Having finally endured until he could leave the Li Family, Bai Zhizhan let out a sigh of relief as he got into the car.
"How was it, my little cousin isn’t too bad, right?"
"Brother Li, did you deliberately get drunk last night?" Bai Zhizhan had been recalling last night’s events, suspecting that Li Yunxiang had intentionally taken him to the bar and, with Lian Xusheng and others, got him utterly wasted so he could arrange this blind date eting.
"Young Brother Bai, you’re Empire Navy’s most fearso Commander. Use that calculating brain of yours and tell , do you think this was intentional?" Li Yunxiang shot back directly, his tone rather unkind, adding a hint of indignation, as if his good intentions had been mistaken for malice.
"I just found it all very strange."
In fact, Bai Zhizhan had already thoroughly thought it through.
If Li Yunxiang had done it on purpose, he certainly wouldn’t have let Bai Zhizhan get drunk; at the very least, he would have reminded him when Bai Zhizhan woke up. After all, staying over at soone’s place drunk was not exactly honorable, not to ntion having a blind date after a hangover.
Besides, having Lian Xusheng and the Eldest Prince act as temporary actors was beyond Li Yunxiang’s capabilities.
"Actually, I only found out after I got ho too," Li Yunxiang sighed before continuing, "Xiaoqing is your sister-in-law’s favorite little cousin, and she especially loves sticking to your sister-in-law, wanting to learn everything from her. When I married your sister-in-law, she swore she’d only marry a great hero. Because of this, your sister-in-law has been really worried and hasn’t stopped nagging for years."
"So you sold out?"
Li Yunxiang rolled his eyes and said, "Don’t be ungrateful, kid. Look, the girl is a virgin born into a prestigious family. And you, you’re just a Navy Major General who can barely command a fleet at best, even that could be considered a well-matched marriage."
"Nearly thirty and still a virgin?"
"Bai Zhizhan, do you think you’re so young that you still have the luxury to pick and choose?" Li Yunxiang grew irritated at Bai Zhizhan’s retort.
Bai Zhizhan just smiled and didn’t respond.
Zhang Xiaoqing was just twenty-seven, born in the sa month as Bai Zhizhan, exactly fifteen years his junior. However, her age was certainly on the older side. Frankly, if she hadn’t been born into a wealthy family and had been from an ordinary family, she might well have been the mother of several children by now.
In the half hour of casual conversation that followed, Bai Zhizhan also learned more information.
Zhang Xiaoqing was indeed a virgin, though she had had romantic relationships, none had advanced to the point of discussing marriage, and she was a modern woman.
To put it simply, she had a stable job and an inco sufficient to support herself.
Of course, Zhang Xiaoqing’s independence didn’t co from her job’s salary, but rather through her job she had obtained an independent social status and had unique insights into many issues.
This was what Bai Zhizhan admired most.
Bai Zhizhan had dated a few girlfriends in the past, generally through introductions, but what repelled him wasn’t the blind dating—it was that the won introduced by relatives and friends were almost entirely traditional. It wasn’t that traditional won were bad, but they weren’t suitable for Bai Zhizhan.
In Bai Zhizhan’s own words, he often set sail with the fleet for months on end, and he certainly couldn’t leave his wife at ho like a grass widow.
In fact, Li Yunxiang was a very good example.
Although Fang Suqing was a dostic woman who always stayed at ho when Li Yunxiang was there, she managed several companies and was busy with many things, never idle. It was precisely because of this that Li Yunxiang could focus entirely on the military without ever worrying about ho matters.
Clearly, a modern woman with a career and job was suitable for Bai Zhizhan.
Zhang Xiaoqing was such a modern woman, working in an auditing unit under the Ministry of Finance, performing audits related to the Ministry.
This job was similar to that of a certified public accountant.
In her own words, she usually had plenty of free ti, but when busy, she had to work overti day and night. However, this happened only a few tis a year at most.
Having her own job also ant having support beyond the family.
"Honestly, kid, you really shouldn’t be ungrateful," Li Yunxiang finally managed to control his temper. "Your sister-in-law ntioned last night that the Liu Family has already co to propose several tis."
"What?"
"You heard correctly."
"Liu Xiangzhen’s son is already in his teens, you don’t think..."
"So, it’s a no-go."
"This Zhang family..."
"In recent years, they’ve risen as new nobility, primarily in the financial sector. They’re very famous in Imperial Capital, and they’ve developed quite well in Puzhou too. My guess is that the Liu Family, by proposing marriage, maybe looking to leverage the Zhang family’s financial capital to challenge the He Family in the shipbuilding industry."
Bai Zhizhan was stunned and couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly.
"There’s definitely no chance with the Liu Family, so you don’t need to worry."
"What do I have to worry about?"
"Xiaoqing won’t marry anyone less than a hero, and the only one from the Liu Family who could rival you would be Liu Xiangzhen. The Zhang family, lacking as they might be, surely wouldn’t let Xiaoqing marry a guy on his second marriage, would they?"
"Brother Li..."
Bai Zhizhan was at a loss for words, feeling that his being single until the age of forty-two had suddenly beco a trendous advantage.
If this got out, nicknas such as "Golden Bachelor" and "Prized Son-in-law" would undoubtedly be pinned on him by those teasing friends.
"Anyway, don’t be too picky, kid. Whether it works out or not, be straightforward about it. If there’s a chance, let’s get together for a al or a movie in Imperial Capital while you’re here. These matters of young people, I don’t understand, nor can I manage them. Anyway, about your sister-in-law..."
"Brother Li, give so more ti to think about this."
Li Yunxiang glanced at Bai Zhizhan and didn’t press the issue.
Actually, Bai Zhizhan’s response was already quite good. Frankly, if Bai Zhizhan wasn’t interested, what’s there to think about, right?
His saying this indicated that he was interested in Zhang Xiaoqing.
With that interest, everything else could be discussed.
As for dating, it had to be done. It’s through dating that a relationship could lead to sothing more, and without it, nothing happens.
Familiarity breeds fondness; a few more als out, a few more movie dates, and perhaps so strolls through the streets and shopping when the weather is nice could lead to a better understanding and mutual affection.
What is love, anyway?
Isn’t it just about affection?
Of course, at least that’s what Li Yunxiang believed.
As for compatibility in personality, hobbies, and aspirations, how would you know if they were a good match without spending ti together?
Truth be told, Bai Zhizhan did have a bit of a crush on Zhang Xiaoqing. Not just because she was a modern woman, but also because of her composure.
Among the won Bai Zhizhan knew, Zhang Xiaoqing might be the most composed.
Obviously, this had to do with her coming from a distinguished family and her work at the Finance Ministry.
Accustod to grand scenes, she dealt with others with greater ease, giving off a stable impression. To use an old phrase, she could grace any hall.
Whether she could take charge in a kitchen was another matter and not too important, really.
For a Navy man like Bai Zhizhan, how many days in a year could he even eat at ho?
Besides, would a distinguished family lack for a cook?
It’s just that Bai Zhizhan felt now wasn’t the right ti for romance. He himself didn’t know how long he would stay in Imperial Capital, or if he might have to pack up and leave tomorrow.
While Bai Zhizhan mulled over these thoughts, they arrived at the Navy headquarters.
After Bai Zhizhan got out of the car, Li Yunxiang drove off. He had other matters to attend to, so he had just driven Bai Zhizhan here.
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