Chapter 63: First Time Wearing a Dress

The next morning, Song Yuan came over early to Xiao Qingru’s house because she was going on a blind date.

“Aren’t I intruding if I tag along?” Xiao Qingru asked.

“There’s nothing wrong with it, you can help me assess him,” Song Yuan replied, shaking Xiao Qingru’s arm. “Come on, you have experience with relationships, so your eye for people has to be better than mine.”

Xiao Qingru teased, “If I had such a good eye, I wouldn’t have taken so many detours.”

“If it wasn’t good, would you have found him?” Song Yuan raised her eyebrows, gesturing to Xu Muzhou, who was making breakfast in the kitchen, like a dutiful husband.

Xiao Qingru smiled. “He found me, actually.”

“If you hadn’t agreed, he wouldn’t be here, would he?”

Relenting under Song Yuan’s persuasion, Xiao Qingru agreed to go with her.

The location was set at the state owned restaurant in the commune. Xiao Qingru suggested, “We’ll sit nearby so you don’t feel nervous, just act like you usually would.”

“Alright, I’ll be back in an hour to meet you downstairs,” Song Yuan replied.

“Breakfast is almost ready stay and eat with us,” Xiao Qingru offered.

Song Yuan shook her head. “I know when I’m not needed,” she said with a laugh, waving goodbye as she left.

Xu Muzhou noticed her wave to Song Yuan from the window. He commented, “You’re more reluctant to see her leave than you are with me.”

“Are you jealous?” she teased.

“Mm-hmm, jealous.”

Xiao Qingru stood on her tiptoes and patted his shoulder. “I heard that a little vinegar is good for your health. Maybe you should have more.”

Xu Muzhou grinned. “Sweet and sour is even better.”

After tasting some sourness, he leaned in for a long, passionate kiss. Breathless and weak kneed, Xiao Qingru leaned against his solid chest, feeling her legs go soft.

Xu Muzhou gently wiped her lips to erase the traces of their kiss. “Feeling okay, dear?”

“No, my legs are weak.”

Laughing, Xu Muzhou scooped her up as if she were a child, setting her down on a chair. “Eat a little more to build your strength.”

For breakfast, they had multigrain porridge, leftover steamed buns, pickles, and a dish of scrambled eggs with chili. Xu Muzhou mostly ate the chili, avoiding the eggs.

“When should we apply for a small plot to grow our own vegetables? It’d be nice to have fresh produce anytime.”

Xu Muzhou nodded. “That’s simple, it could be approved the same day. I’ll go inquire after breakfast.”

They chatted while they ate, planning out their day.

As soon as Xu Muzhou finished, he hurried off. “Take your time eating, dear. I’ll be back soon.”

“No rush. If you get caught up, I’ll go with Song Yuan to the commune by myself,” she assured him.

Xu Muzhou nodded. “If I can’t make it, I’ll meet you at the state owned restaurant or the coop.”

“Alright.”

Xu Muzhou put on his shoes, ready to leave. “Leave the dishes for me, I’ll wash them when I get back.”

“I can handle it! Now, hurry up.”

After he left, Xiao Qingru quickly finished her breakfast, cleaned the kitchen, and got ready. It was almost time to meet Song Yuan, so she washed up again.

She dressed in a shirt and pants for convenience, as they’d be biking. When she met Song Yuan, she blinked in surprise. Song Yuan wore a red polka dot dress, looking elegant and ladylike with her neatly braided hair and gentle features.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t like wearing dresses? The sun must have risen from the west today,” Xiao Qingru teased.

Song Yuan awkwardly pinched the fabric of her dress. “My mom insisted I wear this, saying it’s more fashionable.”

“Your mom has good taste. You look beautiful.”

“Your admiration doesn’t help, Qingru. I don’t swing that way.”

Xiao Qingru laughed. Wasn’t it Song Yuan who once joked about chasing her if she were a man?

Awkward in the dress, Song Yuan cleared her throat. “Where’s your husband? Isn’t he coming? That’s not like him.”

“He’ll join us later, he has errands to run first.”

“I thought he’d want to stick to you twenty four seven. Letting you go out alone doesn’t seem like him at all.”

“Enough teasing. Focus on your blind date!”

Song Yuan sighed, wondering what her date would be like. “If this one doesn’t work out, maybe my family will stop setting me up for a while.”

With this thought, her frustration faded, and she felt a bit lighter.

Time was getting tight. The trip to the commune would take two hours by bike.

They got on their bicycles and left the residential area, setting off for the commune.