Chapter 34

Lin Xixi looked at herself in the mirror, as if she was dreaming.

This is what she should have looked like in her youth, and this is the treatment she deserves. It was a pity that she was blind and chose the wrong educated youth.

She suddenly realized that she was really stupid and didn't know how to dress up. In fact, she had no conditions at all. Her mother only gave her three yuan for such a long journey from home to her uncle's place.

This was in exchange for her promise of "If I marry a good family, I will take you to enjoy happiness in the future."

It was not enough to buy such a skirt.

Working for her uncle and aunt in her uncle's house, there was no money. She knew that her uncle and aunt thought that they had food, drink and a place to sleep at home, so "there was no place to spend money".

Yes, she completely understood this idea. But when it came to her, she didn't even have the conditions to dress up.

This must be shown to Yan Lei!

This thought immediately flashed through Lin Xixi's mind.

In the evening, because it was Saturday, many units would get off work earlier than usual.

The jeep also arrived at the intersection earlier than usual.

A few people got off the car and saw a beautiful girl at the intersection. Who wouldn't like to see a young and beautiful girl with flawless skin? Everyone couldn't help but take a second look.

Yan Lei also took a second look at her.

Lin Xixi obviously enjoyed this kind of look. She smiled and walked forward, calling him: "Captain Yan, where is my uncle?"

Yan Lei said: "He's in the car at the back."

After that, he hurried away without looking at her again.

The last glance he took was just to look at the skirt - he recognized it at a glance, it was given by Qiao Wei to Sister Yang.

What is there in the family that attracts him so much. Lin Xixi resented it.

Captain Ma was older, and he put his hands on his stomach and praised with a smile: "Xiao Lin is so beautiful today."

The other few people laughed.

They all knew what the old Zhao family had arranged today. Hearing that they were going to have a blind date with the beautiful niece of the old Zhao family, the single guys in the battalion were fighting for those few places.

The leaders were all supportive and sent a car.

They told Lin Xixi: "Their car is behind, don't worry."

They all thought that Lin Xixi had dressed up beautifully to show off to the young men.

In fact, Lin Xixi just wanted to show Yan Lei how she looked after dressing up, and she didn't care about others. But her uncle's comrades said so, and she could only answer: "Yeah, it was my sister-in-law who asked me to come and see..."

After several middle-aged men went home, Lin Xixi stretched her neck to look in the direction of Yan Lei's house, but Yan Lei was gone.

Lin Xixi stamped her feet in anger, but she didn't leave immediately. Instead, she turned around and looked at the jeep - she had always wanted to find an opportunity to talk to driver Zhang, but there was no chance. It was rare that her uncle was not in the car today, and everyone else had left, so this opportunity could not be missed.

What's even better is that Driver Zhang not only didn't drive away, he also turned off the engine, opened the door and got out, and took the initiative to greet her: "Comrade Xiaolin, don't worry, there are so many of them, so they're a little slow."

Lin Xixi smiled at him: "Don't worry, the family meal has just been prepared, there's still time."

Before she could think of how to start, Xiao Zhang took the initiative to say: "Then shall we go first? Or wait here for everyone to come together?"

"Huh?"

"Well," Xiao Zhang laughed, "I'll also, well, I'll also attend today's study session."

There was no study session at all, it was Captain Zhao who picked a group of high-quality unmarried young people and brought them home to let them meet his niece, and let his niece meet them. They had an impression of each other, and then they could fall in love freely.

Arranged marriages are no longer popular, free love is popular. Specifically, you will find a matchmaker to introduce you two to each other, meet and tell each other about your family situation, work, personality, hobbies, living habits, etc. If you both think you are a good match, you can officially be a couple.

After some preparation, you can get married after one to three months. It may take half a year, but usually not longer.

This is considered free love in this era. It is not an arranged marriage.

Lin Xixi was a little surprised: "Aren't you a driver?"

This driver didn't seem to be under her uncle's command, so why did he come to the study session?

Captain Zhao had instructed that Comrade Xiaolin didn't know that today was a blind date. Driver Zhang chuckled: "Well...drivers also have to learn to improve."

He also kept his thoughts to himself, in case if he made it clear, Xiao Lin would have some ideas in his mind, and what if he fell in love with someone else later.

Lin Xixi didn't think much about it, but felt that this was a great opportunity.

She glanced at the intersection, worried that her uncle and his people would soon arrive and it would be difficult for her to talk to Driver Zhang, so she said enthusiastically: "No need to wait, just follow me first."

Lin Xixi is not only beautiful, but also Captain Zhao has long boasted about how capable and virtuous she is. She has a good family background, and her whole family is poor farmers.

If she stays here, she will be the perfect marriage candidate in people's minds.

Unlike the urban wife of Commander Yan, although she is also very beautiful, she is a negative example for the entire military region to find a partner. Even the political commissar privately told these young people: "I didn't persuade Yan back then, I regret it, I have to tell you, the first point of marrying a wife is that she must be hardworking and capable!"

And Lin Xixi was originally the heroine in this article. Her characteristics were originally set to be a popular and sought-after person here.

Sure enough, Xiao Zhang was eager to be alone with her for a while, and immediately followed with a smile on his face when he heard it.

Lin Xixi's soul is old, and of course she is not nervous when facing young people. She speaks with a kind of motherly warmth.

But Xiao Zhang didn't know the truth. What he heard and saw was that Captain Zhao's niece seemed very enthusiastic about him. He was secretly happy and answered every question.

Lin Xixi took Xiao Zhang to turn a corner at the intersection and said casually: "...You always drive when they go to the provincial capital. Then did you also go when Captain Yan went to pick up Aunt Qiao last time?"

