Chapter 56 Blind Date (Two Chapters Combined)...
Chapter 56
Xu Wenjun thought she had misheard. "Who?"
Qi Donghan repeated in his good-natured manner, "Meng Yingying."
"I'm going on a blind date with her tomorrow."
The dormitory fell silent instantly. Now, not only Xu Wenjun looked over, but Gao Chunyang and the others did too.
Xu Wenjun was somewhat shocked, "Wait, when did you and Meng Yingying become so close?"
"They can all sit at the same table for blind dates?"
Although they all knew that Qi Donghan liked Meng Yingying, wasn't this just one-sided affection?
There was still a chance before, but later Meng Yingying won the championship in the Heilongjiang Provincial Cultural Troupe competition and was featured in the newspaper.
She's practically a celebrity in the entire team, so she wouldn't easily get married under those circumstances.
Not to mention, he agreed to Qi Donghan's demands.
Qi Donghan raised an eyebrow, remaining silent, but the upturned corners of his mouth revealed his smugness.
Looking at his expression, Xu Wenjun could hardly understand anything.
"It seems you've really managed to win over Comrade Meng."
"Good heavens, you're so blind! I'm better looking than him, I'm more educated than him, and I'm more capable—"
Before he could finish speaking, seeing Qi Dong's fierce eyes glaring at him, Xu Wenjun immediately shut up, "Fine, everything I said before was just a lie to God."
Gao Chunyang couldn't help but laugh, then looked somewhat embarrassed and asked, "Commander Qi, are you really going to go on a blind date with Comrade Meng Yingying?"
Qi Donghan looked up and glanced over, his expression no longer as casual as when he was with Xu Wenjun, but rather more sharp and ruthless.
"Um."
What are you trying to say?
Gao Chunyang swallowed his words, and tentatively asked, "Comrade Meng Yingying, you are Qi Changming's childhood sweetheart after all. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for you to go on another blind date with her?"
After all, one should not covet a friend's wife.
Qi Donghan stared at him for a long while, his gaze sharp. "There's nothing wrong with it. If there really is something wrong, then it's my fault for acting too late."
"We should have gone on a blind date and married Meng Yingying as soon as she broke off her engagement with Qi Changming."
After hearing this, Gao Chunyang was momentarily speechless.
Xu Wenjun noticed the sharpness in the voice and immediately smoothed things over, saying, "Alright, alright, Lao Qi, Gao Chunyang is just envious of you. To be honest, I'm envious of you too."
"You know I like Ye Yingtao, but we've known each other for so long and we're still not together. On the other hand, you and Meng Yingying have only known each other for three months, and you're already going on blind dates. It's so frustrating to see this."
Hearing Xu Wenjun's words, Qi Donghan withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Since Meng Yingying and Qi Changming's childhood betrothal has been broken off, they have no relationship whatsoever."
"If I hear about this again in the future, don't blame me for turning ruthless."
Gao Chunyang's expression changed abruptly. He lowered his head and said, "Commander Qi, I didn't mean anything by it."
Qi Donghan ignored him and closed his eyes to go to sleep, which left Gao Chunyang feeling helpless.
"Alright, alright, Lao Qi needs to rest now. You should go back to your dorm too; they're going to do room checks soon."
Xu Wenjun smoothed things over from the sidelines, giving Gao Chunyang a way out.
Gao Chunyang then went out. After Gao Chunyang left, Xu Wenjun said to Qi Donghan, "Alright, Lao Qi, you know what kind of person Gao Chunyang is. He's just a bit foul-mouthed. Don't take it to heart."
Qi Donghan didn't open his eyes. He said calmly, "I know very well what he's thinking. We're all just men."
“But—” he changed the subject, “Meng Yingying can only be mine.”
This is an affirmative sentence, with a tone of certainty.
*
Meng Yingying had just returned to the dormitory entrance, with one foot inside and one foot outside, and hadn't even stood still yet.
Ye Yingtao and Lin Qiu, who were both in the dormitory, were sitting cross-legged chatting when they heard the door being pushed open outside.
Ye Yingtao jumped off the bed and pounced on her, grabbing her wrist. "How did it go? Did you tell Commander Fang?!"
