Even if Zhang Cishu was slow-witted, he would realize it by now.
Lian Xiao's real intention in asking him to come and buy wontons was to trick him into coming for a matchmaking session!
Seeing that Zhang Cishu hadn't spoken for a long time and was only looking down at the table, Shufen nervously tugged at the sleeve of the middle-aged woman next to her.
The woman was her mother, who had come specifically to accompany her to the matchmaking event.
According to the customs of the countryside, the parents of both sides should meet first, and then find a way to let the young people meet secretly.
But Zhang Cishu's family was far away in the south, and he worked in the military. How could he have so much time to be particular about formalities?
We could only meet at a wonton shop, pretending to be relatives who bumped into each other by chance, and take a look at each other's belongings.
The middle-aged woman gently patted Shufen's hand, a warm smile spreading across her face. Her eyes were full of satisfaction as she looked at Zhang Cishu. "Young man, what do you think of my Shufen? If you like her too, find some time to talk to your family, and we'll hurry up and finalize the marriage. Shufen is hardworking and literate; she's the perfect match for you!"
No wonder she was in a hurry to settle down. Other girls get married and have children at eighteen or nineteen, but Shufen had high standards and kept looking until she was twenty-one, making her an old maid in the eyes of the neighbors.
Now that we've finally met someone like Zhang Cishu, who is handsome, educated, and works in the military with a fixed monthly allowance—a secure job—we should hurry up and make it happen, or we'll miss this opportunity!
Zhang Cishu's expression instantly turned cold, and her tone showed no hesitation, "I'm sorry, you may have misunderstood. I have never been on a blind date, much less have any plans to get married."
After he finished speaking, he stood up, nodded slightly to the mother and daughter as a basic courtesy, and then turned and walked towards the door.
As for the wontons that Lian Xiao wanted, he didn't buy them.
The mother and daughter stood there stunned. Shufen's originally rosy face turned deathly pale, and her eyes also turned red.
This was the first time in her life she had ever fallen for someone. Zhang Cishu's appearance and temperament completely captivated her. But one sentence from him blocked her path. The coldness in his tone clearly showed that he didn't like her at all.
"Daughter, don't just stand there. They didn't like us. Come on, let's go home." The woman sighed, took her daughter's hand, and started to get up.
"Mother, I won't leave!" Shufen gripped her hand tightly, her voice trembling with tears. "I've really fallen for him! If I could marry Comrade Zhang, I'd be willing to work in the fields every day, do laundry and cook!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, child!" the woman scolded in a low voice, both angry and anxious. "If word gets out, people will think you're desperate to get married! Let's go!"
She was also seething with anger. This whole affair was arranged by the military wife. If she had known earlier that Zhang Cishu had no intention of doing this, why would she have let her daughter suffer this injustice?
"When we get back, I'm going to ask your aunt what's going on! Knowing they weren't interested, she still tricked us into coming here. Wasn't she just trying to embarrass us?"
"Maybe...maybe he was willing to meet me, but he just didn't like me, so he said that on purpose..." Shufen bit her lip, and tears finally welled up and streamed down her cheeks.
No matter how unwilling she was, her mother eventually dragged her out of the wonton shop.
The cold wind raged.
Zhang Cishu didn't return to his own courtyard, but instead headed towards Xu Xinghe's residence.
"Xinghe, are you home?" Zhang Cishu stood outside the door, deliberately softening his tone.
His grandfather had taught him that he should not let his emotions control him when things happened. Although he was not angry at the moment, he found Lian Xiao's behavior ridiculously absurd.
He also recalled his grandfather's words: when relaying things, don't be too direct, lest it seem like you're spreading rumors; it's more appropriate to use rhetorical questions or objective statements.
Xu Xinghe pushed open the door a crack and peeked out, "Why are you here?"
"I have something I'd like to ask you."
Xu Xinghe stepped aside to let him in, saying, "Come in and let's talk."
The room was warm and cozy, with a half-finished cup of malted milk powder on the table. The tablecloth that had been soiled during the New Year had been replaced with a new one; the red and blue checkered fabric was embroidered with a yellow crocheted sunflower, which looked particularly vibrant.
Zhang Cishu sat down at the table, carefully choosing his words, trying to make his tone sound normal, with a touch of warmth he didn't usually show. "Xinghe, I want to ask you, does Lian Xiao have any issues with me?"
"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Xu Xinghe poured him a glass of hot water. "Is it because he took your food last time we ate together?"
“No.” Zhang Cishu shook his head. “He contacted me today and asked me to help him buy wontons. But when I got there, I found out that he had secretly arranged for me to meet someone.”
"What?" Xu Xinghe suddenly raised her voice, her eyes widening. "He actually did something like this on his own initiative?"
Zhang Cishu lowered his eyelashes, his eyes devoid of emotion. "Well, the woman's mother asked me directly when I could tell my family to finalize the marriage arrangements."
"He...he's just being ridiculous!" Xu Xinghe was genuinely angry this time.
When Lian Xiao and Jiang Linchuan bickered and spoke sharply, she would always say it was just their personalities and there was no need to take it seriously.
Even when he snatched Zhang Cishu's food at the last meal, she just thought it was Lian Xiao being childish.
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