False charity
The midsummer night sky is always exceptionally clear, as if it has been washed clean, a deep blue, with stars like sparkling diamonds adorning it, making one sigh, what a beautiful night, what a beautiful picture, only the bright moon is hiding behind thick clouds, nowhere to be seen.
Inside the Shunfeng Hall of the International Hotel, a ball was being held with glasses gleaming and celebrities from all walks of life in attendance. The air was filled with soft, romantic music, and the gentlemen in Western-style suits and gowns as well as the ladies in lace cheongsams shone brightly under the crystal chandeliers.
Social events are also a kind of business. In the venue, which was divided into different small circles, one circle was gradually expanding. At the center of the circle, Ms. He raised a glass of champagne and spoke eloquently: "Wenjun's hair was half white and half yellow, and the fragrance of her clothes in the room was better than the flowers. This is what is meant by the fragrance of clothes and the beauty of hair."
Mrs. Wan finally managed to squeeze into the crowd and her eyes lit up when she saw Miss He's clothes. Today, Miss He was wearing a light apricot-colored embroidered cheongsam with wide sleeves, which showed the gentle and elegant temperament unique to Eastern women. A full white rose was pinned to the right side of the collar, which softened her boyish appearance with short hair.
Compared to the mysterious "witch" costume on the ship, this outfit is a perfect blend of strength and gentleness. Combined with Miss He's already slender figure and fair complexion, it makes her appear even more approachable, elegant, and beautiful.
In fact, ever since Miss Ho first entered the social scene at the age of 16, her makeup and clothing have always caused a trend, making her an object of imitation for young ladies and wives from all walks of life. With her around, magazine sales were guaranteed.
Mrs. Wan could predict that the front pages of major fashion magazines tomorrow would once again be dominated by Miss He. Sure enough, reporters in the industry snapped photos incessantly.
Miss He is also very good-tempered. She didn't show any displeasure at the constant flashing lights, but instead cooperated by posing in various ways. If you think Miss He is just a well-bred young lady who enjoys attending various banquets, you would be sorely mistaken.
After the reporters dispersed, Mr. Shi, the owner of the Shen Bao newspaper, was the first to approach and clink glasses with Qingcheng: "Qingcheng, how have you been lately?"
"Mr. Shi, it's been a long time. I hope Qingcheng is doing well. She's just still adjusting to the time difference and her head is a little dizzy right now." Miss He seemed to have known Mr. Shi for a long time, and her words carried a hint of coquetry.
“That won’t do. You need to take good care of it. What would happen if something happened to such a smart brain? I’m going to pay for insurance for your little brain, the most expensive kind,” Mr. Shi declared humorously.
"I'm so sorry to trouble you with this expense. How about I submit my new short story to the Shenbao for serialization? I wonder if Mr. Shi thinks I'm qualified?" Miss He smiled and raised her wine glass.
“Young lady, do you think this is your first day having a serialized article in our Shen Bao newspaper? Of course it is!” Mr. Shi said firmly, clinking his glass against Miss He’s.
At this moment, Mr. Li, the editor-in-chief of Shenbao, also chimed in, "Qingcheng, you just returned to China and don't have a job yet, right? Why don't you come to the newspaper to help me? You can start as an editor."
"Oh? Teacher Li, you think too highly of me. The editors at Shenbao are all incredibly talented. How could a novice like me have the nerve to approach them?" Miss He politely declined the offer.
"Qingcheng, we all know your abilities all too well. You could write editorials at 17, and published your debut novel, 'The Sorrow of the Xiang River,' at 19. Just in terms of writing experience alone, you're more than capable. I like young women like you who have ideas," Mr. Shi said with pride.
"Go away, go away, what you're saying is misleading. Our Qingcheng is still a virgin, a group of promising young men are waiting for her, how could it be your turn, you old geezer?" Mr. Li deliberately argued with Boss Shi.
"Hey, Lao Li, I was just appreciating Qingcheng's talent. You have a problem with your own thinking, and you think everyone else has a problem. You just want to introduce your cousin to Qingcheng, right? Let me tell you straight, your cousin isn't good enough for her. Give up on that idea as soon as possible." Mr. Shi retorted without any politeness. The way the two bickered was more like old friends than boss and employee.
“I rejected my cousin a long time ago. He’s too vulgar and his mindset doesn’t match. What kind of mindset do we have, Qingcheng? We are concerned about the country and its people, self-reliant and independent, and women are just as capable as men. Otherwise, we could be called the heroines of the new era. Can her book ‘Eternal Night’ be regarded as a bible by contemporary independent women?” Mr. Li asked confidently.
