Even a fool would understand what it meant for someone young to hold a high position – it meant greater potential for future development.
Xia Ziyu didn’t understand much about these matters. All she knew was that Xia Xiaolan’s match, Zhou Cheng, came from a good family and was very capable, already holding an official position in his early twenties.
Xia Ziyu’s current mood wasn’t just bitter like soaking in gentian root water – it felt like her heart had been ripped out, deep-fried in oil, and then scorched over flames. The level of pain was beyond description!
Meeting Xia Xiaolan at today’s social gathering felt like another stinging slap to her face, leaving her breathless with frustration. She refused to acknowledge that Xia Xiaolan was beautiful and well-educated, worthy of any match. In her narrow-minded perspective, she stubbornly viewed Xia Xiaolan as still that village girl who always tried to outdo others – nothing more than a pretty face who couldn’t compare to her in any other way.
Xia Ziyu couldn’t accept that Xia Xiaolan was doing better than her. She had to find some flaws:
“Jianhua, what does this Zhou Cheng look like?”
With such a good family background, he chose Xia Xiaolan – surely there must be some major defect! Perhaps he was extremely short, ugly, or fat-headed with big ears?
Xia Ziyu could only guess, looking at Wang Jianhua with hopeful eyes, seeking confirmation of her suspicions.
How did Zhou Cheng look? Wang Jianhua hadn’t seen Zhou Cheng for several years, but he remembered that Zhou Cheng was quite popular with girls in middle school. While not exactly a pretty boy, he was both handsome and spirited.
Wang Jianhua remained silent.
Xia Ziyu forced a smile. “You haven’t seen him for years. People can change a lot.”
She wouldn’t rest until she found some fault.
Wang Jianhua didn’t think it mattered whether Zhou Cheng had become ugly or not – when men judge other men, looks aren’t the priority, but rather career success. Yet, he too would feel uncomfortable if he couldn’t find some minor flaw to point out.
Their eyes remained fixed on Xia Xiaolan as they watched her being introduced to others by Guan Huie. Almost everyone showed warmth toward Guan Huie and Xia Xiaolan.
Thinking about how Aunt Zhan and others had suddenly turned cold toward them earlier, Wang Jianhua felt even worse. What was so great about them? These people only cared about official positions. The Wang family had just climbed out of the mud – in a few years, things would be different!
Xia Xiaolan knew that Xia Ziyu and Wang Jianhua must be feeling extremely uncomfortable right now.
Seeing their frustration made her happy. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she socialized alongside Guan Huie, addressing everyone as “Uncle” and “Aunt” with such sweetness that people couldn’t help but praise her:
“Your son Zhou Cheng’s match has such a lovely personality.”
Beautiful, well-educated, and seemingly easy to get along with – in the early 1980s, when social attitudes were still relatively simple, no one would think Xia Xiaolan unworthy of Zhou Cheng based on these qualities alone.
Especially in Chinese traditional marriage customs, it was considered normal for women to marry up, so Xia Xiaolan’s family background wasn’t a major concern.
The worry about matching social status usually stemmed from fears of the bride being provincial or her family being difficult to deal with, but Xia Xiaolan showed no signs of being provincial.
Aunt Zhan and her group, having avoided the Wang family, gathered together again.
At tonight’s social gathering, the most discussed topic was still Xia Xiaolan and Xia Ziyu.
It was perfect timing – both the Zhou and Wang families were formally introducing their future daughters-in-law. If Xia Xiaolan hadn’t raised everyone’s expectations, Xia Ziyu might have been considered quite presentable – her appearance was deceiving, she seemed graceful, was also a university graduate, and looked compatible with Wang Jianhua.
However, Aunt Zhan felt the Wang family had a poor reputation, bringing up their past involvement with tutoring classes. The Wang family of three was already struggling to maintain their position, and Xia Ziyu had just tried to undermine Xia Xiaolan with various insinuations… Who couldn’t see through those malicious verbal traps?
Xia Ziyu was still using village tactics, thinking she could fool these people like village women or small-town residents. Did she think she could bring down the Zhou family with a few casual remarks?
The Zhou family’s status was significant, and their influence had been growing stronger in recent years.
Would they dare bring a future daughter-in-law to a social gathering without thoroughly understanding her background?
“The Wang Director’s daughter-in-law… it’s difficult to say much about her.”
Though they were cousins, the difference between them was vast.
Aunt Zhan’s words received general agreement.
Different families choose different kinds of daughters-in-law. Though both Xia sisters had similar upbringings, Xia Ziyu’s behavior was too petty.
That the Wang family would approve of such a girl revealed much about their level.
Wang Guangping was among the last batch of sent-down cadres to return to the city, and his return to Beijing had surprised many.
After returning to his position, Wang Guangping hadn’t achieved any notable accomplishments and instead faced numerous criticisms. Ran Shuyu’s active networking initially garnered sympathy, but people gradually grew tired of her constant victimhood, whether through her excessively modest dress or her frequent lamentations about the hardships of farm life.
After all, Wang Guangping and Ran Shuyu weren’t the only ones sent to the farms for reform, and despite their late return, they had at least made it back.
Some people still hadn’t returned to the city – weren’t they worse off?
“Huie’s son Zhou Cheng is really impressive. How young is he to already be a cadre?”
“Zhou Cheng has good taste too, securing such an excellent girl early. Finding a wife is like buying meat at the market – if you’re late, all the good cuts are taken!”
“If Huie heard you comparing her daughter-in-law to pork, she’d surely be upset!”
“Comrade Huie is quite protective of her daughter-in-law.”
“Bah, they’re family now – how else should they present themselves in public? Besides, Zhou Cheng’s match is outstanding and sweet-tongued. I can see she gets along really well with Zhou’s family.”
Aunt Zhan nodded.
Guan Huie had taken off her outer coat now – it was quite attractive, a gift from Xia Xiaolan.
It wasn’t about the money for the coat, but the thoughtfulness to buy clothes for her future mother-in-law wasn’t something every young woman would do – if Xia Ziyu heard this, she would surely cry injustice, having bought many clothes for Ran Shuyu, who remained kind on the surface but harsh at heart. The Wang family had worn the winter cotton clothes she gave them when they were down on their luck, but as soon as their fortunes turned, they began finding fault with her!
As Guan Huie led Xia Xiaolan around the venue, she spotted Tong Lili.
Following behind a middle-aged woman – perhaps she was here for matchmaking too? It seemed Comrade Shao Guangrong had withstood his family’s pressure, or else Tong Lili wouldn’t need to look for another match.
Tong Lili had also spotted her.
Instead of coming over to provoke her, Tong Lili tugged at her mother’s sleeve and ran to the other side.
Guan Huie gestured slightly:
“The one coming down the stairs is Ji Ya’s elder brother, Comrade Ji Lin.”
Xia Xiaolan saw a middle-aged man descending, with decent speech and bearing. The Ji family all had good looks and bearing, and Ji Lin’s features showed some resemblance to Ji Jiangyuan.
Xia Xiaolan didn’t think she was imagining it when Ji Lin headed straight for her and Guan Huie after coming down the stairs – had Ji Lin recognized her?