Early Sunday morning, Secretary Song came to pick up Su Yu. The engagement was next week, and this week the two of them were to personally visit Secretary Hao, their matchmaker.

Although this "red thread" wasn't actually signed by them, it certainly helped them a lot in terms of official status. A simple introduction from the organization could grant them numerous advantages. Don't underestimate this seemingly simple channel for finding a partner; it's rife with intricacies and complexities.

When they arrived at the compound, quite a few people were already washing clothes and vegetables. When they saw the two of them come in, they all greeted them with smiles, "Song and Su are getting engaged. I might as well just get married."

"That's right, it would be better if they got married soon. Old Song and the others are getting impatient."

"I heard Su is now a student leader at school, so she should be able to get married by now."

Su Yu smiled shyly, while Secretary Song said earnestly, "It's bound to happen sooner or later, we'll take it one step at a time. We must treat this marriage arranged by the organization with utmost care. All the necessary procedures must be followed."

"Look at Song's mouth, no wonder Secretary Qiu likes it."

Secretary Song said with a serious face, "Aunties, this has nothing to do with my mouth, I'm just speaking from the heart."

"Go, go, go home right now, your parents are getting impatient."

Secretary Song immediately smiled and said, "They can't help it even if they're getting impatient. We're not here to see them today. Comrade Su and I are going to see our great matchmaker. We'll be going now."

After finishing, he pulled Su Yu towards the house where Secretary Hao lived.

Secretary Hao is currently at home reading the newspaper. This is his only pleasure since retirement.

After retiring, many things were no longer his concern. He couldn't control others, nor could he interfere. He finally understood what it felt like to be a moldy old man.

Of course, his wife always thought he was being a bit dramatic. He's retired and enjoying a good life, yet he's not happy. She knows that many ordinary people his age are still toiling in the fields, that's real hard work.

This is all because they have too much free time.

Secretary Hao felt that he was indeed bored out of his mind.

"Oh, Song and Su are here. You're too kind of you, why did you bring so many things?"

His wife's cheerful voice came from the living room. Secretary Hao pricked up his ears to listen for a moment, then continued to pretend to read the newspaper.

"Old Hao, come out quickly, Song and Su have come to see you."

Secretary Hao coughed and walked out, clutching the newspaper. He saw Secretary Song and Su Yu sitting on the bench; they both stood up when they saw him come out.

Secretary Hao smiled and said, "Song and Su are here! I was busy inside and didn't hear you. Please sit down, don't be shy. I'm retired now, so I don't need to stand on ceremony."

Secretary Song and Su Yu sat down obediently.

Secretary Song smiled and said, "Although you've retired, you're still our old leader."

Su Yu was also delighted, saying, "If we're really talking about it, Secretary Hao is my former boss."

Secretary Hao said, "Don't call me Secretary, I'm no longer a Secretary."

Su Yu said, "In my heart, you are our Party Secretary. This is not just a cadre position, it is our respectful title for you. You are a good Party Secretary."

Secretary Hao nodded solemnly. He was secretly pleased.

After retiring, it had been a long time since anyone had spoken to him like that.

Secretary Hao's wife brought over some brown sugar water for the two of them, and they quickly stood up to accept it. Su Yu said politely, "Auntie, you're too kind. We came here today specifically to invite you and Secretary Hao to our engagement banquet."

Secretary Hao's wife said with a smile, "Oh my, your parents have already informed us, and they still made a special trip here."

Su Yu smiled and said, "You are different from Secretary Hao, who is our great matchmaker. If we didn't come here, it wouldn't be enough to express our gratitude to Comrade Dongzheng and me."

"We're happy to see you two doing well; there's no need for gratitude or anything like that."

Su Yu said with emotion, "No matter what you think, Comrade Dongzheng and I will remember this kindness. We don't consider you and Secretary Hao as outsiders."

Hearing Su Yu's words, Secretary Hao's wife was quite pleased. When she acted as matchmaker, wasn't she also hoping to build good relationships?

Fortunately, both Song and Su are sentimental people.

She asked with concern, "I heard Song is going out after New Year's Day?"

“Yes, otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten engaged so quickly. It was originally scheduled for winter break,” Su Yu said. Then she glanced at Secretary Song and said with a smile, “Jinhe County is so far from Jiangdong, and there’s no one to keep an eye on things for me, so I can only get engaged as soon as possible. By the way, Auntie, do you know anything about Jinhe County? I’ll be traveling back and forth between the two places from now on. I need to find out more about the situation.”

Upon hearing this, Secretary Hao's wife glanced at Secretary Hao, who was quietly drinking tea, and asked, "Old Hao, are you familiar with Jinhe County?"

Secretary Hao paused in his tea-drinking motion. "I've been here for so many years, what am I unfamiliar with?"

Secretary Hao's wife said, "How's the situation in Jinhe County? You know, Song is here right now."

"It's all the same. Just work hard, it's the same wherever you are."

Secretary Song smiled and said, "You're right, serving the people is the same no matter where you are."

Su Yu took a sip of brown sugar water and said, "If we could get into work mode sooner and things would go smoothly, we could do more for the people. Comrade Dongzheng, you need to be humble, and young people shouldn't be too confident. Secretary Hao is a veteran cadre; he's more experienced than you are. If you listen to Secretary Hao's advice, you'll avoid many detours." Then, turning to Secretary Hao's wife, she said, "Auntie, aren't you right?"

Secretary Hao's wife smiled and said, "That makes sense." She thought Song had really made a good choice in choosing a partner; look how sensible he is. Knowing that Song wouldn't be able to say anything in this situation, she had already done her part. She smiled and nudged Secretary Hao, "Aren't you, as an old cadre, going to give Song some guidance?"

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