“This time, you don’t think the families are mismatched, do you?”

Grandma Lu was worried she’d just go through the motions again and then say they weren’t suitable.

“His younger brother works at the commune’s health clinic, while your second brother works at the commune’s supply and marketing cooperative.”

Grandma Lu carefully laid it all out. “He’s a technician at the mechanical factory, holding a stable job, and your eldest brother is a teacher at the commune’s elementary school, which is also a secure position. The families match, don’t they?”

Since school hadn’t started yet, Lu Qingming was at home, helping the family with work.

As for Lu Qingtian, the supply and marketing cooperative was undergoing renovations, so he wouldn’t start work until that was done.

“And as for you,” Grandma Lu raised her hand to smooth a stray lock of Lu Qingyuan’s hair, her face filled with guilt.

“It’s my fault for keeping you at home to take care of me. Otherwise, with your high school education, you could’ve been teaching at the elementary school too.”

“Grandma, don’t say that,” Lu Qingyuan didn’t like hearing her blame herself.

“It’s not that easy to become a teacher. Forget other production teams—even in our own, there are plenty of educated youths eyeing those teaching positions.”

She had only graduated high school half a year ago. Compared to them, she had no experience at all.

“Be honest with me—do you think he’s a good match?”

Grandma Lu looked at her seriously.

Lu Qingyuan didn’t dodge the question. She thought it over carefully before nodding.

“Our families are about the same, which I like. He’s older than me, but as long as he’s honest and hardworking, we can give it a try.”

“He must be honest,” Grandma Lu said with a smile. “Otherwise, why would he focus on work for years without getting involved with anyone?”

“There are plenty of young women in the factory, and many people eager to introduce matches. It shows that when he sets his mind to something, he doesn’t get distracted.”

Lu Qingyuan nodded. That made sense.

“As for being hardworking, I’d say he is. Otherwise, how could he have secured a technician’s salary so quickly? Anyway, when you go meet him, take a good look. Don’t do what you did this morning—barely sitting down before deciding it wasn’t a good match and leaving.”

Grandma Lu had already heard from Fifth Aunt about how short the last meeting was, so she warned her in advance.

Lu Qingyuan nodded again and patted her chest with her fair, slender hand in reassurance.

“I’ll take a proper look this time, Grandma. Don’t worry!”

The meeting was set for eleven o’clock the next morning, at the state-owned restaurant in the commune, where they would sit down for the introduction.

That evening, when Mother Lu and the others returned home and heard that Lu Qingyuan had a matchmaking meeting the next morning, she immediately pulled her into the room for a talk.

She kept repeating what Grandma Lu had said.

“Take. A. Proper. Look!”

“Little Sister, your second brother brought in water for you. Hurry and take a bath!”

Her second sister-in-law called to her from outside.

“Alright, I’m coming!”

Lu Qingyuan quickly got up. “Mom, don’t worry, I’ll really take a good look this time. I’m off to bathe, no more talking!”

With that, she ran out.

Mother Lu snorted and left the room, heading straight to Grandma Lu’s.

“Mother, did Qingyuan say anything about the families not being a good match this time?”

“No, she thinks our conditions are similar and is willing to meet him,” Grandma Lu smiled. “I just hope I can see her get married before I close my eyes.”

Her grandsons had been married for years and already had children, but this little granddaughter—she still worried about her.

“Mother, don’t say that. Haven’t you been in good health lately?”

Mother Lu frowned, disagreeing with her words.

The two had always had a good relationship, and Mother Lu deeply respected her mother-in-law.

“I know my own body. You should focus on Qingyuan,” Grandma Lu sighed, then muttered softly, “Old man, if you can hear me down there, you’d better watch over your little granddaughter. Got it?”

Hearing that, Mother Lu felt a lump in her throat. When her father-in-law was alive, he had been especially kind to the children too.

After taking a bath and drying her hair, Lu Qingyuan lay down in bed, turned over twice, and soon fell asleep.

Early the next morning, as soon as the rooster crowed, the people in the Lu family compound got up.

As usual, Second Uncle Lu and Third Uncle Lu, along with their wives, first came to visit their mother, exchanged a few words with her, then went back to make breakfast. After eating, they headed off to work.

Lu Qingyuan washed the dishes, took out the blankets and clothes that hadn’t dried properly yesterday, and hung them on the iron wire in the courtyard. Then, she washed the clothes she had changed out of last night and hung them up to dry. Afterward, she glanced at the old clock hanging on the wall in the main hall and saw that it was just past eight o’clock. She then walked into Grandma Lu’s room.

“Grandma, do you want to go outside and sit for a while?”

Grandma Lu glared at her, “Don’t worry about me. Hurry up and get yourself ready. You’re meeting someone at eleven, which means you have to leave by ten!”

