Glory: Third prize is excellent!
Wang Xuanxuan walked into the art troupe compound. She did not see Su Xiaoman, but instead ran straight into Wang Yue, who had just changed into a fresh outfit.
That day, Wang Yue’s mother had reminded her to go to the Wang family’s birthday gathering.
Now, the moment Wang Yue saw Wang Xuanxuan, she immediately recognised her. She felt a little flattered, thinking Wang Xuanxuan had come to take her along, so she greeted her.
“Xuanxuan.”
“Sister Wang Yue,” Wang Xuanxuan called politely. She had only met this distant older sister a few times, and it took her a moment to remember her name. She vaguely recalled that there was a Wang family older sister in the art troupe too.
Perfect. Wang Xuanxuan was pleased and immediately asked her, “Do you know where Sister Xiaoman is?”
Wang Yue froze. “Xiaoman? Su Xiaoman?”
Why was Wang Xuanxuan asking about Su Xiaoman? Did they really know each other?
“My grandma told me to bring Sister Xiaoman home for dinner. Today is my grandpa’s birthday. She said Sister Xiaoman shouldn’t go back, but should come straight to our grandpa’s house.”
The words Wang Yue had been about to say froze in her mouth. Wang Xuanxuan had actually come to find Su Xiaoman? And she was inviting her to Grandpa Wang’s house for dinner?
“Su Xiaoman is…?”
Wang Xuanxuan answered directly, “She’s from Grandpa Jiang’s family next door. Our families have a very good relationship. Her grandparents are already there.”
The Jiang family? Her grandparents?
Wang Yue was dumbstruck. Wasn’t Su Xiaoman surnamed Su? What connection did she have with the Jiang family?
Forcing a smile, Wang Yue deliberately asked, “Is Su Xiaoman a distant relative of the Jiang family?”
“No.” Wang Xuanxuan denied it immediately. At that moment, she happened to see Su Xiaoman and smiled, waving at her. “Sister Xiaoman!”
Su Xiaoman and Qin Shanshan walked over.
“Today is my grandpa’s birthday. Grandpa and Grandma Jiang have already gone over. Sister Xiaoman, they asked me to bring you along, so don’t go back first.”
Su Xiaoman nodded.
When Wang Yue heard that Su Xiaoman was not a distant Jiang relative, she immediately relaxed. Perhaps she was the daughter of some friend, and after getting into the art troupe, she had been staying with the Jiang family. No wonder she was familiar with the Wang sisters next door.
Wang Yue’s expression shifted uncertainly as she remembered the things she had said before—about marrying into the Jiang family and so on…
Had Su Xiaoman been watching her like a joke?
Wasn’t Su Xiaoman herself married to a poor countryside boy? She was simply lucky that he had been selected as a pilot trainee and happened to be so handsome.
Wang Yue could not deny that she envied her.
She was jealous that Su Xiaoman was beautiful, danced well, and had good luck. Even though she was born in a village, she had married a poor countryside boy with prospects. Even if he was not outstanding yet, who knew what would happen in the future?
Wang Yue bit her lip.
Last time at the dinner table, she had said those words thinking she could drive a wedge between Su Xiaoman and her husband. Who knew the two of them would still be as inseparable as ever, completely ignoring what she had said?
Her man treated her extremely well. Anyone could tell he held her dearly in his heart. When the other girls in the art troupe saw them, who didn’t envy Su Xiaoman for marrying such a husband? Young, promising, handsome, gentle, and devoted.
These past days, people had seen the two of them boating in the park, the man riding a bicycle with her, even making flower crowns for her with his own hands. His whole heart was set on her alone.
Su Xiaoman had changed even more during those days. The smile in her eyes and brows could not be hidden. Anyone could see how happy she was, as if she had been soaked in sugar water. Her large, moist eyes were full of soft affection.
“Xiaoman is too happy.”
“I want to marry a man like that too.”
…
But no matter what, she had only married a poor countryside boy. Even if he had prospects, could he compare with the Jiang family’s grandsons?
Wang Yue was determined to marry better than Su Xiaoman. The matter her mother had mentioned—she planned to actively pursue it. Today, she had dressed herself up beautifully to go to the Wang family precisely because of Grandpa and Grandma Jiang next door.
If she could win Grandpa and Grandma Jiang’s favour, perhaps they would want her as a granddaughter-in-law.
Then they could send her photo to the family’s grandson. She was so pretty—she refused to believe he would not be moved.
But now…
Why was Su Xiaoman staying with Grandpa and Grandma Jiang? What connection did she have with the Jiang family?
It must only be that she was the granddaughter of some old comrade from the past, temporarily staying in their house while they helped take care of her… If that were the case, it would be even better. If Wang Yue could marry into the Jiang family later, she would be able to properly show off in front of Su Xiaoman.
