Chapter 100

Zhuang Yan slept until the next morning before waking, rubbed his temples, and got up with difficulty.

"Awake?" Sun Hui saw her son get up and asked concernedly.

"Mm, the aftereffects of that drink are too strong; my head still hurts," Zhuang Yan said painfully.

"Who let you drink so much? Drink less from now on, don't become a drunkard while you're still young."

"I know, Mom," Zhuang Yan said somewhat helplessly.

"By the way, since you've already discussed it, you're going to propose on Sunday—have you decided who to ask to be the matchmaker? Although you and Yushui got together on your own, the ancient rule of parental command and matchmaker's word still must be observed," Sun Hui asked Zhuang Yan.

"Mom, do you know the Director Wang of their subdistrict office? Yushui said Director Wang is quite familiar with their family," Zhuang Yan asked Sun Hui, as he really couldn't think of who to ask to be the matchmaker.

"Don't know," Sun Hui said after thinking; after all, their family doesn't belong to the same subdistrict office as Yushui's, so not knowing Director Wang is normal.

"Is that Director Wang you mentioned formerly a subordinate of Old Li?" Zhuang Zheng asked Zhuang Yan.

"How would I know? I really don't understand the people and affairs of your older generation," Zhuang Yan said, rolling his eyes.

"No problem, I'll call Old Li and find out," Zhuang Zheng said with a smile; although he wasn't a high-ranking cadre in the army, he still had a telephone at home due to his work.

"Hello, is that Old Brother Li? I'm Zhuang Zheng," Zhuang Zheng, being a military man, spoke and acted directly, picking up the phone and dialing.

"It's you, kid; what made you think to call me?" Chief Li's voice came from the phone; Chief Li had served in the same division as Zhuang Zheng, and although Chief Li was a few years older, they were both officers in that division, knew each other, and got along very well.

"I have something I'd like to ask you about, Old Brother," Zhuang Zheng said with a smile.

"What matter requires a big section chief like you to personally inquire about?" Chief Li joked; Zhuang Zheng currently holds the rank of training section chief at the military district, which should be equivalent to regiment level, and during his army service he was one rank below Chief Li.

"Alright, old brother, stop teasing me—was the Director Wang of the Hongxing Subdistrict Office formerly your subordinate?" Zhuang Zheng knew this wasn't a joking matter; getting down to business was important.

"You mean Xiao Wang? She indeed worked under me for several years. What's wrong—why are you inquiring about her? If she offended you, don't hold a grudge; she's still very capable at work, though her flaw is being too principled and unwilling to compromise on some matters. If she offended you, for old brother's sake, let it go," Chief Li assumed Director Wang had offended Zhuang Zheng and began speaking up for her.

"Old brother, you've got the wrong idea; I just want to ask her for a favor," Zhuang Zheng said with a smile.

"Oh, I thought she had offended you and you came to me to settle scores—what favor do you need? Just tell me," Chief Li asked with a laugh; as long as it wasn't to settle scores, it was fine, and he also genuinely wanted to know how a military man like Zhuang Zheng would seek help from a local official—don't assume gossip is a woman's nature; sometimes men gossip just as much.

"It's like this: my son has found a partner, and they're planning to marry. The ancients said parental command and matchmaker's word; although he and Yushui got together on their own, by old custom we still need a matchmaker. I heard Director Wang gets along well with their family, so I thought of asking her to help," Zhuang Zheng said with a smile.

"Tsk, I thought it was something big; this is a small matter, and a good one too. By the way, where does your son's intended live, and what's her name?" Chief Li asked.

"Number 95 Nanluoguxiang Siheyuan, called He Yushui," Zhuang Zheng said.

"Who did you say?" Chief Li's voice rose a few decibels.

"He Yushui, what's wrong, old brother?" Zhuang Zheng asked curiously.

"Did you know Yushui has taken a dry relative?" Chief Li asked Zhuang Zheng.

"My son told me her older brother seems to be the security section chief at the Hongxing Steel Plant," Zhuang Zheng said, not understanding why Chief Li asked that.

"Haha, it's truly a flood washing the Dragon King Temple," Chief Li's hearty laugh came from the other end of the phone.

"Old brother, you've really confused me—what's going on exactly?" Zhuang Zheng really felt a bit puzzled by Chief Li.

"To be frank, the dry relative Yushui took is my younger aunt's family; her older brother is called Li Qiang, and he's my brother-in-law," Chief Li said with a laugh.

"Really?" Zhuang Zheng also didn't expect the world to be so small.

"Truer than true gold; how about this—let's not have Xiao Wang be the matchmaker; I'll be the matchmaker myself," Chief Li said with a laugh.

"That's great; having you as an old brother makes me more relieved," Zhuang Zheng truly didn't expect such a coincidence.

"Alright, let me know when you go to propose."

"This Sunday."

"Okay, no problem," Chief Li readily agreed.

"Dad, who are you calling?" Zhuang Yan only heard his father speaking and didn't know who was on the other end of the phone.

"An old comrade-in-arms, now a bureau chief at the public security division—by the way, is Yushui's older brother named Li Qiang?" Zhuang Zheng again asked his son for confirmation.

"Yeah, what's up?" Zhuang Yan looked at his old father with a question.

"What a coincidence—Li Qiang is brother-in-law to my old comrade; we don't need to bother Director Wang, we can just have him be the matchmaker," Zhuang Zheng said with a smile.

"Old Zhuang, are you saying Li Qiang is brother-in-law to Old Li?" Sun Hui came over and asked in surprise.

"Isn't that so? Old Li himself just told me," Zhuang Zheng said with a smile.

"Now it's settled—after going around, we've become relatives with Old Li," Sun Hui said with a laugh.

"Indeed, we got along well in the army, and now we're both back in Beiping; although we seldom meet, that feeling remains," Zhuang Zheng said sentimentally.

"Yes, after all the twists and turns you've become relatives," Sun Hui said with a laugh; although the relation is a bit roundabout, it's still not that distant.

"Ah, the world really is small," Zhuang Zheng sighed again.

"It shows you and Old Li have deep affinity," Sun Hui said with a laugh.

"Dad, is the Old Li you're talking about the Li elder from the bureau?" Zhuang Yan now realized as well.

"If not him, who else could it be?" Zhuang Zheng said with a smile.

"That's great; I'll go tell Yushui this good news right now," Zhuang Yan said and then started to run out.

"Alright, eat first, then tidy up and go," Sun Hui grabbed Zhuang Yan, who was about to dash out.

"In all this excitement I forgot," Zhuang Yan said, scratching his head.

"You're already this old, about to get married, and you still act so clumsily," Zhuang Zheng said reproachfully.

"It's not up to you," Sun Hui immediately spoke up for Zhuang Yan.

"Fine, just indulge him," although Zhuang Zheng appears robust outside, at home he really is a bit afraid of his wife.