Chapter 68: Ladies First, Bottoms Up

Chen Dabao rode his motorcycle to the Five Lakes Restaurant.

Just as he arrived at the entrance, he happened to see Li Zhuang walking out with a few people. The person in the lead was a woman in her late thirties with heavy makeup, followed by a woman in her twenties.

"Xiaoqian, goodbye!"

Li Zhuang watched them off and put them into the van with a lingering reluctance.

"Goodbye!"

The woman in her twenties smiled reservedly and pulled the van door shut.

"Li Zhuang, Xiaoqian is very satisfied with you. You should put some effort into this. Take her to the city for a movie tonight and be a bit more generous with your spending. I think this will work out!"

The heavily made-up woman gave her instructions, smiled cheerfully, and got into the vehicle to leave.

Seeing them off, Chen Dabao rode his motorcycle closer.

"Zhuangzi, who were those people?" Chen Dabao asked out of curiosity.

"Those are matchmakers from the town. They set me up on a blind date!" Li Zhuang scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

Previously, Li Zhuang's father was ill, and with their limited family conditions, he had no mind to look for a girlfriend.

Now that his father had recovered, people naturally came to introduce prospective partners to Li Zhuang. His parents were also hoping he could settle down and start a family soon, constantly urging him to meet people.

Meeting today, the young woman had been shy and reserved, looking like someone who knew how to live a grounded life.

Li Zhuang was quite satisfied with her.

"A blind date?"

Chen Dabao frowned, hesitating as if he had something to say.

Although he had only glanced at her briefly, with his current medical skills, Chen Dabao could tell at a single look that the woman named Xiaoqian was no pushover.

"What's wrong, Dabao?"

Seeing Chen Dabao hesitate, Li Zhuang quickly asked.

"That Xiaoqian just now probably isn't very suitable for marriage," Chen Dabao chose his words carefully and said tactfully, "She might have had quite a few boyfriends in the past."

Chen Dabao was putting it mildly. By his judgment, the number of boyfriends Xiaoqian had could not even be counted on both hands, and she had likely undergone at least three or four abortions.

Unless such a woman was truly willing to turn over a new leaf, how could she possibly be willing to live an honest, settled life?

"Dabao, how does that saying go? Whose new love isn't someone else's old flame? Which woman hasn't had a few relationships these days? Given my situation, it's already pretty good if I can find any woman to marry!"

Li Zhuang let out a self-deprecating laugh, his expression filled with disappointment.

"Zhuangzi, that Xiaoqian probably isn't just someone who's had a few relationships!" Chen Dabao frowned. It was very likely that Xiaoqian was a sex worker.

Even if she wasn't, she certainly led a very wild lifestyle.

If Li Zhuang really ended up with her, he would likely face endless trouble.

"Dabao, I understand what you mean. As long as she's willing to turn over a new leaf, I'll pretend I know nothing about her past. My family is urging me to get married, and given my circumstances, I can't afford to be picky. Anything is better than being a bachelor my whole life. I don't have much ability, so even if I end up raising someone else's kids, it's just my fate!"

Li Zhuang gave a bitter yet optimistic smile.

Chen Dabao shook his head helplessly. The lives of ordinary folks were simply too hard; Li Zhuang had been broken by the weight of life and had resigned himself to his fate.

"Zhuangzi, I'm afraid this woman might be a scammer. You still need to keep your guard up. If it really doesn't work out, forget about it. Once I make some money, I'll take you along to get rich!"

Chen Dabao didn't know how else to persuade him, so he could only offer this warning.

"That sounds great, I'll be counting on you to make me rich then!" Li Zhuang smiled, not taking Chen Dabao's words to heart. In this day and age, without connections, background, or resorting to shady shortcuts, how could getting rich ever be that easy? "Dabao, are you here to see Sister Ya? Sister Ya has been staying in the city these past few days and hasn't come back yet."

Having fallen out with Zhang Biao and fearing he would capture her again, Chen Ya had been staying in town for the past few days and had not returned.

