Huang Wanzhen said weakly, "I understand."
Xiuqing chose a gorgeous dress from the brochure and went to the production department in the back street early the next morning.
"This is the dress Ms. Huang will wear tomorrow night. It needs to be finished by tomorrow morning. I'm going to try it on her before she goes to school. If there's anything that doesn't fit, I'll have time to correct it."
"Okay, leave it to me." Zhu Xiqin took the design drawing, found out Huang Wanzhen's measurements, and began to select female workers to make patterns, cut, and sew.
Zhu Xiqin made it with great care. When Xiuqing came to pick it up, she had already ironed it with a hot iron.
Huang Wanzhen was very satisfied after trying it on.
Xiuqing continued, "Miss, you're in need of a set of high-end jewelry. Mr. Song has quite a few complete sets, from hair accessories to necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and even brooches. A complete set of jewelry will look great on your outfit."
Xiuqing caught a glimpse of Huang Wanzhen's troubled face in the mirror and advised, "Jewelry holds its value well, so it's worth buying, especially gold. But gold jewelry is only worn by older ladies. Pearls are more suitable for someone in the prime of life like you. Take your student, Miss Xu, for example. She not only has pearls, but also diamonds."
Huang Wanzhen knew that when Xu Shengyi got engaged, he wore a set of diamond jewelry and had his makeup done by a beautician from Linglong Pavilion.
"Well, I'll come back early this afternoon and go check out the Treasure Pavilion."
It was not yet five o'clock in the afternoon when Huang Wanzhen came back with a velvet box. Xiuqing opened it and saw a set of pearl jewelry that sparkled with precious luster.
Thinking of Hua's little goldfish, Huang Wanzhen felt distressed. "The gold-plated jewelry in our store is very good. It feels similar to the ones in the Treasure Pavilion. You can't tell they are fake unless you touch them."
"It's a big difference." Xiuqing advised the young lady who only earns and never spends, and is extremely stingy with herself. "Your status is different now. You socialize with people from the upper class. Wearing fake jewelry will be looked down upon. You used to tell me that people should 'respect the clothes first and then the people.' Why are you so reluctant to spend money when it comes to you?"
Huang Wanzhen sighed, "Ah! The world is so chaotic, and with so many of us, even if something happens later, we won't be unable to survive."
Xiuqing said as she was doing her hair, "I haven't spent a single cent of the wages you've given me over the years. I've always listened to you and bought little goldfish when I saved enough. I'm sure Xiulan and Xiuzhu feel the same way about us, so don't worry about us. You don't have to worry too much about Madam either. We all grew up in the Huang family, and we can't just watch Madam suffer and starve and ignore her."
"Miss, you should worry about yourself. You're almost twenty, and it's time to move on. I think Mr. Fan is quite good. He's handsome and has a good family background."
Huang Wanzhen laughed, "Don't try to match people up with each other. Mr. Fan already has a girlfriend. Her surname is Chen, and her name is Chen Mingzhu. I heard from Director Song that she's a famous socialite in Shanghai."
"Besides, you're older than me, why don't you worry about yourself?"
If the Xiu Qing from before had heard this, she would have been filled with self-pity. But Xiu Qing, who had seen so many noble men, was completely different. "Humph! Men in this world are the most realistic. They choose women for a reason. The lowest kind want their bodies. The middle kind want them to bear children and be filial to their parents. The higher kind want their status and dowry. I can be attracted to the higher kind, but they have to be attracted to me too. Even if they find someone who likes my personality, he'll just walk away after finding out about my past. Even if he's a worthless, lower-class man, he still has more inexplicable arrogance than women."
Huang Wanzhen patted her hands and said, "You are an excellent woman. You don't need to find a man to set you off. All I ask of you is 'self-reliance'. The rest is up to you."
At around seven o'clock in the afternoon, Fan Hengming drove a black Citroen and stopped at the door of Jixiang Hall.
Huang Wanzhen wore a Western-style pink dress, with delicate hair and makeup, and a set of pearl jewelry, which made her look noble and elegant. She stood beside Fan Hengming, looking like a perfect match, until...
As soon as she got in the car, she asked, "Have you eaten yet? I haven't eaten yet, and I brought some date cakes with me. Do you want any?"
Huang Wanzhen naturally took out a piece of date cake from the paper bag, stretched out her arm and handed it to Fan Hengming.
Fan Hengming politely shook his head. "Thank you, but no, it's still early. Do you want me to take Miss Huang to the restaurant for dinner first?"
Huang Wanzhen turned her wrist and the date cake fell into her mouth. "No, I'll just eat two pieces."
Fan Hengming instructed the driver in front, "Drive more steadily, it's okay to drive slower."
He turned around and said to Huang Wanzhen, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
When Huang Wanzhen stopped eating, Fan Hengming kindly handed her a handkerchief. Huang Wanzhen waved her hand, took out a handkerchief from her handbag, wiped herself, and put it back.
Huang Wanzhen, who was half full, felt much more comfortable and closed her eyes quietly to rest.
But Fan Hengming didn't want to let her go.
"I heard that Miss Huang has a student who is currently attending Beiman Girls' High School."
Huang Wanzhen opened her eyes in a flash. Although she didn't understand why he asked about Xu Shengyi, she nodded and said, "Yeah." Then...
And then nothing happened.
Fan Hengming smiled and said, "You might get to meet her tonight. Her grandfather, Mr. Xu, is now the chairman of the Political Affairs Committee."
Huang Wanzhen suddenly realized something, thinking, could this be why he invited her to the dance? He was wrong. She would never introduce them to each other. Xu Shengyi already had a fiancé. Humph! Men, don't even think about getting your hands on her student.
When we got to the door of the dance hall,
Fan Hengming got out of the car politely.
He opened the car door for Huang Wanzhen like an elegant gentleman, then bowed slightly and extended his slender white hand into the car...
Huang Wanzhen pushed his hand away and chose to get out of the car by herself.
The man in a suit and tailcoat who had been standing on the steps came up to greet them with a broad smile, saying, "Hello, Researcher Fan."
Fan Hengming shook hands with the visitor, "Hello, Secretary Zheng."
"Aren't Director Fan and his wife here?"
"My parents still have some chores to take care of, so they'll be here a little later."
Secretary Zheng looked at Huang Wanzhen. He didn't know her identity, but that didn't affect his performance. "This beautiful lady, coming to our ball is really a great honor for us."
Huang Wanzhen nodded and extended her hand to shake Secretary Zheng's. "You're welcome."
Secretary Zheng personally led the two in, and Huang Wanzhen discovered that there were indeed military personnel attending the ball. Although they were not wearing military uniforms, Huang Wanzhen could tell because she saw Chu Yanzhi.
Chu Yanzhi obviously saw her as well. He raised the goblet in his hand as a greeting.
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