bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Matchmakers are believed to earn positive karma in Chinese culture.

Still, Niuniu doesn't enjoy the role. She detests watching people squirm when they meet for a  blind date.

And tonight is no different. Lulu has been pestering Niuniu to set her up with someone for months. When she broke down crying  over how lonely she was, Niuniu caved in.   The man she has in mind for Lulu has been asking Niuniu for a date.   She doesn't know him well, but enough to know that she isn't interested.

'Is he your ex-boyfriend?'  Lulu asks.

'No, I've never dated him,'  says Niuniu. 'He's just some guy  I met.'

'Why don't you go out with him? What's wrong with him?'

'Nothing,' says Niuniu. 'He's just not my type, but I'm sure you'll like him.'

Actually, Niuniu isn't at all sure Lulu will like the guy, but she's keen to earn some good karma.

Niuniu and Lulu take a taxi to the restaurant where they are to meet the man in question, Xiao Fan, and a mutual friend, Da Yu.

Niuniu has chosen a chic restaurant. Normally, it takes six months to secure a table, but Niuniu knows the owner.

Niuniu and Lulu are the first to arrive, so they sit at the bar and order a drink. And wait. And wait. Xiao Fan finally arrives 20 minutes late, with a group of strangers.

'Hi, Niuniu,' says Xiao Fan. 'Sorry we're late. We couldn't get a taxi big enough for all of us. This is my brother, Jun, and this is his girlfriend, Xiao Bing. And these are my friends Wen and Xie and their girlfriends Lailai and Huihui.'

'Where's Da Yu?' asks Niuniu.

'Oh, he couldn't make it,' says Xiao Fan. 'He came to my  house, but then he got all weird. He thought you'd be upset if I invited my friends. I knew you wouldn't mind.'

When the owner of the restaurant spots Niuniu, he greets her with a genuine smile. Niuniu quietly explains how their party has grown and  the owner is happy to accommodate them. After much rearranging of furniture, they're all seated.

Throughout the night, they eat, talk and drink too much. Especially Xiao Fan. He keeps ordering wine by the bottle and filling his friends' glasses as if it was water. He takes control of the meal. Appetisers anyone? Xiao Fan recommends they try one of each. Soup? Sure. How about the specials? Anything not on the menu? Dessert? Why not. Coffee? Of course.

'This place is pretty good,' Xiao Fan says loudly. 'But it's not  the best. Have any of you been to the Orchard Room? Now, that's fine dining.'

When the bill comes, Xiao Fan reaches over and grabs the bottle of wine to fill his glass.

Niuniu pays the bill. When Xiao Fan recommends they  go to a disco,  Niuniu declares she's not feeling well and heads home. The next day, she gets a call from Lulu.

'Niuniu, thanks so much for dinner last night. But, what should I do about Xiao Fan? He asked  me out. After the way he acted, though, I don't know if I really  like him.'

'Here's what you're going to do. Call him and  tell him  you want to go the Orchard Room.'

'You really think I should? Don't you think he's kind of rude?'

'I don't care,' says Niuniu. 'I spent more than 8,000 yuan on that bastard, and I'm going to get my money's worth out of him.  Tell him  you want to go to the Orchard Room, but don't tell him  I'll be coming. Make sure he thinks it's  a date. Then, call all your friends and invite them, too.  I'm going to do the same. And tell everyone to be sure to arrive  hungry.'



people's republic of desire