They all knew that Meng Yingying was going to talk to Commander Fang tonight about agreeing to the blind date.
Lin Qiu went even further, pulling Meng Yingying inside before turning around and bolting the dormitory door shut. He lowered his voice, unable to contain his excitement, and asked, "Tell me quickly, what's Commander Qi's side saying?"
Meng Yingying squinted as she was dazzled by their eyes—their four pupils were so bright, like light bulbs that had just been wiped clean in the cafeteria.
She nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "I already told you, Regiment Commander Fang reported to Division Commander Chen, and Qi Donghan and I also spoke to Division Commander Chen. Seeing that we didn't object, Division Commander Chen said we should go to his house for a blind date tomorrow morning, and he would act as matchmaker for us."
After he said that, the room fell silent for a moment.
Ye Yingtao jumped up immediately, her voice filled with shock, "What? Wasn't it Commander Fang who acted as matchmaker for you? How did it become Division Commander Chen? Meng Yingying, tell me in detail."
The shrewd and calculating Ye Yingtao knew all too well the difference.
The difference between Commander Fang and Division Commander Chen is not small.
Meng Yingying walked to the bedside, looked in the mirror, and carefully removed her hair one by one, preparing to wash up. She said softly, "Cherry, don't be so startled."
"At first, we all thought it was Regiment Commander Fang who wanted to give it to me, and Qi Donghan and I were the matchmakers. Later we found out that Regiment Commander Fang was on orders from Division Commander Chen to ask me."
"The main issue here is with Commander Chen. It seems like he's trying to act as a matchmaker for me and Qi Donghan, which is why he had Regiment Commander Fang ask for my opinion. After Qi Donghan and I agreed, Commander Chen told us to go to his house for a blind date tomorrow."
In just a few words, the whole story was explained.
This made Ye Yingtao gasp. She paced anxiously in her dormitory, just like Commander Chen had introduced her to a potential partner.
Ye Yingying was so dizzy from spinning around that Ye Yingtao finally stopped. "Yingying, do you know what position Commander Chen holds in the garrison?"
Meng Yingying untangled her braided hair before saying, "Big Boss."
Ye Yingtao suddenly stood beside her and said, "You know he's a big leader, but big leaders rarely act as matchmakers for others. I've been in the cultural troupe for fourteen years, and this is the first time I've ever heard of Commander Chen acting as a matchmaker for someone."
She clenched her fist. "In the past, it was always someone of the rank of Regiment Commander Fang who would step in, but even then, the man's family was not poor. Now, it's Division Commander Chen who has to step in."
Ye Yingtao looked doubtful. "Yingying, I suspect that Qi Donghan's family is not poor."
Otherwise, it wouldn't have been Commander Chen's turn to personally take charge.
Meng Yingying took off her braids, her hair became wavy curls, she had a small face, willow-leaf eyebrows, bright eyes and white teeth, a pointed chin, and snow-white and delicate skin.
She is truly a natural beauty.
Even Ye Yingying, who was sitting next to her, couldn't help but be dazed for a moment. She reached out to touch Meng Yingying's face, but Meng Yingying pushed her away, saying, "Be serious."
"Is it possible that it's not because Qi Donghan has a good family background, but because Qi Donghan is a close subordinate of Commander Chen, and it's normal for a leader to introduce a partner to a subordinate?"
Ye Yingtao immediately denied it, "No."
She stood up excitedly, "Do you know how many regimental commanders we have stationed here?"
Meng Yingying really didn't know, and she shook her head.
Four.
“Our team has four regimental commanders, but only Commander Qi has this privilege.”
Seeing that Meng Yingying was still confused, Ye Yingtao became agitated, "Oh my god, you're still confused?"
She let out a loud scream and jumped incredibly high, making the bed shake violently.
She hugged Yingying tightly, shaking her violently, "Our dormitory is going to have a high-ranking official's wife! From now on, when I go out, will I be able to walk sideways?"
Lin Qiu grinned from ear to ear, plopped down on her bed, and even she, who was usually quiet, started to take sides on Meng Yingying's behalf.
"Yingying, Commander Chen arranged the match! Do you know what that means? — It's like the top leader of the garrison has given his approval! From now on, who would dare to make things difficult for you, like Jia Xiaoli?"
