Chapter 81 "Think it over carefully".
After the Lunar New Year, Xia Qingwan flew to the United States with Professor Zhao's team.
This trip includes ten lectures and three academic exchange meetings, which will take nearly a month, staying on the West Coast and the East Coast respectively.
At the Xia family's old residence, Xia Huiqing was preparing to return to Tsinghua University to teach. Grandma Xi was busy making arrangements, saying, "She enjoyed a few years of happiness in Shaoping, but who knew she would come back so suddenly. It's going to be busy again."
While tidying her clothes, Xia Huiqing said, "Although the two families have now formally discussed things, Qingwan still has a lot to face. We can't let her be isolated and helpless."
Having a grandmother who was a professor in the Physics Department of Tsinghua University meant that, in the eyes of others, Qingwan at least had someone to rely on, so that people wouldn't gossip that she was just a granddaughter from a poor family who had suddenly become a phoenix.
"How could that be? The younger generation of the Song family has also gone to the capital to take up a post. Besides, there's also Mingzhou. Both the maternal and paternal families had people in the capital during the late Qing Dynasty, so there's no reason for people to gossip about them."
That's true.
This circle is closed off; it's always the same few people. Even the smallest thing becomes a topic of gossip.
At the end of October last year, Xia Qingwan returned to Beijing from Nairobi and was heard to have moved back into Ye Garden. At that time, it caused a stir among the people. However, since Mr. Ye did not take her out for social events during that period, although everyone was eager to know more, they could only keep quiet and no one dared to discuss it openly.
During the Spring Festival, everyone only knew that something had happened in the Ye family, something like something had happened in Shaoping. Before everyone could find out more details, they heard that the Ye family patriarch led his family to the Xia family in a grand procession, and the two families sat down for a formal discussion.
"I heard that a formal marriage proposal has been made."
"Really?"
"How could it be fake? They dispatched several teams. Apart from the old man of the Ye family and Mr. Ye's father traveling at the same time, who else could have mobilized such a large-scale event? Many people in the compound saw the convoy."
"It seems that it was around the New Year that Mr. Ye missed Xia Qingwan and pursued her to Shaoping. Seeing that the two had genuine feelings for each other, the Ye family patriarch and Mr. Ye's father gave their blessing."
"This is so fake, it sounds like a theatrical performance."
“At first I didn’t believe it either, but the facts are obvious,” the young woman said with a wink. “I heard from my aunt that Mr. Ye’s mother mentioned Xia Qingwan when she was invited to afternoon tea at the estate, saying that she would bring her daughter-in-law over in the future.”
Jiang Mia's eyes widened. "It's come to this?"
"Of course."
Jiang Miya snorted coldly, "...She really got lucky."
"Before, I watched her being arrogant, cold, and quiet, but then she turned around and flirted with Mr. Ye behind his back. I should have known: this Xia Qingwan is not simple."
Someone chuckled, "Leaving all that aside, just look at how she managed to get Yingxue publicly scolded."
"That day was Yingxue's birthday. How could she not hold a grudge against her?"
"Come to think of it, I don't know how Yingxue is doing. There's no news at all."
Speaking of this, Jiang Miya felt a little bored.
I used to think Qiao Yingxue was just a pretty face, only good at throwing tantrums, and a weak presence. But last autumn, she quietly broke off the engagement and fled abroad, leaving behind a mess. Her father, Qiao Wu, was furious, but he couldn't make a big move by sending someone to look for her. He also had to appease his in-laws, leaving him overwhelmed.
By the end of this year, she was nowhere to be found, so the marriage had to be called off.
Someone noticed that Jiang Miya looked unhappy. They nudged each other's arms and winked at each other, turning the topic to Jiang Miya. "...I heard that Mr. Liu had a job transfer recently?"
Jiang Miya was slow to come back to her senses and gave a perfunctory smile. "Nothing, just a normal transfer."
"A transfer is always a good thing; it means a promotion is coming."
That's not necessarily true.
She knew almost nothing about her husband's work.
It is not that easy to become a phoenix.
Her family background is not as good as her husband's. It's okay at first, but as time goes by, she will inevitably suffer some differential treatment. Without her husband's support, her situation will be almost like being attacked from all sides. She can be free and easy outside and be flattered by her sisters, but when she returns home, she has to smile to her husband's family and be cautious when interacting with her husband. Then, she has to deal with everyone's requests for favors in her parents' home. She has to be neither too heavy nor too light.
Life is exhausting.
Sometimes, when I'm tossing and turning in the middle of the night, I'm shocked to realize that I've always been a pawn.
She is responsible for bringing honor and opportunities to her parents' family, and for giving birth to children for her husband's family, sucking her blood from both sides.
