Chapter 28 What's going on here? "Ouch."...

"Ouch."

The person behind her wasn't speaking loudly, but Mingxi was still startled the moment she heard the voice. She immediately turned around, and when she saw the person behind her, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Wei Ning?"

That's right, the person standing behind Mingxi was Wei Ning.

"What are you doing here?" Mingxi asked softly.

Wei Ning: "I came here to see my buddy, what's up?"

He blinked, his gaze sweeping over Mingxi: "Comrade Ming, what are you doing here?"

Before Mingxi could answer, he looked up and his gaze fell on Huang Pingping and Wu Zhensheng not far away: "Oh, I see, so Comrade Ming came here to eavesdrop."

"Tsk, Comrade Xiaoming, I have to say something to you. Eavesdropping is immoral, especially when two people are dating and they're whispering to each other. You've been squatting here for most of the day. That's really immoral."

Mingxi: "Pah, you're the immoral one!"

"No, you're the one eavesdropping!"

Mingxi said righteously, "I wasn't eavesdropping! I was just hiding here so as not to disturb their private conversation!"

She looked at Wei Ning: "But you, how did you know I'd been squatting here for half a day?"

Wei Ning narrowed his fox-like eyes and chuckled, "What a coincidence, I was afraid of disturbing them if I went out, so I hid here for a while."

Mingxi: ...

cut.

She gave Wei Ning a fierce look of contempt.

When Wei Ning accused her of being immoral, she thought Wei Ning could be so noble, but it turned out he was just like her, eavesdropping.

Wei Ning noticed Ming Xi's displeasure and smiled ingratiatingly, "By the way, I haven't congratulated Comrade Ming yet. You've introduced another couple. No wonder you're Aunt Zhao's daughter; you're a natural matchmaker."

"Hmph." Mingxi hummed twice, but the corners of her mouth turned up high, fully revealing her inner joy.

Finally hearing Wei Ning speak a sensible word, Ming Xi was in a great mood. She raised her chin and said, "Ahem, so-so, third in the world. But if you want to find someone to introduce you to someone in the future, you can come to me, and I'll give you a discount."

"Pfft—"

Wei Ning couldn't help but laugh out loud.

His usually pale face was unusually flushed, making him look more alive than usual.

Wei Ning chuckled and said, "Alright, when I'm looking for a partner, Comrade Ming, don't forget your promise from today."

"Don't worry, I won't forget!"

Mingxi made a serious promise.

She's not the kind of unscrupulous merchant who attracts customers with low prices and discounts but then fails to deliver on their promises.

When Mingxi returned from the Huang family, Zhao Sulan had already come home from get off work. Upon seeing Mingxi, Zhao Sulan asked, "How did it go? I saw you said you went to Huang Pingping's place. What happened between her and Wu Zhensheng? Did it work out?"

Mingxi smiled mysteriously and said, "Mom, guess what?"

Zhao Sulan: "As soon as I saw you like this, I knew it was going to work out."

If it doesn't work out, Mingxi won't have time to joke with her.

Mingxi: "Hehehe, that's right, the two of them are together."

She plopped down on the sofa, leaning back against it, and said lazily as if she had no bones, "I came all this way for nothing. I didn't even have to show up. Wu Zhensheng has such a sweet tongue. He coaxed Huang Pingping with just a few words."

Zhao Sulan became interested: "Really? I didn't realize that. I thought Xiao Wu was not good with words."

"Who can argue with that?"

Mingxi: "But maybe he only speaks when he's with someone he wants to talk to."

Zhao Sulan: "Hey, you've been keeping me in suspense for so long, tell me now, what did Xiao Wu say to Huang Pingping?"

"Xiao Wu said..."

Mingxi recounted the conversation between Wu Zhensheng and Huang Pingping, and Zhao Sulan clicked her tongue in disapproval.

So disgusting, so incredibly disgusting.

She's in her late forties, almost fifty, and can't stand such cloying things; they make her teeth ache.

Zhao Sulan pouted and turned around: "I'll go cook. What do you want to eat tonight?"

Mingxi tilted her head and thought for a moment, then leaned out from behind the sofa: "Mom, I want to eat fried dough balls."

"Stir-fried dough pieces?" Zhao Sulan: "Okay. It's been a long time since I've had stir-fried dough pieces. We'll have that tonight. I'll go make the dough. You can play by yourself."

