Wei Nian was simply stunned.
He discovered that one really cannot judge a person by his appearance.
For example, Chen Xuan, in Wei Nian's mind, has always been a stupid girl with low self-esteem. Unexpectedly, since she started studying, Chen Xuan has become so confident that she is about to surpass him. In particular, she will give him suggestions. Wei Nian sighed, "It's really amazing."
Chen Xuan looked modest, "I told you this mainly because you're good to me, Brother Nian. You don't have to thank me too much, it's all I deserve. Brother Nian, you're such a smart person, it would be a shame if you didn't study. So, Brother Nian, you teach me foreign languages first, and then you can pick a book to read by yourself. Otherwise, it would be a shame to waste your time all night long." She also arranged Wei Nian's next schedule.
Wei Nian thought, am I thanking you? You really know how to flatter yourself. However, seeing that Chen Xuan had already opened the foreign language book to continue learning foreign language, Wei Nian had to teach her foreign language first. Chen Xuan has always been very dedicated in learning. After she memorized the new foreign language and reviewed yesterday's homework, she saw Wei Nian lying on the kang and sleeping soundly. Chen Xuan thought, Wei Nian is good in everything except that he is too lazy and has no ambition to learn.
Chen Xuan shook her head, turned off the lights and went to sleep.
In order to prepare for the salon next month, Chen Xuan planned to make a new dress. Wei Nian had already brought the material back to her. Although the debt had increased again, Chen Xuan thought that it would be worth it if she could attend the salon.
Chen Xuan also told Wei Yin about the salon in secret. Wei Yin was extremely envious and said, "I heard that the salon is very interesting. When my second sister-in-law comes back, you must tell me about it."
Chen Xuan nodded, "I'll go take a look first. If there are a lot of girls there, tell your brother next time and we can go together."
"Second sister-in-law, you must remember this." Wei Yin is not the type of person who stays at home with Wei Jin. Wei Yin is lively, kind-hearted, smart and clever. If it is a place suitable for girls and Wei Yin wants to go there so much, Chen Xuan will remember Wei Yin.
Chen Xuan guaranteed, "Don't worry, I will never forget it."
Wei Yin also gave Chen Xuan a lot of ideas for her new clothes. "Although Western-style clothes are very popular now, I think that Western-style clothes are more fitted and look better than the clothes we wore before. But they don't have to be made of foreign fabrics. Nowadays, people out there will go to great lengths to buy foreign fabrics. In fact, our silk and cotton are also good materials. We can borrow the styles of those foreign clothes and make them with our own fabrics, and the clothes will look just as good."
"Will this work?"
"You'll know after you try it." Wei Yin said directly.
Chen Xuan stroked the material in her hand and said with great care, "This material is precious."
Wei Yin smiled, "It's my second brother who paid for it anyway, why are you so distressed, second sister-in-law?"
Chen Xuan thought, Ah Yin, how would you know that I already owe your second brother a lot of debts. However, seeing Wei Yin's confident look, Chen Xuan made up her mind and did it.
Chen Xuan's dress this time was made to look elegant because she was going to attend a salon. The material was not the usual bright red or purple color, but a light blue material with a dark floral pattern. The color was not bright, but it had a just right sense of elegance and cleanliness. The style was also simple, a Western-style coat cut to fit her body size, but it was more fitted than a coat because Chen Xuan had lost a lot of weight, which made her tall figure stand out. Unlike the lapel commonly used in Western-style coats, Chen Xuan's dress had a small standing collar like a cheongsam, and the collar was decorated with a circle of white rabbit fur. Even the lapels and cuffs were decorated with white rabbit fur. Not to mention, with the little rabbit fur sewn on, Chen Xuan looked much more Western.
When Chen Xuan finished making this dress and hung it in the closet before she wore it, Wei Nian said that this dress was not bad. Chen Xuan smiled, "Sister Yin helped me make some changes according to the style in the picture. If this dress doesn't look good anymore, there will be no good-looking one."