Perhaps Mr. Li's praise was too much, because Ms. He tugged at his sleeve somewhat awkwardly and reminded him, "Mr. Li, the Bible is too exaggerated. People will laugh at me if they hear it."
"No, Lao Li and I are in complete agreement on this point. Nowadays, mainstream commentaries are written by male editors, and having only one perspective is bound to be biased. The trend of educated ladies reading newspapers is irreversible, and they also need someone to describe the various aspects of society from a female perspective." Mr. Shi carefully analyzed the importance of recruiting female editors from a business perspective.
“Yes, Qingcheng, think about it. You can start with the Literature section. Reviewing articles shouldn’t be difficult for you. Once you’re familiar with the process, you can move on to a section that interests you,” Mr. Li added, seizing the opportunity to persuade her.
“Alright, since Teacher Li has said so, then please arrange for Mr. Shi to make the arrangements so we can discuss the details.” Miss He finally relented.
"Okay, it's settled then. We'll chat together next Friday at 9 a.m.." Mr. Shi's face lit up with joy, but then he added mysteriously, "Don't bring your aunt along, okay?"
"Haha, I'm an adult now, why would I bring my aunt along? It's supposed to be a charity gala today, but why hasn't the host said what the charity is for?" Qingcheng quickly changed the subject.
"I don't know, we were invited by Mr. Tang, anyway, it's just to donate money, right, Lao Li?" Mr. Shi winked meaningfully at Mr. Li.
"Yes, Lao Shi, you should donate more. Don't be so stingy with such a big business. Three parts gold, three parts silver, and three parts for your children and grandchildren's happiness." Mr. Li deliberately didn't respond to Mr. Shi's comment. The interaction between the two was really amusing. He thought that Miss He's future career in the editorial department would be quite interesting.
Mrs. Wan was just about to have a few words with Miss He when, ding-dong, the doorbell rang, and the brown wooden door to the hall was pushed open. Two fully armed guards stood guard, holding the door shut.
The sound of orderly footsteps echoed down the corridor, the distinctive clatter of military boots striking the marble floor.
Upon seeing the guards, Mayor Zhang, who was hosting the banquet, and the municipal government officials rushed to the door to greet them, indicating that the main guests of today's banquet were about to make their appearance.
The first to enter was Xiong Wannian, the commander-in-chief of the Longhua Songhu Command. The young man next to him was his adjutant, Shen. They were both wearing the latest yellow-green military uniforms with white gloves. The two men, dressed in uniform, were robust and had a dignified demeanor, showing the strict style of the Central Revolutionary Army.
The young man who entered the venue one after another caused a media frenzy once again. He was also wearing a new military uniform, with a handsome face and a slight smile. If he were wearing a long gown, people would definitely think he was a university professor, or if he were wearing a suit, he would look like a gentle and refined young master from a wealthy family.
Because the young man was so unfamiliar, everyone speculated about his job and age.
Mayor Zhang, who had been waiting, immediately spoke up when the guests arrived: "It is a great honor for me that Commander Xiong has graced us with his presence. Oh, I have never seen this military officer before. Commander Xiong, would you please introduce me?"
Commander Xiong replied with a smile: "This is Gao Junxiao, the former commander of the Second Division of the Ninth Army, who was specially dispatched to Shanghai by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to oversee the suppression of bandits. You can just call him Supervisor Gao."
"Ah, Inspector Gao, it's a pleasure to meet you." Mayor Zhang hurriedly stepped forward to shake hands as a gesture of hospitality. As soon as the two posed, the reporters started snapping photos again. Gao Junxiao seemed unaccustomed to this kind of scene, and apart from nodding in greeting, he remained silent.
Mr. Shi, who was watching the commotion from a distance, joked, "Qingcheng, I'm afraid your headline tomorrow will be stolen by that new military officer."
"Haha, how can a washed-up writer be as attractive as a newly arrived military officer?" He Qingcheng smiled slightly and answered without caring.
Mrs. Wan keenly noticed the change in Miss He's expression. From the moment that Superintendent Gao entered the room, Miss He's gaze had never left him. As if she had thought of something, she covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Mrs. Wan couldn't understand what was so funny about the new military officer. Not only was he handsome, but his military uniform added to his heroic air.
