Chapter 383: Chapter 383: Meeting for a Blind Date
Yi Roujing looked at Ding Xingye, who firmly said he wouldn’t consider seeing his classmate Li Qibo’s sister. She knew he had misunderstood. "Xingye, I’m talking about Yujie, your classmate Shu Yuxiang’s sister."
Ding Xingye turned his head in disbelief to look at Yi Roujing, his steps unconsciously halting, "Sister-in-law, what do you mean?"
"I’m just asking if you have any thoughts, if you want to get to know her, with marriage as the premise." Yi Roujing made her words clear.
Ding Xingye’s face showed a hint of bitterness, "Sister-in-law, you know my family’s situation; Shu Yuxiang’s family conditions are good, I’ve heard from many classmates, it’s worlds apart from my family, the difference is huge, how could I dare to think about it."
"Fantasize?" Yi Roujing understood and a smile appeared in her eyes, "So you do have thoughts, just don’t dare."
Ding Xingye slightly lowered his head, smiling bitterly, "She was raised in a well-off family, marrying an ordinary man like me would be suffering. How could I open my mouth to her family like that, it would be both presumptuous and ill-intentioned."
"Yujie guessed correctly." Yi Roujing smiled as she explained, "She heard you talk about Song Yiluo and understood your thoughts, so she said she’d take the initiative, otherwise your relationship wouldn’t succeed."
Ding Xingye lifted his head, eyes full of disbelief. Was that the meaning he had heard?
"Xingye, I’m here today because Yujie requested it. She hopes I can connect you two, have a meal together, and see each other. Yujie has this thought, and her family knows about it. Yesterday, after we watched a movie, her brother and sister asked us about you and the Dingping Production Team captain."
Ding Xingye felt a bit at a loss after hearing this, asking in disbelief, "Really, really?"
"Yes, yesterday you didn’t meet anyone, and Yujie didn’t want to see the person her second brother intended to introduce, so you two are quite fated." Yi Roujing said with a smile.
Ding Xingye visibly became joyful, his hands and feet momentarily restless, with a silly grin occasionally appearing on his lips, "Really, really?"
"You can talk about the specifics when you meet. Go to their house for dinner in the evening." Yi Roujing said with a smile, not forgetting to give some advice, "Sometimes men need to be a bit more proactive."
"Sister-in-law, please ask if we can meet on Saturday noon for lunch, how about it?" Ding Xingye mustered his courage to say to Yi Roujing.
"Okay, I’ll make sure to pass the message properly."
In Beiluo Lane, Li Hongying heard Xu Ancheng say earlier that Ding Xingye was coming to their house for dinner, so she happily prepared a lot of dishes, frying meatballs, both pure meat and carrot ones, big bone stewed with potatoes, tofu stir-fried with water bamboo, garlic-flavored hollow heart vegetable, tomato and scrambled eggs, minced meat with eggplant, then she steamed white rice.
Li Hongying served meatballs, scooped soup, and put tomato scrambled eggs into Ding Xingye’s bowl.
"Thank you, Auntie." Ding Xingye felt the warmth of home, "Auntie’s cooking is the best I’ve ever had."
"If you like it, eat more. Xingye, you should come by often. When we were at the Dingping Production Team, we received a lot of care from the captain, and you’ve grown up watched by me like my own child." Li Hongying said with a smile.
"Yes, Auntie, I know." Ding Xingye nodded.
On May 27th, a Saturday, with a light rain falling from the sky, however, the dreary weather couldn’t stop people’s enthusiasm. Xu Ancheng and Yi Roujing were dressed up early, dropping Baozi off at Beiluo Lane, before heading to the Jing City restaurant.
When they arrived, Ding Xingye was already there, standing at the restaurant entrance. Seeing the two approaching with an umbrella, he quickly smiled, waved, and went forward to greet them, "Brother Ancheng, Sister-in-law."
Today, Ding Xingye was dressed in a white shirt, with an army green V-neck sweater vest over it, black synthetic-fiber trousers below, and black leather shoes on his feet. His hair looked like it was washed the night before, his beard was shaved, his face was very clean, and his cheeks were slightly red — he looked the part of someone ready for a date.
"Roujing—" As the three chatted, suddenly, an excited voice called from not far away. Ding Xingye was the first to turn his head. Dressed in a red sweater and army green work pants, Shu Yujie bounced over exuberantly, and Ding Xingye was entranced.
A fair, egg-shaped face, with a pair of bright almond eyes smiling like crescent moons, a small mouth opened slightly to reveal neat white teeth. Watching her made Ding Xingye blush, turning his head shyly, but his peripheral gaze still darted towards Shu Yujie.
Shu Yuxiang glanced up and down at Ding Xingye, slightly picky. He looked better groomed than he did at school and at least more presentable than he did last week at the cinema, obviously valuing today’s meeting. Hmph, sensible of him.
"Brother Yuxiang." Ding Xingye greeted Shu Yuxiang with a smile.
Shu Yuxiang paused at being called ’brother’, thinking, Oh, he’s quick to climb the ladder.
"Let’s go inside." Ding Xingye had specifically reserved a private room on the second floor, as it was a private matter to see each other. The Shu Family was reputable.
A group of five sat in the small private room, and before long the dishes were served. Ding Xingye used up all his saved money and tickets to put together such a sumptuous meal.
Slices of braised beef, red-cooked pork, sour cabbage with vermicelli, fish soup with tofu, steamed fish, garlic-flavored lettuce, cucumber with scrambled eggs, braised eggplant with potatoes — a plentiful eight hard dishes, with white rice and meat buns as the main course.
Shu Yuxiang looked at the dishes, showing slight satisfaction on his face.
After eating contently, Shu Yuxiang finally spoke up, "Xingye, are you planning to stay in Jing City in the future or go back home?"
Ding Xingye didn’t immediately answer but sorted his thoughts before speaking his mind, "I want to stay in Jing City. Big cities have better opportunities; this has been my plan all along, and it’s even more so now."
After saying this, Ding Xingye glanced at Shu Yujie, then blushed and shifted his gaze, causing Shu Yujie to cover her mouth and giggle — what a fool.
"Won’t your family oppose it?" Shu Yuxiang continued to ask.
"My parents are sensible people. Of course, being filial will not be lacking. After I work, I plan to send them some money for their retirement monthly or quarterly or semi-annually. Though they might not need it, the sentiment cannot be lacking, especially since I won’t often be by their side."
"I think what you said is very good." Shu Yujie responded with a smile, being practical and knowing how to be filial to parents — that’s someone who cares for the family.
"That’s something for the future, are you so sure your parents will agree?"
"I’m not the only son in the family. My eldest and second brothers are with my parents. They are not the kind of people who want to tie their children all to their sides. Of course, during New Years or festivals, I will visit them if possible."
"Of course, if I become successful in the future, I will also consider bringing them to Jing City." Ding Xingye said with a smile.
