Jiang Meilan never expected to encounter Liang Qiurun in such a place.
She had a peculiar feeling.
Because Liang Qiurun’s gaze was so penetrating that even with so many people between them, she could still sense his eyes fixed directly on her.
This made her instinctively tighten her grip on her chopsticks, her pink fingertips turning pale from the pressure.
Secretary Chen seemed to notice something. He stepped forward to mediate, “Comrade Jiang, you’ve come to the cafeteria for a meal?”
He looked at Jiang Meishu, somewhat astonished by her beauty. In this bustling, noisy cafeteria, she stood out like a rare night-blooming cereus.
Quiet and unassuming, yet impossible for anyone to overlook.
No wonder the boss had been acting so strangely lately.
Was this jealousy?
Secretary Chen wondered uncertainly.
Facing Secretary Chen’s inquiry, Jiang Meishu nodded, but it was Lu Zhiyuan beside her who answered, “I invited Comrade Jiang for a meal.”
As these words fell,
Liang Qiurun’s gaze nearby deepened noticeably, his jawline tightening along with it. He gave Lu Zhiyuan a profound look. Lu Zhiyuan felt somewhat bewildered, but more than that, he felt as if he were being targeted by some formidable predator.
Observing this scene, Secretary Chen’s heart sank. He hurriedly spoke up, “Boss, Director Zhu is still waiting.”
At these words, Liang Qiurun acknowledged with a sound, then stepped onto the staircase leading to the second floor. However, as he ascended, he glanced back toward Jiang Meishu’s direction.
Once he left, the surrounding pressure seemed to dissipate somewhat.
Everyone subtly breathed a sigh of relief.
The crowd’s gazes drifted vaguely between Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Meishu—no, more precisely, focused on Jiang Meishu.
Those subtle, scrutinizing looks made Jiang Meishu rather uncomfortable.
She instinctively furrowed her brows. Noticing this, Lu Zhiyuan immediately shook his head at his colleagues around them, “Disperse now.”
Everyone hesitated briefly, but seeing Lu Zhiyuan’s expression wasn’t favorable, they gradually scattered.
When only Jiang Meishu and Lu Zhiyuan remained, both fell into silence.
“Earlier—” Jiang Meishu asked hesitantly, “why did Factory Director Liang suddenly stop?”
She didn’t believe Factory Director Liang had stopped because of her.
Beyond that previously arranged but unattended blind date, she and Factory Director Liang had no connections whatsoever.
Lu Zhiyuan paused briefly before speculating, “Perhaps because of me?” He hesitated, then added somewhat sheepishly, “Within the Finance Section, I’m not aligned with any particular faction. Factory Director Liang has previously shown interest in recruiting me.”
He smiled, a trace of quiet pride appearing between his brows as he showcased himself before the female comrade he admired. “Probably Factory Director Liang recognized my individual capabilities.” His gaze fell on the thin blanket draped over the chair behind Jiang Meishu. “That thin blanket earlier was another instance—Factory Director Liang wanting to win me over.”
“Yes, it must be that.” Otherwise, Factory Director Liang wouldn’t have instructed Secretary Chen to give that blanket to Jiang Meishu.
Jiang Meishu watched Lu Zhiyuan boast enthusiastically. She smiled faintly but offered no response.
Lu Zhiyuan, however, took her silence as agreement and whispered, “Comrade Jiang, I work in the Finance Section and currently hold the position of deputy director. At my age, it’s only a matter of time before I get promoted to full director.”
“My future may not be dazzlingly bright, but it’s fair to say it’s full of promise.” Regardless of his personal abilities, the fact that Factory Director Liang was willing to court him spoke volumes from the side.
His personal abilities were indeed quite good. Jiang Meishu found his words somewhat strange, but interrupting others was impolite, so she frowned and continued listening.
Then she heard Lu Zhiyuan ask her, “What do you think—” How about me?
Before he could finish, a colleague from the Finance Section happened to come for lunch. Seeing Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Meishu sitting face to face eating, the colleague couldn’t help but ask curiously.
“Director Lu, is this your blind date?”
Before Lu Zhiyuan could respond, Jiang Meishu had already looked up. She reflexively denied it, “No.”
She emphasized, “Comrade Lu is just treating me to a meal!”
Both Comrade Lu’s mother and her own mother were aware of this matter.
It was merely a gesture of gratitude.
How did this become related to a blind date? Jiang Meishu didn’t know why she was so resistant to this topic.
