In the backseat, Liu Fan pouted. “He did not! He is not the kind of person you think he is! What happened today was only because Grandpa arranged those blind dates these past two days. He just got jealous and anxious in the heat of the moment…”
“And… and we didn’t actually go all the way in the end. I trust him.”
Screeech!
The car braked hard right in the middle of the road.
Liu Yuning looked at his sister in utter disbelief, wondering if she had completely lost her mind. His head throbbed. This required a cure!
“Where does Lin Wanshu live?” he suddenly asked out of nowhere.
Liu Fan was taken aback. “Why… why are you looking for her?”
Did her brother find out about the three of them? Is he planning to round them all up for an interrogation?
“I have business with her. Hurry up and tell me!” Liu Yuning felt a bit guilty, but his tone remained firm.
No matter how angry he was about his sister’s situation, he had to resolve his own issue first. Only then could he free up time to hammer out the details of his sister’s marriage.
“No. 9 Xing’an Road, the Textile Factory Worker Community,” Liu Fan answered. Since her brother held all the leverage over her right now, she didn’t dare hide anything.
The Yongcheng Textile Factory was a military-assisted factory, and its location wasn’t far from the veteran cadres’ compound—about a ten-minute bike ride away.
……
“Go inside and get Lin Wanshu out to the car. I have a couple of words to say to her.”
Liu Yuning parked the car outside the gate of the Lin family’s residence. The property was a traditional courtyard house, and he didn’t know which unit belonged to Lin Wanshu.
Liu Fan happened to have some things she needed to briefs Lin Wanshu on first, so when her brother said this, she hopped out of the car and hurried into the courtyard.
……
Lin Wanshu was just coming out carrying a low stool and a small vegetable basket, preparing to prep some greens. Before she could even sit down, she saw a military vehicle parked outside the gate, and Liu Fan walking in looking frantic.
“Wanshu, I’m doomed, completely doomed.”
Lin Wanshu’s eyelids twitched nervously. Standing from afar, she asked, “Did… did you get beaten up?”
Liu Fan didn’t have time to explain everything with her brother watching from the car. She rushed over and grabbed her. “It’s a long story. Zhang Rong and I went to a hotel today and my brother caught us red-handed. In a moment, you have to vouch for me and testify that Zhang Rong and I didn’t actually ‘cook the rice’!”
“What?! You two actually went to a hotel behind my back?!” Lin Wanshu’s eyes widened in shock. “If you two went to a hotel alone, how on earth am I supposed to prove you’re still pure?”
It wasn’t like she could strip her pants off for an inspection!
“I swear, today was the only time we went alone! In the past, we always waited for you to come back!” Liu Fan pulled at her, her face full of pleading. “And my brother caught us on our very first try! Zhang Rong took quite a few hits. I was terrified he’d be beaten to death, so I pulled my brother away with all my might.”
“Just say a few good words for me later. This matter absolutely cannot get back to Grandpa…”
Lin Wanshu swallowed hard, looking at the military vehicle outside the gate. “Your brother is in the car?”
Liu Fan nodded.
“Does your brother… beat women?”
If Liu Yuning beat women, maybe she should just break off her friendship with Liu Fan? If he found out that Zhang Rong was her neighbor and that the three of them frequently went to hotels together, the consequences… would be unthinkable!
“Xiaofan, you’re better off looking out for yourself. My mom is still waiting for these vegetables to put in the pot…” Lin Wanshu held onto her vegetable basket and turned around, wanting to slip back inside.
As if sensing her intention, the man in the car opened the door and stepped out. In three strides, he reached the two of them, his expression still dark.
“Xiaofan, I asked you to call someone and you’re dawdling here? Hurry up, let’s talk in the car.”
Liu Fan winked furiously at Lin Wanshu. Lin Wanshu shook her head in resistance. In the end, she was half-pulled, half-dragged onto the vehicle anyway.
The moment they were in, Liu Yuning started the engine and hit the gas.
