Xia Xiaolan arrived by car with Guan Hui’e.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had arranged a venue, with the gathering starting at seven-thirty. Since they didn’t need to clock in or sign up precisely on time, leaving at 7 PM was perfect.
“For people around my age, call the women ‘Auntie’ and the men ‘Uncle.’ It’s just people gathering to eat snacks and chat – not as complicated as you might think, but don’t be too casual either.”
In the car, Guan Hui’e continued offering guidance to Xia Xiaolan.
Xia Xialan already knew these things, but appreciating Guan Hui’e’s good intentions, she listened attentively and engaged with her.
She would occasionally ask questions, encouraging Guan Hui’e to elaborate further.
Guan Hui’e had been prejudiced before, but with increased interaction with Xia Xiaolan, she found the girl genuinely intelligent, quick to understand everything, and not at all as foolish as she had feared. Compared to the young people newly assigned to Guan Hui’e’s workplace, Xia Xiaolan was more astute. Being book-smart didn’t always translate to practical wisdom, but Xia Xiaolan’s responsiveness and comprehension truly befitted her status as a Huaqing student.
That national third-place college entrance exam score was genuine!
Guan Hui’e had an illusion that whatever kind of daughter-in-law the Zhou family wanted, Xia Xiaolan could become it – it just depended on whether she wanted to.
What could Xia Xiaolan say?
It was all Aunt Guan’s wonderful misunderstanding. She hadn’t suddenly become smarter; rather, Guan Hui’e’s initial expectations had been too low, making her current competence seem surprisingly impressive.
Being able to get along peacefully with Guan Hui’e was a huge relief for Xia Xiaolan.
Though she liked Zhou Cheng and wanted to be a good girlfriend, she wouldn’t have known what to do if his family had been difficult to deal with.
Soon, they arrived at the venue.
It was a Republican-era building with its main door only half open. It wasn’t as mysterious as Xia Xiaolan had imagined – some people arrived by car, others by bicycle. No high society glamour here. The winter cold had everyone bundled up – men in army-green padded coats over either Sun Yat-sen suits or Western suits, while younger ones wore thick sweaters.
Women’s clothing was slightly more decorative, with those arriving by car daring to wear thin wool coats in various colors.
Regardless, the setting was more modest than Xia Xiaolan had expected.
After entering, she simply followed Guan Hui’e without gawking around.
The building was nice, with old-style crystal chandeliers, spiral staircases, and reliefs. In the middle stood long tables covered with white tablecloths, laden with both Chinese egg yolk pastries and Western cream cakes.
Xia Xialan noticed a middle-aged woman chatting while alternating between egg yolk pastries and cream cakes – just as Guan Hui’e had said, people were here to eat and drink!
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be quite wealthy to host such gatherings several times a year. The venue could hold three to four hundred people, and the seemingly unlimited refreshments weren’t free.
Guan Hui’e lowered her voice:
“Part of the funding comes from sponsors, and part from secretly selling entrance tickets to those without invitations who want to attend.”
Ten yuan per ticket, selling several dozen tickets meant hundreds of yuan, which had significant purchasing power for buying refreshments and drinks.
Did people buy them?
Guan Hui’e didn’t elaborate, but Xia Xiaolan realized that if she knew about such a place, she’d gladly pay not just ten yuan, but even a hundred or thousand yuan for entry. Not for matchmaking, but for the connections – that aunt devouring pastries might be someone’s important wife. For networking, no place could be better!
But in her six months in Beijing, she wouldn’t have known about this place without Guan Hui’e.
How would ordinary university students know?
Only those actively seeking advancement with good connections would know about such gatherings.
Some saw it as a matchmaking event, others as a networking opportunity – it all depended on one’s perspective!
“Comrade Hui’e, what a rare guest!”
Guan Hui’e was called out barely two minutes after entering.
She was wearing the down jacket Xia Xiaolan had given her. As women typically compliment each other’s clothes first, Guan Hui’e took the opportunity to introduce: “This was a gift from Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend. I couldn’t refuse the children’s filial gift. Xiaolan, this is Aunt Zhan from the Higher Education Department.”
Aunt Zhan had already been observing Xia Xiaolan, who stayed close to Guan Hui’e and didn’t seem like a stranger.
Though she had never met Xia Xiaolan before, upon hearing she was Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend, Aunt Zhan looked her over thoroughly and sincerely exclaimed:
“Where did your Zhou Cheng find such a beautiful girlfriend!”
“Hello, Aunt Zhan, I’m Xia Xiaolan.”
“Hello, hello…”
Her voice was remarkable too, enough to charm even women. It seemed like only yesterday Zhou Cheng was young, and now he’d grown up and found such a beautiful girlfriend. The Zhou family must approve of this girl, or Guan Hui’e wouldn’t bring her out.
Xia Xiaolan knew this wasn’t the time to stand out – polite greetings and a gentle smile were sufficient.
But Guan Hui’e didn’t want others to think Xia Xiaolan was just pretty. She cleared her throat: “Xiaolan studies at Huaqing, and just enrolled this year. Getting into Huaqing from another province isn’t easy. As an aunt, please look after her when you can.”
Guan Hui’e didn’t want people to think Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend was just a pretty face!
Indeed, Aunt Zhan could care less about the out-of-province part, but getting into Huaqing showed Xia Xiaolan’s intelligence.
Aunt Zhan’s attitude became even warmer.
This was just the beginning.
Guan Hui’e had many acquaintances.
These introductions were repeated many times, but Xia Xiaolan never showed impatience, remaining sweet and enthusiastic throughout, earning unanimous approval from the middle-aged comrades.
Looking up, she didn’t see the Ji family, but unexpectedly caught sight of a pale face.
The other person certainly hadn’t expected to see her here, their surprise impossible to hide.
…
How could Xia Xialan be here?!
Ran Shuyu had come to the gathering to meet old friends and brought Wang Jianhua along.
With Wang Jianhua coming, Xia Ziyu had to follow.
What nonsense about a social gathering – she knew it was just a matchmaking event!
Even after getting engaged to Wang Jianhua, Xia Ziyu’s insecurities hadn’t lessened. Being isolated at school, she now feared being abandoned by Wang Jianhua and was jumpy about everything.
The tutoring class troubles seemed to have passed, and Xia Ziyu was getting restless again.
She hadn’t yet decided what business to start to make money, and when Ran Shuyu wanted to bring Wang Jianhua to the gathering, Xia Ziyu felt immediately threatened. After arriving with mother and son, she found the “social gathering” rather ordinary.
Supposedly full of ministry officials and their families, everyone looked quite modest, with many arriving on bicycles.
Unexpectedly seeing Xia Xiaolan, Xia Ziyu was startled. Who had she come with – that wealthy Huaqing boy, or… had she bought a ticket to get in?!