Chapter 20: In My Search for a Partner, Appearance is Paramount…

Chapter 20: In My Search for a Partner, Appearance is Paramount...

Tian Fang has always been known for her gentle and virtuous demeanor, taking great care to maintain her good reputation. She used to have a good relationship with Cao Mei, who was simple-minded and often manipulated by Tian Fang as a pawn. Whenever there were matters that Tian Fang couldn't handle herself, she would incite Cao Mei to do them. Over the years, this strategy had proven highly effective.

Of course, in the village, most issues were trivial, and Cao Mei's limited intelligence made it difficult for her to see through these schemes.

In their family, the third son Shen Hongbing and his wife Cao Mei were both not very bright. Cao Mei was constantly deceived by Tian Fang, while Shen Hongbing had been misled by Shen Shengli and Shen Yongjun since childhood. They were a perfect match in that sense.

As for the younger three, the eldest son Shen Jianhui was also not very smart, which was to be expected—two dull parents wouldn't produce a sharp child. The second daughter, Shen Chunfang, was straightforward and had married into a neighboring commune. The youngest daughter, Shen Chunfen, was timid and fearful, always shrinking back in fear. In Tian Fang's eyes, none of them amounted to much.

The only astute person in the family was the daughter-in-law Zhang Guiqin. However, Cao Mei feared losing control over the household to Zhang Guiqin and, with Tian Fang occasionally stirring the pot, Cao Mei always took the opposite stance from her daughter-in-law.

But this time, with the grain-grabbing incident, Cao Mei truly suffered a significant loss. Not only did she gain nothing, but her reputation was also tarnished. Now, everyone in the village spoke ill of her behind her back, accusing her of nearly starving her orphaned niece to death.

Cao Mei felt wronged. Initially, Tian Fang had assured her that in such times, even if they went to the mountains to dig for wild vegetables or strip tree bark, they wouldn't starve. Moreover, the collective would surely distribute some grain before the autumn harvest to prevent people from going hungry during the rush to gather crops. So how could anything go wrong?

Who knew that Shen Mojie, that unfortunate girl, would faint in the field.

Of course, what Cao Mei found even more unjust was that although Tian Fang had initiated the plan and they had shared the grain, why did everyone curse her and not Tian Fang?

This time, Cao Mei was genuinely angry and hadn't spoken to Tian Fang for days out of frustration.

As for Tian Fang, ever since the Shen Laoqi family reclaimed the grain and money, she had been seething with anger, unable to let it go.

It wasn't just about the seventy-five yuan for half a room of blue-brick tiles being a bad deal; originally, her family wouldn't have had to spend a single cent.

Tian Fang, who had schemed all her life, felt that this was the biggest loss she had ever suffered. Thinking about the three hundred yuan now in the hands of the Shen Laoqi family kept her awake at night.

Who would have thought Shen Laoqi would go back to work at the commune's kiln factory as a worker?

Tian Fang felt like her heart was on fire with frustration every day. Someone she used to look down on and bully at will was now about to have a better life than her own family. How could she feel comfortable about that?

But what could she do? She couldn’t just grab the three hundred yuan or steal Shen Laoqi’s job.

Tian Fang wished she could, but Shen Laoqi was no longer the same Shen Laoqi as before.

Then, after racking her brains and thinking through every possible angle, Tian Fang came up with a plan.

She came from a family of four siblings. There were two brothers, and a sister close to her in age named Tian Cui, who had married into a production team near their hometown. The two sisters were equally shrewd, but because they were both very concerned with appearances and constantly schemed against each other without either gaining much advantage, their relationship remained quite good.

After having three daughters, Tian Cui finally had a son, Wang Jinbao. The Wang family doted on Wang Jinbao like he was their precious gem.

Wang Jinbao was twenty-four this year. At his age, in the countryside, most people would already have children old enough to run errands.

But Wang Jinbao was still a bachelor.

This was mainly because Wang Jinbao, being overly pampered by his family, lacked any sense of self-awareness. Despite being plain-looking himself, he aspired to marry a beauty. Though he was an insignificant production team leader with mostly relatives in the team, he still believed ordinary rural girls weren’t good enough for him. He was determined to marry a worker or even a cadre.

With such high standards, it was no wonder he couldn’t find a wife!

Tian Fang found her nephew Wang Jinbao frustrating, but this time, she had an idea involving him. She made a special trip to the Wang household and, after a lengthy discussion with Tian Cui, they devised a plan.

In short, Tian Fang would arrange for Shen Moer and Wang Jinbao to get married, and help Wang Jinbao take Shen Shaoyuan’s job. In exchange, Wang Jinbao would either give her one hundred yuan or let her have the room where Shen Moer and her father lived.

Although it seemed like the Wang family might lose out, Tian Cui knew her sister too well. Tian Fang wouldn’t lift a finger unless there was something in it for her. Moreover, whether it was the house or the money, it would come from Shen Laoqi, so it wouldn’t affect their family much.

Though it stung a bit, Tian Cui agreed, knowing that sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

Wang Jinbao was actually somewhat hesitant, but thinking that he could become a worker at the factory, he reluctantly nodded to indicate he would first take a look.

That's how things stood. If her relationship with Cao Mei was still good, Tian Fang definitely wouldn't have shown up herself. Now, she had no choice but to step up.

But Tian Fang didn't expect that no matter how eloquently she spoke, Shen Moer would hit the nail on the head with just one question.

Tian Fang's expression stiffened, and she forced a smile, saying, "He's indeed a relative from my family back home. I wouldn't dare introduce someone who isn't a relative to you, right? With relatives, you know the background. Trust me, his family conditions are really good. He's the only cherished son in the family. If you marry him, you'll be falling into a bed of roses."

