Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 774 What’s supposed to come has come.

A few days later, it was the weekend again.

This day was destined to be an unpleasant one for Li Kailang.

Matchmaker Wang came by last night.

One sentence: "The young lady will be here first thing tomorrow morning, so you'd better dress smartly!"

This morning, Li Kailang had to get up early to get ready.

Almost at the exact moment, Wang the matchmaker's distinctive, loud laughter pierced the tranquility of the courtyard: "Oh my! Little Li! Open the door! Great news is here!"

The commotion sounded just like someone was announcing good news with gongs and drums.

Li Kailang took a deep breath, feeling like an actor about to be dragged onto the stage.

He opened the door, and Wang the Matchmaker's enthusiastic, seemingly cheerful face was right in front of him.

Half a step behind her was a girl wearing a floral blouse and with two shiny black braids.

The girl was well-proportioned, about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a healthy blush on her cheeks, not from the sun, but from nervousness and shyness.

Her eyes darted timidly across Li Kailang's face before she quickly lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the faded hem of her clothes, even her ears turning pink.

She appears to be a decent, honest, and even somewhat introverted girl.

"Come on in! What are you doing standing outside!"

The matchmaker, Wang, acted like the hostess, pushing the girl through the door without a word and squeezing in herself.

He also closed the door behind him, shutting out the curious stares from outside.

The girl, whose nickname was Cuifen, was immediately drawn to Li Kailang's home as soon as she entered.

The house was bright and clean, with the tables and chairs spotless, and the bookshelves were filled with neatly arranged professional books.

The room was far better than she had imagined for bachelor dormitories; it was clean and tidy.

A person who can keep their house so neat and tidy must be an extremely reliable and meticulous person.

The sense of distance that Cuifen felt due to nervousness and unfamiliarity was instantly diluted by this pleasant living environment.

I was already in awe and a bit of goodwill when I heard that the other party was a college student and a technician.

Now that I've seen this place in person, my impression of it has quietly improved, reaching five points.

Her fingers, which were twisting the hem of her clothes, loosened slightly, but she still didn't dare to look up.

What sharp eyes Wang the matchmaker had!
She immediately noticed the sparkle in Cuifen's eyes and the relaxation in her shoulders.

'It's done! It's working!' She was overjoyed inside, but kept a straight face.

Matchmaker Wang went all out in endorsing her: "Xiao Juan is a registered advanced producer at the textile factory! She's incredibly efficient, and the quality of her weaving is top-notch!"

"He has a good temperament, his parents are honest and hardworking workers, and his brother works at the supply and marketing cooperative. He has impeccable family background and is completely innocent!"

The central idea is clear: hardworking, with a simple family life, they are the perfect candidates for "living a simple life".

Li Kailang maintained basic politeness, gesturing for them to sit down and pouring them water.

He followed up on what the matchmaker had said and asked about the hardships of working in the textile factory.

When familiar territory was mentioned, Chen Juan's nervousness eased somewhat, her eyes lit up, and she began to talk at length about the tricks of stopping the machine, controlling the speed of the treadmill, and handling broken wires efficiently.
His words carried the honesty and pride unique to workers.

Seeing that the two were chatting quite enthusiastically, Wang the matchmaker naturally understood that she needed to give the two young people some space to be alone and let them "cultivate their feelings" on their own.

"Oh dear, look at my memory!" Matchmaker Wang slapped her thigh, her acting exaggerated.

"The kettle's still sitting on the stove! We can't let it boil dry! You young people should chat more and get to know each other better! Aunt Wang will be right back!"

"Cuifen, don't be shy, Comrade Li is the most amiable person! Auntie will go first, I'll come back later!"

As she spoke, she hurriedly retreated towards the door, giving Li Kailang a knowing look before leaving, and then slammed the door shut.

But in reality, Wang the matchmaker didn't go far at all. She stopped at the entrance of the hanging flower gate and kept a close eye on Li Kailang's family.

Fortunately, the girl was already engrossed in the conversation, so her departure didn't disrupt the atmosphere in the room.

When the conversation shifted away from the textile factory, Cuifen became a little hesitant.

After some discussion, Li Kailang realized that this girl was a typical, simple, and honest good girl, probably very hardworking and good at managing a household.

However, the other person's interests, ideas, and even way of thinking are very different from mine.

There is a lack of the most basic common ground between the two.

They barely managed to hold on for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, but their "conversation" was almost entirely devoid of anything to say.

But Li Kailang wouldn't let the conversation fall flat, lest it become awkward, and instead steered the conversation back to areas she was familiar with.

At this time, not only was Matchmaker Wang paying attention, but many neighbors in the courtyard were also "secretly observing" by peeking through the cracks in the door.