To be more precise, Jiang Meishu had already sensed something. From Lu Zhiyuan’s earlier peacock-like display, she had guessed part of it.
She just hadn’t found the right opportunity to bring it up. This person’s inquiry actually gave her the chance to speak.
Seeing her deny it so firmly, Lu Zhiyuan was taken aback.
He opened his mouth but said nothing.
The colleague who had asked the question also felt awkward, realizing he might have said the wrong thing, and quickly slipped away.
Once he was gone.
Only Jiang Meishu and Lu Zhiyuan remained at the scene.
The atmosphere between them wasn’t as pleasant as before, instead tinged with a faint awkwardness.
Lu Zhiyuan wanted to ask her several times, “Don’t you know this is a blind date?”
But as the words reached his lips, he suddenly remembered the hesitant conversations between their grandmothers. It seemed this blind date had been kept from Jiang Meishu.
At this thought.
Lu Zhiyuan’s heart sank further. After deliberating for a long time, he resumed their previous topic, “Comrade Jiang, what do you think of me?”
Upon hearing this.
Jiang Meishu paused, “You’re a very good friend.”
Lu Zhiyuan, deciding to lay all his cards on the table, went straight to the point, “Then what about as a blind date partner?”
Second floor of the Apartment Building at the Meatpacking Factory.
Lu Desheng had just woken up. Having gambled all night, he was catching up on sleep during the day. Standing at the corridor entrance, he yawned, “Old Lu’s family, your son is about to get a daughter-in-law, isn’t he?”
An old neighbor washing vegetables in the water room teased him.
Lu Desheng, still half-asleep, asked, “What?”
“Your young Lu, I heard he took a female comrade to the unit cafeteria for a meal. Isn’t that a sign your family is about to have a happy event?”
Hearing this, Lu Desheng’s face immediately darkened, “Whose daughter is it?”
Seeing Lu Desheng’s expression, everyone suddenly fell silent.
They didn’t say anything.
But Lu Desheng had caught the gist. He turned back inside, grabbed his clothes, and headed straight for the cafeteria.
The meal between Lu Zhiyuan and Jiang Meishu left both feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
Perhaps after certain topics were laid bare, interactions became less natural than before.
Jiang Meishu stood up, “Thank you for your hospitality, Comrade Lu, but…”
“I’ll head back to the hospital first.”
Lu Zhiyuan picked up his coat from the chair. “Let me walk you.”
Jiang Meishu instinctively refused, “No need.”
She could return by herself, and besides, she felt somewhat awkward around Lu Zhiyuan.
Lu Zhiyuan gave a bitter smile. “Comrade Jiang, even if we aren’t suited for each other, aren’t we still friends?”
He looked at her, “Moreover, I’m also going to the hospital to visit my grandmother.”
“It just happens to be on the way—it’s not solely about accompanying you.”
This—
Jiang Meishu still wanted to refuse.
Lu Zhiyuan continued, “Comrade Jiang, even if the deal falls through, goodwill remains. Besides, my grandmother and your mother are waiting for us to return.”
He couldn’t possibly go back to the ward alone and leave Jiang Meishu behind.
That wasn’t his way of doing things.
Jiang Meishu wasn’t good at rejecting people.
Or rather, this was a weakness in her character, one she had never managed to correct.
“Then let’s walk back.”
She didn’t want to ride on his bicycle again.
Seeing that she was willing to agree to return together, Lu Zhiyuan breathed a slight sigh of relief. “Shall we go now then?”
“It’s getting dark, and the Capital hasn’t been very safe lately.”
Jiang Meishu hummed in agreement. As she stood up to leave, she noticed a thin blanket still draped over the chair. She hesitated for a moment.
Thinking that today wasn’t the right time to return it, she decided to find Liang Rui later and have him return the blanket to Secretary Chen.
Lu Zhiyuan also saw the thin blanket. He fell silent but ultimately didn’t say anything.
Originally, he had intended to ask for the blanket back so he could return it himself, but now didn’t seem like the right moment to bring it up.
Once they left the cafeteria entrance, Lu Zhiyuan went to the parking shed outside to retrieve his bicycle.
Jiang Meishu waited quietly nearby. In late autumn, darkness fell early—though it was just past 6:30, the sky had already turned completely dark.
The streetlights at the cafeteria entrance had also been switched on.
