Chapter 9: Lu Qingshan Proposes to Shen Chunmiao

“I don’t agree!” Old Master Shen said angrily.

He never expected that the educated youth his youngest granddaughter had been chasing after would come to propose to his eldest granddaughter.

Although the youngest granddaughter had already decided to be with Huo Beichuan, if this got out, the Shen family would truly lose face.

“Grandpa, why don’t you agree? Brother Qingshan is very good. He’s educated and will surely achieve great things. Then you all can enjoy the benefits too!” Shen Chunmiao tried to persuade Old Master Shen.

Old Master Shen snorted coldly, “How many years do you think I have left? Enjoy your blessings? Don’t make promises for me. If you really want to marry him, then go ahead, but don’t expect any help from our family.”

Shen Chunmiao felt a bit hopeful. She had already heard from Brother Qingshan that as long as Grandpa provided a quota to return to the city, she could live a good life there. After all, Brother Qingshan’s parents were both working professionals, and with her memories from her previous life, she was sure they could live well in the city.

Brother Qingshan was a big shot who could open restaurants all over the country. Although Grandpa said he wouldn’t help, she was still his granddaughter, so he wouldn’t give the city quota to outsiders.

“Grandpa, I will bear all the consequences myself, but please believe me—Brother Qingshan will definitely treat me well.”

Old Master Shen glanced at Lu Qingshan, who was standing quietly nearby, and thought that this granddaughter was jumping around like a monkey.

Xie Lanzhi and Shen Jianguo also looked displeased. Lu Qingshan came to propose, but hid to the side, leaving everything for their own daughter to handle. That was hardly manly.

Next to them, Shen Jintao’s family watched the drama calmly, showing no intention of backing Shen Chunmiao—though, of course, she didn’t really need their support.

“I’m too lazy to argue with you. Since the families are split now, whether this works out or not, go ask your parents. I don’t want to get involved!”

Old Master Shen was clever—otherwise, he wouldn’t have held the position of brigade leader for so long. He managed everything, even the most trivial matters like a sow having trouble giving birth. He had seen all kinds of people, and it was clear that Lu Qingshan was not a suitable match. Since he couldn’t persuade her, he decided to just let her jump into this firepit on her own.

Wang Lanxiu glanced at her old man, then at her eldest granddaughter who was determined to marry no one but Lu Qingshan, feeling a headache coming on.

“Maybe we should think this over again. Chunmiao, you’re still young, there’s no rush to get married.”

Although she was somewhat biased, she still listened to her husband. If he thought the guy wasn’t good enough, then she agreed. After all, in the countryside, men who earned four or five work points a day were rare—sometimes even fewer than women.

“How can I not be anxious? Shen Jintao is already getting married, and I’m a bit older than her. If I don’t marry soon, people will laugh at me.”

Even her usually doting grandmother said this, which made Shen Chunmiao anxious all at once.

“Chunmiao, don’t make Grandpa angry. You know what happened last time…”

Wang Lanxiu wanted to mention the incident where the eldest granddaughter pushed the youngest, but stopped herself. She couldn’t bear to say something that would ruin Shen Chunmiao’s reputation in front of so many people—even though everyone there except Lu Qingshan knew exactly what happened.

When Shen Chunmiao mentioned Shen Jintao, Lu Qingshan’s gaze turned toward Shen Jintao, who was quietly watching the scene.

His eyes showed undisguised disgust. “Shen Jintao, you were following me around like a shadow before, and now you’re getting married so quickly, and in that way too. You must think my status isn’t as good as Huo Beichuan, who’s an officer, right? But don’t forget—even if he’s an officer, he’s still a farmer at heart. As for me, I’m definitely going back to the city someday.”

Shen Jintao never expected that she just wanted to watch these two fight over gossip, yet both of them dragged the topic back onto her.

She couldn’t help but find it a little funny. Anyway, she had already changed her fate in this life. No matter how real that dream was, she was unwilling to gamble her whole family’s happiness and her own future on it.

“Lu Qingshan, you’re the really ridiculous one. I used to have some feelings for you, but you neither accepted nor rejected me. You even ate a lot of the good things I gave you, and I didn’t make you spit them out. And now you have the nerve to look down on us farmers? If you disliked us rural folks so much, you shouldn’t have accepted our things in the first place. Besides me, you seem to have taken gifts from other girls too, right? You’re really a hypocrite.”

Shen Jintao’s words hit Lu Qingshan like a slap in the face. He considered himself a cultured man and couldn’t stand being insulted like this.

“It’s just some things. After I marry Chunmiao, I’ll return everything to you.”

At Shen family’s second branch, everyone except Shen Chunmiao understood what Lu Qingshan meant and looked displeased. Lu Qingshan was basically saying he couldn’t pay now, but after marrying Shen Chunmiao, he would use the second branch’s belongings to repay Shen Jintao.

“Lu Qingshan, you can go back for now. Our family still needs to think this through,” Xie Lanzhi said with a sour face. If she didn’t know her daughter’s temper, she might have wanted to chase him away with a broom.

“Auntie, I truly want to be with Chunmiao. Rest assured, after we’re married, I’ll treat her well and respect you all. I know you might not approve of this marriage, but I will definitely get the city quota. My parents both work, and even if I don’t return to the city, the support after marriage won’t be less. Isn’t that better than marrying Chunmiao off to a farmer?”

Lu Qingshan still wanted to fight for himself. After all, only by marrying Shen Chunmiao would he have the greatest advantage and secure the city quota.

Xie Lanzhi was speechless. “Do you not understand human speech?”

“Second Aunt, it’s not that he doesn’t understand. He’s just confident. Being from the city, a bit of superiority is normal. But I think his mindset is a bit problematic. Great leaders have said workers, peasants, and soldiers are one family, but this guy is against that idea!” Shen Jintao added fuel to the fire from the side.

Xie Lanzhi’s expression worsened even more.

“Shen Jintao, shut up! What right do you have to talk about my Qingshan? You’re such a fickle, scheming woman. You’ve already used tricks to steal my fiancé, and now you want to ruin my marriage with Qingshan. You’re truly wicked!”

Lu Qingshan hadn’t said anything yet, but Shen Chunmiao was the one who got upset first.

“Tsk tsk tsk, you haven’t even married Lu Qingshan yet, and you’re already defending him. Forget it, you can’t reason with a stubborn fool. If you like this, then go ahead. I hope your life turns out as well as you say!” Shen Jintao was quite speechless about the pair as well.