One summer day, Zhao Mingyue received a call from Gao Dongfang: "Busy man, do you have time to get together?"

Zhao Mingyue quickly replied, "Yes, yes, where should we meet?" She glanced at the calendar on the table; it should be summer vacation by now.

Gao Dongfang said, "Beijing Hotel."

Zhao Mingyue was slightly surprised that they would be at the Beijing Hotel, a place they usually didn't go to. It must be a special guest. In a flash, Zhao Mingyue realized: "Fourth Sister is back, right?"

Gao Dongfang chuckled, "You're too clever, girl. Just mentioning the location of the gathering and you already know the theme. No wonder you run such a big business. Oh, right, it's because Fourth Sister is back from England. She's treating us to dinner at the Beijing Hotel, and she brought your husband and kids along. Fourth Sister also brought her girlfriend back; she's truly a British wife now." Gao Dongfang was now doing well in everything. Old Qin's job transfer was hopeless, so he returned to Beijing in another way—by taking the postgraduate entrance exam. He took the exam last year, passed it smoothly, and will be starting school this fall. The whole family was finally in Beijing.

Zhao Mingyue was overjoyed: "That's great! Tell Fourth Sister I'll treat." Of the sisters, she's the only one who's gone into business and doesn't have to worry about money.

Gao Dongfang chuckled and said, "You can discuss this with Lao Si yourself. Anyway, I'm just eating for free."

"Will my eldest sister come too?" Zhao Mingyue thought about how the sisters could finally reunite and was very excited.

"They're here! They're leaving tomorrow and will arrive the day after." Gao Dongfang's voice was quite loud, showing that he was very happy.

"That's great! Everyone can get together now. It's been five years since we graduated, hasn't it?" Zhao Mingyue said.

"Yes, it's been exactly five years. Our class should have a reunion. Let the old class monitor take care of the preparations."

Zhao Mingyue thought that a class reunion wasn't so easy. Although most of them were in Beijing, some, like Tang Weihua, had returned to their hometowns after graduation, and there were even classmates who had gone back to their hometowns in Xinjiang. "Let's not worry about all that for now, let's get together first."

On Saturday, Shen Xuyue returned from Tianjin. Now that he has his own car, it's much more convenient for him to go home. He can return on Saturday afternoon and leave on Monday morning. Life couldn't be more pleasant.

After having dinner at his parents' house, the couple drove their son back to their own home. Shen Xuyue had given up his old company-provided housing; since he was no longer working there, it made no sense for him to stay. Zhao Mingyue had also given up her company-provided housing long ago. Now they had bought a courtyard house in the Xicheng District and would go back to their own home on weekends. According to Zhao Mingyue, they finally had their own place, and no matter how their jobs changed in the future, their home would remain the same.

Back home, Zhao Mingyue showed her husband and son the new clothes she had made for them: "We'll wear these tomorrow. We're going to meet guests, including foreign friends. We can't embarrass ourselves."

Liangliang is four years old now. The little guy can say almost anything. He's clever and mischievous, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a smart look that makes him especially lovable. He's now a walking encyclopedia of questions, with an exceptionally strong curiosity. His questions are often tricky and strange, sometimes leaving even a room full of adults speechless. "Mommy, foreign friends are all blond and blue-eyed, right?" Although China hasn't been open to the outside world for very long, you can still see foreigners on the streets of Beijing, and they occasionally appear on the news. Liangliang always finds them fascinating and interesting, and he always stares at them for a long time.

Zhao Mingyue said, "Some have black hair and black eyes, while others have red hair and green eyes."

Liangliang got excited: "Red hair and green eyes, that's just like the monster in 'Journey to the West'! I'm going to take the Golden Cudgel!" 'Journey to the West' is currently airing on TV, and Liangliang and Zhuangzhuang are big fans of Sun Wukong. The two brothers spend their days playing with a stick in the yard, trying to subdue demons. Zhao Mingyue had already replaced her family's TV with an imported large-screen color TV, and her parents had also upgraded, so they could see the red-haired monster.

Shen Xuyue said, "You're being reckless again. I already said you're friends, so you can't bring a stick with you. It's so impolite."

Liangliang said in disbelief, "Not a monster, but a friend?" A person with red hair and green eyes is actually a friend of Mom and Dad.

Zhao Mingyue said, "By the way, Liangliang, when you meet foreign friends tomorrow, you must be polite and not point and whisper about them."

"All right."

Zhao Mingyue said to Shen Xuyue, "I'll pick up Chunmei on the way tomorrow morning. Huaihai isn't home, so he's the only one who can't go. It's a real pity."

