Chapter 26 : My mom doesn’t let me play with weaned children

Zhao Qionghua’s thoughts swirled in her mind, taking several twists before she barely managed to squeeze out a smile.

“Little Jiang, you’re still young. Just because you have some looks doesn’t mean you can have high expectations. My son is doing well, although he’s a temp now, he’ll be regular in two years. Our family has dual incomes, and he has two older sisters to support him, so his conditions are quite good.”

Jiang Yu smiled and nodded. “Comrade Zhuang’s conditions are indeed good, but whether we can become revolutionary partners depends on fate. I feel that Comrade Zhuang and I probably don’t have that kind of fate.”

Seeing her stubbornness, Zhao Qionghua was furious inside.

Did she really want a country bumpkin as a daughter-in-law?

She had never intended for Zhuang Yihang to come for a blind date; she thought country girls would be easier to manage, allowing her to continue controlling her son’s salary after marriage.

What should have been a sure thing was now a joke, Jiang Yu actually didn’t find Zhuang Yihang appealing?

“YOU—”

“Zhuang Yihang? What are you doing here?”

A voice nearby interrupted Zhao Qionghua’s suppressed anger.

Zhuang Yihang looked up and called out, “Cousin.”

Jiang Yu didn’t know her, so she remained silent, but she sensed the “cousin” was sizing her up.

Zhao Qionghua smiled and greeted her, “Xiyue, you’re here for a meal at the state-run restaurant too?”

Jiang Yu’s brow furrowed. Xiyue?

The only person she knew by that name was Yan Wenxuan’s girlfriend, Zhang Xiyue.

Yan Wenxuan? Zhuang Yihang? Cousins?

Zhang Xiyue raised her chin proudly. “Aunt Zhao, are you matchmaking for Zhuang Yihang?”

Zhao Qionghua nodded. “Yes, he’s not young anymore and needs to find a suitable partner.”

Zhang Xiyue looked at Jiang Yu with a sneer, radiating a sense of superiority that made one uncomfortable. “Where are you from? You look unfamiliar.”

Jiang Yu didn’t answer, but Zhao Qionghua replied, “From Nanghe Village, quite a distance from the city.”

She wanted to use Zhang Xiyue to pressure Jiang Yu.

Zhang Xiyue’s disdainful gaze intensified. “Aunt Zhao, why would you find a country girl for Zhuang Yihang? When choosing a wife, one’s standards shouldn’t be too low!”

This statement struck a chord with Zhao Qionghua.

“Oh! I just thought since she expressed interest, I’d let my son meet her and see if they were compatible!”

Zhang Xiyue clicked her tongue. “City people and country people? How could they be compatible? Zhuang Yihang, you’re far worse off than your brother, your standards for choosing a partner need some refinement.”

Jiang Yu watched their back-and-forth like a play, unable to help but smile.

“That’s true, refining one’s standards is essential. I think Comrade Zhang’s standards are certainly impressive.”

Zhang Xiyue initially beamed with pride, but then furrowed her brow. “How do you know my last name is Zhang? Do I know you?”

Jiang Yu shook her head. “No, we don’t know each other, I’ve just heard of you.”

Zhang Xiyue sneered. “Flattering me won’t work, I’m not falling for that. Trying to please me is useless, you and Zhuang Yihang aren’t suitable.”

“I’ve already turned down Comrade Zhuang. We really aren’t suitable,” Jiang Yu stated calmly.

Zhuang Yihang’s expression instantly changed. They hadn’t even spoken for two minutes, how could it be unsuitable already?

Jiang Yu continued, “I heard that Comrade Zhang’s boyfriend is a substitute teacher at school, and that Mr. Yan is quite well-known there, often chatting with kind female colleagues and buying gifts for them. He’s very warm-hearted.”

Zhang Xiyue’s face darkened immediately, filled with anger.

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Jiang Yu blinked. “Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, you can check for yourself, I just heard it from others.”

Turning to Zhuang Yihang, she said, “I’m sorry, Comrade Zhuang. It seems we don’t have a fate, my mother doesn’t let me play with children who haven’t been weaned.”

Estimating the meal cost, she dropped three yuan on the table and left without a backward glance.

Every action Jiang Yu took was clearly visible to He Tingyue and his companions two tables away.

He Tingyue remained calm and composed, not commenting on the situation around him.

The man beside him laughed heartily, slapping his thigh.

“This girl is quite interesting. ‘My mom doesn’t let me play with weaned children’—isn’t that just calling that guy a baby!”

The man across from him chimed in, “He hasn’t been weaned yet! What kind of guy goes on a blind date with his mom? And on top of that, he doesn’t even ask the girl about her preferences when ordering, he just asks his mom. And his mom picks the fish bones for him and wipes his mouth after he eats. What’s next? Will he need his mom to tuck him in at night?”

He Tingyue shot them a glance. “Stop gossiping behind people’s backs and eat!”

In fact, Jiang Yu was also silently mocking.

She didn’t say much to her aunt, considering Zhuang Yihang worked under her, she didn’t want to affect her professional judgment.

But in the blink of an eye, she had run over to chat with Xie Fei fei and He Feiyan.

“What do you think? If he can’t live without his mom, why bother going on blind dates? He might as well just live with her!”

Xie Fei fei shook her head. “You can’t marry someone like that. If you marry him, his salary will still be under his mom’s control. How could you live like that? His mom likely wants a country girl because she thinks they’re easier to manipulate and won’t resist.”

Jiang Yu glanced at He Feiyan and lowered her voice. “I ran into Zhang Xiyue yesterday and found out that Yan Wenxuan is Zhuang Yihang’s cousin. Isn’t that a coincidence?”

“Zhang Xiyue?”

“Zhang Xiyue!”

Xie Fei fei and He Feiyan echoed each other in surprise.

Jiang Yu and He Feiyan both turned to Xie Fei fei, speaking in unison, “You know her too?”

Xie Fei fei replied, “I mentioned last time that my neighbor bullied her daughter-in-law, do you remember? That’s Zhang Xiyue’s family. Zhang Xiyue’s dad is the principal of a high school, but they have a lot of pressure, the whole family relies on his salary.”

“When her brother had a high fever as a child, it damaged his brain, making him unable to care for himself. Her mom found a country girl to marry him. Everyone thinks that country girls coming to the city are living the good life, but it’s the same everywhere, they’re beaten and scolded by Zhang Xiyue’s mom all day.”

Xie Fei fei warned Jiang Yu, “The Yan Wenxuan you mentioned is her boyfriend, right? Don’t get involved in her matters, she has issues.”

She had noticed long ago that Yan Wenxuan had a bad character and liked to flirt.

Out of kindness for being neighbors, she had warned Zhang Xiyue, but ended up getting scolded for it.

Zhang Xiyue had accused her of being jealous.

“Jealous of what? Am I jealous of her having a foolish brother or parents who prioritize sons over daughters?”