Time was pressing. Seeing that her husband still wouldn’t take a stand, Chang Fangze decided to take the initiative and start arranging blind dates for her daughter.
Marrying off their daughter was not something to be done casually with just any male comrade. The couple had raised Ning Qiao with every care—even if they were rushing to find her a match now, they still had to find someone with comparable standing.
Chang Fangze urged her son to think: did he have any suitable classmates?
Ning Yang was unenthusiastic.
All his life, there had been plenty of male classmates with their eyes on his little sister—but were any of them good enough for her!
Chang Fangze pulled out a small notebook from the drawer. It contained the home addresses her son had exchanged with his classmates upon graduating from middle and high school.
“How about Dong Weijie? I remember he’s fairly decent-looking.”
“Not Dong Weijie. He has an older brother and a younger brother, and he’s the second son,” Ning Yang said. “His parents don’t favor him—their hearts are practically in their armpits.”
“What about Wu Xingbang? Weren’t you two close?”
“We got into a fight once—I won—and we never really talked after that.”
Chang Fangze frowned. “He gets into fights?”
“Fighting is a no-go.” Jiao Chunyu immediately shook her head. “What if they had a quarrel and he hit little sister?”
Ning Yang slapped the table, eyes wide: “He wouldn’t dare!”
Ning Qiao patted her brother’s shoulder from the side, urging him to calm down.
It was all hypothetical—just a hypothetical.
“A quick temper is definitely no good.” Chang Fangze continued flipping through the addresses. “Don’t you have another classmate whose father works at the police station? A public security comrade—they’re upright.”
“You mean Dou Jingshan?” Ning Yang paused for a moment. “Dou Jingshan is decent—tall, and gentle-tempered.”
“I remember back in high school, when Ning Yang invited me over to do homework, Dou Jingshan was especially eager and wanted to come too,” Jiao Chunyu said. “The other classmates joked that he must have a crush on Ning Yang’s little sister.”
“But little sister was just a kid back then! They were just messing around,” Ning Yang said.
Ning Qiao tried hard to recall but drew a blank: “I don’t remember this person at all.”
“He got chased off by your brother before he even showed up!” Jiao Chunyu laughed.
Chang Fangze’s expression relaxed. “Is Dou Jingshan married yet? He’s not seeing anyone, is he?”
“Not yet,” Ning Yang shook his head.
Chang Fangze’s face brightened.
Ning Yang kept his expression neutral: “But he’s been sent to the countryside.”
Chang Fangze: …
She couldn’t help it—she gave her son a good kick in frustration.
Ning Zhiping said nothing, quietly eating his meal.
When he finished, he cleared his bowl and carried it to the kitchen.
“None of them are reliable,” Ning Zhiping said.
Chang Fangze looked up: “Then you find a reliable one and show me.”
Ning Zhiping walked out of the kitchen with his hands clasped behind his back, lips pursed, face stern.
A silent protest.
Early the next morning, Chang Fangze went back to her parents’ home, casually hinting that she was thinking of finding a match for Ning Qiao.
Her daughter was beautiful and outstanding—even if she wanted people to help arrange introductions, she couldn’t appear too eager. A subtle mention was enough. Her relatives laughed and assured her that with Ning Qiao’s looks, once word got out, suitors would be beating down the door.
Chang Fangze didn’t stay long at her family’s place. She rushed home at noon to make lunch for Ning Qiao.
But she was walking so briskly that before she could even step through the front door, Aunt Zhao from the compound stopped her.
Zhao Hongying had a large, round, full-cheeked face that radiated good fortune. Warm and enthusiastic, she was the wife of the factory’s Party secretary and usually loved playing matchmaker. Over the years, she had wandered all over the compound, setting people up and taking great delight in bringing several happy couples together.
“Fangze, your Qiaoqiao should be thinking about a match by now, shouldn’t she?” Zhao Hongying got straight to the point.
Chang Fangze guessed her intention and pretended to be casual: “Our daughter is still young.”
“Eighteen—not that young anymore.” Zhao Hongying took her arm. “We didn’t study much back in our day; by the time we were eighteen, our families were already getting anxious.”
“If there’s someone suitable, we wouldn’t mind a meeting,” Chang Fangze said with a smile.
Chang Fangze took out her keys, unlocked the door, and ushered her inside.
“Well, as it happens, I know a suitable male comrade,” Zhao Hongying said. “Good family background—both parents are working, and he’s got a proper job at a state-run unit himself. Twenty-three this year—same age as your Ning Yang.”
“It’s Director Lin’s son, Guangmin. You know him, right?”
