CHAPTER 172: 171: FIRST MENTION OF MARRIAGE (FIFTH UPDATE)

The people who were originally close to Bai Xue were all polite this year, not too warm. Bai Xue didn’t try to socialize with others either. Instead, around Ye Qian were Song Mei and a few others who weren’t much affected.

This year, the commander’s wife still came, and Ye Zhenfen, unlike others, still sat beside Bai Xue. "Ye Qian hasn’t been to the library much this year. I wasn’t there a lot either, so we never ran into each other. Still, just seeing her grown a year older, she’s truly a big girl now."

"Indeed, she’s sixteen this year, truly a big girl," Bai Xue also sighed, feeling a bit more at ease with the leader’s wife sitting beside her.

Even though Ye Zhenfen was already over fifty, she didn’t look it, appearing more like forty-seven or forty-eight. Having never had children, she seemed more like a sister to Bai Xue.

"Doesn’t your family have another big girl? Why didn’t she come this year?" Ye Zhenfen looked around before asking.

Those around the table listened, some quietly waiting to see how Bai Xue would explain. While some felt sympathy, others were displeased with her, just thinking she seemed a bit fake.

Bai Xue was quite embarrassed at this moment. "That child had a falling out with me and went back to her hometown to celebrate the New Year."

Rather than making excuses, it’s better to speak the truth, resulting in less to laugh at. "Even though I have a good temper, I can be impatient. That child is even more impatient than I am, having not grown up with me. We’re not that close emotionally. Saying a few things to her makes her think I dislike her, driving her even more apart from me."

At the end, Bai Xue wore a bitter smile, "I’ve made a laughingstock of myself for you."

Ye Zhenfen didn’t mind, "At their age, they’re in a rebellious phase. It’s a difficult time to communicate with their parents."

"You’re right. No matter how old they are, it’s always hard to communicate with parents." Bai Xue agreed, which made Ye Zhenfen quite approving.

"You’re right, no matter how old children are, they can never truly communicate with their parents," Ye Zhenfen, despite never having children, said this without fear of being misunderstood.

The crowd around them felt a bit weird after hearing her, as Ye Zhenfen never had children yet spoke such words. But as the leader’s spouse and a senior among them, there was no room for doubt.

Bai Xue felt she had finally found a confidant, especially being the leader’s wife. With her speaking up for Bai Xue, who’d dare gossip behind her back? So for this night, she genuinely smiled.

After the evening meal, when the company was about to launch fireworks, Ye Zhenfen followed Bai Xue to Ye He Ping’s dormitory to talk, "I naturally fret a lot. Over the past two years, I’ve been at the company, noticing that Shen Bin hasn’t found anyone since his divorce. I think the kid is fine. Though he talks little, he’s honest. It’s a pity he divorced so young, but at least he’s not old. After speaking to you today, I think you’re great, so I bring this up with you. See if you know someone who could be introduced to Shen Bin."

Talking about this, Ye Zhenlian sighed, "Previously, I introduced a few to him. They looked at his circumstances and didn’t like them, and only attended the blind dates out of respect for me. You know how unlikely that is to succeed. After a few failed attempts, I realized it, so I thought about letting you try. If someone would accept his conditions to come for a blind date, they’d at least be willing in their heart. Whether it works out depends on knowing each other more."

Ye Zhenfen gently took Bai Xue’s hand and patted it, "I see you as a reliable person, that’s why I’m leaving this to you."

Seeing the leader’s wife put such trust in her, Bai Xue was excited internally, yet more cautious on the surface, "Since Aunt Ye trusts me, leave it to me. Just tell me what kind of person to find."

"Shen Bin is divorced and from a rural background, but he’s a good kid. It doesn’t matter whether he has a formal job; the person needs to be decent and serious about life. You know it’s hard being the wife of a private company employee, often alone at home. She needs to have that awareness. Ideally, her education should be at least middle school, as educated people tend to be better-natured. This man needs a virtuous wife to support him. As for looks, it’s not a problem; average is fine since Shen Bin is already twenty-five this year. But one crucial point, the woman must not have been married before," Ye Zhenfen didn’t find these conditions harsh.

Bai Xue didn’t think these conditions were too demanding either and readily agreed, "Aunt Ye, rest assured, leave it to me and it will surely work out. You’ll hear from me soon."

"Alright, then I’ll wait for your news," Ye Zhenfen also smiled, "My Old Li always thought highly of He Ping. He’s spent so many years in the company and is really reluctant to see these old subordinates leave."

With this assurance, Bai Xue was even happier.

Afterward, as Bai Xue pondered over this matter, she realized she had thought too simplistically. Shen Bin, being from the countryside, had no house in the city, and was divorced. Finding someone with middle school education who hadn’t married before wouldn’t be easy.

In this day and age, which woman wouldn’t want to find someone with a stable job? Who’d want a man who doesn’t come home often?

At night, when her daughter lay in bed, Bai Xue kept tossing and turning, thinking about this issue. She spent most of her time in the compound, knew mostly those from there, and even if there were good ones in the compound, they wouldn’t necessarily look for someone like Shen Bin. All being in the compound, they’d likely seek someone better than Shen Bin, so she had to look outside the compound.

But the issue was that she didn’t know anyone outside. Bai Xue couldn’t sleep but accidentally woke Bai Hehua, who was simply lying on the table. "Aunt, what’s wrong?"

"Oh, nothing," Bai Xue whispered, "You go back to sleep."

Since her niece didn’t come home, she brought the niece to the company for the New Year.

"Alright, then you sleep early too," Bai Hehua replied sensibly before lying down again.

Bai Xue, however, brightened up, "Hehua, you’re seventeen this year, right?"

"Yes." Bai Hehua didn’t understand why her aunt asked her this and sat up again.

Bai Xue felt she had an idea and gently sat up, pulling the quilt over her shoulders. "Hehua, how’s your work at the unit? Do you know any unmarried good girls without partners? Tell your aunt what kind of person you’re looking for. After all, you’re seventeen now, not young. At eighteen, you can marry."

Bai Hehua blushed slightly, thinking of the workers she saw at the troops today, "Aunt, I only cook at the unit. Those who cook with me are all married, no young girls. I haven’t thought about my own matters either. My parents don’t worry about me, Aunt, you decide for me." (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)