The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 55 - 54: A Bizarre Blind Date

Xue Xingzhou stared at Xue Yue’s stomach. "For real?"

Xue Yue smiled and nodded. "The doctor said it’s almost two months."

Xue Xingzhou smiled. "That’s great news. He Lang said your appetite hasn’t been great, so I brought you two fish. You can have some fish with pickled mustard greens."

At the mention of fish with pickled mustard greens, Xue Yue’s mouth truly began to water. "Let’s have that tonight. Big Brother, don’t go back tonight. Stay over. We have a room for you that you’ve never even used."

Xue Xingzhou nodded. "Alright, I’ll stay for the night."

He Lang went to the old family home to get the pickled greens, and while he was at it, he called Mr. He and Mrs. He over as well.

’He wanted his mom to come over and help with the cooking.’

For dinner, Mrs. He did the cooking with Xue Yue giving instructions.

Eating the fish with pickled mustard greens did wonders for Xue Yue’s appetite.

Mrs. He looked at Xue Xingzhou and said, "Xingzhou, seeing you has reminded me of something. A few days ago, He Lang’s fourth aunt came over and said she wanted to introduce her niece to you. I’d be hesitant if it were just anyone, but I’ve met this girl. She’s good-looking and tall. Most importantly, she’s a high school graduate. What do you think? Should this old auntie arrange a meeting for you two?"

Xue Xingzhou was a bit stunned to hear this.

Xue Yue quickly asked, "Mom, how old is the girl?"

"She’s twenty-two, two years younger than your big brother. Your fourth aunt said her niece is the only high school graduate in their village. She’s also good-looking, so she shouldn’t have any trouble finding a husband. But the girl has high standards and hasn’t found anyone she likes. So, thinking your brother’s situation is good, she wanted to meet him."

When Fourth Aunt He had first come to her, Mrs. He hadn’t wanted to agree. But now, looking at Xue Xingzhou, she suddenly remembered. Seeing that he wasn’t young anymore and was still single—and mainly because his own father and stepmother didn’t seem to care—she thought perhaps she should try to play matchmaker.

"I think you should meet her. Big Brother, what do you say?"

As she spoke, Xue Yue looked at Xue Xingzhou, waiting for his opinion.

Xue Xingzhou was lost in thought. ’I was married in my past life. Because of my busy work schedule, I met my wife through an introduction, too. I worked at a police station, and she worked at a bank. Both of us had demanding jobs. In our year of marriage, we spent less than half of it together, so our bond wasn’t deep. We didn’t have any children. That’s how it was until I died in the line of duty. I wonder how she is doing now.’

"Big Brother," Xue Yue called out again.

"Hm?" Xue Xingzhou looked at Xue Yue.

"What do you think?"

Her brother’s marriage was something Xue Yue had always taken to heart. Previously, Liu Hongxing had obstructed things in various ways, but her brother was getting to that age. Xue Yue had always wanted him to start a family and finally settle down.

Xue Xingzhou thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I’ll meet her."

Mrs. He said with a smile, "Great. I’ll go tell Fourth Aunt He tomorrow. But where do you plan to meet?"

"They can come here. That way, we can also take a look and vet her," Xue Yue said.

’Besides, this place is spacious. My brother’s place is just one room, which isn’t convenient.’

After dinner, Mrs. He and Mr. He went home, and He Lang went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Xue Yue sat down next to Xue Xingzhou and looked at him. "Big Brother, you seem to have something on your mind tonight."

Xue Xingzhou smiled at her. "I don’t."

Xue Yue leaned closer to her brother. "You don’t? Be honest, is it because this is your first blind date? Are you nervous?"

Xue Xingzhou glanced at her, then leaned back and stretched. "I haven’t even met her. What’s there to be nervous about?"

Xue Yue pouted. ’I don’t believe him for a second. My brother has been single for twenty-four years, and this is his first blind date. How could he not be nervous?’ Xue Yue decided not to call him out on it.

Xue Yue looked up at the sky and sighed, "Time passes so quickly. I still remember our childhood days. In the blink of an eye, I’m about to become a mother. If only our mom were still here..."

