"You two little fellows want to compete with me? Wait a few more years!" Chen Zi'an laughed heartily, his movements swift.
Su Changjiu and Accountant Li both wanted to greet Chen Zi'an. It was rare to have such a high-ranking leader visit; how could they not curry favor?
Who would have thought this leader would be so approachable? In the blink of an eye, he was already up the tree.
They could only crane their necks to watch.
"Minister Chen, you are the guest. How can we let you pick pears? Please come down quickly!" Accountant Li's eyes darted around as he said this obsequiously.
"What? Am I such a big man that I can't even pick a fruit?" Chen Zi'an said dismissively.
Today was the perfect opportunity. He didn't need to find any other excuses to make an impression on his future father-in-law and mother-in-law. What a stroke of luck!
This Accountant Li was truly clueless.
Accountant Li had no idea that Chen Zi'an was trying to impress his future mother-in-law.
He was genuinely worried about what would happen if the leader fell from the tree.
Su Changjiu found Chen Zi'an's behavior utterly baffling. This was not a man known for his good temper, so why was he acting so down-to-earth?
He looked thoughtfully at the Su family members, who also wore expressions of bewilderment.
Although Chen Zi'an was a leader, his agility had to be praised. His speed in picking fruit alone was comparable to that of two or three people.
The men of the Su family, unwilling to be outdone, felt they couldn't be surpassed by someone from the city.
After exchanging glances, the Su family members, with a surge of competitive spirit, also quickened their pace in picking fruit.
With the capable Su Manxiu helping from below, the Su family's tree was picked the fastest.
"Be careful, don't just rush," Grandma Su called out worriedly.
"Mom, we know. Don't worry, it's not our first year climbing trees," Old Third Su replied loudly, his movements not slowing.
Soon, all the fruit from the trees was gathered on the ground, forming small piles.
At this point, the trees of other families still had a good portion of fruit left, but the Old Su family was already finishing up.
The other commune members watched with genuine envy.
"This is the benefit of having many sons!" Granny Chang exclaimed sentimentally. "No wonder I always wish for a grandson. Look at the Old Su family, isn't it great to have so many grandsons?"
Granny Chang's daughters-in-law remained silent but were envious in their hearts.
As they spoke, they saw the Old Su family members climbing down from the trees.
"Let's help pick the fruit from the educated youths' tree too!" Grandma Su said, beaming at their impressive harvest.
These two educated youth were teachers at the school, and their children were all attending classes.
Doing this was also a way to show them respect.
The female teacher looked at the tall and handsome Chen Zi'an, and upon hearing that he was a county leader, she couldn't help but steal glances at him, her face blushing.
Just one glance sent her heart racing like a startled deer.
The female teacher's name was Sang Chunlan, a young woman from the big city.
She considered herself well-traveled, but now she felt that even in the big city, she had never seen such a handsome and tall man.
Most importantly, this tall and handsome man was a leader.
To be a leader and yet so approachable suggested he was a gentle and considerate person.
She wondered if he was married. If not, she thought she might have a chance.
Sang Chunlan had been an educated youth in Hongxin Brigade for six or seven years. She was sixteen when she arrived and was now a twenty-three-year-old young woman.
Marriage was her most important concern.
There were matchmakers in the brigade, but she didn't want to spend her life in the countryside, so she refused.
She hoped to return to the city one day, but as time passed, she felt her chances of returning grew slimmer.
She desperately hoped to find a partner who could help her return to the city, and Chen Zi'an's appearance gave her that possibility.
On the other side, Kang Yiye also looked at Chen Zi'an with starry eyes.
Such a handsome man outshone everyone in the entire brigade. If she could have something with such a man, she would be content.
To be honest, the men in the brigade were smelly. If it weren't for the practical benefits, she would truly be unwilling to associate with such men.
No, she was determined to ensnare this man. If she could hook up with him, her future would be secured.
Kang Yiye's gaze flickered, and she kept looking in the direction of the Old Su family.
Chen Zi'an's eyes were filled with Su Manxiu, and he paid no attention to anyone else.
Little did he know that two female educated youths had developed improper feelings for him.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaotian was also observing Su Manxiu and Chen Zi'an.
She felt that these two were different from their previous interactions.
Especially Chen Zi'an, the look in his eyes when he looked at Su Manxiu was filled with deep affection.
