Chapter 77: Educated Youth Who Abandoned His Wife and Child – 8

“What? Our girl’s seeing someone?” Liu Yanyun, snapping out of her daze, was overjoyed. “Whose son is it? Tell me, sweetheart.”

Seeing that she was too shy to speak, she grabbed Su Mingyue’s hand and reassured her, “You’re already grown up, dating is a good thing. Don’t be afraid of your father—your mother’s here.”

Brigade Leader Su curled his lips. “Go ahead, go ahead, let’s see if your mother gets mad.”

Liu Yanyun glared at him again. Though he was dissatisfied, the long-standing “tyranny” of his wife made him obediently shut up.

Seeing this, Su Mingyue finally spoke up. “It’s Shen Xiuyan…”

“Which Shen Xiuyan? Whose boy is he? That name doesn’t sound familiar at all,” Liu Yanyun frowned, trying to recall, but couldn’t think of anyone by that name.

Brigade Leader Su added, “The educated youth who came to the village last year.”

“What???” Liu Yanyun was shocked. “You mean that educated youth who fainted the moment he started working?!”

“That’s the one.”

Brigade Leader Su looked smug. See? She’s just as shocked as I was.

Anyone would have a hard time accepting this. Come on, be mad with me!

After all, a kid like that—can’t lift, can’t carry—if their daughter marries him, she’s bound to starve.

“Aiya, my poor daughter, how could you make such a foolish decision…” The familiar tone rang out once again.

Su Mingyue pouted, on the verge of tears.

Seeing her like this, Liu Yanyun realized immediately—her daughter had fallen hard.

Who knew her daughter better than she did? Stubborn as a mule—once she’s set her mind on something, not even eight oxen could pull her back.

The priority now was to take a good look at Shen Xiuyan’s character.

As for his weak health—well, they only had this one child, and she and her husband were still in good shape. If things really worked out, they could help out and make ends meet.

Having calmed herself, she sighed. “Do you really like him that much?”

“Mhm.”

“There’s no one else for you?”

“Mhm.”

“What does he think about all this?”

Su Mingyue blushed. “He wants to marry me.”

“Aiya~ is that true?”

“It is,” Su Mingyue nodded firmly.

“Alright then, go back to your room. Your father and I need to talk.” Liu Yanyun waved her off. Though anxious, Su Mingyue could only return to her room, full of apprehension.

Brigade Leader Su was already stunned on the side. His wife’s reaction was not right.

How could she be so calm?

She hadn’t said a single harsh word.

Watching their daughter reluctantly head back inside, Liu Yanyun sat at the corner of the table. “Let’s talk.”

Brigade Leader Su was still processing. “Talk about what?”

“What do you think about this thing between our daughter and Shen Xiuyan?”

“Of course I don’t approve!” Brigade Leader Su slammed the table. “That Shen Xiuyan—looks decent, sure, but that’s it. He’s not built for labor at all. If our daughter marries him, she’ll work herself to the bone!”

Watching him get more agitated by the second, Liu Yanyun merely cast him a glance—and he immediately deflated.

He chuckled sheepishly. “You say it, you say it—I’ll listen to you.”

Liu Yanyun cleared her throat. “You know our daughter’s temper. Once she’s decided, even eight oxen can’t drag her back.”

“Well—but she can’t just decide like this, can she…” Brigade Leader Su was uncertain now, not sure what his wife really meant.

“How much do you know about this Shen Xiuyan?”

Brigade Leader Su thought for a moment. “Well, with how he looks, from the very first day he came down to the village, all the little girls were following him around. But I never saw him act especially friendly with any of them—not even Huaizi, the prettiest girl in the village. He barely spoke a word to her.”

“Oh? Then tell me—how did he end up liking our daughter?”

Liu Yanyun was self-aware. Her daughter was dark-skinned, though her features weren’t bad.

But compared to the young girls like Huaizi, she didn’t stand a chance. Could Shen Xiuyan have ulterior motives?

Brigade Leader Su sighed. “I don’t get it either. I was just thinking about it. At first, I thought he was trying to use my position to get an easier job. But if it was just about that, he wouldn’t need to go so far as to marry our daughter…”

“True. Looking at it that way, there’s nothing much he could gain from us,” Liu Yanyun changed tone. “So is it possible he genuinely likes our girl?”

Brigade Leader Su nodded. “That must be it. Our girl’s not bad at all—aside from being a little dark, she’s quick with chores and very filial. You can’t fault her character. She’s far better than that lazy, greedy Huaizi who thinks being pretty is enough.”

“Alright then. Let’s keep going. Besides his poor health, what other flaws does this Shen Xiuyan have?”

That question stumped Brigade Leader Su. After thinking hard for a long while, he finally squeezed out, “There… really aren’t any…”

Liu Yanyun raised her brow, prompting him to go on.

Reluctantly, Brigade Leader Su continued, “First off, he’s a city boy. Before coming down here, he was a proper high school student—a real intellectual. I heard he only has one older brother, and his family’s work unit isn’t bad. And even though he’s good-looking, he hasn’t been involved in any gossip with any of the girls in the village. With that kind of personality, I don’t think we’d have to worry about him fooling around after marriage.”

“Mhm, sounds like he’s actually a decent match.”

Brigade Leader Su was startled. “But his health isn’t good!”

Liu Yanyun waved it off. “That’s a small issue. I don’t think he did much manual labor before coming here. This sudden shift is probably just too much for his body to handle. But from his complexion, he doesn’t look sick.”

“And besides, I’ve thought about it. We only have Mingyue. At worst, after they get married, we help them out more. You and I are still healthy—working another ten years is no problem. By then, they’ll be able to stand on their own.”

Hearing this, Brigade Leader Su wavered a bit. True, aside from the health issue, Shen Xiuyan really did seem like a good match.

At least he was better than the village boys—not one of whom was worthy of their daughter.

Still, he felt bitter.

How did this brat manage to win his daughter’s heart right under his nose?

After raising her for twenty hard years, his precious cabbage had been snatched by a pig.

He was just plain pissed.

“Alright then. I’ll call that Shen Xiuyan boy over tomorrow and have a talk. See what he’s really thinking. You’re better at reading people than me—if he’s hiding anything, you’ll spot it right away.”

Liu Yanyun nodded. “Alright. I’ll go get our girl to come eat.”

“I’ll go. You heat up the meat.” Brigade Leader Su nudged the lunch box on the table.

Only then did Liu Yanyun notice it. She was surprised. “Where did this meat come from?”