It was a half-hour journey, and arriving half an hour early was necessary in case the other party arrived early. It wouldn’t be good to keep them waiting.

“There’s nothing much to prepare,” Lu Qingyuan said with a smile. “Didn’t you always say that your granddaughter is the prettiest girl in the entire production team, even with a face covered in dust?”

“That’s true,” Grandma Lu chuckled and looked at her granddaughter.

Two black braids draped over her chest, her delicate features looked as if they had been painted, and the light green high-collared spring blouse complemented her figure perfectly.

“The clothes your sister-in-law made suit you well. They make your complexion look even better and highlight your figure too.”

Grandma Lu was very satisfied with her eldest grandson’s wife’s sewing skills.

Since Grandma Lu didn’t want to go outside, Lu Qingyuan swept the courtyard, then reminded the two little ones about a few things.

Just as she was speaking, Third Uncle Lu’s son, Lu Qingjun, stepped out of the house.

“Sister Qingyuan, I’ll take care of Grandma. You can go to your blind date without worries!”

Lu Qingyuan looked up and saw his messy, bedhead-like hair sticking up all over the place. “You just got up?”

“Yeah, I stayed up late last night picking beans,” Lu Qingjun dodged as the little ones reached out with their dirty hands.

“There’s still some sweet potato and mung bean porridge left. Go wash your face and brush your teeth, and I’ll scoop some for you.”

Lu Qingyuan turned and headed to the kitchen.

Lu Qingjun grinned and ran off to freshen up.

Jiasheng and Lusheng followed their youngest uncle, shouting—

“Lazy bug! Lazy bug!”

“The sun’s already high, and you’re just getting up. Lazy bug!”

“When you reach my age and have to stay up late, you’ll understand just how good it feels to sleep in!”

Lu Qingjun called back as he walked.

When it was almost time, Lu Qingyuan headed to the crossroads to wait for Fifth Aunt.

Fifth Aunt hurried over, flustered. “Aiya, Yanyan had a fever last night. She only finally got better this morning.”

“Then, Aunt, I can go by myself. You should stay home and take care of Yanyan.”

Hearing that Lu Yanyan was sick, Lu Qingyuan quickly suggested.

“No need, she’s fine now.” Fifth Aunt smiled and took her arm. “Let’s go.”

“Should we buy some medicine on the way back?”

“If she’s fine, then we won’t buy any. If I bring back medicine, her grandma will start nagging again, saying things like, ‘She’s not even sick yet, and you’re already buying medicine. Who are you cursing?'”

Fifth Aunt mimicked her mother-in-law’s sharp, harsh tone, making Lu Qingyuan laugh.

If Mother Lu and Grandma Lu got along well as mother and daughter-in-law, then Fifth Aunt and her mother-in-law were the complete opposite.

It was mainly because the old lady didn’t like her daughters-in-law and strongly favored sons over daughters.

Because of her attitude, Lu Qingyuan had rarely gone to Fifth Aunt’s courtyard to play since she was young.

Just as they arrived at the entrance of the commune, while Fifth Aunt was helping Lu Qingyuan fix a loose strand of hair, she spotted someone walking out from the small path behind the health clinic.

“Aiyo, that young man sure came early.”

She gestured for Lu Qingyuan to look. “That’s Shu Beiqiu.”

Lu Qingyuan looked up and saw a tall figure approaching. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His features weren’t the delicate, refined kind but rather firm and resolute, yet they still carried a touch of warmth.

“So, so tall…”

Lu Qingyuan’s small mouth slightly parted as she blinked her almond-shaped eyes, staring at the approaching man.

“He’s about 1.9 meters tall, without shoes.”

Fifth Aunt said proudly, “I made sure to check.”

“Auntie, Comrade Lu, hello. I’m Shu Beiqiu.”

Shu Beiqiu greeted them, his voice deep and pleasant to the ear.

Lu Qingyuan greeted him back, unable to take her eyes off him.

She felt like he looked a little familiar.

“Alright, alright, you two chat. I’ll take a walk around.”

Fifth Aunt winked at Lu Qingyuan before slipping away.

Shu Beiqiu started a conversation, and Lu Qingyuan responded as they walked side by side toward the state-run restaurant.

Inside, they picked a table by the window.

They ordered a pot of tea and two plates of snacks.

“Do you have something you want to ask me?”

Shu Beiqiu poured tea for Lu Qingyuan and smiled.

“Mm, I feel like you look really familiar,” Lu Qingyuan pursed her lips slightly in embarrassment. “But I can’t remember where I’ve seen you before.”

Hearing this, Shu Beiqiu couldn’t help but smile. Looking at the girl who had grown even more beautiful over the years, he said softly, “Three years ago, we met at the department store in the county.”