“Will You Consider It?”
“Dumplings are ready!”
The server’s shout temporarily rescued Qin Shi. She smiled at the enthusiastic woman and quickly walked over to the food window to pick up her dumplings.
As soon as Qin Shi placed her bowl on the table and was about to pull out a chair, the woman eagerly sat down next to her.
“Young lady, I know someone with excellent conditions,” the woman said, her eyes shining. “You eat while I talk. If you don’t like what you hear, just pretend I never said anything. No hard feelings, okay?”
Qin Shi hesitated but then nodded, “Go ahead.”
The woman beamed and began her pitch immediately, “This man graduated from a military academy. He’s 28 and already a regiment commander, with a private house allotted to him! The house is 80 square meters, and his monthly salary is 80 yuan!”
“He’s 185 cm tall, handsome, doesn’t smoke, drink, or gamble.”
“Such good conditions?” the server asked, echoing Qin Shi’s thoughts.
The woman’s smile faltered slightly, and she sighed, “To be honest, this man is my second son. His conditions are really good, but…”
“But he’s been married before and has three children.”
“Uh, this…” the server glanced at Qin Shi, thinking she was quite a catch herself. What kind of match was this?
The woman hurriedly continued, “But the three children aren’t his! They’re from his comrades who sacrificed their lives for the country! Although he was married before, he went on a mission right after the wedding, and they spent more time apart than together.”
“My former daughter-in-law was also a knowledgeable woman from the military district. She couldn’t stand him being away all the time and couldn’t take care of the kids. After a year, they divorced.”
The woman started to tear up, “My son is busy serving the country, so I stepped in to help with the kids. But I’m getting old, and after a few years, I couldn’t keep up. Plus, my husband isn’t in good health, so I had to return to my hometown.”
“I’ve been thinking about finding him a new match, and then I met you!”
“I was just sent back, and right after, I heard two of the kids got sick. I’m so worried!”
Though they weren’t his biological children, they had been raised by him from a young age, so there were strong emotional bonds. The woman looked at Qin Shi, genuinely saying, “I noticed you’re different from others, really kind and gentle with children, so I thought of you. Please don’t take offense, just consider it casually.”
She wasn’t foolish. She could tell Qin Shi was well-mannered, educated, and beautiful, unlikely to want to be a stepmother. Speaking about this was a spur-of-the-moment decision, driven by worry for the sick children and seeing Qin Shi’s good character.
Qin Shi put down her chopsticks and asked, “What’s the specific situation? How old are the children? Where is the unit located?”
The woman’s eyes widened in surprise, not expecting there to be any hope.
“The unit is in X City, close to the supply and marketing cooperative, where everything is available and nothing is lacking! The eldest is a boy, nine years old and in third grade. The second is a girl, and the third is a boy—they’re fraternal twins, both just four years old. They’re very well-behaved. The eldest helps me with chores every day, and the two little ones are easy to manage. As long as they’re fed, they don’t fuss.”
The woman grabbed Qin Shi’s hand and added, “If you’re truly willing, why don’t you meet my second son later? He’s out on errands but will be back soon. I’m not one to interfere in your lives. As long as you two can live well together, I won’t meddle at all!”
Qin Shi remained silent, lowering her eyes in thought.
If what the woman said was true, this option was far better than Lu Cai’s. It would allow her to move far away, escaping the original family’s constraints. If she had to be a stepmother to three children, she’d prefer better conditions. From her memories, Lu Cai’s mother wasn’t easy to deal with—she was quite fierce. Moreover, Lu Cai himself was known to be abusive.
Thinking of this, Qin Shi looked up and said, “I can have a look first.”
Let’s see what this regiment commander is like. Maybe he’s really good.
“Great! No problem! He’ll be here soon. Please, sit down,” the woman said, delighted. She pulled Qin Shi over and started asking about her background.
When she learned that Qin Shi was a high school student and had even been accepted into a university, she was even more pleased.
As they were chatting, a tall man in a military uniform walked in. Qin Shi squinted slightly, carefully observing the man walking in against the light.
He walked with his head held high, chest out, and back straight. His posture was upright and commanding, exuding the aura of a soldier.