Xiao Zhang immediately straightened his chest and said, "Of course it was me. I go to the provincial capital often. If you have anything to bring, just tell me."

He said it with full confidence. The instinct of male courtship is to spread the screen as much as possible to show his ability.

Indeed, in this era, "being able to drive" is an amazing skill that only a few people can master. Whether in the army or not, a driver is a respectable position.

Xiao Zhang is a high-quality young man in this era, just as Lin Xixi is a high-quality young woman in this era.

In fact, Lin Xixi didn't think so much. Because by the 1990s, drivers were no longer so expensive, it was just an ordinary profession. In Lin Xixi's eyes, Xiao Zhang is nothing. Now he can't compare with Yan Lei, the head of the group, and he can't compare in the future.

In her eyes, Xiao Zhang is an important informant.

Unfortunately, they arrived at the home of Head Zhao after just a few steps, and Yingzi ran out and saw her and shouted: "Sister, my mother is looking for you!"

Lin Xixi was not familiar with Xiao Zhang yet, so it was not easy to ask, so she could only wait and ask later.

After returning to the Zhao family, Sister Yang raised a spatula and asked, "Where are you going... Oh, Zhang is here. Come and sit down, Zhang, come and sit down."

"Xixi, quickly pour water for Zhang."

Lin Xixi brought water to Zhang, who took it with a smile and sat down.

Sister Yang knew what was going on as soon as she saw it. Her Xixi was virtuous, beautiful, and of good character. Such girls were very popular in the army.

She smiled and said to Lin Xixi, "Don't go into the kitchen. Just make pancakes in the yard and serve tea and water."

There was also an outdoor stove in the Zhao family's yard, which was specially reserved for Lin Xixi today so that she could show off her pancake-making skills in front of everyone.

Lin Xixi wanted to get closer to Xiao Zhang and talk more, so she didn't suspect anything and stayed in the yard, talking to Xiao Zhang while making pancakes.

Xiao Zhang said, "Your uncle always said in the army that your pancakes are delicious."

Xiao Zhang said, "I've eaten them, they are really delicious."

Lin Xixi was puzzled: "Have you eaten the pancakes I made?"

Xiao Zhang said, "The day before yesterday, you gave them to Commander Yan, and Commander Yan gave them to us to eat. Everyone said they were delicious."

Lin Xixi realized that her pancakes that day were given away in vain. When Commander Zhao came back with an empty lunch box, she thought Yan Lei had eaten the pancakes, but it turned out that these people had eaten them.

Lin Xixi was so angry that she choked on her breath and turned her head away without saying anything.

Xiao Zhang wanted to say something, but Commander Zhao came in with seven or eight guys.

"Xixi, pour some water for everyone." As soon as Captain Zhao entered the yard, he opened his voice and introduced everyone, "This is my niece, Xiaolin."

A group of young men in green military uniforms greeted them one after another: "Hello, Comrade Lin."

Lin Xixi wiped her hands and greeted everyone: "Sit down."

She was slender, beautiful, and as white as a city girl. She was really as beautiful as the rumors said. The young men came here for a blind date today, and all of them were bright-eyed.

Captain Zhao took off his hat and greeted Xiao Zhang: "You got here first."

Xiao Zhang smiled while holding a teacup: "My car is fast, and I have been chatting with Comrade Xiaolin for a long time."

As soon as he said this, seven or eight daggers shot at him.

Captain Zhao smiled. A girl from one family is sought after by hundreds of families. This is a scene that her family likes to see.

He asked everyone to sit in a circle in the yard: "You all know the theme of our study session today, right?"

"Yes, yes."

The young men glanced at Lin Xixi who was sitting by the stove.

Comrade Xiao Lin is not only beautiful, but her kneading technique and strength show that she is skilled in housework. I heard that she is also very hardworking and capable. She is really a perfect marriage partner.

The young men were all excited. Although they were making small stools, they stood straighter than each other.

Head Zhao glanced at his busy niece and asked everyone: "Before we start, let's all introduce ourselves."

He winked at everyone. The young men understood and someone immediately introduced himself first.

Lin Xixi was making pancakes while listening to these people registering their household registration. The more she listened, the more she felt something was wrong.

She suddenly understood something and immediately turned around, with her back to these people.

...

As expected, when the so-called "study session" ended in the evening, Captain Zhao called her into the house: "Actually, today is for you to meet these young men. I have brought all the most handsome young men in the battalion here for you. How about it? Do you like any of them? How about Xiao Li? Xiao Wang is not bad either. Tell me which one you like. They all like you. You can start dating the one you like tomorrow."

After two months of dating, make a red dress for your niece, two red quilts, and build a large wardrobe as a dowry, and then you can get married.

Lin Xixi pulled a face and said, "I don't have the heart to date anyone."

Captain Zhao didn't believe it: "Is there no one you like? These are the best guys in our team, and they all have a future."

Military officers are treated the best. Even workers can't compare.

But when it comes to the future, Lin Xixi thinks differently from him.

So what if they are military officers? No one knows if these people can survive those ten years. In those years, so many people couldn't bear it and jumped into wells, rivers

, or hanged themselves. Even if they survived those ten years safely, they would have to change jobs when the big military downsizing came.

Then, there was the wave of layoffs in the 1990s.

What if the wave of layoffs came? What

if Lin Xixi returned to the moment before her death. The family really couldn't make ends meet. It was too difficult. The feeling of despair was overwhelming.

The torrent of history is stronger than the last one, and everyone is small and fragile.

Everyone I met on the blind date today didn't know which wave would kill them on the river beach in the future.

Lin Xixi only knew one person who stood firm in this rolling torrent and kept moving forward, and that was Yan Lei - the wealth she missed in her previous life.