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Chapter 2: Going to the Countryside? How About a Blind Date Instead!
Lin Momo looked at the breakfast spread on the table—rice porridge, cornbread buns, scrambled eggs, and pickled vegetables. This kind of meal would already be considered pretty decent in this era.
According to the original host’s memories, Father Lin earned just over a hundred yuan a month, and Mother Lin earned more than fifty.
In an era where ordinary workers made only twenty or thirty yuan a month, the Lin parents’ incomes were indeed high. No wonder their meals were so good.
However, buying things during this time not only required ration coupons but was also subject to strict limits. The Lin parents probably got these from the black market.
After the family finished eating, Father Lin stayed home to tidy up while Mother Lin rode a bicycle and took Lin Momo out.
Sitting on the back of the bicycle, Lin Momo saw propaganda slogans encouraging people to go to the countryside everywhere along the street:
In this era, families with two children were required to send one to the countryside, and Lin Momo was the only suitable candidate in the Lin family.
Lin Momo felt uneasy—had she just transmigrated only to be sent to the countryside? She didn’t know the first thing about farm work.
“Mom, am I going to the countryside too?” Lin Momo couldn’t help but ask.
“Don’t worry. Your dad and I won’t let you go,” said Mother Lin. They were already planning to buy Lin Momo a job, and if they couldn’t, Mother Lin would give up her own job for her.
Lin Momo nodded—she was really benefiting from the original host’s good fortune.
Mother Lin brought Lin Momo to the meat distribution station. Thanks to the original host’s memories, Lin Momo wasn’t unfamiliar with the place.
Just like Lin Momo, the original host also didn’t like fatty meat. Besides pork belly, Mother Lin also bought half a pound of lean meat specifically for Lin Momo.
In this era, it was rare for anyone to buy lean meat when fatty cuts and pork belly were still available at the meat station.
Seeing these little thoughtful gestures from Mother Lin, Lin Momo felt a warmth in her heart, thinking of the mother she had already lost in her original world.
“Mom, thank you,” Lin Momo said sweetly, wrapping her arm around Mother Lin’s.
“Silly girl, why are you being so polite with your mom?” Mother Lin affectionately patted Lin Momo’s head.
The mother and daughter also bought a fish and some vegetables before heading home.
Around ten in the morning, Lin Ze and Lin Yu came back to the Lin house with their wives and kids.
Cao Shulan and Zhang Hui were both easy-going and affectionate toward their sister-in-law, the original host. They each brought gifts for Lin Momo—Cao Shulan brought a hair clip, and Zhang Hui brought a silk scarf.
As soon as they entered the house, the two women set down their things and went straight to help Mother Lin in the kitchen.
Instead, it was Lin Momo who was chased out of the kitchen by her two sisters-in-law.
So Lin Momo ended up playing with three-year-old Lin Xiaojie. She couldn’t help but marvel at how the original host really was the beloved darling of the family. Even little Lin Xiaojie was very sweet to her and had candy in his pocket just for his aunt.
That day’s lunch at the Lin household was quite a feast, and the family chatted cheerfully while they ate.
“Dad, Mom, I went to visit my mother yesterday, and I heard that the authorities have issued a strict mandate this time—families with two children must send one to the countryside, even if they already have a job. We need to find a solution for Momo quickly,” said Cao Shulan. She had relatives working in the educated youth placement office.
“We were already planning to buy her a job,” said Mother Lin, putting down her chopsticks as soon as she heard the news. “If we can’t, then I’ll give her my job instead.”
When the rest of the family heard the news, their cheerful mood from moments earlier instantly vanished.
“Don’t be like that. I only heard a rumor—it might not even be true,” Cao Shulan said, feeling guilty. She regretted not waiting until after the meal to bring it up.
“You’re right. Better safe than sorry. We need to figure something out quickly. If the news turns out to be true, it might be too late,” said Father Lin, waving his hand.
“What else can we do besides get her a job?” Lin Ze sighed.
“Marriage,” Lin Yu suggested. Back when Zhang Hui wasn’t yet working at the rubber factory, they had just started dating.
They were originally planning to marry the following spring, but when the notice came that Zhang Hui was to be sent to the countryside, they got married ahead of schedule.
“But Momo doesn’t even have a boyfriend. Who is she supposed to marry?” Lin Ze couldn’t help rolling his eyes at his younger brother. The idea was good, but where would they find someone suitable right now? They couldn’t just pull someone off the street and marry Lin Momo to them.
“I do have someone in mind…” Zhang Hui said, a bit hesitant. After all, this was about her sister-in-law’s marriage, and it didn’t feel appropriate for her as a sister-in-law to suggest someone.
“It’s okay, go ahead and say it,” Mother Lin said, noticing Zhang Hui’s hesitation and gently encouraging her.
“My family’s neighbor’s son—his name is Cheng Jinghao. He’s 26 and a soldier. I heard he’s already a battalion commander. His family is arranging a blind date for him. I’ve met him before—he looks quite decent. If it’s okay, I can bring a photo over…”
“What did you say his name was?” Lin Momo, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
“Cheng Jinghao,” Zhang Hui repeated.
“Mom, I’m willing to go on a blind date with him,” Lin Momo said excitedly. She had to meet this Cheng Jinghao. Even if he wasn’t that Cheng Jinghao, there was no harm in just meeting him.
“Huh?” The whole family looked at Lin Momo curiously.
“Ahem.” Realizing she had overreacted, Lin Momo felt a bit awkward. “A soldier—I’ve always admired soldiers. They protect the country.”
“Besides, it’s just a meeting, not marriage right away.” Lin Momo picked up her bowl and took a few quick bites of rice.
“Should I bring the photo then?” Mother Lin looked at Lin Momo, testing her response. Actually, she thought it was a pretty good idea.
In this era, soldiers were highly respected. A battalion commander could have his spouse live with him on base. That would not only solve Lin Momo’s problem of being sent to the countryside but also avoid any issues with in-laws.
“Sweetheart, shouldn’t we think about this more?” Father Lin didn’t want his daughter to marry so young.
“Yeah, Sis, let’s think it through,” echoed Lin Ze and Lin Yu. Having doted on her since she was little, they were reluctant to see her marry so soon.
“If we wait, I’ll already be sent to the countryside. Besides, there’s no guarantee he’d even be interested in me,” Lin Momo replied. Beyond the fact that this might be her Cheng Jinghao, she truly didn’t want to be sent away.
“…”
The Lin family exchanged uncertain glances.
“Then Xiao Hui, bring the photo over tomorrow,” Father Lin finally decided. After all, it was just a photo for now.
“Okay,” Zhang Hui nodded.
As Lin Momo ate, her thoughts wandered far away. If this really was the Cheng Jinghao from her previous life, surely he’d come to meet her once he saw her photo.
“Mom, remember to write my name on the back of the photo,” Lin Momo said, looking up.
“Alright.” Although Mother Lin didn’t know why her daughter made the request, she still agreed.
That meal ended with everyone deep in thought. The Lin family worried about Lin Momo being sent to the countryside. Lin Momo, on the other hand, had only one thing on her mind—Cheng Jinghao.