Chapter 53: To Be Honest, I Have My Eye on Your Daughter
Chapter 53: To Be Honest, I Have My Eye on Your Daughter
Deng Shirong chatted with the old farmer for over twenty minutes, learning all about Zhang Xiuping and her family. However, to be cautious, he asked a couple more villagers for their opinions after leaving the old farmer's house. Everyone had high praise for Zhang Xiuping, saying she was not only beautiful but also very considerate and filial. She was a skilled worker, both inside and outside the home, and any family would be fortunate to have her as a daughter-in-law.
If only one person had said this, it might have been biased, but since several people agreed, it confirmed that Zhang Xiuping was indeed an exceptional young woman. Her parents and siblings also had a good reputation.
After gathering all the information, Deng Shirong rode his bike to the Xinghua Brigade's supply department to buy a large bag of candies and pastries. Then, he headed toward Zhang Xiuping's home.
A few minutes later, an old mud-brick house came into view. The brick walls, eroded by years of rain, had changed significantly.
At the door of the mud-brick house, a young woman wearing a patched-up dress was sitting with a child on her back, sewing clothes. This girl was none other than Zhang Xiuping, whom Deng Shirong had already chosen to be his eldest son's wife.
Perhaps hearing the sound of the bicycle, Zhang Xiuping looked up.
Deng Shirong parked his bike at her doorstep and, holding the large bag of candies and pastries, smiled and asked, "Young lady, is this Zhang Xiuping's home?"
Zhang Xiuping placed her needle and thread on a nearby stool and stood up, somewhat surprised. "Uncle, I am Zhang Xiuping. What can I do for you?"
With a broad smile, Deng Shirong replied, "I've come to arrange a marriage. Are your parents at home?"
Zhang Xiuping let out a small "ah," clearly caught off guard by the sudden visit of a matchmaker. She nervously responded, "My father is out working and hasn't returned yet, but my mother is at home. Please wait a moment while I call her out."
Without waiting for Deng Shirong to reply, she walked into the main room, still carrying her sleeping nephew.
Soon, a middle-aged woman, around Deng Shirong's age, emerged from the house. Her clothes were just as patched-up as Zhang Xiuping's. Time and hardship had taken their toll, making it hard to recognize her youthful beauty. Standing next to Zhang Xiuping, it was difficult to believe they were mother and daughter.
Following the mother was a well-built young woman. If Deng Shirong's guess was correct, this woman must be Zhang Xiuping's sister-in-law, though he wasn't sure if she was the elder or the younger sister-in-law.
Seeing the guests, Deng Shirong handed over the large bag of candies and pastries and greeted them with a smile. "Relatives, my name is Deng, and I'm from Songshan Commune's Bangjie Brigade."
"Songshan Commune's Bangjie Brigade, that's quite a distance from here!" the woman remarked, taking the bag of sweets and inviting him in. "Please come in and sit down. Xiuping, bring a pipe for Uncle Deng."
Deng Shirong nodded and smiled. "Indeed, our village is quite far from yours. It took me over an hour to get here by bicycle."
In modern times, the distance between towns wouldn't be an issue. But in an era where most travel was done on foot, even the distance between different brigades within the same commune felt far, let alone from another commune.
Once Deng Shirong was seated, Zhang Xiuping brought him a pipe. He thanked her, took the pipe, and started smoking while making small talk with Zhang's mother. From their conversation, Deng Shirong learned that the young woman who had come out with them was Zhang Xiuping's elder sister-in-law.
After a few pipes, the conversation finally turned to the main topic.
Deng Shirong glanced at Zhang Xiuping, who was sitting quietly beside them, and said to Zhang's mother, "Relatives, I'll be straightforward. To be honest, I have my eye on your daughter. I want her to be my eldest son's wife."
When Deng Shirong said this, the Zhang family—Mother Zhang, Zhang Xiuping, and the other two—were left speechless.
They weren’t strangers to matchmakers. Since Zhang Xiuping had come of age, several matchmakers had visited their home. However, this was the first time a matchmaker was proposing a match for his own son.
Mother Zhang was at a loss for words, as this was a situation she had never encountered before.
As for Zhang Xiuping, after the initial shock, she became restless. If the matchmaker were a normal one, it would be perfectly fine for her to listen in on discussions about her future. But this wasn’t a normal matchmaker; he might very well be her future father-in-law. How could she possibly sit there and listen without feeling embarrassed?
Despite her thoughts, Zhang Xiuping shifted in her seat a few times but couldn’t bring herself to leave.
Seeing their reactions, Deng Shirong smiled and added, “I know this might seem a bit abrupt, but I am a matchmaker myself. It wouldn’t make sense to ask another matchmaker to find a wife for my own son, would it? Even in ancient times, people didn’t avoid relatives when recommending talents. Why should matchmaking be any different? What do you think, relatives?”
Mother Zhang, looking a bit awkward, nodded. “You’re right, relatives.”
Deng Shirong, with his mental age of 88 and decades of experience from his past life, wasn’t the least bit uncomfortable in this small setting. He continued, “Let me introduce my eldest son and our family situation to you.”
The Zhang family listened attentively.
“My eldest son is named Deng Yuntao. He is 21 years old, stands at 1.75 meters, and has a high school education. He is currently a master potter, and his income is quite substantial.”
At this, the Zhang family’s eyes lit up. The age was a good match, and 1.75 meters was considered very tall for a man in Guangxi at that time. A high school education was also impressive, and his profession as a master potter was highly respected.
Deng Shirong went on, “I have seven children. My two daughters are not academically inclined; one graduated from junior high, and the other dropped out after elementary school. The other four sons are all in school. My second son is in high school and will graduate next year. My third son is in junior high, and the two youngest are in elementary school.
“My wife passed away a few years ago. Besides being a matchmaker, I also run a kiln with a cousin. The business is doing well, and our income is among the highest in the village.
“We are currently building a new house, not a mud-brick house, but a brick and tile house. Each of my sons will have a room of about 90 square meters. In terms of living conditions, I believe no other family in our commune can match ours.
“This is a brief introduction to my eldest son and our family. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’ll answer anything you want to know.”
The Zhang family was thoroughly impressed by this simple introduction.
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Thank you all for your support and comments. I have some bad news to share: the book didn’t make it into the official recommendation list again next week. The editor said we were just a bit short on the number of active readers. This is the second week in a row that we’ve missed the recommendation, and it’s the worst performance I’ve had in my 15 years of writing. I’ve been questioning myself and even considered stopping the book, but your positive feedback and the editor’s assurance that the active readership is steadily growing have given me the confidence to continue. I hope you all will keep supporting the book, so it can get a chance at a recommendation next week. Without official support, even the best writing won’t get the recognition it deserves. Your support means everything.
(End of Chapter)
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