Chapter 15: Formal Blind Date

Wei Dai didn’t expect this to be the reason.

The heart is a strange thing.

Even though he and Wen Jiajia hadn’t met many times, nor had they spent much time together to deeply understand each other, the idea of her as a blind date seemed good.

He clearly knew this wasn’t love, and he might not like her yet, but he couldn’t ignore his fluttering heartbeat.

Wei Dai suddenly panicked.

He was worried Wen Jiajia would feel he was too abrupt. He wanted to explain his vague feelings, but he didn’t know how.

It was a terrible feeling.

But when he saw her bright eyes staring at him, his heart beat faster, and the urge to speak made him say something stupid.

“Otherwise, let’s try a blind date.” Wei Dai spoke quickly, afraid he would lose the courage. “Maybe it will be appropriate.” After speaking, he felt his energy drain, and he only felt sweat at his temples.

Wen Jiajia was stunned. She didn’t expect him to be so direct.

After a long time, she asked, “Why?”

In her last life, she was about to become a big internet celebrity. She didn’t have this kind of Mary Sue life where she met someone twice and had a romantic storyline. Now, dressed as a little orphan girl struggling to survive with two babies, she had this kind of life.

It wasn’t scientific.

She couldn’t figure it out.

Wei Dai thought for a while and then said seriously, “I think it’s very comfortable talking to you.”

Not because of her looks, although he did find her beautiful.

“Maybe it’s because you’re educated,” he added, sincerely dissecting his own psychology.

He felt that Wen Jiajia exuded a unique bookish aura just by standing there, the kind that only cultural talents have.

In his previous life, he had spent a lot of money to find Wen Jiajia, who had been trained by a master of manners for half a year: “…”

Wen Jiajia exhaled deeply, looked around, and beckoned to Wei Dai. “Come in and talk.” She had to make things clear to him.

Wei Dai pushed the cart into the courtyard gate again.

The two girls who were sharing the candy found it strange. Wen Xuan instantly had tears in her eyes, clutching the candy tightly, afraid that the uncle who gave it might regret it.

Wen Jiajia said as she walked, “Chun’er, Xuanxuan, keep an eye on the door. If someone comes, let your aunt know.”

They chirped happily, “We know, we know,” relieved it wasn’t about reclaiming the candy.

In the hall.

“Sit down,” Wen Jiajia said.

She sat down and cleared her throat. “I want to explain why I refuse to go on a blind date. One, I have no plans to get married at present. I haven’t sorted out my own life, and getting married to someone without an emotional foundation will only complicate things. No matter who Aunt Tian introduced at that time, I would have refused.”

Wei Dai asked, “What about the second reason?”

“The second reason is that I’m afraid Aunt Tian will deceive me and use me as a favor. She said how good you are, that you’re a platoon commander with a 23-level salary, earning more than 50 yuan a month. Given all that, why would someone like you be interested in me without some hidden issue?”

She suspected that what fell from the sky wasn’t necessarily a pie, but could also be a trap.

Wei Dai chuckled, “I do have something wrong.”

Wen Jiajia’s eyes widened.

She knew there were traps!

Wei Dai cleared his throat, mimicking her. “Hello, Comrade Wen Jia, my name is Wei Dai. I currently serve in Linhe City, Jiang Province, as a platoon commander with a 23-level salary, but the actual amount is only 39 yuan.”

“Why?”

“Because the rest of the money comes in various coupons and supplies,” Wei Dai explained. “For example, cotton tickets, cloth tickets, oil tickets, industrial tickets, and benefits during the New Year.”

Wen Jiajia understood. She had found it strange at first, and now it made sense.

Wei Dai continued, “Out of the 39 yuan, I send 5 yuan every month to the orphans of my comrades-in-arms, so my actual salary is lower.”

“As for my family, I have older siblings and a younger sister. My brother had polio, resulting in sequelae. He can only earn 5 points. He’s married, built a house in the village, and has a son, whom my parents often support. And my sister…” Wei Dai paused, “My sister has been married three times, has a child from her first marriage, and now lives in the next county. Her eldest daughter is being raised by my parents.”

Wen Jiajia understood.

She thought, why would such a “fragrant dumpling” be interested in her?

Curious, she asked, “Three marriages?”

Wei Dai nodded. “Yes, my eldest niece is from her first marriage and is 12 years old now.”

The corners of Wen Jiajia’s mouth twitched. “What about your little sister?”

