“That boy is really tall!”

Second Aunt Lu slapped her thigh and spoke loudly.

“He’s got a strong build and looks handsome too,” Third Aunt Lu clapped her hands, looking completely satisfied. “Qingyuan, you won’t lose out being with him.”

“Did he say anything to you?”

Mother Lu smiled as she asked Lu Qingyuan, who was now seated between them.

“He said he’ll bring me the chess manual tomorrow morning.” Lu Qingyuan cleared her throat, her face flushed from all the teasing.

“Then have him stay for lunch.”

“But he said no. He probably wants to eat with his family before heading to the county.”

Lu Qingyuan repeated Shu Beiqiu’s words.

“He’s just being polite. Don’t take it too seriously.”

Second Aunt Lu covered her mouth as she laughed.

“Exactly. The two houses aren’t that far apart, but who would walk all the way here just to deliver a chess manual?”

Third Aunt Lu clicked her tongue. “Back when your Third Uncle was courting me, he would bring me things every few days. Every time, he said he wouldn’t stay for a meal, but the moment my mother called out to him, he stepped right into the courtyard.”

Hearing this, Third Uncle Lu’s face turned red, especially when his absentminded son blurted out loudly—

“Really? Dad, I didn’t expect you to have been this dishonest even when you were young.”

His words made everyone burst into laughter.

“That’s just how your father is.”

Second Uncle Lu nodded in agreement from the side.

With the younger ones making a commotion, Third Uncle Lu simply got up. “I’m going to check on the vegetable garden.”

“It just rained. What could you possibly do in the garden right now?”

Father Lu joined in on the teasing.

Third Uncle Lu pretended not to hear him and quickly walked away.

Once the main room had quieted down, Mother Lu lowered her voice and reminded Lu Qingyuan, “When he comes tomorrow, make sure to have him stay. The more you interact, the better you’ll understand each other. That way, you’ll know if he’s truly the right one for you.”

That way, when the time comes to get married, it won’t feel like you’re stepping into the unknown.

“Alright.”

Lu Qingyuan nodded before asking about Fifth Aunt. “Fifth Aunt didn’t look too well today. Is she feeling unwell?”

“It’s all because of Yanyan.” Mother Lu shook her head slightly. “Your Fifth Aunt asked her who her partner is, but she refused to say. When pressed, she just shut herself in her room, making your Fifth Aunt so angry that she felt unwell.”

“She’ll tell eventually.”

Lu Qingyuan reassured her.

“That may be true, but without knowing anything about the other person, what if he turns out to be a troublemaker or an unreliable man? Then she’ll suffer for it.”

Mother Lu reached out and smoothed Lu Qingyuan’s hair. “Your grandmother was in a good mood today. She even ate an extra half bowl of rice at lunch. Make her something easy to digest for dinner, so she won’t have trouble sleeping.”

“Got it.”

Lu Qingyuan wrapped her arms around Mother Lu’s arm and leaned on her affectionately.

Meanwhile, Father Shu and Mother Shu were walking home with smiles on their faces.

“That girl Qingyuan is really good. I’d heard before that the Guangfu Production Team had a wonderful young lady. At the time, I wondered if our third son would be lucky enough to meet her. And now, look at this—he really is!”

Mother Shu was beyond pleased with Lu Qingyuan.

“She’s capable, generous, and doesn’t have a petty nature,” Father Shu also praised. “Bringing a daughter-in-law like her into the family will bring prosperity for three generations.”

Their fourth son’s wife was also a good one. With the siblings and their wives getting along well, their relationship would stay close even after dividing the household.

“That’s right.” Mother Shu nodded repeatedly before turning to her tall, broad-shouldered son. “Beiqiu, you’re going over tomorrow, right?”

Shu Beiqiu nodded. “Mm.”

Father Shu was puzzled. “What’s he going over for tomorrow?”

“You really have a slow mind,” Mother Shu glared at him. “Didn’t you hear when they were playing chess earlier? Your son said he has a chess manual to give Qingyuan for studying.”

“Oh, right!”

Father Shu finally understood, then laughed loudly to cover his embarrassment. “I didn’t expect him to be this eager, delivering it as soon as tomorrow.”

He had thought his son would wait until next month before using this excuse to visit the girl.

“He can’t wait that long.” Knowing her son well, Mother Shu instructed Shu Beiqiu, “Bring some spring bamboo shoots along with you tomorrow as well.”

“Alright,” Shu Beiqiu replied with a smile.

As they arrived at the entrance of the commune, Shu Beiqiu caught sight of Lu Yanyan arguing and tugging at a young man.

Lu Yanyan noticed them as well and even waved at Shu Beiqiu.

Shu Beiqiu gave a polite nod in response before following his parents toward the health clinic to check on Shu Beidong.

“Who is that?”

Seeing Lu Yanyan waving at the tall young man passing by, Tan Chang’an frowned slightly and asked.

“That’s my future cousin-in-law.” Lu Yanyan’s eyes flickered as she deliberately revealed his connection to Lu Qingyuan. “He’s my cousin Lu Qingyuan’s fiancé. They must have just come back from my cousin’s house. I saw them heading there when I was going out.”

Tan Chang’an immediately thought of the young woman he had met for a matchmaking meeting at the state-run restaurant a few days ago.

To be honest, compared to the girl in front of him, that one was more to his liking. Unfortunately, she hadn’t taken a fancy to him.

“Oh.”

Tan Chang’an recalled the tall young man’s appearance. He felt that the man was just a little taller and sturdier than him, dressed in ordinary clothes. His family background couldn’t be as good as his own. He couldn’t figure out what Lu Qingyuan saw in him.

After all, he himself wore Terylene fabric, which wasn’t something one could buy even with ration tickets.

“My cousin already has a fiancé. You said you wanted to be with me, so you can’t be fickle!”

Lu Yanyan spoke bluntly.

“I’m not that kind of person,” Tan Chang’an denied immediately. “Besides, I didn’t take a liking to her when we met, so why would I go after her now?”

What he meant was that he didn’t like Lu Qingyuan, whether Lu Yanyan believed it or not. Either way, she had already held onto him.

“Of course, I believe you. In a while, come to my house and meet my parents…”

Tan Chang’an responded absentmindedly. The moment he heard that man was Lu Qingyuan’s fiancé, he had been feeling displeased.

Then, glancing at Lu Yanyan, who resembled Lu Qingyuan a little, he simply pulled her into his arms.

Lu Yanyan was startled but quickly relaxed and returned his embrace.

They stood at the edge of the grove beside the commune. If people weren’t deliberately looking in, they wouldn’t be seen.

At night, Grandma Lu didn’t eat much. To take better care of her, Mother Lu decided to sleep next to her.

In the middle of the night, Grandma Lu developed a low fever, and Mother Lu quickly noticed.

She was about to wake Father Lu when Grandma Lu grabbed her hand. “I’m fine. Don’t wake them.”

“Mom,” Mother Lu was not in favor of this. “We should go to the county hospital and get you checked.”

“I’m not going,” Grandma Lu shook her head. “I’ll just stay home. I’m not going anywhere. Instead, you and Qingyuan’s father should hurry up and finalize the children’s marriage. Once that’s settled, my heart will be at ease.”

Mother Lu held her mother-in-law’s hand. “I remember. Don’t sleep just yet. I’ll get some warm water so you can take some medicine before resting.”

“Alright.”

This time, Grandma Lu did not refuse.

The next morning, when Mother Lu woke up, she reached out to feel Grandma Lu’s forehead. Finding that the fever had subsided, she let out a sigh of relief.