Looking back on the road she had come, she was completely clueless and happily walked into this situation...
However, these thoughts can only be thought about late at night.
At this moment, I pick up the teacup, take a sip with elegance and poise, and breathe in the subtle and elegant fragrance. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the magnificent and luxurious main hall of the courtyard house, and in the background, I hear the chattering and flattery of my girlfriends…
Jiang Mia's flat lips gradually relaxed into a smile. She was able to enjoy herself again.
-
During a break from work, Xia Qingwan made a phone call to her grandmother.
I'm letting you know I'm safe and sound, and reporting on my work and life these past few days.
It was noon when we arrived in Beijing. Grandma had just finished her class and returned home, so she played the music on speaker for Grandma Xi.
Xia Huiqing said, "Your cousin Song Yanzhang came here a few days ago."
"Oh yes, my cousin has gone to Beijing to take up his post. Has he settled down?"
Xia Qingwan asked.
"Well, I heard that the higher-ups arranged accommodation for me. I live in the staff compound, which makes it convenient for commuting."
"That's good."
Xia Qingwan said, "The weather in the capital is dry. I wonder if my cousin, who has lived in Nanhua for so long, is used to it."
“And you’re telling me,” Grandma Xi interjected from the side, “the other day when he came over, I took a look and, oh dear, his lips were cracked and bleeding. This child, he didn’t even know it himself.”
"I gave him a recipe for stewed tangerine peel and pear soup, found him a tube of lip balm, and even persuaded him to take away a bag of tangerine peel. It was high-quality tangerine peel that was over ten years old."
Xia Qingwan couldn't help but smile, "Grandma Xi is so thoughtful."
Chen Axi smiled happily, "I've been waiting for you to say this."
Xia Huiqing asked, "How's Professor Zhao? Is he still speaking harshly?"
After chatting for a while, the old and the young confirmed that each other's work was in order and felt relieved.
At this time, a phone call interrupted. Xia Qingwan said, "Then I'll hang up first. Grandma, take care of yourselves."
Hang up the phone and pick up another one.
"Hello."
"Have you washed?"
The person on the other end of the phone was Ye Peixiu.
"Just washed up, and I'm talking to grandma on the phone."
"Are you tired? Do you have any work to do before going to bed tonight?"
"I need to do a final check on the materials for tomorrow's meeting, and also organize the transcript of today's lecture. But these are simple, just do them carefully, they won't take much effort."
She explained it to him one by one.
Ye Peixiu laughed, "Your little body is quite resilient. You've been traveling and working non-stop for so long, yet you haven't suffered from any acclimatization issues. That's really impressive."
Yes, that's right.
Having been sent to different host families since childhood, he has developed this skill, just like a stray kitten that has eaten at many homes, he is not susceptible to stress and is tough.
“Is California fun?”
"I haven't had time to appreciate it in detail. I even searched for it before coming here. The open-air cinema in California you mentioned really exists. I'm going to go see it someday when I have time."
"That's great, tell me about it after you finish reading it."
"good."
Xia Qingwan couldn't help but laugh, a slight smile playing on her lips.
She leaned against the hotel desk, her toes unconsciously rubbing against the carpet, and whispered, "I miss you."
"I miss you too, baby."
Half a month has passed since we parted, and my longing for you has reached its peak.
She complained softly, "A while ago, I ran into Professor You from Columbia University. Do you remember him?"
"Remember."
How could he forget? That time, the first night they kissed for the first time, she slept in the guest room of Yeyuan, and the next day, he drove her to school. On the way, she was still busy preparing to receive Professor You, who was returning from abroad to give a lecture.
"When he first saw me, I thought he was going to exchange pleasantries and congratulate me on my academic achievements. But to my surprise, he said, 'Congratulations to you and Mr. Ye, you two are now happily married.'" Xia Qingwan was still amazed when she mentioned it. "...How does he know so much?"
Ye Peixiu laughed, "They probably intend to return to China to develop their careers and have inquired about it beforehand."
On a superficial level, it means being worldly-wise and avoiding mistakes in etiquette; on a deeper level, it means knowing which families to associate with and which to avoid.
"...I see. No wonder he told Professor Zhao that we might be colleagues in the future."
After chatting for a while, Ye Peixiu had a lunch appointment to attend, and Xia Qingwan also had to get back to work, so they hung up the phone.
-
Two weeks later, in mid-April, Xia Qingwan returned to China with Professor Zhao's team.
This is a very beautiful scene.
Professor Zhao's lecture tour was met with enthusiastic applause. The department hosted a welcoming party for them. The dean half-jokingly said, "Well, Professor Zhao is so sought after abroad. We really can't retain this talented person."
Someone laughed and said, "How could that be possible? People abroad are flocking back. How many rounds of communication have we had about Professor You? Isn't there a conclusion soon?"
