Jiang Yuning instinctively glanced outside, afraid someone might notice the money and steal it. She quickly shut the door and pushed the stack back toward him.

“There’s no need, Dad. Hurry and hide it properly in case someone steals it.”

But Xiao Fangdong insisted,

“What do you mean there’s no need? It’ll all be yours sooner or later. I don’t care whether you can have children or not. My second son’s boys all turned out with problems anyway, so I’ll just pretend Liye has the same issue. Honestly, not having kids might even be better.”

Unable to argue him down, Jiang Yuning changed tactics.

“How about this, Dad? I’ll just take one bill and a few ration coupons for now. If I run out buying groceries tomorrow, I’ll ask you for more, okay? You can just think of it as helping me keep the rest safe.”

“Fine.”

Xiao Fangdong immediately agreed. Afraid one bill wouldn’t be enough, he stuffed two ten-yuan notes into her hand along with a thick stack of coupons without even checking what they were for.

Jiang Yuning figured that since the money was being spent on household needs, it didn’t count as pocketing it for herself, so she didn’t refuse.

The next morning, she got up early and headed into the county town.

She first went to the supply cooperative and used the money and coupons to buy a seven-pound pork trotter, some ribs, and a large bag of apples.

Tomorrow was the day she was supposed to return to her parents’ home after marriage, so she figured she could think about making money after that. There was no rush for another day or two.

Her hands were already full, but she still wanted to buy some White Rabbit candies for Li Chunyan’s children to thank her for helping clean the kitchen.

Just as she was awkwardly shifting things from one hand to the other while taking the candy, the apples suddenly spilled all over the floor.

Several impatient shoppers immediately started complaining.

“What’s wrong with you? You can’t even carry your things properly.”

“Exactly. If those fruits get bruised, your husband’s going to scold you to death when you get home.”

“If you’re that clumsy, stay home instead of getting in everyone else’s way.”

Jiang Yuning crouched to pick up the apples. Before she could respond, a warm male voice spoke up.

“People make mistakes. If someone never made mistakes, they wouldn’t even be human anymore. Why gang up on a young woman over something so small?”

The crowd instantly quieted.

Jiang Yuning looked up and saw a man with fairly handsome features.

Though he didn’t look very old, he carried a mature steadiness beyond his years.

Noticing he’d already picked up the remaining apples for her, she stood and politely said,

“Thank you.”

At that moment, Su Ni also looked up properly at her face.

The moment he saw her clearly, his pupils subtly widened.

Then, as though recalling something, he found it faintly amusing instead. Smiling gently, he said,

“It’s nothing. I’ll help you put the apples back into the net bag. Just be careful not to drop them again.

Most people shopping at this hour are probably rushing after work, so don’t take their words too seriously.”

“If I got upset every time someone said things like that, I probably wouldn’t survive very long,” Jiang Yuning replied with a small smile.

Then she added,

“But so many of these apples got bruised after falling. They probably won’t keep for long. Why don’t you take a few home to eat?”

Su Ni firmly stuffed the apples back into her bag.

“You bought these with hard-earned money. I only helped pick them up—there’s really no need to be polite.”

Since she was already carrying so many heavy things, Jiang Yuning didn’t insist further. After thanking him again with a nod, she left.

Su Ni watched her retreating figure silently until she completely disappeared before returning to the line to continue shopping.

Meanwhile, Xiao Liye had just come over to buy a pack of cigarettes when he spotted him.

His footsteps halted, and as though realizing something, his expression shifted slightly.

At that moment, Jiang Ping hurried over to report,

“Boss, it’s all arranged. Three men for today.

At noon there’s a thirty-year-old widower with two sons—his wife’s been dead for three or four years, and he’s a shoe factory director.

At one o’clock there’s a twenty-eight-year-old state-owned factory director.

And at two, there’s a divorced guy with a son whose parents are rich.”

“Push them all back by half an hour. I’m putting this one in first.”

After saying that, leaving Jiang Ping utterly confused, Xiao Liye walked toward Su Ni.

“What a coincidence, Boss Su. Fancy seeing you here.”

Su Ni turned around, surprised for a moment when he saw Xiao Liye.

“Yeah. How does Boss Xiao have time to come all the way here?”

Xiao Liye replied casually,

“I just happened to run out of cigarettes nearby, so I stopped by for a pack. Are you free for lunch? I’d like to treat you.”

Su Ni found it odd. Xiao Liye had never been this enthusiastic before.

Smiling, he teased,

“Looks like I must’ve gotten lucky today to end up eating with Boss Xiao.”

“Well, actually… here’s the thing.”

Xiao Liye was eager to get Jiang Yuning settled elsewhere, but worried the truth would scare Su Ni off, so he deliberately sweetened the situation.