She was only afraid Su Xiaoman would try to obstruct her.
“Xuanxuan, I’ll go with you. I was going there anyway.”
Wang Xuanxuan nodded indifferently. “Sure, let’s go together.”
“Sister Xiaoman, I feel like you’ve become even prettier. How are you so good-looking? I like you so much.” Wang Xuanxuan liked beautiful people, and the moment she saw Su Xiaoman, she could not help opening the floodgates.
Wang Yue thought from the side: I’m also beautiful.
“My grandpa is practically dying of envy over Grandpa Jiang. Every day, he worries about finding a partner for my cousin. He wants someone as pretty as you, who can dance, sing, make clothes, embroider, accompany my grandma in planting vegetables and flowers… haha, I think he has his eye on you.”
“Why don’t you come be a daughter-in-law of our Wang family?”
Su Xiaoman smiled and shook her head. “You little rascal, making jokes about adults.”
“I only dare say it in front of you. If Grandpa and Grandma Jiang heard me, they’d definitely chase me away with sticks.”
Seeing Wang Xuanxuan chatting so warmly with Su Xiaoman, Wang Yue took the initiative to cut in.
“That’s because Xiaoman married too early.”
Wang Xuanxuan agreed, “Exactly.”
Wang Yue said, “Her husband is a new recruit this year, very outstanding. He’s already been selected as a pilot trainee. She doesn’t have the fortune to marry into our Wang family.”
“Sister Wang Yue, you absolutely must not mention him in front of my grandpa. The moment you mention him, my grandpa gets angry.”
Wang Yue was confused. “Why?”
“My grandpa just doesn’t like the Jiang family’s grandsons, especially the youngest Jiang grandson. Sister Xiaoman, let’s walk faster.”
What youngest Jiang grandson? She was talking about Su Xiaoman’s husband, not some Jiang family grandson. Wasn’t Su Xiaoman’s husband surnamed Xie? What did he have to do with the Jiang family…
Madam Jiang was also surnamed Xie?
A shocking possibility suddenly appeared in Wang Yue’s mind.
Impossible… Madam Jiang had clearly said those words…
Could Su Xiaoman really be the Jiang family’s granddaughter-in-law?
After Wang Yue arrived at the Wang house, Grandpa Jiang and Grandma Jiang indeed called Su Xiaoman over to their side. Listening to the people around her, Wang Yue learned in a daze that Su Xiaoman really was the Jiang family’s granddaughter-in-law.
The poor countryside boy she had married was actually the Jiang family’s youngest grandson.
Wang Yue ate that meal without tasting anything. When she returned to the dormitory, she remained silent. Zhang Ying, who was full of curiosity, saw that Wang Yue had left in high spirits but returned like this, so she hurried over to ask what had happened.
“Wang Yue, what’s wrong?”
Wang Yue pressed her lips together tightly. Thinking of everything that had happened before, and the things she had said at the dinner table that day, she felt like a ridiculous clown.
“Why are you still flattering me? Why don’t you hurry up and go curry favour with Su Xiaoman?”
Zhang Ying froze. “What happened?”
“Su Xiaoman is the Jiang family’s youngest daughter-in-law. She’s been hiding it all this time.”
“What? Isn’t her husband surnamed Xie?”
“Sister Xiaoman, you’re the Jiang family’s youngest daughter-in-law?”
When Su Xiaoman returned from dance practice, Qin Shanshan slipped over and quietly asked her. Su Xiaoman nodded, not caring much that others knew.
“So Brother Xie is actually a child of the Jiang family.”
Su Xiaoman shook her head. “You could also say he isn’t a child of the Jiang family. He just follows his grandparents.”
Qin Shanshan smiled. “Whether he is or isn’t doesn’t matter. Brother Xie is so outstanding. Even if he really were just a poor countryside boy, plenty of people would still be envious.”
“Sister Xiaoman, you really married well!”
Su Xiaoman smiled. “Being able to marry someone you like is indeed a lucky thing.”
Before long, many people in the art troupe knew that Su Xiaoman was the Jiang family’s youngest daughter-in-law. At first, there was some discussion, but things soon calmed down. Wang Yue was no longer so arrogant in front of her, while Zhang Ying wanted to switch over and cling to Su Xiaoman, but did not know where to begin flattering her.
Su Xiaoman was very disciplined. Her daily life was packed full, and she did not have so much free time to listen to praise or gossip.
Teacher Sun treated her the same as before, while Director Zhang became much more polite toward her.
The song-and-dance drama *Red Sun*, which Su Xiaoman had helped choreograph, was performed before the Dragon Boat Festival and received enthusiastic praise. The costumes in particular received commendation from above, and even won an art design award.
It was said to have “brought forth the new from the old.”