These two had definitely done something. Don't ask her how she, at such a young age, knew so much, because she knew it from her previous life.
Su Xiaotian asked the old pear tree, but the old pear tree knew nothing.
It was knowledgeable, but as a tree, it truly didn't understand human emotions!
Su Xiaotian felt speechless.
The Su family picked two trees' worth of pears, and it was still early, with a significant amount of time before sunset.
Since today's task was assigned, Su Changjiu couldn't let the Old Su family help others. He simply suggested that the Su family go home to entertain Minister Chen.
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su then took Chen Zi'an and Su Manxiu home.
However, the other members of the family continued to help in the pear orchard.
Su Changjiu agreed with this.
Everyone working together and helping each other was a positive attitude.
But Minister Chen was a county leader, and they didn't have the face to let the leader continue helping the commune members pick fruit.
Chen Zi'an took quite a few gifts from the car – cigarettes, alcohol, tea, and sweets, all in duplicate. In addition, there were pastries and dried fruits.
His hands were laden with various items.
Grandma Su smiled and said, "Our Xiu'er has troubled Minister Chen a lot during this time, and we are already very grateful. How can we accept these things from Minister Chen? Please take them back; they are precious items, not something people like us can enjoy."
Grandma Su was truly grateful to Chen Zi'an.
How could she not be grateful? If Chen Zi'an hadn't taken Su Manxiu to the city, how much pressure would Su Manxiu have faced staying at home?
Chen Zi'an shook his head resolutely, but since they were still outside, he couldn't say much. He simply followed the Old Su family home with determined steps.
Seeing that Grandma Su wouldn't be persuaded, she had to ask Su Manxiu to help carry the items.
Chen Zi'an still refused, insisting on carrying the large pile of items himself.
They continued all the way to the main hall of the Old Su family's house.
Grandpa Su repeatedly invited Chen Zi'an to sit down, but Chen Zi'an refused.
He placed the gifts he brought on the table in the main hall and then stood respectfully before the elders.
"Minister Chen, do you have something important to discuss with us today?" Grandma Su asked.
Could it be that he wanted their family to do something else for him?
"Minister Chen, if you have something to say, please speak up. If this old man can do it, I will certainly do it."
"Auntie, I've come today to tell you and Uncle something. You must accept these gifts, no matter what, otherwise, I wouldn't dare to speak."
Alright, the word "dare" was indeed true. Chen Zi'an never expected to be so timid in his life.
Grandpa Su looked at Chen Zi'an and remained silent.
Grandma Su looked at Chen Zi'an, then at Su Manxiu, her mouth agape in surprise.
Could it be that Chen Zi'an had done something to wrong Su Manxiu? Had he ruined the girl?
Don't blame Grandma Su for not thinking of them being in love; it was simply because Chen Zi'an was too outstanding, and her daughter was divorced and unable to have children.
In Grandma Su's opinion, most men wouldn't fancy someone like that unless they were widowed with children.
"Xiu'er, what happened between you two?" Grandma Su's voice trembled slightly.
It was already difficult enough for one daughter to be divorced; if she were ruined by someone, it would be even harder.
She couldn't help but wipe away a tear. Her poor daughter.
If she had known, she would have kept the girl at home; it would have been better than this!
"Mom, it's nothing. No, it's not nothing, it's something!" Su Manxiu stammered, her words disjointed.
This was also the first time she had spoken about such a matter. When she married Wang Gouzi, her family hadn't even asked for her opinion, let alone expected her to speak about marriage.
Chen Zi'an calmly tugged at Su Manxiu and said, "Uncle, Auntie, I've brought Xiu'er today because I want to ask you to marry Xiu'er to me."
What?
Grandpa Su's old pipe dropped to the ground, and Grandma Su, halfway through wiping her tears, forgot to continue.
"What did you say? Minister Chen?"
"I want to ask you elders to marry Xiu'er to me!" Chen Zi'an repeated, his tone very steady, without a hint of flippancy.
Grandma Su pondered and replayed his words, thinking she might have misheard.
This was impossible. As a mother, she knew her daughter's circumstances well.
Grandpa Su finally came to his senses and said directly, "We cannot agree!"
Chen Zi'an hadn't expected Grandpa Su to refuse so bluntly.
