Chapter 16: Talking About Marriage

The brilliant morning glow rose over golden Beijing…

Chen Xianglan hummed a song while turning her body to set the bowls and chopsticks.

Lu Beitang glared, "I was asking you a question; you finished it all in one go, and at the end of this month you'll be drinking the north wind."

Having her good mood disturbed, Chen Xianglan snapped her chopsticks, "I'm in a good mood today; don't provoke me. If you don't want to eat, you can skip it."

"Every day you attend to the younger one, and also have to attend to your elder; when we get home you have not a single kind word, and you even give me a sour look."

Lu Beitang was left without a temper.

"No, I didn't say anything either; the point is this is out of season, we can't do it like that."

Seeing her husband soften his tone, Chen Xianglan finally explained patiently, "Your son worked today; can't we celebrate him a little?"

"By the way, you have no idea how embarrassed I am today; I wore Lu Cheng's clothes and walked around Hu Tong Li, and Li Aunt and the others didn't even dare to pass gas."

Lu Beitang shook his head slightly, "Is it really necessary? They're just neighbors; don't do that in the future, you'll become a laughingstock."

Lu Beitang picked up his chopsticks, about to take a bite of vegetables, when Chen Xianglan shouted at him.

"Lu Beitang, don't provoke me; on what grounds is my son being spoken about by them?"

Lu Beitang dared not speak up, and ate with his head down.

"What's up, what's up, dad and mom, why are you two arguing again?"

Lu Cheng remembered clearly that both parents have strong tempers and have been quarreling all their lives.

But despite the fighting, the old comrades who have been through the revolutionary era still have feelings.

He recalled the day his mother died in his previous life: his father wouldn't let anyone near, clutched his mother's hand through the night, speaking only of memories, and at dawn his father also passed away peacefully.

"Eat, eat, I'm fed up," Chen Xianglan said, picking at the vegetables by herself.

Lu Ying tossed her hair and jumped into the Main Hall, "Mom, dad provoked you again, so I have good news to make you happy."

Chen Xianglan didn't even lift her head, "There's no news now that can make me happy; from now on I just hope you find a good marriage, San'er can marry a wife, and our family will be complete."

Lu Ying laughed, "That's perfect; I'm talking about Lu Cheng getting a wife."

Chen Xianglan raised her head, "Hmm, San'er now has a job, he's nineteen this year, it's time to arrange a wife in advance. In the next few days I'll find time to go to Hu Grandma's house next door in Hu Tong and have her help set one up."

Lu Cheng spent the whole time cooking; it's rare that dinner is this lavish. Usually they eat frugally, otherwise by month's end the rationed grain would run out and they'd have to buy some sorghum flour on the black market to stretch it.

As for marrying Lin Qingyan, it would be most appropriate for the older sister to bring it up.

Lu Cheng deliberately picked up a piece of braised pork, bit off the lean part at the front, and gave the remaining fatty meat to his sister.

These days, fatty meat is the good stuff.

It's rare for the younger brother to be so sensible; Lu Ying must take it to heart.

"Mom, you don't need to look for Hu Grandma; Lu Cheng has already found a wife himself."

Chen Xianglan was completely indifferent, "What could he possibly find? He spends his days chatting aimlessly with people, without any care. This time we're using the Railway Bureau Train Police position; I let Hu Grandma find someone a bit better, at most we just give her a little more."

Lu Ying deliberately asked, "So Mom, what kind of daughter‑in‑law do you think makes a good wife?"

Regarding this question, Chen Xianglan actually thought about it seriously.

"Our San'er has a quick temper; we definitely can't find another strong‑willed one, otherwise it'll be like me and your dad, each refusing the other, fighting every day."

Lu Cheng added, "Mom, you really have good self‑awareness."

"Go, go, go, I'm talking about you! With your temperament, you need someone gentle and considerate, mainly kind and filial; looks don't matter at all."

Lu Cheng sighed, "Alright, old mother pig, considerate, just go ahead and bring one over for me."

Chen Xianglan tapped with her chopsticks.

