Chapter 1021: Xin Family (9)
Before heading out today, Ruan Jie was sternly instructed by the Ruanlin Family matriarch, only then allowed to leave the house. Shu Jiao, feeling somewhat uneasy, reminded Xiu Xi after getting into the car: "Xiaoxi, auntie might be a bit preoccupied today. Could you help auntie keep an eye on Jiaojiao, alright?"
Xiu Xi naturally agreed.
This was Ruan Jiaojiao’s first time attending such a banquet. To say she wasn’t nervous would be untrue, but with Shu Jiao by her side and Xiu Xi holding her hand the entire time, she managed to keep herself steady.
The Xin Family and Jiang Family lived in the same compound. The Jiang Family inhabited a traditional courtyard-style residence, while the Xin Family resided in a small villa with front and back gardens. Thus, this birthday celebration wasn’t held at an external hotel but directly at their home, with invitations extended to Beidu’s upper social circle.
By the time the Ruan Family arrived, many guests were already present at the Xin Family’s residence. With introductions facilitated by the Jiang Family, the Xin couple promptly came out to greet them as soon as they stepped out of the car.
Xin Miao was turning ten this year. She had an older brother, aged fifteen, and an older sister, aged thirteen. The Xin couple were of similar age to Shu Jiao and Ruan Jianguo.
Madam Xin was a Jiangnan beauty, exuding a particularly graceful and charming demeanor. She bore some resemblance to Shu Jiao but was also distinct—Shu Jiao possessed a touch more scholarly refinement.
As for Xin Bo and Ruan Jianguo, the contrast couldn’t be starker.
The Ruan Family rose to prominence in the early 1990s, and though they were now modestly wealthy, they still fell far short of true affluence. Ruan Jianguo was quintessentially a farmer—though he had received some education, it wasn’t extensive. Years of farming had shaped him, and even now, clad in a suit, he gave off the impression of a beast dressed in human clothing.