Chapter 5
If you want life to go smoothly, well—there’s no living without a little “green on your head.”
Honestly, if she’d known her future blind date would overhear that, Xia Shao would’ve…
Forget it. What’s heard is heard. Even if she could dig a mansion-sized hole in the ground, there’d be no crawling back from that.
Xia Shao lowered her lashes, pretending she hadn’t seen a thing, and followed Tian Cuifen inside. Her younger brother, Xia Wanhui, wasn’t so subtle—he didn’t even recognize the man as familiar and, determined to “guard the gate,” stared warily at everyone the moment they entered.
He’d followed along himself, worried that if he so much as blinked, Tian Cuifen would sell his sister off.
Director Lu looked a few years younger than his wife—tall, upright, and with some three or four points of resemblance to his cousin.
Smiling, he greeted them, “You must be Little Xia? Working at our Jibei station together, aren’t you two quite the handsome couple?”
“Exactly,” Tian Cuifen chimed in cheerfully.
Say what you will, Xia Shao really was a beauty. Her features were delicate and refined in a way rare for northern girls; her long curled lashes framed eyes that always seemed to be holding unspoken words, and her skin was pale and luminous. Before coming, Tian Cuifen had even wanted to help her powder up a little—but couldn’t find a single spot that needed improving.
If she weren’t this good-looking, Tian Cuifen wouldn’t have dared introduce her to such a family. After all, the man was her own son’s supervisor.
“You know, Xia Shao isn’t just pretty—she’s got a good temper too. Ever since she was little, she’s been obedient and gentle, and she knows how to keep a household. It’s really a pity to leave such a fine girl in the countryside, so I thought I’d help her find a match here in Jiangcheng.”
Tian Cuifen was going all out to hand off this troublesome burden.
Maybe it was her imagination, but Xia Shao could’ve sworn that when the words “good temper and obedient” were mentioned, the man sitting by the window looked up at her.
“Good temper, that’s important,” Director Lu said approvingly. “Jibei’s still young, not very steady yet—he needs someone mild-tempered.”
Judging by her looks alone, Xia Shao absolutely seemed soft and gentle. Director Lu seemed quite satisfied with the flattering description.
Tian Cuifen, encouraged, boasted even louder: “Oh, you can rest easy there. Xia Shao’s taken care of her brother since she was small—she’s great at looking after others. If we weren’t related, I wouldn’t have given her away at all. I’d have married her to our Baosheng already.”
And again, Xia Shao caught the man across from her glancing at her—this time, she saw it clearly. His eyebrow even lifted slightly, an expression of detached amusement flickering across his face.
Xia Shao thought grimly that even if Tian Cuifen painted her as the long-suffering, saintly heroine of some tragedy, it wouldn’t help. Who could know her temperament better than someone she’d been praised as “beautiful” in front of?
“This her brother? Is he staying in Jiangcheng too?”
Director Lu’s wife lounged on the heated kang, cracking sunflower seeds, her tone laced with disdain, as though afraid Xia Wanhui might freeload off them.
Director Lu frowned, about to speak, but Xia Wanhui beat him to it, blurting, “Why would I stay in Jiangcheng? I’m not the one getting married. Once my sister’s settled, I’m going back home. My mom’s too soft-hearted—who’ll look after her if she gets bullied?”
He was being honest—but to others, it sounded like a sharp retort.
Lu’s wife’s long face stretched even longer, but before she could speak, Director Lu pulled open a drawer, took out a pack of cigarettes, and said, “No matches at home. Jibei, go buy a pack—and take Little Xia along for a walk.”
A classic excuse to give the two a bit of time alone. Chen Jibei said nothing, just got up and put away his tools before heading out.
In fact, from the moment Xia Shao entered the house, he hadn’t said a word to her. His attitude was cool, distant—as if this blind date had nothing to do with him. Xia Shao figured he probably wasn’t interested, and since the version of her Tian Cuifen had advertised didn’t match reality at all, this match was most likely doomed anyway.
By now, the sun had set. Families along the alley were finishing dinner; others, eating late, were chasing after their wild kids.
Following behind Chen Jibei, Xia Shao had just stepped out the gate when someone bumped into her.
