Chapter 8 introduces Du Hai to a potential partner, although Mingxi...
Although it was Mingxi's first day as a matchmaker, she was still very dedicated.
She carefully asked Du Hai about his requirements for a partner.
Du Hai's requirements weren't high; there were only three points: first, she had to be a single woman; second, she had to be able to accept his sister and not mistreat her; and third, she had to be assertive and not easily swayed.
Compared to those who immediately demand that their blind date be a city resident, have a job, and bring a large dowry, Du Hai's requirements are indeed not high.
After all, Du Hai himself is quite good.
The only disadvantage is that Du Hai has no parents to help him and has a younger sister to support.
Dating is fine, but marriage is a different story. After marriage, with children, there's no one to lend a hand, no one to help with postpartum care, and you have to do everything yourself, which is definitely more tiring. Plus, Du Hai's younger sister is only seven or eight years old. To put it nicely, she'll be a sister-in-law after marriage, but to put it bluntly, she'll be a mother. Taking care of a child is no easy task.
But...
Since Du Hai has no parents, marrying him means no in-laws to control you. You'll be able to take charge of your own life right after marriage, which will definitely be more comfortable.
So it depends on how you look at it.
Mingxi pondered for a moment, then smiled and agreed, "Okay, this is the condition, right? Don't worry, I'll definitely introduce you to a good girl who suits your taste!"
Du Hai smiled and nodded, then took out a wad of cash from his pocket and stuffed it into Mingxi's hand. Mingxi looked down and almost threw the money away.
Good grief, Du Hai just shoved ten big black ten cards at me.
These days, even if you're in a rush to find a partner, no one's going to offer a 100 yuan referral fee.
She declined, saying, "No, no, no, this is too much. Just give me ten yuan, the same as what I gave my mother."
Du Hai: "No, you have to accept this money. It's not just a referral fee, but also my thank-you fee."
He said, "If you hadn't brought the Wang family here today, I wouldn't have known that my aunt was behind this, and I wouldn't have gotten so much compensation. So you have to accept this money."
Mingxi is a very moral person; she usually wouldn't take money that isn't hers. But Du Hai's attitude was too firm, and after refusing for a long time, Mingxi finally couldn't resist him and had to put the money in her own pocket.
As Mingxi left the outpatient hall, she was still filled with emotion.
This trip to the hospital today was definitely worthwhile. The compensation from Zhou Cuihua and Du Shuying, plus what Du Hai gave, adds up to almost three hundred yuan.
With money in her pocket, Mingxi straightened her back and strode into Zhao Sulan's ward.
As soon as Zhao Sulan saw Mingxi, she immediately asked with concern, "Why did it take you so long to come back, Xibao? What happened?"
Mingxi waved her hand: "It's nothing, I just ran into the Wang family on my way back."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sulan became agitated: "The Wang family is causing trouble in our courtyard again?"
"That Zhou Cuihua, I think she's never had enough of being beaten. I just taught her a lesson, and she still dares to cause trouble at our house. Once I'm better, I'll teach her a lesson."
While cursing and swearing, Zhao Sulan grabbed Mingxi and thoroughly examined her from head to toe.
After confirming that Mingxi was not injured, Zhao Sulan's anger finally subsided somewhat.
Seeing that she was no longer so agitated, Mingxi began to tell Zhao Sulan what had happened.
“When I got back, I saw the Wang family causing trouble at our doorstep, and then I said… after I got to the Du family’s house, I said… and then I called the police…” She rambled on for a while before finally finishing: “Anyway, that’s what happened. Don’t worry, Mom, I didn’t suffer any losses.”
Mingxi shook the money in her hand and said, "Not only did I not lose out, I actually made a profit. Mom, look."
Zhao Sulan's eyes were involuntarily drawn to the gleaming white bills, but she quickly realized what was happening and lightly tapped Mingxi on the shoulder.
She glanced around to make sure no one else in the ward was watching, then whispered, "Are you crazy? You're still outside, and you're already showing off your money like this. Haven't you ever heard people say that you're not afraid of thieves stealing from you, but you're not afraid of them eyeing you?"
As she spoke, she grabbed the money and stuffed it into Mingxi's pocket: "Keep your money safe. When you get home, find a place to put it away properly, and don't lose it."
