"Qingzi, please help me out," Hu Wei leaned against the doorframe of the bathroom, his face gloomy as he spoke.
Li Qing pushed Hu Wei aside and squeezed by, "I've already agreed to help you, haven't I? I'll go with you!"
"No, what I mean is, Qingzi, can you first go check out the situation for me, see what the girl's opinion of fat guys is and such, then I'll go. That way, I won't be ridiculed again," Hu Wei said.
"Alright, let's eat," Li Qing said.
Accepting money to ward off trouble for others.
Two hundred bucks to say a few words to a girl—it was still a pretty good deal.
After breakfast, the two of them headed to the neighboring village.
According to Hu Wei, a distant relative of his had introduced her.
The girl's name was Wu Xingxing, and there were many sisters in her family; she was the eldest.
"Usually, the eldest daughter in a family with many sisters is virtuous and takes good care of the household. I think this time you might be in luck, like dog feces meeting a flower. You might just succeed," Li Qing teased Hu Wei as they walked towards the village.
Hu Wei shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head and said, "Cut it out, with my body weight, I'm afraid she won't be interested."
"As a genuine 'rich second generation' of our village, you should stand tall. Maybe if you talk about money, she'll agree!" Li Qing said.
"Rich second generation, my ass," Hu Wei snorted with laughter, in self-mockery.
Li Qing just smiled and said nothing.
"We're almost there; it looks like it's that house down there," Hu Wei suddenly stopped and pointed to the house just below the main road.
The house was neat and clean, with the front and back of the house tidied up, and many flowers planted around.
"Hey, hey, look, that's her coming out," Hu Wei exclaimed.
Li Qing focused his gaze and saw a girl in a beige dress, carrying a basket on her arm, walking out from the courtyard.
She had a very typical melon-seed face, with crescent-shaped eyes, a delicate mouth, and exceptionally fair and tender skin.
A light breeze touched her, causing her dress and long hair to flutter.
The winsome, slender legs flashed beneath the hem of her dress like a fleeting white steed.
No wonder Hu Wei, after just seeing her photo, felt so inferior he didn't dare to come and meet her.
Speaking with such a girl, with a genteel demeanor and high education, even Li Qing felt nervous.
At that moment, Wu Xingxing reached the threshing floor, set down her basket, and bent over with a broom to sweep the dust from the ground.
As she moved, the loose neckline offered a glimpse of a deep valley swaying from side to side.
Her body was slim and graceful, yet her bust was surprisingly ample.
If this girl dressed in tight clothes like Yang Xuelan, she would probably mesmerize a whole crowd of men.
Li Qing was almost mesmerized himself.
"You... go on, I'll keep a lookout!" Hu Wei said.
Li Qing was speechless, "You're here to meet a girl, not to be a thief. What lookout do you need?"
"Oh, just go," Hu Wei urged.
Li Qing had no choice but to muster up the courage to walk down from the main road.
When Xingxing saw someone coming down, she stopped sweeping and looked curiously, "What are you doing?"
Up close, Wu Xingxing's beauty was even more stunning than from afar.
Her skin seemed naturally white and tender, and her crescent-moon eyes were full of luster, like stars.
"I... I am..." Li Qing couldn't help feeling nervous too, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
Wu Xingxing slightly furrowed her brow and asked tentatively, "Just passing by? Thirsty?"
Li Qing nodded repeatedly.
"I'm willing to give a bowl of water, just ask directly, there's nothing to be embarrassed about."
Wu Xingxing smiled and continued, "Then wait for me, I'll go get it for you."
"Okay." Li Qing nodded subconsciously.
While Wu Xingxing went to get the water, he quickly glanced at where Hu Wei was hiding, only to find that the chubby guy was already gone.
What a coward, how could he be such a coward?
Li Qing was instantly speechless.
Wu Xingxing quickly came out with a cup of water, also carrying a water jug, "Here, for you."
Li Qing hurriedly thanked her, and drank the cup of water in one gulp.
In this sweltering heat, having walked such a long way, he really was quite thirsty.
"Want more?" Wu Xingxing asked, holding up the water jug.
Li Qing passed back the cup and at the same time asked, "Miss, do you... know Hu Wei?"
"Hu Wei? The name does sound a bit familiar." Wu Xingxing frowned slightly but couldn't recall.
"His dad is Hu Youyu, maybe you know him," Li Qing had no choice but to mention the name of the old fox Hu Youyu.
As expected, Wu Xingxing knew Hu Youyu.
She gave a soft "oh" and said, "So it's him you're talking about, someone introduced me to meet him for an arranged marriage, so you must be Hu Wei, right? You're quite handsome."
At the compliment, Li Qing inexplicably blushed a little, but he waved his hands and said, "Miss, you've misunderstood, I'm not Hu Wei, I'm Hu Wei's friend. He asked me to meet you first and have a chat."
Wu Xingxing's bright eyes glanced at Li Qing and she muttered, "He needs someone to scout ahead for a marriage meeting? What's there for me to talk about with you if I'm meeting him for an arranged marriage?"
"Talk about his family background, and maybe your conditions as well," Li Qing said awkwardly.
Right then, a breeze blew and Wu Xingxing's hair, carrying a light fragrance, brushed against Li Qing's face, making his little heart all the more undisciplined.
Although he was staking out the place for Hu Wei, it felt as though he was the one on the marriage meeting.
"As for the conditions and all that, let him come and talk about them himself," Wu Xingxing stated decisively.
"… Well, then I should be going," Li Qing said upon hearing this, awkwardly unsure of what else to say, and took his leave.
"… Oh, okay."
It seemed like Wu Xingxing had something more to say, but Li Qing had already taken his long strides onto the main road.
Li Qing soon found Hu Wei at a corner of the road not far away.
"What are you running for? It's not like she's a flood or a wild beast!"
Hu Wei shook his head like a rattle-drum, his neck fat jiggling noisily, "To me, she is. By the way, did she say anything?"
"She said for you to go talk to her yourself," Li Qing said.
"Damn it, then forget it, I'm not worthy of such a woman," Hu Wei stated bluntly.
Li Qing didn't try to persuade him further.
Wu Xingxing was truly beautiful, like a celestial being.
But from the way she spoke, she seemed to have quite high standards.
A woman like her, probably isn't someone just anyone could win over.
Hu Wei's self-awareness was more or less Li Qing's own thoughts as well.
A woman like that, he wasn't worthy either.