Xue Xingzhou also grew pensive. In his memory, his mother, Li Wan Yi, was a very gentle and beautiful woman, but her health was poor, so she rarely left the house. When she had time, she would tell them stories and teach them to read. It was a shame that such a wonderful person passed away so early. Their father also suddenly became like a different person, which was why they could never accept their stepmother.

「The day of Xue Xingzhou’s blind date arrived.」

Early that morning, He Lang left for work, while Xue Yue cleaned the house until it was spotless and set out candies and snacks.

Xue Xingzhou also came over early, wearing a relatively clean set of clothes.

Xue Yue shook her head. "My fault. I forgot to buy you new clothes. Look, this one even has a patch on it. He Lang has a clean white shirt. Why don’t you wear that? You two are about the same build."

Xue Xingzhou chuckled. "This is my actual situation. If she can’t even accept this, then we aren’t right for each other."

Xue Xingzhou was speaking the truth. In this era, it was rare for people in the countryside not to wear patched clothes. After all, having enough food and clothing wasn’t a guarantee for everyone yet.

Xue Yue nodded and didn’t mention the clothes again.

Around ten-thirty, Mrs. He and Fourth Aunt He arrived with the girl.

The moment Fourth Aunt He and the girl entered the courtyard, they immediately began sizing up the house.

Xue Yue and Xue Xingzhou also came out of the house.

Mrs. He introduced them with a smile.

"Hangzhou, this is Wang Xia."

Xue Xingzhou glanced at her and nodded. "Hello."

The girl looked at Xue Xingzhou, then shyly lowered her head and replied in a low voice, "Hello."

The girl was about as tall as Xue Yue, with a fair complexion. She had delicate features, though her eyes were a bit small.

Mrs. He had the two of them go into the guest room to talk, while the rest stayed outside.

"You young people have things to talk about. Take your time. We’ll go start on lunch."

Before going in, Xue Xingzhou glanced at Xue Yue. She raised her eyebrows at him, signaling for him to have a good chat with the girl.

Mrs. He led Fourth Aunt He into the house.

Fourth Aunt He said to Mrs. He, "You really are blessed. Look at your third son’s courtyard, it’s so impressive! It must have cost a fortune, huh?"

Mrs. He didn’t discuss the cost, just smiled and said, "It’s all because the children are capable."

A corner of Fourth Aunt He’s mouth twitched, and she resumed sizing up the contents of the house.

Meanwhile, the two in the room hadn’t said a word. Xue Xingzhou was actually a bit awkward; he really didn’t know how to handle this kind of situation.

It was Wang Xia who finally broke the silence. "Did you go to school?"

"Yeah, but I didn’t finish middle school." The year his mother died, Xue Xingzhou was fifteen and hadn’t graduated from middle school yet, so he dropped out. However, in his past life, Xue Xingzhou had gone to the police academy.

"Oh, that’s a shame. I graduated from high school. If it weren’t for the fact that you can’t take the university entrance exams now, I would have wanted to go to university."

Xue Xingzhou nodded slightly. "It’s a good thing to be able to study."

"I heard you had surgery on your head before. Will that affect your life in the future?"

Xue Xingzhou shook his head. "Not at the moment. Can’t say for the future."

’That’s the truth. Who could say for sure what the future held?’

"My aunt said you returned your sister’s bride price and even gave her a bicycle for her dowry. Is that true?"

Xue Xingzhou froze for a moment at her words, then looked up at her and nodded.

Wang Xia pressed her lips together. "So, do you still have any money?"

"Hm?"

"I mean, you gave all that money to your sister. Do you have any left?"

Xue Xingzhou’s eyes looked her up and down, and he asked in a low voice, "What does whether I have money or not have to do with our blind date?"

Wang Xia became agitated. "Of course it has something to do with it! My aunt said you had enough money to buy your sister a bicycle. If we get married, you’ll have to buy me a job. I’m a high school graduate and don’t have a job yet, and I have no intention of working in the fields. Also, when we get married, the bride price can’t be any less than what your sister’s was, and you have to buy me a bicycle too."

Xue Xingzhou narrowed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then smiled.