In Yuhui Garden Community on Lihua Avenue in Longkou District, Auntie Ba didn't rush ho after buying groceries early in the morning. Instead, she was in the community's fitness park, holding a handful of sunflower seeds and chatting with others:
"...Old Ren's family is really making a splash now. Their son has found a powerful connection!"
"His son? What powerful connection? That silly ranking list is just sothing young people look at for fun; it's useless! And what does his son do at the academy again... Oh right, the school doctor! See, that's nothing—neither administrative nor teaching. It's just a dead-end job with a fixed salary, no future at all."
"But the girlfriend his son found is sothing else! Ever heard of the Tactical Bureau? It's the hottest new departnt in the governnt! His son's girlfriend, TSK TSK TSK, is the deputy director of the Lianjiang City Counterasures Bureau. Impressive, right?"
"My sixth aunt's son's neighbor is a captain in our Baiyun Strategic Bureau. I heard that team captains in the Tactical Bureau have great benefits and prospects, and even get priority for cultivation slots—direct relatives first! Whoops, I an, priority for cultivation! And they surely get first pick of any verified dicines; those always go to the Tactical Bureau first."
"Look, his son even managed to find a deputy director from Lianjiang City as a girlfriend. Now their family has really made it big! And that's Lianjiang, one of the top four first-tier cities in the country! A deputy director there holds who knows how much power..."
Auntie Ba continued enviously while cracking sunflower seeds, "With his son marrying such a girlfriend, and with her support, their family can do whatever they want in Lianjiang. They won't be afraid of running into any trouble!"
Then Auntie Ba changed the topic. "But my daughter-in-law isn't bad either. Our in-laws are in real estate in Baiyun and can often help out our little family. They're well-connected and respected everywhere. My son and daughter-in-law, they live a very fulfilling life…"
"That's true, that's true."
"Auntie Ba, your son is really impressive..."
"Excuse , please..."
Amidst the chatting aunties, a clear voice suddenly cut in.
They turned their heads and their eyes instantly lit up. What a handso young man!
A dashing young man stuck his head out of a sedan to greet them. In the passenger seat sat a middle-aged man who looked like a leader. The two looked quite similar and were probably father and son.
In that instant, a term popped into all the aunties' minds: Pri stock!
Having navigated the neighborhood streets for decades, the aunties might not have the sharpest eyesight for other things, but judging soone's marriage prospects was simple—the most important criterion was looks.
Never mind that society is particularly materialistic these days, with parents seemingly focused only on money. While it's true many parents heavily consider economic factors, the young people don't think that way. After all, soone else's money won't beco theirs, but a handso or beautiful person—that's the kind of ideal partner who can ignite their hormones.
After all, wealth can be lost, and gentleness can be faked, but true handsoness and beauty cannot.
A good-looking young person is solid currency in the marriage market!
And these sharp-eyed aunties, with just a few glances, could basically estimate the car's price, thereby gleaning the young man's spending habits and deducing his inco level. Clearly above the average inco in Baiyun City—extra points!
Plus, he has a Lian Province accent, not an outsider—more points!
Although they didn't know if this young man had a girlfriend, the aunties were already ntally reviewing the suitable young won they knew who could be a match for him.
Matchmaking might not bring any special benefits to these aunties, but what makes life so interesting is that not everything needs a purpose... For them, playing this real-life ga of 'Connect the Dots' was a rare amusent in their otherwise mundane lives.
"Excuse , where is Building 156?" the young man asked politely. "I didn't see a security guard when I ca in, and the building numbers aren't clearly marked..."
"Building 156? That's Building 5," Auntie Ba said, cracking sunflower seeds. "I know everyone in Building 5. Are you looking for soone? Who is it? Today is the twenty-ninth of the lunar month; maybe the person you're looking for went out to do so New Year's shopping."
The hosts haven't co down to greet them, and they're asking for directions themselves. They must have co unannounced, Auntie Ba thought, deciding to test them a bit.
The young man glanced back at his father before saying, "We're going to the Ren family. The 'Ren' from Eastern Han Ren."
"Ah!" Auntie Ba clapped her hands. "You're looking for Old Ren! They're the only family with that surna in Building 5... Oh, are you here for their son?"
The young man nodded and asked, "Could you point out where Building 5 is...?"
"Not so fast. I don't know you, so I can't just give out information about my neighbors."