"Miss He, what are you laughing at?" Mrs. Wan asked curiously.
"It's nothing, I just thought of an old friend. If he could wear a military uniform, he would look just as dashing." Miss He's smile remained unchanged, as if she were looking at someone else through the lens of that military officer.
“I know few girls can resist the allure of a uniform, but when we’re looking for a husband, we absolutely can’t choose one who lives a life of danger and insecurity,” Mrs. Wan patiently advised. She could tell that Miss He cared a lot about the new Inspector Gao.
“Mrs. Wan, you misunderstand. I have no plans to get married for the time being. Since ancient times, even if women have ideals, they have realized their ambitions by assisting their husbands in educating their sons. To me, that is a remnant of feudal ethics. Women should step out of their homes, be in charge of their own homes, and be their own masters, instead of hiding behind men as behind-the-scenes strategists.” Miss He’s thinking was too advanced for Mrs. Wan to understand at the moment.
"What woman doesn't get married? Whether it's arranged by parents or love at first sight, we all eventually have to get married and have children. Your aunt, Mrs. Fang, is the best example. She was originally a big shot in the Beiyang government and President Yuan's confidential secretary. After getting married, she settled down at home to be a wife and mother. How happy she is now!" Mrs. Wan tried to convince her with facts.
“Happiness doesn’t mean she doesn’t regret it.” Miss He’s smile faded, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
How could happiness lead to regret? Mrs. Wan wanted to persuade her again, but with a snap, the venue was plunged into darkness, the crowd became somewhat chaotic, and then another mechanism was activated, with a huge searchlight shining directly onto the stage.
In front of the red velvet curtain, Mayor Zhang, dressed in a black swallowtail tuxedo, shook the bell in his hand, and the hall immediately fell silent, everyone waiting for Mayor Zhang to deliver the opening speech.
"I would like to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this banquet. The original purpose of this banquet was to raise funds for the victims of the floods in the Central Plains, but it has been postponed for a while. I have another important matter to announce. Please welcome Supervisor Gao." Mayor Zhang waved his hand and invited Gao Junxiao to the stage.
The spotlight shone on the young man. Gao Junxiao raised an eyebrow, probably not expecting to be called on stage right at the start of the show. At Commander Xiong's prompting, he still walked confidently onto the stage.
"Let me introduce you all. This is Gao Junxiao, the special envoy from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. He is also the Director-General. Come, everyone, let's raise our glasses and welcome Director-General Gao," Mayor Zhang said slowly, picking up a wine glass from a waiter.
On the stage, Gao Junxiao also picked up a wine glass, waiting for Mayor Zhang to give his speech.
"Bandit suppression is the biggest man-made disaster besides natural disasters, especially in the Xuzhou area. Refugees from the Central Plains often flee to the south via provincial roads. I've heard that Governor Gao is the bandit suppression governor for the East China region. So, we're actually rescuing the same group of people. Therefore, I have a humble request: please invite Governor Gao to give the opening remarks." Mayor Zhang's far-fetched matchmaking still won rounds of applause. After all, he was the mayor.
The lights shone on Gao Junxiao again, causing him to squint uncomfortably, but he quickly recovered and stood smiling in front of the microphone. He paused for a moment and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, thank you all for your kind invitation. Since tonight is a charity gala, we naturally hope that you will donate generously. On behalf of the people in the disaster area, I would like to thank you all for your kindness. Thank you all."
As soon as his mellow voice rang out, it garnered admiring glances from a group of ladies. Mayor Zhang seized the opportunity to pull Gao Junxiao away, preventing him from leaving: "Our Director Gao seems a bit reserved. Let's give him a warm round of applause and let Director Gao briefly talk about his work."
Gao Junxiao was now in a difficult position and reluctantly picked up the microphone again. In the darkness, only Mrs. Wan noticed Qingcheng's deepening swirls and the corners of her mouth that kept turning upwards. Mrs. Wan was speechless. What was so funny? Why was Miss He so happy?
"There's not much to say about the work, but before I left, I made a pledge to Commander Tan that we must wipe out the bandit strongholds in East China, or else I'll be beheaded. Enough said. Fine wine and good time, let's drink to our hearts' content. For the great cause of bandit suppression in the future, I'll drink this first as a sign of respect." Gao Junxiao finished speaking and downed the entire glass of red wine in one gulp, then turned it upside down to show that the glass was empty.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the opening remarks have been delivered. The charity ball tonight is about to begin. Please choose your own dance partners," Mayor Zhang reminded them.
