Chapter 7 Matchmaker
In the morning, Old Man Qin met Uncle Yan who came to the village to call for people to help build a house. When they talked, he found out that Wang Deming's family wanted to build a new house or a brick and tile house. Immediately, he started to worry again.

Yesterday at the dinner table, this guy said that he was planning to buy a house in the capital, so why is he planning to build a house in the village today? Is his family so wealthy? Or is it the foundation left by Widow Yan?

Impossible! Even if Widow Yan had some money before, it must have been divided among her two sons when they fled the war.
Isn't Deming too ambitious? Putting aside the house in the city, it's a first for him to build a brick house in the village in just a few years. Even if the conditions are not good enough now, with his farming skills, his future will not be too bad, right?
Moreover, the girl will be married right in front of him, and they are from the same village, so he won't be afraid of being bullied.

Besides, I haven't seen the family in the capital that the matchmaker mentioned yet. It sounds good, but what if what Wang Deming said is true?
He can earn enough money to buy a house just by studying - although he has to borrow some money, but the fact that people are willing to lend it means he can pay it back. He will be a doctor in the future, so it will definitely be better for Xiaoru to marry him than an ordinary worker in the city.

But seeing is believing, so Old Man Qin made some plans and brought his son to Wayao Village, ostensibly to ask for further advice on the topic of growing chives that they had discussed at the dinner table yesterday.

Qin Huairu had been pestered by her mother to go to the city for a blind date since last night and morning. She was getting annoyed. When she heard that she was going to Wayao Village to see Wang Deming's family build a house while Aunt Qin was away, she hurriedly hung up her clothes and followed.
When the family of three arrived at Wayao Village, Wang Deming was talking to the crowd about how to build a house. He was surrounded by people at the door of his house. When he tried to squeeze in, he was immediately glared at.

Although I couldn't see what the middleman was doing, Wang Deming's clear voice could be heard clearly. I was shocked. This was incredible. This was the skill of building a house. How could it be spread so easily?

Old man Qin wanted to stamp his feet. If his son learned this, who in the surrounding villages would have to support him when he went out to work? He didn't have to do anything when working outside, just point fingers and do things, and he could earn more!

This should be our home.
Old man Qin glanced at his daughter and thought, no, Xiaoru must tie up Wang Deming. Yesterday I talked about young people making good money, and today I talked about building houses and drawing blueprints and you can also make good money.

This kid is really good at what he does. No matter whether he graduated from junior high school or primary school, he will definitely be good in the future. I will discuss this with my wife when I get home.

Qin Huairu stood on tiptoe and looked at Wang Deming who was talking in the middle of the crowd. Her big watery eyes blinked, full of affection. The man she found was really excellent.

It was not until noon that the crowd gradually dispersed and godmother Wang Shuqin came out of the house and urged Uncle Yan to stay for lunch. Only then did Wang Deming see Old Man Qin, Qin Huairu and the other two.

"Hey, Uncle Qin, Brother Qin, Xiaoru, when did you arrive? Why didn't you call me?" Wang Deming seemed to have forgotten what happened yesterday and continued to greet them enthusiastically.

"It happens to be lunch time, and my uncle Yan is here too, let's have a drink together at noon."

"But we don't have any good dishes at home, so let's keep it simple. Scramble two eggs and make some fried cabbage."

The godmother also walked to Qin Huairu enthusiastically and took her hand directly: "Xiaoru is here too, this girl is more beautiful! It's just in time for dinner, Uncle Qin, please don't be polite."

“No, no!” Old Man Qin declined directly. “The fire is already burning at home. Yesterday, Deming talked about growing chives in winter. He was very good at it. I was worried that I might have missed it. So I came here to ask again today.”

"Next time, next time."

In the end, neither Mr. Yan nor Old Man Qin's family stayed for dinner.

After Old Man Qin brought his two daughters home, he sat at the table and picked up a cornmeal bun and said, "Old lady, Wang Deming's family has built a house."

Aunt Qin went to the vegetable field in the morning. She didn't know about the brick house and said with disdain: "Isn't it easy to build a house in the countryside? Find a few strong laborers, mix the yellow mud, clamp it with two boards, tamp it down a little bit with a stone hammer, and then put up a thatched roof, and you're done. You just need to provide some food."

The eldest brother of the Qin family immediately retorted: "Mom, did Widow Yan and Wang Deming build a brick house?"

"What? A brick and tile house? In the past, only landlords could afford to build such a house. How come Wang Deming's family could build such a nice house in just two years?"

