Chapter 6: His Family Has a Throne

Li Manjun had just arrived at her front door when she discovered the courtyard gate wide open. From inside, she could hear her mother, Wang Xiaojuan, speaking in her boisterous, booming voice.

"We don't need to talk about anything else, but it’s best if the man has a stable job. That way, the couple will have an easier life later on. Don't you agree, Sister Wu?"

Auntie Wu, holding a cup of hot tea, nodded with a smile. "Who could argue with that?"

Wang Xiaojuan continued, "You know my Manjun. She’s tall and slim, and she takes after me—she’s quite a looker. Back when she was at the factory, people even called her the 'Factory Beauty'."

"Our Manjun doesn't have a job right now, but she has a skill. In the future, her father and I can easily set her up with a tailor shop, and supporting herself won't be a problem at all."

As Wang Xiaojuan spoke, Auntie Wu nodded along, repeating, "Yes, yes, exactly, that’s right."

Standing outside the gate and eavesdropping, Li Manjun raised an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn't expected her parents to have such plans.

Opening a tailor shop was actually a pretty good idea. As people’s lives improved and they became busier, adding services like dry cleaning would surely make the business thrive.

However, that was for the original owner of this body.

As for herself, Li Manjun didn't dare guarantee she could perfectly inherit the craft of tailoring.

It felt more appropriate for her mother, Wang Xiaojuan, to open a laundry shop herself. Wasn't she currently laid off and sitting at home anyway?

While Li Manjun was lost in these chaotic thoughts, the two women in the courtyard had already moved on to discussing candidates.

Auntie Wu tentatively pulled out two photos and handed them to Wang Xiaojuan.

"Here, both of these have 'iron rice bowls' (stable jobs). They might not be as handsome as our Manjun, but he’s a man—you can't eat a pretty face, right?"

Li Manjun watched as her mother’s mouth twitched violently. She couldn't imagine just how "breathtaking" the men in those photos must have been.

Her mother, Wang Xiaojuan, was a total sucker for good looks. Back in the late sixties, the Li family didn't even have a decent house, and Li Dawei wasn't exactly favored by his parents; he was a bachelor with no one to help him find a match.

But because of that face, which bore a striking resemblance to a popular singer from the cultural troupe at the time, Wang Xiaojuan didn't care about anything else and went straight to get their marriage certificate.

Li Dawei still brought this up often; it was the greatest testament to his youthful good looks.

Li Manjun touched her own face—a pert nose, large eyes, and a heart-shaped face. She certainly had some capital.

Too absorbed in her own beauty, she accidentally nudged the gate. With a loud "creak," the door panel tipped inward, and Li Manjun stumbled inside under Auntie Wu’s startled gaze.

"Oh... Auntie Wu, you're here!" Li Manjun quickly smoothed over the awkwardness and greeted her as if nothing had happened.

The two women, who were busy worrying about her life’s biggest milestone, were just discussing whether looks were important. Li Manjun proactively pulled up a small stool and joined them.

"Let me see the photos," Li Manjun said with a smile, reaching out.

Wang Xiaojuan looked as if she’d seen a ghost. She had never seen her daughter be this proactive about a blind date before.

If she had been like this earlier, she would have found someone long ago!

Wang Xiaojuan handed over the photos readily. Li Manjun took one look, and the saliva she was swallowing got stuck in her throat; she had to force herself to swallow it down.

"No way. I can accept other things about a face, but I really can't handle those teeth." Li Manjun placed the two photos face down on the table and pushed them back to Auntie Wu.

"Even through the photos, I can feel how buck-toothed and ugly those teeth are." Li Manjun didn't show any outward disgust, but her firm gaze made Auntie Wu feel her deep resistance.

"Oh, why worry about that? They have jobs, their parents have jobs, they're city folk, and they've already got a house and a bicycle ready!"

Auntie Wu thought this was a bizarre reason. Fearing that the girl she’d watched grow up didn't know how to pick, she hurriedly listed the family's assets.

"If that mouth came up to kiss your mouth, could you handle it?" Li Manjun’s retort made both middle-aged women frown in disgust.

Being kissed by a mouth like that? And kissing?

No, no, no!

"Sister Wu," Wang Xiaojuan waved her hands frantically. "Next, next!"

Auntie Wu imagined the terrifying scene herself, shook her head, and put the photos away. She made up her mind: she would never introduce these two to anyone again.

If the girl couldn't handle it after marriage and they ended up divorcing, wouldn't she be the sinner?

"Well, this one is good-looking, but his conditions aren't as good. He’s from the grain and oil factory in the next town, and he has a lot of siblings."

Auntie Wu was honest, stating both the pros and cons rather than hiding the flaws.

Matchmaking was her side job, and it had grown over the years precisely because she was honest and didn't play games.

Wasn't matchmaking just about men and women laying out their conditions and requirements to find a match? She didn't want to introduce people who wanted the best of both worlds.

Wang Xiaojuan and Li Manjun looked at the photo together. He was indeed a handsome young man—fair-skinned, tender, and quite refined.

"Manjun, this one is nice." Even Li Manjun had nothing to say about a face that had received her mother's seal of approval.

"Auntie Wu, how many siblings does he have?" Li Manjun asked curiously.

Auntie Wu took a sip of tea before holding up a fist.

Wang Xiaojuan exploded instantly. "Ten? What kind of family is that? Do they have a throne to inherit?"

Auntie Wu felt awkward at Wang Xiaojuan’s sudden outburst. Li Manjun quickly tugged on her mother’s sleeve, reminding her not to be so excessive.

Auntie Wu then glared at Wang Xiaojuan and said, "If you don't like it, we'll move to the next one. It’s not like I don't have others. I was worried you only cared about city conditions, but now that Manjun says she wants someone good-looking and doesn't care about conditions, I have one more. Take a look."

Auntie Wu didn't approve of the ten siblings either; she didn't know what she had been thinking when she brought that one out.

"Here, this is the last one. If this doesn't work, I really can't help you." Auntie Wu pulled out a yellowed, one-inch ID photo, swatted away Wang Xiaojuan’s reaching hand, and handed it directly to Li Manjun.

Wang Xiaojuan laughed, "You stingy thing."

Auntie Wu ignored her and said to Li Manjun, "He’s good-looking too—I’ve seen him myself. A tall, handsome young man, an only child. His family just built a new brick house this year, and his job is good, too. He works at a chemical plant in the city. In two years, his unit will be allocating apartments, so he’ll be able to move into the city."

"But Auntie has to be honest with you: his father is in poor health and bedridden. If you choose him, you’ll have to help take care of the old man."

Li Manjun didn't actually want to get married, but if she happened to meet a suitable person, she wasn't opposed to giving it a try.

So, she remained exceptionally rational, not blinded by the handsome face in the photo, and asked calmly

"Did his family borrow money to build that new house?"

Auntie Wu glanced at her in surprise, then nodded.

Wang Xiaojuan sighed immediately. Li Manjun quickly poured her a cup of water to plug her mouth, lest the long-time friends turn into enemies.