The day after tomorrow.
Morning.
Senior Xie’s Mansion.
Firecrackers’ sounds filled the compound. Today is Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan’s wedding day, and guests have arrived.
Inside of the Mansion.
Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan greeted and received every Xie Family member and guest.
“Congratulations.”
“Congratulations on your coming happy union, haha….”
“Come…. This red packet is for you.”
Dong Xuebing had met most of the people. For example, Xie Huilan’s parents, Xie Guobang and Han Jing, Xie Ran and Xie Jing’s parents, Xie Guoliang and Xia Yanzhen, Xie Hao’s parents, Xie Guojian and Ci Lifen, etc. The rest of the third-generation members are there, and there are a few unfamiliar faces. An elderly man sits with Senior Xie, and Han Jing holds hands with a middle-aged woman and man. A young man, which Dong Xuebing has not met before, is chatting and joking with Xie Hao.
Dong Xuebing greeted everyone. “Grandfather, Dad, Mum, Uncle, Aunt, etc.”
Xie Huilan, in her gorgeous wedding dress, greeted Luan Xiaoping and Yang Zhaode. “Mum, Uncle Yang.” Luan Xiaoping and Yang Zhaode are not married, and she cannot address him as Dad. She looked at Dong Xuebing and smiled. “You have not met some of our relatives. Let me introduce myself. This is our Fourth Grandpa.”
Dong Xuebing quickly greeted that elderly man politely. “Fourth Grandpa.”
Fourth, Grandpa smiled and nodded. “Huilan has a good eye.”
“You flattered me.” Dong Xuebing was happy and shocked to hear this.
“No. I have heard of you more than once. You have done well.”
Dong Xuebing had heard of Xie Huilan’s Fourth Grandpa from Huilan and knew his surname was not Xie. He is a distant relative of Senior Xie, and Huilan had lived with him for a long time when she was young. She treats him as her grandfather. More importantly, Fourth Grandpa has not retired. He is the current Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary and a member of the standing committee of the Political Bureau. He is one of the top ten Central Government leaders and one of the nine top party members in the country. His rank is the highest in the Party among the Xie Family. Although he is old, National Leaders don’t have a retirement age, and they will continue until their bodies can’t take it.
Fourth Grandpa is full of praises for Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing is very nervous as he talks to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary, and he accepts the praises modestly.
Xie Huilan brought Dong Xuebing to the middle-aged couple and smiled. “This is my youngest Aunt, Xie Guoyue, and her husband, Hou Xingan.”
Dong Xuebing quickly greets them. “Aunt, Uncle.”
Xie Guoyue laughed. “It’s finally our turn. Congratulations, Xiao Bing, Huilan.”
“Haha….” Xie Huilan replied. “Thank you, Aunt.”
Xie Guoyue smiled. “I am relieved now. Our Huilan is finally married.”
“Stop joking around.” Xie Guoyue’s husband, Hou Xingan, turns to Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Bing, we live in Shandong province and still have not met you despite Huilan and dating for two years. We are a family now and should have get-togethers more often.”
Dong Xuebing quickly agree.
Dong Xuebing had heard Huilan mentioning Huo Xingan several times. He is currently Shandong Province’s Deputy Governor, a Provincial-Ministerial level Leader.
Xie Huilan continues to introduce. “This is my cousin. Huo Ming, our younger brother.”
Dong Xuebing shook hands with him. “Hello.”
Huo Xingan’s son is older than Dong Xuebing and is good-looking. He had inherited his good looks from his mother, Xie Guoyue.
Huo Ming shook Dong Xuebing’s hand lightly. “Brother-in-law.” He felt awkward addressing someone younger than him as his Eldest Brother-in-law.
Xie Huilan looks at Dong Xuebing. “Haha…. Xiao Ming is the most educated person in our family. He holds a Master’s Degree from Peking University, and he got it two to three years earlier than other people.”
Dong Xuebing is surprised. “Wow…. That’s impressive.”
“Haha…. I am impressed too.” Xie Huilan added.
Huo Ming smiled awkwardly. “Sis, stop teasing me. Everyone knows you are the smartest in our family. You can get a Ph.D. from Peking or Tsinghua University easily if you want. I am nothing compared to you.” Education is essential in the government sector, but it does not mean higher education means one can go further. One would be at least thirty years old when he becomes a professor. He also can’t concentrate if he works and studies concurrently. He will pass his prime when he graduates. That’s why Xie Huilan entered the Government and did not continue her studies.
Xie Huilan laughed. “Look at my brother. He is got a sweet tongue.”