Wei Nian nodded, "You need to learn more from Ah Yin about how to dress."
Chen Xuan agreed with what Wei Nian said and praised Wei Yin, "Ah Yin's hands are very skillful. I have been doing needlework for many years, but the styles of these clothes that Ah Yin came up with are better looking than what I thought. She is also beautiful. I think Ah Yin is the one described in the book, intelligent and kind-hearted."
Wei Nian was another source of joy. Ever since Chen Xuan started school, he had been particularly fond of learning and applying idioms. Sometimes it was very interesting to listen to them.
Chen Xuan saw Wei Nian laughing and asked him, "What are you laughing at? Am I wrong?"
"Yes, who dares to say that you are wrong?"
"Then what are you laughing at?"
"I smiled because you said it was good."
Chen Xuan thought, laugh, laugh, you will soon be surpassed by me. Then it will be the turn of this underachiever to be laughed at by her.
Because Wei Nian never read books at night, Chen Xuan considered him lazy and unmotivated, so his prestige in Chen Xuan's heart plummeted. However, Wei Nian didn't know this. When he received the invitation from Mr. Wen, it was not really an invitation. Now it is a new era. Unless it is a wedding or funeral, no one will send out formal invitations for such gatherings. Mr. Wen's invitation was just a short message with two lines on it, inviting the couple to attend the salon party on the eighth day of next month.
Chen Xuan read these two lines over and over again, and finally asked Wei Nian earnestly, "Brother Anian, can you give me Mr. Wen's invitation?"
Wei Nian didn't care about this, "Take it if you want it."
Chen Xuan carefully placed the letter and the envelope in the back of the drawer. Wei Nian couldn't help but laugh when he saw this. "You didn't even know Mr. Wen before, why are you so excited?"
"I have consulted Master Xu a long time ago, and Master Xu said that Mr. Wen is a very famous and knowledgeable person." Chen Xuan said seriously, "This is the first time I have met such a great man! Brother Anian told me about the world trend last time, and I have never forgotten it for a day. Neither of us understands this, but I think that a great scholar like Mr. Wen should understand it. It would be great if we can ask someone who understands something we don't understand. Also, I think that the book says that if you keep company with vermilion, you will be red; if you keep company with ink, you will be black; if you keep company with harmonies, you will sound clear; if you are upright, your shadow will be straight. That is to say, if you keep company with someone, you will learn from him. I became close to Brother Anian, so I started to learn foreign languages. If we deal with great scholars like Mr. Wen more often, maybe we can become more knowledgeable in the future. If people are knowledgeable, they can be smarter, and if they are smart, they can do things better."
Wei Nian listened to Chen Xuan's words and said with a smile, "Okay, then you should prepare well." Seeing that Chen Xuan asked Mr. Xu about Mr. Wen, you can know how well prepared Chen Xuan is.
On the day of the salon, Chen Xuan put on a new dress and went with Wei Nian. Mrs. Wei kept muttering at home, "Why do men have to bring their wives when they socialize nowadays?"
"Yes, all Westerners are like this now." Wei Yin said.
When Mrs. Wei heard what her little girl said, although she was a little dissatisfied that Chen Xuan was always going out, she didn't say anything else.
Chen Xuan had been looking forward to this day for a long time, especially since she could go into debt to make new clothes, which showed how high Chen Xuan's expectations were for the salon.
However, the salon was still a little different from what she had imagined.
Mr. Wen's flower hall was decorated in a Western style, with a handmade carpet with gorgeous flowers on the floor. Against the wall was a row of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with neatly arranged books. By the window were two or three sets of long sofas that could accommodate three or four people, and round tables and sofa chairs suitable for two people to talk. There were one or two pots of red plums and daffodils in between. Chen Xuan's eyes lit up when she saw the wall of books. When she came back to her senses from the wall of books, she felt that this salon was really different from what she had imagined.