Zhao Sulan did not say anything about giving her the money to keep for her.
In Zhao Sulan's eyes, who dotes on her daughter, no matter where the money came from, once it went into Mingxi's pocket, it was Mingxi's money. No one except Mingxi herself had the right to touch it, not even her own mother.
Seeing Mingxi obediently put the money into her pocket, Zhao Sulan realized what Mingxi had just said.
She glared at him: "Wait, Xi Bao, didn't you just say you were going to introduce Du Hai to someone?"
"What were you thinking? How could you agree to this? You're still a young woman. This kind of work is really inappropriate for you. Who knows what people will say about you behind your back?"
Zhao Sulan felt increasingly uncomfortable with what she was saying, so she waved her hand and said, "No, no, listen to me, we'll return the money to Du Hai in a bit. We won't do this job, and we won't take his money."
Mingxi: "Hey, Mom, why do we need to return it? This money wasn't given to me by Du Hai for nothing."
Zhao Sulan frowned: "Xibao, listen to me. Our family is not short of money. Your mother can still earn money. You don't need to worry about money. Just relax, go home and study hard for the college entrance exam. Didn't you say before that you didn't want to do anything else but go to college? Then go for it. You don't need to worry about things at home."
Mingxi looked up and said honestly, "Mom, I don't want to take the college entrance exam anymore."
Zhao Sulan: "What? Why do you suddenly not want to take the college entrance exam?"
She said anxiously, "Are those gossipy women in our courtyard talking about you behind your back again? Don't pay any attention to them. They're just bored out of their minds. They can't stand not gossiping about others. You'd be a real fool to listen to their nonsense."
Mingxi took the college entrance exam for three consecutive years but failed each time. Many people in the courtyard and alley were gossiping behind her back.
This shows that Xi is not cut out for university. No matter how many years she repeats the year, it will be the same. It's better to give up early, start working sooner, and save some money for her family.
Zhao Sulan was afraid that Mingxi would be upset by these rumors and would argue with people many times, but even so, she couldn't stop the gossip. So at this moment, Zhao Sulan subconsciously felt that Mingxi decided to give up the college entrance examination because she was saddened by the gossip.
Zhao Sulan: "Xibao, listen to your mother. I can afford to support you. If you want to repeat a year, then repeat it; if you want to take the college entrance exam, then take it. Don't say you have to repeat it for three years, even if you repeat it for thirty years, I'll still support you. As for those gossipy people in the neighborhood, hmph, just wait until I get back, I..."
"Mom, Mom, Mom, calm down." Seeing Zhao Sulan baring her teeth and looking fierce as if she was about to kill someone, Mingxi quickly spoke up.
“It’s not because of what other people are saying, I just don’t want to take the college entrance exam again.” She said seriously, “I’ve taken it three times and failed. I know myself well. I’m not cut out for studying. And I feel like I might not pass this year either. I can’t concentrate on studying at all these days. I feel nauseous when I see books, so I don’t want to take it anymore.”
Seeing that Mingxi's expression didn't seem fake, Zhao Sulan couldn't help but ask, "Daughter, do you really not want to continue taking the exam?"
Mingxi: "Hmm, I don't want to think about it anymore."
Zhao Sulan: "Okay, then, if you don't want to take the exam, then we won't take it."
“But introducing people to potential partners still won’t work.” She said, “If you don’t want to take the college entrance exam, I’ll buy you a job. It sounds better to have a regular job than to be a matchmaker, and it’s easier than being a matchmaker, isn’t it?”
Zhao Sulan herself worked as a matchmaker in the late 1920s and knew that this job was not easy. Sometimes the people you met were not normal at all.
Calling them eccentric is actually a compliment.
Zhao Sulan had suffered injustice herself and didn't want Mingxi to suffer the same pain.
Mingxi knew Zhao Sulan meant well, but she was also resolute.
"Spend three thousand yuan to buy a job? Besides Dad's compensation, do we even have three thousand yuan to spare?"
Mingxi asked Zhao Sulan a question that left her speechless.
Zhao Sulan has earned a lot of money over the years, but raising Mingxi is also expensive. Mingxi is well-fed and clothed, and Zhao Sulan's salary is almost entirely spent, leaving the family with no savings.
