After the restaurant owner had given instructions, although Zhang Yuanlin’s table hadn’t arrived early, their dishes were served the fastest.
In no time, the large square table was laden with an array of dishes—fresh green vegetables, high-quality meats, and a perfect balance between hearty and light options. Just the sight of them was enough to whet one’s appetite.
As a seasoned patron, Zhang Yuanlin picked up his chopsticks and demonstrated to the three members of the Qin family how to enjoy hot pot.
“The hot pot is simmering with a boiling broth. Whatever you want to eat, just pick it up with your chopsticks, give it a quick dip in the broth, and it’s ready. Of course, it depends on the ingredient—some need to cook a little longer, while others will turn tough if overcooked, ruining the texture.”
“Come on, give it a try. What this place is most famous for is their sliced lamb—genuine young lamb, incredibly tender!”
“And then there’s the Mao Du here, which is ox tripe. Don’t let its appearance fool you. If prepared correctly and dipped in sauce, it’s wonderfully crispy!”
With that, Zhang Yuanlin demonstrated the “seven up, eight down” technique.
In fact, during this era, the precise way to enjoy ox tripe hadn’t yet been discovered, and no one knew this method would yield the crispiest result.
Seeing this, the three members of the Qin family eagerly followed suit.
As their taste buds were tantalized by the tender lamb, crispy ox tripe, and fragrant cured sausages, the initially reserved trio quickly relaxed and joined Zhang Yuanlin in indulging heartily.
Meanwhile, back in the compound.
Jia Dongxu, who had completely run out of patience, paced back and forth incessantly, as restless as an ant on a hot pan.
“Aunt Zhang, are you sure you gave them the right address? Could it be that Qin Huairu went somewhere else?”
Beside him, Matchmaker Zhang was also growing uneasy. Wringing her hands, she said, “That can’t be. I checked it several times back then—it’s definitely correct. They might have just taken a wrong turn. Let’s wait a little longer!”
Just then, Jia Zhangshi emerged from the house.
“Little sister, I’ve already prepared the meal. Why haven’t they arrived yet?”
Matchmaker Zhang explained, “It’s their first time in the city—they might have gotten lost. But I’m certain the address I gave them is correct. They’ll probably ask around and find their way here.”
Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi snorted and said, “Well, of course. The city is so much bigger than their little village. It’s just as well—let them see what the city is like. That’ll make negotiations easier later.”
“As long as she obediently marries my Dongxu, Qin Huairu can enjoy the good life in the city from now on. Otherwise, the next time she comes, she’ll still be a country bumpkin and will probably get lost again!”
Her words were dripping with disdain for rural folk, even though she herself had come from the countryside.
Matchmaker Zhang, who was also from the countryside, couldn’t help but roll her eyes, though she refrained from responding.
Then, as if remembering something, Matchmaker Zhang stepped into the Jia family’s home.
“By the way, let me see what dishes you’ve prepared.”
Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu followed her inside.
Upon entering, she saw only four dishes on the table: three vegetarian dishes, one half-meat dish, a basin of cornbread, and a pot of congee.
At the sight of this, Matchmaker Zhang couldn’t help but frown and say, “I must say, sister, you’re being far too frugal. After all, they’re here for a matchmaking meeting. Who’s supposed to eat this little bit of shredded meat?”
Hearing this, Jia Dongxu immediately shot his mother, Jia Zhangshi, a resentful look.
“Mom, this is a major event in my life!”
Jia Zhangshi rolled her eyes and muttered discontentedly.
“Surely we can’t finish all the vegetables I bought for seventy or eighty cents in one meal today? They’re enough for two meals if we’re frugal. Besides, Qin Huairu hasn’t married into our family yet. What if she eats but doesn’t commit? Wouldn’t that be a waste?”
Matchmaker Zhang’s face twitched upon hearing this. Good heavens, you only bought seventy or eighty cents worth of vegetables and you’re saving half?
Although Matchmaker Zhang was from the countryside, she frequently traveled between the city and rural areas as part of her profession.
She had witnessed the standards of other city families when hosting potential marriage partners. Seventy or eighty cents was the normal range – anything simpler would show genuine lack of sincerity.
