Upon hearing about Yu Youqing's wedding plans, Zhao Mingyue assumed that his wedding with Mao Jianlan would be very simple. She wondered what gift she could give them to add a touch of elegance to their wedding. She wanted something not too expensive but practical.

Shen Xuyue said, "Why don't you use your expertise to make a dress for the bride?"

Zhao Mingyue said, "Jianlan can make her own clothes."

“She would do it, but she might not be willing to do it,” Shen Xuyue said.

Zhao Mingyue thought that if she gave him clothes and Mao Jianlan made them, the gift wouldn't be as practical. Just as she was worrying about this, Mao Jianlan came to her door to borrow a sewing machine: "I want to make a dress for Youqing to wear at his wedding. Can you help me cut it? I'm afraid I won't cut it well enough."

Zhao Mingyue looked at her and said, "Sure, I'll cut it for you. What about you?"

Mao Jianlan said with a smile, "I made myself a new outfit last year, but I only wore it once or twice. I'll wear that one again for my wedding. I'll save money wherever I can."

Zhao Mingyue shook her head. Her dedication was truly remarkable; she didn't even buy a new dress for her wedding. "You make clothes for Youqing. When you get married, I won't give you any other gifts. I'll just make you a dress instead."

Mao Jianlan held Zhao Mingyue's hand, too moved to speak for a long time. After a while, she pursed her lips and said, "Thank you, Xiao Zhao. I'm always troubling you and asking for your help. When we're better off in the future, we'll definitely repay you properly."

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "What's there to repay? I'm relieved that you're all doing well. Come on, give me your measurements. What kind of clothes would you like to have made for him?"

Mao Jianlan handed the measurements to Zhao Mingyue and explained her requirements. Zhao Mingyue then spread the fabric out on the cabinet and began working. Mao Jianlan watched her work from the side, chatting idly: "Chunmei and Wang Xingkai finally broke up. Last week, my second sister was trying to set her up on blind dates."

Zhao Mingyue was taken aback: "Third Sister has already separated?" After having a child, she was too busy to attend her sisters' gatherings.

“Yes, Chunmei cried very sadly. Second Sister said that the best way to forget Wang Xingkai is to start a new relationship. I think that makes a lot of sense,” Mao Jianlan said, her head down.

Zhao Mingyue glanced at Mao Jianlan and nodded; she probably understood perfectly. "I'll go see her another day. I'm so busy taking care of the kids, I've lost track of time and become completely disconnected from everyone. Is Second Sister pregnant yet?"

Mao Jianlan thought for a moment: "I forgot to ask that. The couple is trying to get transferred to the same place."

Zhao Mingyue frowned and said, "It's unlikely that Lao Qin will come to Beijing. Could she be going to Shijiazhuang?"

Mao Jianlan sighed: "I guess so."

"What a pity," Zhao Mingyue sighed. These days, who doesn't want to go to a better place? Although Shijiazhuang is also a provincial capital, it still lags far behind Beijing.

Zhao Mingyue said, "How about we get together next week? Come to my house. I'll call them and ask them to come over too. It'll be good for them to have a nice meal at my place." They all eat in the cafeteria, so I guess the food there isn't very good.

Mao Jianlan nodded in agreement: "Okay. We mentioned last time that we were planning to come to your house sometime, but Chunmei is probably on a date this week, so she doesn't have time."

Zhao Mingyue went to the mall and picked out a piece of fabric for Mao Jianlan. It was a red woolen fabric, not a bright red, but the kind that could be worn casually. She then made a dress for Mao Jianlan.

Over the weekend, several classmates came to Zhao Mingyue's house. Since it was getting cold, Zhao Mingyue asked Shen Xuyue to buy some mutton, beef, and a roast duck, planning to have hot pot.

Since Zhao Mingyue's son had his one-month celebration, everyone hadn't gotten together. When they met, they were all very excited, chattering and exchanging pleasantries. Several women hugged and kissed the chubby-cheeked Liangliang. Liangliang wasn't shy at all; he loved being around people and was very cooperative, smiling at anyone who tried to make him laugh, showing his toothless gums—he was incredibly adorable.

