Wang Yue figured that if two people could have a measure of affection, Wang Manni's was at least over 90. He was quite pleased, and didn't stand on ceremony with her. He went to the restaurant with her.
The dining room in the Neptune's ordinary-class cabin had window-side tables on both sides that required reservations, so the two of them could only sit in the middle. With their view blocked, there was no way to enjoy the sea on either side.
For some reason, Wang Manni had a lot she wanted to tell Wang Yue today. Once the pasta and steak they'd ordered arrived, she said with some regret, "Mr. Wang, you have no idea. The place where I work sells luxury goods to rich people. I used to think I was very close to them.
But this ship has taught me something: each deck is its own class, and it's really hard to cross that divide.
I used to think I was close to that world, but it was all an illusion. At most, I'm just a servant to the rich."
Wang Yue wanted to tell Wang Manni that his predecessor Huang Chao had said long ago that it was much easier to break into Chang'an than to pass the imperial exams and enter it. It had always been that way.
But that had happened at the end of the Tang dynasty, and it didn't fit Wang Yue's persona, so he could only explain it another way.
"Class divisions have always been deeply entrenched. Without several generations of effort, or some unexpected stroke of fortune, it's really hard to move up.
"So don't be in a hurry. If you start working hard now, maybe one day you'll make it into a higher class!"
Wang Manni thought he made a