However, Huo Sinian, this person, proved to be quite persistent.
Facing the double blow from his future father-in-law and future wife, he only became more determined.
Yet, Huo Sinian hadn't anticipated that Su Xiaomei was just as stubborn and refused to date him.
As time went on, Grandma Su and Grandpa Su also got to know Huo Sinian better and found him to be a good young man.
He hadn't learned any cunning tricks, just a straightforward kid.
Furthermore, returning from abroad, he carried a greater prestige than others.
Su Taohua also seemed to approve of Huo Sinian, and the others began to ask Su Xiaomei why she didn't like him.
When pressed, Su Xiaomei would say that Huo Sinian didn't seem like someone who would settle down and live a proper life!
The elders were bewildered. How could he not seem like someone who would settle down?
He looked perfectly fine!
When these words reached Huo Sinian's ears, he felt utterly dejected.
He thought he was quite decent, so why did he not seem like someone who would settle down?
He might not be a model youth, but he could certainly present himself well and manage household affairs.
After finally finding a girl he liked and wanting to date her seriously, and then get married and start a life, why was he so negatively judged?
He felt wronged and deeply discouraged, wondering if he was truly not good enough.
To prove himself better, he humbly sought advice from the Su family, intending to observe what kind of men were in the Su family.
But after looking around, he found nothing particularly different about the men in the Su family compared to others.
"Grandpa Su, tell me, why don't I seem like someone who settles down?"
Huo Sinian sat beside Grandpa Su, feeling very aggrieved.
Grandpa Su looked at Huo Sinian like this and couldn't help but feel sympathetic.
This young man was indeed good, far more outstanding than the children in their brigade.
He couldn't understand what Xiaomei was thinking, to consider him not someone who would settle down.
He, having observed people for half a century, rarely misjudged. He thought this child was quite good.
"I'll help you with this, but Xiaomei is a stubborn child. I don't know if my speaking up for you will be effective!"
Huo Sinian was very happy to hear Grandpa Su's words.
Grandpa Su didn't speak directly to Su Xiaomei but instead approached Shen Zizhen to ask for her opinion.
Grandpa Su had expected Shen Zizhen to agree, but to his surprise, Shen Zizhen objected.
She said their daughter needed a few more years of nurturing before marriage, and that Xiaomei hadn't enjoyed much happiness, having suffered all these years. Now that life was better, she should be pampered for a few years.
These words were merely excuses. Shen Zizhen simply didn't want her prize cabbage to be snatched by a pig.
But Grandpa Su was speechless.
Their daughter was hers, and whatever she said was right!
Fine, he, an old man, couldn't help him!
However, Grandma Su privately mentioned to Su Taohua that a good young man was interested in Su Xiaomei, and Su Taohua readily agreed.
"I think Huo Sinian is a good young man. In fact, my Xiaomei isn't good enough for him!"
As soon as Su Taohua said this, Li Yu Niang objected, smiling and saying, "How is Xiaomei not good enough? Our Xiaomei is a vibrant flower!"
She had always felt inferior in her life, feeling she wasn't good enough for Tan Zishi. If she had possessed the confidence to suppress Tan Zishi when she was younger, would she have ended up like this?
Su Taohua didn't know what Li Yu Niang was thinking, but hearing someone defend her daughter made her feel quite pleased.
"That's true. Huo Sinian, setting aside other things, his age is indeed a bit older!"
Grandma Su quickly said, "Taohua, what do you mean? He's not too much older, just four or five years, which is perfect for someone who will dote on her!"
She was also worried that if they missed out on Huo Sinian, it would be difficult to find such a good young man again.
Su Taohua, at this moment, became the most indecisive one. After some thought, she said,
"I don't mean anything specific, just that as long as the person has good character and is presentable."
Su Taohua truly didn't have many demands. She also knew that coming from a rural background in the northwest, anyone from the capital would be a step up for Xiaomei.
But no matter what, the person's character had to be good; she couldn't watch Xiaomei's life be ruined.
"You've said it well, character is most important. I asked Professor Chi, and he said the whole family is good, and this child is also very good!" Grandma Su said.
"Good character is the most important, but we shouldn't be overly modest and say Xiaomei isn't good enough for him." Li Yu Niang didn't intend to ruin anyone's marriage, so she clarified her words.
"Since everyone is good, why is Xiaomei not interested?" Su Taohua suddenly remembered the question.
"I tried to probe, and Xiaomei said the other party's conditions are too good, that they are mismatched like a phoenix and a crow, or something like that. I don't understand!"
Grandma Su didn't understand, and Su Taohua also didn't understand.
Li Yu Niang, having been educated, understood the meaning and smiled, "Xiaomei is also worried that she's not good enough for him!"
She simply called her daughter over and asked these questions openly.
Su Xiaomei's pretty face blushed, and she finally murmured, "It's precisely because he's too good that I'm not good enough!"
Matchmaking was no longer emphasized, but if people from vastly different backgrounds got together, their future lives might not be smooth.
For a family like his, even if Professor Huo himself approved, wouldn't his elders have opinions?
What if they looked down on her? How would their future life be?
Su Xiaomei didn't want a life filled with petty squabbles later on.
She was a modern woman who had attended university; she couldn't let herself be in such an awkward position.
What she wanted was someone with whom she could live in harmony, where the wife supported the husband and the husband supported the wife!
Professor Huo was too outstanding, clearly not meeting this condition.
Su Taohua understood Su Xiaomei's concerns, and in a way, it was the fault of their generation.
It was Li Changming's fault!
If Li Changming hadn't been seduced by Kang Yiye, their family would have been fine, and Xiaomei's heart wouldn't be so heavy.
But then again, if those things hadn't happened, Xiaomei might have already been married off by Li Changming to someone.
Given Li Changming's character, the families he would have chosen wouldn't have been any better. Considering it now, this situation was also not bad.
"Xiaomei, regarding this matter, Mom won't interfere too much. You decide for yourself."
In the end, Su Taohua gave Su Xiaomei the final decision.
"Xiaomei, listen to me, don't worry too much about not being good enough for them. Their family has a professor, don't you have a professor in your family?"
Grandma Su said this with confidence. The current Su Xiaomei was no longer the rural Su Xiaomei of the past; she was also the daughter of a professor.
It was heard that Professor Shen's status was also quite high, likely comparable to Professor Huo.
Li Yu Niang patted her thigh and smiled, "I almost forgot, isn't that the principle? The daughter of a professor's family matches a professor, just like the daughter of a scholar's family used to match a scholar!"
"A professor can't be compared to a scholar, at least a successful candidate in the imperial examinations!" Grandma Su added.
As they were talking, Yu Ruiyuan arrived and brought them good news.