Li Chunmei held Liangliang tightly, reluctant to let go: "Youngest son, your son is mine now, I'm taking him away." Li Chunmei's goal was to get married after graduation and have a baby after marriage, but Zhao Mingyue's son is almost half a year old, and she is still all alone, which is heartbreaking to think about.

Zhao Mingyue laughed and said, "Okay, hurry up and have a daughter, then I'll give you my son. By the way, I heard that your second sister introduced you to someone last time, what do you think?"

Li Chunmei didn't answer her question, but just smiled and said, "Are you serious? Then let's really arrange a marriage between our children. It's settled, your son will be my son-in-law. Old Shen, did you hear that? I've arranged for your son to be my son-in-law. You're not allowed to complain about my daughter's looks." She said the last sentence to Shen Xuyue, who was busy in the kitchen.

Shen Xuyue laughed and said, "Okay, just don't renege on your promise." Li Chunmei is a typical Chongqing girl, with fair skin, big eyes, and quite pretty. Her daughter is sure to be beautiful.

Gao Dongfang said, "Chunmei, I think you're a bit behind. Lao Wu and I are probably a bit behind. I'm very satisfied with Liangliang. A mother-in-law is always more satisfied with her son-in-law the more she looks at him."

Mao Jianlan also joined in the fun: "I'm very satisfied too."

Li Chunmei walked to the door: "None of you are allowed to argue with me. If anyone does, I'll get angry with them!" She pretended to pick up Liangliang and leave. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Li Chunmei opened the door and Shen Qixue's tall figure stood in the doorway: "Oh, it's quite lively today. We have guests."

The room fell silent. Mao Jianlan shifted slightly, trying to hide herself, but to no avail. Zhao Mingyue quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "What brings you here, brother? Are you off today?"

Shen Qixue had already seen Mao Jianlan. He paused for a moment, then laughed, "Yes, relatives from our hometown came and brought some mutton, chicken, and duck. Mom saw that you hadn't gone back, so she asked me to bring them over." This was the first time Shen Qixue and Mao Jianlan had met since their breakup. Last time, when Zhao Mingyue held her full-moon celebration at home, Shen Qixue didn't come back, and Mao Jianlan didn't go either because of Shen's mother. She only came to see Zhao Mingyue and her child privately.

Zhao Mingyue got up to take the things from his hands. The chickens and ducks were still alive, but the mutton was frozen solid. There were also some apples, pears, persimmons, and the like, which were probably sent by relatives from her hometown. "Why are there so many? Are you keeping them at home to eat?"

"I left some at home," Shen Qixue said. "I've delivered the things, so I'm heading back now."

Shen Xu jumped out and said, "Go back? It's almost lunchtime. Big brother hasn't eaten yet either. Let's eat together here. We have guests at home, and it'll be more lively with more people."

Zhao Mingyue knew that both he and Mao Jianlan would feel a little uncomfortable, but as a matter of basic courtesy, she still insisted on inviting them to dinner: "Brother, please eat at my house. It's just an extra pair of chopsticks."

Gao Dongfang and Li Chunmei both asked him to stay, but Mao Jianlan remained silent. Zhao Mingyue glanced at them, thinking that this knot in her heart should be untied, otherwise it wouldn't be good to keep it in her heart, so she said, "It's been a long time since we've all seen each other, let's chat casually, please sit down." Shen Qixue knew all the girls in his dormitory, but they weren't very close.

Shen Qixue hesitated for a moment, then sat down in the chair, took off his military overcoat and hung it on the back of the chair, revealing the military green uniform underneath. He reached out to Liangliang: "Come here, let your uncle give you a hug and see if Liangliang has gotten any heavier."

Liangliang clearly liked Shen Qixue's military green uniform. After being hugged by Shen Qixue, he reached out and grabbed a shiny brass button, trying to put it in his mouth.

Gao Dongfang looked at Liangliang's movements and asked, "Sixth Brother, is Liangliang hungry?"

Zhao Mingyue said, "There shouldn't be any. We just fed him less than an hour ago. He just likes shiny things."

Shen Qixue looked at Liangliang with a loving expression: "He weighs about the same as my Zhuangzhuang. This kid will grow taller than Zhuangzhuang."

Zhao Mingyue said, "I heard that Zhuangzhuang keeps catching colds and isn't as healthy as Liangliang."