Dong Xuebing agrees that Xie Huilan is smart.
Xie Hao pretended to gag. “Sis, Brother, stop flattering each other. I am getting goosebumps.”
Xie Jing joked. “You are being jealous.”
“Hmph! What’s there to be jealous of?” Xie Hao retorted.
Xie Huilan points at Xiao Hao. “You must learn from your brother and study hard.”
Xie Hao patted his chest and boasted. “Hmph! What’s so great about having a Master’s Degree? I will become a Professor in the future.”
Xie Hao’s mother, Ci Lifen, laughed. “I will be grateful if you can enter a good University. Professor? That’s impossible.”
Everyone laughed.
This is a joke. However, Dong Xuebing believes the Xie Family has the power to enroll Xie Hao into Peking or Tsinghua University he wants.
Dong Xuebing had met everyone from the Xie Family.
Senior Xie waved his hand. “Alright. It’s about time. Guobang, bring the kids out to receive the guests.”
In Xie Family, Senior Xie’s words are the imperial decree. Xie Guobang nodded, and the younger generations followed him out.
Han Jing was about to follow her husband when Senior Xie stopped her. He smiled and said. “Stay here and accompany our in-laws. Don’t let them feel left out.”
“Ok. I know.” Han Jing walked over.
Luan Xiaoping quickly reply. “You don’t need to accompany us. Let’s go and receive the guests together.”
“That’s right. Let’s go together.” Yang Zhaode stood up.
Han Jing held Luan Xiaoping’s hand. “Alright.”
Yang Zhaode had been through ups and downs in life. His wife had passed away, and he has no children. His life experiences gave him a calm composure. He is neither humble nor arrogant in front of the Xie Family. He was not intimidated or nervous when he met the high-rank Government Leaders on Dong Xuebing’s side of the family. But Luan Xiaoping is uneasy. She faces the former Party Chief Secretary, Beijing City Party Committee Secretary, Army’s top Leader, Provincial Governor, Central Government Ministry Leaders, etc. They are the country’s top leaders, and she is only an ordinary civilian. She had never met so many top leaders and was very uneasy.
Outside.
This wedding feels more like a political event. Dong Xuebing has never attended or seen such an event, and he doesn’t know the procedures. He asked Xie Huilan softly. “Huilan, what should I do later? How come I didn’t see the MC for today? Are we going to exchange rings later?”
Dong Xuebing is nervous like his mother because of the many government leaders there. He is concerned about the wedding.
Xie Huilan laughed. “We don’t have MC or procedures. The bride and groom are the biggest on their wedding day, but it’s different in our family. We are not the stars in this wedding ceremony. The guests are the stars, and our job is to receive them at the door. The guests who are arriving now are not the special guests. Senior Xie and Fourth Grandpa will come out when the important guests arrive. These people are our family’s allies, relatives, and friends. Of course, many of them are our family’s political rivals. You must watch what you say later.”
Dong Xuebing is speechless. “This is so complicated.”
“Why do you think so many Central Government Leaders had come out to receive the guests with us?” Xie Huilan laughed. “The VIPs will arrive during the banquet later.”
“It’s so troublesome.”
“Just follow my lead later. If you don’t know what to say, just keep quiet and let me do the talking.”
“Alright.”
“It will be fine. I am around. My father and Uncles will help us handle the guests.”
Both of them walked out of the Mansion to the front yard. Tables and chairs were set up, and people were mingling among themselves.
Suddenly, Xie Jing walked over. “Sis, Brother-in-law, Director Liu is here.”
“I know.” Xie Huilan turned to Dong Xuebing. “Let’s go and receive him.”
Dong Xuebing knows this must be an important person for Xie Huilan to receive him. “Who is Director Liu?”
Xie Huilan replied. “He is the PLA General Hospital’s Deputy Director, a Major General. It’s rare for the army to have a female general, and she is close to our family. Just call her Aunt Liu. She is not an outsider.”
Main gates.
A middle-aged woman walked over with Xie Ran. She looks attractive despite the fact that she is around fifty years old. Her complexion is too fair for a soldier, but her movements are stiff, and her back is straight. The woman saw Xie Huilan and smiled. “Wow…. Our bride is so pretty.”
“Haha…. How can I be compared to you?” Xie Huilan held Dong Xuebing’s arm. “This is my husband, Dong Xuebing. This is Aunt Liu.”
Dong Xuebing quickly greets her. “Hi, Aunt Liu.”
“Hello. Congratulations on your wedding.” Aunt Liu smiles.
Xie Huilan replied. “Thank you.”
