Chapter 500 Welcome Party

After discussing and deciding on the gift options with Gu Xiao, Nan Zhiyi took advantage of her free time during the break to start purchasing the gifts.

She specifically asked Li Xiaoxuan to accompany her.

The two arranged to meet at the Overseas Chinese Remittance Shop.

The selection here is more extensive, including many imported goods or high-end domestic products that are not easily found on the market, and the displays are also more sophisticated.

Li Xiaoxuan learned that she was preparing gifts for her cousin, who was a returned overseas Chinese.

She tugged at Nan Zhiyi's sleeve: "Zhiyi, I almost forgot! Our bureau recently ordered a batch of gifts with Beijing characteristics, and some of them are surplus, which we're planning to dispose of internally! I remember there are several that are particularly suitable!"

Nan Zhiyi looked at her in surprise: "From your department? Can I buy it? Wouldn't that be against the rules?"

"Don't worry!" Li Xiaoxuan waved her hand readily. "Some of these are for internal staff and affiliated units, as a kind of welfare. The items are absolutely top-notch, made by master craftsmen, and are more exquisite and authentic than those sold in the market. There are sandalwood openwork ornaments depicting the Eight Views of Yanjing, and porcelain plaques depicting double blessings of fortune and longevity, replicas of those from the Palace Museum..."

Nan Zhiyi quickly thanked her, "Xiaoxuan, thank you so much! If it's convenient for you, please keep an eye out for me and set the price accordingly."

"Why are you being so polite with me!"

Li Xiaoxuan smiled and took her arm. "I'm happy to be of any help. Besides, that thing is just sitting there anyway. It's better to give it to someone who really needs it and can appreciate it, so it won't go to waste."

With Li Xiaoxuan's unexpected surprise, Nan Zhiyi felt more confident in preparing the gift.

The two browsed around the Overseas Chinese Exchange Shop, and she eventually picked out a few small and exquisite cloisonné vases and the like.

Stepping out of the store, the spring sunshine was just right.

"Thanks to you, Xiaoxuan. Otherwise, I would still be running around like a headless fly."

"It's no big deal!" Li Xiaoxuan said with a smile. "I'll deliver those things to your home tomorrow or the day after."

Nan Zhiyi thanked her again, which earned her a good pat on the back from Li Xiaoxuan. "Alright, alright, don't be so polite with me."

The two said goodbye at the intersection and went home separately.

During the waiting period, the news was gradually conveyed to Nan Zhiyi through Gu Xiao.

"The overseas Chinese delegation has arrived in Guangzhou."

"Mr. Su and his entourage's activities went smoothly."

"We have already set off for Jian'an."

"I stayed in Jian'an for three days to pay respects to my ancestors and visit old friends, and I was quite emotional."

"Arriving in Beijing tomorrow."

...Nan Zhiyi's mood fluctuated with these brief messages.

Until the night before, Gu Xiao brought back the exact arrangements: "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, there will be a unified welcome tea party in the hotel banquet hall, hosted by the Overseas Chinese Federation, with relevant leaders and some relatives in Beijing in attendance. Afterwards, you can chat freely."

The official welcome party happened to be held on a Sunday.

The sky was clear and the spring sunshine was bright.

Nan Zhiyi got up early and pondered for a long time in front of the wardrobe before finally choosing a light gray wool suit of fine quality, with a small pearl brooch pinned to the neckline.

She carefully applied light makeup and tied her long hair into a neat bun at the back of her head.

She looked at herself in the mirror again and again, then turned to Gu Xiao and asked, "How is it? Is it too plain? Or not formal enough?"

Gu Xiao also changed out of his military uniform today and wore a dark suit, which made him look even more upright, handsome and dignified.

He stepped forward and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear: "Very good, elegant and appropriate."

"Ugh, all you do is flatter people."

Nan Zhiyi punched him.

When the couple came downstairs, Gu Zhao was already sitting on the living room sofa, dressed in new clothes.

The little guy also changed into a white shirt and dark overalls that he doesn't usually wear. His hair was neatly combed, and he was idly fiddling with a Rubik's Cube in his hand, which was his recent favorite.

Hearing footsteps, he slid off the sofa and said with a grin, "Mom looks so beautiful today! Hmm... Dad looks handsome too!"

He used a novel word.

The child's innocent words made the couple laugh.

Nan Zhiyi straightened her son's shirt collar: "Our Gu Zhao looks very handsome today, a little gentleman."

Gu Xiao put the gifts into the trunk and called his wife and children to get in the car.

The car headed towards a foreign-related hotel located near Dongjiaomin Lane.

Nan Zhiyi sat in the passenger seat, her hands unconsciously clasped together.

Gu Xiao held the steering wheel with one hand, and reached out with the other hand to place it on the back of her hand and gently squeeze it.

Gu Zhao, sitting in the back, clung to the back of the front seat, leaned her little head in, and asked curiously, "Mommy, are we going to see...Grandpa?"

He tried hard to remember the somewhat tongue-twisting name.

“Yes,” Nan Zhiyi turned back and smiled at him, “they came back from Singapore, which is very, very far away.”

"oh."

Gu Zhao nodded, sat back in her seat, and earnestly promised, "Then I will behave myself later, and I won't run around or say anything out of line."

"Yes, Mom knows. My son has always been a good boy." Nan Zhiyi's heart softened again because of her son's words.

The car drove into a hotel catering to foreign guests.

Today, the place is noticeably more solemn than usual, with a red welcome banner hanging at the entrance that reads, "Warmly welcome patriotic overseas Chinese to return to China for a visit."

Staff members were friendly and enthusiastic in guiding people to park and enter the venue.

The welcome party was held in the banquet hall on the first floor of the hotel.

Above the stage was a prominent banner and flowers.

Below the stage were large round tables covered with clean white tablecloths, on which were placed tea, fruit, and name cards.

There were twenty or thirty overseas Chinese present, including men, women, and children. Their clothing and style were slightly different from those of people in China, making them appear more Westernized.

The accompanying staff from the Overseas Chinese Federation, foreign affairs officials, and some people who appeared to be leaders were scattered around the tables, talking quietly.

There were more than twenty family members like Nan Zhiyi who came to reunite with their relatives, most of them looking either excited or reserved.

The welcome ceremony was not lengthy.

A leader from the Overseas Chinese Federation delivered a brief speech, warmly welcoming the compatriots back to China, introducing the itinerary, and expressing the motherland's care for overseas compatriots.

Nan Zhiyi's gaze slowly searched through the crowd.

At a main table, she saw the figure from the photo Gu Xiao had shown her before: an elderly man in a gray suit with gray hair, listening attentively to the speech and nodding slightly from time to time.

Beside him was an elderly lady in an elegant cheongsam and a middle-aged man with a gentle and refined demeanor, wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

That must be my cousin Su Chongshan's family.

Nan Zhiyi's palms were slightly sweaty.

Gu Xiao gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips under the table, giving her a "don't worry" look.

After the leader's speech, there will be a relatively free time for discussion.

Staff members began guiding the relatives forward to recognize each other.

The scene became even more lively, with shouts, sobs, and laughter in various local dialects rising and falling.

Nan Zhiyi saw an old lady tightly hugging a middle-aged overseas Chinese, crying uncontrollably; she also saw several young people surrounding an old overseas Chinese, excitedly asking him all sorts of questions.

Gu Xiao said to her in a low voice, "Let's go over there."

He put one arm around her shoulder and took Gu Zhao's hand with the other.