Xia Xiaolan was also anxiously awaiting her acceptance letter.

Her letter would be sent directly to Grandmother Yu’s house. Xiaolan had already spoken with the post office responsible for that area. The chances of losing Huaqing’s acceptance letter were slim; until it arrived, all she could do was wait.

For her, meeting Zhou Cheng’s family was now in the past.

She had matters waiting for her attention in Pengcheng.

But for those around her, meeting Zhou Cheng’s parents was a significant event. After returning to Pengcheng, not only did Kang Wei and Shao Guangrong shamelessly probe for details, but her uncle Liu Yong also asked, and Liu Fen called from Shangdu to inquire.

Liu Fen rarely called her. She couldn’t understand how telephone receivers could let people hear each other across thousands of miles. The distorted voices during calls made her uncomfortable – she preferred sending telegrams for everything. But Zhou Cheng’s family visit couldn’t be explained clearly in a telegram, so Liu Fen had to call.

She asked about every detail!

Learning that Xiaolan had met almost all of Zhou Cheng’s immediate family in one visit, Liu Fen was extremely nervous.

When she heard that Xiaolan had honestly disclosed their family situation, including her divorce, Liu Fen nearly fainted while holding the receiver.

“You foolish child, how could you… how could you tell them that…”

Liu Fen was so anxious she could barely speak. Of course, Xiaolan was a good child – as her mother, she knew this better than anyone. But this was Zhou Cheng’s family’s first time meeting Xiaolan, and they didn’t know her – what if they looked down on her because of her parents’ divorce?

Xiaolan replied seriously:

“If Zhou Cheng’s family wants to criticize your marital status, then it shows Zhou Cheng and I aren’t compatible. Marriage and divorce are personal choices. Since national law allows divorce, it proves you have the right to make your own decisions. Mom, this isn’t something shameful. People used to marry without knowing each other well. In the coming years, there will be more divorces. You have nothing to be ashamed of – you’re ahead of many people. An unhappy marriage is torture; you were just brave enough to end that torture!”

Silence fell on the other end of the line. Xiaolan changed the subject to something more comforting for Liu Fen:

“Of course, from my first impression, Zhou Cheng’s family is quite approachable. His grandmother was very warm, and his grandfather strongly supported my continued education… They even gave me welcome gifts when I left. Are you reassured now?”

Liu Fen had been so anxious, wondering why her daughter would say such things!

But hearing about the welcome gifts put her mind at ease.

Customs were similar across the country. When a girl first visited her boyfriend’s family, if the elders approved, they would give some welcome gifts. Liu Fen wasn’t familiar with these customs – Grandmother Yu had taught her, saying Zhou Cheng was proper, and his family would understand these old traditions. If they approved of Xiaolan, they wouldn’t let her leave empty-handed. Of course, it would have been impolite for Xiaolan to visit Zhou Cheng’s family for the first time without bringing anything.

Respect went both ways. Some old customs were feudal dross, but others Grandmother Yu felt should be preserved.

“Take you for example – when your brother married you off to the Xia family, they didn’t pay any bride price. The Xia family got a daughter-in-law to work like an ox for free, and how did they treat you in the end?”

Grandmother Yu constantly lectured Liu Fen, who nodded at everything the old lady said.

During the famine, Liu Yong just wanted her to marry into the Xia family so she could eat well. With no money for a dowry, how could they ask for a bride price? Looking back now, among the Xia family’s three daughters-in-law, only she had entered the family without bringing even a pound of rice. Just as Grandmother Yu said, Old Mrs. Xia had treated her the worst.

After hanging up, Liu Fen reported everything to Grandmother Yu:

“Xiaolan said she brought gifts to Zhou’s family, and when she left, their elders gave her welcome gifts. Zhou Cheng’s grandmother gave her a jade bracelet, and his mother gave her earrings…”

Grandmother Yu nodded, “That’s right. Don’t worry, your daughter is cleverer than most. If she wants to win someone’s favor, it’s never difficult.”

Those who disliked Xiaolan must have conflicting interests, and Grandmother Yu’s words greatly relieved Liu Fen. Zhou Cheng seemed like a good boy, caring for Xiaolan and respectful to her relatives and elders. Liu Fen wasn’t materialistic – she didn’t think Xiaolan should change boyfriends just because she became provincial champion.

Even before becoming provincial champion, Zhou Cheng hadn’t complained about Xiaolan’s family circumstances.

Liu Fen’s thinking was simple but aligned with Grandmother Yu’s taste.

By Grandmother Yu’s estimation, being a provincial champion and entering Huaqing University combined barely met the threshold for Zhou Cheng’s family.

Xiaolan was exceptional enough that the Zhou family wouldn’t oppose her dating Zhou Cheng.

But if she thought she could look down on the Zhou family just because she was a provincial champion and a Huaqing University student, Grandmother Yu believed Xiaolan wasn’t so arrogant. Any family with power and influence took time to establish. There were college entrance exam champions every year, Huaqing University graduates assigned to jobs every year – whether they would rise or fall couldn’t be determined without twenty or thirty years of proof.

It was too early for Xiaolan to get cocky. What Zhou Cheng was born with, she had only just achieved through her efforts – the basic conditions to match him.

Grandmother Yu was clear-headed and hoped Xiaolan would be too… Whether she could marry Zhou Cheng, or even whether she would marry at all, and who she would marry weren’t important. What mattered was that Xiaolan understood what she wanted.

Relying on men and marriage was one path.

Not relying on men or marriage was another path.

In Grandmother Yu’s opinion, girls as capable as Xiaolan were rare. Choosing the second path might mean suffering at first but would lead to sweetness later. It was better for women to have their abilities – then they would have more choices in marriage… If she wanted both family and career, finding that balance would be up to Xiaolan herself.

“Visit the post office more frequently these days. Huaqing’s acceptance letters are sent in the first batch – it might arrive any day now.”

“Yes, I’ll do as you say!”

Liu Fen agreed cheerfully. Like everyone else, she felt the acceptance letter was more important than meeting Zhou Cheng’s family.

After getting Xiaolan’s acceptance letter, Liu Fen planned to visit Pengcheng. By late July, the busiest summer business season would be over. The clothing store didn’t need constant supervision, and Li Fengmei also encouraged her to travel south more. Regarding clothing style selection, the sisters-in-law had much to learn. The styles they chose didn’t sell as well as those Xiaolan selected. What they found attractive didn’t necessarily appeal to customers… Fortunately, they could exchange merchandise, or they would have lost big on summer clothing sales.

From that day on, Liu Fen followed Grandmother Yu’s advice, visiting the post office three times daily.

The post office staff all recognized her now and didn’t mind her frequent visits. Who wouldn’t understand checking ten times a day when their family had someone accepted to Huaqing University?

In the blink of an eye, August arrived, bringing the year’s hottest days. Just as Liu Fen was becoming anxious, there was finally movement at the post office:

“Xia Xiaolan? There’s a registered letter!”