Chapter Twenty-Four Back in Beijing

  On this day in early June, the Army University held a grand ceremony to award military ranks to 30 students who participated in the competition with Baoding Military Academy last month. On this day, Yuan Shikai was originally scheduled to attend in person, but ultimately did not arrive at the scene due to the urgent need to formulate the new "Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China". Only a few high-ranking staff members from the General Staff Headquarters participated in the ceremony to award military ranks.

  The army university has been buzzing with news during this time, all of which are about the thirty contestants who easily obtained regular military ranks. Some joked that they regretted not signing up at the time, while others were indifferent to the rank of second lieutenant. In fact, even among the thirty students who received military ranks, most of them didn't have much to be proud of. After all, before entering the army university, these students had already held guns and led soldiers, and some had even held higher ranks than second lieutenant in the past, which is now not worth mentioning.

  The ceremony of granting military ranks was still quite successful, with thirty students on the rostrum covered with red carpet, and under the stage there were a military band and many reporters from Beijing newspapers. Since the match with Baoding Military Academy was a show, then after this show it was a big publicity, things on the scene had to be done thoroughly.

  However, what surprised Xu Shao Wen was that although the Commander-in-Chief and the General Staff did not send anyone, there were still many prominent figures from the northern military and political circles among the guests invited to attend the ceremony. After the awarding of military ranks ceremony ended, there was also a cocktail party on the campus of the Army University, this kind of high-end Western social gathering has always been a way for old-fashioned warlords to show off their temperament.

  After Xu Shao-wen walked down from the rostrum, he went to the playground with Guo Songling and other students of the infantry department. Since entering the Military Academy, many students who were originally rough in nature had rarely drunk alcohol. Taking advantage of today's opportunity, most students drank freely. However, this time it was mostly red wine, and some students who still retained their old habits felt that they didn't drink enough.

  Just as Xu Shao was indulging in the fine wine and chatting with the students of Beike Class, someone suddenly patted him on the back. He turned around to see that it was Hu Min'er standing behind him, dressed in a white Western-style suit.

  "What? Miss Hu, how did you end up here?" Xu Shaowen was greatly surprised by Hu Min'er's sudden appearance.

  Hu Min'er was wearing a pure white dress, her slender and pale small hands were wearing lace long gloves, and her bare shoulders looked very seductive. She smiled at Xu Shao Wen and said: "What's wrong, aren't you happy to see me?"

  "Of course not, just a little surprised." Xu Shaowen explained.

  At this time, Xu Shao-wen's fellow students started to tease him. Guo Song-ling knew Hu Min-er and immediately came forward, saying: "Ah, isn't this Miss Hu? Why did you come to find Wen-yuan today?"

  "This young lady has come all the way to find Wen Yuan, how about it?" Hu Min'er didn't show any restraint at all, with a big sister's attitude and an air of complacency written all over her small face. Then she turned to Xu Shao Wen and said, "Wen Yuan, didn't you see me on the rostrum just now? I could have waved at you for half a day!"

  "Ah? This... I didn't really notice." Xu Shaowen smiled apologetically.

  "Hey, even if you didn't see me, your uncle Xu Shichang should have seen me, right?" Hu Min'er looked somewhat displeased and hit Xu Shaowen hard, "I was standing with Mr. Xu!"

  "Xu.....has Mr. Xu arrived?" Xu Shaowen was taken aback.

  "How can you call him Mr. Xu? He's your uncle, how impolite," Hu Min'er glared at Xu Shao Wen and then said, "Right, I guessed you didn't even see your own uncle. Now it's Mr. Xu who told me to come get you. Mr. Xu is chatting with my dad over there, he wants you to go over together."

  Kuo Sung-ling sighed and shook his head, looking at Hsu Shao-wen with a serious expression. "Wen-yuan," he said, "this is where you are wrong. You didn't even see your uncle when he came."

  Xu Shaowen handed the wine cup in his hand to Guo Songling, tidied up his military uniform, and after entrusting a few words to his fellow students, he was about to follow Hu Min'er to see Xu Shichang and Hu Mingyu. But at this moment, Hu Min'er said to Xu Shaowen again: "By the way, my father also wants to meet someone named Li Zhenning, it seems that you know him."

  Li Zhenning was standing behind when he heard Hu Min'er mention his name, and he was quite surprised. He quickly walked forward and said, "Ah? I am Li Zhenning."

  Xu Shaowen introduced him to Hu Min'er and said: "This is Li Zhenning, also known as Wenhan. He's a good friend of mine."

  Li Zhenning had a fascinated expression after seeing Hu Min'er, this rich young master, although he had received higher education since childhood, but his emotional expression was never ambiguous. And Hu Min'er was originally a little beauty, naturally attracting many eyes.

  "Hello, Miss Hu." Li Zhenning's gaze at Hu Min'er was filled with a fervent feeling.

  Hu Min'er felt that Li Zhen'ning's gaze was quite strange, but his fair and delicate appearance still made her feel good. She smiled shyly at Li Zhen'ning and said: "My father seems to know your father, so he asked me to invite you over for a chat."

  At this time, Guo Songling sighed and made a joke: "Oh my, you are all from noble families, it seems that we grassroots people can't keep up with you, you go ahead, leave the remaining red wine for us to deal with." After he finished speaking, he smiled and picked up the small table's red wine, pouring himself a cup, then downed it in one gulp.

  Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning followed Hu Min'er to the other side of the playground. Along the way, Xu Shaowen curiously asked Li Zhenning, "How does your father know Hu Mingyu?"

  Li Zhenning shook his head and said, "This is not clear to me. I have been studying abroad since childhood, especially after entering the military academy, I had even less time to return home. My father has many friends in both the military and political circles as well as in business, but I don't know most of them."

  From a distance, Xu Shaowen saw several people dressed in a dignified manner gathered together, among whom was Xu Shichang. Xu Shaowen felt slightly tense, after all, except for the last time at the tea house where he chatted with Xu Shichang, this was only their second meeting. Although Xu Shichang recognized him as his nephew, it was still uncertain whether it was out of politeness or not, and if things went wrong, he might end up being misunderstood as a sycophant.

  ——————

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