Chapter 12: He Actually Wants to Go on a Blind Date?

Wen Nian stirred the millet porridge in her bowl. It was too early, and she didn’t have much appetite.

In her previous life, she always woke up naturally and only ate when she was hungry.

Experiencing the Lu family’s neat and regular three meals a day schedule was a first for her.

Lu Hanzheng, on the other hand, grabbed a scallion pancake rolled with pickled vegetables and meat sauce and ate heartily.

The Lu couple also started their meal, looking quite satisfied.

Could they not be?

She had added the spirit milk to the food.

Food in the 1980s was naturally pure.

The staff in the compound delivered fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits daily, always choosing the best and freshest.

With these buffs stacked, the taste of the food naturally wasn’t bad at all.

After breakfast, the Lu family’s young master hurried off to the military camp.

Lin Siyun pushed up her glasses, her short hair impeccably styled.

Her uniform was neat, her leather shoes shiny.

The watch on her wrist looked expensive, and the handbag she carried didn’t look like something from the local supply and marketing cooperative.

More like a high-demand item from Shanghai.

She was a typical intellectual career woman of the era.

Before leaving, she reminded Wen Nian:

“I’m going to the cultural troupe to handle some matters. There will be guests at noon; just prepare a hearty lunch.”

Wen Nian wasn’t really the Lu family’s maid, so she didn’t feel comfortable asking for anything.

She nodded.

It was the weekend today; Jiang Wenwen didn’t have school, so the kid would probably sleep in.

Wen Nian planned to take a walk outside first and then call her to eat.

Passing by the courtyard, she saw a gray coarse cloth bedsheet hanging on the clothesline.

Still wet, water was dripping.

He had gotten up so early to wash the bedsheet, and it had only been slept on for one night.

A bit too particular, wasn’t he?

Wen Nian didn’t think much of it—men liking cleanliness was a good thing.

He could change the sheets every day if he wanted, as long as she didn’t have to wash them.

The Lu family lived in tidy small Western-style houses.

On the other side were the servants’ quarters.

Mostly women came and went, washing and scrubbing at the public water trough.

When they saw her come out, they smiled and greeted her.

Wen Nian politely nodded back.

But before she was far, the neighbors started gossiping behind her back.

“Is this the Lu family’s adopted daughter? When did Chief Lu find her? She’s really pretty, like a star from a magazine.”

“She came a while ago. Don’t be fooled by her looking like a fox spirit, she’s just a country girl.”

“From the countryside? Doesn’t look like it! How do you know?”

“My cousin brought her in, but once she came in, she never left.”

“Could it be she wants to cling to Chief Lu’s family? The Lu family already has an adopted daughter, why take another?”

“Well, who knows? With the Lu family’s conditions, it’s normal for someone to want to stay.”

“But you gotta say, that Lin lady is really trusting—two big men at home and she’s not afraid of some fox spirit trying to steal them!”

Wen Nian was speechless—she hadn’t even walked far.

Was this any different from talking about her to her face?

A bunch of women giggling and gossiping about everyone’s business.

They talked about everything, even the chief of staff’s multiple nightly visits.

Wen Nian clicked her tongue in disbelief.

These women really dared to say anything.

Gossips were everywhere; these family members were so idle, they loved to chatter behind others’ backs.

Wen Nian hurried to leave and didn’t dare wander around anymore.

She originally came to assess the market and investigate the needs of these family members.

Besides adding spirit milk to food, she could also add it to skincare products.

Not as direct as with food, but the effects were also quite obvious.

Once skincare products made with spirit milk were applied, results could be seen within a few days.

Her household registration was still in Shanghe Village.

Wen Jiancheng only wanted to use her marriage to get a position and didn’t want to help her transfer her registration.

He only helped her get a letter of introduction for visiting relatives.

When the letter expired, she would be sent back to her hometown.

She couldn’t ask Lu Binghuai for help right now.

After all, the Lu family hadn’t said they would adopt her.

They only let her stay temporarily.

