“Young Shao, sorry to keep you waiting, you’re too kind…”

Liu Fen knew social etiquette and could handle pleasantries. Though Shao Guangrong was closer to Liu Yong, he wouldn’t slight Liu Fen as Zhou Cheng’s future mother-in-law. Xia Xiaolan introduced Chen Wangda to Shao Guangrong:

“This is our village chief, I call him Grandfather Chen. He’s taken good care of our family, and Brother Chen Qing is also reporting to university in Beijing.”

Shao Guangrong already knew from the phone call.

From Zhou Cheng’s tone, Chen Qing was supposedly his romantic rival.

Shao Guangrong had been eager to size up Chen Qing. One look revealed a dark-skinned, tall, and thin young man carrying numerous bags, dressed like a complete rustic! His grandfather might be village chief, but their family had been farmers for generations. Only by getting into university could Chen Qing come to Beijing. What about Old Master Zhou’s position? Chen Qing couldn’t match Zhou Cheng in any aspect.

Shao Guangrong relaxed considerably – Sister-in-law wasn’t blind, she couldn’t possibly choose this country boy.

A small part of him remained uneasy because he noticed Chen Qing wasn’t intimidated. Though rural youth could be incredibly rustic, they possessed a dangerous wildness. While shy around Sister-in-law, Shao Guangrong could tell this one was ambitious!

As poles repelled – Shao Guangrong smiled warmly at Chen Wangda:

“Let’s talk in the car. Since you’ve taken care of my Sister-in-law’s family, I’ll brazenly call you Grandfather Chen too.”

What else could he call him – Village Chief Chen?

Emphasizing such a minor title would seem like an insult. In Beijing, if a sign fell from the sky and hit ten people, seven might be state cadres. You don’t know you’re poor until you go south, don’t know your rank is low until you go north! This was a busy train station – no need to emphasize the “village chief” title.

Chen Wangda glanced at Shao Guangrong several times, not asking why he called Xia Xiaolan “Sister-in-law” or who “Brother Cheng” was. Let Shao Guangrong stew in his curiosity.

After decades in grassroots work, though village chief was a minor position, what hadn’t Chen Wangda seen?

Shao Guangrong was showing off a bit today.

Chen Wangda wasn’t surprised that Xia Xiaolan had a boyfriend. Outstanding girls never lacked suitors. He knew Chen Qing liked Xiaolan, but if she was dating someone else, it meant Chen Qing wasn’t good enough yet. At least the current Chen Qing didn’t deserve a girl like Xiaolan. The future was uncertain – his family couldn’t help Chen Qing; his future and choice of wife depended entirely on his efforts!

Just picking them up had sparked a subtle confrontation between three men of different ages and statuses.

Xia Xiaolan was speechless, while Li Fengmei and Liu Fen noticed nothing. Liu Zitao just grinned foolishly, circling the jeep until Li Fengmei firmly grabbed the embarrassing child.

Chen Wangda was invited to the front passenger seat, while Xia Xiaolan, four adults, and one child squeezed into the back.

Except for Li Fengmei’s slight plumpness, Xia Xiaolan and the others were thin enough to fit. Liu Zitao simply sat in Li Fengmei’s lap. Huaqing and the University of International Business and Economics weren’t in the same area – one in Haidian District, the other in Chaoyang District, about 10 kilometers apart in a straight line, even further by road. For convenience in university registration, the two groups wouldn’t stay at the same guest house.

Fortunately, Chen Qing got into UIBE.

Not that the school wasn’t good enough, but it was far from Huaqing.

If his scores had been better, he could have attended Renmin University, right on the same street as Huaqing!

“Grandfather Chen, I’ll first take you to the guest house near UIBE to settle your luggage, then we’ll go to Huaqing to arrange Sister Xiaolan’s accommodation. We can all have dinner together, then I’ll take you back to UIBE. How’s that?”

Shao Guangrong’s arrangements were flawless; Chen Wangda couldn’t find fault.

Except for Xia Xiaolan who’d visited before, and Shao Guangrong who was local, everyone else was curious about the capital.

Shao Guangrong proved an excellent tour guide, deliberately detouring through Tiananmen Square. Seeing the Leader’s portrait above the gate, Chen Wangda couldn’t hold back tears. Liu Fen and Li Fengmei were also emotional; Li Fengmei had her son get out to salute.

Their generation held special feelings for the great leader, especially old soldiers like Chen Wangda, who gave a perfect military salute to the portrait.

Seeing this, Shao Guangrong’s casual attitude disappeared.

His silence stemmed from shame at looking down on a minor village official, now knowing he was a veteran.

Without these veterans, today’s life wouldn’t exist… Of course, the shame was fleeting – past Tiananmen Square, Shao Guangrong resumed chatting to lighten the mood. They dropped Chen Wangda and Chen Qing at UIBE, where check-in was smooth with Chen Qing’s admission notice.

Rooms were available since they arrived two or three days early, before most students.

Driving toward Huaqing, Shao Guangrong talked continuously about Beijing’s food and tourist spots. The Forbidden City was a must-visit, as was the Great Wall.

“With National Day approaching – it’s the 35th anniversary this year – and the Forbidden City recently renovated, it’s perfect timing for visits!”

After the founding of New China, the former imperial residence with its high walls became open to the public. The state conducted its second major restoration in ’74, fixing what needed immediate repair given limited resources. This renovation lasted seven years; by ’81, the Front Three Halls, Back Three Palaces, and East and West Six Palaces were restored and open to visitors.

Shao Guangrong suggested this was the ideal time to visit the Forbidden City.

Reaching Academy Road, Huaqing’s gate came into view.

Shao Guangrong grew quiet about this – as a poor student, he felt somewhat intimidated passing Huaqing’s gate. He hadn’t attended university, going straight to technical school after junior high. He’d been working for several years, but with the state emphasizing education after the restoration of college entrance exams, his technical school diploma carried less weight. The intimidated underachiever felt some regret – why wasn’t the rural Chen Qing intimidated? Surely not because of his completely rustic appearance?

It must be the UIBE admission notice he carried!

With good academic performance, Chen Qing could secure a good job after graduation.

Except for family background, he didn’t lose to Shao Guangrong in anything – why should he be intimidated?

Men couldn’t compete on looks alone, could they? Though he wasn’t as fair-skinned.

“This is Xiaolan’s school?”

They’d stood at the gate less than five minutes when two students, male and female, approached:

“Are you here to register? Welcome to Huaqing University!”