He was quite handsome, with well-defined features, though a bit tanned. However, he looked very manly and gave off a strong sense of security.
“This is my second son, Lu Zetian,” Lu’s mother called out, waving to him. “Quick, come over here!”
Still unaware of what was happening, Lu Zetian walked over to their table and sat down. He politely nodded at Qin Shi, then looked at his mother with some confusion, “Mom.”
Weren’t we supposed to eat? Why haven’t we ordered yet?
Lu’s mother said, “This is Qin Shi. Accompany her to buy some things, and then come back to eat.”
At first, Lu Zetian didn’t understand what was going on, but seeing his mother’s smile and the look in her eyes, he suddenly realized.
Lu Zetian frowned slightly in his heart, not expecting his mother to pull such a stunt. However, since the young lady was already sitting there, he couldn’t refuse. He had to agree, planning to explain things properly to Qin Shi once they were outside.
“Take good care of her,” Lu’s mother said with a beaming smile, watching them leave the state-run restaurant, unable to take her eyes off their retreating figures.
They make such a good-looking couple! she thought.
Finally, the server, who had been watching the commotion, spoke up, “Are you still eating or not?”
“Yes! Of course, I am! Give me an order of braised pork and dumplings!” Lu’s mother responded loudly.
Walking down the street, Qin Shi and Lu Zetian, with some distance between them, finally spoke when they reached a quieter area.
“You…”
“You…”
They started simultaneously and then stopped in unison.
Neither Qin Shi nor Lu Zetian were the type to be shy or awkward. Despite the awkwardness of this arranged meeting, neither of them reacted too strongly.
Qin Shi had developed a thick skin from her experiences in modern times, while Lu Zetian’s straightforward nature helped him handle the situation.
“You go first,” Qin Shi said, smiling slightly at Lu Zetian.
Lu Zetian didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, “My mother should have told you about my situation, right?”
Qin Shi nodded.
“I’m not looking for a partner just because the children need care. That would be looking for a nanny, not a wife,” Lu Zetian said, his expression serious. “I don’t know how my mother explained it to you, but if you’re not willing, I don’t want to burden you. I’ll handle everything, so you don’t need to worry.”
This whole situation was abrupt, and Lu Zetian had no idea how his mother found a match for him on the street. Before returning, he had already refused his mother’s help in finding a partner.
Qin Shi nodded slightly, “I understand.”
Just from Lu Zetian’s words, Qin Shi knew his values were upright. Marrying him wouldn’t be a bad choice. If she had to be a stepmother anyway, it would be better to do so with someone reliable, good-looking, and with sound values.
Lu Zetian’s serious expression relaxed a bit after hearing Qin Shi’s response. But just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Qin Shi spoke again.
“I’m willing.”
Lu Zetian looked at her in surprise.
Qin Shi turned to face him, openly sharing her family situation and the issues with Lu Cai.
“You need someone to take care of the children, and I need you to help me leave here. I don’t want to marry Lu Cai, nor do I want my family to drain me and sell my university spot.”
“I will seriously raise and educate the three children into adults, and take care of your food and daily life. If we need to act like a loving couple, I have no problem with that either.”
“And all you need to do is cover all the family expenses and… pay me a salary. Of course, I’ll keep detailed accounts and ensure transparency, no fakes.”
Lu Zetian was taken aback, “…?”
Qin Shi, seeing Lu Zetian a bit stunned, flashed her signature business smile. “Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Qin Shi, 24 years old, accepted into the English department at C University. I have excellent cooking skills, various talents, and special techniques for taking care of children.”
“What a nanny can do, I can do too. What a nanny can’t do, I can still do. Hiring me can solve your worries.”
“We can have a contract marriage. We can detail everything in the agreement and discuss the specifics gradually.”
Qin Shi tilted her head slightly, smiling brightly at Lu Zetian. “Think it over?”
“…”
“…”
Lu Zetian remained silent. The usually steady and calm regiment commander felt so conflicted that he didn’t know what expression to show. For the first time, he encountered a woman as bold, rational, and courageous as Qin Shi.
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