Chapter 53: To Be Honest, I Have Taken A Liking To Your Daughter

Chapter 53: To Be Honest, I Have Taken A Liking To Your Daughter

Deng Shirong chatted with the old farmer for more than twenty minutes and basically learned everything about Zhang Xiuping and her family.

However, out of caution, after leaving the old farmer's home, Deng Shirong found two more people in the village to inquire further. It turned out that everyone had a very high opinion of Zhang Xiuping. They all said that she was not only beautiful but also very sensible, filial, and skilled in both household and outdoor tasks. Any family that could marry such a daughter-in-law would be blessed.

If only one person had said this, it might have been biased, but since several people shared the same opinion, it proved that Zhang Xiuping was indeed an excellent girl.

Her parents and brothers also had a decent reputation.

After gathering the necessary information, Deng Shirong rode his bicycle to the supply and marketing cooperative of Flourish Brigade, bought a large bag of candies, and then headed to Zhang Xiuping's home.

A few minutes later, an old mud-brick house appeared in front of Deng Shirong. The brick walls of the house had been weathered by years of rain, giving them a worn appearance.

At the door of the mud-brick house, a girl wearing patched clothes was sitting and sewing clothes with a child strapped to her back.

This girl was none other than Zhang Xiuping, the one Deng Shirong had chosen as his eldest son's future wife.

Perhaps hearing the sound of the bicycle, Zhang Xiuping, who was sewing, looked up.

Deng Shirong parked his bicycle in front of her house, holding a large bag of candies and biscuits. He smiled and asked, "Sister, is this Zhang Xiuping's house?"

Zhang Xiuping set down the needlework and clothes she was holding, stood up with some surprise, and said, "Uncle, I am Zhang Xiuping. What do you want to talk to me about?"

Deng Shirong smiled warmly. "I'm here to propose a marriage for you. Are your parents at home?"

Zhang Xiuping exclaimed, "Ah!" She was clearly caught off guard by the sudden visit of a matchmaker. She replied nervously, "My dad is out working and hasn't come back yet. My mom is at home. Wait a moment, I'll call her out."

Without waiting for Deng Shirong to respond, she carried her sleeping nephew on her back and hurried into the main room.

Soon, a peasant woman about the same age as Deng Shirong came out of the house. Her clothes were not much better than Zhang Xiuping's, patched in several places.

Time had not been kind to the peasant woman. The hardships of life had taken their toll, and she no longer resembled the youthful beauty she might have once been. Standing next to Zhang Xiuping, it was hard to believe they were mother and daughter.

Behind Zhang's mother was a plump young woman. Deng Shirong guessed she was Zhang Xiuping's sister-in-law, though he wasn't sure if she was the eldest or the second sister-in-law.

Seeing them approach, Deng Shirong handed over the large bag of candies and greeted them with a smile. "Dear relative, my surname is Deng, and I'm from Help and Correct Brigade in Pine Mountain Commune."

"Help and Correct Brigade in Pine Mountain Commune? That's quite far from here!" the peasant woman remarked, then politely accepted the candies and said, "Please take a seat. Xiuping, get Uncle Deng the pipe."

Deng Shirong nodded and smiled. "Our village is indeed a bit far from yours. It took me more than an hour to get here by bicycle."

In later generations, the distance between towns wouldn't matter much. But in this era, when most people traveled on foot, even going to a different brigade in the same commune felt far, let alone to another commune.

After Deng Shirong sat down, Zhang Xiuping brought him the pipe. He thanked her, took the pipe, and began smoking while exchanging polite words with Zhang's mother. From her, Deng Shirong learned that the young woman who had followed her out was indeed Zhang Xiuping's sister-in-law.

After smoking a few cigarettes, Deng Shirong got to the point.

He glanced at Zhang Xiuping, who was sitting quietly nearby, and said to Zhang's mother, "Dear, I'll speak frankly. To be honest, I came to your house because I've taken a liking to your daughter and want her to be my eldest son's wife."

At these words, Zhang's mother and the others were stunned.

This wasn't the first time they had dealt with matchmakers. Since Zhang Xiuping had come of age, several matchmakers had visited their home.

But this was the first time a matchmaker had come to propose a match for his own son.

Zhang's mother was momentarily at a loss for words. After all, this was the first time she had encountered such a situation.

Zhang Xiuping, the person in question, could no longer sit still. If the other party had been a normal matchmaker, it would have been fine for her to listen to the discussion about her future. But this was different—this man could potentially be her future father-in-law. How could she continue sitting there and listening?

However, despite her inner turmoil, Zhang Xiuping shifted uncomfortably but remained seated.

Seeing the reactions of Zhang's mother and the others, Deng Shirong smiled and added, "I know this might seem abrupt, but I am a matchmaker myself. I can't ask other matchmakers to find a partner for my son, can I? In ancient times, people didn't avoid relatives when selecting talents. There's no reason to avoid relatives when making matches. Don't you agree?"

Zhang's mother nodded awkwardly. "You're right, relative."

Deng Shirong, with his mental age of 88 and decades of experience from the future, felt no embarrassment in such a situation. He said, "Let me first introduce my eldest son and our family situation to you."

Zhang's mother and the others listened carefully.

"My eldest son is named Deng Yuntai. He's 21 years old, 1.75 meters tall, and has a high school education. He's currently a master vat maker, and his income is quite substantial."

Hearing this, Zhang's mother and the others couldn't help but brighten up. The age match was good, and his height of 1.75 meters was considered tall in Guangxi at that time. His high school education was impressive, and his profession was impeccable.

A master vat maker was one of the most respected professions in rural areas during that era!

Deng Shirong continued, "I have seven children. My two daughters aren't great at studying. One graduated from junior high, and the other dropped out after elementary school. The other four sons are all still in school. My second son is in high school and will graduate next year. My third son just started junior high, and the two younger ones are in elementary school.

My spouse passed away a few years ago. Now, besides matchmaking, I've partnered with a cousin to contract the brigade's tile kiln. Business is going well, and our income is among the highest in the village.

Our family is building a new house. It's not a mud-brick house but a large blue-brick and tile house. Each son will have a 90-square-meter house. In terms of living conditions, I doubt any other family in our commune can compare."

This brief introduction left Zhang's mother and the others in awe.

**(End of this chapter)