Was he not good enough? They could look favorably upon someone like Wang Gouzi, so why not him?
Chen Zi'an felt struck. Regardless, he felt he was much better than Wang Gouzi.
"Uncle, if there's anything about me that's not good, please tell me, and I'll change!" Chen Zi'an said sincerely.
"The disparity is too great!"
Grandma Su also finally reacted. No wonder the gifts Chen Zi'an brought were different from usual – the four betrothal gifts, all present, and in duplicate.
Such solemnity; it turned out he was here to propose.
But why would a talent like Chen Zi'an fancy her daughter, who had nothing?
"Minister Chen, we are just farmers, and Xiu'er is divorced. She is not worthy of Minister Chen."
Although Grandma Su wanted her daughter to find a good home and live well, she had never imagined finding someone like this.
"She is worthy. Xiu'er is diligent, simple, and kind. She is more than enough for me."
In Chen Zi'an's heart, Su Manxiu was a perfect woman!
Grandma Su wanted to say that no matter how good she was, it couldn't make up for her inability to have children, but she couldn't say it in front of her daughter.
As a mother, who could bear to stab her daughter's heart?
"Minister Chen, marriage requires matching social status!" Grandpa Su said. "We in the Old Su family appreciate your kindness, but our daughter cannot marry you. Xiu'er will not go to the county town anymore; she will stay at home!"
Su Manxiu was stunned. Her father opposed it so strongly that he wouldn't even let her work in the county town?
During her time in the city, she felt quite at ease and felt that she was finally living like a human being.
"Dad!" Su Manxiu called out urgently.
"Xiu'er, Dad is doing this for your own good."
Grandpa Su looked deeply at his daughter, hoping she wasn't foolish and would understand his intentions, and wouldn't resent him as a father for rejecting this marriage.
"Uncle, Auntie, I know what you're worried about, and I've already discussed this issue with Xiu'er. Not having children is not a big deal. As long as we can support each other for a lifetime, it's enough to live our lives." Chen Zi'an said, looking affectionately at Su Manxiu.
"If Xiu'er likes children, we can adopt one in a couple of years. If Xiu'er doesn't like it, we can just live as a couple; I have no objections."
"Uncle, our family did have some background in the past, but times have changed, and that's all in the past. I lost my parents when I was a teenager and served in the army, following an old commander. My family background is clean, and our families are not mismatched."
"Most importantly, I like Xiu'er as a person. I pity her for enduring so much hardship in the past, and I only want to cherish her and let her live a peaceful life from now on."
"You are still young and don't understand the gravity of the situation. If you regret it after getting married, it will be too late!" Grandma Su said, wiping her tears.
Manxiu had already been divorced once. If she divorced again, there would truly be no way out.
Society had a deep animosity towards women, and she knew it too well.
"I am thirty-four this year, and Xiu'er is twenty-nine. We are not young anymore. Auntie, I have already thought through everything you said."
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su fell silent. They didn't know whether to believe Chen Zi'an.
After all, they had never imagined such a day would come.
When the rest of the Su family returned, they saw this scene.
For a moment, everyone in the Su family stood frozen in the yard, not knowing what to say.
Chen Zi'an was here to propose?
A high-ranking leader was proposing to Su Manxiu, a divorced woman who couldn't have children?
It seemed impossible no matter how you thought about it!
Most importantly, not only did the Su family return, but several other people also returned with them.
Among them were Su Changjiu, Accountant Li, and the two teachers from the school.
Su Changjiu and Accountant Li, as leaders of the brigade, naturally gravitated towards the leader.
But the arrival of the two teachers was somewhat strange.
Coincidentally, the four outsiders overheard Chen Zi'an's words and were caught in an awkward position.
Sang Chunlan's face turned pale. She had come to the Su family primarily to ask Grandma Su to inquire about Chen Zi'an's intentions.
She had taken a liking to Chen Zi'an and hoped to create an opportunity for herself.
However, the moment she entered, she heard Chen Zi'an's words, and her pretty face immediately flushed red.
Chen Zi'an had no wife, but he had taken a liking to Su Manxiu.
The female teacher looked at Su Manxiu, unsure of how she felt.
Su Manxiu was a divorced woman who couldn't have children. Why would such an outstanding man as Chen Zi'an take a liking to her?
Was it just because she was beautiful?