“…I have a cousin. Her father once saved my dad’s life and was badly injured because of it, so my father decided to grant any request concerning her.

Her situation is this: she’s widowed and can’t have children anymore. But she’s young, and absolutely flawless in appearance.”

Coincidentally, Su Ni’s own wife had died during childbirth, leaving behind a two-year-old son.

He already had no intention of having more children.

At that moment, he actually felt the match sounded somewhat suitable.

Besides, no matter how problematic the woman might be, establishing ties with someone like Xiao Liye would still be worthwhile.

So he agreed immediately.

“If Boss Xiao personally recommends her, then she must be wonderful.

Let’s just meet at the state-owned restaurant.

And if I’m the one going on a blind date, how could I possibly let Boss Xiao pay? Just bring her over then.

If she’s willing to consider me, that’d be my honor. If she isn’t interested, then I’ll just treat you both to a meal.”

Xiao Liye immediately felt the matter was practically settled.

Unless Jiang Yuning deliberately tried to sabotage things and stir up trouble—which he fully intended not to indulge.

A cold glint flashed through his eyes.

“Easy enough, easy enough. I’ll go get her now.”

Su Ni also walked outside, but then happened to notice a lone apple sitting in the corner.

He paused.

Afraid something might suddenly derail the plan, Xiao Liye became tense too.

“What’s wrong?”

Su Ni hesitated for only two seconds before bending down to pick up the red apple and carrying it with him as he walked out.

His tone carried hidden meaning.

“Even if it probably can’t be returned anymore, it’d still be a waste to leave it there.”

Xiao Liye didn’t think much of it.

After separating from Su Ni at the restaurant, he headed straight back to the village.

Just then, he happened to run into Jiang Yuning arriving home as well.

Immediately, he said,

“Don’t bother cooking lunch today. Come into town with me.”

Jiang Yuning set down her things and turned toward him in confusion.

“I just came back from there. What is it?”

For some reason, just thinking about what he was about to say made Xiao Liye feel strangely stifled.

Leaning against the doorframe, he pulled out his last cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

Only after the harsh nicotine dulled that uncomfortable feeling in his chest did he finally say,

“I found someone for you to meet. See if he’s suitable.

I’m not expecting you to agree to leave today, but during these six months, I’ll keep introducing men until you finally pick one you’re satisfied with.”

Jiang Yuning’s eyes instantly reddened uncontrollably.

Those words felt no different from directly driving her out—it was humiliating.

She secretly inhaled deeply, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over.

But the tears still fell anyway.

Seeing that scene, Xiao Liye unexpectedly felt uncomfortable himself.

He deliberately turned his gaze away, pretending not to notice.

Jiang Yuning’s throat tightened as she tried hard to hide the tremor in her voice.

“Then… let me get ready first.

And thank you. With your connections, I’m sure the men you introduce must all be excellent.

If I meet someone suitable, I’ll agree.”

After speaking, she didn’t dare linger another second and practically fled into the room.

Once the door shut, she finally suppressed her sobs and quietly cried twice under her breath.

She never should’ve ended up this humiliated.

Growing up, if everyone hadn’t known she already had a child fiancé, there would’ve been countless outstanding boys pursuing her.

Yet now she’d become someone everyone avoided and disliked.

After a few moments to calm herself, she didn’t want Xiao Liye thinking she was intentionally dragging things out just to avoid the blind date and continue clinging to him.

So she lightly applied makeup and changed into a fitted red knit top paired with flared pants.

Outside, after resolving himself to stay away from Jiang Yuning, Xiao Liye gradually grew impatient waiting.

The more he thought about how readily she’d agreed, combined with how long she was taking inside, the more convinced he became that she was probably dressing herself up like a middle-aged auntie on purpose to sabotage the blind date.

Darkness clouded his brows.

Then—

Creak.

The door opened.

He lifted his eyes and froze.

Jiang Yuning stood there wearing a thin red knit sweater that perfectly accentuated her figure, along with flared pants.

Her skin was already naturally pale, and the soft makeup on her strikingly beautiful face only made her look even more dazzling.

Her long hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders.

She looked like the kind of breathtaking beauty described in storybooks with endless lavish descriptions attached to them—almost unreal.

And though the only skin she exposed was a bit of collarbone, there was still something undeniably sensual about her.

Xiao Liye stared for a long time before finally concluding that it was because she had a full chest, narrow waist, and curvy hips.

But despite the fact that everything was progressing exactly the way he’d wanted, an inexplicable wave of irritation suddenly surged inside him.

Seeing him silently staring at her in a daze, Jiang Yuning certainly didn’t dare assume he liked her—not after he’d literally arranged a blind date for her.

Softly, she asked,

“Can we go now?”

Xiao Liye instantly felt even more irritated.

“What are you rushing for? Look how eager you are.”