In the past, Tian Fang was quite confident she could fool Shen Moer, but ever since Shen Moer passed out from hunger, it was like a switch had been flipped. She was no longer the same.

Especially with several aunts watching curiously nearby, Tian Fang felt an inexplicable sense of unease, fearing that Shen Moer would reject her.

At that moment, Tian Fang couldn't help but wonder how this seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl ended up hanging out with this group of older women.

Fortunately, Shen Moer nodded after a moment of thought and said, "My house is right at the village entrance. I'll go take a look."

Just as Tian Fang sighed in relief, Shen Moer added, "Aunt Chen, Aunt Cai, Aunt Yang, if you're free, would you mind accompanying me? I've never been on a blind date before and don't know what to look out for. Also, I'm a bit scared to meet a stranger by myself."

Tian Fang felt a lump in her throat. Did she not count as a person?

But since she wanted to persuade Shen Moer to go on this blind date, she had to pretend she didn't hear that. She silently hoped that Aunt Chen and the others wouldn't interfere and would have the sense to leave.

Of course, that was impossible.

Aunt Chen had always been very enthusiastic. She also thought Tian Fang had been reckless bringing someone into the village, and the whole situation seemed sketchy. Besides, since Shen Moer said she was afraid to go alone, Aunt Chen definitely had to accompany her!

The other two aunts also decided to join.

They had been getting along well with Shen Moer recently and felt they should look out for her. Plus, they were curious. Just now, they had overheard Tian Fang's over-the-top description and wanted to see for themselves what kind of outstanding young man it was.

Several elderly women assured Shen Moer they would keep an eye out for her, patting their chests to emphasize their commitment.

Tian Fang was not very happy about it, but there was nothing she could do, so she could only force a smile and follow along.

The group walked towards the village entrance, and from a distance, they saw someone lingering around Shen Moer's doorstep. Hey, after lingering for a bit, he even started peeking through the door crack.

"Who is this person? Could this be the thief from last night?!" exclaimed Auntie Yang. The village chief had just stressed the importance of keeping an eye on each other and staying alert, so her alertness was at its peak.

Tian Fang had already spotted her dear nephew Wang Jinbao and mentally cursed him for being so foolish. But she had no choice but to speak up for him, "No, no. He’s here for the matchmaking. He probably just wanted to see if anyone was home."

Saying that, she quickly called out in a louder voice, "Jinbao—"

Wang Jinbao straightened up and turned around. Tian Fang hurried over and gave him a nudge, "You wanted to see if anyone was home, right? Well, the whole village had a big meeting. We just got back. Come on, Moer came back with me. Let me introduce you two."

Wang Jinbao was almost chubby for his build, especially in a time when everyone else was as thin as a stick. He could almost be considered fat.

It was clear that the Wangs had really invested in their precious son.

However, his looks were really just average—small eyes, a flat nose, a chipped front tooth that made him lisp, and he immediately started complaining, "This house is really shabby."

"..."

The elderly women who had found his sturdy build somewhat acceptable were now speechless.

They didn’t even know what to say.

If Liu Yingshuang had been there, she would have called this 'too many complaints to know where to start.'

Tian Fang felt especially stung. Shen Laoqi’s house was in such bad shape because they had tricked him into trading his nice house, hadn’t they?

It was like poking at a sore spot.

Tian Fang's smile almost faded as she awkwardly tried to smooth things over: "After all, we are planning to build a new house."

She quickly changed the subject, "Come, come, let me introduce you. This is Shen Moer. I've already told you about her situation, Jinbao. This is Wang Jinbao, from Shada Brigade. He's currently a team leader in the brigade and is an excellent worker."

Shen Moer looked at Wang Jinbao and thought to herself, *I wonder where Tian Fang found this odd man from; he doesn't look too bright.*

Wang Jinbao sized Shen Moer up and was fairly satisfied.

Shen Moer had been well-nourished recently; she wasn't as thin anymore, and her complexion had greatly improved. Her natural beauty was enhanced by her improved complexion, making her look even more attractive.

"She’s okay, but it's a pity she’s neither a worker nor a cadre. Our kids will still end up being farmers," Wang Jinbao said with a tone implying he wasn’t too impressed but willing to settle. "Well, I guess I can make a sacrifice for you. Just remember my kindness and obey me after we’re married."

Everyone present was left speechless.

The aunties almost wondered if they were going deaf. Wasn't Tian Fang just saying this man was a team leader? And now he was talking as if finding a worker or a cadre was his right, and that he was making a sacrifice by choosing Shen Moer?

Aunt Chen really wanted to scold him, but since this wasn’t her own child’s matchmaking, she held back. She tugged at Shen Moer's sleeve and asked, "Moer, what do you think?"

Shen Moer smiled and calmly replied, "Aunt, when I look for a partner, the main thing is that they need to be good-looking. This comrade looks quite unappealing and has a shifty vibe. He’s not my type."

Aunt Chen thought to herself, *I've never heard of anyone liking that type either.*

However, as someone with experience, Aunt Chen still felt the need to advise Shen Moer, "You young girls always prefer good-looking people, but once you’re married, you’ll realize that what’s most important is someone who is capable and has a good character. Looks aren’t that important—they don’t put food on the table or quench your thirst..."

Aunt Cai and Aunt Yang nodded in agreement, "Exactly, we don’t want someone who looks like a misshapen melon or has a rat-like appearance, but there’s no need to go for someone too handsome either..."

Before they could finish, the three of them happened to look up and saw Fu Mingze slowly walking down the village road.

The tall young man, wearing a patched shirt and black pants, looked so neat and tidy. His already tall figure appeared even more slender and upright, and his refined, handsome face was like something out of a painting.

The aunties were left speechless.

Well, it couldn’t be denied—good looks were still quite important, weren’t they?