She had inquired at the Jing City household registration office.

There were three ways to transfer a rural household registration to the city:

Marriage, employment, or buying a house.

Marriage was off the table—not something she considered.

As for employment—

She had also checked with the recruitment offices.

City household registrations were given priority.

To find a job, first you need to have a Jing City household registration.

Of course, there are exceptions—highly educated or skilled high-end talents can have more relaxed policies.

She was an outsider with only a junior high school diploma.

In such a huge Jing City, many of the returning educated youth had high school diplomas and still struggled to find work. So what chance did she have?

Only one option remained.

Buying a house.

That was something she could consider.

Even without a household registration, a house in Jing City was worth buying.

But right now, she was penniless.

She did have some gold and jewelry in her spatial pocket, but they were too exquisite and pure to sell just yet.

Selling carelessly might draw unwanted attention.

If she got mistaken for a spy, that would be trouble.

As for the “Mao grandpas” (money), they were just worthless scraps now.

The fastest way was to find a job.

But this was still a planned economy; having a job unofficially was considered speculation and profiteering.

Besides, she had no connections.

She could only go back to her old trade—using spirit milk to make some skincare products and essential oils.

Quietly exchanging them for some money.

After the little girl finished breakfast, Wen Nian started thinking about the family lunch.

He already had her as a girlfriend, yet he still wanted to go on a blind date!

Wasn’t that going a bit too far?

Though she really didn’t want to entertain his blind date, when under someone’s roof, you have to keep your head down.

Lu Binghuai had instructed Lin Siyun several times to find a nanny quickly.

Wen Nian was the daughter of the man who had saved him.

She couldn’t be made to keep working so hard.

It wasn’t proper.

Lin Siyun promised Lu Binghuai firmly but then acted as if she wasn’t in any rush.

She always said there was no suitable candidate at the moment.

So Wen Nian could only keep going like this.

She was the one stubbornly clinging to the Lu family—what could she say?

The Lu family was at a high military-political level, so the people they invited were naturally not ordinary.

Their identities had to be equally respectable.

Wen Nian asked around about the guest’s preferences.

Lin Siyun only told her the guest’s ancestral home was in Sichuan Province and said she could improvise, but the dishes should be somewhat delicate.

Wen Nian picked through the seasonal vegetables the quartermaster delivered, roughly estimating the number of guests at noon.

Her menu formed in her mind.

Just as she finished placing the dishes on the table, Commissar Ding arrived with his daughter.

The adults exchanged a few greetings and sat down.

As soon as Commissar Ding sat, he was dazzled by the exquisite plating.

The aroma was strong, with Sichuan cuisine accounting for half the dishes.

It was clear they had figured out his tastes.

The Lu family was showing sincere hospitality!

After looking at the dishes, he shifted his gaze to the cook.

Wow!

He had heard that Lu Binghuai had finally found the descendant of an old comrade and even kept the person at home.

He hadn’t expected the girl to be so beautiful.

Commissar Ding’s eyes nearly went wide.

Rosy lips, white teeth, delicate features, slender waist, and long legs.

Her temperament was especially unique.

If he weren’t so old, he wouldn’t be sitting so steady.

He glanced at his own daughter.

Her previously fairly pretty face was instantly overshadowed by the comparison.

That was it.

No chance today!

With such a goddess-like person in the house, he didn’t believe Lu Hanzheng wouldn’t be tempted.

As for his own daughter, he knew her well.

Her looks were decent but her temper was too bad.

If she hadn’t insisted on coming with him, he wouldn’t have come at all.

Lu Hanzheng’s standards were high—others might not know, but this commissar was very clear.

He didn’t care about girls from the military district.

The girls from the cultural troupe were all beautiful.

But after so many years, he hadn’t been attracted to a single one.

Of course, he had the right to be proud.

He was the only son of a high-ranking commander.

Good-looking, highly capable, well-mannered.

Kept himself pure.

Never let any female soldier get within three meters of him.

Wherever he went, he was a prized catch.