This is the most important thing.
"This is the difference between having a powerful backer and not having one when stationed in a military unit."
"Stop enjoying yourself. Yingying's going on a blind date tomorrow. What should she wear?"
Ye Yingtao couldn't sit still any longer. She jumped off the bed and ran to her wardrobe to find clothes; she loved to dress up.
She was known for marrying up, and in order to marry a good man, she spent almost all of her monthly salary on dressing up.
Ye Yingtao took out the green plaid dress she had just made and placed it directly in front of Meng Yingying. "Come and try it on, see the size. If it doesn't fit, I'll alter it for you on the spot."
Meng Yingying subconsciously said, "Cherry, I have clothes."
"What kind of clothes are those?" Ye Yingtao didn't even want to say. "They're not cotton dresses, and the style is outdated. It's only because you have a pretty face that you look good. If anyone else wore your old clothes, they would look like a country bumpkin."
Meng Yingying pursed her lips, angrily ignoring her.
Ye Yingtao placed the clothes in front of her, put her arm around her shoulder, and coaxed her softly, "Okay, okay, good sister, I know I was wrong. Quickly, quickly, put on your new clothes and show them to your sister."
Listen to that tone, so sweet and cloying, it's enough to make anyone swoon.
Meng Yingying thought to herself that she was lucky to be a woman; if a man were here being coaxed by Ye Yingtao, he would probably be turned into a placenta.
However, she did not ultimately refuse Ye Yingtao.
She herself didn't have many nice clothes, and even after she had money, she never bought herself any new clothes.
The clothes she was wearing were either issued by the performing arts troupe or were her old clothes.
It's okay to wear it casually, but it's really inappropriate for important occasions.
"Then I'll go change it?"
"Go! Go! Go."
Ye Yingtao urged.
Meng Yingying took her clothes and hid behind the door to change, telling Ye Yingtao and Lin Qiu not to peek.
True to their word, they both turned their bodies around.
After a while, Meng Yingying changed into Ye Yingtao's dress. The light green color was very bright, and normally it would have looked a bit too bright and vibrant.
However, when it came to Meng Yingying, there was no glamorousness, only extreme purity.
With a slender waist, perky buttocks, and long legs, she exudes beauty from head to toe.
This made Ye Yingtao pause in surprise. "Yingtao, you look so beautiful in this green dress."
She stepped forward and helped her up by the waist, saying, "It's just that the waist of this dress is a bit too big, so I'll fasten it with two stitches."
As she said this, she stitched two stitches in her waist. Meng Yingying was surprised that Ye Yingtao knew this kind of skill. "You can sew clothes?"
"Yes, you can. Ask any of the girls in the entire performing arts troupe if they can't do it."
Meng Yingying thought to herself, she wouldn't do that.
Ye Yingtao was very perceptive and saw through it at a glance. While sewing, she bit off the loose thread and smiled, "It's okay if you don't know how. I'll take care of all your clothes from now on."
"If you marry Commander Qi, I'll take care of all the clothes for your child."
"I'm not much of a person, but I'm very good at needlework."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yingying's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Without saying a word, she simply put her arms under Ye Yingtao's shoulders and hugged her tightly.
"What's wrong?"
Meng Yingying's throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and it took her a while to say in a muffled voice, "Only my dad used to sew clothes for me."
But her father was a strong man; he could do physical labor, but he really couldn't sew clothes with a needle and thread.
Most of the time, Meng Yingying's clothes were tattered and ragged.
Ye Yingtao pursed her lips and hugged Meng Yingying tightly. She said with a sour tone, "Yingying, if your clothes get torn or damaged in the future, come to me and I'll sew them for you."
Meng Yingying gave a soft "hmm".
Unable to bear the atmosphere, Lin Qiu changed the subject, "After Cherry altered the clothes, I feel they fit Yingying much better."
"Tomorrow morning, I'll braid your hair into a big braid, and I guarantee you'll look beautiful on your blind date."
Meng Yingying's attention was indeed diverted.
Just as Lin Qiu had predicted, when she returned from her morning exercises, she didn't even bother to go to the cafeteria for breakfast.
