Chapter 33: A Blind Date

The food my daughter made was especially presentable. He could tell whether she genuinely enjoyed eating it or was just being polite.

Hua Youcai went out to run errands and didn’t feel it detracted from his image at all.

Relying solely on village matchmakers to find a husband for his daughter wasn’t enough. He needed to ask Xiao Zhang and the others if there were any suitable soldiers among them to help introduce someone.

His requirements weren’t high; someone who got along with his daughter and was down-to-earth would do.

There were still good men among the soldiers. If one happened to be his daughter’s destined partner, that would be wonderful.

Zhang Xiangnan was doing a thorough spring cleaning at home. The weather was nice today, so he washed and aired everything that needed it.

He did all this housework when he was home, saving his wife the trouble.

Hua Youcai watched Xiao Zhang working and was so envious. If his future son-in-law were to cherish his daughter like that, he’d be content.

“Uncle, why are you bringing things again? How much have I eaten from you lately? I’m so shameless.”

Zhang Xiangnan didn’t know what to say. The uncle seemed like a thrifty person, yet he was so generous with food. His family’s meals were among the best in the village.

“Hahaha, it’s not that you’re shameless, it’s that I’m shameless. I brought things because I have something to ask you.”

“Uncle, isn’t it just some manual labor?”

“Hehe, not this time, it’s serious business.”

Zhang Xiangnan invited him inside. Yang Jing greeted him and busied herself making tea.

“Xiao Yang, don’t bother, no need for tea. I have something to tell you, and I need to tell a few other families as well!”

“It’s about my daughter’s marriage, have you heard…?”

Hua Youcai went on to describe the people he’d recently considered for his daughter. “My daughter’s divorced, so we’re looking at someone who’s also divorced or an older bachelor. It’s fine either way, but the person must be good. I’ve met the families they suggested, but they’re just not suitable!”

…

“I’m shamelessly asking for your help. See if you know anyone suitable and if you could introduce them.”

Hua Youcai then explained his family situation in detail.

He, his daughter, and his younger brother were all farmers.

Hua Youcai’s point was that he didn’t have high expectations; he just wanted someone from a similar background, no social climbing, just someone down-to-earth.

Zhang Xiangnan and Yang Jing hadn’t heard anything. One worked in the team, the other worked and sometimes stayed in the company dormitory, only returning home on weekends and not socializing much.

“Uncle, don’t worry. I thought it was something else. Let me think about it and see if there’s anyone suitable. Wife, help me look around your workplace for a suitable young man.”

“Okay, I’ll definitely find someone worthy of Yuanyuan.”

Yang Jing had a very good impression of Hua Yuanyuan. She was unlike other rural girls.

Very different, her temperament was indescribable.

Li Chunlan and the others were all from rural areas, but Hua Yuanyuan was simply not in the same league.

“Ah, sorry for the trouble. We’re not aiming high, someone like us is fine…”

Hua Youcai emphasized again that the most important thing was the person.

He firmly believed that matching backgrounds was crucial. If the backgrounds didn’t match, and the gap was too large, his daughter wouldn’t be able to hold her head up in the other family.

If the other family’s conditions were much better, why would they look at his family?

Zhang Xiangnan was in a difficult position. The uncle meant that a soldier would also be acceptable.

But the uncle didn’t know that Hua Yuanyuan’s reputation had spread, and soldiers wouldn’t dare marry her…

He really didn’t know how to tell the uncle this.

After discussing it with his wife, they decided to inquire anyway.

There were many single men in the team; it wasn’t possible that everyone would refuse, there would certainly be a few who wouldn’t mind.

Maybe one of them would be the right one, and it would work out!

Fang Dayong and the other three families felt the same way; they would help inquire, just in case there was a suitable match.

Hua Youcai was in a good mood; at least everyone readily agreed.

He was satisfied with their attitude.

Finally, he took a bag of roasted beans to Uncle Wang’s store to offer them a taste.