"If she's not back, then whatever. I'll head back first!"

Seeing that Chen Ya was not around, Chen Dabao rode his motorcycle back to Taohua Village.

When he returned to the village, Xia Xiaoxue was already busy preparing dinner, acting just like Chen Dabao's young wife.

Liu Qiang's wife was nowhere to be seen, nor had he come looking for her.

"Dabao, today is my birthday. Let's have a drink tonight!"

Xia Xiaoxue said suddenly while they were eating.

"Well... just one drink then!"

Chen Dabao hesitated. Remembering that Xia Xiaoxue was homeless and rather pitiful, he didn't refuse. Besides, it was just one drink, so it wouldn't lead to any drunken mistakes.

"Okay, just one drink!"

A bright, lovely smile bloomed on Xia Xiaoxue's pretty face.

After dinner, Chen Dabao went into his room to cultivate.

Xia Xiaoxue bustled about, even making a special trip to the small grocery store at the village entrance to buy a bottle of Luzhou Laojiao. When Chen Dabao came out of his room that evening, Xia Xiaoxue had already prepared a full table of dishes.

Three vegetarian dishes, two meat dishes, and a bottle of liquor.

"Dabao, pour the drinks, let's have one first. I propose this toast to you, thank you for saving me last time!" Xia Xiaoxue raised her wine glass, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chen Dabao, and downed the contents in one go.

With the fiery liquor sliding down her throat, Xia Xiaoxue's bright and captivating face was instantly stained with a blush, making her look even more alluring.

"Sister Xiaoxue, wait!"

Chen Dabao was too late to stop her, watching helplessly as Xia Xiaoxue finished her entire glass of wine in one breath. Didn't they agree on just one drink? How could she have finished the whole glass before they even took a bite of food?

"Dabao, it's fine, your sister has a high alcohol tolerance. I've finished mine, drink at your own pace!"

Xia Xiaoxue said with bold spirit, and after speaking, poured herself another glass.

"Then I'll just drink half of mine, I can't drink like that!"

Chen Dabao hesitated and said helplessly.

Since Xia Xiaoxue had already finished a full glass, he would feel embarrassed to drink only a tiny sip, so he could only resignedly drink half a glass.

"Dabao, have some food!"

Xia Xiaoxue looked at Chen Dabao with sparkling eyes, picking up food for him. After eating for a while, she raised her glass again with a smile at the corners of her mouth. Her pretty face looked like a finely carved sculpture, her skin as white as snow, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and her beautiful eyes gazing at Chen Dabao with intense focus. "Dabao, today is my birthday, and you haven't wished me a happy birthday yet!"

Xia Xiaoxue truly was one of the top beauties in Taohua Village. Under the lights, that bashful yet charming face possessed a breathtaking beauty.

"Sister Xiaoxue, happy birthday to you, and may you stay just as pretty every year!"

Chen Dabao had no choice but to raise his glass and offer the simple, unadorned wish.

"Thank you Dabao, your sister will finish hers, drink as you please!"

Xia Xiaoxue raised her glass and downed it in one go once more, the rosy flush on her pretty face spreading wider.

"Sister Xiaoxue, if you keep drinking like this, I'm going to get drunk soon!" Chen Dabao said with a helpless expression, having no choice but to drink another half-glass. He knew his own limit; with these small one-tael cups, three or four at most was his threshold, and drinking like this would surely knock him out.

"So what if you're drunk? We're at home, if you get drunk, you can just go straight to sleep!" Xia Xiaoxue didn't mind at all and continued urging Chen Dabao to eat. After three rounds of drinks, Chen Dabao unconsciously began to feel warm and flushed, a slight buzz hitting his head.

Suddenly, an alluring figure slid right into his lap.

"Dabao, I like you!"

Xia Xiaoxue wrapped her arms around Chen Dabao's neck, gazing at him boldly with alluring red lips slowly drawing close to his.