This is a serious problem for someone whose mind is always filled with food.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry." As soon as Lin Qiu entered the dormitory and put down his things, he went to get a comb to braid Meng Yingying's hair. "I'll braid a flower wreath around your forehead so that your skull looks high and your face looks small. Then I'll braid the back into four braids."
She weighed Meng Yingying's hair in her hand and said, "Your hair is so thick. Even if you braid a flower wreath in the front, there's still plenty left in the back. This kind of hairstyle only looks good if you have a lot of hair."
Meng Yingying sat obediently as Lin Qiu braided her hair, while Ye Yingtao beside her was also busy, saying, "I'll do your makeup."
She was skillful and had specially learned makeup techniques from Meng Yingying, and she often experimented on her own face.
To be honest, her makeup skills are now no worse than Meng Yingying's.
Meng Yingying sat there and let the two of them do whatever they wanted for about ten minutes.
Lin Qiu finished braiding her hair.
Ye Yingtao also did her makeup.
The two women took a step back and carefully examined Meng Yingying, as if she were their most outstanding creation.
"It seems like the blush is a bit too heavy. I'll apply it thinner."
"Yingying's skin is so good, it feels like she only needs to draw her eyebrows."
"Hair too."
Lin Qiu also said, "The top of her head isn't fluffy enough, so I'm helping her make it a little higher."
Then another round of fiddling began.
After everything was done, Ye Yingtao asked Meng Yingying to stand up, "Turn around and let us take a look."
Meng Yingying did as she was told. She lifted her skirt and twirled around, the skirt billowing up to reveal a section of her slender, white legs.
She was truly dazzlingly beautiful.
"that's all."
Ye Yingtao's eyes were full of amazement, "Little brat, I guarantee you'll seduce Commander Qi to death today."
Meng Yingying was a little embarrassed.
Ye Yingtao advised her, "Let's go on a blind date today. If it goes well, you can see if you want to get married now. If not, then we can date for now."
"If you want to," Ye Yingtao teased her, "you might just finish your blind date in the morning and go get your marriage certificate in the afternoon."
Meng Yingying was startled. "That won't do."
"This is too fast, I can't take it."
She still has the mindset of people from later generations and cannot accept that a blind date in the morning would lead to marriage in the afternoon.
Meng Yingying said in a low voice, "Besides, blind dates don't always work out. Cherry, don't have too high hopes."
Ye Yingtao scoffed, "Yingying, you underestimate your own charm. If Commander Qi dares to say that the blind date was unsuccessful after you go out like this today, I guarantee he's blind."
"Don't underestimate places like the military base. There are far more men than women. If he's blind, there are plenty of women lining up to go on blind dates with you."
Going on blind dates with other people?
Meng Yingying never imagined that she would agree to the blind date only because she didn't reject Qi Donghan.
Look at her like this.
Ye Yingtao clicked her tongue and said, "Lin Qiu, look at this. Our Yingying keeps saying that blind dates are not guaranteed to be successful, but she can only accept blind dates with Commander Qi."
"Admit it, Meng Yingying, Commander Qi is different to you."
Meng Yingying's cheeks flushed, and she glared at her reproachfully, "You're so good at talking."
Then, she raised her hand to look at the time on her wrist, and said, "I'm not talking to you anymore."
She ran downstairs, but Qi Donghan wasn't there; instead, Xu Wenjun was.
This puzzled Meng Yingying, because it had been agreed yesterday that Qi Donghan would come to pick her up.
Xu Wenjun also saw Meng Yingying, and a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes at first. Then, he looked behind her and was somewhat disappointed not to see Ye Yingtao come down.
However, he quickly remembered the real reason he had come.
"Something happened in the troupe, and Lao Qi was called away at around four in the morning."
"He told me that if he didn't come back before eight o'clock, I should take you to Commander Chen's house in the family compound first."
Meng Yingying knew Qi Donghan's character; he wouldn't ask anyone for help unless it was an emergency.
"Something happened?"
She asked tentatively.
Xu Wenjun gave a vague answer, saying, "There is some truth to it, but I can't go into details."
"But Comrade Meng, don't be angry. When our regimental commander was called away, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot, but military orders are like mountains, and he had no choice but to go. That's why he asked me to take you to the family compound first."