Jiang Meishu stood under a streetlamp, her shadow stretching long beneath the light. Just then, Lu Zhiyuan approached with his bicycle and called out to her, “Comrade Jiang.”
Jiang Meishu responded with a nod and followed him.
Upstairs.
Liang Qiurun was hosting Director Zhu, but he hadn’t really been listening to what the other was saying. He stood by the window, looking down below.
The two figures stood side by side, as perfectly matched as pearls and jade.
He held a cigarette between his fingers, gazing down at the cafeteria entrance. Straight white smoke rose and curled around his jade-like features.
In that moment, his expression seemed somewhat indistinct.
Perhaps the smoke had stung his eyes, making the shadows in his gaze appear deeper than usual.
“Factory Director Liang?”
“What do you think about this collaboration?”
“Going forward, our Hei Province pig farm cooperating with the Capital Meatpacking Plant?”
Liang Qiurun replied, “Acceptable.”
At his words, Director Zhu was taken aback. “What did you say?” Before his trip, colleagues who had previously visited the Capital Meatpacking Plant on business had warned him that Factory Director Liang was notoriously difficult to deal with.
He had already prepared himself for the possibility of being rejected by Factory Director Liang. He had even considered what concessions he might need to make.
And yet.
Factory Director Liang had agreed so abruptly?
This left Director Zhu with an overwhelming sense of unreality.
But he wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
Secretary Chen, who had worked with Liang Qiurun for so long, had never seen him so visibly distracted before.
It could be said that since Liang Qiurun transitioned to local work, his negotiations had always been successful without exception.
He never conceded even half a point of benefit to the other side.
But today—
The leader seemed somewhat unusual, exceeding Secretary Chen’s understanding of his past behavior.
Liang Qiurun also came to his senses, rubbing his temples, “Director Zhu, let’s end today’s cooperation here. We can discuss the details tomorrow?”
This was even stranger.
After all, Liang Qiurun was the type who would stay up all night to negotiate a deal.
Yet today, after less than an hour of talks, he actually proposed ending the meeting early?
This was so unlike Liang Qiurun!
Director Zhu, who was nearby, also sensed something, “Factory Director Liang, are you not feeling well today?”
Liang Qiurun did not deny it.
Director Zhu immediately stood up, “Then you should head back early to rest. I’ll come find you tomorrow to discuss the specifics.”
Liang Qiurun nodded, “Thank you.”
As he stood up, Secretary Chen instantly understood. As the leader’s right-hand man, he promptly went to open the door, first escorting Director Zhu to the Meatpacking Factory’s guesthouse.
When he returned,
Liang Qiurun was already downstairs. He said calmly, “Drive me around the factory.”
This was the first time since he arrived at the Meatpacking Factory that he had said such a thing—coming to the factory not for work, but just to look around.
To see the Meatpacking Factory.
Secretary Chen muttered to himself, thinking, “What’s so interesting about the factory?”
He passed through it countless times every day on his way to and from work. But when it came to the leader’s requests, he always complied without question.
Secretary Chen drove the car, with Liang Qiurun inside,
For the first time, slowly cruising around the Meatpacking Factory.
At first, Secretary Chen didn’t understand why he suddenly wanted to tour the factory. It wasn’t until they reached the main gate
That he suddenly realized
Why the leader had come to the factory entrance.
At the Meatpacking Factory’s main gate, it was shift change time, and the place was bustling.
Workers in blue uniforms rode their Large Frame Bicycles, weaving through the factory entrance.
But this lively atmosphere was suddenly shattered.
Lu Desheng came running at full speed. When he spotted his son from afar, pushing a bicycle and standing with a female comrade,
He immediately flew into a rage. Charging over, he lashed out, “Lu Zhiyuan, is this your blind date? No chest to speak of, no hips to speak of—how is she supposed to bear sons and continue our Lu family line?”
As these words fell,
The noisy, chaotic scene instantly fell silent.
Even the ringing bells of the Large Frame Bicycles seemed to voluntarily soften.
Lu Zhiyuan hadn’t expected his good-for-nothing gambler of a father to show up at this moment. His face showed shock, and his first reaction was to push Lu Desheng away, “What are you doing here? Who told you to come?”
“Grandma is still in the hospital—what are you doing here causing a scene?”
Shoved aside, Lu Desheng’s temper flared even hotter, “Why can’t I be here? If I hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have known you were seeing such a scrawny chick. What use is a woman like that? With hips so small, who knows if she can even bear sons?”