"Yes, your Liangliang is so robust and energetic. What a spirited young man! How did you raise him?" Shen Qixue asked with a smile.

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "It's all thanks to Aunt Liu; she's very experienced in taking care of children."

Then everyone fell silent, so Shen Qixue changed the subject and asked Gao Dongfang and the others, "How have you all been lately? What companies are you working for?"

Gao Dongfang introduced everyone one by one, and Shen Qixue finally turned to Mao Jianlan: "Xiao Mao, how have you been lately?"

Zhao Mingyue noticed Shen Qixue's expression and eyes, and found that he was very open and honest. Good, Shen Qixue no longer cared about that matter.

Mao Jianlan's lips trembled slightly, but she forced a smile: "Not bad, we're planning to get married at the end of the year." When it came to marriage, Mao Jianlan finally became more composed.

Shen Qixue seemed relieved: "Really? Congratulations!" This congratulation came from the bottom of his heart. His smile was very sincere, and the heavy weight in his heart had probably been lifted off his shoulders.

Mao Jianlan smiled and said, "Thank you. I didn't even have a chance to congratulate you on the birth of your son."

"Thank you! And I wish you a speedy delivery of your son!" Shen Qixue smiled, revealing his white teeth.

Zhao Mingyue, Gao Dongfang, and Li Chunmei exchanged a quick glance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least the two of them were finally at peace, which was a good thing.

Shen Qi asked, "Where is your partner from?"

“He’s my colleague, Mingyue’s fellow townsman, and also our alumnus.” Mao Jianlan smiled shyly when she mentioned Yu Youqing, revealing that she was quite happy about it. Zhao Mingyue had asked her why she and Yu Youqing were together. She said that Yu Youqing had saved her once during her internship. She felt that although he looked thin, he was a good person, had a masculine spirit, and made her feel safe. After getting to know him during her internship, she felt that they got along quite well, which is why she decided to stay in Beijing.

Shen Qixue nodded: "That's good. Best wishes to you both!"

Mao Jianlan nodded slightly and smiled, "Thank you!"

Zhao Mingyue laughed. Isn't this good? A smile can bury the hatchet, and they can sincerely wish each other well. That past will be forgotten without a trace.

Shen Xuyue carried the lit hot pot to the table and served the various prepared dishes: "Alright, let's eat. Aunt Liu, please sit down too."

Aunt Liu said, "I won't sit. You all eat first. I'll hold Liangliang."

Zhao Mingyue said, "I'll hold Liangliang. You sit down. We're all my classmates, family. There's no need to be so reserved. Sit down."

So a group of people sat around the stove in a lively atmosphere. Steam rose from the stove, the cold wind howled outside, but the house was warm and cozy, which was a real feeling of winter.

During the meal, Zhao Mingyue asked Li Chunmei about her blind date again. Li Chunmei said, "Don't mention it, it didn't work out."

Gao Dongfang said, "That guy is my colleague, he teaches math. I don't know him very well. I didn't expect him to be so stingy. He made Lao San pay for dinner. Sorry, Lao San."

Li Chunmei waved her hand: "It's okay. It's normal not to know him well enough or not to know his true colors. Actually, his stinginess isn't the biggest problem; it's that he's too cowardly. We went to the Summer Palace, and on the way back, there was a pickpocket stealing a wallet on the bus. We both saw it, but he pretended not to see it. I have a short temper, so I grabbed the pickpocket. The pickpocket struggled to get off the bus, but he didn't even help me. He even said I shouldn't have meddled, what if the pickpocket had a knife? You see, the world is going to the dogs. It's all because of these spineless men."

Zhao Mingyue frowned and said, "There are actually people like that? They're too good at protecting themselves." In these days, people are honest and kind, and the atmosphere is upright. Thieves are like rats crossing the street, and everyone shouts to kill them. Especially at this critical moment of crackdown, very few people bow down to evil forces. No wonder Li Chunmei is so indignant.

Li Chunmei pursed her lips: "Isn't that right? He's even worse than the henpecked husbands in Chongqing. At least those husbands love and listen to their wives."

Gao Dongfang's eyes darted around, and he said, "How about I ask Brother Shen to introduce you to an officer in the military? Brother Shen, are there any unmarried officers in your unit?"