Mingxi jumped up in a flash: "Mom, I'll help you."

Zhao Sulan: "No need, I can cook a meal by myself."

Mingxi fawned over Zhao Sulan, hooking her arm around hers: "No, no, I just want to help Mom. Mom, I just want to help you~"

"Hey, you little rascal, I told you it's not necessary, but you still insisted on coming along..."

Despite saying that, Zhao Sulan smiled and didn't stop Mingxi from following her into the kitchen.

Zhao Sulan opened the cupboard and filled two bowls with noodles. Mingxi followed her around, saying, "Mom, what should I do? Can you give me some work to do?"

Zhao Sulan thought for a moment and said, "Could you wash a cabbage for me?"

"Okay!"

Mingxi agreed, picked out a cabbage, carried it to the pond in the yard, rolled up her sleeves, and was about to get to work when she saw Ge Heping pushing his bicycle back from outside. Mingxi immediately went up to him and said, "Second Brother Ge, you just got back from get off work?"

Ge Heping: "Ah, no, I went to the Xidan vegetable market after get off work. What, did you need me for something?"

Mingxi: "A little."

She picked up the cabbage and said, "It's a bit inconvenient to talk about this outside. Let's talk at your house."

Ge Heping: "Ah, okay."

Mingxi and Ge Heping entered the Ge family home. Aunt Lan was cooking at the time. Hearing the door open, she poked her head out from the kitchen: "Oh, is it Xiaoming?"

She came out of the kitchen, wiped her hands on her apron, and asked, "Xiaoming, did you come here because there's some news from Miss He?"

Mingxi smiled and said, "Aunt Lan, you guessed right. I've come here with good news to tell you."

"Good news? Has Miss He agreed to take a look?"

Mingxi: "That's right!"

"He Li was quite satisfied with my second brother Ge's conditions. She said she wanted to find a time to meet him and asked me to come and ask him when would be a convenient time."

"That's convenient, any time is convenient! Just tell Miss He to arrange a time that's convenient for her," Aunt Lan said with a beaming smile.

While being arranged, Ge Heping looked completely bewildered: "No, Mom, what are you talking about? What matchmaking? What Miss He? Mom, what are you all talking about?"

Aunt Lan: "Oh, well, Mom introduced you to someone through Xiaoming today."

"What?"

Ge Heping frowned in disbelief: "Mom, you introduced me to someone through Xiaoming? Why didn't you discuss this with me beforehand? You didn't even tell me..."

Mingxi was stunned: "No, Aunt Lan, what's going on? Didn't you discuss this with Brother Heping?"

She only agreed to introduce him to Ge Heping because she thought he already knew.

Aunt Lan: "No, Xiaoming, listen to me, it's a misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding, your brother Ping knows..."

Ge Heping: "Mom, what do I know? You didn't tell me about this at all!"

Aunt Lan turned her head, her voice tinged with anger: "Why are you in such a hurry? I didn't say I wouldn't inform you. Why did you say it earlier or later? I could have just informed you last."

Ge Heping: "???"

Mingxi understood perfectly. She glared at him and said, "Aunt Lan, this is outrageous! I asked you today, and you said it was Brother Heping who agreed, which is why I agreed to introduce him to someone. I even contacted Comrade He and told her about Brother He's qualities. She was satisfied with him and agreed to meet him. But now you're telling me that Brother Heping didn't even know about the meeting! How am I supposed to explain this to Comrade He?!"

Aunt Lan quickly explained, "Xiaoming, don't worry. I just didn't tell your brother Ping about the matchmaking before. I didn't say he wouldn't go. Don't worry, I'll talk to your brother Ping now, and we'll still go. You don't need to bother telling Comrade He about this."

Mingxi was still unwilling. There was a difference between Ge Heping agreeing to meet her and having no choice but to meet her in the end.

But Aunt Lan held onto her arm tightly, as if she wouldn't let Mingxi leave unless she agreed.

Finally, having no other choice, Mingxi could only nod and pretend to agree.

Aunt Lan comforted Mingxi and quickly turned to pull Ge Heping aside to explain the situation.

Mingxi couldn't quite hear what Aunt Lan was saying, but she saw Ge Heping's expression change constantly with Aunt Lan's words.

