Chapter 7: Proposing Marriage

Shen Chuning had intended to wake up early, but spoiled by her father and brothers, she was used to sleeping in.

She was only awakened by the lively sounds from the courtyard outside.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the bright sunlight, the sun already high in the sky.

At this time, the villagers would have finished their morning work in the cool air and gone home for breakfast.

Lin Shulan also took advantage of this time to quickly call three familiar aunties and the village women’s director to go to the Shen family’s home.

Father Shen and Shen Zhengxu, Shen Zhengliang had just returned from work when they saw several aunties and the women’s director coming.

The three men’s hearts sank. Had something happened to Ningning last night?

“Old Shen, Zhengxu, Zhengliang, you’re back just in time. Good news has arrived!” The women’s director, Lü Xiaohong, said with a joyful expression to the Shen family’s father and sons.

Lin Shulan had already asked her to be the matchmaker on the way here, so she had to be the one to speak.

The three Shen men were stunned, but their faces showed no joy.

They knew that their sister had been chasing after that educated youth.

Although they didn’t like that educated youth, their daughter (sister) was very stubborn, and they couldn’t do anything about it.

They had planned to wait a while, until Shen Chuning’s infatuation with Chen Ziyun passed, before talking to her properly.  Unexpectedly…

Shen Zhengrong, shirtless and carrying water, had a face as dark as if it were about to rain.

He didn’t even greet the women’s director and the aunties before going straight into the house.

Lü Xiaohong looked at Shen Zhengrong’s strong muscles and was a little surprised, “Old Shen, this child…”

Of the four Shen children, except for the spoiled Shen Chuning, the three boys were all excellent children warm-hearted, honest, polite, hardworking, and politically conscious.

Especially the third son, who had joined the army with the Zhou family’s children and become a glorious officer.

Father Shen smiled helplessly, “Director Lü, aunties, please come in and sit!”

Lü Xiaohong and Lin Shulan entered the Shen family’s house and sat down.

Before anyone could speak, Father Shen sighed, “Director Lü, you’re here for Ningning’s marriage, right?”

Lü Xiaohong had already sensed that the atmosphere in the Shen family was wrong.

When they entered, she and Lin Shulan exchanged glances.

But Lin Shulan didn’t know what was going on.

Her son had clearly said last night that he had discussed it with Shen Chuning.

Seeing Father Shen’s worried expression, Lü Xiaohong quickly smiled to ease the atmosphere, “Old Shen, we all know you cherish your daughter, it’s normal that you’re reluctant. But men marry and women marry.  No matter how reluctant you are, you can’t delay your children’s marriage, right?”

Her words weren’t just about Shen Chuning’s marriage.

It was also about the three Shen brothers’ marriages.

The three Shen brothers were all good, so why weren’t they married yet?

It was because of Shen Chuning, their sister.

With such a pampered sister, everyone was afraid that their daughter would be bullied by her sister-in-law if she married into the Shen family.  Therefore, many girls had liked the three Shen brothers over the years, but no one dared to marry into the family.

At this time, Shen Zhengxu and Shen Zhengliang had already heard about what happened last night from Shen Zhengrong.

The two were so angry they wanted to kill Chen Ziyun, that bastard.

Hearing the women’s director’s words, Shen Zhengxu clenched his fists and rushed out of the house, “Auntie Lu, you don’t need to say anymore, Ningning won’t marry!”

Shen Zhengliang also said, “Let others say whatever they want about Ningning. We, her brothers, will support her for a lifetime, and we won’t let her marry such a bastard!”

As soon as the two brothers said this, Lu Xiaohong, Lin Shulan, and the other three aunties looked at each other.

Lin Shulan was so angry she was about to explode.

Her son was tall and handsome, an officer in the army, and his rank was even higher than Shen Zhengrong’s. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he was the most promising young man in the area.

Even if Shen Chuning was a celestial being, her son was worthy of her!

Now, she was being scolded by the Shen brothers, which she couldn’t tolerate. She stood up and retorted, “Yes, yes, your sister is a celestial being, we ordinary people are not worthy. If we’re not worthy, then we won’t pursue it, is that okay?”

Shen Chuning, hearing the commotion in the room, saw the situation was not good and quickly rushed out to stop Lin Shulan, “Auntie, wait a moment. My brothers must have some misunderstanding…”

“What misunderstanding? No misunderstanding! You want to marry that useless, womanizing Chen Ziyun, don’t even think about it!”

As soon as Shen Zhengxu said this, the room fell silent.

After a while, Lu Xiaohong reacted first, clapping her hands, “Oh my, this is a misunderstanding! Who told you we were here to propose marriage for Chen Ziyun? We’re here to propose marriage for Shulan’s third son!”

The Shen family father and sons looked at each other in astonishment.

Shen Zhengrong’s jaw dropped.

“Auntie Lu, who are you proposing marriage for my sister?”

Lü Xiaohong reproached him, “Zhou Yubai, the third son of the Zhou family, your good comrade!”

The three brothers came to their senses, hurriedly moving chairs and seating the aunties, “Aunties, please sit, please sit.”

“We brothers were ignorant and reckless just now. Please be generous and don’t mind us.”

Shen Zhengliang was especially embarrassed towards Lin Shulan, “Auntie, I really didn’t know… What I said just now wasn’t directed at Zhou Yubai, it was directed at…

Please have some tea and calm down.”

He awkwardly offered Lin Shulan some tea.

Although Lin Shulan wasn’t very satisfied with Shen Chuning, her son liked her.

Moreover, she had watched the Shen children grow up, and they were all unfortunate children.  Knowing it was a misunderstanding, she, as an elder, wouldn’t argue with the younger generation.

After drinking Shen Zhengliang’s tea, she said, “Now that there’s no misunderstanding, you won’t stop it, right?”

The three Shen brothers repeatedly waved their hands, “No, no.”

Shen Chuning felt embarrassed to listen to the elders discussing her marriage, blushing and saying, “Dad, brothers, aunties, you’ve just finished work and haven’t eaten yet, I’ll get you something to eat.”

After saying this, she quickly ran into the kitchen.

Lu Xiaohong teased, “Ningning has grown up, she’s even shy now.”

The three Shen brothers’ faces changed slightly.

Their sister had never done any housework, how could she cook?

Don’t let her burn down the kitchen; that would be embarrassing, and it would be even worse if she displeased her future mother-in-law.

Shen Zhengxu gave Shen Zhengliang a look, and Shen Zhengliang quickly said, “Dad, Big Brother, you chat with the aunties, I’ll go help Ningning.”

“Me too,” Shen Zhengrong also stood up.