Wei Dai sighed with relief. “My little sister works at the animal husbandry station in our commune as a veterinarian and is also married.”

Wen Jiajia asked, “Who did she marry?”

“…An educated youth.”

Wen Jiajia was speechless. Marrying an educated youth was risky. Like the original owner’s second sister, many had been deceived. After a few years, educated youths would return to the city, often causing conflicts. But some did not abandon their wives and children.

What if Wei Dai’s brother-in-law was one of those good ones?

Wei Dai was silent for a moment before continuing, “My parents are very helpful, known as good people, lending money that could fill two ledgers.”

Wen Jiajia asked, “Do people repay?”

“Most do, but some only repay when I ask them. The ledger is clear now. Some of the money was used to buy a bicycle, and some to pay tuition for my nephews and nieces,” Wei Dai said.

Wen Jiajia scratched her forehead. “Your family sounds bad, but it’s not so bad after thinking about it. At least you have enough to eat and wear; otherwise, you couldn’t have bought a bicycle.”

The Wei family had solved basic needs, with most problems arising after those were met.

After thinking it through, Wen Jiajia realized the Wei family’s issues were common, just more openly discussed.

Three of the four Wei children had fixed incomes. Even Wei’s sister, without a job, had regular supplies, so it wasn’t too difficult.

Wen Jiajia sighed inwardly. She was still the one struggling the most.

She was the real one suffering!

Wei Dai said, “Thank you for your comfort.”

He added, “Our family separated last year. My parents live with me and my older brother, still receiving 15 work points a day. When they turn 60, I’ll need to give 5 yuan a month for their support. Now, my parents’ house belongs to me, and the bicycle belongs to my older brother.”

Wen Jiajia thought it was good to have a house. Hegou Township along the river would surely develop in a few decades, and river-view houses would be valuable. But by then, the current generation would be old, and the value of the river view wouldn’t matter much.

Finally, Wei Dai said, “I’ve laid out my personal situation. If you can accept it, let’s try a blind date.” He was a little nervous.

“Can you accept mine?” Wen Jiajia asked. “I can’t abandon my two nieces.”

Wei Dai hurriedly said, “I am willing to raise them with you, I swear.”

Wen Jiajia replied, “What I’m talking about isn’t just raising them. I mean sending them to school, providing for them wherever they go. Wherever I go, they go.”

“Of course!”

Wen Jiajia frowned. “Even if we agree, if you go to the army, I can’t follow. I have to live on my own, and I won’t go to Hegou Township. This is my territory. I’ve just gotten acquainted with the Fuyang Brigade, and I don’t want to start over in a new environment.”

Wei Dai responded, “I will apply as soon as possible. The army is already planning a family area, which could be completed within a year. If you can’t join me, you can stay in the Fuyang Brigade.”

Wen Jiajia said, “I haven’t worked yet. I don’t like working in the fields, and getting 5 points is already the limit. My family’s situation is crumbling; I can only rely on what little we have left.”

Wei Dai assured, “I will give you my salary voucher and try to find you a job.”

To be honest, Wen Jiajia was really moved. In this era, being part of a military family provided significant advantages in finding employment.

She finally asked, “Marriage needs an emotional foundation. I can’t go on a blind date with you today and get a certificate tomorrow. If we’re not suitable, we should be able to part ways, okay?”

Wei Dai understood what she meant. “Do you mean we should see each other for a while first?”

“Yes, to be precise, get to know each other and see if we are compatible. Typically, you go on a blind date first, and if it goes well, you continue seeing each other until you decide to be together. But it seems like in this era, people go straight from blind date to marriage.”

Wen Jiajia continued, “I heard you came back for a blind date because you’re in a hurry.”

Wei Dai felt a bit weak-hearted. “Don’t worry, I have to apply for marriage. Even if I’m in a hurry, it’s useless because you haven’t yet reached the legal age of marriage.”

“So, Comrade Wen, would you like to go on a blind date with me?”

The hall was quiet as Wen Jiajia considered his offer.

Sunlight slowly spread from the patio to the hall, and the water in the tanks on both sides of the patio sparkled in the sunlight.

Outside, the two sisters occasionally made noise as they chased sparrows, preventing them from pecking at the persimmon tree by the door.

After a few minutes, Wen Jiajia stretched out her hand, a smile blooming on her face. “Hello, I’m Wen Jia. You can call me Jiajia.”

The corners of Wei Dai’s mouth rose as he shook hands with her. “Hello Jiajia, I am Wei Dai. You can call me Wei Dai.”

***

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