Li Kailang's marriage has become the top gossip topic and a "strategic resource battle" in the courtyard in the past two weeks.

For the past two weeks, everyone has been looking for a partner among their relatives and friends, wanting to express their gratitude.

Among them, the most important were Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong.

Yan Bugui had moved a small stool to his doorstep early in the morning and was sitting there with a newspaper in his hand, but his eyes kept glancing at Li Kailang's house.

Watching Wang the matchmaker lead her people in and out again, he snorted and muttered to the three old women picking vegetables nearby:
"Look at that girl, she seems like a decent person, but she's not quite right for Xiao Li. Xiao Li is a college student, he has a bright future ahead of him!"

"This girl looks like a country girl. We can't even talk to each other. She's not good enough for me."

Liu Haizhong and the second aunt were also watching.

"Old Liu, did you see that? The girl that Old Wang's wife brought in, judging by her clothes, she's from the countryside, right?" Second Aunt lowered her voice, her tone clearly disdainful.

"I think so too. What was that matchmaker Wang thinking? What kind of person is Li Kailang? How could she choose a country girl? Isn't that just a hindrance?"

Auntie Er nodded: "Matchmaker Wang is no good anymore, how come her taste is so bad? But it's good, because Matchmaker Wang can't introduce men, we have a chance."

Liu Haizhong nodded repeatedly: "That's right, that's right."

The focus of the entire courtyard was on Li Kailang's family.

"That's about it." Wang the matchmaker estimated the time and finally got up.

The knock on the door came at just the right time; it was a lifesaver for Li Kailang.

Matchmaker Wang peeked in with a beaming smile: "Oh my, you're having a good chat! How's it going, Xiao Li and Cui Fen?"

Her eyes darted quickly between the two men, paying particular attention to Li Kailang's expression.

Li Kailang breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and casually replied, "It's alright."

Matchmaker Wang's heart skipped a beat; that "it's alright" didn't sound good at all.

"Not bad? That's good! Cuifen, what do you think of Comrade Xiao Li?"

She quickly shifted the topic to Cuifen.

Cuifen, who had been keeping her head down, blushed even more now, but her face radiated genuine joy: "Comrade Li is a very good person, well-educated, and her home is always spotless."

Clearly, she was very satisfied with Li Kailang.

Having figured things out, Wang the matchmaker gave Cuifen a wink: "Cuifen, go wait for me under the jujube tree in the yard for a while. I need to say a few more words to Xiao Li."

Whether there are jujube trees or not doesn't matter.

Cuifen nodded obediently, then secretly glanced at Li Kailang before lowering her head and quickly walking out.

As soon as the door closed, the smile on Wang the matchmaker's face faded slightly. She leaned closer to Li Kailang and asked in a low voice:
"Kailang, tell your aunt the truth, what do you think? I think Cuifen has a very good impression of you! Honest and down-to-earth, you look like someone who can manage a household! You must be very hardworking!"

Li Kailang shook his head. "Thank you for your concern. Miss Cuifen is a very nice and honest person, but..." He paused, then found a tactful but clear way to put it.

"It doesn't feel right. I just started working, and my mind is still on my job. Besides, we don't really have much in common. I'll look at other options."

Upon hearing this, matchmaker Wang understood perfectly well that they simply hadn't clicked.

However, she had anticipated this.

She never thought it would work out; this girl was just an appetizer.

I was just one of a few people chosen; whether I succeed or not doesn't matter.

She slapped her thigh: "Hey! I get it! Auntie understands! When looking for a partner, you have to be compatible and able to talk to each other!"

"Cuifen is a good person, maybe she doesn't talk to you, a college student, much better! We've got other good ones coming up!"

She immediately resumed her energetic self, "You wait! Auntie has another good girl! Even better, I guarantee you'll hit it off! I'll go pick one up now, no more than half an hour! Don't go out!"

After saying that, without waiting for Li Kailang's response, he turned around and rushed out the door.

She pulled up Cuifen, who was still anxiously standing under the jujube tree, and comforted her, "Don't worry, don't worry, Auntie will find you something even better."

She hurried out, ready to begin the second round of her "battle of attrition".

As expected, Wang the matchmaker truly lived up to her reputation as the "fastest person in the alley."

Not long after, before Li Kailang had even finished exhaling, her signature loud laughter rang out again from outside the courtyard gate:

"Oh my! Little Li! Open the door! Look who your aunt has brought you! This time you'll be satisfied!"

Li Kailang felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.

He resigned himself to his fate and got up to open the door again.

Outside the door, another girl stood next to Wang the matchmaker.

This one is clearly not the same style as Cuifen from before.

She was around twenty years old, wearing a faded white shirt and a blue cotton skirt, her hair neatly combed, exuding the elegance and reserve of an intellectual.

