Chapter 57

Xu’s mother ate her dinner absentmindedly, constantly thinking about Xu Di’s situation.

“Mom, what are you thinking about?”

Xu’s elder sister-in-law noticed her mother-in-law’s unusual state as soon as she came back. It felt similar to the last time Xu Mei wrote back saying she was getting married.

Xu Mei had just left, and they hadn’t heard anything about their aunt’s family.

“Ah, nothing, eat, eat.”

Xu’s mother snapped out of her thoughts. She didn’t know if it was because she was getting older, but her emotions were unstable.

“Dad, Brother, Sister-in-law, I’m going on a blind date the day after tomorrow.”

“Blind date? Who introduced you? What does the guy do? Is he reliable?”

Xu’s elder sister-in-law was very excited. She was afraid her younger sister would also find an unreliable partner.

“What’s going on? Is your mother preoccupied with this?”

Xu’s father also noticed his wife’s strange behavior. He had intended to ask her what was wrong after dinner, but now he couldn’t wait any longer.

“Yes, I was just talking to my mom about this. We didn’t get to say much before you came back.”

“Eat, eat first. We’ll talk after dinner.”

Xu’s mother urged everyone to eat. They had been working all day and were tired and hungry.

“Eat, we’ll talk after dinner.”

Xu’s father also spoke, and even though everyone was very curious, they could only wait until after dinner to learn more.

Everyone tacitly agreed and silently sped up their eating pace.

After dinner, Xu’s elder brother and Xu Jun, without anyone saying anything, were particularly eager to clear the table and wash the dishes. They worked with such enthusiasm.

“Sister-in-law, what’s wrong with my brother? Did Xu Jun infect him?”

“Where did you get that idea? He’s just concerned about you. You little girl, you’re going on a blind date without saying anything.”

“I didn’t say anything without a reason. We’ve exchanged two letters. I wanted to tell you before the New Year, but things happened all at once, and I didn’t have time.”

Xu’s elder sister-in-law understood what was going on. The atmosphere at home had been a bit tense before the New Year because of Xu Mei’s situation.

“Second Sister, you’re done cleaning up. Go ahead and tell us. I’m dying of curiosity.”

Xu Jun rushed out of the kitchen, clamoring to hear what was going on.

“Dad, Mom, come out too. We can all listen together.”

Xu’s elder brother called out. His sisters were all getting married, and he felt a little reluctant.

Xu’s father and mother came out of the room. The family sat on the sofa in the living room, waiting for Xu Di to explain.

“The person was introduced by Aunt Wang.”

Xu Di first explained the origin of the blind date. It wasn’t a random encounter.

“He’s five years older than me.”

Xu’s elder brother, upon hearing this, couldn’t hold back and asked a question.

“He’s the same age as me. Why hasn’t he gotten married yet?”

Xu’s elder brother glanced at his son, who was playing with a tin frog, and thought the guy was a bit old.

“Dali, listen to your sister finish.”

“I know, Dad, continue.”

Xu’s elder brother, perhaps because of Xu Mei’s situation, was a little agitated.

“Zhang Chaoyang, that’s who Aunt Wang introduced. His name is Zhang Chaoyang. He’s a soldier.”

“Soldiers are great. I envy soldiers the most. When I grow up, I want to be a soldier too.”

“He has a gun.”

Xu Jun and Xu Ping’an each added a sentence, interrupting Xu Di.

“Be quiet, all of you. Listen to Xu Di, don’t interrupt.”

Xu’s mother slapped the table. They were all talking at once, giving her a headache.

Xu’s mother got angry, and everyone quieted down. Xu Di continued.

“Zhang Chaoyang is from Beijing. His parents both have jobs. His unit is out of town, in the south, a bit far away.”

Xu Di didn’t have much more to say. They had only exchanged a few letters, back and forth, which was too slow. They just had a basic understanding of each other’s thoughts.

She hadn’t mentioned anything about her family situation. She didn’t know much about it either.

“What rank is he? Can he be transferred with you?”

“He’s a deputy battalion commander. He can’t be transferred. Their conditions are tough, not suitable for family members to live there.”

Xu Di said everything she knew. The rest would have to wait until they met the day after tomorrow.

