Chapter 11 Chapter 11 He's on a blind date?
Chapter Eleven: Is he on a blind date?
As Li Yue entered the family compound, she realized she hadn't brought her leather shoes.
I sighed, but then thought better of it. Anyway, there's no suitable occasion to wear those shoes, and I'd have to deal with all sorts of questions if I took them home.
However, when we got home, my cousin still asked, "Sis, what exactly is your relationship with that guy?"
Li Yue said, "It has nothing to do with us. We've already made things clear."
Du Qinglan: "No way, you rejected him?"
Li Yue really admired her cousin. Although she didn't like reading, she always saw through people's ways and relationships at a glance.
She didn't exactly reject Ling Jianwei, but it was almost the same as a rejection.
But he's such a grown man. If he's bored, wouldn't it be better to spend more time with his parents? What's the point of him coming to her all the time to kill time? He should hurry up and find a girlfriend.
Speaking of which, matchmakers have been very active lately. On Wednesday night, Aunt Zhang came over to introduce my cousin to someone.
My cousin Du Qingyun is 21 years old this year. He is considered quite lucky. Not long after graduating from junior high school, a chemical plant was hiring, and he became a worker without any problems. If he had gone to high school, he would probably be an unemployed youth like Li Yue and my cousin from the "Old Three Classes" (referring to students who graduated from high school in 1966, 1967, and 1968).
He has a down-to-earth personality and doesn't talk much. Aunt Zhang said he's very suitable for a simple life.
Aunt Zhang introduced, "This girl lives in a nearby alley. She's not very old, only 19, and works at a cotton mill."
My aunt said, "It's good that you have a job. If it works out, the two of you can be a dual-income family and support yourselves."
Aunt Zhang said, "That's what I think too. Qingyun, if you agree, let's set a time for the two of you to meet."
My cousin nodded: "But I have to work these few days, so let's meet on Sunday. Also, we should meet by ourselves, without anyone else around."
Aunt Zhang said, "Okay, I'll go ask them what they think. You young people these days don't like having a matchmaker around."
My cousin's upcoming blind date finally cheered my aunt up a bit. She hadn't smiled much the past few days because Li Yue had run away from her wedding.
As Aunt Zhang continued talking, she brought up the rumors about Li Yue again: "Yueyue, I've heard everyone saying that person is your boyfriend, and that he's a deputy battalion commander in the army. Is that really true?"
Li Yue immediately gave her cousin a meaningful look.
Putting everything else aside, my cousin is quite perceptive, and she interjected, "No, that's not true, it's all a misunderstanding. How could my sister find a boyfriend in such a short time?"
These words obviously did not dispel Aunt Zhang's doubts. She said, "But they are spreading rumors with great detail, saying that Yueyue has also admitted that he is her boyfriend."
Helpless, Li Yue had to explain again: "They're just friends. There were a bunch of people laughing and joking around at the time."
After hearing this, my aunt said, "Who can say for sure about the affairs of young people? I don't want to get involved in these things anymore."
Aunt Zhang smiled awkwardly: "Don't ignore it. She'll be fine once she's a little more sensible. Yueyue is so pretty, there are plenty of young men who like her. Yueyue, you should be more discerning and choose someone who's decent enough."
"..."
As time passed, the matter seemed to have subsided. Walking in the courtyard, no one asked Li Yue about her boyfriend, nor did anyone mention the background of the deputy battalion commander. Even her aunt didn't connect him to the person she met on the day she ran away from her wedding.
Everyone has their own things to do and their own lives to manage. What was once a topic of conversation over tea or dinner will eventually be replaced by something new.
For example, recently a couple in the neighborhood were arguing because the woman had taken money to support her family.
These kinds of trivial, everyday matters are commonplace, and as people talk about them, they are immediately drawn to new gossip.
Li Yue continued to do nothing, sometimes wandering around the streets. She had no money to buy anything, so she could only wander around.
Sometimes she couldn't help but wonder what Ling Jianwei was doing. He was obedient; he said he wasn't allowed to come looking for her, and he really didn't.
Will he go on blind dates arranged by his family? Maybe. His date will definitely be someone of similar social standing, someone his parents approve of. Although we've only met a few times, he seems like a really good person—kind, generous, hardworking, and with just the right amount of cunning. If he finds the right partner, he should have a very happy future.
And those shoes, did he put them away? Maybe he gave them to his mother, or someone else. If he did, it wouldn't be a big deal; she wouldn't wear them anyway.
As the weather got colder, my cousin started knitting a sweater. She was very nimble and skillful. Li Yue also tried to learn to knit a sweater, but she struggled even to learn a simple plain stitch.
But she had to learn, no matter how hard it was. She wanted to knit hats, gloves, and thick socks for herself. If she was destined to go to the Great Northern Wilderness, she wanted to be well-prepared for the cold. She needed to have some thick clothes and socks ready, as well as medicine and other such items.
When a person's survival is in question, they have no mind to think about other people and things.
Time flies. On Saturday night, my cousin suddenly said, "Yueyue, come with me to meet my boyfriend tomorrow."
