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Watching Zuo He’s departing figure, Wei Yuanfang felt a sense of reluctance, as encountering him again stirred deep emotions within her.
Meanwhile, Dong Xuan gazed dreamily as Zuo He walked away. Wang Qian nudged her, noticing the peculiar look in Wei Yuanfang’s eyes towards Dong Xuan.
“Sister Dong, snap out of it. How did you two end up coming together? You don’t live in the same place, do you?” Wang Qian jokingly prodded, observing the interaction.
Wang Qian’s playful comment brought Dong Xuan back to reality, and she playfully embraced Wang Qian, “Little girl, you’re lucky to have such a handsome brother. I’m envious. By the way, our families don’t live together; it was just a chance encounter today.
Qianqian, when you have time, introduce your brother to us. By the way, how do you know this person, what’s his name, Zuo He? His surname doesn’t match yours, Qianqian…” Dong Xuan’s thoughts began to wander.
Quick to clarify the situation, Wang Qian interjected, “Oh, don’t jump to conclusions. Zuo He is a relative of our family. Don’t get ahead of yourself; I have my own parents.”
Dong Xuan, feeling apologetic after Wang Qian’s explanation, remarked, “Qianqian, my apologies for jumping to conclusions. Oh, so your families are relatives. That makes sense…”
Unsure of the implications behind her comment, Wang Qian was just glad the misunderstanding didn’t involve assumptions about their family dynamics.
Wei Yuanfang gave Dong Xuan a disapproving look and said, “I do know Zuo He, but he isn’t someone just anyone can get to know. He has high standards. Us common folks should steer clear of such circles.”
Dong Xuan took Wei Yuanfang’s words with a hint of skepticism. Living near the imperial palace, one couldn’t be sure of anyone’s background; a casual acquaintance could turn out to be a child of a high-ranking official. However, the prospect of getting involved with such a handsome individual was certainly appealing to her.
Wei Yuanfang let out a light snort, and Wang Qian, observing their interactions, couldn’t help but sigh internally, realizing that throughout history, there would always be women adept at scheming and manipulating situations.
“Let’s head back,” Wei Yuanfang suggested.
Wang Qian had no interest in prolonging the conversation with them. She resolved to handle any future encounters tactfully.
Upon returning to the dorm, the girls upstairs who had glimpsed Zuo He hurriedly pulled her into gossip. After offering some explanations, Wang Qian swiftly excused herself to freshen up. Dealing with the incessant questions and gossip was overwhelming, leading her to vow not to let Zuo He escort her next time to avoid such situations.
After freshening up, Wang Qian shared the dumplings she brought back with those still present. Wei Yuanfang and Dong Xuan were taken aback as they hadn’t expected this. They had only brought enough for themselves and some snacks. They ended up sharing candies they had brought with everyone instead.
The dorm mates were thrilled to see the delicious treats, expressing their gratitude to Wang Qian for thinking of them.
“Qianqian, your family makes such delicious dumplings. Thank you for your sister’s thoughtfulness,” they praised.
Initially assuming that Wang Qian’s family might not be well-off, Dong Xuan and Wei Yuanfang were surprised by the tasty dumplings. They acknowledged the quality and flavor, realizing that such delicacies were typically reserved for special occasions. Impressed by Wang Qian’s culinary skills, they began to look at her in a new light.
Seemingly nonchalant, Wei Yuanfang casually inquired, “Wang Qian, what exactly is the relation between your family and Zuo He’s?”
Wang Qian inwardly chuckled at the attempt to fish for information. “Sister Wei, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure. It seems to be a connection on my grandmother’s side. My mom hasn’t provided detailed information. I’ll ask when I go back home.”
Unsuccessful in extracting valuable information, Wei Yuanfang felt disappointed. She couldn’t discern the relationship between Zuo He and Wang Qian yet, realizing that Wang Qian was just a sixteen-year-old middle school student with a slender frame. However, she resolved to have a proper conversation with Zuo He in the future.
Peaceful days returned to Wang Qian’s world as Wu Changyong swiftly arranged the new military attire issue without involving intermediaries. Directly, he went to the former senior official to present the items he had brought for inspection.
The former senior official initially thought Wu Changyong had brought him some fine tea. However, upon inspecting the items, he was surprised at their quality and value. Although unfamiliar with the specific items, he could instantly recognize the worth of the clothing sets.
“Wu Changyong, where did you get these from? Tell me all about it,” the former senior official inquired.
Following the plan discussed with Zuo Zhanshan, Wu Changyong explained the situation regarding the Wang family.
