Xie Nan spoke with her head tilted slightly, at the same angle as Su Xiaocao, who was looking at Su Xiaotian.
Another Teacher Zhao from Beijing University, who was sitting nearby, happened to see this and said curiously, "Teacher Xie, you and this Teacher Su look quite like a pair of sisters from the side."
Teacher Zhao was seated directly opposite them.
Hearing Teacher Zhao's comment, other teachers nearby also looked over.
"It's true, they don't look very alike from the front, but from the side, they look identical."
Identical?
Su Xiaotian was curious and ran over to stand opposite them.
Su Xiaocao's gaze followed Su Xiaotian. By the time Su Xiaotian got there, she could no longer see their profiles from the same angle.
"Sister Xiaocao, why did you turn around? Turn back a little."
Su Xiaotian urged Su Xiaocao.
Teacher Xie Nan said, "Stop fooling around, Xiaotian. Go and attend to our guests. I'll take care of Xiaocao."
Su Xiaotian had to leave regretfully to attend to other matters.
As for the people at this table, they all knew each other, except for Su Xiaocao, and spoke much more casually.
"Teacher Xie, you and this Teacher Su, aren't you perhaps separated sisters?" Teacher Zhao still felt they looked very much alike.
"How is that possible! My parents passed away over thirty years ago, and Teacher Su looks no older than twenty." Xie Nan paused her movements and laughed it off.
"Teacher Su, how old are you this year?" Teacher Du asked curiously.
"I am twenty-four this year." Su Xiaocao felt no malice from these teachers and replied with a gentle smile.
No one noticed that when Su Xiaocao said she was twenty-four, Teacher Xie Nan suddenly stiffened and subconsciously looked up at Su Xiaocao.
She looked at the profile of the young girl in front of her, which seemed somewhat similar to her own profile picture.
Could it be...
Teacher Xie Nan dared not continue thinking. How could such a thing happen?
No, it wouldn't.
"Twenty-four years old! Are you married?" Teacher Du didn't know how much Teacher Xie Nan's heart was shaken by this question. She continued, "Do you have a family?"
"Not yet. I've only graduated for two years, and I want to focus on teaching while I'm young."
Su Xiaocao continued to speak softly, her voice gentle and pleasant, the kind that easily wins people over.
"No wonder you're so young and already here in Beijing for training. You must be an excellent teacher," Teacher Zhao praised. "However, you shouldn't neglect your personal life. A girl's prime age is only a few years."
Su Xiaocao thanked Teacher Zhao politely.
The conversation gradually shifted from Su Xiaocao to other topics.
Su Xiaocao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Although she handled it calmly, she was actually very nervous.
Now that these university teachers were no longer concerned about her personal matters, Su Xiaocao felt more at ease.
She preferred to be an inconspicuous presence and didn't want to attract too much attention.
Beside her, Xie Nan couldn't help but glance at the young girl every so often.
"Xiaocao, try this, it's quite good."
"Xiaocao, this dish is a specialty of Yiming Pavilion. Try it and see if you like it!"
Teacher Xie Nan kept serving Su Xiaocao dishes, taking excellent care of her throughout the banquet.
Su Xiaocao was flattered and overwhelmed. She had previously worried that people in Beijing would look down on those from the countryside.
She never expected that people in Beijing would be so warm and attentive.
Su Xiaocao's courage grew a little.
"You are doing very well. Have you considered pursuing further studies?" Xie Nan asked.
Su Xiaocao was taken aback and smiled shyly, "Xiaotian suggested I could take the postgraduate entrance exam. But I don't think I can."
"Give it a try. No one is inherently capable; I think you're doing great," Xie Nan encouraged Su Xiaocao with a smile. "If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to me."
What?
Su Xiaocao looked at Xie Nan in disbelief.
Even someone she had just met was suggesting she take the postgraduate entrance exam?
Should she really try?
Xie Nan took out paper and a pen from her bag and quickly wrote down a string of characters, then folded it and handed it to Su Xiaocao.
"This is my address and phone number."
Su Xiaocao took the paper, still looking bewildered.
They had just had a meal together, and they had become this friendly?
Just then, Su Xiaotian came over and saw this scene, also looking surprised.
Although Teacher Xie Nan was outwardly cold but inwardly warm, she wasn't usually this enthusiastic, was she?
After all, Teacher Xie Nan and Sister Xiaocao had only just met.
But to be favored by Teacher Xie Nan was also a blessing for Sister Xiaocao.
After all, in Beijing, besides her own family, Sister Xiaocao didn't know anyone else.
At this moment, Su Xiaotian saw Teacher Yu again.
Teacher Yu didn't seem to be married, and she didn't know if he had a partner. Should she introduce Sister Xiaocao to Teacher Yu?
But if Sister Xiaocao didn't take the postgraduate entrance exam and stayed in Beijing, she would have to return. Finding a partner in Beijing was too far away.
Never mind, Sister Xiaocao would be training at Seventh Middle School for a few months anyway. If they were meant to be, she wouldn't have to worry about it.
While Su Xiaotian was contemplating, Teacher Yu approached and greeted her.
"You're getting prettier and prettier, young lady. Why don't you come back to school to visit?" Teacher Yu said with a hearty laugh. The young girl had become quite famous in school back then.
She was a little girl, and she felt like she couldn't even defeat her. She originally thought she would go to a military academy, but who knew she would end up studying Chinese Language and Literature at Beijing University.
When Teacher Yu heard the news, he sighed, thinking it was a waste of a good talent.
"Hello, Teacher Yu. I'm busy, but my sister will be training at Seventh Middle School for a few months. Please take care of her." Su Xiaotian smiled and gestured towards Su Xiaocao.
Teacher Yu laughed, "No wonder I felt she looked familiar when I saw that lady. She's a teacher from our school participating in the training."
When he felt she looked familiar, he thought it was an illusion. It turned out he had seen her before, but it was only a fleeting encounter, so his memory wasn't deep.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." After saying that, Teacher Yu perhaps felt he hadn't expressed it quite right, so he added, "Our school has a very good atmosphere, and no one will bully new training teachers."
Su Xiaotian smiled and nodded.
"Xiaotian, your family is busy today, so we'll be leaving now. We'll visit again another day." Director Li had already bid farewell to Su Xiaotian's elders.
Su Xiaotian saw them out and waved goodbye.
At this moment, many guests were preparing to leave, including quite a few who had come specifically to see Su Xiaotian. Su Xiaotian had to see each of them out.