Xia Xiaolan and Ning Xue were transitioning from classmates to friends, but Ning Xue’s mother’s interference abruptly halted this budding friendship.

Smart people didn’t need to state the obvious – once Xia Xiaolan finished the architectural floor plan of Prince Gong’s Mansion, she and Ning Xue would have little personal interaction. Xia Xiaolan felt quite regretful about this. She had always had a good impression of Ning Xue, definitely without jealousy or envy. The existence of academic stars like Ning Xue showed Xia Xiaolan there would always be role models to measure herself against and improve.

But Ning Xue’s mother’s words troubled her.

From an adult perspective, Xia Xiaolan could avoid misdirecting her anger… Even if Ning Xue’s mother harbored doubts about her, as long as they weren’t voiced, continuing interaction with Ning Xue wouldn’t be a problem. But after such obvious disdain, why should Xia Xiaolan shamelessly keep visiting the Ning family?

Friends could be replaced, but mothers couldn’t.

Like with Ji Jiangyuan – now that he conflicted with Ji Ya, he asked if Xia Xiaolan’s concern came from a place of friendship.

Indeed it did.

But it would be difficult for Xia Xiaolan to become close friends with him.

The only time she had compromised and tried to change elders’ impressions was with Zhou Cheng’s family.

But Guan Hui’e’s opposition to her relationship with Zhou Cheng wasn’t because she looked down on her!

People should respect each other mutually – Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t humble herself to please those who didn’t respect her. When Guan Hui’e mentioned Kang Wei had lent out a house, Xia Xiaolan asked him about it. Kang Wei reached for his cigarettes but stuffed them back:

“My mother won’t let me smoke, she keeps checking for smoke smell every day.”

Kang Wei handed Xia Xiaolan a set of keys as he spoke: “Also this car – I can’t drive it now. Du Zhaohui compensated with a brand new car. The money he spent on modifications could probably buy ten Jeep 212s. The new car feels great to drive, but when I mention driving my whole family objects. It’s wasteful to just let it sit there, Sister-in-law, you take it. I gave Shao Guangrong a key too – whoever needs it can use it.”

“Your Second Uncle agreed to you accepting the car?”

Xia Xiaolan remembered Kang Lianming’s attitude had been very firm – he didn’t seem like someone who would easily let Du Zhaohui off.

“Asked Second Uncle – he said replacing my damaged car with a new one was only right. Didn’t take any cash.”

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t understand either. Politicians’ thoughts were always changing. Whatever Kang Lianming had discussed separately with Zhou Cheng and Tang Hong’en, she didn’t know, and they wouldn’t let her know – after all, she wasn’t part of the Kang family.

Xia Xiaolan tested the car – even the engine sound was different. The Jeep 212 was originally just a car worth tens of thousands, but this replacement from Du Zhaohui probably only looked like a 212 on the outside – everything else had been completely modified inside and out.

Just look at the interior – completely upgraded to comfortable leather cushions.

The glass had been replaced too, and Xia Xiaolan felt the car’s shell wasn’t quite right either.

Du Zhaohui’s cleverness was perfectly displayed.

The modifications to the 212 probably cost enough to buy a Mercedes.

But if Du Zhaohui had sent a Mercedes, the Kang family couldn’t accept it – no family’s children could be that high-profile. Driving a Mercedes in Beijing would attract too much attention!

Xia Xiaolan liked the car after testing it but didn’t completely refuse Kang Wei: “I might use it sometimes. Keep it at your place for now – it’s good to know I can borrow it when needed. I came to ask about the house – how did you know Aunt Guan wanted to rent a house for the Shi family?”

Kang Wei had no contact with the Shi family.

Guan Hui’e wouldn’t broadcast such matters everywhere – she probably wouldn’t even tell Xie Yun. Kang Wei’s thoughtful gesture was incredibly timely!

“…Brother Zhou Cheng told me. He came to see me before returning to college, asked me to keep an eye on the Shi family, and said to clear out one of the houses under his name for the Shi family to live in, using my name.”

Kang Wei secretly observed Xia Xiaolan’s expression. “Sister-in-law, you’re not angry, right?”

Xia Xiaolan was quite angry.

Not about Zhou Cheng letting the Shi family live in the house – even if Zhou Cheng gave them a house outright, would Xia Xiaolan say anything?

Money was certainly important, but once spent it could be earned again. No matter how expensive Beijing houses became in the future, was she afraid she couldn’t afford them?

But Zhou Cheng keeping her out of the loop made Xia Xiaolan uncomfortable.

The last time she saw Zhou Cheng, she felt something was off about her boyfriend, different from before. Previously she could see through him, now she couldn’t.

She didn’t say anything in front of Kang Wei and conveniently drove his car to visit the Shi family.

This courtyard was close to the Military General Hospital where they had treated Mrs. Shi’s eyes. Kang Wei said it was originally rented to others, but considering the Shi family had both elderly and young members, and Mrs. Shi needed follow-up visits after her eye surgery, they chose this courtyard.

They even compensated the previous tenants to make room for the Shi family.

Xia Xiaolan curved her lips. “You two know how to arrange things. Aunt Guan doesn’t know it’s Zhou Cheng’s house, right? She thinks it’s your house, so she’ll definitely pay rent, and Zhou Cheng will subsidize the rent back to Aunt Guan – moving money from his left pocket to his right!”

“Brother Zhou Cheng and I followed your advice and both bought houses, but neither of us told our families.”

Although Xia Xiaolan was smiling, Kang Wei had an intuition that what he and Zhou Cheng did had angered her… Of course, the main target of anger was Zhou Cheng. Kang Wei felt nervous for his brother.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t respond. When they arrived, she took out the things she’d bought for the Shi family.

Mainly children’s clothing and food items – it wasn’t convenient to buy these things now in 1985. There weren’t any mother-and-baby stores, nor many baby clothes. Ordinary people raised children using hand-me-downs. Only well-off families could afford to make new cotton clothes for children – after all, children grew so quickly, that clothing sizes had to change constantly. Who had that much money to waste?

There were few ready-made infant clothes – people usually bought fabric to make clothes and shoes at home.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t do either, so she bought some fabric. The formula was essential, along with bottles and other small items – these gifts couldn’t go wrong.

“Miss Xia is here!”

The nanny helping care for the children was Mrs. Zeng’s relative. Though she’d only met Xia Xiaolan once, she had received Mrs. Zeng’s instructions, knowing that while Xia Xiaolan wasn’t married to Zhou Cheng yet, she was well-accepted by the Zhou family. Mrs. Zeng would never mention Xia Xiaolan’s rural background, only how capable she was now. The nanny was naturally warm and respectful toward Xia Xiaolan.

Mrs. Shi remembered Xia Xiaolan too. When her eyes were poor, she just remembered Xia Xiaolan’s pleasant voice.

Now as her vision was recovering, she could see Xia Xiaolan clearly:

“Child, you’re not only beautiful but kind-hearted too.”

They were truly kind people.

Mrs. Shi trembled as she enjoyed all this.

The Shi family had been farmers for three generations. Because of her poor eyesight and her younger son’s mental disability, before Shi Kai became an official, the Shi family had been an extremely poor farming family. Suddenly arriving in Beijing and even having a nanny, Mrs. Shi really couldn’t adjust.

She had repeatedly suggested returning to their hometown to her daughter-in-law Wei Juanhong, who didn’t argue but met Mrs. Shi’s requests with silence.

This delay continued until the house was rented and Wei Juanhong and Shi Ping’s job transfers were almost complete!