Chapter 284: Eyes Meet, Hearts Align [Continued Request for Subscriptions]

Chapter 284: Eyes Meet, Hearts Align [Continued Request for Subscriptions]



The next morning.

After breakfast, Deng Shirong went to the opposite house to sit and chat with Zhang Guoan, waiting for Grandma Zhu to arrive.

Zhang Guoan said, "Uncle Jiu, I’ve already checked with my contacts at the Public Security Bureau. They recently did have a new deputy chief named Zhu Junjie, who is indeed a former military officer and from our Songshan Commune. All the information matches what the older sister told you."

Deng Shirong nodded and replied, "I’ll chat with her when she arrives. If things go well, I’ll arrange for her son to meet my daughter Ahzhen. Whether they get along or not is up to fate."

In this era, marriages were typically arranged by matchmakers, with any issues or questions relayed through them. It was quite rare for parents to meet and discuss these matters directly.

Deng Shirong’s decision to take the lead was influenced by modern practices.

In the present day, due to the busy schedules of young people, it was common for parents to arrange meetings on behalf of their children. They would exchange photos and chat, and if the conditions seemed right, they would give their children the contact information.

Additionally, it was not uncommon for the parents of the prospective groom to visit the bride’s family, accompanied by a matchmaker, to arrange the marriage.

As they smoked and chatted, about twenty minutes later, Zhang Guoan spotted Grandma Zhu and quickly said, "Uncle Jiu, the older sister walking over there is Zhu Junjie’s mother."

Deng Shirong looked over and confirmed that Zhang Guoan was right. The lady was indeed quite elderly, which explained why her son, despite having a promising career in the military, chose to transfer to a civilian position. With parents of her age, it would be a regret to not be around to care for them.

"Ah Biao, have you eaten?"

"Yes, have you eaten?"

"I’ve eaten too!"

Grandma Zhu walked over, and Zhang Guoan greeted her before introducing Deng Shirong, "Ah Biao, this is the big boss of Huifeng Restaurant, Mr. Deng. I’ve already told Mr. Deng about your son, and he’s quite interested. You two can have a good chat as fellow townspeople!"

Deng Shirong greeted her, "Hello, relative!"

Grandma Zhu also greeted him politely, "Hello, Ah Biao!"

In Bobai County, the terms "Ah Biao" and "relative" were widely used. Some people liked to joke, and when someone called them "Ah Biao," they would respond with "Where’s the connection?" This was a way to ask about the family ties, and the person would then elaborate, finding any distant relative to establish the connection.

The term "relative" was similarly broad, encompassing even distant relatives.

Thus, in Bobai County, using "Ah Biao" or "relative" to greet strangers was quite common, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. This practice continued in the modern era, particularly online, where people from different provinces would affectionately call Guangxi netizens "Guangxi relatives."

After exchanging greetings, they sat on small stools and began chatting.

Deng Shirong asked, "Ah Biao, how many children do you have?"

Grandma Zhu replied, "I have five children. My two sons have already set up their own households, and my two daughters are married. Now, my husband and I live with our youngest son."

Deng Shirong said, "I have seven children—five sons and two daughters. My eldest son is married and has two children. He and his wife manage Huifeng Restaurant now. My wife passed away early, so my eldest daughter has been helping her brother and sister-in-law with the children for the past few years.

As for the other five, they are all still in school."

Grandma Zhu praised, "With so many children, you truly have good fortune, Ah Biao!"

In their generation, having many children was a sign of strength. Families with many sons were respected and rarely bullied, so having many sons was a source of envy.

Deng Shirong smiled, "Five children isn’t bad either. I heard from Brother Zhang that your youngest son is a high school graduate. My eldest daughter’s education is a bit lower; she only finished junior high. However, a few years ago, I hired a teacher to teach her high school-level subjects. Although she doesn’t have a high school diploma, her knowledge is comparable to a high school graduate’s."

Grandma Zhu quickly said, "That’s more than enough. For a girl, finishing junior high is already quite rare. In our village, not many girls even finish junior high."

Deng Shirong said, "My eldest daughter has always been obedient and sensible. Since her mother passed away early, she has taken care of the household for years. She can handle everything from farming and planting to all kinds of household chores and sewing. There’s nothing she can’t do."

