Brother, How About I Find You a Girlfriend?

Tao Jianshe and Tao Bo sat in the lounge on the first floor.

Tao Bo hadn't really understood how serious his uncle's illness was. Even cancer had always felt very far away from him.

But after coming here and seeing his uncle, he felt a sadness he couldn't quite put into words.

Among the whole family, his second uncle was one of the people Tao Bo feared most. He had a tough, gangster-like air about him and a fierce look.

But now?

He was thin, and his hair was gone. It was just like when Tao Bo had realized, as a child, that his grandfather was getting old.

"Dad, can Second Uncle's illness really not be cured?"

Tao Jianshe patted Tao Bo on the shoulder. "The King of Cancers. It'll be difficult."

"Then Zhi Chu's almost..."

Tao Jianshe sighed. "Yeah. That's why I agreed with your mom coming to stay for a while. When trouble comes, it always strikes the weakest point. Your Zhi Chu brother hasn't had an easy time these past twenty years. If you have time, talk to him more and help him shoulder some of the burden."

Tao Bo nodded.

He'd been pretty happy at first. Not only had his parents decided not to make him study at his second uncle's restaurant, but they were also sending his mom away for half a month.

Wouldn't that mean he could...

But the sight of his second uncle looking so miserable had dampened his joy. He also felt that Zhi Chu brother was rather pitiful.

Tang Xiuju had a fiery temper. Once she made up her mind, she acted immediately. After staying at the hospital for half an hour, she went home with Tao Jianshe.

They went back to pack her things so she could move in with Tang Zhi Chu. There happened to be a spare bedroom.

Tao Bo stayed behind. His parents had asked him to keep Tang Zhi Chu company.

Tang Zhi Chu took Tao Bo home. Since his aunt was moving in, he couldn't make her do everything, so he wanted to tidy up in advance.

Tao Bo kept watching his cousin.

His cousin looked like nothing was wrong, but Tao Bo felt he had to be sad deep down.

He was so pitiful. He was about my age, and he didn't smoke or drink.

At the dinner table, he even had to take care of my difficult mom.

Tao Bo knew how hard it was to keep his mom happy.

He even suspected that his dad had agreed so readily to let her move in not because he wanted to take care of Second Uncle and his cousin.

He probably wanted a chance to relax, too.

His cousin was so quick at housework, even faster than Mom.

How pitiful. You could tell at a glance that he was always doing chores.

That made sense. Second Uncle didn't look like the sort of person who'd do housework. He looked like a mobster—terrifying. Good thing my dad was mild-mannered.

Though Mom could be a bit fierce, my cousin's mom...

The more Tao Bo thought about it, the worse he felt. He went to the bathroom, found a mop, and started helping out.

"Brother."

Tang Zhi Chu was changing the sheets and duvet cover in the spare bedroom. When he heard Tao Bo call him, he turned around.

Tao Bo stood in the doorway, holding a mop in one hand and his phone in the other.

"What's up?" Tang Zhi Chu asked.

Tao Bo swiped around on his phone for a while, then said, "Brother, how about I find you a girlfriend? Look, here's a photo. She's pretty."

Tang Zhi Chu was stunned. He had no idea what this kid was up to.

"Really, look! I used to have a crush on her. She's pretty and gentle, and most importantly, she knows how to take care of people." When his cousin didn't reply, Tao Bo moved closer and held out his phone for Tang Zhi Chu to see.

Tang Zhi Chu smiled. "If you liked her, why didn't you pursue her? And how do you know she's gentle and good at taking care of people?"

Tao Bo smiled awkwardly before answering. "Because... because she's my best friend's girlfriend. My buddy told me all kinds of things about them. She's really gentle, and she can cook, too."

Tang Zhi Chu: "????"

Tao Bo said, "Really, Zhi Chu brother, I'm not lying. She and my buddy broke up. I was thinking of giving it a try, but you're my cousin, so I'll set you up with her instead."

Tang Zhi Chu turned back to keep changing the duvet cover. Thanks, I guess. I'm sure your buddy thanks you, too.

"No need. I'm not looking to date."

"That's okay, brother. Our situation might be a little complicated, but you're handsome. This girl's a bit of a hopeless romantic, and she likes handsome guys. I think you've got a shot."