Meng Yingying knew about places like the garrison.
Military orders are absolute. Let alone blind dates, even if she were to marry Qi Donghan now, with a single order, Qi Donghan would still have to leave.
Pshaw, pshaw, pshaw.
Getting married before even finding a partner through a blind date? That's way too far ahead of your mind.
The journey from the dormitory to the family compound.
Meng Yingying was consciously memorizing the route. It was because she had been stationed with the team for three months, and her activities were limited to the dormitory, canteen, and practice room.
These three places.
She knew nothing about the family compound.
She remained silent. Xu Wenjun wanted to speak several times, but hesitated because he wasn't familiar with Meng Yingying. In the end, he asked, "Comrade Ye didn't come?"
That's really going around in circles.
Seeing that there weren't many people on the road and that they hadn't arrived yet, Meng Yingying said slowly, "Cherry has to go to the practice room for rehearsal and doesn't have time to come over."
Xu Wenjun was somewhat disappointed.
Meng Yingying looked at him and asked with a smile, "You want Cherry to escort me down so I can meet her along the way?"
Xu Wenjun hadn't expected Meng Yingying to be so direct, and his face instantly turned red. "No, no."
After saying no, he felt he was being hypocritical, so he changed his answer to "yes".
Meng Yingying found him somewhat amusing, and before they reached the family compound, she subtly inquired, "Instructor Xu, where are you from?"
Xu Wenjun immediately straightened up and said, "I'm from here."
Meng Yingying narrowed her eyes, her radar scanning rapidly. "Are you from here?"
If Ye Yingtao had known that Xu Wenjun was a local, wouldn't she have made her move long ago?
“Yes.” Xu Wenjun replied as if she were being questioned by her homeroom teacher. “My family moved here when we were venturing to Northeast China back then.”
"However, my family is from the countryside near Harbin."
Xu Wenjun was a little embarrassed, "That's why I've never told anyone about it."
He also discovered during his time stationed in the team that people from rural areas were easily looked down upon.
Meng Yingying's heart sank after hearing this. It seemed that Cherry's conditions did not match. However, she did not say anything on the surface. "That's still very impressive. At least you won't have to travel all the way back after you retire from the army."
Xu Wenjun smiled but didn't say anything.
Meng Yingying then changed the subject, "Are we almost there?"
Although Xu Wenjun was carefree, he was also perceptive, and he realized that Meng Yingying had no intention of asking any further questions.
He then said, "Just walk forward ten meters."
"That's the family compound. I'll take you inside, then I'll go back to the training ground."
Meng Yingying hummed in agreement, and the two remained silent until they reached the entrance of the family compound. Xu Wenjun greeted the sentry and introduced Meng Yingying's identity.
He then said, "Comrade Meng, I'll leave you here. Let the sentry take you inside."
Meng Yingying nodded and thanked him.
When Xu Wenjun left, she felt somewhat heavy-hearted, but she couldn't show it.
He never dared to pursue Ye Yingtao because his family was from the local countryside, and Ye Yingtao had high standards, as he knew from the time she went after Qi Changming.
Thinking about this...
Xu Wenjun felt somewhat frustrated for the first time.
Inside, this was Meng Yingying's first time visiting the family compound. The houses here were all detached, and the single-story courtyards were quite elegant.
The family also planted lush green loofahs and beans along the top of the courtyard wall, which climbed all over the wall and bore abundant fruit.
It looks so tempting.
"Comrade Meng, Commander Chen's house is in the middle building." It's also the largest building, with a total of four rooms.
Of course, this was also because Commander Chen held the highest rank.
Housing was allocated according to job title, so he naturally got the largest one.
Why are you here?
Meng Yingying had only taken two steps with the sentry when Li Shaoqing, dressed in uniform, followed her out.
She seems to live here; judging from the bag she's carrying, she's probably on her way to the performing arts troupe.
Li Shaoqing was somewhat displeased with Meng Yingying's attire. "This is a garrison. Everyone wears the same military uniform. Even the female soldiers in our cultural troupe have their own uniforms."
"What kind of image do you present by coming to the family compound dressed so provocatively?"
