Chapter 173 : Dad, This Aunt Is Lying

Shen Zheng asked Fang Qiang, “Aren’t you interested in meeting someone?”  

Fang Qiang sighed. “I just don’t think it’s the right time for me to settle down. Xiaoluo’s business is doing so well, and I feel like I need to work harder. Besides, look at Boss Tang she’s over 30, still single, and living her life just fine. Compared to her, I’m only 22.”  

He looked genuinely troubled. “You don’t understand, the pressure is real. So many people keep coming to propose marriage that our door is practically worn out. It’s honestly exhausting.”  

In the village, being unmarried at 22 was unusual. Most young men his age already had children. In the past, when the Fang family was struggling financially, no one bothered to suggest matches, fearing they’d be burdened. But now, with the family’s improved circumstances and Fang Qiang owning a motorcycle, plenty of people were eager to set him up.  

“You’ve got the right mindset,” Shen Zheng said. “There’s no rush to get married. But trying out a blind date isn’t a bad idea. If you meet someone you like, you can take your time getting to know them. If not, no harm done.”  

Fang Qiang nodded, relieved by Shen Zheng’s approval. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Xiaxia tomorrow.”  

Just as they were talking, Zhang Xinyan and Fang Shijun walked over.  

“What are you two discussing?” Zhang Xinyan asked.  

Fang Qiang shifted awkwardly. “Oh, nothing much, just about tomorrow’s blind date.”  

The mention of blind dates caught Zhang Xinyan and Fang Shijun’s attention, and they eagerly joined the conversation.  

“Nowadays, so many people are introducing girls for your brother,” Zhang Xinyan said to Fang Xiaoluo.

“Thanks to you, the family is doing so well now. It’s time for him to find a partner.”  

She sighed. “But every time I tell him to meet someone, he says he’s too busy. A while back, it was learning to drive. Now that he has his license, he doesn’t have any excuse left!”  

Fang Xiaoluo understood the older generation’s urgency about marriage.  

“Anyway, the girl he’s meeting tomorrow won’t give up,” Zhang Xinyan continued. “Your brother has already refused several times, but she’s insistent on meeting him.”  

After inspecting the greenhouse, Fang Xiaoluo handed Fang Qiang a few blueprints. “Brother, if you have time, take these to Anju Furniture Factory and give them to Wei Yan. He’ll help me with the shop renovation.”  

Fang Qiang took the plans and promised, “Don’t worry. I’ll drop by when I have time.”  

When Shen Jinxia overheard the plans for the blind date, she looked intrigued.  

“Xiaxia, your uncle needs your help tomorrow. Do you want to go?” Fang Xiaoluo asked.  

Shen Jinxia’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Uncle needs my help? Can I really help someone else?”  

“Of course!” Fang Xiaoluo replied, picking her up and settling her on her lap. “Our Xiaxia is amazing and can absolutely help others.”  

Giggling, Shen Jinxia nodded eagerly. “Okay, okay, I’ll go!”   

The next morning, Fang Xiaoluo took Shen Jinxia to her kindergarten to ask for leave. Fang Qiang came to pick her up on his motorcycle once he finished his work.  

Dressed in a red veLuet jacket, black pants, and new red leather shoes, Shen Jinxia looked adorable. Fang Xiaoluo even styled her hair into two neat braids and added a red ribbon around her neck.  

The bright red outfit made Shen Jinxia look like a beautiful doll. Fang Xiaoluo couldn’t resist kissing her head several times.  

Fang Qiang lifted Shen Jinxia onto the motorcycle. She waved enthusiastically to her mother. “Goodbye, Mom!”  

Fang Qiang assured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her and bring her back later.”  

It was Shen Jinxia’s first time riding a motorcycle, and she was thrilled.  

“Wow, Uncle, this is so fast!”  

“Do you want me to slow down?” Fang Qiang asked with a smile.  

“Not at all!” Shen Jinxia replied, laughing gleefully as they sped off.  