Shen Qixue was eating mutton when he heard his name called. He looked up at everyone, paused for a moment, and then said, "There are plenty of unmarried officers, but I'm afraid you intellectuals will look down on us roughnecks. If you're willing, I can play matchmaker."

Li Chunmei's face was flushed, whether from the heat of the hot pot or from being embarrassed by everyone's talk of introducing her to potential partners, it was hard to tell. She chuckled twice, neither confirming nor denying. So everyone simply stopped talking about it.

Zhao Mingyue suddenly thought of Song Huaihai. He wasn't married, but she didn't know if he was even willing to date. If a matchmaking attempt failed the first time, she'd get hesitant to try again. So she still didn't dare to rashly act as a matchmaker.

Since Li Chunmei didn't express her opinion, everyone dropped the topic. Shen Qixue ate lunch and didn't linger, heading home first. He only gets one or two days off a month, so he needs to go home and spend time with his wife and children.

Fang Zhen's maternity leave is about to end, and she will soon have to go back to work. The dormitory provided by her company is only a one-bedroom apartment, which is quite cramped. Shen's mother cannot go there to help them take care of the baby. Fang Zhen will have to shuttle between home and work to breastfeed the baby. After the baby is weaned, she will completely hand over the care of the baby to Shen's mother.

Zhao Mingyue felt that, in this respect, it was better for her own Liangliang, as he could stay by his parents' side all the time.

After Shen Qixue left, Gao Dongfang asked Li Chunmei, "Was my suggestion any good? What do you think of joining the army?"

Li Chunmei reached out and grabbed a clump of hair from the ends, twirling it between her fingers. She had permed her hair, and it was a large, fluffy clump. Perhaps due to neglect, her hairstyle didn't look very stylish; instead, it was rather messy. "I don't know either. Shouldn't officers have educational requirements?"

Shen Xuyue said, "They must have graduated from high school at least. They are definitely not illiterate, don't worry. Some, like my brother, have even attended military academies."

Li Chunmei smiled shyly, then remembered something: "But your older brother has already gone back." The implication was that there was no chance to agree now.

Zhao Mingyue said, "If you're willing, have Xu Yue make a trip later to tell your brother your requirements, and then have him find someone for you."

Li Chunmei patted her flushed cheeks: "Hey! I feel like things have turned upside down. I was one of the first in the dorm to have a boyfriend, but now you're all married while I'm still single. It's like the wheel of fortune turns."

Mao Jianlan smiled politely: "This time, we'll be moving to your house."

Li Chunmei said, "I hope so. If I stay single any longer, I feel like I'll never be able to get married."

Zhao Mingyue said, "How could you not get married? We have so many people and plenty of resources. If you're willing, we can arrange a blind date for you once a week and bring over all the single male colleagues we know for you to choose from."

Li Chunmei waved her hand: "Don't joke around. What qualifications do I have to choose others?"

Gao Dongfang said, "You don't need to belittle yourself. You've only dated two people, and you're already belittling yourself. It's not your fault."

Li Chunmei smiled weakly. Any girl would probably overthink this kind of thing. They were all aiming for marriage and love, but they were dumped one after another. It was inevitable that they would doubt themselves or even deny themselves.

"It's just that our time hasn't come yet," Mao Jianlan said calmly. "No need to rush."

Seeing that Li Chunmei was on the verge of tears, Zhao Mingyue quickly changed the subject: "Third Sister, when did you get your hair done?"

Li Chunmei said, "It looks terrible, doesn't it? A colleague of mine insisted on dragging me there, and she ruined my hair. I'm planning to get it cut after winter when the weather gets warmer. I'm never getting my hair permed again; it looks awful." These days, there's no such thing as straightening your hair. If your hair is ruined by a perm, you have to cut it off.

Zhao Mingyue said, "It's not ugly. Just buy some hair wax, apply a little every day to set the style, and it will look quite nice."

Li Chunmei stuck out her tongue: "I'm not very good at taking care of things."

"You'll learn slowly. With a little effort, you'll still look young and pretty. Trust me, Second Sister, you're still very charming." Gao Dongfang patted her head.

Li Chunmei said, "Sigh, I'm already 26. In the blink of an eye, I'll be almost 30. Time flies."