He immediately launched into a tirade, giving Meng Yingying a harsh lecture. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Li Shaoqing was Meng Yingying's direct superior.
Meng Yingying paused, then stopped moving. "Comrade, may I ask what kind of leader you are in the cultural troupe? Are you out here lecturing others on what to wear during their rest time?"
While members of the performing arts troupe are required to wear uniforms, they are allowed to wear their own clothes during their personal rest time.
This is basic common sense, and everyone knows it.
Li Shaoqing choked, his square face full of displeasure, "Even when you're resting, no one dresses like you, like a vixen."
Meng Yingying was genuinely amused and annoyed. Everyone would say she looked good in this dress, but when Li Shaoqing wore it, he called her a vixen.
She smiled slightly, her voice neither hurried nor slow, "Comrade Li, if you wear this outfit of mine, it would be difficult for people to call you a vixen, right?"
Li Shaoqing knew she was mocking his appearance, but looks are something you're born with.
Her face instantly turned ugly.
Meng Yingying saw this and followed the sentry away, leaving behind the words, "Thank you for the compliment, Comrade Li."
"I think being called a fox spirit is a compliment to my appearance."
After saying that, he didn't even look at Li Shaoqing's expression and turned to leave.
Li Shaoqing trembled with anger, turned around and went to the sentry post to ask another sentry, "Xiao Zhang, do you know why Meng Yingying came to the family compound?"
Xiao Zhang stood ramrod straight. He shook his head and said, "Reporting to Comrade Li, I don't know either."
Li Shaoqing was somewhat disappointed. She stood there for a while, not in a hurry to leave, but instead stood on the steps.
Instead, led by the sentry, they stood at the door of Commander Chen's house. When they saw Commander Chen's wife, she came out to greet them with a big smile.
She frowned slightly. "How could Meng Yingying, an ordinary person, enter Commander Chen's house?"
Unfortunately, no one could answer her.
Front.
Led by the sentry, Meng Yingying went to Commander Chen's house, where Commander Chen's wife was already waiting at the door.
When Xia Huilan saw Meng Yingying standing at the door, she was surprised. "You're Xiao Meng?"
Meng Yingying nodded, "Sister-in-law, it's me, Meng Yingying."
Xia Huilan pulled Meng Yingying's hand and led her inside, saying, "My goodness, there really are people in this world who are born as beautiful as fairies!"
"No wonder Old Chen told Commander Qi that he had refused so many marriage proposals, so why did he agree to this one?"
"So you're so good-looking, Comrade Meng. No wonder, no wonder."
Not to mention how fierce Qi Dong is, even she, as his sister-in-law, is somewhat tempted by him.
Meng Yingying was embarrassed by the praise. She smiled with her lips pursed, which made her look even more beautiful with her red lips and white teeth. She was charming and adorable. "Sister-in-law, you flatter me."
"You flatter me." Xia Huilan led Meng Yingying into the house. Melon seeds and peanuts were already laid out on the table. It seemed that Commander Chen had given his lover instructions in advance for this blind date.
Seeing Meng Yingying follow her in, she felt that the room had become bright and beautiful.
"To be honest, I've been a military wife for 23 years, and this is the first time I've seen someone as beautiful as you."
It was Meng Yingying's first time there, and she sat there somewhat reservedly, just smiling but not saying a word.
Xia Huilan noticed this and poured her some water, placing it on the small tea table with plum blossom patterns. "It's also Old Chen's fault. He had given Xiao Qi the day off, but there was a last-minute problem with the team, so Xiao Qi couldn't come."
"Xiao Meng, don't be angry."
Meng Yingying shook her head, "How could that be?"
"That's how it is for soldiers; military orders are like mountains, and you have no choice but to obey."
Xia Huilan said, "You have a high level of ideological awareness."
"Commander Qi and his men are indeed often caught in situations beyond their control."
Following her words, Meng Yingying raised her hand to check the time, her voice unhurried, "However, I only asked for a morning off. If Commander Qi cannot come on time, I will have to go back to the practice room to rehearse."
"After all, I have to go to the competition, and I'm afraid I won't have time to wait for him."
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Author's note: Yingying: If you don't come back, I don't want you anymore.
Someone: Honey, wait for me, I'm coming on my whirlwind!
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