QTIMP -Chapter 43 Character Persona – Greedy (Part 43)

“After all, she’s not bad-looking, her family conditions are decent, and she has a job. What more could I possibly ask for?”

The moment he finished speaking, he saw Qin Bei getting agitated again and about to reach out, so he quickly pressed his hand down.

“Let me finish. Now that I know she’s a troublemaker who’d wreck a household, I’d have to be crazy to marry a woman like that. Big Brother marrying a woman like Sister-in-law is already a cautionary tale. If I had to spend my life with someone like that, I might as well die. Alright, go prepare for your wedding with your wife. Stop worrying about useless things.”

He shook his shoulders and turned to leave, but after taking just one step, Qin Bei grabbed him back. Just as he was about to flare up, he heard Qin Bei say:

“Third Brother, you don’t understand what kind of person Feng Yu is. If you dare reject her, she’d ruin your reputation.”

“Ruin my reputation?” Qin Nan shuddered at the phrase.

Qin Bei nodded firmly.

“Well then…” Qin Nan felt helpless. How could anyone guard against a thief forever?

Qin Bei’s eyes shifted. “Brother, hurry up and find someone. Get married once and for all—that’ll solve everything.”

Qin Nan gritted his teeth. “You really are my dear little brother. You can come up with anything. If I could find someone that easily, would I have let you get married before me?”

Qin Bei waved dismissively. “That’s not a problem. As long as you’re willing. I’ll have Qiuqiu call out at her workplace later, and you just get ready for blind dates!”

With that, he turned and left the alley, mounted his bicycle, and rode off.

Only after Qin Nan came back to his senses did he stomp his foot in anger. “Qin Old Fourth, you’re really something!” He could already imagine the grand spectacle of blind dates awaiting him.

To be fair, his conditions weren’t bad at all. He had a stable job and good looks. Though he had many brothers, they all had work. With the countryside relocation policies being pushed so urgently, many families were eager to marry off their daughters to avoid being sent down.

He truly hadn’t planned to look for someone yet. He’d wanted to save up enough to buy a small single room. As for buying a courtyard like his fourth brother’s wife—he didn’t even dare dream of it; he couldn’t afford that.

But now, stirred up by his fourth brother like this, the thought alone sent a chill down his spine.

The next day, Qin Bei went to take Si Qiu to work. After helping her tidy up the office, several colleagues who had come in praised him.

“Qin Bei is really diligent! He’s practically one of our unit’s staff already. Have you set the wedding date yet?”

Now that was hitting the key point. Qin Bei shook out the rag and hung it under the washbasin stand.

“Not yet. I still have a third brother above me. Although he says he doesn’t mind, I don’t feel right about it. So I’m wondering if anyone could introduce him to someone. If it works out, we could even hold our weddings together. Or they could go first and we follow later.”

The moment he said this, everyone in the office who had daughters of marriageable age began to take interest.

“Does your third brother have any requirements?”

“His marriage conditions are about the same as mine.”

He said that because, on the surface, the Qin family had given 200 yuan and some ration coupons. Everything else—including the house—had been prepared by Si Qiu.

Of course, everyone knew he had contributed money too. But officially, he only kept a few yuan from his monthly wages, plus a bit from outside labor work—at most a little over ten yuan. After just over a year, how much could he have saved?

“So we’re hoping to find a sensible girl, preferably from a simple family background. Looks can be ordinary. It’d be best if she has a job. If she doesn’t, well, since our family is giving such a generous bride price, the bride’s family shouldn’t give too little in dowry either, right?”

Everyone fell silent. They understood perfectly well what Qin Bei meant: either the bride comes with a job, or the dowry matches the bride price.

Those 200 yuan wouldn’t leave a single cent for the bride’s natal family—they’d even have to add some money and prepare bedding and such. Of course, that was also Qin Nan’s intention.

“Aiya, even with those conditions, it’s still not as good as Qiuqiu’s situation. Besides, if the things come back with the bride, the young couple’s life will be more comfortable.”

Director Li said a word before returning to her office. Qin Bei hurried off to work too.

But thanks to his “publicity,” quite a number of people really did introduce girls to Qin Nan.

Qin Nan soon found himself living a life of at least three blind dates a day. Even his sister-in-law introduced her own cousin, though Qin Nan rejected her.

After a few days, he was driven nearly crazy. Unable to bear it any longer, he came to find Si Qiu to help mediate. Mainly because he believed his fourth brother had no authority at home anyway.

So that evening after work, Si Qiu and Xiao Xue were planning to buy some cotton. The moment they stepped out, they saw Qin Nan standing outside the door.

The young man had handsome features. In his work uniform, he looked neat and clean-cut. His height was about the same as Qin Bei’s.

He greeted them with a smile first, appearing bright and cheerful. “Si Qiu, off work?”

“Third Brother, why are you here? Looking for me? Is something the matter?”

Being asked so directly made Qin Nan a little embarrassed. But thinking of his recent predicament, he braced himself and said:

“It’s nothing important. I just wanted to tell you I’m really not in a hurry to find someone. Tell Old Fourth not to arrange any more blind dates for me. Your wedding day is coming up soon—you’ve got plenty to be busy with.”

Li Qingxue let out a soft giggle. These past two days, Qin Bei arranging blind dates for his brother had been quite the lively affair.

Only then did Qin Nan notice the girl stepping out from behind.

She had a round face. Because she was smiling, her brows and eyes curved gently. Two thick, long braids rested over her chest.

She wore a dark blue padded jacket. Instead of looking plain, it gave her a touch of gentle elegance.

When the girl met his gaze with a bright smile—

In an instant, Qin Nan’s face flushed red. Then his whole body seemed to catch fire. In this weather, with snow about to fall, he felt as though he might start smoking from the heat.