Xu Biao and Tang Mingyuan rode off on their bicycles.
Lu Ling asked Bai Xiaotong what she wanted to eat.
Earlier, when the two of them were at the entrance, they had already looked at today’s menu.
Since someone was treating her for once, Bai Xiaotong wanted to eat meat.
But ordering only meat wouldn’t do—it would make her seem too greedy and damage the factory beauty’s good image.
Bai Xiaotong ordered one meat dish, one vegetable dish, plus an egg soup, with steamed buns as the staple.
After ordering, she asked Lu Ling, “What do you think?”
After all, he was the one paying with money and ration tickets.
Lu Ling: “I’m fine with anything.”
Lu Ling went over to the counter to place the order.
The waitress, seeing that the best window seat in the entire restaurant was finally occupied by someone ready to order, had initially wanted to scold them for hogging the spot for so long. But when she looked up and met Lu Ling’s handsome face, she swallowed her words. Holding her notepad and pen, she sweetly asked him what he wanted to eat.
Lu Ling recited the dishes, paid the money, and handed over the ration tickets.
The waitress even enthusiastically said she would bring the food over later, so he wouldn’t have to wait at the counter.
In this era, waitresses were often like bosses, and customers frequently had to fetch their own dishes and bowls.
Lu Ling thanked her and went back to his seat.
Not only was the young man handsome, but he was also quite polite.
The waitress was delighted. She straightened her clothes and hair, picked up the bowls and chopsticks, and was about to go over and get to know the handsome guy. But when she arrived, she saw he already had a girlfriend—and one as beautiful as a fairy.
Well, the handsome guy was taken, so there was nothing for her to do.
The waitress felt a bit disappointed, but there was nothing she could do. She considered herself fairly good-looking, but compared to this fairy-like beauty, she fell far short.
The handsome guy wasn’t blind, after all.
The waitress politely set down the bowls and chopsticks and left, her eyes filled with admiration and envy.
A handsome man and a beautiful woman—truly a feast for the eyes!
In the restaurant, many people, like the waitress, were glancing toward the window seat, whether intentionally or not.
Everyone appreciates beautiful things—it’s only human nature.
Seeing herself become the center of attention, Bai Xiaotong instinctively struck her most flattering side profile and glanced sideways at Lu Ling sitting across from her.
Look, every man in the restaurant envies you. This is the charm of the factory beauty. Marrying me would make your ancestors’ graves smoke with joy.
Lu Ling suppressed a smile at the corner of his mouth.
Not long after, the food arrived. Bai Xiaotong filled her stomach first. When she was almost full, she asked Lu Ling, “By the way, how did you become so close with those young guys from the security department?”
Given the Lu family’s current situation, most people would avoid them if they could. For Xu Biao and the others to hang out with him, they must have faced considerable pressure, yet they still became friends.
Lu Ling: “At first, it was just about mutual benefit. Later, we understood each other’s perspectives, went through some things together, and our bond grew strong.”
Lu Ling made it sound simple, but Bai Xiaotong knew that for them to become friends despite the strange looks from those around them, they must have made a great deal of determination and effort.
The atmosphere between the two was quite harmonious during the meal. However, once they left the restaurant, Bai Xiaotong became haughty again.
She hadn’t forgotten that she was still angry with this guy and couldn’t just let things go so easily.
Things that are easily forgiven or obtained are rarely cherished.
Seeing Bai Xiaotong pouting, Lu Ling tried to please her again: “Since we’re already here, let me treat you to a movie.”
Lu Ling listed a few movie titles, and there was indeed one Bai Xiaotong was interested in, so she went along with him.
The movie was a new release and quite enjoyable.
By the time they left the cinema, it was already past three in the afternoon.
When Li Maihong went out in the morning, Bai Xiaotong had only mentioned going to the staff hospital at noon to have lunch with Zhang Wenwen. Now, at this hour, she had to head back.
Lu Ling didn’t say much either, simply following her onto the bus to see her home.
On weekends, the buses were always packed, no matter the time.
When they had come over in the morning, Lu Ling had to stand two steps away from her. But on the way back, the two could stand close together.
Although Bai Xiaotong’s anger had mostly subsided, she remained aloof the entire time, not initiating any conversation with Lu Ling.
Lu Ling didn’t push her, just silently kept her close.
Halfway through the ride, someone got up from a seat in the back. An older woman, quick as lightning, placed her hand on the backrest as soon as the person stood up. But just as the passenger left, a young man standing nearby suddenly turned and plopped down, taking the seat.
The older woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. She had never seen such a shameless young man snatching a seat, and she felt nothing but contempt.
With those long arms and legs, what harm would standing for a bit do?
Did he really have to compete with an old lady like her?
Just as she was rolling her eyes, she saw the young man tug at a pretty girl standing not far away, motioning for her to come sit.
Oh, so he shamelessly fought for the seat just to impress a pretty girl.
The older woman stopped rolling her eyes. Handsome, considerate, and thoughtful—having a partner like that was truly enviable.
Lu Ling shamelessly claimed the seat, and Bai Xiaotong didn’t put on any airs, sitting down directly.
After all, she was pregnant now!
After a half-hour bus ride, the two arrived at the factory residential area.
As he walked Bai Xiaotong back to the courtyard, Lu Ling finally broke the silence.
“I’ll pick a time in the next couple of days to have a matchmaker visit.”
No matter the circumstances, when it came to marriage, the proper procedures and customs couldn’t be skipped.
Bai Xiaotong replied, “I haven’t agreed yet. What’s the rush?”
Marrying Lu Ling was no simple matter. Bai Xiaotong still had to figure out how to get past her family’s objections.
Lu Ling had learned his lesson. “Then, I’ll wait for your word.”
Bai Xiaotong smiled slightly. “We’ll see how you perform.”
Lu Ling nodded earnestly. “Alright.”
The two parted ways at the entrance of the alley.
Bai Xiaotong was in a good mood, humming a little tune as she walked home.
All the way back, she kept thinking about how to broach the subject with her family. Lu Ling’s background was a major hurdle—something most ordinary people would struggle to accept.
If there were more time, she could let Lu Ling prove himself and gradually change her family’s opinion.
But now, with a baby on the way, this matter needed to be settled quickly.
Truth be told, Bai Xiaotong was even more anxious about getting married than Lu Ling was.
As Bai Xiaotong was carefully weighing her options, Li Maihong lifted the door curtain and stepped out. Seeing her daughter, she smiled and called out, “You’re back just in time. Come inside.”
“Mom, what’s going on?”
“Nothing much. We have a guest. It’s perfect timing for you to meet them.”
A guest?
Puzzled, Bai Xiaotong entered and saw an older woman with a neat cadre-style haircut, wearing a blue jacket with a pointed collar, sitting at their dining table, enjoying a bowl of egg drop soup.
A guest treated to egg drop soup was no ordinary visitor.
Seeing the woman smiling as she sized her up, Bai Xiaotong understood—this wasn’t just any guest; this was a matchmaker.
A matchmaker coming alone was clearly here to test the waters. She didn’t stay long, finishing her soup and praising Bai Xiaotong as a rare beauty—pretty, obedient, and sensible—before leaving with a beaming smile.
Li Maihong was also very enthusiastic and even personally escorted the person to the gate of the compound, indicating she was quite satisfied with the man’s situation.
While these two were happy, Bai Xiaotong was feeling gloomy.
She had just been thinking about how to get her family to agree to her relationship with Lu Ling, and now another problem had arisen.
After Li Maihong returned, Bai Xiaotong asked, “Mom, whose family are they talking about?”
She had never seen that matchmaker before, so she probably wasn’t from their factory district.