Zhao Hongying chose her words carefully.
She had been asked to play matchmaker that very morning by Lin Guangmin’s mother, Yu Cuiman, who had come to her on her own. Yu Cuiman wasn’t exactly satisfied with Ning Qiao, but she couldn’t overrule her son, so she instructed Zhao Hongying not to seem too eager.
Even if Lin Guangmin and Ning Qiao eventually ended up together, the Lin family wouldn’t be overjoyed. As the future in-laws, they needed to establish their stance first—that way, when it came time to negotiate the betrothal gifts, the upper hand would be theirs.
Chang Fangze thought back to Lin Guangmin’s appearance. She only remembered that the young man seemed gentle and refined, and her heart stirred.
After all, they lived in the same compound and knew each other’s backgrounds inside out. If her daughter did marry into that family, they’d be so close that she and Ning Zhiping could keep a watchful eye and lend a hand when needed.
“Guangmin is a sincere boy. He really likes your Qiaoqiao—says she’s beautiful,” Zhao Hongying said, relaying Yu Cuiman’s sentiments. “But, well, Guangmin’s mother hasn’t quite agreed yet.”
Chang Fangze’s eyelid twitched.
Yu Cuiman’s haughty demeanor was nothing new to her—after all, the two families didn’t socialize anyway. She never expected that even when sending a matchmaker, Yu Cuiman would still carry herself with such arrogance.
Her expression soured, and she lost all enthusiasm. Still, she had no issue with Yu Cuiman’s son—in fact, she was even somewhat pleased with him—so she didn’t shut the door completely.
“You know Guangmin’s parents—they’re both leaders with good salaries, sensible people. He has an older sister who married a few years ago; her husband works at the food factory, and the young couple just had a big, healthy baby boy.”
“Now the only one left for Director Lin to worry about is Guangmin. To get into the metallurgical plant, you have to start as an apprentice and endure hardship. He stayed home waiting for a job for a few years because his parents couldn’t bear to see him suffer. At the end of last year, they pulled some strings and got him into the state-run restaurant. With that connection, it’s as good as certain he’ll get a permanent position in the future.”
Hearing this, Chang Fangze felt a twinge of discomfort.
A few years ago, jobs were still relatively easy to arrange. But unfortunately, her daughter was still in school, and Ning Zhiping wanted her to finish high school. When Ning Qiao graduated that July, Chang Fangze happened to find an old traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to help regulate her health. She had to take herbal medicine three times a day and couldn’t overexert herself. The couple decided to put off the job hunt until after she’d recovered. Then, out of nowhere, the countryside notice arrived. Now everyone was running around trying to keep their children from being sent down—and their Qiaoqiao was left with no good options.
“Your daughter is such a beauty—like someone straight out of a movie poster. Guangmin fell for her at first sight. He’s the caring type too; once Qiaoqiao marries into their family, he’ll treat her well.” Zhao Hongying pressed on. “As for his mother—well, we’ve all been daughters-in-law ourselves. When are in-law relations ever easy? You can’t expect all the good fortune to go to your family alone, now can you?”
She figured that having said all this, Chang Fangze would have to relent.
But instead, Chang Fangze’s face had darkened, and she couldn’t bear to hear another word.
“Your talk is getting less and less agreeable—what do you mean, I can’t expect all the good fortune to go to my family alone?”
Zhao Hongying took her hand: “Don’t get upset—we’re like sisters. Let me speak from the heart. Fangze, at the end of the day, it’s your family that needs to be in a hurry, not the Lins. Why not show a little sincerity and give a bit on the betrothal gifts?”
Chang Fangze’s face was cold, her tone slow and deliberate: “Their elder is a leader; my Zhiping is also a cadre. Her brother-in-law has a proper job, and our Qiaoqiao’s brother and sister-in-law eat from the state’s grain too. They’re the ones who sent a matchmaker, and you’re telling me my family has to show sincerity? Our daughter is not going to suffer this indignity.”
Zhao Hongying’s eyes widened.
Ning’s wife had always been such a mild-mannered person—who knew she could suddenly become so sharp-tongued?
“Parents have to listen to their kids, don’t they? Guangmin’s feelings for your daughter are your family’s leverage,” Zhao Hongying said quickly. “The Lins have good conditions—his mother is just trying to establish some authority, to let you know that being a daughter-in-law in that household won’t be easy. But then again…”
Before Zhao Hongying could finish, she heard footsteps.
Ning Qiao poked her head out from the room, her voice soft and gentle: “Mom, I’m not eating that family’s rice.”
