The Most Down-to-Earth Blind Date You'll Ever See | China's Rural Romance

[00:00:15]Welcome to Asia China Uncensored.

[00:00:18]A city man hikes into rural village to meet Lin Guoguo for arranged blind date.

[00:00:23]Mistaking her for just a local girl at first, he chats with her about marriage, family values, dowry expectations, housing, and future plans.

[00:00:31]They quickly discover they share similar down-to-earth attitudes, and by the end, both are genuinely interested in each other just as rain approaches and she invites him to stay the night.

[00:00:41]Wow, this mountain path is really hard to walk.

[00:00:45]Miss.

[00:00:47]Can I ask, is this Linjia Village?

[00:00:50]It's Linjia. It is. Oh, good. Do you happen to know Lin Guoguo?

[00:00:56]Lin Guoguo? She's my friend. Why? Oh, could you please point me in the right direction? I I need to speak with her.

[00:01:04]What do you need to see her about?

[00:01:06]I'm here to propose.

[00:01:08]Proposal?

[00:01:09]How come I haven't heard Lin Guoguo mention any marriage arrangement? Well, it was arranged by some friends.

[00:01:15]The plan was for me to meet her after she returned to the city during the week.

[00:01:20]But since it's the weekend and I had nothing much to do, I came to the countryside to meet her to get acquainted ahead of time.

[00:01:28]Her mom did say she might have a marriage arrangement.

[00:01:32]It's your very first time meeting her and you show up empty-handed?

[00:01:35]All right. Actually, I brought all my stuff like the gifts and everything, but they're still in the car at the moment.

[00:01:42]My driving skills aren't great and this mountain road, it just rained, so I really didn't dare drive. I left my car on the main road and came up on foot.

[00:01:51]Lin Guoguo's house is just up there. Ah, it's up there. I'm sure. Oh, fine.

[00:01:57]Don't come up. I'll go down. I'm not doing anything, really. I'll take you along the main road.

[00:02:01]Main road. Hey, okay, great. Be careful now, miss miss.

[00:02:05]Sure. I got it.

[00:02:07]Let's just head up.

[00:02:09]Okay.

[00:02:11]Oh, wow. This slope is really steep.

[00:02:14]Yeah, if you city dwellers don't walk these often, it's definitely a bit tiring.

[00:02:20]You can?

[00:02:22]What's there to not handle? I'm used to it. I am. Mhm.

[00:02:26]So, you grew up here, right?

[00:02:28]Yes. I often help my parents with chores around here.

[00:02:32]You're so capable.

[00:02:35]Hey, Ling Gogo's house is over there.

[00:02:37]Oh, it's over there.

[00:02:39]Okay.

[00:02:41]That's Ling Gogo's house. Ah, Ling Gogo's.

[00:02:45]Oh. Hey. Hey, we left the door. Yes, we have. So, where exactly is Gogo? This is our Gogo here, then, huh?

[00:02:52]Huh? This is our Gogo. This is Gogo.

[00:02:55]Mom, I'm home.

[00:02:57]You're back.

[00:02:59]So, um I'll chat with her for a bit.

[00:03:02]You You and her You young people can chat for a bit.

[00:03:06]Oh, all right.

[00:03:07]Ah, no, you. Why didn't you just say something much, much earlier?

[00:03:12]Well, I didn't know if you were a liar.

[00:03:15]I had to let my mom check you out first, didn't I?

[00:03:18]How could I possibly lie to you about this? Then sit. All right, sure. Want water?

[00:03:23]Ah, no, I'm good.

[00:03:25]Sit.

[00:03:27]Your home's surroundings are so picturesque.

[00:03:30]You don't look down upon it? What's there to look down upon? I've actually never even seen these kinds of things before.

[00:03:37]So, where do you live?

[00:03:39]In the city.

[00:03:40]Oh, I was worried you city dwellers would look down upon us country folk.

[00:03:44]There's nothing to look down on. I mean, you're very beautiful.

[00:03:49]By the way, how old are you this year?

[00:03:51]I'm 26.

[00:03:53]26? And you?

[00:03:55]Oh, then I'm about 3 years older than you. I'm 28 this year.

[00:04:00]Oh, huh? 3 years.

[00:04:04]Okay. Close enough. Close enough. Close.

[00:04:06]So, what do you do for work?

[00:04:09]Well, I actually own my own store in the city. I'm a fruit seller. Oh, that's pretty impressive. Yeah. I'm a teacher, specifically a kindergarten teacher.

[00:04:19]Kindergarten teacher? Yes. So, my monthly salary might not be very high.

[00:04:25]What's wrong? Being a teacher is a good job.

[00:04:28]Really? This This profession, it's about educating people and it's also stable.

[00:04:33]Right. So, um since this is a blind date, I need to tell you something in advance. My family expects a dowry.

[00:04:41]Dowry? Yes. Are you okay with that?

[00:04:45]Yes, I'm okay with that, of course. You just tell me. Look, as long as it's within my affordability, it's fine.