“Xu Di, won’t that mean you’ll be separated? In the future, you’ll be taking care of the house and the children alone. It will be very hard.”

Xu’s elder sister-in-law thought it would be too hard. It would be like not being married at all. It wasn’t like Cowherd and Weaver Girl, meeting only once a year.

“Your sister-in-law is right. He can’t be transferred. How many times a year can he come back?

In the future, you’ll have to handle everything at home and outside. It will be very tiring.

I know you think most men don’t do housework, and even if they’re at home, they won’t help. But there are good ones too.

Didn’t Uncle Lin in our compound do a good job? He washes clothes, cooks, and takes care of the children. He does it all.”

Xu’s mother had heard Xu Di mention before that even if men were at home, they wouldn’t help with housework.

“Mom, Uncle Lin is an exception.”

“It’s not common, but it’s not impossible.”

Xu’s mother thought that men should earn money to support the family. Didn’t women do all the housework? It was the same in every family. What was there to object to?

“Who can guarantee that the person I find will be like that? If we don’t live together, how can we know what their true nature is?

I don’t want to live with my in-laws, sisters-in-law, and younger sisters-in-law… a whole bunch of people. It’s noisy, and I have to serve them all every day.”

Xu Di knew her thoughts were a bit out of the ordinary for this era.

She had had enough of that kind of life in her previous life. Although she didn’t live with her in-laws, one Li Kai was like a whole family. He was so troublesome.

“Isn’t that how it is? We have a lot of family members too. Your sister-in-law didn’t feel like she couldn’t live like you.

Even if you end up with that guy, you can’t be transferred with him. Won’t you have to live with his parents and siblings?”

Xu’s mother didn’t understand. Why would her younger daughter rather be separated than tolerate a man who doesn’t do housework?

“No, Zhang Chaoyang grew up with his grandmother.

If we get married, I’ll just live with his grandmother.”

“He doesn’t have a good relationship with his parents?”

Xu’s mother thought the family situation was a bit complicated and was even less willing.

“Aunt Wang didn’t say anything. We’ll wait until we meet the day after tomorrow to ask about the details.”

For a moment, the room fell silent. Everyone was silent.

“Xu Di, are you determined? Even if you’re separated for years, you don’t mind?

In the future, you’ll be taking care of the children alone, being both a father and a mother. You won’t regret it?”

Xu’s father looked at Xu Di seriously. His second daughter had always been lively since she was a child. Although she was raised in the countryside for eight or nine years, she didn’t resent her parents. She was happy with her grandparents.

As parents, they just wanted their children to have a smooth and easy life.

“Dad, Mom, I’ve thought it through. I’ve thought about it very carefully.

I’m not afraid of hardship, and I’m not afraid of hard work, but I don’t want to be wronged.

Since I was a child, I’ve been spoiled and lived a carefree life.

I don’t want to grow up, get married, and have to live according to my in-laws’ wishes, accommodating their whole family.

I’d rather be busy at home and outside alone than find a live-in father who not only makes me busy at home and outside but also has to serve him, eat, drink, and sleep, and listen to his constant nagging.

I have a job, and I earn a decent amount. Why do I have to serve a man like he’s a master?

I don’t want to gamble on finding someone like Uncle Lin. The chances are too low.

I’d rather be separated. At least, I don’t have to be busy at home and outside while also serving a man and listening to his nitpicking.”

As soon as Xu Di finished speaking, the four men in the room, except for Ping’an, who didn’t understand, felt like they had been shot. They had all become the masters who needed to be served in Xu Di’s mouth.

This time, the room fell completely silent.

Xu’s mother and her eldest daughter-in-law looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

“Well, Xu Di, go see him the day after tomorrow first. Ask him clearly, and then we’ll talk.

Well, it’s getting late. Go to bed.”

Xu’s father summed it up and got up first, returning to his room.

“Second Sister, should I learn to cook and wash clothes from Mom? Should I learn to knit sweaters? Otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t be able to find a wife.”

“Haha…”

Xu Di couldn’t help but laugh. Xu Jun’s words made her laugh. Xu’s mother and elder sister-in-law also laughed.

Whether this would work or not, they would wait until after they met the day after tomorrow.