Zhao Xianglan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Xianglan (赵向兰)
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Kindwater Village Educated Youth Dormitory
Occupation/Role	Educated Youth
Origin	West Lake
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Background / History

Zhao Xianglan had already been stationed at Kindwater Village for two or three years when Lin Yuzhu and the other new Educated Youths arrived. A native of West Lake, she was considered a half-fellow townswoman of Li Xiangwan. Before the newcomers arrived, Zhao Xianglan and Wang Xiaomei handled the dormitory's daily cooking. 9 12 22

She initially makes a favorable impression on Lin Yuzhu, Li Xiangwan, and Zhang Yanqiu by offering them the communal wooden foot-washing basin when they lack sufficient basins of their own. 10

Her conflict with Wang Xiaomei becomes open when Wang Xiaomei attempts to delay returning from work and leave Zhao Xianglan to cook alone. Zhao Xianglan publicly calls out Wang Xiaomei's behavior, refusing to let the arrangement become routine. 14

After Li Xiangwan and Lin Yuzhu move into separate houses, Zhao Xianglan loses access to the occasional meat, eggs, pickles, and other food she had received from Li Xiangwan's cooking. This contributes to her resentment toward their improved living conditions. 18 19

Personality

Zhao Xianglan is highly conscious of her public image. She commonly presents herself as gentle, reasonable, and conciliatory, offering mild words of mediation while avoiding direct responsibility for escalating disputes. 21 31 36

Behind that image, she is calculating and resentful. She recognizes Wang Xiaomei's impulsiveness and deliberately provokes her with carefully chosen remarks, allowing Wang Xiaomei to act as the visible aggressor while Zhao Xianglan remains outwardly uninvolved. This pattern contributes to Zhang Yanqiu's humiliation and eventual suicide attempt. 19 22

Her envy is particularly focused on Li Xiangwan and Lin Yuzhu, whose family support, food, and independent houses make her feel comparatively deprived. She takes satisfaction in fostering Zhang Yanqiu's jealousy of them and encourages suspicions about their relationships with male Educated Youths. 30 35

Zhao Xianglan is also emotionally invested in Zhou Nan. Her interest makes her suspicious of Lin Yuzhu's ordinary interaction with him and drives her to seek opportunities to approach him in town. 13 35 46

Relationships

• Li Xiangwan — Half-fellow townswomen who initially appear close. Zhao Xianglan benefits from Li Xiangwan's food and later resents her move out of the dormitory; their relationship remains largely superficial. 9 19 31
• Wang Xiaomei — Former meal partner and frequent target of Zhao Xianglan's subtle manipulation. Zhao Xianglan exploits Wang Xiaomei's temper while preserving her own favorable reputation. 14 19 22
• Zhang Yanqiu — Zhao Xianglan cultivates Zhang Yanqiu as a confidante, encouraging her bitterness toward Li Xiangwan, Lin Yuzhu, and Wang Xiaomei. 29 35
• Lin Yuzhu — Initially leaves a good impression on Lin Yuzhu, but later draws her suspicion for indirectly worsening Wang Xiaomei's reputation and manipulating conflicts. 10 19 21
• Zhou Nan — Zhao Xianglan is visibly pleased when he joins her work group and develops a strong private interest in him. 13 35 46
• Dong Mimi and Dong Tiantian — Their dispute over scrap furniture turns violent; the sisters assault Zhao Xianglan, after which they agree to compensate her with five yuan and an old hen. 48 49

Story Role / Major Arcs

Dormitory Conflicts

Zhao Xianglan participates in the early disputes over privacy, cooking, and communal responsibilities at the Educated Youth Dormitory. Though she correctly refuses to let Wang Xiaomei evade cooking duties, her later conduct reveals that she is willing to manipulate conflicts for her own advantage. 9 14 19

Manipulation of Wang Xiaomei and Zhang Yanqiu

As Li Xiangwan becomes less dependent on the dormitory, Zhao Xianglan loses both companionship and material benefits. To maintain her good image while isolating Zhang Yanqiu, she incites Wang Xiaomei against Zhang Yanqiu through indirect remarks. 19 22

Following Zhang Yanqiu's injury during the harvest, Zhao Xianglan emphasizes that the back-courtyard Educated Youths have not visited her, deepening Zhang Yanqiu's resentment toward Lin Yuzhu and Li Xiangwan. 35

Rumors and Jealousy

Zhao Xianglan joins Zhang Yanqiu and Dong Mimi in discussing rumors that Li Xiangwan receives favors from men. She privately enjoys Zhang Yanqiu's jealousy and hopes someone will act against Li Xiangwan and Lin Yuzhu. 35

When Li Xiangwan confronts Zhang Yanqiu over the rumors, Zhao Xianglan attempts to dismiss the matter as a misunderstanding and postpone discussion rather than address the accusation directly. 36

Scrap Furniture Dispute

Zhao Xianglan organizes the acquisition of damaged solid-wood furniture from the Scrap Station, excluding Lin Yuzhu and Li Xiangwan from ownership because they already have furnished homes. She nevertheless expects others to help carry the heavy items back. 47 48

Her disagreement with the Dong Sisters over repair costs and ownership escalates into a physical fight. Zhao Xianglan attempts to defend herself with a shovel but is restrained, struck in the face with a broken stool, and left bleeding. 48 49

The broken table she brings back ultimately contains a hidden compartment full of Little Yellow Fish, which Li Xiangwan discovers and secretly takes. 50

Notable Quotes

“You think you're so noble? Then why did you come all the way to the countryside to be Educated Youth?” 48