Gao Dongfang slapped the back of her head: "Don't use the word 'old' in front of me, you're not qualified!" Gao Dongfang was four or five years older than her, and was already in her early thirties.

Li Chunmei hugged Gao Dongfang's shoulder and said coquettishly, "Second sister is always young and beautiful, forever 18 years old. Hurry up and give us a little nephew."

“I plan to have a daughter and betroth her to Lao Liu’s son, so you can forget about it. You’ll have to find another son-in-law!” Gao Dongfang said with a smile.

Li Chunmei chuckled: "Then you'd better do your best, don't let the fifth brother beat you to it."

Zhao Mingyue suddenly remembered Qian Sisheng: "Has anyone contacted Fourth Sister recently? How is she?"

“I’m still in contact with Lao Si. She said she can only return to China after graduation, and she might even pursue a doctorate.” Gao Dongfang actually envies Qian Sisheng. At least he can do what he wants without having to worry about many practical factors.

Li Chunmei said, "Will she come back? I have a feeling that the fourth daughter is going to marry into Great Britain."

Zhao Mingyue said, "It's not impossible. Maybe she'll settle in England in the future, and we can visit relatives there."

Everyone laughed at her wild idea; clearly, few people believed that one could casually visit relatives in England.

Li Chunmei said, "Let's invite my eldest sister over for a get-together next summer vacation. I've heard she's been planning to bring her husband and children to Beijing, but she hasn't come yet."

Zhao Mingyue chimed in, "Great! We can all get together then. The only one missing is Fourth Sister. It's a pity the travel expenses are too high. Otherwise, it would be great if she could come back for a vacation too."

“Everyone should bring their families when they come, Chunmei must bring one too,” Mao Jianlan winked at Li Chunmei.

Li Chunmei puffed out her cheeks: "Okay, I will definitely try my best to get one sorted out as soon as possible."

After the sisters left, Zhao Mingyue and her husband chatted privately: "What do you think about introducing Chunmei to Brother Huaihai?"

Shen Xuyue was taken aback: "Brother Huaihai? His job is different from my brother's. He has fewer holidays each year, and they are not regular."

"I haven't asked him what branch of the military he is yet?" Zhao Mingyue thought about it and realized that she could only see Song Huaihai once or twice a year at most, and the timing was quite unpredictable.

Shen Xuyue said, "He is from the reconnaissance battalion and has been training and carrying out special missions for many years."

Zhao Mingyue was immediately filled with respect. In those days, reconnaissance soldiers were equivalent to special forces soldiers in later times. So Song Huaihai was a special forces soldier: "I see. It's a bit inappropriate to introduce him to Chunmei. Brother Huaihai must be an officer now, right?"

"Yes, he's a higher-ranking officer than my brother, a regimental-level cadre."

Zhao Mingyue thought to herself, "His career has achieved some success, but this kind of work is really delaying his chances of finding a partner. But I guess he doesn't want to either: Why doesn't Uncle Song transfer him back to Beijing?"

Shen Xuyue said, "Why wouldn't he want to? He himself doesn't want to come back. He said that staying in the city would make his bones rust and turn him into a useless person. With his branch of the military, if he came back, he would probably be in the guard regiment. The guard regiment is not as free as the outside world."

“But I can’t just stay there forever and never come back. I’m getting old, it’s time to settle down and start a family.”

"You've probably heard about what happened in Xinjiang. I guess after all these years, you've gotten used to living alone and don't really want to change."

Zhao Mingyue shook her head helplessly: "No wonder Aunt Fang was anxious. I would have been anxious too."

"Sigh, there's no use in rushing. Everyone has their own destiny."

Introducing Li Chunmei to potential partners seems like a lot of resources, but in reality, there aren't many to choose from. First, they have to be college students, but there aren't many college students these days. They're the first batch, and only a few have been assigned to their unit. After filtering by age, qualifications, and so on, there aren't many who meet the criteria left. And among those few, they might not even be compatible.

So in the end, she still had to ask Shen Qixue to help introduce her to his comrade-in-arms. The blind date was set for New Year's Day at Zhao Mingyue's house. When Shen Qixue arrived with his comrade, Zhao Mingyue almost spat out her drink. Wasn't that Song Huaihai?