Chen Xuan followed Wei Nian in. Chen Xuan had always believed that a dazzling person like Wei Nian would definitely attract attention wherever he went. However, when she arrived at the salon, Chen Xuan found that it was not the case. Wei Nian was not popular. When Wei Nian met someone and greeted him, they just gave him a polite smile. Some people did not even give him a polite smile, let alone talk. Fortunately, the owner of the salon welcomed Wei Nian. Wei Nian was not affected by the cold reception just now. He smiled and introduced Mr. Wen to Chen Xuan. Mr. Wen was just as Wei Nian had said before, about 40 years old, with a short beard on his lips, not tall, thin, but his eyes were very bright. Mr. Wen was originally sitting in a chair talking to someone, and when he saw Chen Xuan, he stood up and shook hands with Chen Xuan. Chen Xuan knew that shaking hands was a Western etiquette, but she had never shaken hands with anyone before. She nervously stretched out her hand and shook hands with Mr. Wen. It was her first time shaking hands with a man, even if he was an elder like Mr. Wen, so Chen Xuan was still a little shy and her face flushed slightly. However, her expression was solemn, almost dignified, and her tone was extremely serious. "I have heard of your reputation at home. Meeting you today is the greatest honor of my life." As she spoke, she couldn't help but exert a little force on her hand that was shaking with Mr. Wen.
Mr. Wen smiled and shook hands back. Mr. Wen was a meticulous person. He felt the rough calluses on Chen Xuan's hands, and his expression became more gentle. With the generosity of an elder, he asked Chen Xuan, "I heard Wei Nian talk about Mrs. Wei. What kind of book is Mrs. Wei reading now?"
Chen Xuan thought, as expected, modern people now address each other as Mr. or Mrs., so she quickly replied, "For Chinese, I'm reading Historical Records. For foreign languages, I've been learning the Model English Reader from my husband, and occasionally read a few pages of A Doll's House when I have time. Because there are some words I don't recognize, I have to look up the English dictionary, so I read slowly."
Not to mention that Mr. Wen had a little more appreciation for Chen Xuan's words, even Wei Nian, who was standing by, couldn't help but applaud Chen Xuan's answer. Although Chen Xuan didn't read many books, Wei Nian knew that with Chen Xuan's honesty, she probably said whatever she thought. However, this was still a decent and respectable answer. Even Wei Nian felt that Chen Xuan's words were particularly noble. Chen Xuan didn't think much about it, because Mr. Wen personally introduced her to another lady with short hair next to her. This lady had thin eyebrows, a pointed chin, delicate eyebrows and eyes, and a slightly bulging belly. It can be seen that she is pregnant. Mr. Wen smiled, "Ms. Chen also likes "A Doll's House". You two should be able to talk about it."
Chen Xuan quickly imitated Mr. Wen's hand extension and shook hands with Ms. Chen. After a brief introduction, Ms. Chen invited Chen Xuan to chat on the sofa next to her. Chen Xuan was not a talkative person, but she knew she couldn't just sit there. She thought for a long time before she came up with a sentence, "My last name is Chen too."
Ms. Chen smiled, "Then we are destined to meet."
Ms. Chen asked Chen Xuan where she was employed. Chen Xuan knew that this was asking where she worked, and she couldn't help but feel a little inferior. She just lowered her eyes, but then she remembered that Wei Nian had said that he was not allowed to lower his eyes or raise his eyebrows. Chen Xuan quickly raised his head and looked at Ms. Chen again. She couldn't help feeling a little ashamed in her heart, "I'm at home, I don't have a job."
"That's okay." Ms. Chen smiled. "I heard from you that you like A Doll's House. I wonder which character you like in it."
"I've only read half of it, I haven't finished it yet."
As for Chen Xuan's ability to end a conversation with just a few words, Ms. Chen stood up from the sofa and asked Chen Xuan with a hint of politeness in her eyes, "Do you want tea or juice? I'll get it for you."
What Chen Xuan was most worried about was falling into a state of dead wood. She was also most reluctant to trouble others, so she quickly followed Ms. Chen and stood up, "I'll get it myself."