Jiang Meishu had never been so humiliated.
Never!
In both lifetimes, this was the first time she had been publicly pointed at and criticized in front of a crowd.
Her delicate face tightened, her voice slightly cold, “Comrade, watch your language.”
Even when she lost her temper, it was like a kitten baring its claws—utterly lacking in intimidation.
Lu Desheng paid no attention to this. “Little girl, if you can’t stand hearing the truth, why did you agree to meet my son for a matchmaking?”
“My son is the future director of the Finance Section. He should marry someone sturdy and broad-hipped who can bear sons, or at least someone from a well-off family!”
“What makes you worthy of meeting my son?”
Jiang Meishu’s face flushed crimson upon hearing this—from anger and embarrassment. Trembling all over, she pointed at Lu Desheng.
“I am not Lu Zhiyuan’s matchmaking partner,” she said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly.
After speaking, she looked at Lu Zhiyuan, hoping he would say something.
But Lu Zhiyuan merely opened his mouth and went to support Lu Desheng. “Can you stop making a scene here? Go home.”
He neither addressed Jiang Meishu’s statement nor provided any clarification.
Lu Desheng continued cursing, “That girl says it’s not true, but you’re defending her like this! Lu Zhiyuan, let me tell you—I disapprove of this girl. She will never enter our Lu family!”
Everyone was watching the scene. There were too many people at the factory gate, and every one of them was staring at Jiang Meishu.
Their gazes seemed to say she was trying to climb the social ladder.
“Everyone knows Director Lu from the Meatpacking Factory is a golden bachelor!”
“It must be the girl trying to marry up while the guy’s family objects.”
“That’s what it looks like to me too.”
Jiang Meishu felt utterly helpless, her face burning with shame. She looked at Lu Zhiyuan. “Go tell them I never had a matchmaking meeting with you!”
“We never had a matchmaking!”
Lu Zhiyuan opened his mouth. “Comrade Jiang, my father is being unreasonable right now. No matter what I say, he won’t believe it.”
Disappointment gradually gathered in Jiang Meishu’s eyes. Her face remained flushed as she trembled slightly, desperately wishing someone would step forward.
To testify for her.
To confirm she and Lu Zhiyuan never had a matchmaking meeting.
That she never once considered marrying Lu Zhiyuan.
But most people just watched her as if enjoying a comedy show, choosing to believe Lu Desheng’s words instead.
In their eyes, she was that shameless woman trying to climb the social ladder.
Jiang Meishu bit her lip until she tasted blood. Tears welled up in her eyes but didn’t fall.
Until—
A black Red Flag car suddenly pulled over. Liang Qiurun saw her, his face flushed with urgency, sweat beading on his forehead.
From anxiety.
From sorrow.
From disappointment.
From helplessness.
“She is not Lu Zhiyuan’s matchmaking partner.” Liang Qiurun’s voice carried calmly across the space as he walked quickly toward Jiang Meishu with determined steps. His tall figure shielded her, blocking most of the mocking stares.
Seeing the crowd’s disbelief,
Liang Qiurun added quietly, “Because she is my matchmaking partner.”
The scene instantly fell silent.
Even Jiang Meishu was momentarily stunned. She looked up at Liang Qiurun and called out in a choked voice, “Factory Director Liang.”
He stood tall, backlit so she could only see his silhouette—like a mountain standing before her, shielding her from all storms.
Without turning his head, Liang Qiurun responded, “Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”
Though brief, these words gave Jiang Meishu an unprecedented sense of security.
Dead silence enveloped the scene.
It was Lu Desheng who recovered first. “Impossible!”
“Factory Director Liang.” His face wore a mix of sycophancy and ingratiation. “This female comrade was eating in the cafeteria with our Zhiyuan. If this isn’t a blind date, what is?”
Having someone to back her up.
Jiang Meishu suddenly felt as if she had found her pillar of support. She said resentfully, “I offered Wo Wo Tou to Grandma Lu when she was hospitalized and had no one to care for her. His grandmother asked him to thank me, which is why he invited me to eat in the cafeteria.”
“We are not on a blind date!!”
She gritted her teeth, her small face pale and tense, explaining each word deliberately.
Lu Desheng didn’t speak. He remained noncommittal, but his expression still showed disbelief.
Liang Qiurun suddenly said calmly, “Someone who has tasted delicacies from land and sea would never settle for plain porridge and simple dishes.”
