The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Dingzi shot Li Zhi a glare. ’This guy refuses to be set up on a date himself, but look how smug he is watching me go.’

"Gu, I was supposed to go, but I have no idea what you young people like to eat or do for fun. I don’t feel right about Dingzi going alone—he’s not much of a talker. Could you go and keep an eye on him for me?"

Grandma Dingzi explained to Gu’er. Her grandson’s marriage was a major concern for her. She had wanted to go see the girl for herself, but the other party suggested letting the young people meet on their own, so it wasn’t appropriate for her to tag along. Still, she couldn’t help but worry, which was why she wanted Gu’er to go and size things up for her.

"Gu, if you’re free, you should go. Have Jiaming go with you."

Grandma Sun added.

"Sure, I don’t mind."

Gu’er nodded. In truth, she was also very curious to see how Dingzi would handle a blind date.

"I’m going too! I’m going too! I’ll help check her out. Dingzi is my brother. My brother is looking for a wife, so I have to help vet her. If she’s no good, it’s a no-go."

Li Zhi raised his hand, eager to go watch.

"If she’s no good, you can have her."

Dingzi glared at him.

"No way! If she’s not good enough for you, she’s not good enough for me."

Li Zhi shook his head repeatedly.

"Jiaming, Li Zhi, I’m telling you two, don’t dress up too nicely tomorrow. You’re already taller than my grandson, so you can’t steal his thunder. If the girl doesn’t pick my grandson because of you, just wait till you get back. I’ll give you a beating."

Grandma Dingzi said to Li Zhi and Sun Jiaming.

"Yes, yes, Grandma, don’t you worry. I’ll wear my clothes with patches tomorrow. I guarantee I won’t steal Dingzi’s spotlight. Otherwise, all I’d have to do is stand there, and she’d probably pick me instead."

Li Zhi grinned cheekily.

"You’re such a smart mouth."

Grandma Dingzi gave Li Zhi a light tap on the back of the head, the kind that didn’t hurt. Li Zhi didn’t get angry at all. Instead, he started winking and making faces at Dingzi, who pointedly ignored him.

Grandma Sun had a smile on her face. ’I thought I would live out the rest of my days in the village. I imagined when I died, only my grandson would be by my side, and I wouldn’t even know if my son and daughter-in-law would return. But now, I’m in the city. I have a dear old friend to chat with every day, and all my needs are taken care of. My health is much better than before. I have grandsons and a granddaughter-in-law to dote on me, and my son and his wife come back to visit too. Life is just so comfortable now. And all of this changed because of Gu’er.’

As Grandma Sun thought of this, her gaze on Gu’er softened even more. She had initially taken the girl in out of pity for her difficult life, never expecting that she would one day be the one reaping the rewards of that kindness.

After a bout of laughter and teasing, everyone went home to rest. The next day, when Grandma Dingzi arrived with Dingzi in tow, he was already all dressed up in a new set of clothes, his hair neatly combed. Yet, Gu’er couldn’t help but feel something was off. It was mainly the intense aura Dingzi exuded, an intensity that no amount of clothing could conceal.

"You need to take the initiative today. Talk to the girl. Don’t just stay silent. Ask her if she’s eaten. How old she is. What she does for a living. Make conversation with her, do you hear me?"

Grandma Dingzi instructed him, still worried.

Dingzi nodded to show he had heard.

Grandma Dingzi felt a little helpless and could only turn to Gu’er. "Gu, please keep a close eye on him."

"Of course, Grandma. Don’t you worry."

Gu’er agreed cheerfully.

The four of them left, got into the car, and Li Zhi drove to the designated restaurant.

As they were heading upstairs in the restaurant, Gu’er noticed Dingzi nearly run into a waiter. Luckily, he reacted quickly, or he would have crashed right into them. ’Dingzi isn’t usually this clumsy, is he? Is it possible he’s nervous?’

’But what’s there to be nervous about on a blind date?’ Gu’er watched Dingzi, a little puzzled.

It wasn’t peak mealtime, so the upstairs was empty. The four of them found a table and sat down.

A waiter poured them some tea, and after they ordered their food, they heard voices. Gu’er knew their party had arrived.

Two people came up the stairs: a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her forties, and a young woman of about twenty.

The middle-aged woman had pleasant features, but her eyes held a hint of appraisal as she looked them over.

The young woman was quite pretty and looked refined. Her skin was fair, and while her eyes weren’t large, they tilted up slightly at the corners, giving off the impression that she was a sharp person.

The two women were clearly taken aback to see four people waiting. Gu’er and the three men stood up, greeting them with a smile.

Once everyone was seated, they made their introductions. The young woman was named Qian Meiyu. She was twenty years old and an elementary school teacher. The woman with her was her aunt.

Qian Meiyu’s aunt asked some questions about Dingzi, all of which were answered by Li Zhi.

"The food will be a while. Why don’t we go sit over there and let these two talk for a bit?"

Qian Meiyu’s aunt directed her question to Gu’er and Li Zhi. ’This fellow Dingzi is so plain-looking,’ she thought, ’and he hasn’t said a single word since I walked in. He’s not a mute, is he? If he’s really a mute, I can’t let Meiyu marry him, no matter how well-off his family is. This Li Zhi, on the other hand, is quite handsome and a smooth talker. I could ask him a few things and see if there’s any potential there. My own eldest daughter still hasn’t found a suitable match... I need to ask about Li Zhi’s family’s financial situation. If they’re struggling, then forget it. I couldn’t bear to let my daughter suffer.’

Gu’er could see what the aunt was thinking. She probably wanted to give the two of them a chance to speak alone since Dingzi had been silent. The request wasn’t unreasonable.

"Alright. Let’s go sit over there and have some tea."

Gu’er nodded. Li Zhi and Sun Jiaming had no objections either, so the group moved to another table.

That left just Dingzi and Qian Meiyu at the table. Dingzi tensed up immediately. If one looked closely, they could see his hands clenched into tight fists beneath the table.

At the other table, Gu’er poured the tea. Qian Meiyu’s aunt struck up a conversation with Li Zhi and began inquiring about his personal circumstances. Li Zhi, not thinking much of it, answered her questions. Gu’er paid them no mind; her attention was fixed on Dingzi’s table.

Qian Meiyu kept her head slightly bowed, while Dingzi remained expressionless.

"Have... have you eaten?"

Dingzi asked. It was the first thing he’d said, and his tone was incredibly stiff.

"I have."

Qian Meiyu replied, glancing up at Dingzi for a moment before lowering her head again.

"How... how old are you?"

Dingzi asked another question.

"Twenty."

Qian Meiyu answered, blushing.

"What... what do you do for work?"

Dingzi continued.

Qian Meiyu looked up at Dingzi. At the other table, Gu’er wanted to bury her face in her hands. ’Oh, for heaven’s sake, just let a bolt of lightning strike me dead,’ she thought. ’The woman’s aunt already introduced her! Twenty years old, a teacher! But Dingzi is asking all over again. It’s not that he wasn’t listening; it’s because Grandma Dingzi ordered him not to be silent, to ask if she’s eaten, how old she is, and what she does for a living. Dingzi memorized it all and is now just asking woodenly, one question after the other. This is just too awkward.’