Shen Xuyue asked, "Is the film ready?"

"Yes, I'm ready." Zhao Mingyue looked at her husband and child. Shen Xuyue was still so handsome, and her son was getting more and more handsome. They were both at the best age. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought, "Yes, very good. No one has aged or lost their beauty. They are still in their prime."

Shen Xuyue seemed to understand her thoughts: "No need to take pictures, my wife is still so young and beautiful." The couple is seven years apart in age, and Shen Xuyue is quite worried about aging prematurely. He usually pays attention to maintaining his appearance, at least not daring to let his figure go out of shape.

"Hehe, both of my men are still so handsome!" Zhao Mingyue bent down and kissed her son on the cheek.

Liangliang pouted and kissed his mother on the cheek, saying, "Mom is the prettiest."

Zhao Mingyue was overjoyed; her son was truly a sweetheart.

The next morning, Shen Xuyue drove to the Song family home to pick up Li Chunmei and her son. Since getting married, Li Chunmei had been living with her husband's family, with her mother-in-law helping to take care of the child, while she would return home in the evenings to spend time with her son. She had originally planned to take her son to visit the military base this summer, and was just about to leave when she heard that Qian Sisheng was returning for a gathering, so she postponed her trip.

Li Chunmei's son, nicknamed Pipi, is indeed a rather mischievous child. He is two years old this year, which is the age when he is learning to speak and also the most fun age. However, he is a little timid and shy when he sees strangers.

As soon as Liangliang saw his little brother, he came over to kiss him, but Pipi wouldn't let him and turned his face away. Li Chunmei laughed and said, "Liangliang, you've been humiliated by my son, haven't you? Pipi won't give you any face, you little rival."

Liangliang lay between the front seats and asked Zhao Mingyue, "Mom, what is a love rival? An enemy?"

Zhao Mingyue turned to Liangliang and said, "No, it's my brother. Pipi doesn't like you being older than him."

"I'm older than him!" Liangliang said proudly, holding up his toy gun. "Pipi, do you want to play?"

Pipi said, "My dad has a real gun!"

Liangliang was shocked. After a while, he said, "My dad has a car! My uncle also has a gun. He's a soldier in the People's Liberation Army!"

Pipi said, "My dad is a soldier in the People's Liberation Army."

Liangliang felt that everything at home was great, except for the fact that his father wasn't a soldier in the People's Liberation Army, which frustrated him the most: "My grandfather fought in the war and killed Japanese devils!"

Pipi turned to look at him: "My grandpa hit me too!"

Liangliang was getting anxious because he couldn't gain the upper hand. He looked around and said, "My dad is the boss, and my mom is the general manager!"

Li Chunmei said with a grin, "Youngest son, it's so funny how anxious your son looks."

“Kids are always competitive. Let them make a fuss.” Zhao Mingyue said, and began to talk to her about Qian Sisheng and Tang Weihua.

Li Chunmei said, "I haven't seen them for many years, I'm really looking forward to it. I heard that the fourth sister brought her boyfriend back, he's a foreigner?"

"That's what I heard too, but I only found out when I got there," Zhao Mingyue said.

The Beijing Hotel was very close to their home, and they arrived quickly by car. The two children were still arguing like they were cross-eyed. Zhao Mingyue said, "Alright, Liangliang, we are the older brothers, so we should give way to our younger brothers and have some manners. Don't take it to heart."

Liangliang got out of the car, wearing a new little shirt and overalls made by Zhao Mingyue, with leather sandals on his feet—a very simple yet stylish outfit. Holding his mother's hand, he watched as Pipi was held in his mother's arms and made a face at him.

Gao Dongfang had arrived long ago and was sitting on the sofa in the lobby, resting and chatting with Qian Sisheng. Zhao Mingyue looked at Qian Sisheng and quickly walked over: "Fourth Sister, it's been so long! I missed you so much. You've changed so much, you're getting more and more beautiful."

Qian Sisheng, dressed in a very professional suit and skirt, a typical British style, looked very capable. She quickly stood up and gave Zhao Mingyue a warm hug: "Sixth Brother, long time no see! I've gotten so old, but you're still so young, and you've really become so much more handsome. This is your son, hello, handsome boy, shake hands with Auntie, what's your name?"

Liangliang really liked this adult way of greeting, and extended his hand to shake hands with Qian Sisheng: "Auntie, hello! My name is Liangliang, and my full name is Shen Muyang."

