Chapter 26: Director Wang Plays Matchmaker

Director Wang left the Street Office and headed out.

"Director Wang, going out?" As soon as Director Wang stepped out of the Street Office gate, he ran into Yan Butgui.

"Old Yan, what brings you over?"

"I came to ask if there's any news about the Yagangchang recruitment; we already have someone starting work there, so I'm anxious." Yan Butgui found he couldn't get through to Li Qiang, so he decided to try his luck with Director Wang, thinking that as a Household Manager he hoped Director Wang would give him face.

"Someone in your compound started work? Who is it?" Director Wang couldn't immediately recall who in Compound 95 could go work at Yagangchang, though she was quite familiar with the situation in her jurisdiction.

"Li Bin's sister-in-law and his wife's niece, Yagangchang even allocated them housing," Yan Butgui said.

"Oh, you mean Yang Jie and Yang Yang?" Director Wang then recalled them; after all, they weren't originally residents of her jurisdiction, so it's no wonder she didn't think of them right away, and their household registration was later handled by the Street Office.

"Exactly them. I heard it was Li Bin's younger brother Li Qiang who got them into Yagangchang. Director Wang, Li Qiang is the head of Yagangchang's Security Section, while I'm just an ordinary citizen without his pull, so I came to the Street Office to ask you about the situation," Yan Butgui said with a wry smile.

"Right, how could I have forgotten him?" Upon hearing Yan Butgui mention Li Qiang, Director Wang immediately recalled him, thinking, isn't there a suitable candidate right in my jurisdiction?

"Who did you forget?" Yan Butgui thought Director Wang was speaking to him.

"Nothing, Old Yan. Our Street Office only handles recruitment registration; the actual hiring is up to Yagangchang, so you can only go back and wait for notice." Director Wang now had no mind to bother with his trivial matter.

"Oh, then there's no other way?"

"You'll have to work something out with Yagangchang; our Street Office can't help. By the way, Old Yan, does Li Qiang in your compound have a romantic partner?"

"It seems not; I've never heard he has one." Yan Butgui looked curiously at Director Wang, "I didn't come to you for this."

"All right, thanks, Old Yan. Go back and wait for notice." After saying that, Director Wang turned and walked back to the Street Office.

Back at the Street Office, Director Wang retrieved Li Qiang's registered personal information; the more she looked, the more satisfied she became—wasn't this a match made in heaven?

That evening Director Wang went to Li Bin's home.

"Director Wang, why did you come? Please come in quickly," Li Bin warmly ushered Director Wang inside.

"Li Bin, Li Qiang, don't stand on ceremony; I'm just dropping by casually," Director Wang said politely.

"Director Wang, have you eaten? If not, let's grab something together," Li Qiang invited.

"No thanks, I've already eaten. You go ahead and eat. Li Qiang, how's work at Yagangchang going?"

"Pretty good, thanks for your concern, Director Wang."

"Li Qiang, do you have a romantic partner?" Director Wang suddenly asked.

"Not yet. Earlier my wife asked the matchmaker next door to set him up, but nothing suitable came up," Li Bin said with a smile.

"Li Bin, Li Qiang, actually I came today for Li Qiang's sake. I have an old superior whose younger sister-in-law is twenty and works at a hospital; today he asked me to find her a match. After thinking it over, I feel Li Qiang around here is the most suitable—I just don't know if he already has a partner, which is why I came to ask." Director Wang then revealed her purpose.

"Really, thank you, Director Wang. Xiao Qiang has no partner; our parents passed away early, and as his older brother I've been worried about this for him," Li Bin said.

"Her parents also passed away early, and she grew up with her sister. Your situations are similar. If you have no objections, I'll go talk to the old superior and arrange a time for you two to meet," Director Wang said with a smile.

"No objections, definitely none," Li Bin said before Li Qiang could speak.

"All right, you go ahead and eat; I'll head back now and let you know once the time is set."

"Fine."

Having settled the big matter on her mind, Director Wang's steps lightened and her mood improved.

The next day, as soon as she started work, Director Wang called Director Li.

"Little Wang, are you looking for me?" came Director Li's booming voice from the other end of the line.

"Senior Leader. I should have come in person to talk, but I'm really tied up here, so I can only call," Director Wang explained.

"Work is important; speaking over the phone is fine too," Director Li said, not minding those details.

"After you left yesterday I carefully reviewed everyone I know, and there really is someone suitable for your Zhou Rong—his name is Li Qiang, twenty-two, also a Korean War battlefield veteran who returned to civilian life; when he transferred out he held a regiment-level post, and now he's the head of the Security Section at Red Star Yagangchang. His family situation is similar to Zhou Rong's—parents died early, he grew up with his brother, and his brother and sister-in-law work at Yagangchang; his older brother Li Bin is a cook." Director Wang outlined Li Qiang's situation.

"Little Wang, I remember that Li Qiang you mentioned; I met him when he first returned from service, and I recall that the paperwork for his Yagangchang assignment was handled by you through my help." Director Li had a deep impression of Li Qiang—both share the Li surname and the fact they're former soldiers, and Li Qiang was already a regiment-level cadre at twenty-one when he returned. You have to know that back then, promotions in the army were based on solid combat achievements.

"Exactly, it's him."

"I think they're a good match too; I'll go home tonight and run it by my wife and younger sister-in-law, then let you know once we set a time," Director Li said with a smile.

"All right, I'll wait for your good news."

That evening, as soon as Director Li got home, he told his wife Zhou Fang all about Li Qiang's situation.

"I feel Li Qiang is also quite suitable for little Rong; I'll talk to you about it when she comes back." Zhou Fang had also worried a lot about Zhou Rong's marriage; people married young back then, and in the countryside many wed at sixteen or seventeen, so it's rare for someone like Zhou Rong and Li Qiang to reach this age without a partner.

"What do you want to tell me about?" Zhou Fang had just finished speaking when Zhou Rong walked in. To say Zhou Rong is indeed pretty—she's 165 cm tall, with big eyes and an oval face.

"Your brother-in-law had someone introduce you to a match; the man is two years older than you, a Korean War battlefield veteran who returned to civilian life last year, now working as head of Yagangchang's Security Section. His situation is similar to ours—parents died early, he grew up with his brother, and he secretly enlisted at sixteen." Zhou Fang conveyed Li Qiang's situation to Zhou Rong.

"Sis, do you really just want to marry me off?" Zhou Rong said with a laugh.

"You don't even look at your age—some of your vocational school classmates are already mothers."

"All right, I appreciate your kindness; you handle the arrangements," Zhou Rong said with a smile. In fact, after hearing Li Qiang's situation, Zhou Rong had already agreed in her heart; people of that era held special feelings for soldiers, so hearing that Li Qiang had secretly enlisted at sixteen only increased her admiration for his bravery.

"All right, then this Sunday I'll take you to the Red Star Street Office; you can meet there, and coincidentally I need to go see Little Wang to discuss some work matters," Director Li said.

"Brother-in-law, who goes on a blind date at the Street Office?" Zhou Rong protested coquettishly.

"What's the big deal? If you hit it off, you can go out to the park or catch a movie yourselves; nobody pays attention to blind dates at the Street Office, and even if it doesn't work out, no one will know," Zhou Fang interjected to smooth things over for Director Li.

"All right, you handle the arrangements."