"What?" Li Yue exclaimed in surprise, "You mean I'll go with you on your blind date?"
My cousin said, "You have more experience. I'm afraid I won't know how to talk to girls. After you've warmed up the atmosphere for us, you can leave."
My cousin is a bit introverted and has never really played with girls since he was a child. There are also few girls in the factory, so he was probably a little anxious and worried about this blind date.
So Li Yue readily agreed, and the next day, she accompanied her cousin to the blind date.
The blind date was held at the Wangfujing Department Store, which has been a favorite shopping spot for locals since its construction in 1955.
People were coming and going at the entrance of the building. My cousin was holding a copy of the day's Beijing Morning Post, and Li Yue was accompanying him, her eyes constantly scanning the young girls nearby.
Soon, a girl with a newspaper rolled up in her hand walked over. She had two braids, wore a red coat, and looked all smiles.
Li Yue asked, "Cousin, is it her?"
My cousin was so nervous that he stood up straight and forgot to reply.
The girl noticed the newspaper in his hand and walked over with a smile: "Hello, are you Du Qingyun?"
My cousin stammered, his voice trembling, "Yes, yes, yes, I am... you are Li Xiufang?"
"Yes, that's me."
My cousin's body was trembling: "Hello, hello."
After saying hello, both of them felt a little awkward and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Li Yue then struck up a conversation: "Hello, I'm his cousin."
Li Xiufang looked her over and nodded: "Is she the cousin who's staying at his house?"
"Yes."
"You really are beautiful. Aunt Zhang told me that your parents live abroad."
Taking this opportunity, Li Yue chatted for a bit and then asked her what kind of transportation she had taken.
But her cousin was really silent, standing to the side neither asking nor answering questions. Li Yue had no choice but to ask the girl, "Do you want to go inside or stay outside?"
Li Xiufang said, "Let's just take a walk outside."
Li Yue: "Alright, let's talk as we walk."
So, from then on, it was mostly Li Yue chatting with Li Xiufang. After asking about her job, she introduced her cousin's job and then talked about their family situations...
She made herself feel like she was the one on a blind date with Li Xiufang, and she desperately tried to wink at her cousin: Cousin, say something!
My cousin remained silent, letting Li Yue talk to her instead.
Li Yue was extremely anxious. Wasn't it agreed that she could leave after warming up the audience?
As she passed by the same shoe store from last time, Li Yue couldn't help but glance inside.
"Do you want to buy leather shoes?" she asked.
Li Yue shook her head: "No, just one look."
Li Xiufang said, "The shoes in this shoe store are very expensive, but they are high-end shoes. The leather and workmanship are the best. They don't produce many shoes a year. Even leaders like to wear them. They can last for several years without breaking."
Li Yue paused for a moment.
Ling Jianwei must have specifically chosen this shoe store before bringing her here.
She feigned surprise: "Really?"
Li Xiufang said, "Yes, I tried them on, and they were indeed very comfortable and fit perfectly."
Yes, she felt the same way when she tried them on; they were very comfortable and fit perfectly.
She forced a smile and changed the subject: "Xiufang, where did you go to junior high school?"
Li Xiufang said, "It's the No. 16 Middle School near my home."
"Oh, I'm in No. 12 Middle School, and so is my cousin."
Finally, my cousin spoke up: "Have you heard of the guy in No. 16 Middle School called Black-Faced God?"
Li Xiufang: "I've heard of him! He's quite famous at our school; he's always getting into fights."
Finally finding a topic to talk about, my cousin was no longer nervous and said, "Back then, he brought a few boys and got into a group fight with the boys from our school. Several students were hit on the head with bricks and bled profusely."
Li Xiufang said, "Yes, I've heard that. You were in a fight when you were in the first year of junior high school?"
Cousin: No, I don't hang out with them.
Finally, the atmosphere seemed to be warming up.
Li Yue breathed a sigh of relief.
After walking a few steps, they passed a large teahouse, and Li Yue suggested, "Why don't we go sit in the teahouse for a while?"
They agreed to the proposal.
Teahouses in Beijing are very popular among ordinary people these days. A bowl of ordinary tea costs only two cents, and with a plate of melon seeds, one can sit and drink for a long time.
There are also more expensive teas, depending on the quality of the tea leaves.
The three entered the teahouse. At the entrance, a waiter wearing a white apron and carrying a large teapot greeted them briskly, "Welcome! Would you like some tea? Please come in."
Li Yue and the others walked inside. Several tables were set up in the hall, where many tea drinkers were sitting, and the sounds of eating melon seeds and chatting could be heard all around.
But almost instantly, she spotted the familiar man sitting by the window—a handsome face, though his eyes and brows were slightly cold. The next second, his gaze swept over her and immediately locked onto her.
Their eyes met, and Li Yue froze, her heart pounding. No way, Ling Jianwei was actually drinking tea here too.
Across from him sat a stylish and glamorous girl in a wool coat, who seemed to be chatting with him animatedly.
Li Yue's first reaction: He's here, on a blind date?
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