Chapter 276: Marrying My Daughter, You'll Be a Billionaire at Least [Wishing All the Bosses a Happy

Chapter 276: Marrying My Daughter, You’ll Be a Billionaire at Least [Wishing All the Bosses a Happy New Year’s Eve]



Afternoon.

Guantian Brigade.

Yongfu Village.

Zhu Ying carried a bag of candies and pastries and made her way to Auntie San’s house, the village matchmaker.

At that moment, Auntie San was sitting at her doorstep, puffing on a water pipe.

In the modern world, unless a woman frequented bars and nightclubs, the percentage of women who smoked was relatively low. However, in this era, due to the suitable climate for growing tobacco leaves in Bobai, the entire region had been cultivating tobacco for decades. Almost every production team in the county grew tobacco, leading to a situation where almost everyone, regardless of age or gender, smoked. Many children even learned to smoke at the age of six or seven (the author’s mother started smoking at seven and only quit at twenty-seven), and parents didn’t bother to stop them.

Of course, even if parents wanted to intervene, they couldn’t.

In the 1960s and 1970s, every rural family had several children. Parents were busy working and earning points all day, leaving them with no time to manage their kids. As long as the children didn’t starve, everything else was beyond their control.

Therefore, it wasn’t unusual to see women smoking water pipes in this era.

Zhu Ying approached and greeted her, “Auntie San!”

Auntie San, who had been stuffing tobacco into her pipe, replied, “Mother Qinghua, what brings you here?”

Zhu Ying smiled and handed over the bag of candies and pastries, saying, “Auntie San, I have a favor to ask.”

Auntie San, with over two decades of experience as a matchmaker, had seen many people bring gifts like this. She took the pastries and placed them on a nearby stool, then asked, “Mother Qinghua, it seems you’re looking to find a wife for your son Xiaohua?”

Zhu Ying sat down on the stool opposite Auntie San and nodded, “Yes, that’s right.”

Auntie San struck a match, took a few puffs, and then said, “Mother Qinghua, now that your father-in-law has been rehabilitated and the state has provided jobs for all four of you, your hardships are finally over. Your son Xiaohua is also old enough to start looking for a wife. I’ll take care of it and find a suitable match for him.”

Zhu Ying smiled, “Auntie San, here’s the situation. Today, our family went to Sufeng Restaurant to celebrate the end of our hard times. On our way home after paying the bill, my son Xiaohua took a liking to the girl who was in charge of the cash register. So, I’m here to ask you to find out more about her. I’d like to know if she’s engaged and what her family background is. If she’s a good match, I’d like you to help us arrange a meeting.”

Hearing this, Auntie San couldn’t help but laugh, “Mother Qinghua, your son Xiaohua has good taste. I ate at Sufeng Restaurant last year when I was setting up a match, and the girl in charge of the cash register was indeed very beautiful. In all my years as a matchmaker, I’ve never seen a more beautiful girl!

At the time, I asked out of curiosity, but she was already married with a child. Sufeng Restaurant was actually opened by her father-in-law!”

Zhu Ying felt a bit disappointed but quickly recovered. The girl they had seen today was pretty, but not as stunning as Auntie San described. Perhaps they were talking about different people?

With this thought, Zhu Ying asked, “Auntie San, do you think the person in charge of the cash register has changed? The girl we saw today was pretty, but not as beautiful as you described.”

Auntie San nodded confidently, “Now that you mention it, it must have changed. Otherwise, anyone who saw that girl would have remarked on her beauty.”

Zhu Ying sighed in relief, “If it’s a new person, that’s good. Otherwise, if she were married, my son Xiaohua wouldn’t have a chance.”

Auntie San smiled, “I have nothing to do right now, so I’ll go and find out for you.”

Zhu Ying said, “Thank you, Auntie San.”

Auntie San replied, “It’s no trouble at all. I’m very experienced with this. Go home and wait for news. Once I have the information, I’ll come to your house and let you know. If this girl isn’t suitable, I have several other good candidates I can introduce to your son.”

Zhu Ying stood up, “Thank you, Auntie San. I’ll go home then.”

...

It had to be said, Auntie San was quite efficient as a matchmaker.

After Zhu Ying left, Auntie San closed the door and headed towards the county town, where Sufeng Restaurant was located. Guantian Brigade was close to the county town, so it only took her about half an hour to reach Sufeng Restaurant.

Since she had eaten at Sufeng Restaurant before, Auntie San was familiar with the place. She didn’t hesitate and walked straight in.

“Welcome!”

Even though it wasn’t mealtime, a waitress greeted Auntie San with a smile, demonstrating excellent service.

Auntie San nodded at the waitress and said, “I’m here to see someone.”

She then walked towards the cash register on the right. She had already noticed that the girl sitting there was not the same beautiful girl who had been in charge of the cash register when she visited last year. This must be the girl that Lin Qinghua had taken a liking to.

At that moment, the girl, who was of average beauty, was engrossed in a book. She only looked up when Auntie San approached.

Auntie San, being naturally friendly, asked, “Dear, what book are you reading that’s so captivating?”