Shen Jinxia quickly replied, “No, no, it’s so much fun this way.”  

As the motorcycle entered Jiangcheng, Fang Qiang slowed down.  

Shen Jinxia looked up and asked, “Uncle, where are we going?”  

“The state-owned hotel,” Fang Qiang replied.  

When they arrived, Fang Qiang helped Shen Jinxia off the motorcycle. He crouched down to smooth her hair and said, “Xiaxia, we’re going to have dinner with an auntie later. If you like this auntie, you can call me ‘uncle.’ If you don’t like her, you can call me ‘dad.'”  

Shen Jinxia blinked, her curiosity piqued. “This is what Uncle wants me to help with, right?”  

“Exactly,” Fang Qiang said. “Can you help Uncle with this?”  

“Of course!” Shen Jinxia promised confidently. “I’ll complete the task perfectly.”  

Fang Qiang chuckled. “Xiaxia is such a good girl.”  

—

At the State-Owned Hotel  

Fang Qiang led Shen Jinxia into the restaurant and found a seat.  

Shen Jinxia looked around curiously and asked, “Uncle, hasn’t the aunt you mentioned arrived yet?”  

“Not yet,” Fang Qiang replied. “She’ll be here soon. In the meantime, what does Xiaxia want to eat?”  

Shen Jinxia thought for a moment and said, “I want rice and scrambled eggs with tomatoes.”  

“Alright, Uncle will order that for you.”  

Fang Qiang ordered the dish along with a few bottles of soda. He opened one and handed it to Shen Jinxia, who took a sip. The sweet orange-flavored drink made her eyes light up with satisfaction.  

After a short wait, a young woman approached their table and hesitated before asking, “Hello, are you Fang Qiang?”  

Fang Qiang stood up. “Yes, I’m Fang Qiang. And you are…?”  

The girl, looking shy and nervous, introduced herself. “I’m Lu Jinbo, from Baiyang Village.”  

Fang Qiang studied her. The matchmaker had described Lu Jinbo as quiet, introverted, and good at housework, someone who would make an excellent wife and mother. At 20 years old, she was two years younger than him. She wasn’t strikingly beautiful, and her height was average.  

Fang Qiang gestured to a chair. “Please, have a seat.”  

Lu Jinbo glanced at Shen Jinxia, who stood beside Fang Qiang like a delicate porcelain doll, and hesitated. She didn’t ask about the child, assuming from her mother’s investigation that she was a relative’s daughter.  

Handing Lu Jinbo the menu, Fang Qiang said, “Take a look and decide what you’d like to eat.”  

Lu Jinbo blushed. “I… I can’t read. I’ll eat whatever is fine.”  

Fang Qiang froze momentarily, surprised. The matchmaker had said she’d finished junior high school. Was that not true?  

Deciding not to dwell on it, Fang Qiang ordered braised pork, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and three bowls of rice.  

When Lu Jinbo heard there was braised pork, she seemed pleased. Her father had told her that the Fang family was doing well now.  

However, when the scrambled eggs with tomatoes were mentioned, Lu Jinbo frowned slightly. She didn’t like tomatoes. Remembering her father’s advice to voice her preferences, she gathered her courage and said, “Could we not have scrambled eggs with tomatoes? I… I don’t like tomatoes.”  

Before Fang Qiang could respond, Shen Jinxia pouted and said loudly, “Dad, this aunt is lying! She just said she could eat anything, but now she says she doesn’t like scrambled eggs with tomatoes!”  

Fang Qiang held back a laugh, while Lu Jinbo flushed red with embarrassment. “Xiaxia…” she started, at a loss for words.  

Shen Jinxia crossed her arms and looked at Fang Qiang. “is it okay for someone to change their words like that?”  

Fang Qiang smiled awkwardly. “Xiaxia, everyone has things they like and don’t like. It’s not a big deal.”  

But Shen Jinxia, still frowning, seemed unconvinced.