Chapter 27 - 026: Face
Ye Qian’s dance really gave Bai Xue plenty of face.
After the gathering, everyone helped restore the tables and chairs to their original positions. The employees were busy collecting bowls and chopsticks, while large pots of steaming white dumplings were bubbling in the back. Tonight is New Year’s Eve, and everyone can eat as much as they want without any restrictions.
The big table where Ye Ling and the other family members were sitting was even more lively, even the leaders came over. The wife of Director Li sat at the family table, proudly accompanied by a gentle-looking Ye Qian.
Ye Zhenfen, who looked to be over fifty, affectionately patted Ye Qian’s hand and said, "Isn’t fate something! Look at you, you’re also surnamed Ye, and so am I. Watching you dance on stage reminded me of my youth. Back then, I was also in the Art Troupe, although I worked in administration. I envied those who could dance. But in our days, we had to follow wherever the company went. It was much tougher than it is for you now."
"Grandma Ye, we are so fortunate now. Even if you were in administrative roles in the company, being able to go to the forefront with the company required courage we can learn from," Ye Qian stated seriously.
The smile on Ye Zhenfen’s face slowly faded. Bai Xue grew a bit anxious inside; why bring up such heavy topics during a good New Year’s celebration? Her youngest daughter was always clever, so how could she make this mistake?
Yet, Ye Qian’s words made everyone around the table smile, "Good child, you are so thoughtful. It’s rare to see someone your age thinking this way."
Ye Zhenfen’s reaction was already anticipated by Ye Ling. She understood the leader’s wife, Grandma Ye, quite well. Later, after marrying Shen Bin, her title changed from Grandma Ye to Aunt Ye, her seniority in the family rising. Over time, Ye Qian also changed her address to Aunt Ye.
This Director Li was quite a person, an old revolutionary who participated in the Korean War. The only regret for him and his wife was not having children, so they focused their energies on the company. They favored Shen Bin, who came from the countryside, was ambitious, and honest. Yet, Shen Bin, being from a rural background and divorced, was single. Thus, they had their parents introduce him to someone. The parents dared not offend Director Li and his wife, couldn’t find a suitable match, and were reluctant to let go of their younger daughter, so Ye Ling was pushed into the role.
Thus, whenever she saw the wife of Director Li, Ye Ling felt she should resent her. Had it not been for her making Ye Ling’s parents introduce someone to Shen Bin, Ye Ling wouldn’t have ended up marrying him, leading to all that followed, and she wouldn’t have had such a miserable life.