Chapter 37: Nonsense

Zhang Xiangnan’s outer room was suddenly crowded with people. The men took the children out for a stroll, as they were in the way inside.

The women were busy preparing dinner; they were making dumplings for lunch.

Everyone worked and chatted together. Li Chunlan and the other two women whispered about Hua Yuanyuan’s recent blind dates, while Yang Jing listened quietly.

Of all the people Hao Li had been introduced to recently, he was the best. It would be ideal if they hit it off, but if not, finding suitable partners for both of them would be a worry.

Their plots of land were adjacent to each other, right next to Hua’s land. When they worked in the fields, they would often gather and chat.

They had leased one mu of land from the village, but they actually cultivated more than that—about two mu.

The reason was that no one was cultivating that land, so they could plant there without anyone objecting.

Besides growing grains, they also had a vegetable patch there in the summer.

This time, the Hua’s family leased the remaining land, so that plot was finally no longer left fallow.

When they worked in the fields, they would always chat. Yuanyuan was a straightforward girl.

Inside the room, Hua Yuanyuan and Hao Li awkwardly looked at each other…

Thinking of the legendary Captain Hao’s taciturn nature, Hua Yuanyuan felt that she should speak first.

It would be less awkward, breaking the silence, and then it would be easier to talk.

“Captain Hao, I’ve heard about it. Because my father asked Zhang Ge and the others to help introduce partners, and no one was willing, so they asked you for help.”

“Although this situation is a bit awkward, you don’t have to mind; I won’t take it seriously.”

Hua Yuanyuan was slightly playing the victim, not only playing the victim but also trying to retreat to advance.

She didn’t know if it would work or not.

Hao Li looked at her with surprise, as if he didn’t expect her to say that. He waved his hand and explained anxiously, “No, I didn’t mean to be unwilling.”

If he wasn’t unwilling to go on a blind date, it meant he was willing. Hua Yuanyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But Wang Changjiang was his comrade-in-arms. Would he mind marrying his comrade’s ex-wife?

Hua Yuanyuan actually regretted it, regretting telling her father that she could go on a blind date with Hao Li.

Wang Changjiang’s ex-wife, Wang Changjiang’s comrade-in-arms—it was indeed very awkward, and there was no need to make it so complicated.

It wasn’t like she couldn’t get married. Even if she didn’t find a suitable partner in the end, she could still live a carefree life as a single woman.

She was shocked by everyone’s perception of her.

Who knew that before she could tell her father,

Her father acted so quickly, directly arranging things for them.

Hua Yuanyuan felt that she was too fickle. One moment she wanted this, the next moment she wanted that.

Anyway, hearing the other party say this, she didn’t know what to say.

She carefully stared into his eyes, observing his expression.

He was serious; he was serious.

“You don’t mind that I’m divorced?”

“I’m also divorced.”

“Then you don’t mind that I’m Wang Changjiang’s ex-wife?”

“Wang Changjiang and I are just ordinary comrades-in-arms. We won’t have any relationship after leaving the army.”

Hua Yuanyuan understood the underlying meaning—he didn’t mind.

“What about when you were in the army?”

“We didn’t have much of a relationship, just a work relationship.”

So, this meant it had nothing to do with family?

At this point, Hua Yuanyuan didn’t know what to ask or what to say.

Sure enough, there was a long silence.

When they were talking, they were a bit far apart.

They were both sitting sideways on the kang, but at opposite ends.

One was at the east end, and the other was at the west end.

Hua Yuanyuan glanced at him and then looked away.

Hao Li did the same. When they were talking, they were looking at each other.

Now that they weren’t talking, they were embarrassed to stare at each other.

She knew he should say something, but he didn’t know what to say.

“I wash my feet every day.”

…

“And my socks.”

…

“And…”

“Stop! What are you saying?”

Afraid that he would say something else, Hua Yuanyuan shouted to stop him.

A pink blush rose on her fair face; she was angry.

Damn it!!

Seeing Hua Yuanyuan glaring at him angrily again, Hao Li lowered his head to avoid her gaze.

Her angry expression was like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on.

“What nonsense were you talking about just now?”

Hua Yuanyuan was a little angry and lost her composure. Did people say this on a blind date?

Hao Li was also innocent. He didn’t know what to say, so he thought of what Xiao Fang had said that his sister cared about, and he said it casually without thinking too much. He inadvertently betrayed Xiao Fang, “I heard Xiao Fang say…”

Hua Yuanyuan…

She never imagined that her younger brother would tell Hao Li such private matters. Were they that close?