“Grandpa has completely filled up my ten-day leave with blind dates, which is causing me a great deal of trouble. Student Lin, how about doing me a favor?” He drove while explaining his intention in a concise, straightforward manner.
Liu Fan: ???
Lin Wanshu: ???
Both girls patted their chests in relief. It was a false alarm. He wasn’t there to demand answers; he was asking for help.
“How can I help?” Lin Wanshu asked cautiously. Since he had just caught Liu Fan and Zhang Rong, he was still angry and his expression was terrible, so she figured it was best to tread lightly.
“Today, Teacher Wang called Grandpa and misunderstood the situation between us, so…”
“Regimental Commander Liu wants me to go explain things clearly to Grandpa Liu? That’s no problem, I can explain it.”
Liu Yuning shook his head. His lips twitched, suddenly finding it a bit hard to open his mouth. “Grandpa said to invite you over to the house to have dinner together. If he says anything trying to play matchmaker… just make sure to reject him as hard as you can.”
He caught a glimpse of her bewildered face in the rearview mirror and let out a bitter smile. He thought to himself that he must have had a screw loose to do something this absurd.
Lin Wanshu’s mind whirled at lightning speed. She got it.
“Regimental Commander Liu, you aren’t using me to deflect the blind dates Grandpa Liu arranged for you, are you?”
Liu Yuning shrugged, owning up to it.
“Yeah, I can’t help with that!” Lin Wanshu declined flatly.
“Then the moment I get back, I’ll tell Grandpa that you went on blind dates for a whole day on Xiaofan’s behalf yesterday,” Liu Yuning replied casually.
Liu Fan: ???
Lin Wanshu: …
“And Xiaofan, have you figured out how to explain today’s incident to Grandpa?” he added, turning his attention back to his sister.
Liu Fan almost slipped off her seat.
……
The moment the three of them walked through the door, the first person Liu Guoxing spotted was Lin Wanshu.
“Wanshu is here! Quick, come in and play a game of chess with Grandpa.”
And just like that, Lin Wanshu was dragged away to play chess. The siblings exchanged a look and sat down to one side, each harboring their own anxious thoughts, neither uttering a word.
This lasted until dinner was served.
Once they were at the dining table, the old master finally shot a glare at Liu Yuning. “You came back alone?”
“According to our agreement, you will obediently go on your blind dates tomorrow. Within these ten days, you must lock down a marriage partner before returning to your unit. Otherwise… I mean what I say, you understand.”
Then it was Liu Fan’s turn.
“You too. You’ve been looking for three days. Pick one that catches your eye from that batch of officers. This year, you siblings must give me an account of your marriages!”
Having finished his lecture, the old master immediately switched to a warm, grandfatherly face. Turning to Lin Wanshu, he said with a beaming smile, “Wanshu, eat more. Our auntie’s braised ribs taste better than the ones at the state-run restaurants.”
“Okay, thank you, Grandpa.” Lin Wanshu quickly held up her bowl to receive the food.
The siblings: …
“Ahem…” Liu Yuning cleared his throat and set down his chopsticks. “Grandpa, Student Lin is the one I brought back to eat with us.”
The old man didn’t register his meaning at first. “Xiao Lin coming over for dinner requires you to bring her? She’s more familiar with this house than you are!”
“Yes, yes, she’s more familiar than me,” Liu Yuning conceded. “The female comrade the Wang family mentioned to you over the phone is Student Lin.”
“You were the one who told me to bring the person back for dinner…”
Only then did the old master realize what was going on. He froze, and in an instant, a colorful array of expressions flashed across his face. First came disbelief, then skepticism, and finally, he let out a cold snort.
“Keep dreaming your pipe dreams! You old stalk of celery!”
He then turned back to Lin Wanshu and advised her with deep, earnest concern, “Our Wanshu is truly accomplished; you’re about to become a doctor who heals the wounded and saves lives. Grandpa is so proud of you.”
“However, you must be careful when making friends outside from now on, lest you get targeted by certain old toads!”