"Hey, you're so polite, Liangliang. This is a gift from your aunt." Qian Sisheng handed him a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Liangliang looked at Zhao Mingyue, who nodded to indicate that he could take it. He happily accepted it, saying, "Thank you, Auntie."

Qian Sisheng said happily, "The sixth son is so polite and cute. He looks so much like his mother. I love him so much."

Li Chunmei said from the side, "If you like this, you should have one too."

Qian Sisheng stretched out his arms and gave Li Chunmei and Pipi a big hug: "Third sister, it's so nice to see you."

Li Chunmei said, "You've finally decided to come back."

“I want to come back every day, but I can’t help it. This is your son, he doesn’t look like you. Here, Auntie has a gift for you, take it.” Qian Sisheng handed a box to Pipi.

Pipi refused the gift, so Li Chunmei accepted it for him: "Pipi, quickly call her Auntie and thank her. Your son looks like his father."

Pipi wasn't as brave as Liangliang. He glanced at Qian Sisheng but didn't shout. He twisted against his mother a few times, and Li Chunmei put him down: "Go play with your older brothers and sisters."

Gao Dongfang also said, "Pipi, come play with Bingbing."

Zhao Mingyue also said, "Liangliang, go play with your younger siblings. Be polite, gentlemanly, and take care of them."

"Okay, Mom, can you hold this gift for me?" Liangliang placed the gift in Zhao Mingyue's hands. Although he really wanted to open it, he resisted the urge. He was the eldest here; he finally felt like the boss, and a surge of pride welled up inside him. In the past, he was the youngest at home, always being taken care of by his older brothers, and of course, being bullied by them as well.

The four sisters were chatting together when Zhao Mingyue asked, "What about your husbands?"

"Old Qin and Owen are outside smoking and chatting," Qian Sisheng said.

Li Chunmei said, "Owen also understands Chinese. Did you teach him?"

Qian Sisheng nodded: "I know a little, but not much."

Gao Dongfang chuckled: "Old Qin can speak English, but only a little. The two of them can barely communicate by speaking and gesturing."

Zhao Mingyue asked, "Where are my eldest sister and brother-in-law?"

“They arrived in Beijing last night and didn’t ask us to pick them up. They said they had settled in and would come over today,” Gao Dongfang said.

Zhao Mingyue said, "You should have told me so that Xuyue could pick them up. Why stay in a hotel? They can stay at my place. When they arrive, I'll tell them to move into my house, or they can stay at the Beijing Hotel."

Li Chunmei laughed and said, "Our sixth brother has become rich, and now he speaks like a big shot."

Zhao Mingyue chuckled: "Me? I'm just a nouveau riche."

Qian Sisheng said, "Don't say that. These days, there's no such thing as a nouveau riche family. There's nothing shameful about money earned through hard work and intelligence. What about Old Shen?"

Zhao Mingyue said, "He parked his car. He should be here by now. Maybe he ran into Lao Qin and the others outside and started chatting. Never mind him, he'll be here eventually. Fourth Sister, how are you doing in England?"

Qian Sisheng said, "It's alright, but it's too humid there. I almost went crazy when I first got there. I felt like mushrooms were growing in my hair. Seriously, mushrooms were growing under the beds there. I was really shocked. The winters there are very damp and cold. When I returned to Beijing, I was a little unaccustomed to it. It's too dry."

"So you plan to settle in England in the future?" Zhao Mingyue asked.

Qian Sisheng nodded: "For now, probably. Maybe he'll come back in the future."

Li Chunmei asked, "What does Irving do?"

Qian Sisheng said, "He also studies history. We are almost out of sync. I went to England to study ancient European history, while he studied ancient Chinese history in England. He often came to discuss Chinese history issues with me, and we became familiar with each other over time."

Gao Dongfang said, "I think this is great, the two complement each other, right?"

“Academically speaking, yes. But in terms of personality, we’re a bit alike. We’re both the kind of people who won’t back down once we’re convinced of our point, so we sometimes argue. But he has one good point: even when we argue, he doesn’t resort to personal attacks. If things get too out of hand, he’ll stop, we’ll go outside, calm down, and then we’ll be fine.” Qian Sisheng had a helpless smile on his lips.

Zhao Mingyue said, "That's good. It shows that he is tolerant. As long as one of the two people compromises, they can get along. The worst thing is when they are at loggerheads."

Li Chunmei laughed: "That's exactly what I'm talking about with my husband, Lao Song. We both have strong personalities, but fortunately we don't see each other often. Every time we're about to explode, we separate and the anger dissipates."