Deng Yunzhen put down the book and smiled, “I’m reading the Wulin magazine. Auntie, are you here to eat? What would you like?”

“Dear, I’m not here to eat.”

Auntie San waved her hand and said with a smile, “I’m here specifically to see you.”

Deng Yunzhen was taken aback. "You came all the way to find me? Auntie Lin, what brings you here?"

Auntie Lin smiled broadly. "I wanted to ask if you’ve already promised your hand in marriage?"

Deng Yunzhen immediately caught on. "Auntie, are you a matchmaker?"

Auntie Lin nodded. "Yes, I’ve been making matches for over twenty years. I’ve helped at least a hundred couples find each other, so I have a lot of experience. Have you promised your hand in marriage yet? If you have, then forget what I said. But if not, I can help you find a good match."

Deng Yunzhen shook her head. "I haven’t promised my hand, but I’m not ready to get married just yet, so I won’t trouble you, Auntie."

Upon learning that she hadn’t promised her hand, Auntie Lin’s eyes lit up. "Sister, as the saying goes, when a man grows up, he should marry, and when a woman grows up, she should wed. Even if you’re not ready to get married right away, you can still start looking for a good match. You can always get married when you’re ready."

Deng Shirong had been paying attention to the commotion and happened to hear this as he approached. "Auntie Lin, you’re right. Eventually, everyone will get married. It’s even better if you can find a good match early on."

Noticing Deng Shirong, Auntie Lin asked, "Who are you, Brother Deng?"

Deng Shirong smiled. "I’m her father. Why don’t we sit down and talk over there?"

Auntie Lin, surprised that the father was present, already had a hunch about his identity. She nodded. "Sure, let’s sit down and talk."

So, the two of them moved to a small table nearby.

Auntie Lin couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Deng, are you the owner of this restaurant?"

In those days, family members usually handled the money, and they wouldn’t hire outsiders to do it. So, it wasn’t surprising that she guessed his identity. Deng Shirong nodded. "Yes, I own this restaurant. Where are you from, Auntie Lin?"

Auntie Lin replied, "I’m from Yongfu Village in Guantian Brigade."

Deng Shirong smiled. "Auntie Lin, you suddenly coming here to help my daughter find a match, did someone ask you to do this?"

Auntie Lin nodded. "You guessed right. A young man has his eye on your daughter, so he asked me to come and inquire about her."

Deng Shirong asked a series of questions. "Where is he from? How old is he? What does he do?"

His eldest daughter was already 22, and even though she kept saying she wasn’t ready to get married, he thought it was time to start looking for a good match for her. That’s why he was willing to talk to this matchmaker.

"That young man is from our village, Yongfu. He’s 23 and works at a bicycle parts factory."

"What’s his character like? And what about his family situation?"

"His character is quite good. He’s been a well-behaved child since he was young. As for his family, it’s a bit complicated."

Auntie Lin didn’t hold back and explained the situation with Lin Qinghua’s grandfather. "Because of his grandfather, their family has had a tough time for the past decade. If it weren’t for the help of the villagers, they might not have made it through.

"Recently, the government cleared his grandfather’s name and recognized him as a martyr. They gave the family a large sum for funeral expenses and compensation, and they even arranged jobs for all four of them and helped build a new house.

"Now, he works at the bicycle parts factory, his father works at the agricultural machinery bureau and is a leader there, his mother works at a food company, and his sister works at a tobacco and sugar company. Their family has really turned things around."

Deng Shirong had a good idea of the young man’s family situation. In his previous life, he had been deceived by matchmakers, so he wasn’t about to trust this one blindly. He would need to investigate further before giving the young man a chance.

If he didn’t pass his scrutiny, the young man could forget about marrying his daughter.

Of course, he wouldn’t say that to the matchmaker. Instead, he asked, "Auntie Lin, what’s the young man’s name? Do you have his birth date and time? I’ll have a master look at it to see if he and my daughter are a good match."

Auntie Lin smiled. "His name is Lin Qinghua. I don’t have his birth date and time, but I can ask his parents and bring it to you tomorrow."

Deng Shirong nodded. "That’s fine. I believe in these things. If the master says they’re a good match, we can talk more. If not, then that’s that. I hope you understand, Auntie Lin."

This was just an excuse. In his previous life, he had been burned by similar situations. This time, he would be thorough in his investigation, ensuring that the young man’s family and personal character met his standards before giving him a chance.

Especially when it came to choosing a son-in-law. After all, marrying his daughter meant becoming a billionaire at the very least. He couldn’t afford to make a mistake.

Auntie Lin, unaware of his true intentions, agreed with a laugh. "Of course, Brother Deng. Can you tell me a bit about your daughter?"

Deng Shirong gave a brief introduction. "My daughter is 22, she graduated from junior high, and she’s very filial and has a good character. You’ve seen her. As for more detailed information, we can discuss that after the master has looked at their birth dates. If they’re not a good match, it won’t matter anyway."

Auntie Lin nodded. "Alright, I’ll head back then. I’ll bring the young man’s birth date and time to you tomorrow, and we can talk more after you’ve had the master look at it."

Deng Shirong offered politely, "Auntie Lin, since you’re here, why don’t you stay for a meal before you go?"