After all, Su Xiaoman had come from several decades later and had a deeper understanding of the stage. Many later innovations could not be directly applied, but they could still be borrowed and adapted.
Her dancing was also recognised, leaving her extremely satisfied. Standing on stage again and again made up for the regrets she once had.
Perhaps those regrets had already been fulfilled from the moment she glimpsed him sitting in the audience.
Su Xiaoman carried several medals and certificates back. Working in the art troupe, besides salary and allowances, there were naturally awards and things like that. As for how valuable they really were, it was hard to estimate. They were only small provincial awards.
But no matter what, these things still made people very happy.
They were awards, after all!
Grandpa Jiang was even happier than she was when he saw them. He even said he wanted to put them together with his old military honours and medals. Su Xiaoman quickly protected her own little things. She felt her small plaques were not worthy.
“Grandpa, that doesn’t seem very appropriate.”
If they were placed together, then in the future, when Grandpa Jiang showed people his honours, he would also pull out her provincial awards and little plaques. How embarrassing would that be?
Grandpa Jiang said, “What’s inappropriate about it? Back then, when your grandma won a singing award in the team, I kept that too.”
“You still kept that thing?!” Grandma Jiang’s eyes widened.
“Why couldn’t I keep it? It’s still your honour, old woman.”
Grandma Jiang’s mouth twitched, and she clicked her tongue. “It was just a third prize. What kind of dog-fart honour is that? Hurry up and throw that thing away.”
Su Xiaoman quickly said, “Grandma, third prize is already excellent. At least it’s top three. You must keep it properly.”
Grandpa Jiang agreed. “Exactly. Third prize is very excellent!”
Grandma Jiang’s mouth twitched. “Only three people participated. Is getting third prize very excellent?”
Su Xiaoman: “…”
“Hurry up and throw that embarrassing thing away.” The more Grandma Jiang thought about it, the angrier she became, veins practically popping on her forehead.
This annoying old man—who knew what else he had secretly done behind her back?
He had actually kept that thing too???!!!
Was he collecting rubbish?
Grandma Jiang clearly remembered throwing it into the rubbish heap. Had this annoying old man picked it back up? And secretly hidden it for so many years?!!!
“Take it out and throw it away right now!!!!”
Grandpa Jiang was extremely stubborn. “I won’t. I’m keeping it properly.”
Su Xiaoman held back her laughter and helped persuade her. “Grandma, let him keep it. No matter what, it’s still a memory.”
Grandma Jiang crossed her arms. “Xiaoman, whose side are you on? Xiaotu is just like his grandpa. In the future, he’ll make you angry too…”
Su Xiaoman immediately changed sides. “Grandma, how can Grandpa do this? Grandpa, hurry up and take it out and return it to Grandma.”
Grandma Jiang said, “Exactly!”
“No!” Grandpa Jiang smiled happily, then changed the subject. “Xiaoman, give yours to Grandpa to keep too…”
“Ever since Xiaoman came, our family finally has some artistic talent.”
“When the eldest and second boys sang as children, they sounded just like their grandma.”
Grandma Jiang fired back, “Weren’t they like you? Your singing relied entirely on shouting. Xiaoman, do you know? When your grandpa was young, he actually wanted to learn the flute. In the end, after blowing for three or four days, he still couldn’t make a sound.”
Grandpa Jiang said, “And what about you playing the erhu?!”
…
Su Xiaoman: “…”
Comrade Su Xiaoman could only hold her little awards and marvel from the side. Grandpa and Grandma exposing each other’s old embarrassing stories was like machine-gun fire—rat-tat-tat, endless bullets.
After arguing for half a day, the topic had somehow shifted from the eldest and second boys singing off-key to Grandpa Jiang changing the children’s diapers incorrectly when they were little, causing their skulls not to sleep into the right shape and affecting their singing talent…
Su Xiaoman listened for a while, then planned to leave with her little plaques. But both Grandpa and Grandma called her back.
“Xiaoman, wait a moment.”
“What is it?” Su Xiaoman’s heart trembled a little, afraid her little plaques would also become part of Grandpa Jiang’s collection. “Grandpa, I’ll keep them myself.”
Grandpa Jiang picked up a pen and began writing and drawing with big, sweeping strokes, sketching the little awards onto white paper. His drawing style looked very much like revolutionary-era propaganda posters.
“Write a letter to Xiaotu. Our Manman already has so many awards, but he doesn’t have a single one. How embarrassing!”
“Even Grandpa feels embarrassed for him.”
Su Xiaoman did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Grandpa, last time he clearly—”
“Stop right there. What kind of award does that count as? Let him see his wife’s medals.”
So this letter, along with many Dragon Boat Festival zongzi, was packed up and sent to Xie Mingtu.
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