Chapter 12: Zhao Yong

The bus, loaded with agricultural products, headed toward Rongcheng. It wobbled along the dirt road outside Shinnan Town for half an hour before finally reaching the smooth, paved concrete road.

The bus was lively. Auntie Wu knew everyone, and they all greeted her, asking who the young lady with her was, commenting on how bright-eyed and pretty she was, and inquiring if she had a boyfriend.

Auntie Wu’s mouth was nimble enough to handle seven or eight people at once. She said no, not yet, and told them to introduce any handsome young men they might know.

When someone asked why the two of them were heading into the city, Auntie Wu simply said Li Manjun was accompanying her to visit her aunt in the city, not mentioning a word about the blind date.

Even if things didn't work out later, it wouldn't stop Li Manjun from meeting someone else.

Li Manjun was responsible only for smiling. When she grew tired of smiling, she even took a nap halfway there.

Auntie Wu nudged her. "Manjun, wake up. We're here."

Li Manjun opened her eyes. They had arrived at the Rongcheng Bus Station. She picked up her small cloth bag and got off the bus with Auntie Wu.

The Rongcheng Bus Station at this time was far inferior to the one in the future. The ticket hall was chaotic, and the boarding area was packed with people. Everyone was carrying large and small bags; some were heading out to work, while others were arriving in Rongcheng to find jobs.

Public security at the station was poor in those days, so Auntie Wu kept reminding Li Manjun to watch her bag and be wary of pickpockets.

Li Manjun had once seen a Rongcheng filled with high-rise buildings. Now, looking around, she saw only low-rise housing, and in the distance, several construction sites waiting to be developed.

The two squeezed through the crowd and out of the station. A retro European-style high-rise building immediately caught their eyes. It was once the tallest building in Rongcheng—a twelve-story structure with an elevator, serving as the city's most upscale foreign-style hotel.

Few people drove private cars back then, but two black Toyota Crowns were parked in front of the hotel.

A driver in a crisp suit stepped out to open the door. A boss, with a pager clipped to his waist and a black, brick-like mobile phone in his hand, stepped out of the car. He had sunglasses hanging from his shirt collar. The doorman knew at a glance that he was a big shot and rushed forward to welcome him.

The boss was generous, casually handing out a one-hundred-yuan tip.

In 1990, there were few mobile phones on the mainland. The most popular thing at the time was the pager, also known as a "BB machine." If you wanted to find someone, you would call a paging center to relay a message. It was somewhat similar to a text message, but not nearly as convenient.

Auntie Wu had never seen a mobile phone before and joked, "Why is that big shot carrying such a big brick?"

Li Manjun smiled and said she didn't know.

In her heart, she guessed that the big shot was likely a businessman from Hong Kong or Taiwan, and probably a heavyweight one at that.

But that had nothing to do with a commoner like her. The two hailed a "Slow-Go" in front of the bus station—a type of "puffed" vehicle modified from a three-wheeled motorcycle. Because it was slow and wobbled as it ran, the common people gave it the nickname "Slow-Go."

These vehicles were cheaper than taxis. By the time of Li Manjun’s childhood, they had almost disappeared from big cities, and even in small counties, they gradually vanished after the year 2000.

It wasn't until later, when various places began developing tourism, that these vehicles were brought back as a local specialty, attracting many tourists.

Sitting in the "Slow-Go" again, Li Manjun felt a bit dazed, unable to tell if this was a dream or reality.

After a while, the vehicle stopped. Auntie Wu told her to get off, and only then did she snap back to reality: she had truly traveled back to 1990!

And, she was about to go on a blind date with a man she had never met.

It was truly magical.

"Don't be nervous. We'll just meet for a bit, you young people can chat, and if you feel it's a match, we'll go from there." Fearing Li Manjun was nervous, Auntie Wu comforted her.

Li Manjun smiled and nodded. "It's fine, I'm not nervous."

Auntie Wu let out an "oh" and squeezed her own sweaty palms; she was the one who had become nervous.

However, this wasn't her first time playing matchmaker. Auntie Wu quickly adjusted her mindset and pointed to a barbershop ahead. "My aunt opened this barbershop herself. We agreed to meet there."

Li Manjun remained calm, nodding, her eyes drifting toward the barbershop. There were two customers getting their hair done inside. On a small sofa by the glass door sat a man who looked like the person she was supposed to meet.

Zhao Yong had arrived at the neighbor's barbershop half an hour ago. Grandma Qiao had even given him a free styling, telling him to look sharp so the girl would be satisfied when she saw him.

After finishing his hair, she had been busy giving him all sorts of advice—reminding him to smile more when he met her and to be enthusiastic in his greetings. In short, she seemed more proactive than he was.

Zhao Yong didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he knew the old woman meant well, so he let her fuss and agreed to everything.

By nine o'clock, customers started arriving, and Grandma Qiao finally left him to attend to them.

Zhao Yong sat on the small sofa waiting. The small, rose-red single sofa made his tall frame look pitifully cramped.

While waiting, Zhao Yong checked the wall clock and glanced out the glass door every few minutes to see if they had arrived.

It was nine-thirty. He looked out the glass window again and saw two people walking toward them from a distance.

One was a middle-aged woman carrying a cloth bag, pointing toward the barbershop while saying something to the young girl in a white dress beside her.

Zhao Yong’s heart tightened. Could this be the person he was meeting for the blind date?

Originally, he had only intended to go through the motions to avoid wasting Grandma Qiao’s kindness. But as the beautiful white figure drew closer, Zhao Yong suddenly felt the rose-red sofa beneath him grow hot, and his face began to burn.

"...Grandma Qiao!" Zhao Yong’s deep voice carried a hint of helplessness.

Grandma Qiao, who was applying lotion to a customer, turned around. Seeing Zhao Yong’s strange expression, she understood. She leaned out to look and saw two people walking up the steps—it was her niece!

"Auntie, you're busy! Business is good!" Auntie Wu greeted with a smile.

Grandma Qiao’s eyes swept over the girl in the white dress, and she responded quickly, calling out to Zhao Yong, "Xiao Yong, hurry and pour a glass of water for your aunt and the young lady!"

"Why did you come so early? You could have slept in a bit longer. You must have had to get up before seven to be here now. What a diligent young lady," Grandma Qiao said, her hands full, gesturing for them to sit.

Zhao Yong cleared the small sofa and brought over another stool. He turned to pour two glasses of water, his tall figure moving back and forth in the small barbershop, his presence overwhelming.

"Drink some water." He handed the cup to Li Manjun and pointed to the small sofa behind her, smiling politely. "Please, sit."

Li Manjun smiled and nodded. She pressed her left hand against the back of her skirt and sat down slowly before reaching out to take the cup. "Thank you."

The sofa still held the warmth of the previous occupant. Li Manjun felt it the moment she sat down and shifted uncomfortably.

She looked up at Zhao Yong. He looked completely different from the stiff impression she had gotten from his photo.

He wore a white shirt with blue vertical stripes and a collar, paired with retro-blue jeans and casual leather shoes. His hair had been carefully styled, and his face was clean-shaven, without a single stubble.

His attire was young and stylish, and he was even taller than he looked in the photo—around 1.85 meters—which gave off a sense of pressure.

His eyes, in particular, were intensely aggressive. When they met hers, he looked away only after a couple of seconds.

Perhaps because the shop was too cramped, Li Manjun felt the air around her growing warm. She picked up the cup and took a sip; the water was actually warm.

She turned to look at Auntie Wu, whose water seemed to be warm as well.