Xia Xiao curled her lips, watching Li Shengmei’s expression; her mood suddenly improved greatly.
She felt quite wicked, seeing Li Shengmei’s expression; she truly found it satisfying.
Gao Jiaxing said, "I don’t want you to be with He Xuebing just to upset Li Shengmei."
That moment made Xia Xiao feel as if someone had read her emotions; she shook her head, "I’m not so callous about feelings, nor am I that malicious."
"Can you tell me about the universities in S city?" Gao Jiaxing suddenly asked.
"Sure, are you considering applying to a university in S city? The universities there are quite good," said Xia Xiao.
"Tell me about it," Gao Jiaxing nodded.
Xia Xiao knew a lot about these universities; she began to discuss the universities in S city with Gao Jiaxing, and once she started, she didn’t stop until they reached the Gao family’s home.
Meanwhile, Li Shengmei glared at Xia Xiao’s retreating figure, ready to leave, but then she saw someone approaching.
Li Shengmei paused, though she had intended to leave, she stopped in her tracks.
"Mr. Liu, what brings you here today?" Li Shengmei called out to Liu Haiguo.
Liu Haiguo smiled awkwardly, "Director Li, I came to take a look around."
Li Shengmei laughed, "You’re here to see Xia Xiao, aren’t you?"
"Yes, I came to see Educated Youth Xia, I’m not sure if she’s around." Liu Haiguo was unaware of the conflict between Li Shengmei and Xia Xiao, so he was very friendly towards Li Shengmei since after all, she was the director of the women’s work in the Red Star Production Team—if Li Shengmei was willing to help him, that meant another opportunity for him.
"Xia Xiao?" Li Shengmei’s voice rose as she pointed ahead, "See there, that’s Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing; they’re heading to the Gao family now."
"Oh, thank you, Director Li. Then I’ll be on my way," Liu Haiguo said, pleased, preparing to leave.
Li Shengmei quickly called out to him, "You’ve just arrived, you met my son, didn’t you?"
"Yes, I did, Bingzi has already left," Liu Haiguo replied.
Li Shengmei looked at Liu Haiguo; with his sharp chin, narrow cheeks and buck teeth, his appearance was rather poor. She hoped Liu Haiguo and Xia Xiao would become a pair, but Xia Xiao could never be interested in someone like Liu Haiguo.
Li Shengmei said, "Hmph, know why I’m here? My son, Bingzi, wouldn’t let me, his mother, escort him, but he asked Xia Xiao to bring him here instead. And Xia Xiao, after seeing off Bingzi, met Gao Jiaxing and left with him. As a mother, I’m not comfortable with this."
"What’s the matter, Director Li?" Liu Haiguo was puzzled.
Li Shengmei said, "I’m angry with Xia Xiao. Look how outstanding my son is, and yet she’s leading him on. My son wants to date her, but she hasn’t agreed. Bingzi even said he would write to Xia Xiao when he’s in the army. And now she’s off with Gao Jiaxing, what’s going on?"
Liu Haiguo remained silent. Li Shengmei continued, "I know you’re pursuing Xia Xiao, but you’re not the only one in the Production Team who’s after her. Now that Bingzi is back, to my shock, he’s also interested in Xia Xiao; it’s infuriating."
"Director Li, Xia Xiao is not like that," Liu Haiguo said.
Li Shengmei gave him a sidelong glance, "And how can you be sure? Do you know her that well?"
Liu Haiguo had nothing to say. Li Shengmei added, "Ah, forget about Xia Xiao. Our family patriarch has set his eyes on her as a daughter-in-law."
Liu Haiguo felt a chill. He Hongjun fancied Xia Xiao as a daughter-in-law, He Xuebing liked Xia Xiao, and He Xuebing was also good-looking. With Gao Jiaxing and Gu Weiguo in the picture, why was it so hard for him to find a beautiful bride? Liu Haiguo felt disheartened and kicked at the stones underfoot dejectedly.
Li Shengmei watched Liu Haiguo behave this way, and a thought flashed through her mind. Recalling what He Hongjun had said, she asked, "Haiguo, would you like me to introduce someone to you?"
"Who?" Liu Haiguo asked. "Would they even consider me?"
"How about Educated Youth Feng?" suggested Li Shengmei.
"Educated Youth Feng." Liu Haiguo surely knew her, as she was the mediator between him and Xia Xiao.
At this, Liu Haiguo found himself at a loss for words. With Xia Xiao as the pearl before him, Feng Ying hardly caught his eye.
Li Shengmei said, "You can forget about Xia Xiao, and besides, you are now the chief of the Red Star Production Team. If you like someone, wouldn’t they reciprocate? Even if it’s one of the educated youth women born in your Red Star Production Team, there must be some willing to marry you."
Liu Haiguo nodded, but the problem was that aside from one, Liu Yue, the other educated youth women from the Red Star Production Team didn’t look that appealing.
And Liu Yue was not someone Liu Haiguo could aspire to. Moreover, her temperamental and capricious ways were more than he could handle.
Yet Feng Ying left Liu Haiguo somewhat dissatisfied. He had set his sights on Xia Xiao, dreaming of marrying her and was unwilling to give up so easily.
Li Shengmei knew it would take more than a single conversation for Liu Haiguo to take an interest in Feng Ying. In fact, she didn’t really want to play matchmaker, secretly wishing Liu Haiguo with his vulgar manner would do something to Xia Xiao—then she would no longer have to worry about her son.
But Li Shengmei remembered He Hongjun’s words. Currently, her relationship with He Hongjun was very strained, to the point where they even slept in separate rooms, leaving Li Shengmei deeply frustrated.
Back when He Hongjun doted on her, Li Shengmei had been particularly disdainful and arrogant, not taking him seriously. She had thought she had He Hongjun wrapped around her finger.
But now that He Hongjun had changed his attitude so drastically, becoming cold and heartless, Li Shengmei found it hard to accept.
Worse, with He Hongjun turning against her, her sons also failed to understand her, suddenly making her life seem much more difficult.
At this point, Li Shengmei also felt that Feng Ying was useless, having left a poor impression with Li Zhenchuan. So, she thought it best to marry Feng Ying out of the production team.
After Liu Haiguo left, Li Shengmei went to Youth Point to find Feng Ying. Feng Ying was surprised by her visit.
Li Shengmei called Feng Ying out and spoke to her about Liu Haiguo’s matter. Naturally, Feng Ying was unwilling.
"Director Li, I don’t want to get involved with Liu Haiguo," Feng Ying said.
Li Shengmei pressed on, "Then who do you want to be involved with?"
Feng Ying hung her head in silence. Li Shengmei squinted her eyes, probing, "Is it Gangzi or Bingzi?"
Feng Ying shook her head. "No, neither of them."
"Is it Secretary Li?" Li Shengmei asked.
Feng Ying blushed and nodded. Li Shengmei scoffed, "Forget Secretary Li. Bingzi’s dad mentioned that Secretary Li might already be arranged for by his family."
Feng Ying’s heart instantly chilled, but it quickly revived as if a wilting plant had been given a restorative, her spirits lifting immensely.
"Really, Secretary Li has someone?" Feng Ying inquired.
Li Shengmei nodded, "Very likely."
"But didn’t Xia Xiao say that Secretary Li isn’t married?" Feng Ying asked.
Li Shengmei gave Feng Ying a look, "If he has a fiancée but hasn’t married her, he’s still not married, is he?"