front of Xia Xiao, tenderly saying, "Xia Xiao, I love you, I want to marry you and treat you well for a lifetime. Will you marry me?"
Now, a handsome and cool soldier, dressed in his military uniform, was picking wildflowers for her. He held them while earnestly looking at her, eyes filled only with her.
With no elaborate sweet nothings, just a simple phrase, yet it made Xia Xiao’s tears burst forth. She covered her face with her hands, crying uncontrollably.
Gao Jiaxing stood confused, wondering if her tears meant acceptance or rejection?
"Xiaoxiao, don’t cry. If you’re not ready, I can wait," Gao Jiaxing said.
Xia Xiao threw herself into Gao Jiaxing’s arms, sobbing, "Brother Gao, I’m so touched, so happy, really." As she spoke, Xia Xiao started smiling, accepted the flowers, and took Gao Jiaxing’s hands, "Let’s get married, Brother Gao, I want to marry you."
Gao Jiaxing’s lips twitched, still adjusting to Xia Xiao’s style, but since Xia Xiao agreed to marry him, his smile brightened, and his white teeth gleamed under the sunlight.
"Wipe your face, you look like a tear-stained cat." Gao Jiaxing said as he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Xia Xiao’s face. Ever since he saw Xia Xiao casually handing out handkerchiefs to others, Gao Jiaxing had also started carrying them, and now it came in handy.
With her face upturned, Xia Xiao let Gao Jiaxing wipe her tears, giggled, and asked, "Brother Gao, how many days are you back this time?"
"One month," Gao Jiaxing replied.
Xia Xiao’s eyes lit up, "A whole month? That much?"
"Yes, your cousin didn’t agree to my taking a month off at first, but when I said I was coming back to get married, he granted me the leave. Xiaoxiao, it’s all thanks to you that I can take so much time off."
As soon as Gao Jiaxing finished speaking, Xia Xiao proudly said, "Then you’ll have to sweet-talk me, and I’ll get Brother Yuanchao to grant your leave."
Gao Jiaxing laughed and tugged at Xia Xiao’s braid, "Brother Yuanchao is also getting married, he might as well give everyone a month off, so they can all come back for New Year’s."
"Brother Yuanchao is a good leader." Xia Xiao nodded, appreciating his empathy and generosity.
Suddenly, Xia Xiao exclaimed, "Ah, did you say Brother Yuanchao is getting married?"
Xia Xiao was taken aback; it seemed so sudden to her, just getting married out of the blue, "But you said Brother Yuanchao is going back to get married, does he have someone?"
"Yes, he’s keeping it hidden and doesn’t want to tell me," said Gao Jiaxing.
"Brother Gao, after we get married, should we go back to the city for a visit?" suggested Xia Xiao.
Gao Jiaxing nodded, "After we register our marriage, we should visit the city, spend New Year’s at my place, and then return on the second day of the New Year. How does that sound?"
"Okay," Xia Xiao nodded in agreement.
"Xiaoxiao, let’s go register our marriage tomorrow," said Gao Jiaxing.
"We’ll need to tell the team leader and aunt," Xia Xiao pointed out.
As soon as Xia Xiao finished speaking, Gao Jiaxing nodded, "I told my parents as soon as I got back, and they’ve agreed."
Xia Xiao asked, "Once we’re married, will we have to move into your family home?"
"Of course, wouldn’t you want to live at my place?" Gao Jiaxing questioned.
Xia Xiao shook her head, "It’s not that I don’t want to, but Ning Hui has returned and Yang Xuehua is living in the dorm with my sister, so I’m a bit worried."
She was mostly worried about Yang Xuehua being bullied given her current status, but luckily Xia Jing was there. Otherwise, Xia Xiao would be even more concerned about Yang Xuehua being alone in the dorm and facing ostracism.
"If I’m not home, you could ask your sister and Yang Xuehua to stay with you," Gao Jiaxing mentioned, somewhat worried that Xia Xiao might feel lonely when he wasn’t around.
Although Sun Yuhua was there, Gao Jiaxing always felt that Sun Yuhua was difficult to get along with, so he was also happy to have Xia Jing and Yang Xuehua come to stay with Xia Xiao.
Not to mention that Xia Jing was her sister-in-law; Yang Xuehua’s status might be inferior, but it didn’t differ from anyone else’s situation and wasn’t a problem.
If it weren’t for the Gao family’s house being too small, Xia Jing and Yang Xuehua could have moved in without any issue, Gao Jiaxing wouldn’t mind.
"That’s not a good idea," Xia Xiao shook her head. If it was just her and Gao Jiaxing’s own house, it wouldn’t be an issue, but with Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong, as well as Gao Jiazhi and Sun Yuhua living there, one couldn’t disregard everyone’s sentiments.
"Our house is too small. After we get married, let’s either build a house on the vacant land beside ours or find a plot nearby to build on."
As soon as Gao Jiaxing said this, Xia Xiao shook her head, "Brother Gao, you better not say that out loud. Unless the team leader and aunt mention it, you shouldn’t suggest it; otherwise, people might think that as soon as I married you, I urged you to move out."
Gao Jiaxing laughed, "Why still call them team leader and aunt? You should call them mom and dad now. It’s not a big deal anyway. The house is originally small and crammed. It’s normal for us to move out while our oldest brother stays with our parents."