“Old Chief, considering the potential usefulness of these items for our troops, and their consideration for our country and military, could you see if they could provide us with this clothing?” Wu Changyong suggested, bringing up Wang Zhenhe’s role, as neither he nor Zuo Zhanshan were suitable for handling such matters, intending to leverage Wang Zhenhe’s status as their benefactor to sway the former senior official.
“Wu Changyong, are you trying to pull the wool over my eyes? Is there more to this than meets the eye?” the former senior official probed.
Wu Changyong, feeling the pressure, protested, “Old Chief, you can’t misunderstand me. I’m genuinely concerned about the safety of our troops and wish to repay the debt of gratitude while also considering their contribution to our cause. If you feel it’s inappropriate, I’ll inform them accordingly.”
As Wu Changyong prepared to leave with the items, he was halted by a call, “You young rascal, even at your age, you haven’t tempered that fiery temper of yours. Sit back down properly.”
Realizing he was in for a talk, Wu Changyong obediently returned to his seat. The senior official continued, “Son, you know how this works. I can’t make decisions alone. We need to discuss this at a meeting. The clothing looks promising and suits our needs. It seems even better than some foreign gear. However, our military supplies are usually provided by our own factories. Collaborating with a private entity would be a new venture for us. Some may not take to the idea well. Be prepared for that. We’ll discuss this further at the meeting, validate the items, and have our experts examine them. If they prove effective, we might consider a collaboration. Await further instructions.”
Wu Changyong understood that the senior official had given his tentative approval, pending the support of others, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Old Chief, I’ll eagerly await your good news. If these clothes are used in combat, it could significantly reduce casualties. For that cause, we must strive to secure this collaboration,” Wu Changyong expressed earnestly.
Wu Changyong’s son had mentioned that even if some disagreed, the military factory couldn’t replicate a key feature of the clothing—its light-reflecting material. It had taken detailed research in the south to develop, a process that even experts would need several years to replicate.
Therefore, Wu Changyong bid farewell without a hint of worry, looking forward to discussing the day’s events with Zuo Zhanshan later that evening.
“Hehe, Old Zuo, don’t fret about the rest. Await my good news,” he assured him.
Impressed by Wu Changyong’s demeanor that day, which had been guided by Zuo Zhanshan, he truly admired the old man. “Old Zuo, I can’t handle the rest. Dealing with those people is your forte. I may lead troops in battle, but when it comes to strategy and courage, you surpass me.”
Sometimes, despite his reluctance, Wu Changyong had to acknowledge that others held higher positions due to their exceptional qualities.
In no time, Zhang Weiguo’s wedding was approaching, with the agreed-upon day for the Bai family to hold a private banquet to send their daughter off.
Zhang Lan had come alone from the south this time, where the factory was running at full capacity. Wang Zhenhe couldn’t make it due to his busy schedule, but fortunately, Geng Lianhua and Zhang Hua were present. Even without Wang Zhenhe, the family could manage the preparations, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Mingcheng and the others assigned Grandpa Chen the role of overseeing the reception of relatives and friends from the capital. The long-absent Old Cui and Old Zhou finally made an appearance after receiving a call from Old Chen the previous day.
Seeing Zhang Lan once again, the two elderly men were so overwhelmed with emotion that they struggled to find the right words. “Niece, we’re truly sorry for being busy before. We were even out when you came over. But now, we’re here for Weiguo’s wedding. We’ve finally caught up.”
Having been informed by Old Wu that the two men were occupied, especially with Old Zhou conducting research outside, and Old Cui’s mysterious profession, Zhang Lan and the others refrained from inquiring about their whereabouts. They were patient, knowing they would eventually meet them.
“Uncle, you both have been busy with work. It’s all right if you couldn’t make it. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet in the future,” Zhang Lan reassured them.
Observing the two elderly ladies beside the men, Zhang Lan assumed they were their wives and promptly greeted them.
This encounter allowed the two elderly ladies to finally see the Zhang Lan their husbands often mentioned. Impressed by their Niece’s appearance, they could glean insights from her demeanor.
“Niece, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Our husband has been occupied, but you haven’t forgotten to bring gifts for this old couple. We’ve benefitted from your kindness as well,” Old Zhou’s wife, Dou Xinmei, began chatting with Zhang Lan, while Old Cui’s wife, Chen Yuejuan, joined in. Realizing the trajectory of their conversation, she decided to let the elderly ladies chat away, knowing that once they started, there would be no stopping them.