Because she is so sensible and has such a good temper, I have long sworn at her mother's grave to help her find a husband with a good character who won't bully her. Cousin Aibiao, your son is an outstanding soldier, and his morals are undoubtedly impeccable. I just wonder about his temper?"

Grandma Zhu said, "Cousin Aibiao, my youngest son does have a bit of a temper, but those who know him well understand that he is easy to get along with and won't randomly lose his temper. Bullying his wife is definitely something he wouldn't do."

The two of them chatted back and forth for a while, and Deng Shirong gradually got a good sense of the old lady's character.

Despite being almost seventy, Grandma Zhu was still a "junior" to Deng Shirong. After all, in his previous life, Deng Shirong lived to be eighty-eight, and he had been reborn for several years now, making him nearly ninety. This wealth of experience was not something just anyone could match.

They say that people become wiser with age, and this is not just a saying.

Of course, some people do become more confused as they get older, and this often has to do with their physical condition.

Moreover, educated people are indeed sharper mentally than those who are not, and this is undeniable.

After a bit of conversation, Deng Shirong had a good grasp of Grandma Zhu's character. She wasn't the type to be difficult, and if they did end up as in-laws, he wouldn't have to worry about his daughter being mistreated by her mother-in-law.

"Relative, I have one last question."

Deng Shirong looked at Grandma Zhu and said, "My eldest daughter has always been reluctant to marry so early. She wants to stay at home for a couple more years before finding a partner.

So, I agree to arrange a meeting between the two young people. If they hit it off, we can set the wedding plans, but the actual marriage won't happen so soon. I wanted to make this clear to avoid any misunderstandings later."

Grandma Zhu frowned. Her youngest son was already twenty-four, which wasn't a big deal in modern times, as he would just be a young man fresh out of school. But in the rural setting of this era, he was definitely at the age where he should be getting married.

Moreover, she and her husband were getting on in years and really hoped their youngest son would marry this year.

Finding a daughter-in-law with such good conditions was difficult, so Grandma Zhu wasn't about to give up just because of a two-year delay.

"Setting the plans is good. If the wedding has to be delayed by two years, so be it!"

"Since you have no objections, Cousin Aibiao, let's see when your son is available and arrange a meeting place."

"I'll ask my son when I get back and let you know the time and place this afternoon. Is that okay?"

"That's fine. If I'm not home, just tell Brother Zhang, and he can pass the message along."

"Alright, I understand!"

...

Two days later, in the morning.

In Deng Yunzhen's room.

Zhang Xiuping was helping her sister-in-law get ready while giving her some advice. "Yunzhen, you need to take this matchmaking seriously. Finding a partner with such good conditions isn't easy.

Take me, for example. If I hadn't been lucky enough to meet you and your father and then marry your brother, I might still be stuck somewhere, doing menial labor!"

Deng Yunzhen, feeling a bit anxious, said, "Sister-in-law, I know it's hard to find a good match, but this all feels a bit sudden. I didn't want to get married so early!"

Zhang Xiuping comforted her, "Father said that this is just to meet the young man. Even if you both like each other, the final decision on when to get married is up to you, so you don't need to worry about getting married right away!"

Deng Yunzhen said, "That's true, but it's still nerve-wracking to go on my first matchmaking meeting. When you and Brother met, you didn't go through a formal matchmaking process. What were you feeling then? Were you nervous?"

Recalling the past, Zhang Xiuping smiled. "Of course, I was nervous! The night before I was to visit your family, I couldn't sleep, tossing and turning, wondering what your brother was like. Would he like someone like me? What should I say when I meet him? My mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts, but it turned out to be unnecessary worry. When we actually met, I wasn't as nervous.

So, don't worry about everything. Just think of him as a regular customer at our restaurant."

The words of comfort from someone who had been through it before had a positive effect. Deng Yunzhen visibly relaxed and nodded. "You're right. There's no need to be so nervous. Father said to treat him as a friend first, get to know his character, and then decide if he's the right person for life before talking about marriage."

"That's the right attitude!"

Zhang Xiuping had finished styling her sister-in-law's hair and said, "Yunzhen, get up and take a look in the mirror. How does this hairstyle look?"