“You may go now,” Chang Fangze said flatly.
Zhao Hongying hesitated: “Why not wait until Director Ning gets off work, and you can discuss it with him?”
“No need to discuss it.” Chang Fangze looked up and tilted her chin toward Ning Qiao. “My daughter has already made her stance clear.”
Zhao Hongying turned to Ning Qiao.
The young girl remained calm and unhurried, nodding very seriously and making a gesture of seeing the guest out.
The smile froze at the corners of Zhao Hongying’s mouth.
They’d… hit a dead end?
How was she supposed to explain this to the Lins!
By evening, Zhao Hongying had relayed the message to Yu Cuiman.
Lin Guangmin had just gotten home from work and listened with a deep furrow between his brows.
He knew it had all been his mother’s doing, and he understood her reasoning—but he still worried, afraid that things might fall through and it would all end in a blow-up.
“With our family’s standing, we still have to chase after them?” Yu Cuiman raised an eyebrow. “Rules need to be set early. Otherwise, once she steps through the door, will I have to wait on her hand and foot like her own mother does? Back when your sister wasn’t married yet, she wasn’t as helpless as this—didn’t even know which end of a spoon to hold!”
“Mom, even if rules need to be set, they can wait until after the marriage is settled. If you start throwing your weight around now, Ning Qiao is timid—what if she gets scared off?” Lin Guangmin disagreed.
He stood up, his face grim: “I’ve made up my mind—she’s the one I want. If you scare her away, I’ll stay a bachelor for life.”
Yu Cuiman looked down her nose at everyone everywhere she went, but her son was the one person she could never handle. She could only placate him: “Your Aunt Zhao’s words were rough, but the principle is sound—right now, we’re not the ones in a hurry; they are. Where is Ning Qiao going to find someone with conditions equal to yours on such short notice?”
“Then you shouldn’t bully her like this,” Lin Guangmin said.
Yu Cuiman curled her lips: “Look at your son—she’s not even in the door yet, and he’s already defending her.”
“It’s no big deal.” Director Lin laughed heartily and clapped Lin Guangmin on the shoulder. “If you really like that girl, I’ll go talk to Zhiping in a few days. He’s been all worked up lately over his daughter’s situation. The countryside notice won’t wait—if we’re going to hold a wedding banquet, it’ll have to be within the next few days.”
“Will it work?”
“I’m his superior—how can I not get through to him?”
Lin Guangmin paused, then his eyes gradually lit up.
He knew it would happen soon, but he hadn’t expected that in just a few days, he might finally win the girl of his dreams.
He looked up at his parents again—both of them were perfectly composed, sipping their tea in unison.
“Don’t be so impatient. You can rest easy,” Yu Cuiman said slowly. “Do you think your parents can’t even get you a wife?”
That afternoon, Ning Zhiping made a trip to the Educated Youth Office to check on the situation.
“Is this information accurate?”
“We’re old classmates—would I lie to you?”
Ning Zhiping’s expression changed abruptly.
Coming out of the office, he didn’t return to work but rode his bicycle straight home. After locking it up in the shed, he hurried inside and happened to run into Zhao Hongying heading over to the Lins’ place.
“Director Ning, when you get home, help me persuade your wife a bit.”
Ning Zhiping got the general gist. The moment he stepped through the door and saw Chang Fangze’s furious expression, he knew what she was about to say: “I just ran into Old Li’s wife.”
Chang Fangze let out a scoff, still not over it. She was about to speak when she heard Ning Zhiping say something that stopped her cold.
“I went to the Educated Youth Office to ask around—the batch of educated youth Qiaoqiao is in will probably be sent to the border regions to reclaim wasteland.”
All of Chang Fangze’s unfinished words got stuck in her throat. She stared at her husband in disbelief.
Ning Qiao broke out in a cold sweat too.
She had known it was almost impossible to be assigned to the Ancheng Commune, but she hadn’t expected it to be this far away.
Given the terrain, the climate, and how backward the border villages were, Ning Zhiping could no longer cling to any false hope.
He made a solemn decision: “Fangze, you’re right. This time, I’ll listen to you.”
Chang Fangze’s mind was spinning. What had she said that was so right? Then it dawned on her—he was talking about the marriage proposal.
Ning Zhiping turned to his daughter. He hadn’t been willing to let go before—that’s why he’d never relented.
But now that even the last shred of hope was gone, there was no other way out.
Actually, if they were really going to find a match for her, he did have a suitable candidate in mind—one whose details even his wife didn’t fully know.
And on the other side, they were pushing hard for it.
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