Chapter 5 Blind Date
In the early morning, Feng Xuemei brought back soy milk, steamed buns, and fried dough sticks, coaxing Nan Zhiyi to swallow a few bites.
"Aunt Feng, I really can't eat anymore..."
"You've lost so much weight," Feng Xuemei sighed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Cheer up for me later."
Commander Zhang's police officer, Xiao Liu, drove a military jeep carrying two people towards the military region.
Nan Zhiyi leaned against the car window, looking out at the desolate autumn fields.
Feng Xuemei held her hand tightly, offering silent support.
After a bumpy ride, we finally arrived at our destination in the middle of the afternoon.
The military base was more solemn than I had imagined. The barracks were dusty, the walls were painted with slogans, and the air was filled with dust and a unique sense of tension that belonged to discipline and strength.
Feng Xuemei led her to a relatively quiet reception room with simple tables and chairs and a portrait of a great man hanging on the wall.
"Don't be afraid, Aunt Feng is with you."
Feng Xuemei patted her on the shoulder, "Now is not the time to be picky, it's about making a living. When judging people, we should look at their character, and more importantly, whether they can help you get through this hurdle. As for the rest... we can talk about it later."
Nan Zhiyi nodded, trying to appear calm.
Several potential partners arranged by Feng Xuemei's husband, Zhang Jianguo, began to arrive.
The first was a battalion-level staff officer surnamed Zhao, around forty years old, widowed. His eyes lingered on Nan Zhiyi's face for a moment before he asked, "Can you take care of children? You have three naughty boys at home."
Becoming a stepmother to three unfamiliar children? In an unfamiliar military camp?
Nan Zhiyi lowered her eyes and did not respond immediately.
Staff Officer Zhao waited a moment, and seeing her silence, he stood up to take his leave: "Comrade Nan, please think it over again."
The second was the instructor, a dark-skinned, lean, and wiry man with a glint in his eye as he spoke: "I have a girlfriend, arranged by my parents, we're not legally married, but everyone in the village accepts us... But don't worry, as soon as we get together, I'll go back and cut ties with her immediately. I promise it'll be clean..."
A man with a "de facto wife" in the countryside can easily say something like "break up".
She said calmly, "My parents just passed away, and our family fortune... is almost gone."
The other party chuckled twice: "Hey, money is just an external thing, being a good person is the most important! Comrade Nan looks like he's destined for good fortune..." Despite saying that, he didn't stay long before making an excuse that he had a mission and hurriedly left.
The third was the deputy battalion commander in charge of technology, surnamed Wang, who was accompanied by a thin old woman wearing a blue cloth jacket.
The old lady's eyes darted around, scanning Nan Zhiyi, before she touched the fabric of her clothes.
After Battalion Commander Wang sat down, he inquired, "Comrade Nan, I heard your father used to own a textile factory? A very large and successful business! What a pity..."
However, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse; surely I have some savings? Look at this world, how can a stipend be enough? I still have my elderly mother and four younger siblings to support; the burden is heavy..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was crystal clear.
Nan Zhiyi: "What Deputy Company Commander Wang said is true. However, my parents passed away suddenly, and we were also... raided several times before, so we really don't have any money left. Now, I don't even have a job."
Deputy Company Commander Wang glanced at the old lady.
The old lady said, "Oh, I see... Comrade Nan, don't be too sad. The organization will make arrangements. However, when it comes to daily life, you still need to be careful with your money..."
She began to talk at length about how she saved on her allowance and how she helped her younger siblings...
Nan Zhiyi listened quietly.
The "phoenix man" (a man from a poor background who achieves success) is burdened by his entire family, yet he still covets any remaining money she might have.
This isn't about finding a wife; it's about finding a stepping stone to fill the household expenses.
Feng Xuemei's face grew increasingly grim as she stood to the side. Several times she tried to speak, but Nan Zhiyi gently shook her head to stop her.
As soon as the person left, Feng Xuemei stood up abruptly, her chest heaving violently.
"What kind of garbage is this! Each one is more troublesome than the last! What kind of people did Old Zhang hire?!"
"Zhiyi, I'm so sorry to have put you through this. Aunt Feng knows, none of them are any decent..."
Nan Zhiyi forced a faint smile and resignedly said, "Aunt Feng, there's nothing to be aggrieved about. They might be after me because I have some money. I also want them to let me stay so I don't have to go to the countryside. It's fair."
Her voice was light and airy. "At least... I don't have to give my heart, so I won't get hurt."
Feng Xuemei felt a pang of sadness at her overly clear-headed compromise, and her eyes welled up with tears again.
"Nonsense! Zhiyi is so good, it deserves better! You sit here and wait for me for a while, I'll go find Old Zhang and ask him clearly!"
The door was closed.
The only sound in the room was the ticking of the wall clock.
Nan Zhiyi sat in the chair, her eyes vacant.
From one abyss, you jump into another quagmire.
She couldn't even muster a trace of anger, only boundless despondency and numbness.
Is this the only "way out" she can grasp?
Becoming a stepmother to a widower, interfering in someone else's "common-law marriage," or becoming an ATM for a man from a poor background's family?
Her shoulders and back slumped down.
For money... well, at least I don't have to give my heart away anymore.
The suffocating air in the reception room made Nan Zhiyi feel breathless.
She got up, pushed open the door, and walked to the porch.
There was a sycamore tree in the yard, its leaves scattered and falling, powerless to stop the autumn wind of fate.
Just like her.
"Understand?"
Gu Xiao appeared a few steps away.
He was dressed in a crisp military uniform, with straight shoulders and a stern expression between his brows.
At this moment, those eyes were staring intently at her, scrutinizing her, and... a complex emotion that Nan Zhiyi couldn't understand.
She subconsciously lowered her head, straightened her back a little, and replied, "Fifth Brother."
Gu Xiao's voice was tense: "What are you doing here?"
Nan Zhiyi honestly replied as always: "...Blind date."
The two words, spoken, carried an awkward and blunt tone.
Gu Xiao's already cold aura suddenly became even heavier.
He didn't speak immediately, but just looked at her lowered chin.
anger?
Pity? Perhaps.
But more than anything, it's an unbelievable heartbreak.
He thought that the Zhou family, out of consideration for their childhood friendship, would at least protect her, especially that brat Zhou Zhengping…
I never expected the Zhou family to be so cold-hearted.
Only one day has passed!
Did she end up like a commodity awaiting evaluation, waiting to be chosen by a stranger?
Nan Zhiyi felt somewhat uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
But she didn't want to explain, and had no way to explain.
They weren't close enough to confide in each other.
Seeing that he didn't seem to be leaving, Nan Zhiyi had no choice but to bite the bullet and break the silence with the most awkward topic: "Fifth Brother... what are you doing here? I remember... Aunt Feng said that you were transferred to another military region because of your meritorious service?"
She remembered Feng Xuemei mentioning that Gu Xiao had a bright future and had been transferred to a more important position.
Gu Xiao looked away from her face: "Yeah. I came back to take care of some things."
Nan Zhiyi said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions.
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