As these words fell.
The surroundings fell silent once again.
What did Factory Director Liang mean by that?
Lu Zhiyuan instinctively looked up at him. “Factory Director Liang.”
Liang Qiurun glanced at him and said indifferently, “You are quite a failure as a person.”
Having spoken, he ignored the reactions of those around him and directly addressed Jiang Meishu, “Let’s go. Your father is still waiting for you at the hospital.”
Jiang Meishu hastily wiped her face, nodded, and followed Liang Qiurun into the car.
As she left.
She didn’t even glance at Lu Zhiyuan.
She was both furious and disappointed.
She had considered Lu Zhiyuan a friend—a friend transcending eras—but when she needed him to help explain the situation, he chose to remain silent.
Lu Zhiyuan felt as if he had lost something. He wanted to reach out and stop Jiang Meishu, but when he raised his hand, he only managed to brush the hem of her clothes.
He could only watch helplessly as Jiang Meishu walked away from him, got into the car, and disappeared from sight.
The voices around him started up again.
“Why do I feel like that Comrade Jiang might actually be Factory Director Liang’s blind date?”
“Right, otherwise why would Factory Director Liang not only speak up for her but also acknowledge her as his blind date?”
“Not just that. Didn’t you notice? Factory Director Liang even let Comrade Jiang ride in his car. Let me ask you all: in the over month since Factory Director Liang came to the Meatpacking Factory, has anyone ever seen anyone else ride in his car?”
This made everyone think carefully.
“Now that you mention it, no.”
“Hey, I just remembered something.” Someone with a good memory suddenly said, “Didn’t Factory Director Liang previously spread word that he was going on a blind date?”
“At that time, the blind date didn’t work out, and then the workshop in the factory caught fire. If I remember correctly, the female comrade he was supposed to meet back then was also surnamed Jiang.”
“So, that previous female comrade was also surnamed Jiang?”
Someone called out to Jiang Desheng, “Old Jiang, did you get it wrong?”
“Exactly, mistaking the factory director’s blind date for your son’s blind date. You really know how to flatter yourself.”
Jiang Desheng, teased by the others, flushed with embarrassment and said, “How was I supposed to know?” After saying this, he glared at his son Lu Zhiyuan and complained, “And you—couldn’t you have picked someone else to eat with? Why did it have to be Factory Director Liang’s blind date? Are you trying to pick a fight on purpose?”
Lu Zhiyuan was still somewhat dazed.
He couldn’t understand how Jiang Meishu had become Factory Director Liang’s blind date.
In the car.
Once Jiang Meishu went upstairs and was away from outsiders, her tears fell in large drops like broken strings of pearls, each crystal clear landing on Liang Qiurun’s hands.
The heat made him instinctively flinch, his fingers curling slightly.
Liang Qiurun remained silent for a moment, simply watching her quietly. After a long pause, he finally pulled out a gray handkerchief and handed it to her. “Don’t cry.”
His words only made it worse.
At this, Jiang Meishu cried even more intensely. “How could this happen?”
“I thought Lu Zhiyuan was a good person, how could he be like this? Where did I offend him? When his father spoke about me like that, he didn’t even help clarify things when he clearly knew the truth.”
The young girl cried until she was gasping for breath.
Her skin was extremely fair and delicate, and with her crying, the reddened corners of her eyes glistened with tears, making her appear even more pitiable.
Liang Qiurun watched this scene, his breath catching slightly as he subtly averted his gaze to look out the window.
Meanwhile, Secretary Chen, who was driving in front, observed Jiang Meishu through the rearview mirror and suddenly asked, “Weren’t you supposed to be in a matchmaking meeting with Director Lu?”
Jiang Meishu’s sobs halted abruptly, and she instinctively retorted, “Who would want to be in a matchmaking meeting with him?”
She had never been in a matchmaking meeting with Lu Zhiyuan.
In her eyes, Lu Zhiyuan belonged to the same generation as her school principal—how could she dare entertain any improper thoughts about him?
This—
Hearing this, Secretary Chen instinctively glanced at Liang Qiurun and indeed saw that the previously gloomy leader now had a slight smile curling at the corners of his lips.
Secretary Chen instantly understood. Gripping the steering wheel, he immediately continued, “It’s a good thing you didn’t go through with the matchmaking meeting with Director Lu.”