[00:04:52]The dowry is 38,000. How How much?

[00:04:56]38,000 US. 38?

[00:04:58]>> Uh No, that's not right.

[00:05:01]What's wrong?

[00:05:02]In the city, blind date dowries are usually 68, 88, or even 188,000.

[00:05:09]Well, our family certainly wouldn't demand 188. We're just an ordinary family and I'm a country girl. We just follow what our older brothers and sisters around here do, right? Our family is marrying off a daughter, not selling her.

[00:05:24]Oh, I see. It's a custom.

[00:05:27]I I really wasn't expecting that.

[00:05:30]My parents, they're pretty open-minded, actually. These ideas, they came from them. They just believe what truly matters is the boy's attitude, his principles, and if he's ambitious and driven.

[00:05:41]All right, right. The dowry shows the man's attitude, doesn't it? So, about the house, what are the requirements then?

[00:05:49]Regarding the house, you live in the city, don't you?

[00:05:52]So, how many bedrooms exactly does your place have? My place has two bedrooms, but uh if you think that's too small, I can get a bigger one. I just have to sell that one.

[00:06:04]Two bedrooms. Well, here's what I'm thinking.

[00:06:07]After we get married, we'll need at least a three-bedroom apartment. A small one would be fine. The main issue is this. Once we're married, we'll need a room, won't we?

[00:06:17]When we have kids, they'll need their own room. And when either set of our parents comes to visit, they'll need a room, too, won't they? So, if it's only two bedrooms, it definitely won't be enough, right? Oh, so what you're saying is you don't mind living with elders.

[00:06:31]Why would I mind living with them? I live with my own parents at home, don't I? Oh, no, no, that's not what I meant.

[00:06:37]I just thought, you know, a lot of girls think that the mother-in-law, daughter-in-law conflict can be a hassle.

[00:06:44]Two generations with different views, conflicts are bound to arise. But look, when you marry into their family, you just need to be more tolerant. If his mother sees that you're good to her son and all that, she'll definitely be good to you, too. It's all about mutual understanding and tolerance, isn't it?

[00:07:00]Uh yes, yes, you're absolutely right about that. Mhm. And I just truly believe that showing filial piety, well, that's simply something we as children are supposed to do, isn't it? And being with our parents often, they actually aren't asking for a large retirement fund or anything like that from you.

[00:07:17]They just like companionship, don't they?

[00:07:19]Uh I heard you say you have a car, right? Uh yes, a car. It's parked down below?

[00:07:25]Uh but that car is just a second-hand commuter car.

[00:07:29]Oh, that's fine. I don't really care what kind of car it is. As long as it can shelter us and get us around and is big enough for our family, that's what matters.

[00:07:38]You don't mind? It's used. Why? As long as it runs. You see, don't even have this kind of family environment around here.

[00:07:45]Oh, that's great. Just don't look down on us.

[00:07:49]No, I actually think your home has a very poetic and picturesque feeling to it, really. Look at this.

[00:07:55]This little house and all this vegetable patch, you know?

[00:07:58]It's all very and it's healthy to eat.

[00:08:00]Right.

[00:08:01]Well, you're so fair-skinned, tall, and slender. How have you managed to stay single for such a long time without ever dating anyone?

[00:08:09]Me?

[00:08:10]I've never dated.

[00:08:13]What? Why? With your looks, that shouldn't be.

[00:08:16]Back then, I just focused on school. And after graduating, I devoted myself to my career.

[00:08:21]Because my mom always tells me, she always says if a man doesn't have his own career, then he definitely won't ever be able to find a wife.

[00:08:29]I've remembered that my whole life. I threw myself into my career and had no time to date.

[00:08:36]Oh, we've talked so long. I haven't offered you water. Hey, have you eaten?

[00:08:40]Let me go make you some food. Oh, no, you don't have to. It's too much.

[00:08:44]Oh? Well, we're here on a blind date today.

[00:08:48]Mhm.

[00:08:49]I was just wondering what your first impression of me is.

[00:08:53]I think you're, mhm, a bit simple-minded, but you do seem quite honest. That's not bad at all.

[00:09:00]Not bad? Oh?

[00:09:02]You really think so? Mhm. I think you're pretty great, too. You're beautiful, filial, and you seem like a down-to-earth person suitable for marriage. So, I'll just call my mom and tell her the good news.

[00:09:14]Oh, I just said you're a pretty decent guy, but I still need to get my parents' approval.

[00:09:21]Ah, your parents.

[00:09:22]>> Oh.

[00:09:24]All right, then. That's fine. Well, then, then I'll head back now, uh, and get ready. Tomorrow is Monday, so you can return to the city and come have dinner at my place.

[00:09:34]Oh. Uh, is that okay?

[00:09:36]So, I'll I'll get going then.

[00:09:38]>> Oh.

[00:09:40]Oh, hey. That being said, isn't it going to rain soon? So, why don't you just stay at my place tonight, all right?