Zhang Jianguo watched Xia Qingqing walk up the mountain. Although he really wanted to help Xia Qingqing carry the remaining pig feed back, he felt embarrassed to be too eager to help her when he saw the refusal on her face.
After returning home, Zhang Jianguo was mysteriously called into his room by his mother.
"Mom, is there something you wanted to tell me?" Zhang Jianguo asked his mother, puzzled. What important thing could she have to say in private instead of in front of everyone?
Lan Meili cleared her throat: "Jianguo, you're 23 this year, right?"
Zhang Jianguo felt a chill run down his spine under his mother's kind eyes, and nodded, "Yes, I'll be 23 in two months."
"Your brother is two years younger than you, and Xiaoxue is old enough to run errands now. Didn't you meet anyone you liked while you were in the army?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianguo immediately knew what his mother was up to—she was pressuring him to get married. He hadn't been home for over two years, and he never expected to be faced with his mother's nagging about marriage the moment he returned.
"Mom, don't joke around. You can't even see a female mosquito in the army, so how could I possibly like someone?"
"Do you think your mother is stupid? Doesn't the army have a cultural troupe? And I heard that the leaders in the army also introduce potential partners to older single people," Lan Meili said with a stern face.
"Mom, you know so much, but I really don't have anyone I like," Zhang Jianguo said, not expecting his mother to know so much.
That makes sense, though. As the brigade leader, his father often had to go to the county for meetings and such, so it wouldn't be difficult for him to find out these things.
After confirming that her son didn't have anyone he liked, Lan Meili gave a mysterious smile: "Since that's the case, then Mom won't hide it from you anymore. I've already found a good match for you. But don't worry, if you really don't like her, Mom won't force you."
Zhang Jianguo's smile froze: "Mom, I won't be able to rest for long before I have to go back to the army. I don't have time to look for a partner. You shouldn't worry about it."
“Why are you worrying about this? You know that girl too, she’s Xia Heping’s eldest daughter. Didn’t you say she was pretty when you were little? She’s one of the few high school students in our brigade…” Lan Meili began to list Xia Qingqing’s good points.
Zhang Jianguo, who was already refuting, stopped abruptly: "Are you talking about Qingqing from Uncle Heping's family?"
"Oh, you still remember? Qingqing is getting prettier and prettier now. Mom loves fair-skinned and tender little girls like this. Just looking at her makes me happy."
Lan Meili was beautiful when she was young, and her children inherited her good looks. So when it comes to choosing a daughter-in-law, she prefers the best-looking ones.
When Zhang Jianguo heard that his mother was talking about Xia Qingqing, he couldn't bring himself to refuse: "Mom, I'll do whatever you say."
No one knows a son better than his mother, and Zhang Jianguo's reaction could not possibly escape Lan Meili's discerning eye.
"Mom knew you would like it. You are my son, you have good taste just like me."
——
Lan Meili found a time to bring up this matter with Zhang Hongyan.
Soon, Xia Qingqing was also pulled into the room by her mother to have a private conversation.
"I disagree. I'm still young and I don't plan to get married now." Xia Qingqing was shocked when she heard Zhang Hongyan arrange for her to go on a blind date. She wasn't even an adult yet, what kind of blind date was this?
“What do you mean ‘young’? You’ll be eighteen soon. People your age already have kids,” Zhang Hongyan rolled her eyes at her daughter.
"I don't care about others, I'm not getting married so early," Xia Qingqing said, raising her head and showing an expression of refusal to compromise.
Seeing her giving up like this, Zhang Hongyan was extremely anxious: "Jianguo is the most promising young man in our brigade. I heard he's already an officer in the army. After you get married, you can go with him to the army. It's a good thing that so many people would kill for. You won't have to stay in the countryside as a peasant for the rest of your life."
Xia Qingqing closed her eyes, shook her head, and remained silent: "I won't listen to this bastard's chanting."
The next second, Zhang Hongyan pinched her ear: "Did you hear me or not? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If Zhang Jianguo goes on a date with someone else, it will be difficult for you to find such a good partner again."
"Ouch~, Mom, please speak nicely, don't hit me," Xia Qingqing said, her face contorted in pain as she felt the pain in her ear.
"Are you going to meet the person or not? They might not even like you. You can refuse if you don't like them."
Xia Qingqing felt bad seeing her mother's worried expression. She thought that Zhang Jianguo probably didn't think much of her either. It was just a meeting, and she could explain things to him later.
So he conceded and said, "Oh my god, I'll go, but you can't blame me if I don't succeed."
Having received a satisfactory reply, Zhang Hongyan finally smiled with relief: "I absolutely don't blame you."
"That's more like it. How can you know which one is right for you if you don't look at a few? Things are different now than before. Marriage is all decided by parents. Tell me, if you really don't like someone, would I force you to marry them?"
"I know~ My mom is the best," Xia Qingqing said coquettishly, hugging Zhang Hongyan's arm as she listened to her earnest words.
After Lan Meili and Zhang Hongyan discussed it, since they all knew each other well, Zhang Jianguo decided to take Xia Qingqing to the county for a stroll and then have a meal at a state-run restaurant so that the two could get to know each other better.
If they hit it off, they would send a matchmaker to their home and get engaged before Zhang Jianguo returned to his unit.
If you don't hit it off, and since not many people know about it, you won't feel embarrassed, and people won't gossip.
The next day, Xia Qingqing was a little late because her mother had pulled her aside to give her some instructions.
When she arrived at the village entrance, she saw Zhang Jianguo arguing with a girl.
Qin Jiajia glared angrily at the country bumpkin in front of her: "This oxcart doesn't belong to you, why can't I ride it? Get out of my way right now."
“I told you, this spot is already taken,” Zhang Jianguo said calmly, his tone tinged with displeasure. This spot was reserved for Xia Qingqing, and it was the last empty seat on the oxcart, so he was unwilling to give it up to Qin Jiajia.
"Where is that man? Just let him come out. I don't care, I just want to ride in the oxcart."
"You country bumpkin, you just want money, right? Fine, here's fifty cents. Get out of my way right now," Qin Jiajia said arrogantly, pulling out fifty cents from her pocket and throwing it at Zhang Jianguo.
Zhang Jianguo's face turned red with humiliation, and he threw the 50 cents back, saying, "Who wants your stinking money?"
The aunties watching the commotion on the bus all turned their attention to the money lying on the ground that no one wanted: Good heavens, there are actually people who are going after money.
Qin Jiajia was not a good-tempered person to begin with, and immediately reached out and scratched Zhang Jianguo's face with her long fingernails.
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