“Director Lu’s family situation is rather messy. Most people who marry into that family wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“Of course, it’s not that the person marrying in would be at fault, but Director Lu, while professionally competent, tends to be indecisive when it comes to family matters. If a matchmaking meeting with someone like him succeeded, his wife would surely suffer.”
Jiang Meishu, who had been crying, nodded at Secretary Chen’s words. “You’re right.”
Tears still clung to her long lashes, paired with her reddened eyes, she looked both innocent and pitiable.
Even Secretary Chen, watching through the rearview mirror, was momentarily dazed.
Comrade Jiang was simply too beautiful.
Noticing Secretary Chen’s distraction, Liang Qiurun lifted his eyes and gave him a faint glance.
Their eyes met.
Secretary Chen quickly snapped back to reality, subtly withdrawing his gaze and focusing on driving.
“Since Director Lu isn’t a suitable matchmaking candidate,” he probed on behalf of his leader, “Comrade Jiang, do you have any other matchmaking prospects at the moment?”
Jiang Meishu instinctively shook her head. “No.”
Her voice was hoarse, but the raspiness lent it a soft, sticky quality that was quite pleasing to the ear.
Hearing this, Secretary Chen knew there was hope and immediately followed up, “Then what do you think of our Factory Director Liang?”
As he said this,
Liang Qiurun subtly straightened his posture and pricked up his ears.
This was quite unlike his usual behavior.
Jiang Meishu was taken aback by the question. She instinctively looked at Liang Qiurun. “But didn’t Factory Director Liang not want to be in a matchmaking meeting with me?”
As soon as she said this, Secretary Chen refuted, “Who said our Factory Director Liang didn’t want to be in a matchmaking meeting with you?”
Jiang Meishu sniffled, her jade-like nose tinged with red, and said softly, “But when we were supposed to meet, he didn’t show up.”
Hearing this, Liang Qiurun explained in a low voice, “I had something urgent to attend to at the time.”
Jiang Meishu, of course, knew he had been dealing with an emergency.
Liang Rui had caused a major mess, and Liang Qiurun had been called away to handle it.
What Jiang Meishu cared about was what happened afterward. She spread her hands and said, “You had an emergency, but afterward, you didn’t notify me, my aunt, or my family. We all thought you weren’t interested in this matchmaking arrangement.”
“Factory Director Liang, isn’t that your fault?”
This—
She was the first one bold enough to push her luck and question Liang Qiurun directly.
Even Secretary Chen, who was driving up front, couldn’t help but sweat for her.
Afraid she might anger the leader.
However, Secretary Chen’s worries proved unnecessary. Liang Qiurun wasn’t angry; instead, he admired Jiang Meishu for daring to raise the issue.
His profile was gentle, his voice candid, “It was my oversight. I apologize to you now.”
“Comrade Jiang, are you willing to accept my apology?”
His attitude was extremely earnest, his peach-blossom eyes filled with sincerity.
Jiang Meishu hesitated, “Are you serious?”
She even threw the question back at him.
Liang Qiurun, “Naturally.”
Jiang Meishu sniffled, “Then I accept your apology for your oversight.”
At that, Liang Qiurun couldn’t help but smile faintly. He was exceptionally handsome, and when he smiled, his face glowed like jade, gentle and refined. That smile seemed to illuminate the entire car.
It was at this moment that Jiang Meishu truly began to appreciate Liang Qiurun’s beauty.
His looks were no less than those of male celebrities in the entertainment industry of later generations.
Liang Qiurun, “Comrade Jiang, since you’re willing to accept my apology, let’s discuss another matter.”
Jiang Meishu, “?”
Was there another issue between her and Liang Qiurun?
Seeing her still somewhat confused, Liang Qiurun’s eyes sparkled with amusement, “Well then, Comrade Jiang, are you willing to give me another chance at a blind date?”
Though he appeared gentle, his actions were straightforward.
So straightforward that Jiang Meishu was caught off guard, nearly stumbling over her words, “What did you say??”
Liang Qiurun patiently repeated, “Comrade Jiang, are you willing to give me this opportunity?”
He sat sideways, leaning slightly forward, his gaze direct and unwavering as he looked at her.
That straightforward gaze carried a hint of admiration and curiosity.
Paired with his jade-like face, it was truly breathtaking.
Jiang Meishu thought to herself, good thing she had some immunity to good looks, or she’d be utterly captivated by Liang Qiurun in no time.
She pondered, “You mean we should have another blind date?”