Aunt Lan chattered on and on with Ge Heping for a long time, and in the end Ge Heping nodded in agreement.

Aunt Lan pulled him back to Mingxi and said, "Okay, Ming, I've explained it to Heping, and he's agreed to go for the matchmaking. You can ask him if you don't believe me."

Mingxi didn't stand on ceremony with Aunt Lan at all, and looked at Ge Heping to ask, "Brother Ge, are you sure you want to go for the matchmaking?"

Ge Heping nodded expressionlessly.

Aunt Lan: "Xiaoming, look at you, you still don't believe me. I already said that Pinghe agreed to meet. Are you relieved now?"

Mingxi: Don't worry?

It would be strange if she could feel at ease.

She thought to herself, but didn't show it on her face. Instead, she asked, "Brother Heping, when would be a convenient time to arrange the fortune telling?"

Aunt Lan quickly chimed in, "Any time is fine. We in Heping have time whenever we want. It just depends on when it's convenient for Miss He."

She thought for a moment and said, "How about we arrange it over these two days?"

He Li's family is from the countryside, and it's quite troublesome to go to the city by donkey cart and then bus. Since she's still in the city these two days and hasn't gone back to the countryside to look at potential partners, it will save He Li from having to make another trip later.

Mingxi: "Okay, I'll go ask Comrade He if it's feasible."

Aunt Lan: "Alright, alright, Comrade Xiaoming, go and ask him."

Aunt Lan warmly saw Mingxi to the door, saying as she walked, "Little Ming, well, what I did today was a bit unfair, but please don't misunderstand. It's not that you and Brother Ping didn't want to meet, it's just that I didn't have time to discuss it with him beforehand. I apologize to you, but please, for my sake, don't tell He-girl about this."

"Okay, okay, Auntie, don't worry."

Mingxi nodded readily in agreement.

After leaving the Ge family and entering the He family, the first thing Mingxi did upon seeing He Li was to tell her about the matchmaking that Ge Heping had previously been unaware of.

Although she readily agreed in front of Aunt Lan, she couldn't keep it a secret from He Li and let her go through with the matchmaking without her knowledge.

After Mingxi finished explaining the whole story, she said, "Comrade He, I'm sorry. I didn't ask clearly before introducing Comrade Ge to you. This is the situation now. Do you still want to continue looking at Ge Heping? Don't worry, it's okay if you don't want to. Just say so. If you don't want to, I'll go and refuse Aunt Lan right now."

Mingxi felt genuinely apologetic. If she had simply consulted Ge Heping before introducing He Li to him, this situation wouldn't have occurred.

He Li chuckled lightly: "Is that all? It's nothing, Comrade Ming, I don't mind."

She said, "Since Ge Heping has agreed to meet, then you can make the arrangements as normal."

Mingxi breathed a sigh of relief.

But after feeling relieved, I realized something was wrong.

Even if a normal person doesn't get angry, they would at least be a little unhappy if they encountered something like this.

He Li didn't react at all, as if she wasn't the one who was supposed to be dating Ge Heping.

Mingxi: "Uh, don't you feel angry?"

He Li looked puzzled: "Since Ge Heping has agreed to continue looking at potential partners, why am I still angry?"

Mingxi: "Alright then, I'll arrange the matchmaking as usual. How about tomorrow?"

He Li: "Okay, let's do it tomorrow, at the Ge family's house."

"OK."

After setting the time and place for the matchmaking, Mingxi went to the Ge family again to inform Ge Heping before returning home with the cabbage.

Zhao Sulan: "I told you to rest, but you insisted on helping me. I asked you to wash a cabbage, and not only did the cabbage disappear, but you were nowhere to be seen either. Tell me, where did you go? Why did it take you so long to come back?"

"Oh, don't even mention it, I went to the Ge family's place."

Mingxi couldn't help but complain to Zhao Sulan: "Mom, what's wrong with Aunt Lan? She came to me today to introduce a girl to Brother Heping. She made it sound so good to me, saying that Brother Heping knew about it. I agreed to find her a good girl and even made an appointment to meet her. But guess what happened?"

Zhao Sulan: "Your Aunt Lan kept it a secret from Ge Heping. Ge Heping didn't even know about the matchmaking?"