“Miss He, let me introduce you to a dance partner. Look at that young man over there in the beige suit. He’s the youngest assistant manager at the Shanghai Bank, and he’s studied in England. I think you two will definitely have something in common.” Mrs. Wan then remembered the purpose of her meeting with Miss He today.
"Thank you, Mrs. Wan, but Qingcheng is still jet-lagged and didn't sleep well last night, so she's a bit tired right now. Also, it's a bit stuffy in the venue, and my makeup is all messed up. I'd like to go touch it up first," Miss He politely declined.
There was nothing Mrs. Wan could do; the other woman simply wasn't willing. She could only watch as Miss He flew away from her like a butterfly.
The open space in the center of the hall had been cleared out for guests to dance in, so Miss He had to take a detour through the rest area. Whenever she passed by, she always attracted the attention of the men, after all, who doesn't love a beautiful woman?
Even Gao Junxiao, who had been smiling obsequiously beside Commander Xiong but was actually daydreaming, couldn't help but glance at her a couple more times. He thought to himself, "Wow, what a tall girl! Could she be from Northeast China? My goodness, so tall and wearing high heels." Wait a minute, that girl's pretty face looks familiar; she looks a bit like her.
Just then, Mayor Zhang's voice came from beside him: "Inspector Gao, would you like to get to know this beauty? I can introduce you."
"Oh, no need, it's just that he looks like someone I know," Gao Junxiao explained politely.
"Don't be shy, heroes love beauties, it's always been like this." Mayor Zhang introduced her to himself, "This Miss He has just returned from studying in France. Her uncle is the vice president of our Shanghai Guangci Hospital, and her father was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) in the old dynasty. They come from a respectable scholarly family and are still unmarried. My wife often goes to their house to play cards. It is said that this girl has a very gentle and filial personality, and my wife likes her very much."
"Hmm, good family background, and wouldn't have any particularly complicated social connections after graduating and returning to the country," Gao Junxiao murmured confidently to himself.
“Then you’re underestimating her. My wife and daughter are huge fans of her books. If they had known Miss He would be coming today, they probably would have insisted on coming too.” Commander Xiong said helplessly, taking a big gulp of red wine.
"Oh, and she's a famous writer." Gao Junxiao mentally added a skill to the tall beauty's reputation.
"Is Miss He Jin Xiaoyin?" After receiving an affirmative answer from Commander Xiong, Mayor Zhang awkwardly patted his pocket and asked, "Oh no, who brought any paper? My daughter is going crazy wanting Jin Xiaoyin's autograph. She hasn't held an autograph session in three years."
"Oh dear, they don't want autographs, they want autographs on the book, and preferably a message too." Commander Xiong seemed quite experienced.
Listening to the two fathers exchanging experiences, Gao Junxiao silently added another label to Miss He: many female fans worship her like a god.
"Don't worry, Miss He just returned to the country. Doesn't your wife often go to her house to play cards? Let Mrs. Zhang go get the autograph," Secretary-General Wan kindly reminded Mayor Zhang, who then breathed a sigh of relief.
While everyone was enthusiastically discussing Jin Xiaoyin, a bunch of pedantic old scholars nearby were displeased and began to speak out against him.
"Hmph, how could a family of a scholar produce such a rebellious daughter, dressed so revealingly? It's a disgrace to the family and a shame to our ancestors." These words were too harsh. Gao Junxiao recalled Miss He's attire in his mind. The girl's clothes were perfectly normal. Her cheongsam was not slit and went past her knees, and the sleeves were three-quarter length. Where was it revealing? She was clearly very elegant.
"She has big feet, no wonder she can't get married. What family can tolerate a woman like that, always showing her face in public and so restless? Sooner or later she'll ruin the family."
"Exactly. Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Those who meet in secret are considered to have eloped. Her advocacy of free love is just advocating for women to elope. If this were in my hometown, she would have been drowned in a pig cage long ago."
Haha, the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Qing Dynasty have been gone for so many years, yet the old guard and their descendants are still so stubborn and unyielding. Gao Junxiao even felt a little sorry for Miss He; she must have heard plenty of such harsh words.
The slander continued. Gao Junxiao took a swig of wine with a gloomy face, but the anger in his chest was about to reach its limit. He didn't know why he was so angry. Perhaps it was because Miss He resembled an old friend, which made him feel empathy.