Liang Qiurun nodded, “I wonder if you’d be willing to give me this chance?”
He was humble; at least, Jiang Meishu didn’t sense any airs of the factory director from him.
Jiang Meishu thought for a moment, “Where?”
She completely skipped over Liang Qiurun’s question and moved to the next one.
This made Liang Qiurun even more convinced that Comrade Jiang was quite a character.
He considered, “I have a suggestion. Since it’s a blind date, let’s step outside the Meatpacking Factory.” He paused, as if casually adding, “How about the State-Owned Restaurant?”
Secretary Chen, hearing this, couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Liang Qiurun. Was the leader deliberately choosing the State-Owned Restaurant for the blind date?
Unfortunately, Liang Qiurun didn’t notice him; his attention was entirely on Jiang Meishu.
The moment he mentioned “State-Owned Restaurant,” Jiang Meishu’s eyes lit up instantly.
It was that kind of bright, sparkling gleam.
For a moment, Liang Qiurun even wondered if the car lights had been turned on.
Jiang Meishu quickly realized she had lost her composure. She pursed her lips, slightly embarrassed, “Then the State-Owned Restaurant it is.”
She quite liked the idea.
No.
She was absolutely delighted. Not long after transmigrating, she had heard that the State-Owned Restaurant was the place with the most delicious food in the entire Capital.
But given their family’s circumstances, going to the State-Owned Restaurant was impossible.
Absolutely impossible in this lifetime.
Now, with such an opportunity before her, Jiang Meishu felt that if she refused, she would be letting down the very name “State-Owned Restaurant”!
“Alright!”
She agreed almost without any hesitation.
Seeing her reaction, Liang Qiurun basically understood her. From start to finish, he showed no fluctuation in emotion, and he hadn’t been particularly interested even when bringing up the blind date.
Until.
He mentioned going to the State-Owned Restaurant for the blind date.
Her eyes instantly lit up like light bulbs.
It was clear—she was undoubtedly a foodie.
Liang Qiurun couldn’t help but smile. “Well, since you agree, Comrade Jiang, to having the blind date at the State-Owned Restaurant, shall we set a date for it?”
This—
Jiang Meishu wrinkled her nose and thought for a while. “How about tomorrow?”
“I’ll be at the hospital tomorrow morning and can go out for a bit.”
After all, their family had plenty of people, and with Liang Rui, the little workhorse, around to take care of her father at the hospital, she didn’t have to worry too much.
“Alright.”
Liang Qiurun finalized the decision.
He looked at her, his expression gentle. “I’ll definitely be there tomorrow.”
Just then, the car arrived at the entrance of the People’s Hospital. Secretary Chen parked the car outside and came over to open the door.
Jiang Meishu wasn’t quite used to it and said, “I can open it myself.”
Secretary Chen teased, “Comrade Jiang, don’t steal my job, or I’ll be out of work.”
Hearing this, Jiang Meishu felt a bit embarrassed. As soon as she stepped out of the car, a cold wind rushed over her, and she instinctively shrank her neck.
The car had been so warm that she had forgotten about the severe drop in temperature outside.
Only then did she remember the thin blanket Secretary Chen had given her earlier when she was riding the bicycle.
Jiang Meishu patted her face and said to the two inside the car, “Factory Director Liang, Secretary Chen, thank you for the thin blanket earlier. It was very warm.”
Otherwise, she would have frozen like an ice pop earlier when riding the bicycle to the cafeteria.
“It was nothing.” Liang Qiurun waved his hand and got out of the car as well. “I’ll walk you up.”
Jiang Meishu, “??”
She was taken aback. “No, no, it’s so close. I can go up by myself.”
Liang Qiurun stood at the entrance, the light stretching his shadow long and slender. His eyes were gentle, but his voice was resolute. “I might as well go see Master Jiang while I’m here.”
At that.
Jiang Meishu stopped objecting.
Hospital Ward.
Ever since Jiang Meishu left with Lu Zhiyuan in the afternoon, Wang Limei’s right eyelid had been twitching incessantly. She was a somewhat superstitious person.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Wang Limei was deeply superstitious and firmly believed that a twitching right eyelid was an extremely bad omen.
So, she kept pacing back and forth in the hospital room. Jiang Chenliang, already unable to sleep well due to the pain in his arm, was further disturbed by the noise in the room. He frowned and said to Wang Limei, “Can you stop pacing? It’s making my head ache.”