"So, what kind of pot goes with what kind of lid? It's all pre-matched." Gao Dongfang smiled, pursing his lips.

Zhao Mingyue asked, "Fourth Sister, now you're the only one left who isn't married. When do you plan to get married?"

“Next year,” Qian Sisheng said.

Li Chunmei said, "It's so late. You'll be thirty next year, right? It's good to get married sooner rather than later."

Qian Sisheng smiled and looked down: "If I hadn't insisted, he wouldn't have wanted to get married. People in other countries get married later, and many never get married at all, only dating and living together."

Gao Dongfang shook his head and said, "This idea is too modern. Let's not follow their example. We should still get married."

"That's why we decided to get married next year," Qian Sisheng said.

Li Chunmei sighed: "It's a pity you got married in England, we can't go."

Zhao Mingyue said, "I will send my fourth sister a wedding gift then."

"The thought is enough, it's too far, sending things isn't worth it," Qian Sisheng said, waving his hand.

Zhao Mingyue said, "Then we'll prepare in advance and bring it for you this time."

“Okay, that’s a good idea,” Gao Dongfang and Li Chunmei both agreed.

As they were talking, more people came in—a large group: Tang Weihua and her family of three, along with Shen Xuyue, Lao Qin, and Owen. Zhao Mingyue was meeting Tang Weihua's husband and son for the first time. She had seen photos of them before, but her impressions were vague. Lao Qin was a typical Northwestern man, very tall and with a kind, honest face. Their son was already eleven years old, a teenager, and very tall, almost as tall as Tang Weihua, just like his father.

Tang Weihua walked up and hugged all four sisters: "Long time no see, I missed you so much. Fifth sister hasn't arrived yet, has she? Come on, let's introduce ourselves. This is your eldest sister's husband, Lao Zhou, and this is my son, Zhou Shuhang. Shuhang, quickly say hello to Auntie." The little boy was still a bit shy, but under his mother's guidance, he greeted each of the aunties.

Qian Sisheng pulled Irving over to introduce him to everyone. Irving was very tall, estimated to be over 1.85 meters, quite a good match for Qian Sisheng's height. He was on the thin side, with brown hair and blue eyes, and his appearance was considered quite conventionally attractive to Chinese people. His Chinese had a strong British accent, and he kept smiling and saying "Ni Hao" to everyone, his blue eyes sparkling with genuine joy.

Zhao Mingyue quickly called her son over: "Liangliang, come here and say hello to your uncle and aunt."

Liangliang, with his head down, rushed over quickly and squeezed his little head through the crowd: "Mom, I saw him, a foreign friend uncle."

The adults all laughed, and Shen Xuyue came over and picked up his son: "Liangliang, say hello to Uncle Owen, Uncle Owen."

Liangliang imitated him, saying, "Hello, Uncle Owen."

Owen reached out and touched Liangliang's little face. Liangliang was obviously a little scared, but he didn't dodge away. Zhao Mingyue then pulled him to meet Aunt Tang and Uncle Zhou.

Almost everyone was there except for Mao Jianlan and her family of three. Zhao Mingyue said, "Let's go into the private room first. We can ask the front desk to let them know in a bit."

"Okay, let's go in first." Qian Sisheng agreed, as it wouldn't be good for such a large group of people to wait in the lobby.

They entered the private room, which was packed with over a dozen people, creating a lively atmosphere. The women were busy catching up, while the men discussed current political and economic topics. Shen Xuyue, whose English was the best, chatted with Owen, discussing British and Chinese customs and current affairs.

It was almost 11 o'clock when Mao Jianlan and Yu Youqing finally appeared with their daughter, Mao Mao. Beads of sweat were on Mao Jianlan's nose. "I'm so sorry to have kept everyone waiting. My daughter had a slight fever this morning, so I took her to get an injection before we rushed over. She didn't want to stay home with her father and insisted on coming with me."

As expected, Mao Mao lay motionless on Mao Jianlan's shoulder, ignoring Liangliang's greetings.

Qian Sisheng said, "Is the child alright? Is she asleep? Why don't we get a room upstairs for her to rest?"

Mao Jianlan said, "It's okay, I'll hold you."

Tang Weihua said, "It's okay if the child isn't feeling well and can't come."

"I was worried that everyone would be waiting, so I made plans a long time ago. I can't keep waiting for everyone alone," Mao Jianlan said apologetically.

Zhao Mingyue knew that this was the weakness of inconvenient communication. If she had a mobile phone, she could just make a call to let them know. Anyway, everyone was in Beijing, and they could get together anytime.

