“Y… I’m sorry… Auntie didn’t mean it.” Zhang Aiju fidgeted awkwardly, not knowing where to put her hands and feet as she kept apologizing.
When no one was looking, she hid her hands behind her back and wiped them on the clean inner side of her padded jacket.
Then she quickly squatted down, pulled out a few cloth bundles from the woven bag she had carried all the way here, and untied them. Inside were packed sweet red-skinned sweet potatoes, dried peanuts, and a small bag of walnuts wrapped in old newspaper.
“It’s all from our own land. Your second uncle said you used to love eating these when you were little, so he carefully picked the best ones and asked me to bring them to you.”
She held the bundle out toward Zhang Meilan. Seeing no reaction, her hands froze awkwardly in midair, her smile growing increasingly stiff.
She added hesitantly, “The harvest wasn’t good this year, and they’re expensive in the city too. Don’t dislike them. These sweet potatoes are really sweet take them back for the kids to try.”
“Jiabao and Weiwei don’t care for this kind of stuff.”
Zhang Meilan curled her lips. “What we eat is all specially supplied, fine-quality food. Stuff dug out of the dirt like this isn’t clean I wouldn’t dare give it to the kids. Who’s going to take responsibility if they get sick?”
She rolled her eyes, then suddenly noticed a new figure at the door. Her expression immediately changed. She put on a bright smile and swayed her waist as she went up to greet them.
“Oh my, Secretary Meng! You’re finally here! You really honor us with your presence quick, please, this way, we’ve saved you a seat at the main table!”
Only Zhang Aiju was left standing there in a daze, holding the heavy bundle unable to leave, unable to stay.
Around her, guests were dressed elegantly, chatting and laughing. Only she, in her flower-patterned padded jacket, looked completely out of place.
The forced smile on her face finally collapsed. Her eyes reddened at once, and she quietly squatted down to retie the scattered bundle.
Maybe she should just go back. This place was never somewhere she belonged.
It was just a pity for these sweet potatoes and peanuts. If she brought them back untouched, the old man would surely feel heartbroken.
Her mouth tasted bitter. Just as she was about to turn and leave, she suddenly heard a clear voice from behind.
“Auntie, you’re here!”
She turned around and saw Song Qiaoan walking toward her with a smile.
“Oh, Qiaoan!” Zhang Aiju quickly lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eye.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.” Song Qiaoan walked up briskly, her eyes curved in a smile.
“It really has been a long time. Qiaoan has grown into a fine young lady so pretty,” Zhang Aiju said, looking at the graceful young girl in front of her. The bitterness in her heart faded a little.
Song Qiaoan smiled shyly and looked at the bundle in her arms. “There are so many people today, it’s a bit chaotic. Auntie, come sit at our table. The banquet is about to start you can sit next to me so we can talk.”
“Uh… I…” Zhang Aiju, who had been about to leave, suddenly became flustered. Before she could react, the girl had already bent down to help her carry the bundle.
“Oh no, no need!” Zhang Aiju hurriedly stopped her. “It’s dirty, I can carry it myself.”
“It’s fine!” Song Qiaoan lifted one of the bundles and looked inside happily. “Wow, there are walnuts too! I remember the walnuts from your uncle’s place are the best big and full!”
Seeing her completely unbothered and cheerful attitude, Zhang Aiju’s nose tingled. She nearly cried again, but quickly forced a smile.
“If you like them, that’s good. I’ll peel some for you later.”
“Mm!” Song Qiaoan nodded vigorously and led her to a seat at a side table.
People were coming and going all around. Many of the faces were unfamiliar to Song Qiaoan likely distant relatives or acquaintances brought by Zhang Meilan for appearances.
At the moment, they were all talking about Song Jiabao’s excellent exam results.
“That Jiabao kid is something else Peking University! His ancestors must be smoking from their graves!”
“More than that! I heard his score is among the top in the whole province,” someone said, giving a thumbs-up and lowering their voice in excitement.
“If nothing goes wrong, that score makes him a top scorer in the college entrance exam!”
“That good? Really?”
“Of course! His homeroom teacher said it himself estimated score over 700, just a few points short of full marks! He’s definitely number one in our district!”
“Wow, that’s amazing! I’m so jealous!”
“If my kid were half as capable, I’d laugh in my dreams!”
Surrounded by everyone, Zhang Meilan basked in the praise. Her heart was extremely pleased, though she still maintained a composed expression.
She said lightly, “Jiabao’s just a little more talented than average kids. I don’t usually see him studying that hard.”
“Oh, come on! Getting into Peking University isn’t just ‘a little talented’ that’s like a scholar star descending to earth!”
“Exactly! Studying isn’t just about working hard it’s about talent! Like Old Li’s daughter from our street studied day and night until her eyes were almost ruined, and still only barely got into a second-tier university.”
“So it really is fate. We can’t be envious.”
Zhang Meilan smiled smugly and said slowly, “If you ask me, intelligence really comes from the parents. The Lis are both illiterate farmers. What kind of smart daughter could they possibly raise?”
Most of the people around her were city folk and didn’t react much to the prejudice in her words they all nodded in agreement.
“Exactly! Like father, like son! Jiabao and Weiwei are so promising it must be your great genes!”
“And Weiwei’s impressive too, right? I heard she already has a government job lined up?”
“Yes, she’ll report next month.” Zhang Meilan crossed her arms and lifted her chin arrogantly.
“Let her gain some experience first. That job’s just average in terms of benefits anyway. Our Weiwei’s ambitions are much bigger than being a small clerk.”
“Even that good of a job isn’t enough? My neighbor’s son graduated from a proper university and fought tooth and nail just to get in there, and still couldn’t make it!”
“That just means his degree wasn’t good enough! Once Jiabao graduates from Peking University, you’ll see he can pick any job he wants!”
“Which major leaders didn’t come from top universities? Jiabao’s future, at minimum, is mayor material!”
At the word “mayor,” Zhang Meilan could no longer hide her smile. Her chin lifted even higher, her eyes burning with excitement.
As if she could already see her son returning in glory and herself living a life of honor.
“Jiabao’s so successful don’t forget us when the time comes!”
“Yeah, we’ll all be counting on you to bring us some luck!”
Sitting nearby, Song Jiabao listened to the flattery, feeling as if he had been fed honey so pleased he was practically floating.
“Hey, Jiabao!” a friend elbowed him, winking teasingly. “I heard the girls at Peking University are all stunning way prettier than movie stars! You’ll be right there on campus with them, don’t miss your chance date a few!”
Anyone who gets into Peking University would be outstanding in both background and ability any one of them would be a rich, beautiful, and talented girl.
“Marry one home as your wife that’d be amazing, hahaha!”
A group of young men laughed and teased him. Though it sounded like a joke, Song Jiabao took it seriously.
At his age, full of youthful restlessness and having never properly dated, his imagination ran wild. The grin on his face wouldn’t go away.
Song Qiaoan quietly ate the walnut kernels Zhang Aiju had peeled for her. Hearing their conversation, she couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
Zhang Aiju peeled another walnut and handed it to her, then asked in a worried low voice, “Qiaoan, Auntie shouldn’t ask, but I heard something happened with the Fu family they were all arrested? You… you and that young man from the Fu family, how are things between you two now?”