6

Chapter 6: Sizing Each Other

When Jiang Yu arrived at Yao Xiangling's place, she saw her talking with Matchmaker Yao.

It just so happened she came to find the matchmaker.

"Grandma Yao!"

Matchmaker Yao looked up and saw her. Good looks gave her a free pass. Even Matchmaker Yao, who usually didn't pay much attention to others, was especially nice to Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu nodded and smiled obediently.

"Jiang Ting doesn't need me to accompany her. I came to see my great-aunt."

"Great-aunt?" Matchmaker Yao was startled and suddenly patted Yao Xiangling on the shoulder.

"The granddaughter you just mentioned is Jiang Yu, right?"

Yao Xiangling had come to ask her to set up a match in the city for Jiang Yu.

What a coincidence.

Yao Xiangling gave Jiang Yu a disapproving look. "Her? All she's got is a pretty face; she's not sharp at all."

Such a good opportunity, and she had let Jiang Ting take it.

Jiang Yu tugged at Yao Xiangling's arm and whined, "Great-aunt, why are you saying that about me?"

Matchmaker Yao and Yao Xiangling had been friends for decades, and her gaze toward Jiang Yu was filled with extra affection.

Her friend had been single her whole life, and it was rare for her to take an interest in a younger generation like this.

"Since she's part of your family, I'll definitely need to think it over."

Matchmaker Yao went over all the eligible male comrades she had been in contact with recently, and indeed, there was a suitable one.

"There's a man named Sun Zailiang, a machine repair worker at the Second State Cotton Mill. He lives in the same courtyard as Fu Xiangyang. Would you like to meet him?"

As a worker with a stable job, Jiang Yu was naturally interested.

"Now?"

Yao Xiangling said, "Good men aren't like vegetables waiting to be picked. You need to seize the opportunity. If he seems suitable, you can decide right away."

Hearing this, Jiang Yu made up her mind and decided to go see him immediately!

Matchmaker Yao then led her to the staff family courtyard of the Second State Cotton Mill.

The Second State Cotton Mill and the family courtyard were separated by a wide road, on opposite sides.

The family courtyard was accessed through an alley that led into a network of interconnected alleys.

Hundreds of households lived in these alleys.

The space was narrow, and the city's population was already packed enough, yet a large number of people still wanted to come here.

"There are seven households living in this courtyard, two of them in the north house, including your sister-in-law's family and the Sun family."

Otherwise, in this crowded courtyard, the moment she entered the house with Jiang Yu, they could be surrounded by people.

If the two of them didn't get along, the reputation would spread, which wouldn't be good for Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu waited by the door for a moment and soon saw Matchmaker Yao come out.

"Haha, what a pity, the person isn't home."

Jiang Yu felt disappointed, "Not home, I guess."

Matchmaker Yao hurriedly comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll think of someone else. There are plenty more options."

Her brows furrowed as she carefully looked for someone else who might be a fit.

But the screen wall blocked her, and she couldn't see anything.

Just as she was about to pull back, she lost her balance and staggered, falling backward.

She fell into a firm embrace, and strong arms held her by the elbows.

Jiang Yu's mind went blank, feeling warmth emanating from the man's hands behind her.

Her red lips parted, and as she looked up, her gaze met a pair of deep, unwavering eyes.

"Comrade, can you stand steadily?"

The man's voice was steady and composed, with little change in his breathing, as he discreetly put some distance between them.

Jiang Yu's first impression of him was that he was tall and strikingly handsome.

She was wearing small leather shoes with a bit of a heel, standing 168 cm tall. When she looked forward, all she could see was his well-developed chest muscles hidden under his thin shirt.

Her gaze moved upward, meeting a sharp, handsome face.

But he was too cold, his piercing eyes like a deep pond, unfathomable.

"Had enough of looking?" The man's voice took on a slight edge, adding a hint of sarcasm.

Jiang Yu's cheeks flushed slightly as she shifted her gaze away.

"Sorry."

The man walked right past her, no longer paying attention to Jiang Yu.

But Jiang Yu couldn't help watching him, her heart racing, and even her ears turning red.

"Grandma Yao, who is he?"

From the softer tone in her voice, Matchmaker Yao could tell what Jiang Yu was thinking.

"Girl, Grandma Yao wouldn't mislead you. If he were suitable, I would have introduced him to you from the start."

Jiang Yu's face reddened a bit more as she said shyly, "I don't have anything like that in mind, I just asked casually."

Matchmaker Yao chuckled, "Well, he's the head of the security department at the Second State Cotton Mill, He Tingyue."

Jiang Yu exclaimed in surprise, "A department head? He looks quite young, doesn't he?"

At twenty-seven or twenty-eight, he really wasn't considered that old. He had been in the army, then switched to civilian work and was posted to the security department at the Second Factory.

He started as a deputy section head, and after two years, when the section head retired, he was promoted.

Jiang Yu felt even more disappointed. Even if the man wasn't married, he still wouldn't be a suitable match for her due to his status.

Realizing this, she asked Aunt Yao to keep thinking if there were any other suitable men.

Aunt Yao smiled; she always liked talking to smart, level-headed people like Jiang Yu.

"Yeah, there's another man, Yan Wenxuan. He's a substitute teacher at the local middle school."

Being a substitute teacher meant he wasn't a permanent employee.

But in the city, it's one position per person; even if a spot opens up, the competition is fierce.

Getting a temporary job was already a big achievement.

Aunt Yao led Jiang Yu to another location.

On the way, she briefly told Jiang Yu about the man's family.

Yan Wenxuan's family was small—just three people, and he's an only child.

"So why didn't he take over his father's job?"

Aunt Yao was straightforward: "His dad was a night soil collector. Most young people these days don't want to do that kind of work."

Actually, the job of a night soil collector paid decently, but it just wasn't considered respectable.

Yan Wenxuan attended junior high and had originally planned to take the vocational school exam to secure a job after graduation.

But he didn't pass, so he only managed to get into high school.

Now he couldn't take the university entrance exam, and high school was generally considered useless.

He stayed home for two years after graduating before using connections to get a job as a substitute teacher.

Jiang Yu didn't look down on him. As long as the person's character and appearance were passable, she had nothing to be picky about.

When they arrived at the Yan family's home, Aunt Yao called out.

A middle-aged woman came out, her face expressionless, appearing somewhat harsh.

Only when she saw Aunt Yao did she reluctantly offer a small smile.

"Is there something you need, Aunt?"

Aunt Yao said, "Auntie Mei, I've found a suitable girl for your Wenxuan. How about letting Wenxuan come out and meet her?"

Zhong Yanmei raised her eyebrows. "Wenxuan isn't home. If you've brought someone over for a look, showing you to me is the same."

Aunt Yao sighed inwardly, thinking it was really unfortunate that no one was home today.

She waved at Jiang Yu, "Xiao Yu, come over here!"