Gao Junxiao made up an excuse and left the main venue. He felt that the room was a bit cool, so he thought it would be better to find a secluded balcony, enjoy the evening breeze, and listen to the cicadas.
It was still quite hot on the balcony. Gao Junxiao had just unbuttoned two buttons to space out for a while when he unexpectedly discovered that on the neighboring balcony, the controversial Miss He was fast asleep on the cast iron garden table, still holding the white rose that was originally pinned to her collar. The woman seemed to blend into the deep blue night sky, as if she were draped in soft, pale golden moonlight. In a daze, Miss He's sleeping face overlapped with hers.
But he quickly dismissed his own fantasy. Staring at someone's sleeping face was really impolite, but he couldn't pretend not to care. Looking around and seeing no one, he simply leaned on the railing and quietly stared at Miss He, as if she were a beautiful sight.
Suddenly, the loud roar of a steam turbine on the Pujiang River startled both of them. Miss He opened her sleepy eyes, smoothed her bangs, and then let out a rather unrefined yawn, oblivious to everyone around her. This genuine appearance amused Gao Junxiao. She was neither a worshipped fairy nor a demon who brought disaster to the world; she was just a little girl who hadn't slept well.
Perhaps hearing the soft laughter, Miss He turned her head in fright. The moment their eyes met, they both awkwardly turned their heads away and straightened their collars.
"I'm sorry, Miss He, I was being presumptuous." Gao Junxiao apologized somewhat embarrassedly with his back turned, but his eyes unconsciously drifted towards Miss He.
"Supervisor Gao, is that right? It's a pleasure to meet you." Miss He, without being angry, politely extended her hand.
Through the fence, Gao Junxiao, flattered, stretched out his arm to shake hands with Miss He, saying, "Hello, my name is Gao Junxiao. Miss He, haven't we met somewhere before?"
"Supervisor Gao, isn't your pickup line a bit cliché? This is our first meeting. My name is He Qingcheng." Miss He's beautiful eyes sparkled like stars, as if they were the universe.
"I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else." Gao Junxiao tactfully changed the subject. "Why don't you go dancing, Miss He?"
“I’m here to do charity work, not to attend a dance. I’ll go in after the donation session. Even Inspector Gao didn’t go dancing, did he?” Miss He asked in confusion.
"I don't like socializing with those shady characters, so I came out to get some fresh air," Gao Junxiao said frankly.
"Hahaha, stealing half a day of leisure, isn't Inspector Gao afraid that if this gets back to his room, people will make things difficult for you?" Miss He laughed, her face even more flushed.
"So please keep it a secret, Miss He," Gao Junxiao joked, in a very good mood. Seeing her smiling face made him feel much better.
"Definitely." Miss He nodded, the white rose on her collar swaying gently, which was rather cute.
The moon was just beginning to peek out from behind the dark clouds, and Gao Junxiao, unsure of what to say, blurted out in a moment of impulsiveness, "Miss He, would you be so kind as to invite me to dance?"
He immediately regretted his words. She was clearly too tired to move and was waiting for Miss He to refuse him. After hesitating for a moment, Miss He actually agreed to his unreasonable request. This news was so shocking that Gao Junxiao was stunned and speechless for a moment, his heart exploding like fireworks soaring into the sky. Seeing He Qingcheng open the door and return to the corridor, he quickly followed.
When Gao Junxiao and He Qingcheng appeared side by side chatting in the public eye, the media were the first to raise their cameras in gossip, and the old scholars' accusations of being immoral also came one after another. Gao Junxiao couldn't stand it anymore and glared at them fiercely as a warning.
"Don't worry about it. The transition from old to new is like a great wave washing away the sand. The old and outdated will be washed into the dustbin of history, and only then can the true gold be revealed." Miss He spoke a long-winded explanation without changing her expression.
Everyone knows how to say polite things, but Gao Junxiao was curious about her true thoughts: "But before it's even refined, isn't it unfair for real gold to be mixed with sand and dirt?"
“Let’s dance.” Miss He didn’t answer him directly, but just blinked her eyes proudly. “Besides talking about me, does anyone listen to anything else they say? I just love how they get angry and helpless they can’t do anything about it.”
“Indeed.” Gao Junxiao’s eyes shone with appreciation, and he said nothing more, politely taking Miss He’s hand and dancing gracefully with her.
Mr. Shi joked with Mr. Li next to him, "That's great, everyone can make the headlines now."
“If those two are always making headlines, you’ll have a headache,” Mr. Li retorted.
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