619. Blind Date? 【5/10】
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Grandpa hasn’t been feeling too hot these past few days.
A few days ago, he burned the midnight oil worrying over Great-Grandma, then spent the next few days glued to the mahjong table. As of today, he’s lost that once-invincible swagger, now swaying slightly as he walks.
His eyes are half-open, his skinny frame and slouching back still boast a hint of his past authority, making Lin Nan and Mother think twice before saying anything.
They’ve seen this before.
Grandpa casually lifts his left foot onto a chair, knee peeking above the table, eyeing the middle-aged man in front of him with the enthusiasm of a worn-out sloth.
His gaze, once vacant, sharpens as he straightens up a bit and his brow furrows ever so slightly.
Sitting beside him, Mother instantly tenses up. Her smile freezes into an awkward grimace, making her, once the fierce Class Teacher who could take on the school board, sit up straight like a studious elementary school kid with hands folded on the table—desperately trying to impress.
Although she and Lin Nan are still very much in the honeymoon phase of their romance, it’s a bit premature to introduce parents at this stage.
Yet, this whole meet-the-parents thing is more to reassure Grandpa about Mother’s future than anything else.
As luck would have it, many blind dates have folks meeting at the woman’s home on their first encounters, so this could also be counted as a blind date.
Seeing her Class Teacher in this state nearly makes Lin Nan burst into laughter, though she can only look down, shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
“Dad, this is Lin Nan and Chen Yao’s high school Class Teacher, Mr. Li Zhang,” Mother introduces nervously.
Grandpa nods slightly in acknowledgment and resumes his scrutiny of Lin Nan’s teacher.
Mother’s disastrous marriage has a lot to do with him; had he not rushed her into blind dates and pushed for marriage, she probably wouldn’t have landed that j*rk.
To him back then, Lin Nan’s father seemed like a real man—ambitious, loyal, and responsible. A dependable chap indeed.
Whether they liked each other was irrelevant; they could always grow to love each other post-marriage.
As for male chauvinism, to be honest, you’d be hard-pressed to find a rural man who wasn’t a bit of a throwback two decades ago.
In truth, Lin Nan’s father did become successful over the years—went from a broke village lad to owning a house in the provincial city. It’s just that the moment Lin Nan became a girl, the marriage hit the fan.
Now looking back, that man is definitely not fit to be a husband for his daughter.
At least Lin Nan hasn’t had much joy these past years.
So, while sizing up Lin Nan’s Class Teacher, Grandpa is unusually meticulous, wary of another scumbag trying to pull a fast one on his daughter.
The Class Teacher wears a smile that’s just a tad too eager, bending down to grab a stylishly packaged bottle of Moutai from the floor and plopping it on the table. “Heard you like to drink, so I got this especially for you.”
“Uh-huh.” Grandpa nods blandly.
“I also got Lin Nan some fruit-flavored milk. She’s still young and needs nutrition,” the Class Teacher continues, revisiting old tales of caring for Lin Nan in high school. “Back then, I’d often bring her snacks because she lived alone, and as her Class Teacher, I couldn’t just stand by.”
A flicker of a smile breaks on Grandpa’s face.
The Class Teacher presses on, “Lin Nan often didn’t have adults around; she’d eat out on the street. So, if I had the time, I’d bring her fruit. If she ever skipped breakfast, she’d help herself to milk and bread from my office.”
“Well, you’ve been a commendable Class Teacher,” Grandpa remarks.
“Oh, it’s nothing; Lin Nan is just so sensible and likable,” the Class Teacher beams, warming up. “I considered her like my own daughter back then.”
Grandpa gives a slight nod, then questions, “What are you doing now? Lin Nan mentioned you’re no longer teaching?”
“I’m setting up a stall with Lin Nan’s mom; we can make nearly ten thousand a month!”
Grandpa’s eyebrows raise in surprise; apparently, he didn’t expect that much from a stall.
Meanwhile, the informed ones are silently rolling their eyes: the peak income was seven thousand. Claiming close to ten thousand a month? Let’s just say that’s some generous rounding.
“What’s your family situation like?”
Grandpa clearly has his detective hat on, and the Class Teacher is more than willing to chat, rambling about his family.
Parents are alive and well, with pensions—all those perks that make his retirement a breeze while supporting his marriage. His son just graduated high school with decent grades and is also pressing him to tie the knot.
His ex-wife? Oh, that’s ancient history. Since the divorce, he hasn’t heard from her, and he’s not worried she’ll come back to stir the pot.
He’s got a house and a car—though he conveniently omits details about the still-unpaid mortgage on the house in the county center or that his ride is a slightly worn pickup.
Grandpa seems pleased with what’s on the table and doesn’t mind Lin Nan at all, especially since she didn’t object to anything.
However, the first impression of the Class Teacher takes a hit. Honestly, it’s all about looks; even after trying to comb his hair over his receding hairline, that shiny scalp is still hard to ignore.
Then there’s the beer belly—clearly the result of too little exercise and too many snacks.
Mother jumps on the bandwagon, tossing compliments toward the Class Teacher. She’s gotten a fair bit of help from him while setting up her stall and, after some time together, noticed apart from his love for smoking and drinking, he’s got few other faults.
Maybe he just looks a bit disheveled because he lacks a woman’s touch at home.
Grandpa nods occasionally, showing some surprisingly rare smiles.
Lin Nan and Mother exchange glances, both relieved to see Grandpa’s approval of the Class Teacher.
In a joyous atmosphere, Mother boldly suggests they have a drink.
Grandpa’s smile only deepens those wrinkles, beaming like a kid in a candy store. The Class Teacher quickly pops open the bottle, while Chen Yao dashes to the kitchen for two glasses.
Ever since Great-Grandma’s funeral, Grandma has been stricter with Grandpa, not allowing him a single drop. Lin Nan’s mom has warned Chen Yao that even if Grandpa tries to tempt him, he must refuse to drink secretly.
After all, it’s clear who’s in charge here—there’s no chance to rattle the cage of Lin Nan’s mom. Grandpa only gets to see her during the visits to the village, so naturally, he listens to her.
The Class Teacher pours a small glass for Grandpa, carefully raising it for a toast and a cheer.
Just then, Grandma returns.
She freezes at the door, her face instantly darkening.
Grandpa frantically dumps the drink onto the floor, stealthily shoving the glass under the chair with his body, putting on a serious face, fervently denying the Class Teacher’s toast: “I’ll pass on the drink; I have gout. Drinking is bad for me.”
He may be the boss at home, but he can’t win against Grandma when it comes to drinking; after all, she’s just looking out for his health.
