The next day, Chen Lan visited the sewing cooperative in the valley. Aunt Xiaoshan, the head manager, was very surprised to see Chen Lan, as were the other aunties and women working there. They all warmly welcomed Chen Lan to come in and sit, as it had been many years since she last visited the cooperative. Aunt Xiaoshan immediately went to pour Chen Lan some tea, but Chen Lan stopped her.
Chen Lan said, "Aunt Xiaoshan, I'm not an outsider. Please don't trouble yourself. I'll just say a few words and leave. The purpose of my visit today is to inform all the aunties and women working here that the young men and women in the valley are growing up. Families with eligible young adults should prepare themselves. If you have a girl in mind, you should make your intentions clear to her family as soon as possible and seek their consent. Of course, you should also inform the aunties who arrange marriages in the valley, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Chen Lan smiled and explained, "Aunties, don't you realize that there are quite a few unmarried young adults in the valley now? They don't seem to want to get married, and that won't do."
Upon hearing this, everyone began to discuss it. Aunt Xu, while busy with her work, said with deep empathy, "Yes! What Xiao Lan says is right. My grandson, Gangdan, is already in his twenties this year, and he still doesn't have a wife. He isn't in a hurry to get married and is busy with work all day. When you talk to him about getting married, he says he's busy with research and doesn't have time. When can't he do research? Besides, research doesn't hinder getting married! Isn't he just talking nonsense? They're already so old, why don't they want to get married? What will happen if this continues!"
Chen Lan interjected with a smile, "Auntie, that's exactly why I'm here today to discuss this with everyone. Do you think this can continue?"
The aunties and women immediately began to discuss it amongst themselves. Aunt Zhou stopped her work and said sternly, "This cannot continue. If that's the case, won't our valley be without successors?"
Aunt Chen looked up, rubbing her sore neck, and added in agreement, "Exactly! We can't let these children mess around. For the development of our valley, they must get married when they reach the age. Like Doctor Zhong said, it's called 'eugenics and better births.' For the next generation of our valley, this must be done."
Everyone agreed in unison, "Yes, that's right. We shouldn't indulge them."
Then, one by one, they looked at Chen Lan and asked, "By the way, Xiao Lan, do you have any good ideas?"
So, Chen Lan began to speak, "To be honest, I don't have any particularly brilliant ideas. I'm planning to hold another fun sports event after the spring planting to create an opportunity for the older unmarried youth in the valley to interact and see if we can form a few more couples. Then, after the autumn harvest, we'll hold a group wedding. So, this time, we'll need the strong support of all the aunties and women. We welcome aunties and women to actively participate in matchmaking. Of course, we will follow the old rules, and those who successfully arrange a marriage will receive a grand prize. Naturally, as per tradition, all wedding expenses, including building new marital homes, will be arranged by the valley. However, in principle of not wasting resources, only families that cannot accommodate them can apply for new housing; those who can should not."
When the aunties and women heard that this was such a good thing, and that Chen Lan had come specifically to solve their big problem, they readily agreed without hesitation. They were all eager and full of enthusiasm, stating that they would definitely participate actively and guarantee the success of the matchmaking task, ensuring they wouldn't hold everyone back.
Seeing that she had made everything clear to everyone, Chen Lan didn't want to waste any more of their time. She got up, bid farewell to everyone one by one, and left the sewing cooperative.
Next, she planned to visit Aunt Zhao and Aunt Li, who were matchmakers, to discuss the marriages of her two younger brothers.
Chen Lan first went to Aunt Zhao's house. When Aunt Zhao opened the door and saw Chen Lan, she was very surprised and taken aback, as Chen Lan rarely visited people in the valley. She warmly welcomed Chen Lan into her living room. As soon as Chen Lan sat down on the sofa, she got straight to the point and explained her purpose to Aunt Zhao. Chen Lan said, "Auntie, I've come to trouble you this time and would like to ask for your help."
While pouring Chen Lan water, Aunt Zhao immediately chided, "Xiao Lan, you're being too formal. What's the relationship between us? What's there to trouble or not trouble, to help or not help? If you have something, just tell me what you need me to do. To tell you the truth, if our family hadn't come to the valley, I don't know if I would still be alive today. Perhaps the soil on my grave would already be piled high. It's all thanks to your family; our entire family is now well-fed and well-clothed in the valley, truly blessed! Doing a little something is nothing. Just tell me what you need."
Chen Lan waved her hand upon hearing Aunt Zhao's words, "Auntie, please don't say that. You are enjoying the blessings of your son and daughter-in-law, and your own blessings. Alright, let's not talk about that today. I've come to find you today because I need your help with the marriages of my two younger brothers. You know, my two younger brothers, Wenkai and Wenqi, are already twenty-seven this year. Their marriages are a constant worry for my mother. Both brothers are dedicated to studying medicine and don't plan to get married yet, and I can't do anything about them. So, I can only come to ask you, Aunt Zhao, to put in extra effort to find them suitable partners."
Upon hearing that it was about matchmaking for her two younger brothers, Aunt Zhao readily agreed and patted her chest, promising, "Xiao Lan, your two younger brothers are fine young men in the valley. Both of them are now doctors, and they have received true teachings from Doctor Guo. Your family is also an excellent one, hard to find even with a lantern. There are more than enough young women in the valley who like them. Xiao Lan, don't worry! Leave this to me."