“Mr. Tang, Xiaolan, and I should be thanking you!”
Though they had no prior connection, Liu Fen had only sent Tang Hongen some local specialties, cared for him briefly when he was sick in the fishing village, and cooked for him for a few days. She didn’t consider these small favors worth much.
Without Tang Hongen, could Liu Yong have secured the guesthouse renovation contract? Never mind talk of fair competition – even with the best proposal, ‘Yuan Hui’ wouldn’t have qualified to bid.
The fact that no one came to collect protection money from their building materials store in Pengcheng People’s Bridge Market was also thanks to Tang Hongen. He didn’t even need to intervene directly – the police station knew the store owner had connections and naturally gave extra attention.
Then there was the matter of standing up for Xia Xiaolan.
Liu Fen didn’t blame Tang Hongen for this trouble. There’s no reasoning with crazy people – since Xia Xiaolan and Ji Ya’s son attended the same university as classmates, Ji Ya would have caused trouble sooner or later.
Liu Fen was grateful to Tang Hongen. His care for the family and specifically requesting her presence in Beijing showed respect.
Tang Hongen observed and saw that Liu Fen truly harbored no resentment.
Though he had been frustrated earlier tonight, between Xia Xiaolan’s “determination” and Liu Fen’s understanding of nature, Tang Hongen’s mood improved considerably. While he had misjudged the Ji family before and chosen the wrong partner, those were exceptions – his judgment wasn’t completely flawed.
“Since you rarely visit Beijing, don’t dwell on unpleasant things. Enjoy a few days in the capital.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
Arriving at the courtyard house in Shichahai, Tang Hongen didn’t hold back his praise:
“It’s a lovely place, very livable.”
Finding a private courtyard that was both peaceful and close to activity, with water views, was pure luck in Beijing. The timing was perfect – the owner wanted to sell just when Xia Xiaolan had the money.
Liu Fen was proud that her daughter could own property in Beijing.
This was the Imperial City!
Liu Fen had thought building a beautiful house in the countryside was a success, but her daughter immediately gave her new aspirations.
“Mr. Tang, please come in for some water before you go?”
Tang Hongen accepted the invitation.
Grandmother Yu and Xia Xiaolan hadn’t spoken during the trip. Xia Xiaolan found it remarkable that these two could converse so naturally.
Grandmother Yu wondered if there might be something interesting developing.
She wondered if Mayor Tang himself had realized it.
If he had realized it, what did Mayor Tang think?
Grandmother Yu kept her thoughts to herself. If she told Liu Fen, it would only make her nervous. They were interacting naturally now – why meddle? Grandmother Yu had come to Beijing mainly worried that Liu Fen would be taken advantage of. Ji Huaixin’s daughter was so detestable – today her expression clearly showed contempt for Liu Fen, as if a rural woman wasn’t worthy of Ji Ya’s attention.
Bah! What was Ji Ya anyway? In Ji Huaixin’s generation, the Ji family were if not peasants, then urban poor.
It was only because Ji Huaixin was being courted when Ji Ya was born that the family could afford to raise her like an old-money young lady. Grandmother Yu looked down on this – it was all superficial pretense, nothing to show off about.
“If Liu Fen and Mayor Tang got together, it would serve Ji Ya right…”
Grandmother Yu mumbled quietly as Xia Xiaolan came out with teacups: “What did you say?”
“Nothing. Do you know how to properly serve tea?”
Add tea leaves, pour boiling water – what else was there? Xia Xiaolan knew a bit about the tea ceremony, having experienced formal tea service with clients a few times. But there was no need to put on airs for Tang Hongen.
In matters of romance, Xia Xiaolan had just begun to understand, while Grandmother Yu was far more astute.
Grandmother Yu kept Xia Xiaolan occupied, spending a full half-hour teaching her tea preparation.
Meanwhile, Liu Fen had invited the leader in for water, but with tea taking so long to arrive, wasn’t she just keeping him company in conversation?
Tang Hongen showed no unusual behavior, asking about Liu Fen’s clothing store as he would with any citizen, inquiring if she faced any problems.
“I heard from Xiaolan that you’re planning to open a branch in Beijing. Have you found a location?”
“We have some leads. A bank manager is helping look for a shop in the west. I plan to check it out tomorrow.”
The original plan was to show Grandmother Yu around Beijing tomorrow since she said she’d never visited. But then Grandmother Yu mentioned studying in Beiping in her youth – Beiping being pre-liberation Beijing… Liu Fen wasn’t stupid. Why would Grandmother Yu lie unless she was worried about her?
They would still tour Beijing, but tonight’s encounter with the Ji family had angered Liu Fen. When Xiaolan said she’d make the Ji family willingly bow their heads and apologize, Liu Fen didn’t know what level of success that would require, but she couldn’t let Xiaolan struggle alone – she needed to be more proactive than before.
She’d let her sister-in-law manage the Shangdu shop while she built up the Beijing location.
She couldn’t just wait for Xiaolan to arrange everything and end up just minding the store, could she?
Running a shop wasn’t difficult – hiring a clerk only cost a few dozen yuan monthly, anyone could do that.
Liu Fen had her plans, and Tang Hongen couldn’t help but look at her again. The first time they met for dim sum in Yangcheng, he hadn’t even noticed what Liu Fen looked like. He’d overlooked her in subsequent meetings too. If not for his acute pneumonia hospitalization in the fishing village, Tang Hongen might never have interacted with Liu Fen.
In his vague memory, Liu Fen had been someone who tried to make herself invisible, afraid to draw attention or cause trouble. Yet in less than a year, she’d grown so much more confident!
From passive acceptance to actively pursuing progress – this was a positive change.
After Grandmother Yu’s half-hour delay, the brilliant Xia Xiaolan quickly mastered tea preparation. When she finally served the tea, Tang Hongen had two sips before taking his leave:
“Let’s have dinner together tomorrow. I return to Pengcheng the day after.”
Grandmother Yu rushed out, “Eating out is so expensive! We have everything needed here – come eat at home.”
“Yes, Mr. Tang, please join us here.”
With floor heating, Xia Xiaolan’s courtyard was warm and cozy – it wouldn’t be uncomfortable to dine there. Tang Hongen didn’t object.
…
On the way back, Tang Hongen unconsciously tapped the seat twice, then suddenly seemed to remember something:
“Xiao Wang, change our return tickets to Pengcheng to the day after tomorrow.”
What?!
Hadn’t he said they’d return tomorrow?
There was much work waiting in Pengcheng, most urgently the Cheng Rong Group’s investment. Xiao Wang knew Secretary Peng had called twice specifically about the Cheng Rong Group.
But having been Tang Hongen’s driver for three or four years, while not particularly clever, Xiao Wang knew better than to ask questions when he shouldn’t.
“I’ll take care of it right away, sir.”
Xiao Wang didn’t need to ask more – after returning to the Beijing Office, Tang Hongen even postponed a lunch appointment scheduled for noon tomorrow. Xiao Wang understood – the leader was going to eat at Xia Xiaolan’s home tomorrow. This student Xia Xiaolan certainly commanded considerable respect!