After dinner, Xu Xi left, and before leaving, he had a long chat with Grandpa at the front door. It was May, and the evening was still a bit chilly. When Grandpa Li ca back, Li Xianglu couldn’t help but bla him, "What was there to talk about? It’s cold outside, and you didn’t even think to put on an extra jacket."
Mr. Li sighed; his granddaughter just didn’t like Xu Xi. Usually, she did not react this strongly when he and Old Xun hung out.
Grandpa Li waved his hand and said, "Co on, let’s go inside; I have sothing to say."
Li Xianglu raised an eyebrow but first carried in the foot-washing water. Qin Xi was reading in the room and hurriedly put down his book to help carry the basin in. Mr. Li helplessly took off his socks and dipped his feet into the water.
As he washed his feet, he said, "I can’t go to Hong Kong anymore. I plan for you and Qin Xi to go there on my behalf."
"What?" Li Xianglu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why can’t you go? Just apply for it."
Mr. Li sighed. His past work involved too many secrets. It was not easy to go out because the authorities had already denied his request and had a discussion with him—he was afraid he might never be able to go out for the rest of his life.
Li Xianglu did not understand why he couldn’t go, but since even Xu Xi couldn’t handle it, it seed the matter had already been decided. She sighed and asked, "What can we do there?"
Mr. Li chuckled and said, "Of course, there’s a purpose. Don’t you want to et your grandmother? It’s a good opportunity to visit her on my behalf. When the policies improve, she might be able to co back."
Li Xianglu looked at her grandfather, who was serious yet hopeful, and nodded, "Alright, I’ll ask her why she hasn’t visited you. After all, aren’t many people able to visit now?"
Mr. Li listened to his granddaughter’s emotional words and laughed, shaking his head, "Good, go and ask."
Grandpa Li was not in a good mood today; he changed his clothes after washing his feet and went to sleep.
Li Xianglu was a bit worried. Qin Xi comforted her, saying, "It’s okay, Grandpa can co to terms with it. Besides, it’s not like you won’t see each other again; this is just temporary."
Li Xianglu looked puzzled and raised an eyebrow, "It seems like you know why Grandpa can’t go?"
Qin Xi touched his nose, saw the stubborn look on her face, and sighed before whispering a few words into her ear.
Li Xianglu’s eyes widened significantly, "Impossible, is Grandpa that incredible?"
Qin Xi nodded seriously and said, "Yes, indeed he is. Even my grandfather was under his command at one point. Think about how my grandfather must feel around Grandpa Li—isn’t he a bit intimidated?"
Li Xianglu thought about it and realized it was true, nodding and saying, "No wonder, your grandfather is exceptionally polite towards my grandfather."
Qin Xi thought sarcastically, after going through such experiences, it was natural to be polite; it was all about giving face, but it was more like fear.
With a rough idea in mind, Li Xianglu thought back to when her grandfather used to help his so-called friends, the way those four people were dressed and their respectful deanor; it seed her grandfather was indeed no ordinary person.
Qin Xi looked at her suddenly proud face and couldn’t help but jokingly ask, "Aren’t you afraid?"
Li Xianglu was stunned for a mont: "What’s there to be afraid of? We just have different professions."
Qin Xi felt maybe he had put it too subtly, causing the girl to misunderstand, but perhaps a misunderstanding was better than being afraid.
Xu Xi had so exchange with the United States, and then started arranging for Li Xianglu and Qin Xi to travel to Hong Kong. Applications needed to be filed and then approved.
anwhile, the school’s exam results were also released. Li Xianglu’s English score ranked second in the entire school. The teacher who graded the papers initially thought she was from the foreign languages departnt. It was only when registering the scores that they realized the student was from the finance departnt.
Li Xianglu’s scores in other subjects were also good, ranking highly in the sciences. This made everyone in her class recognize this usually quiet girl. It turned out their class had such a high-achieving girl, and she was also quite attractive.
The late 1970s marked a division in the era.
In February, the fifth National People’s Congress was held. The conference proposed that everyone should unite in the struggle to build a modernized socialist great power, marking the complete end of ten years of turmoil.
The conference also re-elected various senior leaders, and the Lu Family was on the list.
Xi Yuni was also studying at Capital University, majoring in foreign languages. She studied hard and lived on campus. Now, various departnts in the university had organized clubs, and she didn’t want to fall behind, so she applied for a literary club for the foreign languages departnt.
This was inspired by Li Xianglu’s small English composition. Her English composition, barely over two hundred words, splendidly described her reasons for studying English and her dreams of a powerful nation, earning admiration from several foreign language teachers. They even copied it on red paper with black ink and hung it in the study corridor for everyone to read.
Knowing her own level of English was average, Xi Yuni specifically invited Li Xianglu to join, but since Li Xianglu wasn’t a foreign language major, she could only serve as a minor officer.
Li Xianglu originally didn’t want to participate in anything, but she agreed for Xi Yuni’s sake, though she couldn’t attend every eting as she needed to head ho early.
In July, Qin Xi applied for a law club, aid at discussing and proposing andnts to the not-so-perfect laws. This club attracted the school’s attention from the start and even the interest of so senior leaders, making Qin Xi very busy attending classes and dealing with matters.
Li Xianglu hardly saw Qin Xi except on weekends when they went ho together.
One afternoon, when there were no classes, Qin Xi ca early to pick up Li Xianglu. The weather was extrely hot, and Li Xianglu, who particularly disliked the heat, was very lethargic. He planned to take her to the Overseas Chinese Store to buy so things before going back ho. Their application had been approved, and they were set to depart for Hong Kong by the end of July. The team from the United States had already set out since they were traveling by ship, which would take more than half a month to reach Hong Kong.
As soon as Li Xianglu stepped out, she saw Qin Xi already waiting at the dormitory entrance.
Sumr had arrived, and it was now fashionable to wear "**** dresses" available in various colors. Li Xianglu wore a simple yet elegant blue and white checkered dress, designed by the Ministry of Culture based on the historical clothing features of won from the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties. It was an open collared robe dress with a small monk collar, a white undercollar, bordered neckline and edges, ruched waist, and could also be paired with a belt of the original color.
Li Xianglu thought it looked quite nice without a belt and had one made. Grandpa Li thought his granddaughter looked beautiful in it, so he bought several pieces of floral cloth and had Li Xianglu make several dresses, which she alternated wearing.
At that mont, Ma Lingling, who had also co out, saw the two and called out with a smile, "Xiao Xiang, are you leaving?"
Li Xianglu nodded, prepared to leave, but then she heard Ma Lingling say, "I saw on your file that you are married, has the school made a mistake?"
At this, everyone around stopped walking and stared at this talented finance girl, mouths agape in surprise.
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