Whether Harold could have a companion for hunting couldn’t be determined from today’s meeting alone – it would depend on whether suitable hunting activities could be arranged to his liking.
Ji Jiangyuan recalled what his roommate Xiong Baiyan had told him: while firearms weren’t privately available like in America, regulations weren’t as strict in rural areas. In Xiong Baiyan’s hometown, the militia possessed various weapons and ammunition. In more remote areas, oversight was even more relaxed. Hunting wild boars in the mountains wasn’t considered harming wildlife – it was protecting farmers’ crops!
Wild boars would secretly destroy crops, and even adult men couldn’t handle these beasts weighing two to three hundred jin. Without guns, were farmers supposed to charge at them with carrying poles?
Killing wild boars was one of the militia’s duties – some places even had annual quotas to meet!
“Using guns for wild boars, slingshots for pheasants, hand grenades for fishing – nobody in the townships bothers to regulate it…” Xiong Baiyan explained with animated enthusiasm.
Despite being in the Business Management department, Xiong Baiyan wasn’t your typical bookworm, having previously trained in track and field.
Ji Jiangyuan compared this to his life in America and found Xiong Baiyan’s stories intriguing, wondering if they would satisfy Harold.
Xiong Baiyan licked his lips and continued, “Those militia members won’t easily let outsiders handle their weapons. I only touched a real gun during military training last year. The militia members spray bullets carelessly when they shoot, but for real marksmanship, Instructor Zhou is the one to watch!”
The ability to shoot a poisonous snake mid-jump – such marksmanship left a lasting impression on Xiong Baiyan.
Zhou Cheng’s shooting skills were indeed exceptional.
Ji Jiangyuan knew more than others – Zhou Cheng was Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend!
He smiled, “Instructor Zhou’s gun is meant for enemies, using it for hunting would be overkill.”
Xiong Baiyan strongly agreed.
Initially resistant to Zhou Cheng during military training, Xiong Baiyan’s attitude changed after Zhou Cheng saved them without reporting the incident to the school.
While Xiong Baiyan was just making casual conversation, Ji Jiangyuan’s thoughts drifted from Zhou Cheng to Xia Xiaolan. He had initially planned to secretly arrange for Xia Xiaolan to be Harold’s companion, thinking a young student would be suitable for an elderly American gentleman. But he had completely misjudged Harold’s age – in his early thirties, with two faces, even flirting with the Great Wall Hotel’s waitresses. Ji Jiangyuan deeply distrusted Harold’s moral character regarding relationships.
In that case, he definitely couldn’t let Xia Xiaolan be his companion.
Whatever Harold’s intentions were, he would have to figure them out himself.
Ji Jiangyuan felt somewhat uncomfortable. He had always kept his distance from Tang Hong’en, barely meeting him, yet now he was concerned about him. No, this was out of friendship with his classmate and his duty as a son, not wanting his mother to continue treating Xia Xiaolan unreasonably.
It wasn’t out of consideration for the biological father he barely knew!
Another weekend arrived.
This week, even Xia Xiaolan couldn’t afford to be carefree. With final exams at the end of June marking the end of their freshman year, more students were burning the midnight oil as exam week approached.
Some had an exceptional memory and relied on cramming in the last half-month despite minimal regular studying.
Others, diligent throughout the term, pushed themselves even harder during this period.
Room 307 had made a scholarship pact – whoever didn’t earn one would clean for a whole semester. With this sword hanging over their heads, all of Xia Xiaolan’s roommates were buried in revision. Caught up in this atmosphere, Xia Xiaolan naturally couldn’t afford distractions.
When Liu Fen returned with goods from Yangcheng, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t spare time to help sort inventory. When Zhou Cheng finally called on the weekend, she naturally didn’t answer.
“Xiaolan’s at school studying, says she won’t come home until after exams. Did you two fight?”
How perceptive Grandma Yu was – missing one call was one thing, but not reaching her after a week? This proved Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng hadn’t been in contact lately, otherwise, Zhou Cheng would surely know about Xiaolan staying at school for finals.
This week had been particularly difficult for Zhou Cheng.
He had to maintain composure during training and classes, while Xiaolan had asked for time to think and cool off, then truly cut contact… Even his mother said this suffering was self-inflicted, and his childhood friend sided with Xiaolan. Who could Zhou Cheng talk to?
When Grandma Yu asked, Zhou Cheng gave a bitter smile:
“We haven’t fought, I just didn’t handle something well earlier.”
Grandma Yu responded with a simple “Oh.”
She wouldn’t speak up for Zhou Cheng. Xia Xiaolan was sharper than a ghost – if she was ignoring Zhou Cheng, he must be at fault.
Men shouldn’t be given too much latitude; without proper discipline, they’d all become presumptuous. Grandma Yu knew Zhou Cheng was well-mannered, but so what? When mistakes are made, should they be overlooked just because of a good upbringing?
With Liu Fen’s relationship, Grandma Yu had been pushing things forward.
But with Xia Xiaolan, Grandma Yu felt she could pull back a bit. She cleared her throat:
“Zhou Cheng, I shouldn’t meddle in young people’s affairs, and I’m not even Xiaolan’s real grandmother. But Xiaolan has had to support her family from such a young age, and it hasn’t been easy to get where she is. You two rarely get to meet, and understanding girls like her are hard to find these days, aren’t they?”
“Please don’t say that – Xiaolan considers you family, and you’re my elder too. Xiaolan is naturally wonderful, she’s the best in my heart. Grandma Yu, I won’t lie to you, I already consider Xiaolan my wife in my heart. With or without a marriage certificate, I could never marry anyone else in this lifetime!”
Grandma Yu only believed half of Zhou Cheng’s words.
Young people’s feelings were certainly genuine, and Zhou Cheng was speaking from his heart.
She only believed half because of Zhou Cheng’s age – how could someone in their early twenties talk about “lifetime” commitments? Did they even know how long a lifetime was?
Even married couples couldn’t guarantee to stay together until old age – why else would the Marriage Law permit divorce?
If things didn’t work out between Zhou Cheng and Xiaolan, Zhou Cheng might suffer for a year or two, and Grandma Yu would give him credit for maybe staying single for a few years out of devotion… but could he stay unmarried for life? Even if Zhou Cheng was willing, his family wouldn’t agree.
The truth might be unpleasant, but Grandma Yu didn’t want Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng to break up.
Zhou Cheng was a good catch, devoted to Xiaolan, and both families had met.
Good matches were hard to find, especially with understanding and reasonable families. Grandma Yu felt that Zhou Cheng’s elders had become protective of Xiaolan after accepting her, adding to Zhou Cheng’s appeal. Moreover, even clever people could have their judgment clouded by emotions – having managed Zhou Cheng’s money early on, breaking up now would disadvantage Xiaolan most. Given Xia Xiaolan’s character, any business invested with Zhou Cheng’s money would be left to him after a breakup, no matter how profitable.
Grandma Yu raised her voice: “If you know she’s good, why are you two having issues? Young couples shouldn’t worry so much about face, substance matters more than appearance… That’s all this old woman can tell you, the rest is up to you!”
Zhou Cheng knew whether he and Xiaolan could overcome this hurdle depended on how the Shi family matter was resolved.