Dong Jiao Min Xiang is very famous in Beijings Hutongs, where it has carried the diplomatic history of China from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China and the founding of New China. Although it has now become a cultural protection zone, many former embassy sites of other countries have been preserved as cultural heritage and historical witnesses, standing there.

  The home of Mu Yangs grandfather was in a small alley off Dongjiaomin Lane, a rare small siheyuan in Beijing that covers an area of 300 square meters, which is now worth a lot of money.

  "Grandpa, playing chess." Muyang walked into the alley and saw his grandfather sitting outside the door playing Chinese chess with another old man.

  "Xiao Yang has arrived, Old Song, your grandson is here, this game is a draw, lets not play anymore, its time for lunch." As he spoke, the old man pushed the chess pieces, directly messing up the board.

  "Youre a sly old Xing, directly playing dumb, and yet you came out of the Supreme Court!" Grandpa scolded with a smile.

  "I used to work at the Ministry of Public Security before I joined the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate." The old man said with a hearty laugh and walked away.

  Mu Yang helped Grandpa pick up the chess pieces, "Grandpa, whats for lunch?" Facing the closest person to him, Mu Yang showed his childish side.

  "What would you like to eat? Let your Aunt Xue make it for you. By the way, your uncle and his family are all coming over at noon." said Mu Yangs grandfather.

  "Really? I havent seen my uncle for almost a month now. By the way, is Little Xi coming?"

  "Xiaoxi sister is also coming over." As he spoke, Grandfather carried the chess pieces into the courtyard gate, and Muyang followed behind with a small square table.

  Muyangs grandfather is Song Hongqi, who is over 70 years old and a veteran diplomat in China. He has served as ambassador to two countries and retired at the rank of deputy director-general. Muyangs grandmother was also a staff member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working as an interpreter. The couple fell in love and got together while working at their unit, and later had Muyangs uncle Song Xiquan and mother Song Xiuxiu.

  However, grandma left early, at that time, my eldest uncle was not yet married, and Mu Yangs mother was only 17 years old.

  After Grandpa retired, he lived here all the time. My eldest uncle originally wanted Grandpa to live with them, but Grandpa liked living in this old house by himself and thought it was comfortable. Later, my eldest uncle couldnt do anything about it, so he asked Auntie to take care of Grandpas daily life.

  Mu Yangs grandfather was a very humorous and knowledgeable person, but in life, he was never sloppy. Especially when it came to dressing up, even when playing chess with the old man at the door, he would wear a white shirt and black trousers, ironed and neat, sitting on a stool with his back straight, his hair combed without a single strand out of place. These were all habits left over from decades of diplomatic work.

  Since his mother passed away, Mu Yang would often come here. At that time, his eldest uncles family had not moved yet, and Xiao Xi would take him out to play, which actually reduced a lot of pain for Mu Yang from parting with relatives. Later, after his father remarried, Mu Yang went to boarding school, and almost every weekend was spent at his grandfathers house. He felt that this place was more like home than his own familys.

  Mu Yang placed the square table under the eaves of the house in the southwest corner of the yard, and walked directly into the kitchen. He saw Aunt Xue busy cooking and said, "Aunt Xue, youre busy! What delicious food are we having for lunch?"

  Aunt Xue saw that it was Mu Yang and smiled, saying: "Little Yang is here, you havent come for two weeks, right? Later your eldest uncle will also come over. Today Ive prepared a few more dishes, including the braised pork you like, which has been stewed for quite some time now. When we have dinner, itll definitely be cooked to perfection."

  Aunt Xue was a talkative person, in her 50s, a native of Beijing, with a husband and children at home, living a relatively happy life. Aunt Xue had been working for this family since Mu Yangs grandfather retired, nearly 10 years now.

  "Its done, your braised pork is even better than the one in the restaurant. Im glad I made it today, and Ill definitely have a few more bites later. By the way, my sister will be here soon, and shell probably fight with me for it," said Mu Yang.

  "Whats the rush, theres plenty to go around, enough for all of you to eat. Besides, your sister is already working, and shes still competing with you? Youre not a kid anymore." Aunt Xue continued to work with her hands as she spoke.

  "Shes still single, just like a kid, my sister doesnt even have a boyfriend, with her personality, men in Beijing cant handle her."

  As soon as Mu Yang finished speaking, he heard a cold hum from behind. Mu Yangs body trembled and his face immediately changed to a smile. He slowly turned around and sweetly called out: "Sister".

  "Hey, its been a month since we last met, and youre already gossiping about me behind my back. How could I not lose control? Tell me." Mu Yangs cousin, Song Xi, was standing there with her arms crossed, giving Mu Yang the cold shoulder, making his body feel chilly.

