Chapter 47

Seeing the group walk in, Xia Qingning patted Mai Miao and said softly:

“I suddenly remembered something I haven’t done. Go home for a bit, I’ll come find you later.”

“What’s wrong?” Mai Miao was very puzzled.

“Don’t ask, just go back.” Xia Qingning urged, not giving her a reason, then instructed:

“When you leave my courtyard, stand tall, walk slowly.”

Seeing Xia Qingning so anxious, Mai Miao didn’t hesitate any longer and stood up:

“Then I’ll go home and wait for you. You come over quickly.”

“Okay, go quickly.” Xia Qingning waved her hand and urged again.

Mai Miao didn’t stay any longer, she opened the door and went out.

Xia Qingning stood by the window, watching intently. The three strangers had already walked into the courtyard. The woman in the dark blue cloth dress was walking in front, smiling all over her face, saying:

“We’re here, we’re here.”

This woman was a matchmaker, named Huang Daxi, but the most taboo thing in blind dates is “Huang” (meaning to fail), so everyone usually doesn’t call her Huang Meime (Huang Matchmaker), they call her Xi Meime (Happy Matchmaker).

Behind Happy Matchmaker was a man in a gray shirt. The man was carrying sugar and wine in his hand. He was about twenty-three or four years old, about 175 cm tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, very handsome. He was wearing a pair of bright leather shoes.

Behind the man was a woman, about forty or fifty years old, dressed very well, especially the bright yellow gold necklace around her neck, which was particularly dazzling.

Soon, they met Mai Miao who was walking out.

Mai Miao also followed Xia Qingning’s instructions, walking slowly with small steps. Her cute face looked even more delicate under the sunlight, and the blue and white dress on her body swayed gently with her steps, as if it could bloom a flower.

The man’s calm face, upon seeing Mai Miao, suddenly showed a look of surprise. His gaze stayed on her, a smile flashing in his eyes. He thought she was He Shanshan and immediately walked towards her.

However, the girl seemed unaware, walking straight past him.

The man’s smile instantly disappeared, his eyes unconsciously followed the girl until he saw her enter the house in front and disappear at the door, then he withdrew his gaze.

“This is the place, come in quickly.” Happy Matchmaker, who was walking in front, didn’t notice the man’s strangeness behind her. She was full of joy and shouted towards the house:

“Mingfang Auntie, come out quickly, we have guests.”

Xia Qingning withdrew her gaze, turned around and sat down next to the sewing machine, continuing to work on the unfinished clothes.

Hearing the sounds outside, Wang Mingfang immediately went out to greet them. Seeing the matchmaker in the dark blue clothes, she was very enthusiastic, her voice full of laughter:

“Oh, Happy Auntie, come in, come in quickly. You must be tired, come in and have some water first.”

Then she went over to help the man take the things in his hand. Her gaze fell on his face, seeing that he was fair-skinned and tall, she was very satisfied and praised:

“This is Xiao Wu, right? You’re really a handsome young man.” Then she enthusiastically took the woman’s hand behind him:

“Xiao Wu’s mother, please come in.”

The group entered the house, Wang Mingfang arranged for them to sit down, then she shouted towards the kitchen:

“Shanshan, the guests are here, bring out the sweet egg soup quickly.”

Happy Matchmaker immediately took over and praised:

“Our Shanshan, not only is she beautiful, but she’s also very diligent. She does everything at home, cooking, washing clothes, everything.”

Soon, He Shanshan came out with two bowls of sweet egg soup. She placed the soup on the table and politely said to the two women:

“Auntie, hello.” Then she looked at the man and shyly said:

“Hello.”

The man looked at her. He only saw the woman in front of him wearing a bright red dress, two braids tied with blue ribbons, her face was deliberately whitened, with two patches of blush, her eyebrows were thick and heavy, paired with pink eyeshadow and bright red lipstick, her whole body was colorful, truly… festive.

“Hello.” The man withdrew his gaze and replied politely.

“Oh, look at this young man and the girl standing together, they are so well-matched.” Happy Matchmaker clapped her hands and immediately praised them.

The two parents in the room also laughed along. He Shanshan blushed and lowered her head, saying softly:

“Auntie, you eat first, there’s more inside. I’ll go get it.” Then she turned around and walked to the kitchen.

Happy Matchmaker gently pushed the man, reminding him:

“Xiao Wu, go help Shanshan.”

The man named Xiao Wu nodded politely and walked into the kitchen. He took the bowl from He Shanshan’s hand and said:

“Let me.”

“Be careful, it’s hot.” He Shanshan said softly, reminding him gently.

“It’s okay.” The man didn’t stay long, he took the bowl and walked out.

This man’s appearance was indeed better than the other men He Shanshan had met before, but she was still a little dissatisfied. He was handsome, but compared to Lu Jingzhe, he was inferior in height, physique, appearance, and temperament.

However, looking at his clothes and the woman’s attire, their family conditions were definitely not bad. He Shanshan pouted, she had already reluctantly accepted it in her heart. She carried the last bowl of sweet egg soup and walked out.

The group sat in the living room and finished the sweet soup. The elders started chatting about their lives, the atmosphere was very pleasant. He Shanshan occasionally brought them melon seeds and sugar, looking very well-behaved.

The man sat on the side, answering whatever they asked, very polite, but he didn’t talk to He Shanshan alone.

After about an hour, the woman in the fine clothes said to Wang Mingfang:

“It’s getting late, we’ll go back now. We’ve disturbed you today.”

According to the rules, the first time they meet, they usually don’t have dinner at the woman’s house. So Wang Mingfang didn’t keep them. She smiled warmly and held the woman’s hand, saying:

“Xiao Wu’s mother, come over often. I really like this child Xiao Wu.”

“I like Shanshan too.” The woman replied politely.

The group didn’t stay any longer, they said goodbye and left the Lu family. Wang Mingfang and He Shanshan politely saw them out of the courtyard, smiling and waving goodbye.

Xia Qingning heard that there was no more noise outside, she stood up, walked to the window, and looked out. Sure enough, she saw the man looking back at Mai Miao’s house frequently as he walked, his face full of anticipation.

But until he reached the end of the courtyard, he didn’t see anyone come out. The man’s face, visibly, changed from anticipation to disappointment.

When she couldn’t see them anymore, Xia Qingning turned around with a smile, took the clothes she had altered for Mai Miao and went out.

“She’s smart, she just hid in the house and didn’t come out.” He Shanshan spat behind Xia Qingning, then spread her legs and sprawled on the chair, where was the gentle and virtuous look she had just had?

“It’s a shame about my two eggs.” Wang Mingfang felt a pang of heartache, then she looked at He Shanshan and asked:

“What do you think of this Xiao Wu? I think he’s pretty good.”

“He’s okay.” He Shanshan said with a reluctant expression.

“Then I’ll tell Happy Matchmaker that you don’t like him and tell them not to come again.” Wang Mingfang knew her daughter was being hypocritical, she deliberately teased her.

“Oh, Mom, that’s not what I meant.” He Shanshan panicked when she heard this, she immediately clarified:

“I think he’s fine.”

“I think Xiao Wu and his mother’s attitude, this matter is probably settled.” Wang Mingfang said confidently, then she warned He Shanshan:

“Don’t make any more trouble! You heard their parents are both workers, just the three of them, their combined salary is over a hundred yuan a month.”

He Shanshan’s eyes lit up, as if the hundreds of yuan were already hers. She looked at Wang Mingfang and said:

“Then when we get married, I want the three golds and one watch, plus 800 yuan for milk money.”

The mother and daughter were happily planning, how many tables they would have at the wedding, who they would invite, and what dowry they would get.