Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

When the matchmaker, Li, saw that the Yan family members all looked on with suspicion, she smiled and said:

"Teacher Yan, Sister Yang, let me tell you, this girl is a level three fitter at the steel rolling mill, earning a full 42.5 yuan a month. Her father is a level seven fitter, and she has three older brothers who slaughter pigs at the slaughterhouse. They all have formal jobs. If your Yan family marries this girl, you can expect to enjoy a life of luxury."

Hearing such favorable terms, Yan Fugui asked somewhat incredulously, "Matchmaker Li, this girl is so outstanding, how could she have chosen my Jiecheng?"

"Hehe, Teacher Yan, isn't this just fate? They met your Jiecheng and took a liking to him," Matchmaker Li said with a smile.

"By the way, Teacher Yan, Sister Yang, let me tell you about that girl. She's great in every way. She became a level three fitter in just two years at the factory. She's a bit stocky, but don't worry, she's definitely not ugly."

The three women exchanged a glance with Yan Fugui, who nodded. Being sturdy is not a problem; it means he's healthy.

Yan Fugui looked at Yan Jiecheng and asked, "Jiecheng, what's the situation with this girl? Why didn't you tell us before?"

Yan Jiecheng looked at his father, shook his head in bewilderment, and said, "I don't know either."

"Um?"

"Jiecheng, what's going on? The girl has already had a matchmaker come to propose marriage, and you didn't know?"

"Yes, Jiecheng, you really are a bad child. You have a boyfriend and you didn't even tell your parents. Do you know how worried your father and I have been about your marriage lately?" the third aunt said angrily.

"Dad, Mom, I really don't know! I don't know who this girl is, what she looks like, or what her name is. I'm not dating anyone!" Yan Jiecheng hurriedly explained.

Yan Fugui looked at Matchmaker Li with suspicion and asked, "Matchmaker Li, what exactly is going on?"

"Hehe, Teacher Yan, Jie Cheng really doesn't know that girl. It was that girl who took a liking to your Jie Cheng that found out about him and then came to me," Matchmaker Li explained with a smile.

Yan Fugui stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief. After a long while, he looked at Yan Jiecheng and burst into laughter:

"Jiecheng, you're quite something, kid. No wonder you're my son, you're so charming. You've only been in the factory for a few days and girls are already pursuing you."

"Alright, alright, Jiecheng, this girl is such a great catch, you absolutely have to seize the opportunity."

Upon hearing this, the three women laughed excitedly and said "good" three times in a row.

Yan Jiecheng stared blankly at Matchmaker Li. He still couldn't believe it. The girl hadn't even spoken to him, yet she had taken a liking to him. Was he really that charming? And he even had a matchmaker come to his door to propose marriage? This sounded like something out of a novel.

"Aunt Li, you said that girl isn't ugly, but she's a bit sturdy. Can you tell me exactly how sturdy she is?" Yan Jiecheng asked blankly.

"hehe."

Matchmaker Li smiled awkwardly, not bothering to hide it—it was impossible to hide such a thing—and said directly, "He's about the same as Sha Zhu from your courtyard."

"What?"

Yan Fugui, the Third Aunt, Yan Jiecheng, and even Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang all stared wide-eyed, looking as if they had seen a ghost.

Yan Jiecheng looked at his thin frame and weight of less than 120 pounds. Then he thought about how he was similar to Sha Zhu, who was 1.8 meters tall and weighed 180 pounds. If Sha Zhu sat down on him, he would be crushed to death.

"Aunt Li, no, no, I don't agree. I'm so thin, and that girl is so strong. We're not a good match," Yan Jiecheng said hurriedly.

Yan Fugui and the three aunts also frowned. When the matchmaker Li said that the girl was relatively strong, they thought she was just stronger than the average girl, but she shouldn't be this strong. She's about the same size as Sha Zhu. What has she become?

The matchmaker, Li, observed the expressions on the Yan family's faces and said with a smile:

"Teacher Yan, Sister Yang, this girl is a bit sturdy, but she's healthy and smart. Look at her, she's become a level 3 fitter after only two years in the factory. And with her father, a level 7 fitter, teaching her, she'll become a level 8 fitter in a few more years."

"And another thing, her three older brothers all work at the slaughterhouse. You should know how much money they make there. Her three older brothers often bring back pig offal and stuff like that. If Jie Cheng marries that girl, you can imagine what your family's life will be like then."

The third aunt tugged at Yan Fugui's sleeve and whispered, "Old Yan, I think the girl is quite good. It's better than marrying a country girl, right? Don't you think about our family's situation now, and what about Jie Cheng's reputation?"

Yan Fugui nodded calmly and said to Matchmaker Li, "Matchmaker Li, I agree to this. Please arrange a time for the girl to come to our house so that Jiecheng can meet her."

"Dad, I disagree," Yan Jiecheng said hurriedly.

"shut up."

Yan Fugui looked at Yan Jiecheng with a gloomy expression and said coldly, "Jiecheng, don't you know your own situation? Do you want to marry a celestial being?"

"Jiecheng, let me tell you, if you don't marry this girl, you'll have to marry a country girl. Grain prices keep rising, can you afford to support a country wife? Forget about city girls, your reputation has spread to several neighborhoods, it's rare for a girl to be interested in you. With your conditions, what's there to be picky about?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiecheng's face immediately fell.

However, considering that there was no quota for marrying a rural wife and the ever-rising grain prices, he sighed helplessly.

"Dad, I can agree to this marriage, but after we get married, we'll save our own money."

Yan Fugui nodded: "Okay, but each of you two will have to pay five yuan for food every month, and you also have to pay me back ten yuan every month for the 1100 yuan you borrowed from me before."

"no problem."

Seeing that the deal had been reached, the matchmaker smiled and said, "Teacher Yan, Sister Yang, it's settled then. I'll bring the girl to your house in the next couple of days to meet Jie Cheng."

Yan Fugui nodded: "Alright, Matchmaker Li, thank you for your help with this."

"Okay, then I'll head back now."

Take care.

After the matchmaker Li left, Yan Fugui sighed and looked at Yan Jiecheng earnestly, saying:

"Jiecheng, Dad knows you've been wronged by this, but there's nothing we can do. Our family isn't what it used to be. Your dad's life savings have all been stolen. Now, the neighbors in the courtyard know that we used to have more than two thousand yuan. We can't take advantage of the neighbors anymore."

"Also, Jiecheng, if that girl comes to visit in the next couple of days, don't look down on her. Matchmaker Li said that the girl isn't ugly, she's just a bit sturdy."

"Think about it carefully. With a wife who is a level three worker, she might become a level eight worker in the future. Moreover, your father-in-law is a level seven worker. As long as you marry her, both you and our family will have a much better life in the future."

Yan Jiecheng sighed, "Dad, I know, but this girl is about as strong as Sha Zhu. I'm scared just thinking about it! What if we argue someday? Will she beat me to death?"