Her skin wasn't very fair, but it was smooth. She had a generous and appropriate smile on her face, and her eyes showed more confidence and scrutiny than Cuifen's. She looked very dignified.

"Come, come, come in quickly!" Matchmaker Wang ushered them in with practiced ease, introducing them as she did so:
"Cheerful! This is Comrade Sun Yulan! She's a primary school teacher!"

His tone was full of pride, as if he had found the real "trump card".

Sun Yulan stepped into the room with a graceful and poised demeanor. Her eyes quickly scanned the room, and her eyes lit up noticeably when she saw that the decorations were quite nice.

She extended her hand to Li Kailang and said, "Hello, Comrade Li Kailang, my name is Sun Yulan."

His voice was clear and crisp, neither humble nor arrogant.

Li Kailang was somewhat surprised; this opening remark was much more proactive than Cui Fen's.

He reached out and gently shook hands: "Hello, Comrade Sun Yulan, please sit down."

I felt a little more alert.

At least, this person seems capable of normal communication.

When Wang the matchmaker saw this, she was overjoyed: "Look! What a perfect match! Yulan is a well-known good girl in our neighborhood!"

"Kailang, you two have a good chat! Auntie has something to do, I'll be right back!"

She said she had "something to do," but her eyes clearly said "you know what I mean." She used the same trick again, leaving the two of them behind, and then ran out of the yard to continue her "watching."

There were two people left in the room.

Unlike Cui Fen, Sun Yulan was not reserved. After sitting down, she spoke first: "Hello, Technician Li. Aunt Wang has introduced you before. You are a college graduate, a key technical expert, and a promising young man."

"You flatter me, Ms. Sun Yulan."

Sun Yulan's speech was noticeably more composed and insightful.

She didn't stop at being polite; instead, she naturally started talking about areas she was familiar with.

Her language is clear and logically organized.

Out of respect for the teaching profession and the other party's professionalism, Li Kailang listened more attentively than before and responded with a few words when appropriate.

"Does Technician Li usually enjoy watching literary and artistic works? What are your views on ideological issues?"

Her gaze was inquiring.

On a first blind date, especially when the other person is a teacher, it is extremely inappropriate to engage in "lofty discussions" about ideological issues.

Li Kailang instinctively gave a vague answer: "I think we young people should focus on our jobs, be down-to-earth, and contribute to the country's development."

"Teaching and nurturing students is a great responsibility. Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Sun Yulan."

Sun Yulan was an extremely clever person, and she immediately noticed Li Kailang's evasiveness.

The initial enthusiasm she felt for the other party, which stemmed from his identity as a "college student" and "technician," quickly cooled down.

She longs for a partner with whom she can have deep conversations and whose ideas can spark intellectual exchanges.

It's not a 'technical tool' that only deals with work and life trivia.

Although Li Kailang's physical appearance met her expectations, the inability to connect with her on a spiritual level left her deeply disappointed.

The subsequent conversation became entirely superficial, revolving around safety topics such as the early autumn weather and recently released movies.

Matchmaker Wang reappeared at the door, her face beaming with smiles: "You two seem to be getting along quite well, don't you? Little Sun, shall we go out for a drink?"

She skillfully ushered him outside and asked him urgently in a low voice.

Sun Yulan wore a professional, polite smile and answered clearly and appropriately:
"Technician Li is a very nice person, and his job is very respectable. However, we may have different focuses and interests."

Wang the matchmaker's smile froze on her face; cultured people always speak indirectly!

The meaning couldn't be clearer: "I didn't like it" or "It's not suitable".

"what!"

Seeing that even the carefully selected "cultural card" had failed, Wang the matchmaker was really anxious.

"Oh, cheerful, your magnolia is so beautiful! Look how well you two are chatting!"

Sun Yulan remained calm and composed: "Aunt Wang, that's all for today. Thank you for your trouble."

"I have some things to take care of at school, so I'll head back now. Goodbye, Comrade Li."

She nodded to Li Kailang, and before Wang the matchmaker could say anything more, she straightened her back and walked out quickly.

Matchmaker Wang was caught in a dilemma: whether to pursue him or not. She was so angry that she stomped her feet.

"What's wrong with Xiao Li?"

Li Kailang shrugged, unaware of the situation: "Maybe we just can't connect on a deeper level?"

Matchmaker Wang didn't know what was going on, but since everyone had left, she knew that the second one was out of the question.

She was a little discouraged, but more than that, she was determined not to give up.

"Fine! You wait and see! I don't believe it!"

Matchmaker Wang still had a trump card up her sleeve, which she had originally planned to save for last. "You wait, I'll go invite them right now! If this doesn't work out, then I'll..."

She turned around angrily and was about to leave again.

(End of this chapter)