The eldest brother of the Qin family was envious: "Not only that! Not only in the house, but also in the aisle in the middle of the yard and the pigsty and chicken coop. They also pave it with stones and then a layer of cement. Mom, can you imagine how rich this is?"

"Ah, isn't this too wasteful?"

Old Man Qin said to Aunt Qin with a sigh, "Old lady, I think we should reject the family in the city that the matchmaker mentioned, right?"

"If Widow Yan's family doesn't have the confidence, can they just build a house with blue bricks? And can they do it without paying?"

"How can such a large sum of money be paid by a daughter who married into the city?" "No matter how much she spends, she can't afford a house, right?"

"Building the house like the one Widow Yan has built? Just think about it, it would cost at least 100 yuan. Wang Deming has been studying in Beijing for the past two years, so he must be making a lot of money. He has the best conditions in the surrounding villages now."

"Xiao Ru will definitely not suffer any loss if she marries him."

Aunt Qin sneered: "Master, don't forget that Widow Yan has two sons! If one or both of them come back, Wang Deming won't be able to own the house in the countryside."

"How can this be compared to a relative? The Widow Yan, a girl who married into the city, should give money to her own brother, right?"

"Wang Deming is now building a house in the countryside and has spent the money. Wouldn't it delay buying a house in the city? With this delay, who knows when he will be able to afford a house?"

Old man Qin shook his head and said, "Wang Deming has skills. Not only is he good at farming, he is also good at building houses. He can also make bricks, tiles, and cement. When we went there, a crowd of people gathered around him to listen to him talk!"

"Yan, the bricklayer in their village, directly offered to work on the house for free if the owner wanted to learn his craft. However, Wang Deming still disagreed and insisted on paying him even if he taught him his craft."

Aunt Qin rolled her eyes and said, "Isn't this a fool? If such a good skill is spread out like that, how will he make a living in the future?"

"He used to spend money lavishly. He relied on his good looks and bought some good food to trick Huairu into getting close to him."

"Now he's spending his money on Widow Yan and doesn't know how to save money!"

While the couple was arguing, someone called out at the gate. The eldest brother of the Qin family, who was closest to the gate, stood up and turned his head to look outside. He then winked at his parents and whispered, "Dad, Mom, the matchmaker is here."

Aunt Qin rolled her eyes, put down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up and walked to the door, and shouted directly: "Auntie, you are here?"

After the matchmaker entered the room, she took a look at the food on the table: cornmeal pancakes and a seasonal vegetable in a bland soup. The contempt in her eyes disappeared in an instant: "They are having lunch. Oops, I came at a bad time."

"Alas, it's really not easy for me to go back and forth from Beijing. It takes a long time after getting off the train."

Aunt Qin welcomed the matchmaker to the table, quickly added another set of bowls and chopsticks, and took out the steamed bun that Wang Deming had sent before, still unpacking it: "Aunt, you came at an untimely time. We entertained a guest yesterday, so we don't have anything good at home. Try this steamed bun. A younger generation gave it to me yesterday."

The matchmaker was knowledgeable. She took one look at the packaging and said, "Oh, it's the cake from Qingmingzhai in Dong'an Market!"

"Oh, Chongyang Flower Cake, this is in season, you can't eat it in other seasons."

"You are a good junior, you are thoughtful. This portion should be worth at least one dollar."

So expensive? You know, five yuan can buy a bag of white flour at this time! As soon as these words came out, Old Man Qin and Aunt Qin looked at each other and became more determined. This was not the first time Wang Deming had sent steamed buns.

Old man Qin seemed to be honest and chuckled a few times: "It's all because of the children's filial piety. We don't understand. Yesterday they brought us a portion of roast meat from a restaurant called Tianfuhao. It was delicious. Our whole family couldn't help but eat it all."

"Ah!" The matchmaker was surprised: "Then your younger generation treats you very well."

Carefully picking up a piece of rose-filled Chongyang Flower Cake, he continued with one hand on his chin, "He's also someone who knows how to eat. Let me tell you about the roasted pork from Tianfuhao. It's a specialty and very delicious. It's in season now. Their pork elbow in soy sauce is also very delicious, fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry."

"Mm, it's crispy, and it has to be the buns from Qingmingzhai, they are always delicious."

"This young man in your family is also from the capital, right? His family conditions are really good. Is he a boy or a girl? Are they married? Let me tell you, I have quite a few good girls from the capital waiting to be married."

(End of this chapter)