Professor Zhao shook his head, "After I finish supervising this year's doctoral students, I will really retire to the mountains."
Here we go again.
"Drink a penalty."
The banquet was filled with lively atmosphere and the atmosphere was bustling with cheers.
Xia Qingwan, unable to hold her liquor, left the banquet early.
Pei Meizhu drove to pick her up.
Once in the car, Pei Meizhu turned the steering wheel and asked, "How much did you drink? Your face is all red."
She was asked by someone, Ye Peixiu, who was on a business trip in East Africa, to pick up Xia Qingwan and take her home.
Xia Qingwan rolled down the car window to let in the wind. "I didn't drink much. I'm not really drunk, just tired."
"Be careful not to catch a cold if you drink alcohol and get blown by the wind."
Pei Meizhu closed the window a little smaller.
Xia Qingwan turned to look at her and couldn't help but laugh, "You've learned to take care of people now?"
"Of course, after living alone for the past two years, I should have learned that by now."
Pei Meizhu winked at her and said, "I am now a jack of all trades in life."
Xia Qingwan also smiled.
"Is your spring break almost over?"
"Yeah, I'm going back to England this week. I've almost finished my thesis. I'll go back for a few weeks of classes, and once the thesis is handed in, and then there's the graduation ceremony, I'll be free."
Where do you plan to go after graduation? Stay in the UK? Or go back to Shanghai?
"...I haven't decided yet."
Pei Meizhu shrugged. "Let's play around for a while first. If we still don't have a plan by then, I'll do what you did, apply for another PhD, and go abroad to study for another two or three years, haha."
As the two chatted, the car drove into the Xia family's old house.
Grandma Xi liked Pei Meizhu and invited her to stay for supper. Pei Meizhu ate happily and drove away.
Half a month later, Ye Peixiu returned from East Africa.
When he landed, Xia Qingwan was attending a lecture and couldn't find the time to come.
That evening also happened to be Sheng Junchi's birthday, so the two arranged to meet at Sheng Junchi's birthday party.
Ye Peixiu sent a car to pick her up. He went directly to the club from the company, five minutes earlier than her, and stood on the stone steps in front of the big red gate waiting for her.
The Maybach stopped and she got out.
She wore a long white dress with a gray-blue wool cardigan over it. Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, and her face was fair and clear. She looked like a moon veiled by light clouds. As she moved, her skirt swayed, like flowing wind and swirling snow.
Both movement and stillness are filled with graceful and profound meaning.
Ye Peixiu stood there with his hands in his pockets, staring intently at her.
After not seeing her for a month and a half, Xia Qingwan felt a little shy and said, "What are you looking at? Don't you recognize me?"
He smiled, reached out and took her hand as they went up the steps.
The two walked inside side by side.
Walking into the deep shadows of the trees, Ye Peixiu lowered his head and leaned closer, "Give me a kiss."
Xia Qingwan raised her chin, went forward and kissed him lightly.
Although it is a dark place, it is still outside, so we shouldn't go too far.
Together they walked across the corridor and into the main hall.
Everyone in the room looked over with bated breath.
This was the first time the two of them had appeared in public at such a social event since the marriage proposal rumors began.
Sheng Junchi and Ji Shuyu came forward enthusiastically.
A lively and bustling evening.
Spring flowers and autumn moons have cycled through time, and here we are again in Beiguanfang Hutong Club, with the same moon and the same crabapple tree outside the window.
The moon is bright and the flowers are fragrant, and people are drunk even without drinking wine.
After socializing for half an hour, Ye Peixiu used the excuse of being drunk and left early, taking Xia Qingwan with him.
The Maybach drove back to Yeyuan.
They were already reluctant to part in the car, but once the car stopped in the parking lot, Lao Ke got out.
Silence reigned all around, the dim light punctuated only by the mingling scents and the sound of water from the back seat. Ye Peixiu kissed her neck and whispered, "I have a very important question for you."
Why save the important questions for now?
Xia Qingwan clenched his fist and hit him, unable to speak.
He said in a low, hoarse voice, "When Grandma Xia said she'd wait for you to graduate during the Spring Festival, did she mean a master's degree or a doctorate?"
"……have no idea."
This wasn't just her feigning modesty—before the Lunar New Year this year, nothing was even remotely certain, so she certainly hadn't thought about this aspect. After the New Year, she was constantly busy and on the go, so how could she have had time to consider such things?
"Promise me," he said, his movements and words as unhurried and tender as ever, "that you will think about it carefully."
Bringing up this topic, especially at this time, made her inexplicably shy, her heart softened like a puddle of water, and her whole body melted along with it.
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Author's Note: Coming Soon! Finished!
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