Ignoring everything else, Hua Yuanyuan stared at Hao Li without blinking, as if she wanted to stare a hole through him.

Hao Li, under her gaze, lowered his head, turned sideways… and was about to turn his back to her.

After scaring him, Hua Yuanyuan went out to help with the cooking.

Hao Li wiped his face. He was such a coward, so embarrassing. What was there to be afraid of? Just look, could she take a layer of skin off him?

Next time, remember, don’t avoid it, just look at each other directly, and see who gives in first. Yes, that’s it.

Hua Yuanyuan washed her hands and started wrapping dumplings. As soon as she started, Yang Jing and the others were stunned.

She was a real cooking expert. With two quick movements, a little dumpling shaped like a gold ingot was ready.

The plump dumplings looked delightful.

And her speed was extremely fast…

Hua Yuanyuan liked cooking and liked stuffed foods, like buns, dumplings, and stuffed pancakes. Because she loved to eat them, she was very skilled at making them.

There was no secret, just a little talent, and practice makes perfect.

“Yuanyuan, your skills are good enough to open a restaurant!”

Yang Jing wasn’t good at doing these things; she was slow and couldn’t wrap the dumplings well. While she was wrapping one dumpling, Hua Yuanyuan had already wrapped a whole string.

“Hahaha, that’s right, I’ll open a dumpling shop someday.”

If Hua Yuanyuan had a tail, she would probably be wagging it. She wasn’t humble at all.

Li Chunlan’s speed of rolling out the dough increased, “Girl, how’s it going?”

Four pairs of eyes, like light bulbs, stopped their work and looked at her. Hua Yuanyuan…

“I don’t know.”

She really didn’t know. Her two experiences with blind dates made her very confused.

“Girl, Captain Hao is…”

In short, he’s an honest man. The sisters-in-law spoke plainly; they were practical when it came to finding a husband.

Don’t overthink it; just see what kind of life you’ll have after marriage.

Hua Yuanyuan listened to her sisters-in-law share their experiences. A woman’s life depends on the man, but also on herself.

Everyone had a lively dumpling dinner. The children ate until their little bellies were full, and they still wanted more.

For the children, eating dumplings was like celebrating the New Year.

After dinner, the rain stopped.

Hua Youcai was worried about the greenhouse and was anxious to go home. He also pulled Hao Li along, saying he wanted to talk to him.

The road was a dirt road, and it was muddy after the rain. Hua Yuanyuan walked carefully, choosing the better paths, but her shoes were still muddy.

The fields were even worse; she wasn’t going there.

Hua Youcai took Hao Li to the field, but then changed his mind and turned back home with him.

Yes, after seeing the muddy field and Hao Li’s shoes, Old Man Hua changed his mind.

It was just that his daughter was particularly unmanageable. He wanted to talk to Hao Li without his daughter listening.

“Daughter, go to your room and play by yourself. Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“Sleep right after eating? I’m not a pig.”

…

“Then go read your book.”

“No, I’m not doing anything today, not reading, just resting.”

“Son, did you light the fire? Why isn’t the kang warm?”

Hua Fangfang… He had lit the fire, why wasn’t it warm?

Hua Youcai certainly couldn’t win against his daughter. His daughter and son were on either side of him, and Hao Li was opposite them.

Hao Li sat on the kang, his bottom getting warmer and warmer. He tried to lower his presence; he had been worried that the father and son would quarrel.

Unexpectedly, the father was defeated in a few words. No matter what he said, Hua Yuanyuan just said no.

With his daughter present, Hua Youcai couldn’t express himself well.

Some things weren’t appropriate to say in front of his daughter.

All three of them looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

Hua Youcai cleared his throat, “Captain Hao, it’s like this. I’ll just say it straight. Xiao Zhang and the others told me, and I didn’t know it was like this. If you’re not willing, don’t force yourself…”

Hao Li… Father and daughter were alike; they used the same opening remarks.

Hua Yuanyuan… They were truly a family; birds of a feather flock together.

She saw that her father was confirming whether Hao Li was serious, to prevent him from playing around with his daughter.

If Hao Li was also serious, then there would be a need for further discussion.

“Uncle, I’m willing to go on a blind date; I’m not unwilling, and I’m serious.”

What he didn’t say was that Hao Li felt that a girl like Hua Yuanyuan wouldn’t like him.

He had some experience with blind dates.