Chapter 535: Gossip Survival System (34)

What on earth could drive such a fair, tender, and adorable girl to want to join the Neighborhood Committee?

Miao Lan truly could not fathom it.

What kind of scene is the Neighborhood Committee? It's a family dispute mediation group made up of a bunch of middle-aged women; wherever a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are arguing in an alley or neighbors are fighting, there you will find their agile figures and booming voices.

At the mere thought that in the near future, her own delicate, fair-skinned daughter would become one of them, the corners of Miao Lan's mouth couldn't help but twitch.

Could it be because she and her husband were too busy with work and often left their daughter home alone, making her feel lonely and desolate, so she became particularly fond of crowding into lively, bustling places after growing up?

No wonder whenever there was the slightest stir in the neighborhood, she would dart out faster than a monkey and be more eager than anyone to watch the excitement.

She had developed a habit!

At this moment, Miao Lan deeply reflected on herself.

Zheng Miaomiao... Zheng Miaomiao felt she was simply a genius of the century!

For this reason, she even ran over specifically to tell Xie Yang—her career goal after graduating from junior high was the Neighborhood Committee.

Xie Yang: "..."

You really can't say otherwise; in this era where entertainment gossip isn't well-developed, the Neighborhood Committee is indeed a great place to "eat melons" and sustain one's life.

"Right? Sister Yang Yang, you also think the Neighborhood Committee is very suitable for me, don't you?" Zheng Miaomiao said happily, "Then I must accumulate experience well and strive to join the Neighborhood Committee as soon as I graduate."

Xie Yang was silent for a long moment: "... Good luck!"

"Thank you, Sister Yang Yang!"

"..."

Once the first lunar month passed, the weather turned noticeably warmer.

Xie Yang picked a beautiful, sunny Sunday to take the old lady and her little cousin to a photo studio to take a family portrait.

After the family portrait, they also took individual photos; she and Grandma Xie posed leaning against a prop staircase, and since her little cousin couldn't stand steadily yet, they simply let him sit, while Xie Yang made faces behind the photographer to make him laugh, capturing a little cutie who was drooling and laughing non-stop.

Afterwards, she and Grandma Xie each took a photo holding the little cousin, as well as a photo of the grandmother and granddaughter together.

In short, they took quite a few, had two or three copies of each printed, and bought several photo frames of various sizes at the studio, ready to put the photos in the corresponding frames to hang on the wall or place on the cabinet once they were developed.

Of course, they also had to mail a copy of the little cousin's individual photo to the Chen Family; seeing the chubby, grinning Xiao Shitou, the Chen Family would surely be very happy.

On the way back, they ran into Gu Yu'an, who was carrying a paper parcel.

"Grandma, Comrade Xiao Xie, are you two coming back from outside?"

"Oh, it's Gu. We went to the photo studio; you see, Xiao Shitou is almost a year old, so we took him to get some commemorative photos taken to mail to his grandparents so they can see their little grandson too."

Seeing Gu Yu'an, Grandma Xie was visibly happy, and she became much more talkative.

She hadn't originally intended to play matchmaker between him and her granddaughter, but after accidentally hearing Widow Guo inquiring about his personal situation, she suddenly realized: Gu is not only a warm-hearted police officer who is considerate in his dealings, but also a very popular single young man.

With this realization, the old lady's smile became even more sincere and enthusiastic when she saw Gu Yu'an again.

"Gu, are you here to find someone or..."

"Oh, a friend gave me some fresh beef, but I almost always eat at the Canteen, and I haven't cooked at home in a long time, so the firewood is damp. Walking by here, I thought of you, so I figured I'd come over and share a meal with you. Grandma won't think I'm being thick-skinned, will you?"

"How could that be!" Grandma Xie couldn't stop smiling, "We couldn't be happier to have you. Besides, you're bringing fresh beef to share, so we're the ones profiting! Beef is such a good thing and isn't easy to buy usually."

Hearing this, Gu Yu'an smiled and handed the beef to Xie Yang, then very naturally took Xiao Shitou from her arms and let him ride on his shoulders.

Xiao Shitou giggled happily.

Xie Yang: "..."

Good heavens!

As expected of someone in criminal investigation; in just a few days, he had managed to win over both the old and the young.

That evening, the rich, unique aroma of beef wafted from the Xie Family kitchen.

The beef Gu Yu'an brought was brisket, about two jin.

Before Xie Yang started cutting, she asked him if he wanted to send half to his aunt.

Gu Yu'an leaned to the side and said with a smile, "No need. I gave my aunt a piece of rump roast a while ago. She has a large family, and sending eight taels over today wouldn't be easy to divide; I'll give her some next time I get more."

Xie Yang glanced at him lightly; in her opinion, he could have just gone to his aunt's place to share the meal—two jin of brisket, plus some Potato and mushrooms, would make a very large pot of stew.

Gu Yu'an seemed to see through her inner grumbling and let out a low laugh: "On the third day of the New Year, I heard Grandma mention that you like eating beef."

"..."

That was a bit of a foul.

She and he didn't have any relationship yet, did they?

Xie Yang: "There are a lot of things I like to eat."

Gu Yu'an helped wash the Potato, his smile pleasant: "Tell me about them?"

But he didn't give Xie Yang a chance to list her favorite foods, because Wang Lin had arrived.

Seeing Gu Yu'an and the Xie Family grandmother and granddaughter entering the Xie house with laughter, she remembered her mother saying that she had entrusted a matchmaker to probe his intentions only to be flatly refused by Director Gu, and she felt quite bitter inside.

Recently, because of her sister-in-law, the family was always arguing; she was sick to death of the environment at her parents' home, and if she could get engaged early and marry right after graduation, that wouldn't be bad.

Gu Yu'an had a tall, straight figure and was quite handsome, and he was already the head of the Public Security Bureau at a young age.

Even though he had been a soldier, he was nothing like those rough, uncouth men; that cool, noble temperament of his would make people believe him even if he were a high-ranking official's son.

Moreover, according to reliable information her mother had gathered, the Gu family owned an independent Small Courtyard House; except for the Main Room, the rest was rented out, and the rent alone brought in over twenty yuan a month. If she could marry him, even if she didn't work after marriage, she could live quite comfortably.

The further she thought, the more determined Wang Lin became to win over Gu Yu'an.

"Grandma Xie, you have guests? Is there anything I can help with? I'm just idle anyway."

"Oh, it's Linlin. You're very kind, but there's nothing to do."

In the main room, the sound of Wang Lin and Grandma Xie chatting drifted vaguely into Xie Yang's ears.

She lowered her head to chop vegetables, when she suddenly heard Gu Yu'an say:

"Comrade Xie Yang, would you like to date? With marriage as the goal."

"???"

Under her puzzled gaze, Gu Yu'an wiped his hands dry, straightened his body, and gave a military salute, speaking with a resonant, forceful tone as if reporting to a superior:

"Gu Yu'an, male, 25 years old this new year, high school dropout, eight years of military service, retired and transferred to the municipal Public Security Bureau at the end of last year, currently receiving a Level 13 bureau-level salary of 175 yuan per month, with allowances and bonuses calculated separately. I do not smoke or drink, have no bad habits, and guarantee loyalty to my partner and responsibility to my family after marriage. Comrade Xie Yang, are you willing to form a revolutionary family with me, to help one another and progress together?"

"..."