A couple of days later, before they received any news, Uncle Wang introduced someone who seemed quite reliable—a little too reliable in terms of conditions.

It didn’t quite fit Hua Youcai’s principle of matching backgrounds.

The man was a government worker with a stable job, an only son with two married sisters. His parents both had jobs, and he just wanted someone pretty.

He wasn’t an old bachelor or a divorced widower; the conditions were too good.

Twenty-five years old, good family background, stable job, and a down-to-earth young man. The only drawback was his height: 1.65 meters.

After seeing Hua Yuanyuan’s photo, he said he was very satisfied and wanted to meet her.

The Hua family of three were working in the fields and muttering, “Dad, I feel like I’m dreaming. A young man with such good conditions, he’s a little unsuitable for me, isn’t he?”

Hua Youcai also felt something was wrong, but he didn’t like it when his daughter said that.

“Why unsuitable? He’s suitable.”

“No, our family’s conditions are like this, and I’m divorced. It just feels a little strange.”

What she didn’t say was, if this man marries you because you’re pretty, what will happen when you have children, your breasts sag, your figure changes, you get a double chin and thick legs?

As you age, time takes its toll, you won’t be as pretty as a young girl. What will the man do then?

There was no point in overthinking; they would meet and see.

They agreed to meet at Uncle Wang’s store the next morning at 9 am.

Hua Youcai and his son specially took a bath and changed into their newest clothes.

Hua Yuanyuan also took it seriously, combing her hair several times.

Finally, she braided two small pigtails, very village-style.

She wore a small floral jacket over a sweater, and wide blue pants.

She made an effort to change her padded jacket for a sweater.

Hua Yuanyuan liked to wear padded jackets, thick ones in winter and thinner ones after the New Year; they were comfortable and warm.

A typical village girl image, Hua Yuanyuan was satisfied; it fit the persona of a rural girl.

But she couldn’t quite capture the temperament, so she tried to act it out.

Lowering her head, hunching her shoulders, a shy smile, stammering… that should be about right.

They arrived ten minutes early, and the other party was already there.

There were three people from the man’s family: his mother, sister, and himself.

After greetings and pleasantries, they sat down.

Hua Yuanyuan glanced at Uncle Wang’s north room; it was very tidy.

She frowned and lowered her head for a moment, then couldn’t help but look up again; the gaze was simply too uncomfortable.

The man’s family stared at her, examining her from head to toe.

The girl who had planned to act shy immediately gave up.

Forget it, her acting wasn’t good enough.

Hua Yuanyuan directly met the other party’s gaze and smiled slightly.

The mother and sister smiled awkwardly and looked away.

When the man saw her looking over, he didn’t feel embarrassed at all, but even more brazen.

His eyes repeatedly drifted to her chest…

Looking at each other was inevitable, but being looked at like a pig ready for slaughter, as if they were about to weigh her, was ridiculous.

Damn it, this short and fat man was shameless.

He claimed to be 1.65 meters tall, but no way. Hua Yuanyuan herself was 1.65 meters tall!

He was shorter than Hua Yuanyuan, not only short but also fat, and not only fat but also dark. Not only was he dark, but his mother and sister were also dark; it was a family trait.

Being dark wasn’t a big deal, but this family’s darkness was unique. They were simply dark, fat, and ugly.

Even if it was prejudice, Hua Yuanyuan didn’t want to be involved with this family.

Hua Youcai also looked at the man and his family. He was short and fat, but that wasn’t the worst of it.

The look in the man’s eyes towards his daughter showed he wasn’t a good person.

Well, he figured as much. If a family had such good conditions and the man was also good, it wouldn’t have come to this. Clearly, there was something wrong with the man himself.

Hua Youcai wouldn’t marry his daughter to such a person.

The man’s mother spoke, “Your name is Yuanyuan, right? What a lovely name. How old are you this year?”

Hua Yuanyuan smiled shyly, “Twenty-five, no, twenty-six after the New Year. I got my marriage certificate at twenty and my divorce certificate at twenty-five, before the New Year.”