Ms. Chen took her to the beverage area, where a Western chef was preparing meals and drinks. Chen Xuan asked the chef for a cup of coffee in English. Ms. Chen raised her slender eyebrows slightly, and took a cup of coffee herself, smiling, "So you like coffee too."
“I like the taste of coffee.”
"Yes, it is so rich and mellow. If you taste it carefully, you will find it bitter with sourness, sour with softness, soft and mellow, and sweet after mellowness. It is just like the ups and downs of life, bitter, spicy, sour and sweet."
Looking at Ms. Chen's intoxicated face when she talked about coffee, Chen Xuan felt that she was not the same kind of person as her. Chen Xuan mainly liked the special taste of coffee, the burnt-bottom taste. As for the sourness, softness, wind, and rain, Chen Xuan could not feel any of them at all. Seeing Ms. Chen so intoxicated, Chen Xuan felt embarrassed to add milk and sugar to her coffee. Fortunately, Ms. Chen did not chat with Chen Xuan for long. A man in a long gown came over. Ms. Chen's eyes showed some warmth, "Professor Wu, let me introduce you. This is Ms. Chen, who has the same last name as me. She came here for the first time today and is not familiar with this place. Professor Wu, please introduce her. Mr. Rong is here, I have to go over and say hello first."
Chen Xuan felt a little embarrassed, thinking that she had delayed Ms. Chen's business, and hurriedly said, "Please go quickly, it's okay for me to go alone."
Ms. Chen smiled apologetically and turned away.
Professor Wu wore a pair of round-rimmed glasses, and he was thin and scholarly. After shaking hands with Chen Xuan, he started talking to her. Compared to Ms. Chen, who was talking about coffee, Chen Xuan was more willing to chat with the professor. Especially since the professor was a professor at Peking University, Chen Xuan admired him very much and said quickly, "You are a great scholar."
Professor Wu adjusted the leg of his glasses and smiled, "You are really too kind."
"No, it's all true." Chen Xuan was very eager to go to college, and she asked a lot about college, from different colleges and universities to different majors, and even the subjects for college entrance exams. Chen Xuan asked about everything, so much so that Professor Wu couldn't help but ask, "Are you preparing for the college entrance exam, Ms. Chen?"
"I have read too little, I am afraid I will not pass the exam. But even if I fail, what you said is enough for me to yearn for." Chen Xuan couldn't help showing deep envy in her eyes. Chen Xuan is only 21 years old this year. She is no longer the sturdy and strong girl when she first came to Beijing. Now Chen Xuan is tall, with black eyebrows and almond eyes, her skin has a healthy honey color, and her eyes are clear and sincere. Although she didn't read much, such a young girl showed envy, even Professor Wu, a very knowledgeable university teacher, couldn't help but feel happy.
Especially for a girl like Chen Xuan who is eager to learn and admires knowledge, Professor Wu couldn't help but say, "If you have time, you can come to Peking University to see me at any time. I will take you around the campus and take a look."
Of course Chen Xuan would not refuse. She said with great joy, "Of course that's good, but you are a professor at the university, so you still have to go when you are free, and it can't delay your classes. Also, I am afraid that I can't go alone. My husband also looks up to the university very much. I don't know if this will disturb you."
Just as Chen Xuan finished speaking, she heard a short "gulp" laugh from behind. Chen Xuan turned around and saw another unfamiliar man in a suit sitting on the sofa behind her. He was half-standing up and busily fixing a stain on his dark suit jacket. He stretched out his hand to stop Ms. Chen from helping him wipe the suit. The man in the suit said in a gentle voice with a smile, "I'll just go to the bathroom and fix it." Then, he couldn't help but smile again when he looked at Chen Xuan.
Chen Xuan then saw clearly that this man had a pair of very high eyebrows and very handsome eyes.
The author has something to say: ps: It's a bit late. Although there is only one update today, it is also a pretty good one. Shitou should keep his work and rest schedule, get up early and go to bed early. Good night everyone~~~~~~~~~~~~~~