His arm hurt too.
Wang Limei replied, “It’s not that I want to pace, Old Jiang. My right eyelid has been twitching badly, and I’m worried something might go wrong with our daughter’s blind date.”
As the saying goes, a mother and daughter share a connected heart.
And indeed, Jiang Meishu’s blind date with Lu Zhiyuan had encountered an unexpected turn.
In contrast, Grandma Lu beside her remained extremely calm. “If you ask me, Comrade Wang, you should just sit and rest. Both my Zhiyuan and your Meilan have good temperaments. If even this kind of blind date doesn’t work out…”
“Unless my blockhead of a son got involved.”
As these words fell, Grandma Lu’s right eyelid twitched three times in succession. She began to have a bad premonition. “It couldn’t be, could it?”
“That shouldn’t be possible, right?”
Wang Limei asked her, “What is it?”
But Grandma Lu refused to say more. She understood the principle that family shame shouldn’t be publicized, so she simply said, “Whether it works out or not, we’ll know when the children return and we ask them.”
Wang Limei hummed in agreement. Actually, she was already regretting her decision, feeling that arranging a blind date between her daughter and Lu Zhiyuan had been too hasty.
After all, she had only listened to what Grandma Lu and Lu Zhiyuan said, without investigating the Lu family’s situation.
She didn’t know whether the Lu family’s circumstances were good or not?
In fact, Wang Limei already had her suspicions—the Lu family’s situation was probably not good. Otherwise, why had no other family members visited since Grandma Lu was hospitalized almost two days ago?
Why was Lu Zhiyuan the only one?
The more she thought about it, the heavier Wang Limei’s heart became.
Just then, footsteps sounded from outside. She immediately went to greet them, thinking it was Jiang Meishu returning. She hurriedly called out, “Meilan?”
But halfway through calling the name, she realized it was Jiang Meilan and Shen Zhanlie.
“Oh, it’s Meishu?” Wang Limei couldn’t hide her disappointment.
Jiang Meilan placed the food she brought on the table. “Has my sister returned from her blind date yet?”
She had already naturally slipped into Jiang Meishu’s identity.
Mentioning this made Wang Limei worried. “Not yet. I don’t know how it’s going.”
Jiang Meilan frowned. “We should know soon. Comrade Lu doesn’t seem like a bad person to me.”
“But what about Meilan? I wonder if she knows about this?”
Wang Limei truly didn’t know. She was afraid that if her younger daughter found out this was a blind date, she might lose her temper and ruin everything.
Not knowing the situation was making her overthink.
The ward was crowded, and many people were talking. Jiang Chenliang, who hadn’t slept well for two consecutive days, found the noise unbearable. With dark circles under his eyes, he frowned and said, “Can you keep it down?”
Unfortunately, only the Jiang family heard him. Their voices lowered slightly, but the surrounding chatter continued as loudly as before.
Jiang Meilan went to reason with them, only to be retorted, “If you find it noisy here, go switch to a High-ranking Cadre Ward.”
This—
Jiang Meilan was furious. If their family could afford a High-ranking Cadre Ward, why would they be dealing with these people?
Shen Zhanlie saw this and thought for a moment. “I’ll go ask at the nurse’s station if we can change rooms.”
With that, he left.
However, Shen Zhanlie returned disappointed. The hospital had no available rooms, and the High-ranking Cadre Ward was naturally inaccessible to ordinary people.
Seeing this outcome, Jiang Meilan was disheartened, but even more, she felt powerless.
For the first time, she understood clearly—this was the treatment ordinary people received.
Either endure it or leave.
There seemed to be no third option.
It was at this moment that Jiang Meishu returned. “What’s going on?”
“Meishu?”
“How did the blind date go?”
Jiang Meishu didn’t answer the question, but persisted instead, “What’s going on? Why does everyone look so worried?”
Has something happened?
Jiang Meilan briefly explained the situation.
Jiang Meishu furrowed her brows, “I asked the nurse before, and she said it couldn’t be changed. Unless we move to the High-ranking Cadre Ward, every room is just as noisy.”
“If we want to change rooms,” she lowered her head, somewhat frustrated, “our family doesn’t qualify.”
These were the nurse’s exact words.
Liang Qiurun hadn’t expected to see Jiang Meishu looking so dejected the moment he entered. He paused briefly before instructing Secretary Chen, “Go negotiate with the nurse.”
“Arrange a room change for Master Jiang.”