What was the point of being an Extraordinary Being if you didn’t even have the looks to match?

It was just like how you rarely found an unattractive woman in a cultivation novel.

Li Xiang was quite possibly the only Extraordinary Being on Earth, so naturally, he was in a league of his own.

...

The next day, his maternal grandfather came over with his cousins. Li Xiang took his grandfather to Village Chief Li Jinyu’s house to practice their instruments with Li Jinyu, Li Yucheng, Lei Jiaming, Lei Xiaohui, and the other band members—a mix of old-timers and youngsters.

Meanwhile, Jiang Cai’Er brought her homework over and worked on it with Shen Wenqian and Shen Zimo. Jiang Cai’Er and Shen Wenqian were both high school girls. Though they didn’t attend the same school or were in the same grade, they were close in age and got along very well.

More and more villagers who worked out of town began to return. In the evenings, they would stop by Li Xiang’s house one after another, bringing gifts.

This was mainly because Li Xiang had helped shovel snow during the huge blizzard, and just a few days ago, he had given free haircuts to the village elders and children. These were all acts of kindness, so everyone was very grateful to him. They brought gifts for Li Xiang and Granny Li Xiang as a way of returning the favor.

Li Xiang warmly entertained them and made small talk, while his granny was grinning from ear to ear.

For the next few days, anyone who returned from out of town would bring a gift and visit Li Xiang’s home. Many people also eagerly tried to play matchmaker, setting up blind dates for him.

Li Xiang didn’t want to go at first, but his granny insisted, nagging him repeatedly. The villagers were also so enthusiastic, claiming they had already arranged everything with the woman and that it would be rude not to show up. Li Xiang had no choice but to go.

Then, Jiang Cai’Er insisted on tagging along, claiming she had to help her ’Brother Li Xiang’ screen his potential future sister-in-law. There was nothing Li Xiang could do about it. As for Uncle and Aunt Jiang, they had long since lost control of their daughter.

Jiang Jianguo failed to stop her. Watching Jiang Cai’Er follow Li Xiang’s tricycle on her electric scooter, he couldn’t help but call after her with a wry smile, "So your wings have finally hardened, have they?"

The first blind date was with a woman named Yao Yao from the neighboring village of Yaojialing, about three kilometers away. Li Xiang took one look at her and wanted to leave on the spot, but out of politeness, he stayed and made small talk for a few minutes.

Then he quickly made an excuse and left.

Jiang Cai’Er chased after him on her electric scooter, trying to stifle her laughter. In the end, she couldn’t hold it in anymore and let out a loud, honking laugh.

"Will you stop laughing already?" Li Xiang said irritably, riding his tricycle at a leisurely pace.

Jiang Cai’Er shouted, "That girl was gorgeous! Why weren’t you interested? I thought all men liked that type!"

"She’s pretty, sure, but she has this whole... Ugh, let’s just say she’s not for all ages."

"What do you mean, ’not for all ages’?" Jiang Cai’Er pouted, speeding up to ride alongside Li Xiang. She lowered her voice. "You’re just trying to say you think she works at a nightclub, right?"

"What are you talking about? Keep your voice down, someone might hear you."

"She’s pretty, sure, but she has this really worldly air about her. If you’re not interested, then you’re not interested. You can’t force yourself," Jiang Cai’Er said, inwardly delighted. ’If Brother Li Xiang had actually fallen for that kind of vixen, then I must be a terrible judge of character.’

Just then, the matchmaker who had arranged the meeting called. She asked Li Xiang why he had left so abruptly—the young woman had been quite taken with him!

Li Xiang pulled over to the side of the road to answer. He made up an excuse, saying he just didn’t feel a connection, they weren’t a good match, and he didn’t want to waste the young woman’s time. He was basically giving her the "you’re a great person, but..." rejection.

Standing nearby, Jiang Cai’Er covered her mouth, trying so hard to hold in her laughter that she was doubled over.

The matchmaker sounded very disappointed, saying it was a huge pity and that some other lucky guy would get such a wonderful girl.

Li Xiang said it wasn’t a pity at all, offered a few words of blessing, and thanked the matchmaker for her efforts.

Then, another matchmaker called, urging him to hurry to his next appointment. Li Xiang had no choice but to continue.

This time, the young woman was refreshingly innocent. She had bright eyes and pearly teeth, the very picture of a sweet, unassuming beauty with a refined air. Her name was Zhao Xueqing. She wore a single ponytail that showed off her clear forehead, and her clothes were simple but very neat. She wore no makeup, just a touch of moisturizing cream.

And in the dead of winter, there was certainly nothing wrong with applying some moisturizer.

Zhao Xueqing worked out of town at a proper teahouse, and she’d also worked at bubble tea shops and cafes. She had a cheerful personality and seemed very satisfied with Li Xiang.

When the conversation turned to her "area of expertise," especially the art of tea, the girl spoke with the confidence of an expert and even gave Li Xiang a live demonstration of her skill with a long-spouted teapot.

"This is a genuine form of Kung Fu Tea, which is recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage..."

After a brief introduction, she began her demonstration.

She happened to have a copper long-spouted teapot at home, and it was obvious she practiced regularly—a clear sign of her dedication to the craft.

In the small courtyard, the girl’s figure was as graceful as a dancer’s. The long-spouted copper pot seemed to come alive in her hands, twirling with incredible flourish, like a sword dance. In the end, the fragrant tea poured into the bowl, its fresh aroma wafting through the air.

"Bravo!" Even Jiang Cai’Er was clapping and cheering from the sidelines. She glanced worriedly from Li Xiang to the girl, thinking, ’Don’t tell me he’s actually falling for her?’

After clapping, Li Xiang said, "Xueqing, listen. We’re holding a village gala in Li Family Village on the evening of the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month. Would you be interested in coming to perform your long-spouted teapot ceremony?"

"Huh?" Zhao Xueqing was dumbfounded. ’This is supposed to be a blind date,’ she thought. ’How did we suddenly start talking about a village gala?’

She had heard about the gala in Li Family Village, of course. Word had spread all over the surrounding countryside in recent days. She just never imagined that Li Xiang would actually be inviting her to perform in it.