Deng Yunzhen walked to the mirror in front of her wardrobe and tilted her head to take a look. Her sister-in-law had braided her hair into two long plaits, securing the ends with rubber bands and tying colorful ribbons into pretty bows. The two plaits hung gracefully in front of her chest, and the overall look was quite charming.

“Sister-in-law, you’re so skilled. I can braid my hair too, but it never looks as natural and beautiful as yours.”

Zhang Xiuping replied, “It’s mainly because you don’t like to dress up. If you did it more often, your braids would naturally look better.”

Deng Yunzhen couldn’t help but shake her head. “It’s fine to dress up occasionally, but I don’t have the patience to spend so much time on braids every day.”

Zhang Xiuping laughed. “You haven’t met your true love yet. Once you and this deputy director hit it off, you won’t find braiding your hair a bother anymore!”

Deng Yunzhen joined in the laughter. “We’ll see when that happens!”

...

9:50 AM.

Under the guidance of matchmaker Zhang Guoan, the Zhu family of three arrived at the Sufeng Restaurant once again.

Looking at the grand building before them, the family’s mood was completely different from a few days ago.

Back then, they were just diners, enjoying a meal. This time, they were here for a matchmaking meeting, and the person they were meeting was the daughter of the restaurant’s owner. Naturally, their feelings were different.

Upon entering the restaurant, the usual pleasantries and greetings were exchanged.

Under these circumstances, Zhu Junjie and Deng Yunzhen met for the first time.

When they greeted each other, they exchanged glances. Although they didn’t fall head over heels like in TV dramas, they both left a very positive first impression on each other.

In Zhu Junjie’s eyes, the girl before him was incredibly attractive.

She had two braids, wearing a cotton shirt and a floral skirt. The shirt was tucked into the skirt, which accentuated her slender waist. The mountains hidden under her shirt formed a very alluring curve.

Her figure was truly captivating.

As for her appearance, she wasn’t stunningly beautiful, but she was pleasant to look at.

Moreover, Deng Yunzhen was in her prime, and her family background added to her charm. The aura and demeanor she exuded elevated her looks considerably.

In that moment, Zhu Junjie’s heart was moved.

In Deng Yunzhen’s eyes, Zhu Junjie was also a very attractive man.

He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and his short hair made him look very spirited. He wore a green military uniform, which, due to his six years of service, gave him a unique and distinguished air.

Overall, she was satisfied with her first impression. He looked quite good and fit her aesthetic.

After exchanging greetings, the two entered one of the private rooms in the restaurant.

A server promptly brought in tea.

Deng Yuntao was also in the room. Upon seeing Zhu Junjie, he began to observe him quietly. The more he looked, the more familiar Zhu Junjie seemed. He couldn’t resist asking, “Junjie, did you go to Songshan High School?”

Zhu Junjie nodded. “Yes, I did.”

Deng Yuntao smiled. “No wonder you looked familiar. I’m from the same year as you, and I also attended Songshan High School. If I’m not mistaken, I was one year ahead of you.”

Zhu Junjie was a bit surprised and carefully examined Deng Yuntao.

Although several years had passed, they had spent a year at the same high school and still had some memories of each other. It would be hard to recognize each other in passing, but knowing they were alumni made it easier.

“If I’m not mistaken, you were in Class 13?”

Deng Yuntao nodded with a smile. “That’s right, I was in Class 13. You were in Class 17, right?”

Zhu Junjie also nodded and smiled. “Yes, I was in Class 17.”

Zhang Guoan couldn’t help but laugh. “What a coincidence! But since you’re both from Songshan Commune and the same year, it’s not surprising you attended the same high school.”

Zhu’s grandmother hadn’t expected her youngest son and the girl’s older brother to be alumni. She chuckled, “If I had known, I would have made Xiaojie start school a year earlier. Then he and your brother might have been in the same class.”

Deng Shirong smiled and added, “It’s possible.”

With this connection, the conversation became more relaxed.

The elders chatted about the changes before and after liberation, while Deng Yuntao and Zhu Junjie reminisced about their high school days. Deng Yunzhen remained mostly quiet, sitting there and listening to the elders and her brother chat.

After chatting for over half an hour, the part-time matchmaker, Zhang Guoan, finally smiled and suggested, "Ajie, Azhen, you two young folks, why don’t you go out for a walk or catch a movie? No need to stay here with us old folks."