  Muyangs eyes rolled around and he said: "Has my uncle and aunt arrived? I miss them, Ill go out to welcome them." After finishing speaking, he turned around and ran outside.

  At the door, she took the fruit from her uncles hand and walked in with her aunt, holding hands. The warmth made Song Xi glance at Mu Yang coldly again.

  "Has Xiaoyang been busy with schoolwork lately? Its been a month since I last saw you," Auntie asked warmly.

  "Its okay, isnt the final exam in two months? Its a bit tight. Next year is mainly for internship, so all the coursework will be pushed to the second semester of junior year." Mu Yang replied.

  Mu Yangs eldest uncle is following his mother, but he has a few similarities with Mu Yangs mother. He is 50 years old and works in the administrative department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Two years ago, he was promoted to deputy director-general, but its estimated that he will go no further. After all, his age and seniority are already there. He has never been an ambassador for foreign affairs, and wanting to make further progress in administration is basically impossible.

  Muyangs aunt also works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, originally a translator, later became older and did training business in the Translation Department, now is a teacher at the Training Office, deputy department level.

  Whats more, Muyangs mother used to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before she passed away, this is indeed a diplomatic family.

  "Your internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs next year should be fine, but if you want to stay and work there, youll need to put in your own effort. Nowadays, the Ministry only recruits civil servants through unified examinations, and although they take in dozens of people each year, its extremely competitive - thousands of people competing for a single spot. Its very hard to get in. Generally, they only recruit civil servants with postgraduate degrees. If youre just an undergraduate, youll be at a disadvantage. The language requirement alone will be tough for you. To be honest, knowing just one language, English, wont make it easy for you to get recruited. I still think you should pursue a graduate degree."

  He likes his nephew very much, and has raised him like a son. However, when it comes to recruiting civil servants, he doesnt want to give Muyang any special treatment because Muyang still lacks some qualifications. If he were to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now, he would struggle greatly with the work, especially with language skills. Its already difficult for people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get ahead, so he hopes that after Muyang graduates with a masters degree, he will take the exam again and then things will be much easier.

  "Uncle, actually I also know Japanese."

  Auntie Xu Hui put down the fruit knife, handed the peeled apple to Mu Yang and asked: "I havent heard you mention it before, what level have you reached? If its just ordinary spoken language level, it wont be of much help with your civil service exam." This old translator still knew a thing or two about these things.

  "I think I should be able to pass the Professional Level 8 exam without any problem." Murong said confidently.

  Mu Yangs uncle and aunt were shocked, they can be said to have seen Mu Yang grow up, never heard that Mu Yang learned Japanese, you know, learning a language sometimes requires specialized training for several years to truly reach the standard oral level, its not like passing the sixth grade means youre fluent in a foreign language, there are many people who passed the sixth grade but cant speak a foreign language, and the Foreign Ministrys requirements for foreign language proficiency are absolutely professional-level, requiring proficient listening, speaking, reading, writing, and mastering a large number of vocabulary, so it is necessary to have professional-level language requirements.

  "Youre a professional level 8, but it seems like you havent even taken the test for professional level 8 English yet." Song Xi, my older cousin, said with a teasing tone while eating her peeled apple.

  At this time, Mu Yangs grandfather also walked in and said, "What is a professional eighth level?"

  "Grandpa, Mu Yang said he can pass the Japanese professional level 8 exam, but he hasnt even passed the English level 8 exam in his own major, do you believe him?" Song Xi continued to mock Mu Yang while talking.

  "Just try it and youll know, I remember youre studying Japanese, test him." Grandpa said with a smile to his granddaughter.

  "Im afraid hell lose face, since you said so, Ill really test him. If he gets roasted by your dear grandson later on, dont say that my granddaughter bullied someone." Song Xi stood up with a ready-to-go attitude and said to Mu Yang: "Dare to take the test?"

  "Whats there to be afraid of? Come on."

  Actually, Mu Yangs cousin Song Xi is only three years older than Mu Yang and also started working last year. However, she didnt enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She doesnt like the feeling of having a whole family in one unit, so she chose to stay at the university as a teacher. Now she is a teacher of French major at Beishida University, but her minor was Japanese during college. Although her Japanese level is not up to professional standards, she has also passed the sixth level.

  Song Xi is very fond of this younger brother, after all, there are only two children, and they cant be close, but sometimes there is a little jealousy, who made the parents treat Mu Yang as their own, Mu Yang eats apples and mom peels them, he wants to eat but has to peel himself, really dont know who is the biological one, so Song Xi always likes to bully him in front of his parents to satisfy his small revenge pleasure. In fact, outside, Song Xi loves Mu Yang the most.