She caught herself on the doorframe and had barely regained her balance when a parent chasing after a naughty child nearly ran into her again.
The parent grabbed the kid and smacked his backside twice. “Didn’t I tell you to come eat? Still running around!”
The little rascal wasn’t the least bit sorry—he made a face at Xia Shao over his shoulder.
Only then did the woman notice Xia Shao and Chen Jibei together, and her eyes lit up. “Oh ho, Jibei! Out on a date, are we?”
Holding her squirming child like a twisted rope, her gaze shamelessly darted between them.
“You don’t teach your kid to apologize, and you don’t either?” Chen Jibei frowned, shooting her a cold glance.
The woman’s face froze instantly.
Unable to save face, she waited until they’d gone a few steps before huffing, hands on her hips, “What kind of attitude is that? I was just being friendly, and he gives me that face. Think he’s somebody just because his cousin’s a factory director?”
An aunt from the next door overheard and glanced at their retreating figures. “Director Lu’s finding him a match again?”
“Who knows what mountain ditch she crawled out of,” the woman sneered. “Anyone who bothered to ask around would never give their daughter to him.”
She was speaking loud enough for them to hear. Xia Shao frowned slightly and looked toward the man beside her.
Chen Jibei’s expression didn’t change—his long fingers simply tapped the bottom of the cigarette box.
He had the cigarette between his lips but, after glancing at her once, stuffed it back in with a trace of impatience.
“She really your relative?” he asked casually, thumb rolling the box between his fingers, gaze flicking toward the top of her head.
It took Xia Shao a moment to realize he meant Tian Cuifen.
That hit even closer than calling her not-so-gentle or obedient.
Unsure how much he’d already guessed, she was about to brush it off when he said, his tone mild but edged, “They put a green hat on you, and you’re just letting it go?”
He wasn’t even looking at her—but she could hear the faint mockery in his voice.
She was the one who’d been cheated on, not him—why was he so worked up about it?
Xia Shao sighed. “It’s already done. I can’t go back home anyway, so might as well make some use of it and get a bit of compensation.”
“You can’t go home?” He looked slightly startled.
She didn’t deny it.
He really was sharp—he’d pieced together so much from their last brief encounter and this awkward meeting. But his personality was sharp too—always digging, never one to soften his words.
Xia Shao stepped ahead a little, saying, “You young people shouldn’t hold so much bitterness. Life’s already unfair enough—you can’t afford to mistreat yourself too.”
Then she thought, why am I even saying this to a stranger? She shut her mouth and stared down at her shadow stretching long in the evening light.
Maybe realizing he’d pried too much—or sensing she didn’t want to talk anymore—Chen Jibei stayed silent.
They walked in silence, keeping a meter apart, until they neared the department store. Then he finally asked, “What kind of person are you looking for?”
Was this his way of making up for earlier—trying to help her find someone else?
Caught off guard, Xia Shao answered honestly, “Someone good-looking. Like you.”
He didn’t so much as blink. “What else?”
“Someone who’ll let me keep working after marriage. That’s the whole point—I’m only marrying to find a job. Oh, and he should share the housework.”
Her parents and grandparents had all worked jobs; growing up, she’d never realized some men refused to lift a finger at home. Later she learned that even when both worked, chores somehow always “belonged” to the woman.
Xia Shao couldn’t understand it, and she wasn’t about to enable it. “If both work, whoever’s free should do it.”
Whether Chen Jibei took that to heart or not, he only asked, “Anything else?”
“Well, about the work benefits…” She thought for a moment. “You’re at the food factory, right? Do you have to work overtime there?”
Most people would ask about pay or workload—she was the first to ask about overtime.
Chen Jibei finally turned his head to glance at her. “You want your husband home early to keep you company?”
She wanted herself home early, but since they’d be working in the same place anyway, it didn’t really matter. She nodded.
He looked at her for a moment, then pushed open the store door. “The food factory only works overtime a few days in August for the Mid-Autumn mooncakes. Usually it’s an eight-hour day—and if you finish early, you can leave early.”
There’s actually such a good job?