Five years later, they reunited, and everyone was there, each with their family, except for Li Chunmei's husband. When they talked about Song Huaihai, Tang Weihua said, "That tall People's Liberation Army soldier, I remember him. When I looked at him, I thought to myself, how tall must his wife be? I never imagined that his wife would be from our third brother's family."

Qian Sisheng also laughed and said, "I remember that too. So, it's not exactly unfamiliar."

There were six sisters and five children. Mao Mao wasn't feeling well and didn't want to move in her mother's arms. The other children were having a lot of fun, and Zhou Shuhang, the older brother, was earnestly leading his younger siblings in play.

Li Chunmei said, "Fourth son, hurry up and have a baby, a mixed-race child. I've heard mixed-race children are especially beautiful, I'm really looking forward to it. If it's a girl, she can be my daughter-in-law." She never forgets to find a wife for her son wherever she goes.

"Haha, okay, I'll give it my all." Qian Sisheng replied with a smile. Her sisters had all given birth, and she was envious.

Looking at the crowded private room, Zhao Mingyue felt her heart overflow with happiness. It was wonderful that everyone was so happy after all these years.

After lunch, it was natural to go back to the school for a visit. Given the hot weather, and that it would be too early to go in the afternoon, Zhao Mingyue suggested everyone rest at the hotel first and go to the school in the evening. She booked two twin suites at the hotel; the adults could go upstairs to chat, while the children could rest and take a nap in the other room.

So the group moved upstairs. Gao Dongfang joked, "If it weren't for this rich woman here, I probably would never have booked a room at the Beijing Hotel in my entire life."

Zhao Mingyue laughed and said, "What's so great about staying at the Beijing Hotel? Does it compare to your home? The hotel advertises that guests feel at home. What does that mean? Home, of course. So no matter how luxurious the hotel is, it can't compare to your own home. You're a Beijinger, why are you thinking about staying at the Beijing Hotel?"

Qian Sisheng nodded: "Sixth Brother is right."

Tang Weihua said, "There's no place like home, no matter how big or small."

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "Big sister, you can come to my house tonight. Don't stay outside. Have a good time in Beijing this time. I'll cover all your food and lodging."

Tang Weihua laughed: "Okay, then you can eat and stay at my place. Whenever you come to Xi'an, I'll treat you."

Li Chunmei said, "If we all go, do you have a place to stay?"

"If there aren't any, we'll just make do on the floor. Don't worry, there will definitely be beds for the guests," Tang Weihua laughed.

The men accompanied the children to the next room for their afternoon nap, while the sisters chatted in another room. The six of them lay sprawled on one bed, just like their old late-night dorm room chats. It was as if time had reversed rapidly, taking them back to five years ago, to the days before they graduated.

However, the topics they talked about were all after they parted ways. There was sadness, joy, and a strong sense of happiness. Being able to reunite and chat together is indeed the greatest happiness.

Gao Dongfang said, "Let's visit Lao Liu's factory tomorrow. She raved about how beautiful it is. I've never been there before. Have any of you been?"

Mao Jianlan said, "I've been there, to visit Mao Mao's aunt. The environment is indeed quite nice."

Zhao Mingyue said, "Great! I'd love to hear that."

"You're just eager to show off to us, aren't you?" Li Chunmei teased her.

Zhao Mingyue laughed and said, "Hey, what's there to brag about? Wait until I become a billionaire, then we can talk about bragging."

Li Chunmei reached out and pinched Zhao Mingyue's cheek: "I really don't think you're exaggerating. I think it's quite possible. Look, our monthly salary is only a little over a hundred yuan, while this girl earns millions a year. I have to admire the difference." She knew this detail not because Zhao Mingyue told her, but because the two families' mothers-in-law had mentioned it during a conversation.

Everyone gasped: "Sixth Brother, is Third Brother telling the truth?"

Zhao Mingyue chuckled and said, "Not that much, maybe a few hundred thousand a year."

“That’s enough,” Tang Weihua said. “I never expected you to go into business. Well, you’re the boldest one in our dorm. It’s true what they say: the bold get rich, and the timid starve.”

Mao Jianlan said with her eyes closed, "I started making clothes with Xiao Zhao back then, and I never imagined she could build such a great business. I suddenly remembered that saying, 'The bolder the person, the greater the harvest.' It was really exaggerated back then, but now, quite a few people have actually achieved it."

Qian Sisheng said, "It's all about opportunity. Lao Liu seized it, so she succeeded. Success always belongs to those who have the courage and the ability to seize opportunities."