Ran Shuyu was unhappy. Even if Xia Ziyu had said something wrong, Guan Hui’e didn’t need to lecture her son Wang Jianhua in front of so many people!
“Young people act rashly, believing every rumor they hear. You should learn from your Aunt Guan!”
Ran Shuyu had one thing in common with Xia Ziyu – they could both endure until reaching their goals, maintaining composure despite inner anger. She secretly cursed Xia Ziyu as a harbinger of misfortune. She had thought Xia Ziyu might be useful, but who knew she had a grudge against Xia Xiaolan?
Guan Hui’e showed no appreciation for Ran Shuyu’s words:
“No need to learn from me. Just be more practical in the future. You’re both university students – don’t learn from ignorant village women who spread rumors and gossip!”
The Ji family’s inexplicable outburst had made Guan Hui’e suspicious, and now hearing Xia Ziyu’s public provocations, she suspected the Wang family was spreading rumors behind the scenes. What Xia Ziyu had just done harmed others without benefiting herself – she couldn’t stand seeing Xia Xiaolan doing well, proving herself both foolish and malicious.
Xia Ziyu looked so honest and reliable, while Xia Xiaolan appeared more alluring and graceful, yet their appearances and personalities were complete opposites!
Xia Ziyu didn’t quite believe it. How could Xia Xiaolan earn tens of thousands of yuan to buy a siheyuan in just one year?
Though reform and opening up brought opportunities everywhere, actually making money proved much harder. Small profits were easy enough – running a food stall could earn more monthly than working in an office… but that was about it. The truly profitable big businesses were difficult to manage. The tutoring class failure had taught Xia Ziyu a painful lesson!
Everyone knew everyone else’s background, and Xia Ziyu still doubted how Xia Xiaolan got that house.
But she also realized she probably wouldn’t gain any advantage today. She had told herself to be patient, to wait for Xia Xiaolan to lower her guard before striking decisively.
However, Xia Ziyu had been in a low period recently, and suddenly seeing Xia Xiaolan doing even better than imagined made her somewhat impulsive. Envious of Xia Xiaolan’s good fortune, Xia Ziyu tried to backtrack:
“Aunt Guan, I’m sorry. I definitely won’t make this kind of mistake again.”
Definitely won’t attack so rashly again.
Guan Hui’e was very cold toward the Wang family, leading Xia Xiaolan away.
Xia Xiaolan waved to Xia Ziyu:
“Cousin, the world is really small. It seems we can’t avoid each other. We still have a long future ahead, with many chances to meet. There’s no rush to catch up – you must still remember what I said at the County First Middle School gate?”
Xia Ziyu was furious. When she looked back, Aunt Zhan and the others had dispersed – they didn’t want to associate with the Wang family. Ran Shuyu’s face was flushed; if not for all the watching eyes, she would have slapped Xia Ziyu:
“What madness possessed you? Having such a cousin, you should maintain good relations, not make enemies at first sight!”
Ran Shuyu had selectively forgotten that she had tacitly approved of Xia Ziyu’s behavior earlier, as she herself deeply resented the Zhou family and would have loved to see them lose face.
But Xia Ziyu hadn’t won the confrontation. Instead, both she and Wang Jianhua had been scolded by Guan Hui’e until they couldn’t lift their heads, and this made Ran Shuyu very unhappy!
Xia Ziyu lowered her head and bit her lip, unable to defend herself.
How could she possibly reconcile with Xia Xiaolan? Never in this lifetime. Knowing that Xia Xiaolan had arranged for someone to break her father’s hand, Xia Ziyu couldn’t forget such a grave grudge for even a moment.
“Mom, enough, this has nothing to do with Ziyu!”
Wang Jianhua’s mind was in chaos, unable to understand how Xia Xiaolan could be dating Zhou Cheng.
These two weren’t from the same world. Just like himself – if he hadn’t happened to become an educated youth in Dahe Village, the Xia sisters would never have been potential partners for him. Without that connection, he couldn’t have found common ground with rural girls!
He and Ziyu got together because they had shared hardships.
Even so, his parents could barely accept Ziyu. Wang Jianhua knew his mother hadn’t given up on finding him a different partner.
The Zhou family’s threshold was now higher than the Wang family’s. How could they accept Xia Xiaolan?
After much thought, Wang Jianhua concluded it must be because Xia Xiaolan got into Huaqing University. Zhou Cheng was attracted to her looks, and his family approved of her academic credentials – Wang Jianhua clenched his fists in secret. As for Xia Xiaolan, she was obviously after the Zhou family’s power!
Xia Xiaolan must be harboring resentment, wanting to make life difficult for him and Ziyu.
Wang Jianhua felt both hatred and anxiety, like a duck trapped in an oven. While Ran Shuyu angrily talked with others, Xia Ziyu deliberately fell behind:
“Jianhua, this Aunt Guan’s family seems quite… I find Xiaolan’s choice of partner quite surprising.”
Back then at the County First Middle School gate, what had Xia Xiaolan said? That she wouldn’t disappoint Xia Ziyu’s “expectations” – she’d get into a good university and find an even better partner.
First, Xia Xiaolan got into Huaqing University.
Now it seemed she had found a high-ranking cadre’s son who was more impressive than Wang Jianhua.
Xia Ziyu’s heart felt like it was soaking in bitter herb water, hating heaven’s unfairness for giving Xia Xiaolan such good fortune!
“The Zhou family… wasn’t affected during the turmoil. Originally, Uncle Zhou was at the same rank as my father.”
It was extremely difficult for Wang Jianhua to say this.
Xia Ziyu’s thoughts moved quickly.
Originally at the same rank, but after Wang Guangping’s years of reform through labor at the farm, “Uncle Zhou” was probably more powerful now!
“Jianhua, family background isn’t everything. I believe your future achievements will surpass your uncle’s!”
After Wang Jianhua’s normal university graduation, if he followed Wang Guangping’s planned path into government organs, with his university degree he could skip the most basic clerk position and start directly as a staff member… that meant a Grade 21 salary of fifty or sixty yuan per month.
Two grades below Zhou Cheng!
Don’t underestimate that two-grade gap – some people couldn’t cross it in a lifetime. Zhou Cheng was even younger than Wang Jianhua. How many years would it take Wang Jianhua to catch up to those two grades? After all, Zhou Cheng and Wang Jianhua’s father Wang Guangping also only differed by two grades.
The more Wang Jianhua thought about it, the more helpless he felt.
If only the tutoring class had succeeded – with positive publicity and a successful school transfer, he could have started at least as a deputy township chief during his job assignment, not far behind Zhou Cheng.
Wang Jianhua couldn’t explain these details to Xia Ziyu, only mentioning that Zhou Cheng was already a cadre in his early twenties. This news completely devastated Xia Ziyu!