Xia Shao made a mental note to tell Tian Cuifen later: next time, look for a match from the food factory first. Even if this one didn’t work out, she’d at least found a path to a good socialist workplace.
By the time they returned, it was already dark. Another man—thin, dark-skinned, about thirty—was in the Lu family’s courtyard, talking in low tones with Lu’s wife.
They stopped as soon as the door opened. Xia Shao couldn’t tell what they’d been discussing, but their faces didn’t look good. Especially Lu’s wife—she was visibly angry, her face longer than when Xia Wanhui had “talked back” earlier.
Inside, though, Tian Cuifen and Director Lu were chatting cheerfully, while Xia Wanhui happily munched sunflower seeds beside them.
The local seeds were plump and fragrant; even without eating any, Xia Shao could smell the aroma.
Her brother handed her a handful, waggling his brows, silently asking how things had gone.
She accepted them but didn’t eat, and instead asked quietly, “What time is it?”
There was a clock on the wall—she was really just reminding Tian Cuifen it was time to go.
Since the Lus had guests, it wouldn’t be polite to stay longer. Tian Cuifen stood and said, “Director Lu, we’ll head back now—you must be busy.”
She added, “Wanhui’s waiting for his sister to get married before returning home. Whether this works out or not, could you let us know soon?”
“Sure,” Director Lu said. “I’ll ask Jibei and give you an answer tomorrow.”
He rose to see them off, but Tian Cuifen hurriedly waved her hands. “No need—you’ve got guests.”
Still, he insisted on walking them to the gate and even switched on the porch light.
The dark, skinny man turned as the light came on. He immediately spotted Xia Shao among them.
She was tall for a country girl, with a petite frame and a slim figure that even her loose clothes couldn’t hide.
His eyes couldn’t help but follow her—until a taller silhouette stepped in front, blocking his view.
“I’m going out for a smoke,” Chen Jibei said, flicking his lighter and stepping out with them.
The man’s face fell with reluctant regret. “Who was that girl just now?” he asked.
Lu’s wife nearly exploded. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?!”
“How was I supposed to know—” He stopped when she shot him a murderous glare.
They’d been whispering for quite a while when Director Lu came back in and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Lu’s wife quickly said. “Qiaoyun’s milk isn’t coming in—Dajun came asking if I knew a remedy.”
Hearing it was a women’s issue, Director Lu didn’t pry and went back inside.
As soon as he was gone, the dark man pleaded, “Sis, please, you’ve got to help me. If this gets out, I’m finished.”
“I’d help if I could! But what can I even do now?” She stomped her foot in frustration. “Fine, go home first—don’t make your brother-in-law suspicious. I’ll think of something.”
He relaxed a little, but she glared again. “Don’t think you’re in the clear. You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”
“No, no! I wouldn’t dare—”
“Good thing, too!” she snapped.
Before she could say more, the courtyard door opened—Chen Jibei had returned.
She swallowed her words, plastered on a smile, and asked sweetly, “Jibei, how’d the talk with Little Xia go?”
“Yeah, how’d it go?” Tian Cuifen asked at the same time on their way home.
Xia Shao answered honestly, “I don’t think it’ll work. He’s not into my type.”
Tian Cuifen’s smile stiffened. “Really? Didn’t look that way to me—you seemed pretty relaxed on the way back.”
Even Xia Wanhui agreed for once. “Yeah! That Jibei guy even came out to see us off.”
Relaxed—because she’d already written it off.
Xia Shao couldn’t exactly say that the man already knew all about her messy past with the Li family. “Anyway, I don’t think it’s very promising. Better to keep looking.”
“We’ll see tomorrow,” Tian Cuifen muttered, convinced that Xia Shao never spoke the truth. “You worry about your own business—I’ve still got a pile of laundry waiting. You two go on ahead.”
As soon as she left, Xia Wanhui sidled closer, grinning slyly. “Come on, sis, be honest—did you trick her on purpose?”
“Trick her how?” Xia Shao asked, exasperated.
“So she’ll stew over it!” He chuckled. “Watching her all flustered was kinda satisfying, wasn’t it?”
Xia Shao: “…”
Was this really the same naïve little brother she’d brought along? Why did he sound even more scheming than she was?
