Chapter 359: Matchmaking, I

After Lu Ying returned, Lu Cheng went to Xi Er Fang, stuck a postage stamp on it, then tossed it to his sister.

Lu Ying complained, "What are you two talking about? This letter you just mailed, you already wrote it, saying you wasted a stamp—it's not a loss at all, how irritating."

Lu Cheng said nothing; he had no intention of telling his sister.

Anyway, Wu Zhekun didn't discuss this with his sister; they usually only talk about Ning Ning.

From the previous duel arranged at Shichahai, Lu Cheng learned that Wu Zhekun, though reckless and daring, is actually quite timid about matters between men and women.

As for Wu Zhekun's liking his sister, Lu Cheng considered it a fleeting impulse that would naturally fade with time.

"Sis, have you ever been in contact with Qing Yan?"

Lu Ying folded the letter paper and glanced, "Why bring up Qing Yan?"

"I… just asked casually."

Lu Ying felt it wasn't that simple, but her brother was now concealing his thoughts, unlike before when everything was written on his face.

"Why bring this up now when everything's fine?"

"I already said it's casual; I'm just on this trip to Shencheng for the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and met Uncle Lin."

"Oh, I haven't been in touch with Qing Yan, what's up?"

Lu Cheng leaned back against the desk, at a loss for words, feeling an uneasy sensation inside.

In short, the feeling was restless and insecure.

Lu Cheng unconsciously took out a cigarette; Lu Ying glanced sideways, "Don't smoke in my room, it smells terrible."

Lu Cheng had to put the cigarette away, "Sis, do you think anything might happen to the Lin Family?"

Lu Ying was unconcerned, "What could happen? Uncle Lin has returned to work, the historical issue is resolved, no one would bother him."

Lu Cheng had thought the same before; Lu Ying added, "If you're uneasy, you can directly contact Qing Yan; after all, you can be friends."

Lu Cheng shook his head, deciding against it; his mother's flattering approach would only make both sides awkward.

Lin Qingyan should have her own life, and he should have his own life as well.

Seeing her brother still lingering in the room, Lu Ying curiously asked, "You… suddenly asked about Qing Yan today, can't let her go?"

Lu Cheng, not wanting his thoughts read, feigned nonchalance, "Who can't let go? It's just a woman. I'll talk to Mom later; from today I'll start matchmaking! Ten of them!"

Hearing her brother's spirited proclamation, Lu Ying pursed her lips, "You just got divorced, can you hold off on matchmaking? Otherwise Mom will definitely bring me along."

"Mom, Mom…"

"Hey, what are you shouting for, day after day, the meal isn't even ready!"

"Mom, my sister won't let me go on blind dates; she says I should stay single, let the Lu Family end, she wants to remain an old maid at home, still won't let me marry…"

Lu Ying, angry, slapped her brother, "When did I ever say that? Stop spouting nonsense, you're annoying, get out, get out, get out!"

Chen Xianglan, on the contrary, was thrilled, muttering to herself that it was rare for the two stubborn donkeys at home to finally have one loosen up.

After dinner, having tidied the house, even though it was dark, Chen Xianglan dressed neatly and prepared to run to the neighboring Hu Tong.

Lu Cheng was squatting over the sink brushing his teeth, "Mom, it's so late, where are you going?"

"I'm going to find Hu Grandma to arrange one for you."

"Mom, no need to rush, I…"

Chen Xianglan interrupted, "How can you not be urgent? First have Hu Grandma keep an eye out; this kind of thing must be proactive, you can still pick, maybe you'll meet a good girl."

Lu Cheng opened his mouth; he had said it offhand, not intending to marry, and his mother was too eager.

But once spoken, the words can't be taken back; otherwise Mom would lose her temper on the spot.

"Then, you come back early; if Hu Grandma doesn't have a suitable one, never mind." Lu Cheng could only say that.

Chen Xianglan thought her son just felt insecure after his divorce, lacking confidence.

"Hey, I know, don't worry, with my son's criteria you can't not find a wife; this time Mom will personally screen for you."

Watching his mother rush out the door, Lu Cheng felt a bit helpless.

He wasn't planning to marry, or didn't want to marry so early; at least like his sister, either not look for anyone or only someone he truly liked.

But the older generation couldn't understand; Chen Xianglan's whole focus now was to quickly find a wife for her son, to avoid gossip.

However, Hu Grandma currently didn't have any good candidates; there were two unsuitable ones, and Chen Xianglan wasn't satisfied.

Don't think she'd give up; this middle‑aged woman once nicknamed "Iron Girl" only grew more determined.

She almost mobilized everyone she knew; Hu Grandma kept watch, textile‑factory workers were queried, even Lu Beitang was pressured to ask fellow workers at the plant whose families had marriage‑age girls.

Arranging blind dates for her son became the Lu Family's top priority.

Every time a date ended, seeing his sister's smug look, Lu Cheng regretted his hasty claim to go matchmaking.

Thus, until the end of October, the whole country was immersed in the good news of the college‑entrance exam's restoration.

All young people, including the Knowledgeable Youth sent to the countryside, cheered as if they'd seen hope.

Lu Cheng also had good news to celebrate: his number of blind dates successfully reached ten.

Chen Xianglan felt something was off; these girls were personally screened by her and she was very satisfied, yet her son rejected them all.

"San'er, what exactly are you looking for?"

Lu Cheng gave his oft‑repeated line, "Mom, I want someone like you—gentle, virtuous, good at household, beautiful and generous; no wonder my dad is so blessed…"

"Stop it, don't fool me; you always say that, I think you're deliberately not wanting to look."

At first, Chen Xianglan could be placated by her son's words.

She thought her son truly wanted a good girl like her, so she changed strategy and started looking for girls like her.

Indeed, although such a good girl is hard to find, the son's demand is a bit too high.

But if you pay close attention, among ten thousand people you can still find one.

Among them, two were, in Chen Xianglan's eyes, just like herself—gentle, virtuous, good at household, beautiful and generous—but the son still said he felt nothing.

That's just being deliberately aggravating!

Wait until tomorrow; I'll introduce you to someone else. This time it's the director's younger sister‑in‑law. The director and I get along very well—we're practically sisters—so she feels comfortable and is willing to be introduced. Meet her tomorrow and have a good chat with her.

Lu Cheng scratched his head a little: "Mom, this isn't appropriate, is it?"

"Why wouldn't it be appropriate? The conditions are great—this girl is currently an accountant in the Factory Area, she's only twenty this year and still needs to take the university entrance exam."

"I think it's a generation gap."

"What do you mean by a generation gap?"

"Think about it—what does the sister‑in‑law call that director?"

"Of course she calls her 'sister‑in‑law.'"

"If you and the director are like sisters, what should you call each other?"

"Call me? You have to call me 'big sister.'"

Lu Cheng clapped his hands: "That's exactly right. So if that sister‑in‑law marries me, what should she call you? And what should you call that sister‑in‑law? Think about it, think carefully."

Chen Xianglan was a bit stunned and muttered: "If she marries into the family, she should call me 'mother‑in‑law.' She calls the director 'sister‑in‑law,' so I should call the director… *huff* seems like it's a generation gap, huh."

Chen Xianglan was still counting on her fingers, muttering, when Wu Guiwen suddenly showed up at the door; he has something to announce, about his daughter.