As Liu Jiu grew increasingly tanned by the sun, autumn was drawing to a close. The harvest of crops on the island had been completed, and the typhoon arrived as expected, blowing for two or three days.
The typhoon was raging, and nothing could be done. Every household closed their doors and windows tightly, waiting for the typhoon to pass.
Apart from people like Bonnie who don't know how to sew clothes or shoe soles, most other people sit on the kang (a heated brick bed) in this kind of weather, sewing shoe soles and mending clothes, and there's always something to do.
In the Lin family, three generations of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) making shoes; the grandmother was making shoes for Bao Ni's family.
"Another year has passed. I wonder if the second son has found a partner yet. He's so old now. Lin Tong from the third uncle's family already has three children, and he's a year younger than the second son!"
As Bao Ni's mother busied herself making shoe soles, she looked at the size 69 shoes that Grandma Lin was making and felt a pang of emotion.
"Mom, my second brother has been promoted to company commander. He'll find a girlfriend soon. Good things come to those who wait. Maybe we'll hear from him this year, and you'll have a second daughter-in-law next year."
After getting married, Sister-in-law Lin got along well with her husband's family, and I sincerely hope they are all doing well. Her own family, however, favored sons over daughters and showed her no affection whatsoever, only demanding favors from her.
There was no longer a place for her in the house.
"You're just idle. After the typhoon, you'll be busy repairing the nets and worrying about the men going out to sea. You won't even remember whether your second son has a girlfriend."
Grandma Lin was optimistic; with her grandson's success, she wouldn't have to worry about finding a wife. Many people on the island had inquired, some asking on behalf of their own daughters, others on behalf of their relatives' daughters. None of them had made a decision; it was up to Lin Tao himself to decide.
Lin Tao, who was being discussed by Bao Ni's mother and the others, was currently in their group leader's office.
"Commander, what did you say? A blind date? A blind date with whom?"
"Of course it's you on a blind date, who else would it be me? Don't you know how old you are? Our group is almost a bachelor group, and none of you can find a partner. What a waste of your tall stature."
Lin Tao's regimental commander was from Northeast China. He had a loud voice and spoke as if he were about to start a battle.
"Commander, I'm not busy, so who should I go on a blind date with? Do they even know my circumstances?"
"Do you think I'd help you commit marriage fraud? Your sister-in-law already told them that the woman is a nurse at the military hospital where your sister-in-law works. She was sent there by medical personnel and has a good work attitude and is quite capable. The young lady can cook and sew. Your sister-in-law said she's a good wife and mother."
It's really tough for a grown man like him to be responsible for the marriages of his soldiers, acting as matchmaker and go-between.
"Tomorrow morning, in the park near the military hospital, your sister-in-law said the little girl's name is Hao Mei. She'll be wearing a red plaid shirt and carrying a Little Red Book. Remember that, don't get it wrong."
"Yes, mission accomplished!"
Lin Tao was a little nervous about his first blind date and didn't know how it would go, so he decided to make a promise first.
"Alright, get lost. Let's try our best to succeed, take care of one at a time, so the neighboring regiment leader won't laugh at us for being a bachelor regiment."
Lin Tao left the regimental commander's office with mixed feelings, wondering what to say when they met tomorrow.
The next day, the sky was clear and blue, a rare sight indeed!
Lin Tao tidied himself up, washed his face and hair, and brushed his teeth again after dinner. He straightened his clothes, cleaned his shoes, and went out, carrying the agreed-upon red book in his hand.
The park the group leader had mentioned was just a few stops away. Lin Tao boarded the bus, and his heart began to pound.
After finally calming myself down, I almost missed my stop. I hurriedly got off the bus, wiping non-existent sweat from my forehead. This was much harder than off-road driving.
Upon entering the park, his eyes began to dart around. He wore a red plaid shirt and held a red book. Lin Tao thought this meeting was illogical. It would be much easier to agree on a time and place, write names on a sign, and save time and effort.
Lin Tao wandered around the park with the Little Red Book in his hand, wondering if the woman had arrived yet. Luckily, the park wasn't big, otherwise, it was uncertain whether he would have run into her today.
Lin Tao muttered to himself, while keeping his eyes and ears open to see if anyone was calling him, or if there was a girl wearing a red plaid shirt and carrying a red book. After walking around the park for a while without seeing anyone who fit the description, Lin Tao wondered if he should go back.
"Comrade Lin Tao?"
A crisp sound came from behind. Lin Tao turned around. What did he see?
A girl who was nearly 1.6 meters tall, with fair skin and big eyes, looked at him with a smile.
Red plaid shirt, Little Red Book, all set.
"Are you Comrade Hao Mei?"
"Yes, Comrade Lin Tao, hello, I am Hao Mei."
"Comrade Hao Mei, this is Lin Tao, reporting to you."
"hehe……"
Hao Mei laughed. Why be so nervous? She's not bad looking, and she's not a beauty without a face!
"Um, um, I'm a little nervous, mainly because I've never seen a woman as fair-skinned as you. The women and men on our island are no different, they're all dark-skinned, tanned by the sea breeze."
Hao Mei was secretly amused. Was it really a good idea to say that? Wasn't he afraid of scaring himself away?
"Comrade Lin Tao, shall we go for a walk?"
"Okay, okay, let's go."
Lin Tao lost his usual composure; that glance he gave when he turned around just now had struck a chord deep within him.
The two walked along the park path. Lin Tao wanted to say something several times, but after opening his mouth, he didn't know what to say.
"Comrade Lin Tao, do you know why I want to go on a blind date with you?"
"Wasn't it arranged by your sister-in-law?"
Lin Tao was stunned by the question. Was there some other inside story? At this moment, his mind, as that of an outstanding soldier, finally returned, and he could think again.
"Yes and no. I saw you at our hospital before, but you might not remember me."
Lin Tao tried hard to think, but still couldn't recall it.
"You were probably seeing your comrades off when you left. You happened to see a man beating his wife, and you went over to stop him. You also severely criticized the man, saying that he shouldn't hit a woman and should cherish and respect his wife..."
Hao Mei was standing nearby and tried to stop the man, but she was pushed aside. At that moment, Lin Tao came over and stopped the man's violence. She thought he was a good man, and later, when she heard others call him "Lin Tao," she remembered the name.
Later, after hearing her head nurse mention this name, she specifically asked the head nurse about Lin Tao's situation. She learned that he was unmarried and had no partner, and that his hometown was the same as hers, which led to today's blind date.
"Ah, I remember you. You're the nurse who almost tripped over. I noticed you, but you were wearing a mask, so I couldn't see your face. Otherwise, I would have recognized you today."
Lin Tao vaguely remembered it; he still remembered it. He just didn't expect that the nurse was Hao Mei. They were quite destined to meet.
In any case, a good start is half the battle. Two people have come together because of a bit of fate; how things will develop from here depends on how well they get to know each other.
At least for now, both of them are willing to take things to the next level, and they both feel a little flustered and excited.
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