I climbed to the third floor of the county government's family building and knocked gently on the door.
A young woman opened the door for me. I knew that Wang Yanshu's daughter was still in junior high school, so I confirmed the house number again, fearing that I might have gone to the wrong house.
She smiled and said warmly, "Hello, this is Guan Hongjun, Director Wang and his wife are preparing a feast for you in the kitchen. So I'll open the door."
I smiled back and said, "Hi, I thought I was in the wrong place."
She helped me take the gift and let me into the house.
Wang Yanshu and his wife also came out of the kitchen upon hearing the noise. Wang Yanshu introduced, "This is Xu Shaojia, my boss. He is an old pedant from the Party School, loves to debate, and is easy to set traps for others. Comrade Xiaoguan, please be careful."
Xu Shaojia laughed, shook my hand, and said jokingly, "Don't listen to Director Wang's nonsense. I'm not the head of the family. I'm a housewife and I'm responsible for her logistical support."
The couple seemed to be joking, so I relaxed and nodded.
Wang Yanshu introduced the lady who opened the door for me: "This beautiful girl is Zhu Qingwan, she is my neighbor, and she is here to accompany you today. You young people will have more topics to talk about together."
Zhu Qingwan, this name is quite elegant. It reminds me of a line in the Book of Songs: "There was a beautiful person, whose temperament was elegant and graceful."
She is just like her name: gentle, graceful, fresh and moving.
Of course I also understood that Wang Yanshu wanted to be a matchmaker and bring her and me together.
I can't remember whether the meal was sumptuous or not. I knew my alcohol tolerance was limited, so I accompanied Principal Xu to drink a glass of wine.
My memory is mainly focused on my acquaintance with her. During the dinner, I learned that she was also single and had been divorced, but she had no children.
She is a music teacher and loves classical music.
Throughout the whole process, although she didn't say much, she spoke elegantly and without restraint, showing that she was well-educated and well-mannered.
After dinner, on the sofa in the living room, Principal Xu and I talked for a while about the SARS epidemic that had ended, and then exchanged views on employment and social security.
As the conversation was going on, Wang Yanshu nudged Xu Shaojia with his elbow and said, "Don't talk about state affairs at home, and don't neglect Sister Qingwan."
Principal Xu knew what was going on and laughed, "Yeah, look at me, I kept talking nonsense to Hongjun. I forgot there were two beauties beside me. How rude."
His words made my face turn red instantly. I glanced to the side and saw Zhu Qingwan sitting next to me. She was looking at me with a smile, not shy at all.
Finally, at the insistence of Wang Yanshu and his wife, Zhu Qingwan sent me back to the dormitory.
The distance was not far, so she and I walked slowly, even stopping for a while after every two steps.
She said, "Sister Wang, it's hard to refuse your kindness. Do you know what your intention is?"
I nodded, and looking into her eyes, I couldn't help but think of Zhou Xintong.
She and she both have a pair of eyes that can speak.
Seeing me angry, she smiled and said, "Do you often look at women so blatantly?"
I immediately focused my attention and replied awkwardly, "Sorry, I was distracted."
She curled her lips, as if she could see through my heart, but she didn't show any anger. Instead, she said, "You think of another woman when you look at me."
I felt like she had stripped me naked, and I didn't know how to respond.
She continued, "Seeing things reminds you of people, and seeing scenes reminds you of emotions. This is a kind of psychological mapping. We have all experienced this. I don't feel embarrassed. Why are you nervous?"
I said, "I'm not very good at handling my emotions. I'm a mess."
She smiled and said teasingly, "I don't hear any reflection in you. It seems like you are showing off."
I felt a sense of oppression. Facing this woman who could keenly see into my thoughts, I was defeated.
So I stopped and said goodbye to her. Before I could finish my words, she stopped smiling and asked me, "How should I respond to Sister Wang? Tell her that you didn't like me? Will this affect your relationship as superior and subordinate? If you have concerns, I can also say that I didn't like you."
I couldn't stay passive all the time, so I immediately hit back, "To be honest, do you like me or not? This has little to do with how I reply to Wang Yanshu."
She was caught off guard by my counterattack, and it was the first time I saw a blush of embarrassment on her face.
"I want to give you some time, and I also want to give myself a chance. We can get to know each other better."
Ripples of emotion surged in my heart, as if resonating with the magnetism emanating from her.
She and I smiled at each other knowingly, and that's how we started dating.
Wang Yanshu once said to me meaningfully: "Hongjun, the master can only lead you to the door, but the practice depends on yourself. I am just building a bridge for the two of you. Whether you can be together in the end depends on your true feelings. Don't be disturbed by external forces."
Soon, Wang Yanshu transferred me from the Township Enterprise Section to the Office, specifically in charge of text synthesis.
This job made me busy immediately, and working overtime became the norm.
Zhu Qingwan would often come to the office to bring me meals, and would happily watch me wolf down the food she cooked.
Then, Jing quietly stayed with me until I finished my work.
This is the most comfortable and enjoyable time alone with her.
On the way home, I couldn't help but ask her, "Won't it be boring for you to accompany me like this?"
She asked me back, "Do you think I'm boring?"
We will smile at each other again.
I praised her for her delicious cooking and she said she was willing to cook for me for the rest of her life.
Having said that, I can no longer remain indifferent and want to promote the further development of our relationship.
I told her the whole story of my divorce without reservation.
She was not surprised, but said that she had heard about Liu Yun's romantic affairs in the furniture city, but she didn't expect that I was the male protagonist in this scandal.
She asked me if I missed my son, and I said of course I did, and I would go back to see him occasionally.
She suddenly became silent and Liang did not speak.
When we got downstairs to her house, she invited me to sit upstairs.
This was my first time at her house.
She gave me a cup of tea and sat opposite me.
Then, as I expected, she opened up to me.
"I got divorced because I couldn't have children."
She looked at me calmly, but I guess she was definitely not surprised. After all, this is privacy and pain.
I wasn't particularly surprised, on the contrary I felt relieved.