After all, this was a matchmaking meeting where families should appropriately display their financial standing. Otherwise, why would anyone agree to marry into the family?
Just for an urban household registration?
Of course, such families existed, but Jia Zhangshi’s stingy behavior made Matchmaker Zhang shake her head.
Simultaneously, Matchmaker Zhang began to worry because Jia Zhangshi proved more difficult to deal with than she had anticipated.
They hadn’t even met yet, and she was already calculating so meticulously, worried about losing the meal expenses if things didn’t work out. Matchmaker Zhang didn’t know how to counter this.
She wondered if Qin Huairu’s family could withstand this old hag’s verbal attacks!
As she pondered, Jia Dongxu spoke up:
“Mom, seventy or eighty cents is just over a day’s wages for me. Please add more dishes – it wouldn’t be good if I end up embarrassed later!”
By now, Jia Dongxu had been deeply captivated by Matchmaker Zhang’s description of Qin Huairu. He also felt the current standard was inappropriate and was willing to painfully part with a day’s wages for his future happiness.
But could Jia Zhangshi’s decisions be easily changed? She immediately scolded him.
“Shut up! What do you know? Spending a day’s wages on one meal – how would we live then?”
“Look at Zhang Yuanlin in the backyard. Not only does he have no parents to support him, but no parents to discipline him either. He bought a used bicycle by himself and goes out wandering every Sunday – probably wasting money. Someone like him will remain single his whole life, I think!”
“And even if such a person managed to trick a wife into marrying him, what good would it do? Can he save any money? Without money to live on, even if he marries, they’ll divorce. If the wife secretly runs away, where would he find her? Then he’d be laughed at for not marrying, and laughed at again after marrying!”
Jia Dongxu stood frozen for a moment before finally processing this and nodding:
“Mom, you’re absolutely right! I can’t end up being laughed at like Zhang Yuanlin!”
Matchmaker Zhang’s face twitched again, thinking it was hopeless. With Jia Zhangshi running the household, ordinary families stood no chance!
“Alright, little sister, don’t worry about our family affairs. Hurry to the gate and check – if we wait any longer, the food will get cold!”
After educating her son, Jia Zhangshi called out to Matchmaker Zhang.
The latter had no choice but to nod and go wait at the compound entrance.
Jia Dongxu, unable to sit still, followed along.
They waited and waited until the sun reached its zenith. Anxious to meet his potential match, Jia Dongxu forgot to drink water and ended up sweating profusely under the sun, his mouth parched.
Just then, people from the compound who had finished their meals came to the Jia family’s door to watch the spectacle. Instead of seeing a great beauty, they found Jia Dongxu baking in the sun at the compound entrance. They immediately went to tease him about why no one had shown up yet – had he been stood up?
One or two people would have been manageable, but with so many around, Jia Dongxu felt utterly uncomfortable.
Then Shazhu and Xu Damao showed up too. Under their pointing and gossiping, Jia Dongxu couldn’t stand his ground any longer and had to slink back home in disgrace.
The main issue was that he had bragged too much earlier, making it impossible to save face now.
Matchmaker Zhang remained at the entrance, unfazed—after all, she was only here for this one visit, and the embarrassment wasn’t hers to bear.
But what Jia Dongxu didn’t know was that being stood up was just the appetizer; the real humiliation hadn’t even arrived yet!
Meanwhile.
Zhang Yuanlin led the three members of the Qin family out of the hot pot restaurant, full and satisfied, bidding a cheerful farewell to the owner.
As they left, the restaurant owner didn’t forget to remind them to be sure to come again next week.
Such preferential treatment made the Qin family feel almost lightheaded as they walked. Even their village chief didn’t have the clout to enjoy free treats all over the village like this!
By this point, in the eyes of the Qin family, Zhang Yuanlin was an outstanding young man—handsome, exceptionally capable, well-connected, and accomplished at a young age, with no discernible flaws.
Not only had Qin Huairu unconsciously lost her heart to him, but even Qin’s father and Qin’s mother felt that Zhang Yuanlin was the only suitable candidate to be their son-in-law.
Yet they couldn’t help feeling anxious: with Zhang Yuanlin being so exceptional, how could their humble rural family ever be a match for him?