Modern-Day Matchmaker Yang Su

"Mom, I know what you mean, but Cheng Dongxue did nothing wrong. Our relationship can't just end like this. Besides..."

"Mom, we don't have to live in hardship anymore. Your son went into business with someone and made money. I can support you and take you away from Long'ao."

Zhang Yang straightened his back and told Liu Mei proudly, hoping to put her mind at ease.

"Business?" Liu Mei was puzzled. She had never heard anything about it.

"That's right. I did some business with the Lin Family. A big project." He would have to keep using that excuse, and by now it came easily to him.

"What kind of business?" Liu Mei wasn't so easy to fool.

"Well, restaurants, entertainment, antiques." Zhang Yang rattled off a few things, confident that Liu Mei wouldn't know enough about all of them to question him.

"Oh, that's good!" Liu Mei smiled and looked Zhang Yang over again. In that respect, he took after his father. He even had the same head for business. It was only a matter of time before he made money.

Who would believe their own son was useless?

Zhang Yang cleared all the weeds from the field in one go. At last, they could go home. Mibai had been resting in the shade by the vegetable patch, but now she suddenly bounded out, seized the hoe in her teeth, and ran toward home.

The villagers of Long'ao were surprised to see Zhang Yang returning from the fields with Liu Mei. Zhang Yang was back.

Liu Mei never showed off and had a good reputation in Long'ao. She carried herself like a young lady from a distinguished family, and people had long been curious about her background, but she never spoke of her past.

People said Liu Mei had arrived in Long'ao out of nowhere with Zhang Yang in tow.

Back home, mother and son began preparing lunch. There were only two of them, but the house was lively, especially with Mibai darting about and amusing them. She had kept Liu Mei company and brought her joy.

Lunch was plentiful, and mother and son were happy.

The afternoon sun was fierce. Usually, Liu Mei would rest until it eased before going out to work in the fields again. Today was different. Her son was home, so she would take the afternoon off. Otherwise, Zhang Yang would insist on going out to help her.

A jujube tree stood in the courtyard. It was said that Liu Mei and her son had planted it the day they arrived in Long'ao. After all these years, its branches were still heavy with fruit.

Mother and son sat beneath it, resting in the afternoon and eating the fruit Zhang Yang had brought home. It was a warm, comfortable moment.

Mibai stayed beside them, happy to share in it.

Zhang Yang was too tired to return to the Cheng Family home, so he sent Cheng Dongxue a message saying he would stay in Long'ao that night.

While Zhang Yang enjoyed the mountain breeze and chilled watermelon in Long'ao, something infuriating was unfolding in Gong City.

Cheng Dongxue was about to leave work and go home when a phone call disrupted her plans.

"Mom."

It was Yang Su. Remembering what had happened the night before, Cheng Dongxue could barely muster the energy to answer. She was feeling lethargic.

"Xiao Xue, you're off work, aren't you? We're not eating at home today. We're having dinner at Kane Western Restaurant," Yang Su told Cheng Dongxue cheerfully.

Cheng Dongxue frowned. What was Yang Su up to? Weren't they cooking at home? Was there something to celebrate?

"Mom, why are we eating out?" There was reproach in Cheng Dongxue's voice. The Cheng Family was in a financial crisis, with a five-million-yuan shortfall. They should be saving money, not going out for Western food.

And Kane Western Restaurant was expensive. A meal there could run into the tens of thousands of yuan in no time. She remembered taking Zhang Yang there before they married, but it had gone badly. He had embarrassed himself.

"Don't worry about that. Someone else is paying. Come quickly. Mom's waiting for you here. You can make it in ten minutes, right? Ten minutes!"

As if there were a time limit on a free meal, Yang Su set a deadline for Cheng Dongxue to reach Kane Western Restaurant.

"Mom..."

Beep, beep...

Cheng Dongxue didn't want to go, but before she could explain or refuse, Yang Su hung up, leaving her no chance to do either.

"Mom, I'm not coming!" Cheng Dongxue had no appetite for Western food. All she wanted was to go home, so she sent Yang Su a message.

"You little brat, you have to come. The future of our family's company depends on this." Yang Su replied at once, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Cheng Dongxue frowned and sighed, then went to get her car and headed straight for Kane Western Restaurant.

Kane Western Restaurant wasn't far from Cheng Dongxue's office, but it was rush hour and traffic was terrible. All the way there, Yang Su kept sending messages and calling to hurry her along.

By the time Cheng Dongxue reached Kane Western Restaurant, nearly half an hour had passed.

"Xiao Xue, why did you take so long? How rude!" Yang Su complained the moment she saw Cheng Dongxue arrive, breathless from the journey.

Cheng Dongxue glanced over. There were only two people: Yang Su and a young man in a sharp suit and designer watch who looked every inch a successful businessman.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Traffic was bad." Cheng Dongxue didn't know who he was, but he was clearly the one treating them, so she apologized.

The young man inclined his head with a smile. "No problem. It's rush hour. That's to be expected."

"Long time no see!" The young man suddenly stood and offered Cheng Dongxue his hand.

Startled, Cheng Dongxue shot Yang Su a sidelong glance, then politely shook his hand despite her awkwardness.

Long time no see? That means we've met before, or at least know each other. But I've never seen him. I don't remember him at all. How can he say that?

"Xiao Xue, have you forgotten? You met at a networking event. Mr. Xu is a successful businessman. He owns a company with more than a hundred employees!" Yang Su reminded her, heaping praise on the young man.

"You're too kind, Auntie. It's just a small company. Annual revenue is only a few tens of millions." Pleased by Yang Su's praise, Mr. Xu began to brag.

Cheng Dongxue still couldn't remember him. She doubted she would have befriended someone like that anyway. He was unbearably boastful; one compliment had gone straight to his head.

"Xiao Xue, Mr. Xu really likes you. You two talk. I'm getting older, so I need to visit the restroom and touch up my makeup."

With that, Yang Su left Cheng Dongxue alone with Mr. Xu, a complete stranger.

"You're awfully forgetful. You don't even recognize me, Xu Mingxian!" Mr. Xu sounded displeased, openly accusing Cheng Dongxue of putting on airs.

Anger rose in Cheng Dongxue's chest. The man was insufferably arrogant. Was she supposed to know Xu Mingxian? Who was he, a national leader?

Despite her anger, Cheng Dongxue could see that Yang Su had done this deliberately. She was practically playing matchmaker.

Cheng Dongxue blamed Yang Su. She was a married woman. How could her mother introduce her to another man, then bluntly announce that he liked her?

Was she out of her mind?

"I'm sorry." Angry as she was, Cheng Dongxue answered politely. After all, her mother had said this man could help the Cheng Family through its financial crisis and cover the shortfall.