Hearing Zhang Yunqing speak with such certainty, Liu Suqin grew curious.
“You can tell me your standards. I can ask my aunt to keep an eye out for someone.”
“Hmm, well…” Zhang Yunqing suddenly felt like teasing her. “My standards are: at least one meter eighty tall, thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose bridge, highly educated and cultured. His family can’t have more than two children, and he must have independent housing—absolutely no living with the in-laws.”
These were all dating standards Zhang Yunqing had heard from coworkers in her previous life.
Back in the twenty-first century, one of her coworkers had searched for years using those exact requirements and still never found someone mutually compatible.
Even when a man met every condition, sometimes her coworker liked him while he didn’t like her.
So in this era, where families commonly had five or six children, Zhang Yunqing absolutely did not believe anyone like that existed.
Since she was only teasing Liu Suqin for fun, she felt no pressure whatsoever saying it.
Sure enough, the more Liu Suqin listened, the deeper her brows furrowed. By the time Zhang Yunqing finished listing all her requirements, Liu Suqin’s frown looked sharp enough to crush flies.
Feeling bad for tormenting her any further, Zhang Yunqing quickly patted her shoulder.
“Alright, I’m teasing you. Where would someone like that even exist?”
“There is,” Liu Suqin said heavily. “There really is someone like that.”
Then she asked seriously:
“Yunqing, do you happen to know Zhou Beichuan from the machinery factory?”
Otherwise, how could those standards point so specifically toward him?
Zhang Yunqing looked completely baffled.
“Huh? What?”
She searched through the original host’s memories but couldn’t recall ever knowing such a person.
Only after seeing that her confusion wasn’t fake did Liu Suqin gradually relax. Then she earnestly warned her:
“Looks aren’t important. Character is what matters. That Zhou Beichuan from the machinery factory lives alone and only has one younger brother, but he’s always fighting and acting violently. He’s not a good person.”
When Liu Suqin’s aunt had asked around for marriage introductions for her, she had specifically used Zhou Beichuan as a negative example, warning her never to choose a man like him.
As everyone knew, whenever people said “looks aren’t important,” it usually meant the person was either extremely ugly or extremely handsome.
Judging from Liu Suqin’s tone, this Zhou Beichuan was clearly not ugly.
Instantly, Zhang Yunqing became interested.
“Really? Tell me more.”
After all, since arriving in this world, aside from the original novel’s male lead Shen Changlin, she still hadn’t seen a single man who fit her aesthetic preferences.
It had even made her start wondering whether all those people online posting old photos of their fathers’ generation had secretly used beauty filters.
“You really are something. Why do you even want to know about him?” Liu Suqin clearly didn’t want to talk about it.
“Come on, tell me. I’m curious.” Zhang Yunqing leaned closer, her eyes practically sparkling with anticipation.
Unable to withstand that eager stare, Liu Suqin reluctantly gave in.
“Zhou Beichuan is a temporary worker at the machinery factory. His father is the purchasing department director at the supply and marketing cooperative, and his mother works for the Women’s Federation.”
“He’s definitely good-looking, but his temper is unbearable. Ever since he was young, he bullied his younger brother. After graduating from middle school, he had a huge fight with his family, smashed up the entire house, and moved out to live on another street.”
“And that house was actually transferred into his name by his father when he was little. But now he won’t even allow his family members through the door.”
Finally, she warned:
“He beats up anyone who tries to interfere. Don’t go provoking him.”
“I see…” Zhang Yunqing nodded, though something about the story felt strange to her.
What kind of parents would transfer a house into their child’s name, yet allow that child to stop studying after middle school and work as a temporary laborer at a machinery factory?
If they didn’t value education much, that would make some sense. But with his parents’ jobs and status, arranging an official permanent position for him shouldn’t have been difficult.
Yet after all these years, he was still only a temporary worker.
Something was off.
Very off.
Still, whatever hidden story lay behind it had nothing to do with her. Zhang Yunqing listened, then promptly forgot about it.
Meanwhile, Zhang Hongwei was holding Li Jinfeng’s hand while awkwardly informing her about the bride price amount his parents had settled on.
In his imagination, Li Jinfeng definitely wouldn’t take the news calmly.
Even if she didn’t cry, scream, and threaten suicide, she would at least cling to him demanding an explanation.
Unexpectedly, today Li Jinfeng was unusually agreeable.
Even after hearing the bride price would only be one hundred yuan, she showed no ugly expression at all.
Instead, she softened her voice and coaxed him gently.
“I know my family’s asking for a lot, but my parents raised me all these years. I really don’t have any choice.”
Zhang Hongwei gripped her hand guiltily.
“I’ve wronged you.”
Back when they started dating, he had promised to give her the very best.
But now he couldn’t even provide a proper bride price.
“Hongwei, I understand your feelings.” Li Jinfeng’s tone shifted slightly, carrying a trace of worry.
“You’re still an apprentice worker now, and I’m only a temporary worker. If we get married and have children, we won’t even be able to afford raising them.”
Zhang Hongwei immediately reassured her:
“My parents are still here. They definitely won’t let you and the children go hungry.”
A flash of disdain crossed Li Jinfeng’s lowered eyes, though her expression remained calm.
As if casually mentioning it, she said:
“I heard your younger sister got into the printing factory. I really envy her future husband’s family. With an additional permanent worker, their life will be so much better than ours.”
After arguing with Zhang Yunqing recently, Zhang Hongwei didn’t want to hear anyone mention this younger sister of his at all. He immediately changed the subject.
“Why bring her up? She’s just a girl. Even becoming a permanent worker isn’t that useful.”
Unlike their eldest sister, who worked at the supply cooperative and could occasionally bring home defective goods.
Whenever there were cheap items available without ration coupons, she would buy them for the family too.
But their younger sister worked at the printing factory. Aside from bringing back some old newspapers for pasting walls, there was basically no benefit at all.
Seeing he still hadn’t understood her meaning, Li Jinfeng became anxious and no longer bothered hiding her true intentions.
“What if I switched jobs with your younger sister?” she proposed. “Once she gets married and leaves, the job would still stay within the Zhang family. In a few years, the money spent on the bicycle and sewing machine would be earned back anyway.”
Although they weren’t married yet, hearing Li Jinfeng repeatedly say “our Zhang family” made Zhang Hongwei feel deeply comforted.
What did that mean?
It meant Jinfeng genuinely wanted to build a good life with him and already considered herself part of the Zhang family.
Li Jinfeng continued painting an appealing picture.
“Hongwei, don’t you think so too? Once we have children, later on they can inherit the job as well. The Zhang family’s future will definitely become more and more prosperous.”
As he listened, Zhang Hongwei practically saw visions of himself surrounded by children and grandchildren, enjoying family happiness together.
Gradually, he began feeling tempted by the idea of switching jobs.
Still, he hesitated.
“But Little Sister’s become like a completely different person lately. I really can’t handle her.”
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Li Jinfeng dismissed it casually. “No matter how much she changes, she still has to listen to your parents. Just get your parents to step in.”
In her eyes, a daughter who would eventually marry out had no right to take a job away with her.
If she and Zhang Hongwei had known each other back when his elder sister got married, she absolutely would never have agreed to let that woman take a Zhang family job away for free.
Those jobs all belonged to the Li family now.
Once they got hold of Zhang Yunqing’s position and transferred it to Jinhu, the Li family’s life would definitely keep getting better and better.