25: A call from my mom urging me to get married

"What did you say?"

Li Mubai looked astonished.

He was still a bit unsure if what he had just heard was true.

"Didn't you say I could stay at your place for a night? It won't cost anything, and I can learn more about the Steel Factory. How good is that?"

Ruan Xiu's expression was calm.

Just now.

She had seen the price tags at the hotel and guesthouse.

Even a single room wasn't cheap.

This was clearly a county town, yet the prices were ridiculously high.

If she stayed at a hotel for one night.

It could be her living expenses for several days.

Although she didn't need to pay, she really didn't want to owe any more favors.

Just two days ago.

She used the salary Li Mubai had advanced her to help her family with medical treatment and escape their difficulties.

Just this one favor, she didn't know how to repay it.

Favors are the hardest to repay, regardless of their size.

This was something her mother often said.

So.

If possible, she didn't want to owe Li Mubai any more favors.

Although staying at someone's house seemed presumptuous, it was also a good opportunity to assess Li Mubai's character.

She wasn't conceited, nor did she think she was particularly beautiful.

But when she was at the academy.

She had also met some company bosses.

Those people had, both openly and subtly, conveyed to her some ideas about supporting her.

Furthermore.

At the academy, many peers had pursued her.

But she had rejected them all.

She came to study to gain dignity for herself and her family.

Now that her studies were nearing their end, she was about to dedicate herself to her career and to the construction of her motherland.

If she agreed to be supported by someone, enjoying wealth through such means, then what would her twenty years of arduous study amount to?

She clearly knew.

Even if she possessed some beauty, what did it matter?

Decades later, she would still be wrinkled, her temples frosted, and her movements slow.

At that time, how much of her youthful beauty would remain?

Beauty and charm would eventually fade.

Only the knowledge gained over these decades would remain in her mind, unchanging, and no one could take it away.

Not even time.

Of course.

If she developed Alzheimer's or other unforeseen accidents occurred, that would be another matter.

But before that.

The knowledge in her mind could sustain her for the rest of her life.

This was her pursuit, not abandoning effort and directly submitting to another's will, to be played with.

Such glory was false, humiliating, and a mockery of the knowledge in her mind!

Even if the struggle was hard, she would not choose to do that!

Without enduring bitter cold, how could one appreciate the fragrance of plum blossoms?

"No! How can that be?"

"You're an unmarried young woman. If you stay at my house, what will others think?"

Li Mubai refused without even thinking.

His parents were still at home.

If he brought her home, with Li Mother's personality, he would truly be unable to explain himself.

He's quite proper, isn't he? Ruan Xiu's lips curved into a smile:

"Why not?"

"No means no, why so many questions?"

Li Mubai didn't want to get tangled up in this issue, so he immediately pushed his bicycle and continued forward, looking for a hotel.

Just then.

His old-fashioned phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

Ding-a-ling...

Li Mubai stopped, holding the bike with one hand and pulling the old phone out of his pocket to look.

On the phone's pale yellow small display screen, a single character appeared—Mom.

The call connected.

"Hello, Mom, what's up?"

"Son, I've arranged a matchmaker for you. Tonight at 8 PM, Luhu Hotel. You can go meet the girl then."

"Of course, if you don't come home tonight, that's even better!"

Hearing this, Li Mubai was dumbfounded.

What the heck?

Just because he took Ruan Xiu to find a hotel, it delayed him a bit, and he might come home late.

How did it suddenly turn into a blind date?!

"Mom, you're not joking, are you? Why so sudden?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"Now that the Steel Factory's business is doing well, and your career is stable, it's time to find a wife."

"Your mother, at your age, had already conceived you."

"If you marry and have children sooner, your mother can still move around and help you with the kids."

"If I wait until I can't move, you'll have to support your elders and raise your young ones, you'll be exhausted!"

Li Mubai was speechless, unsure how to respond.

Currently.

His mind was entirely focused on the Steel Factory; he had no time to consider such matters.

The development path of the Steel Factory was long and arduous.

Subsequently, he would need to recruit other professionals and then expand the Steel Factory.

To expand the factory area, he would also need to negotiate with the county.

If it wasn't successful, the Steel Factory would inevitably have to relocate.

This was just one aspect.

Secondly.

As for the current Steel Factory, its infrastructure simply couldn't support the manufacturing of tanks and airplanes.

Not to mention the later production of precision instruments like lithography machines.

All these things required him to recruit technical personnel, then process machine tools, and lay the foundation.

Otherwise, without a foundation, the realization of other technologies would be out of the question.

As for marriage?

That really wasn't something he should be considering at the moment.

"Mom. I can't think about all that right now. The Steel Factory still has many shortcomings that I need to address. How can I have the time to go on a blind date?"

"Establish a family, then a career. First the family, then the career."

"Besides, I'm not asking you to go on a blind date during your working hours, so why can't you?"

"You, young man, must go tonight, otherwise, you'll have it coming when you get home."

"I..."

Li Mubai still wanted to retort.

But a 'beep-beep' sound came from the other end of the phone.

He looked at the phone in his hand.

His mother had already hung up.

Her attitude was very clear.

If he didn't go on the blind date tonight, he would probably be subjected to a 'tightening-hoop spell' when he got home.

Even Sun Wukong couldn't withstand it, so of course, he didn't dare to resist.

"Mom must have been stimulated by something. This blind date came too suddenly!"

Close to tears.

Li Mubai turned his head and saw Ruan Xiu, a smile on her face.

Although their conversation wasn't on speakerphone.

Just by listening to Li Mubai's replies, Ruan Xiu had guessed most of the content.

Seeing that Li Mubai was also being urged to marry by his mother, she couldn't help but think of herself.

Before she pursued her doctorate, her mother had also urged her in the same way.

She said to go on a blind date and get married before starting her doctorate, otherwise, she would be too old after finishing it.

People's joys and sorrows might not be the same, but they were remarkably similar.

So, seeing that even her boss, Li Mubai, was subjected to the 'urging to marry' treatment, she couldn't help but feel a little amused.

Seeing the other person laughing at him.

Li Mubai originally wanted to return an indifferent smile.

But then he thought, hadn't she said she wanted to go to his house?

If he could bring Ruan Xiu back, wouldn't he be able to handle the blind date arranged by his mother?

Thinking this.

Li Mubai couldn't help but give Ruan Xiu a mysterious smile.

Ruan Xiu, who had initially found it amusing, felt a sudden sense of unease when she saw the smile on Li Mubai's face.

That look was... There are always troublesome commoners trying to harm me!