Lu Ying then said, "Mom, what you said fits Qing Yan quite well."

"Qing Yan?" Chen Xianglan lost interest in eating, "She's a good girl. These days, you should go visit her, bring her some food; this kid's fate is too hard."

Lu Beitang also dropped his chopsticks, stood up, and pulled a Great Unity from his coat.

"Ying Ying, here's ten coins; you take them to Qing Yan. Back then your Uncle Lin was kind to us; now his family is in trouble, we can't add insult to injury."

Seeing both parents so concerned about Lin Qingyan, Lu Ying felt reassured.

"Dad, Mom, since you both care so much about Qing Yan, why not just have her marry into our family?"

Chen Xianglan shook her head, "Don't talk nonsense. What status does that family have? Your Uncle Lin was a high official, now he's fallen on hard times, but Qing Yan is a very pretty girl—who would she marry? Could she possibly marry that stinky kid?"

As for the eldest in her family, there's no need to mention it.

Because he was sent down to the South, a local family took special care of him; out of gratitude, the eldest married that family's daughter.

Lu Cheng took over, "Mom, why is marrying me not okay? Your son isn't lacking either."

Chen Xianglan rolled her eyes, "Yes, you're not lacking, but with your temperament, Qing Yan won't look up to you. Besides, she's two years older than you."

"A woman three years older brings a gold brick; being two years older is nothing."

"I of course know it's fine; I even dream of Qing Yan becoming my daughter‑in‑law. The point is she's well‑educated and courteous; when it comes to who, it certainly isn't you."

In outsiders' eyes, anyone could claim the son isn't… Chen Xianglan can argue with people, but regarding how the son actually is, she still has self‑awareness.

The two are fundamentally mismatched.

Lu Ying took a bite of vegetables and said, "But Mom, Qing Yan has already agreed."

"Agreed to what?"

"She agreed to marry your third son."

"Impossible," Chen Xianglan said, not believing, "You're just trying to coax me with words."

"Mom, Lu Cheng said that; you may not believe it. When I speak, you still don't believe me."

Seeing her daughter look earnest, Chen Xianglan finally asked tentatively, "Is what you said true?"

"Bang," with a thud, Lu Beitang slapped the table, "Well done, Lu Cheng, you're provoking Qing Yan again? She's Uncle Lin's daughter, and you dare…"

"Dad, I…" Lu Cheng felt a bit guilty; if his father found out he had kissed Lin Qingyan, this meal would definitely be ruined.

"Dad, don't get worked up; it's not as you think. Qing Yan's family is in a tough spot; marrying into our family would improve their life a bit."

Lu Beitang sighs, "I of course know the difficulty; this isn't just about you taking money to help a bit. If it really can't work, you can also come to our house to eat and stay; I'll raise her as my daughter."

"Dad, you know Qing Yan's temperament; if she comes to our house for no reason, she'll think it affects our family."

"And now the Street Office insists on sending her to the countryside for labor; only by marrying Lu Cheng can the influence brought by Uncle Lin be eliminated."

Lu Beitang unconsciously nods, "That's true; my ancestors for three generations were poor farmers, pure and proper, their urine is even redder than their blood."

Lu Ying brightens, "So that means, Dad, you have agreed."

Lu Beitang glances, spreads his hands, "This isn't about whether I agree or not; will Qing Yan agree?"

"I just said earlier that Qing Yan has already agreed; otherwise I wouldn't have spoken out."

Chen Xianglan pulls her husband aside, sits beside her daughter, "Qing Yan truly wants to marry Lu Cheng; what did she say?"

Lu Ying laughs and replies, "Well, there's not much to say; we just need to find a matchmaker on our side."

"Find one, definitely find one, we'll find Xu Erye." Chen Xianglan becomes happy, "This stinky kid, does he even have such luck?"

Lin Qingyan can be said to have been raised by her; not to mention she is learned and well‑mannered, and she has been a model child since she was young.

After the meal, Lu Cheng bought tobacco and alcohol from a side‑dish shop, then went to look for Xu Erye.