Zhu Junjie, who had faced countless battles, wasn’t one to back down, so he nodded and stood up. "Azhen, shall we go for a walk?"

Seeing her father’s encouraging gaze, Deng Yunzhen nodded and stood up as well.

The two of them exchanged pleasantries with their elders and then left the private room, stepping out of the restaurant.

As they passed the cash register, Zhu Junjie didn’t forget to greet his sister-in-law, Zhang Xiuping.

Zhang Xiuping responded and, when Zhu Junjie wasn’t looking, playfully winked at her sister-in-law, making the already bashful Deng Yunzhen blush even more.

Once outside the restaurant, Zhu Junjie looked at the graceful young woman standing beside him. Her shy demeanor was truly beautiful. He asked, "Azhen, watching a movie isn’t really good for talking. How about we take a walk along the Nanliu River?"

Deng Yunzhen nodded. "Sure, that sounds fine."

With their destination set, the two of them walked side by side toward the Nanliu River.

The Nanliu River is the largest river in the coastal region of southern Guangxi, originating from the Lianhua Peak of Daming Mountain in Beiliu County. It flows south through Yulin, Bobai, Pubei, and Hepu counties (or cities), finally emptying into the Beibu Gulf at the Dangjiang commune in Hepu County. The river is 287 kilometers long and covers a drainage area of 8,635 square kilometers.

In Bobai County, most of the shipping traffic runs along the Nanliu River.

After walking side by side for a while, Zhu Junjie said, "Azhen, let me tell you about my life from childhood to now."

Deng Yunzhen nodded, listening intently.

"I’m the youngest in the family, and there’s a significant age gap between me and my older siblings. My eldest brother got married the year after I was born, and my eldest nephew is only two years younger than me. He got married last year, and in a few months, I’ll be upgrading from uncle to grandfather."

As they walked, Zhu Junjie continued, "Because of the age difference, I was always the most pampered in the family. Whether it was food or clothes, I always came first.

Back then, I was quite mischievous and caused a lot of trouble for my family.

It wasn’t until I started junior high that I began to mature a bit, but the habits I formed as a child weren’t easy to break. After graduating from high school, I couldn’t get into college, so I developed a strong interest in joining the military. I admired how our ancestors drove out the invaders and established the new China.

At that time, my older brothers had already moved out, and my sisters were married. Only I lived with my parents.

Under those circumstances, my parents naturally didn’t want me to join the military, but I was obsessed with the idea of the barracks and wouldn’t listen to their advice. I was determined to serve.

In the end, my mother couldn’t persuade me and had to agree.

What I didn’t expect was that the war broke out the year after I joined. When I was sent to the front lines, I was both excited and worried, feeling a mix of emotions.

War is brutal, and the dangers on the battlefield are indescribable. I’m really lucky to have made it back alive."

Hearing this, Deng Yunzhen interjected, "Tell me more about your experiences on the battlefield. I love hearing about that."

"Sure, I’ll tell you. Back then..."

By the time they reached the Nanliu River, Zhu Junjie had finished recounting his wartime experiences.

Then, he looked at Deng Yunzhen and asked, "Azhen, can you tell me about your life from childhood to now?"

Deng Yunzhen, a bit embarrassed, replied, "My life story isn’t worth mentioning. It’s not as exciting as yours."

Zhu Junjie smiled. "I only had those unique experiences because I joined the military. Before that, I was just like everyone else. Why don’t you tell me about your life?"

Deng Yunzhen gazed at the river, reminiscing about the past. She said with a touch of nostalgia, "When I was little, my father was a master potter at the village kiln, and my mother was hardworking. Although we had many siblings, our living standards were decent in the village.

However, my mother passed away later, and my father had to take care of everything on his own. He had to provide for us and ensure that all seven of us siblings could go to school. It was a tough few years.

It wasn’t until the country’s reform and opening up that my father, along with some partners, took over the village kiln. Our lives gradually improved."

Zhu Junjie, admiringly, said, "Your father is truly remarkable. Despite the hardships, he managed to send all seven of you to school."

Deng Yunzhen said proudly, "In that regard, my father did better than anyone else in the village. In families with similar difficulties, they usually only sent their sons to school, and it was impossible for daughters to get an education. But my father treated all seven of us equally. As long as we wanted to study, he would support us."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end