Auntie Ba shot a knowing glance at the other aunties and winked before saying calmly, "You know Old Ren's son is quite successful now, right? What if soone wants to cause trouble for Old Ren because of his son, and I tell you where they live? Wouldn't that make an accomplice?"
The young man gave a wry smile. "Then what will it take for you to trust ?"
"Don't worry, I'm not the police, and you don't look like bad people. I just need to ask a few questions to make sure you're not so vagrants or sothing," Auntie Ba said quickly. "Young man, where are you from?"
"Nansha City, Lian Province."
"And where do you work?"
"The Sky Capital Strategic Bureau."
"Are you married?"
"No."
The aunties exchanged glances. This isn't just pri stock; he's a diamond bachelor!
Just as the aunties were feeling satisfied with the information they'd gathered, Auntie Ba turned her gaze to the middle-aged man. "And the one next to you is…"
"That's my father. He also works at the Sky Capital Strategic Bureau as a tactical instructor. You can find his information on their official website. He's unmarried," the young man said, seemingly aware of Auntie Ba's usual prying. He laid out his father's details as if he were rely stating publicly available facts—which they were, easily found online, so it didn't matter.
What? This handso older man is also unmarried?!
The aunties' gazes grew even more fervent. They knew plenty of widowed, divorced, and single older won!
If matching these two young people would give them bragging rights for a month, then successfully matchmaking two single-parent families would let them boast for a lifeti! This is practically a monuntal good deed, like building a seven-story pagoda!
Auntie Ba, you genius!
We'll go to Old Ren's house later to get the details on this unmarried young man and his father!
"Is that enough? Can you point us in the right direction now?" the young man asked with a smile.
Auntie Ba asked, "One last question—are you Old Ren's in-laws?"
As soon as Auntie Ba spoke, the expressions of the young man and his father stiffened instantly.
A perceptive woman, Auntie Ba didn't press further. She quickly pointed out Building 5 and even advised them to park in the underground garage first, as people had been setting off firecrackers recently, making roadside parking a bit risky.
Watching the vehicle drive away, Auntie Ba's expression gradually grew complicated.
The nearby aunties imdiately started chattering, "They must be Old Ren's in-laws, right? Who would've thought! Not only did Old Ren's son marry a good local girl, but her family is so much more powerful than the Ren family…"
"I just checked online! That middle-aged man is indeed a tactical instructor at the Sky Capital Strategic Bureau. It says he's on par with the Bureau Chief! As soon as I opened the Sky Capital Strategic Bureau's website, I saw him. He looks like a high-ranking official from the Sky Capital Counterasure General Bureau!"
"And that young man is ranked 50th on the Cultivator Ranking List, also with the Sky Capital Strategic Bureau! It's all true!"
The aunties exclaid in awe, "Old Ren really raised a brilliant son! His daughter-in-law is formidable, and so are the in-laws!"
Auntie Ba forced a strained smile. "They might not necessarily be Old Ren's in-laws…"
Just then, a young girl ran in from outside, and Auntie Ba imdiately called her over, "Hey, Little Star, co here."
The girl, though looking sowhat impatient, still approached politely and asked, "What is it, Aunties?"
"Is your brother's girlfriend still at your house?" Auntie Ba asked.
The girl's expression changed, and she said with so displeasure, "…She ca over this morning."
She ca this morning? So she didn't stay over last night?
Still not ready to give up, Auntie Ba pulled out her phone and showed it to the girl. "Is this your brother's girlfriend's father?"
The girl replied expressionlessly, "…Yes. He is indeed the father of the girlfriend who ca this morning."
Although the girl's phrasing sounded a little odd, Auntie Ba didn't dwell on it.
She waved her hand weakly. "Well then… Little Star, you can go ho. I just saw your in-laws going to your house."
"What?!" The girl's expression changed drastically, and she imdiately dashed ho like a gust of wind.
The nearby aunties chid in again, "Ah, Old Ren not only has a great son, but his daughter is so well-raised too—she's pretty, sensible, smart, and a Cultivator! Up early in the morning to diligently practice her cultivation…"
"I… I need to go ho and cook. You all carry on chatting."
Like a deflated old dog, Auntie Ba drooped, picked up her grocery basket, and walked ho with her head down. Her dejected silhouette drew sympathetic sighs from the others. Truly, comparing people is deadly.
From that mont on, everyone knew: the crown for the 'Ultimate Bragger' of Yuhui Garden Community on Lihua Avenue in Longkou District no longer belonged to Auntie Ba!
Today's first loser: Auntie Ba.
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