Mingxi raised her eyebrows and gave a thumbs up: "Mom, you really are my mom, you guessed it right."

Zhao Sulan scoffed, "Your Aunt Lan has used this trick before."

Jest.

So Aunt Lan is a repeat offender?

Mingxi twitched the corner of her mouth. She was still young and inexperienced.

Zhao Sulan: "Your Aunt Lan has tried every trick in the book to coax Ge Heping to go on a blind date. It's good enough that she kept it from Ge Heping. She even pretended that she was dying and said that her last wish before she died was to see Ge Heping get married."

She said, "It's just that I wasn't home when your Aunt Lan came over today, otherwise I would never have let you agree to this."

Zhao Sulan complained, but also sighed, "However, your Aunt Lan has it tough too. Even though your brother Ping doesn't show it usually, everyone can see that he resents your Aunt Lan. His unwillingness to go on blind dates is also a deliberate attempt to go against your Aunt Lan."

Mingxi: "But we can't blame Aunt Lan entirely for what happened back then."

Zhao Sulan: "That's exactly what I was saying."

To be honest, it was the woman's family's exorbitant demands that led to the subsequent events.

Zhao Sulan: "Actually, your Aunt Lan did the right thing. It's a good thing that Ge Heping didn't marry Qin Qiaorou."

Over the years, everyone has said that if Aunt Lan hadn't been so stubborn, Ge Heping would have married Qin Qiaorou long ago, and they might even have a child by now. But if Zhao Sulan were to say that the Qin family has a bad reputation, just the dowry alone has caused so much trouble for them, who knows what other trouble they might cause later.

Even if Ge Heping successfully marries Qin Qiaorou, his life might not be easy with such a father-in-law and mother-in-law who would skin their daughter alive and drink her blood.

Mingxi shrugged: "Well, there's nothing we can do about it. That's not what Ge Heping thinks."

Zhao Sulan sighed: "That's right."

"However, it depends on how you look at it. From a neighbor's perspective, your Aunt Lan has indeed had a tough time, and we can feel sorry for her. But from a matchmaker's perspective, you don't need to feel sorry for her."

Zhao Sulan: "She's hiding it from Ge Heping and asking you to introduce her to potential partners. It's obvious she's taking advantage of your youth and vulnerability, and that you can't bring yourself to confront her. Here's what we'll do: after Ge Heping and He Lixiang have finished their meeting, you don't need to get involved in Ge Heping's affairs. If your Aunt Lan starts nagging, just tell her to come find me."

Aunt Lan paid Mingxi to act as matchmaker; that's between the two of them. Even if Aunt Lan had concealed something, nothing serious happened after all, so Zhao Sulan couldn't make a scene and go to Aunt Lan demanding an explanation.

But if Aunt Lan wanted to say something after the arrangements were made, Zhao Sulan wouldn't tolerate it.

No matter how you look at it, it was Aunt Lan who took advantage of Mingxi's youth and inexperience.

"OK."

Mingxi obediently agreed.

The mother and daughter finished their conversation, and the next day was the day Ge Heping and He Li were to meet.

Aunt Lan got up early in the morning, and she was very excited. When Mingxi got up to brush her teeth, she saw Aunt Lan calling on Old Man Ge and Ge Heping to move the furniture from the house to the yard.

Mingxi rubbed her eyes: "Aunt Ge, what are you doing?"

Aunt Ge: "Hey, isn't Heping going to meet someone today? I was thinking of tidying up the house."

Mingxi: ...

There's no need to bring all the furniture out.

Anyone who didn't know better would think they were cleaning the house for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

However, everyone in the courtyard was drawn to Aunt Lan's words.

"Is peace to be discussed today?"

"Whose daughter are you with? Do we know each other?"

"Old Lan, that's not fair of you. You're keeping such a big thing as a marriage proposal a secret from everyone."

Aunt Lan: "Go away, go away, who's keeping it a secret? I just finalized it yesterday. We have to thank Xiaoming for this; it was Xiaoming who introduced us to Heping."

Feeling everyone's gaze, Mingxi gave a wry smile.

Aunt Lan, Old Man Ge, and Ge Heping were still moving furniture. Everyone in the yard gathered around Mingxi, asking questions and showing great curiosity about the matchmaking event.

"Brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, please don't be curious. We'll meet at noon today, and you'll be able to see the person in a little while."

After Mingxi finished speaking, she squeezed out of the crowd while holding the washbasin.

She didn't wash her face outside today!

Everyone's curiosity did not lessen because of Mingxi's departure; on the contrary, because Mingxi kept them in suspense, they became even more curious about the person who was on good terms with Ge Heping.

And so, everyone waited with curiosity until noon. As it approached 11 o'clock, Mingxi still hadn't made a move, and the group couldn't help but start grumbling.

Didn't we agree to meet today?

Why didn't I see the matchmaker go to pick them up?

Just then, the door to the Ming family's house opened, and Ming Xi walked out. Amidst the curious and gossipy gazes of everyone in the courtyard, Ming Xi entered the He family's house. A short while later, she led a girl with a long braid out of the He family's house, and then the two of them walked into the Ge family's house together.

ah? ? ?

The neighbors in the courtyard were all stunned.

"Wait, who was the girl who came out with Mingxi just now?"

When He Li came over yesterday, someone saw her and replied, "It seems to be Old He's niece. She came over yesterday and said she asked Mingxi to find her a partner."

“Aunt He’s niece? I can’t believe it. That girl looks so refined and scholarly.”

"Hey, what kind of talk is that? Why are you acting all refined and polite? Do you think I'm illiterate?" As soon as Aunt He pushed open the door, she heard this muttering, and her face immediately fell.

"No, no, Aunt He, don't misunderstand, I was just joking."

Aunt He: "Hmph, I don't think you're joking."

The person speaking touched their nose and then moved aside.

The others gathered around: "Hey, Lao He, when did you get such a beautiful niece? I've never seen her before!"

"Exactly, why didn't you bring it into the yard sooner?"

Aunt He: "My niece used to live in the countryside..."

While Aunt He was chatting animatedly with others in the courtyard, the atmosphere inside the house was as cold as ice.

Mingxi glanced at He Li, who was smiling, and then at Ge Heping, who was staring blankly at the table. She sighed inwardly.

What kind of nonsense is this?

She led He Li in and, following procedure, had He Li introduce herself to Ge Heping. But after the two introduced themselves, they had nothing more to say to each other.

To avoid awkward silences, she brought up five or six topics.

It wasn't just He Li speaking; it was Ge Heping chiming in.

Almost ten minutes had passed since they sat down, and apart from the initial self-introductions, He Li and Ge Heping hadn't spoken a single word to each other.

Seeing that the atmosphere was about to completely turn awkward, Mingxi had no other choice but to chuckle and say, "Second Brother Ge, don't be shy, don't just talk to me. Today, Comrade He is here to help you find a match. Aren't you curious about Comrade He?"

She smoothed things over for Ge Heping, interpreting his silence as shyness.

But Ge Heping wasn't cooperating. He shook his head and said, "I have nothing to ask."

Mingxi gritted her teeth.

What's the point of her being a matchmaker if the parties involved aren't cooperating?

Just as Mingxi was about to flip the table, she suddenly heard someone outside calling Ge Heping's name.

"Ge Heping, does Ge Heping live here? Qin Qiaorou asked me to come..."

Upon hearing the name Qin Qiaorou, Ge Heping immediately stood up and rushed to the door. Mingxi was taken aback, but followed Ge Heping out as well.

The person who came to call for help was a boy, probably only a teenager. Mingxi didn't recognize his face and he probably wasn't a resident of the neighborhood.

Ge Heping grabbed the person's shoulder anxiously and asked, "What's wrong with Qin Qiaorou?"

"Qin Qiaorou is in the hospital, she told me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ge Heping immediately asked, "Which hospital?"

"The district hospital."

Hearing this, Ge Heping strode out. Aunt Lan, who came out a step later, looked at his back and shouted, "Heping, where are you going? Heping, come back! Come back here!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Ge Heping's steps quickly disappeared from the sight of the residents in the compound.

The remaining people in the courtyard looked at each other in bewilderment.

What's going on here?

Of course, the person who most wanted to ask this question was Mingxi.

She rubbed her hair, on the verge of going crazy.

What's going on here?!

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Author's Note: This is Xiaoming's first Waterloo on his matchmaking journey, but don't be sad! Tomorrow Xiaoming will be enjoying some gossip again!