Auntie Lin, though tempted, was principled. She shook her head. "Thank you, Brother Deng, but I have some things to do. I’ll leave now. If they’re a good match, I’ll have my meal with you eventually."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Aunt Lin took her leave.

Deng Yunzhen then walked over with a look of exasperation on her face. "Dad, didn't I tell you I want to stay home for a few more years and don't want to get married so early? Why did you even talk to that matchmaker? Are you really that eager for me to get married?"

Deng Shirong laughed. "There's no conflict here. I'm just looking out for you. If I find someone suitable, we can get to know each other first. Whether or not we get married can be decided later. There's no rule saying that once you start dating, you have to get married right away. Observing each other for two or three years before marriage is perfectly fine."

In the modern world, it's not uncommon for people to date for a decade before getting married. In this era, it might be a bit much, but a two or three-year observation period is reasonable.

Hearing this, Deng Yunzhen heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. "That's a relief. I thought you were in a rush to marry me off!"

Deng Shirong said, "I'm just providing you with what I believe are suitable candidates. Ultimately, your happiness in marriage is what matters most. We're not in a hurry, so we can take our time to find the right person."

Deng Yunzhen replied, "If that's the case, let's wait a couple more years before looking. I can wait, but the other party might not be able to. If I can't decide, it wouldn't be fair to keep them waiting for two or three years. If it works out, great, but if it doesn't, wouldn't that be a bit unfair to them?"

Deng Shirong said, "If someone passes my scrutiny and allows you to observe them for two or three years, I won't let them down even if it doesn't work out. I'll make sure to compensate them. So you don't need to worry about that. If you find someone suitable, start getting to know them, and we can decide about marriage later."

Deng Yunzhen nodded. "Got it, I understand!"

She could feel her father's concern for her marriage, and although the country promoted free love, in rural areas, marriages were often arranged by parents. Her father's respect for her opinion and allowing her to make her own decisions filled her with genuine happiness.

...

Aunt Lin didn't go home but went directly to the Lin Zhenxing household.

Seeing Aunt Lin, Zhu Ying invited her to sit down and offered her a pipe. Then, she couldn't wait to ask, "Aunt Lin, did you find out? Is the girl already engaged?"

Lin Zhenxing, Lin Qinghua, and Lin Zhengfang all turned to look at Aunt Lin.

Aunt Lin took the pipe, stuffed it with tobacco, and said, "I found out. The girl isn't engaged yet."

Lin Qinghua's eyes lit up. This was the first time he had fallen for a girl, and he had been most afraid of hearing that she was already married or in a relationship. Now that he knew she was single, he had a chance. This was truly good news.

Zhu Ying was equally pleased and asked, "Aunt Lin, did you find out more about the girl?"

Aunt Lin stuffed a bit of tobacco into the pipe and said, "The girl is the daughter of the owner of Sui Feng Restaurant. She's 22 years old and has a middle school education. I haven't found out much more yet. I talked to the restaurant owner, and he believes in fortune-telling. He wants to take Xiaohua's name and birth date to a fortune-teller to see if there's any destiny between him and his daughter."

"If there's destiny, we can proceed with the talks. If not..."

She didn't say more, but the Lin family understood what that meant.

Lin Qinghua wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. Leaving such an important decision to a fortune-teller seemed rather hasty.

However, the girl's background was indeed impressive. She was the daughter of the owner of Sui Feng Restaurant, the largest and most upscale restaurant in Bobai County. The owner's wealth probably exceeded their imagination. Even though their family had undergone significant changes and their status had improved, they still had an advantage over small-time merchants.

But that advantage only applied to small-time merchants like street vendors selling noodles, peanuts, or eggs. When it came to someone on the level of the owner of Sui Feng Restaurant, things were different. It was uncertain whether he would even consider Lin Qinghua...

Zhu Ying had nothing to say. Many people of their generation still believed in fortune-telling, even after so many changes. This tradition had been passed down for thousands of years and wasn't easily eradicated.

That was why, after the wave of modernization, traditional beliefs quickly resurfaced.

Zhu Ying sighed. "Since they believe in this, there's nothing we can do. We'll just have to wait for their response."

Aunt Lin lit the pipe and took a few puffs before saying, "Write down Xiaohua's birth date and name for me. I'll take it to them tomorrow. If there's destiny between them, I'll follow up and make sure the marriage is arranged. If not, I'll find other suitable girls for Xiaohua. They're all good girls, and I won't let you down."

Zhu Ying nodded. "Alright, thank you, Aunt Lin!"

Aunt Lin smoked a few more pipes before taking the paper with Lin Qinghua's birth date and name and heading home.

After Aunt Lin left, Zhu Ying turned to her son. "Xiaohua, you heard what the owner of Sui Feng Restaurant believes in. Whether you and his daughter have destiny is up to the fortune-teller. If there's destiny, that's great. If not, don't force it. There are plenty of good girls out there, and we can always find someone else."

Lin Qinghua nodded. "I understand, Mom."

Although he had taken a liking to the girl at first sight, he hadn't had much interaction with her yet, so it wasn't to the point where he couldn't let go.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end