Tang Zhi Chu stopped responding. This guy seemed a little slow on the uptake.

When his cousin ignored him, Tao Bo shook his head. Maybe his cousin was worried he'd be getting in the girl's way.

Tao Bo stopped pushing and went back to mopping.

Just then, Tang Zhi Chu's phone vibrated. He took it out and saw a number he'd only saved that morning.

"I'm just about finished over here. How about you?"

"Me too, more or less."

"Want me to come pick you up?"

Tang Zhi Chu thought for a moment, then replied, "Sure. The address is..."

Half an hour later, everything was almost ready. Tang Zhi Chu nodded with satisfaction, then took a shower and changed into a decent outfit.

Tao Bo was a little confused. Then he remembered that, at lunch, his cousin had said he was taking part in a dating show.

"Brother, are you going to that dating show?"

Tang Zhi Chu nodded.

"Is it one of those dating shows on Penguin Video?"

"More or less."

"Wow, are the female guests really pretty? And are they all rich?"

Tang Zhi Chu nodded as he searched for his keys.

"But don't feel bad if things don't work out, Zhi Chu brother. Those girls aren't suitable for marriage. If you're looking for a girlfriend, I still think you should find someone with a good temper who knows how to take care of people."

Tang Zhi Chu cut Tao Bo off. "Are you coming with me to the restaurant, or are you staying here? Here, take a set of keys and give them to your mom later."

Tao Bo took the keys. "Then I'll come with you to the restaurant."

At five o'clock, customers were already arriving at Old Tang Sichuan Restaurant.

The kitchen was getting busy. Little Fatty spun the wok at lightning speed, flames flying everywhere.

Tang Zhi Chu picked up some things they'd agreed on at lunchtime, then headed out.

At the entrance, Tang Zhi Chu carried two bags, and Tao Bo carried two as well.

Tao Bo looked puzzled. "Brother, what are we doing?"

"Waiting for someone," Tang Zhi Chu replied.

Less than three minutes later, a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon pulled up outside the restaurant.

The door opened, and a woman in business attire stepped out.

Tao Bo quickly nudged Tang Zhi Chu and said with a lovestruck look, "Brother, look! A fairy!"

Jiang Lan was still wearing her work clothes: a white shirt, a fitted skirt that fell below her thighs, and smooth, slightly glossy black stockings.

Jiang Lan waved to Tang Zhi Chu with easy confidence.

Tang Zhi Chu walked over.

"What's this?" Jiang Lan asked curiously, looking at the bags in Tang Zhi Chu's hands.

Tang Zhi Chu lifted the bags. "Pickled Pepper Chicken Feet and Spicy Crayfish. They're from my restaurant, so you can trust the ingredients."

Jiang Lan's eyes lit up. "Wow, then I'm in for a treat tonight!"

Tang Zhi Chu noticed Tao Bo hadn't come over. He turned around and called, "Xiao Bo, come over!"

Tao Bo snapped out of it and hurried over.

"This is my cousin, Tao Bo."

Jiang Lan smiled softly. "Hello, I'm Jiang Lan."

In the sunlight, she looked just like a stylish city woman who'd stepped out of a TV show. She was still smiling, and she seemed so gentle. Tao Bo's face turned bright red, and he couldn't even get a proper hello out.

Tang Zhi Chu handed the bags in his hands to Jiang Lan, then took the bags Tao Bo was carrying.

"This is fish from the Yangtze. I'll make Steamed Mandarin Fish tonight. And this is Free-range Chicken, bought through the restaurant's supplier. You might not be able to find it at the market." Tang Zhi Chu explained what was in the bags he was holding.

Jiang Lan was delighted. So he'd already made plans. She'd spent all lunchtime wondering what to cook that evening.

"Not bad, not bad. Get in the car. Bye, cousin!" Jiang Lan said, barely able to wait.

It was her turn to cook with Tang Zhi Chu today.

Tao Bo said, "Bye-bye!"

He watched the flashy city SUV drive off. It took him quite a while to come back to his senses. Then he took out his phone.

A moment later, Tao Bo gritted his teeth and deleted the photo of his best friend's ex-girlfriend—the one he'd been planning to introduce to his cousin.