The only savings they had were the compensation money the factory gave them after Ming's father had an accident.
Even during the most difficult times for the family, Zhao Sulan never mentioned touching that money.
That money was earned with Ming's father's life; it was the last thing Ming's father left for Zhao Sulan. If possible, she would never want to touch that money in her entire life.
Now, in order to buy a job for Mingxi, that money needs to be spent. Mingxi knows that Zhao Sulan will definitely be willing, but Mingxi doesn't want to make things difficult for Zhao Sulan.
Thinking of her husband who died young, Zhao Sulan's eyes reddened.
Mingxi patted Zhao Sulan on the shoulder: "Mom, let's forget about buying her a job. What job doesn't matter? Being a matchmaker is a respectable job. Trust me, it's just introducing people to potential partners, I can handle it."
Zhao Sulan remained silent for a long time.
She was definitely unwilling to accept Mingxi becoming a matchmaker, but she could tell that Mingxi was determined to do it.
She thought about it for a long time, and finally nodded: "Okay."
She couldn't stop Mingxi, so she let Mingxi give it a try. If Mingxi couldn't keep it up, she could just spend money to buy her another job.
Seeing Zhao Sulan finally nod in agreement, Mingxi beamed with joy. She put her arm around Zhao Sulan's shoulder and said, "Mom, you agree? Then can you give me a copy of the information you recorded about the female comrades?"
She said with a grin, "I promised to introduce Du Hai to someone, but I don't know any suitable women right now."
Zhao Sulan: ...
She laughed and scolded, "You really know how to push your luck."
Despite saying that, she still nodded in agreement: "Here you go, here you go, it's all yours. The notebook with the information on the female comrades is in the drawer by my bedside. Go back and find it yourself."
Mingxi: "Hehehe, okay, I'll go back and find it myself."
After she finished speaking, she stood up and said, "Okay, then I'll go back first. Mom, you get some rest. I'll come back tonight to bring you food and things for your hospital stay."
She was supposed to pack her things when she went back at noon.
But didn't we run into the troublesome Wang family members before even entering the house?
There wasn't time to pack my things.
She would have to make another trip that night.
Zhao Sulan waved her hand: "Alright, you can go back now."
Mingxi greeted Zhao Sulan and left the hospital. She walked quickly towards the courtyard. When she reached the entrance of the alley, before she even turned into the alley, she saw the old women sitting at the entrance of the alley whispering to each other.
Mingxi could vaguely hear Du Hai saying something like, "No, Auntie or something."
Mingxi immediately understood; the news about Du Hai had spread.
That's not surprising. It's Sunday, everyone's off work, and with so many people going out with her to join the fun, the news spread in no time.
As Mingxi was pondering this, the middle-aged women sitting at the entrance of the alley noticed her. One of them, a slightly plump woman who lived in the same courtyard as Mingxi and whom she should call Aunt He, spoke up.
"Mingxi is back?"
"Come on, Mingxi, tell everyone, is it really Du Hai's aunt who's making up lies outside? Can't you talk about Du Hai?" Aunt He patted the empty seat next to her and called out to Mingxi.
Mingxi nodded: "Yes."
This isn't something that can't be talked about. The police have investigated and confirmed that Du Shuying was indeed spreading rumors. And so many people were watching, so she didn't help cover it up.
Aunt He: "Oh dear, what a tragedy! Du Shuying is truly a terrible person. Du Hai is her own nephew, and she treats him like this..."
"Is this the first time you've heard of what kind of person Du Shuying is? She's always been like this," an older woman nearby remarked.
Aunt He: "Then, how are things between Du Hai and that girl from the Wang family? Didn't they say they were talking about marriage? Now it's still..."
Mingxi shrugged: "The two of them broke up."
Aunt He's eyes widened: "What?! Broken?"
Mingxi nodded and said, "Yes, the two broke up. Du Hai even asked me to introduce him to someone."
One message after another came in, leaving the group of middle-aged women completely dumbfounded.
It's not surprising that Du Hai and Wang Hongmei broke up.
Strangely, Du Hai actually asked Ming Xi to introduce him to a potential partner.
Mingxi is still a young woman.
She introduced Du Hai to potential partners?
It doesn't sound plausible at all.
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