The plan was finalized, Ning Xi left the room, and Wen Liang lay alone in front of the French window, watching the starry sky merge into Victoria Harbour, the birds chirping, the fish leaping, and the boats sailing. It was a place that seemed better than a fairyland, but his heart seemed like an ice field that had experienced thousands of years of wind and frost. Apart from the cold wind like a knife, there was no warmth at all.
Still too slow...
In the past two years, Wen Liang has used almost all his efforts to develop rapidly, but despite this, he still cannot keep up with Ning Xi's pace. However, in just two years, the position she is in and the opponents she has to face are far beyond the level that Wen Liang can interfere with and participate in.
It is true that he is a reborn person, but rebirth is not omnipotent. After all, human power is limited. One cannot turn dirt into gold, sow beans into soldiers, or shake the turtle's spirit to catch all the talents in the world. Without background and resources, without connections and power, every step must be carefully considered, fearing that one careless move will lead to a complete loss. Of course, he cannot be compared with the prosperous Ning family.
So today, when Ning Xi was fighting, struggling, and facing the impending bloody storm, Wen Liang could only step back, hide in the dark, and watch from the sidelines.
He didn't like it, but he couldn't do anything about it!
The wind is rising outside the window, the moon is setting in the west,
There is someone lying alone in the room, feeling sad and depressed!
The next morning, Ning Xi went to the 17th floor to command a new wave of attacks against the Thai baht. Shen Jia temporarily changed his job to become a tour guide, and took Wen Liang, Xu Yao and others to stroll around Pearl City. Although the people had just returned and people were unsettled, with the joint efforts of the central government and all sectors, the social order was not turbulent at all, but more harmonious and stable than before. In the next seven days, the group watched the scenery on the Peak, ate in Causeway Bay, shopped in Tsim Sha Tsui Central, watched the flags at Golden Bauhinia Square, played at the beach in Repulse Bay, experienced the splendor of local culture in Temple Street, and appreciated the charm of European style in Stanley. They had a great time.
The small city of Mingzhu is an important window connecting the inland area, which has gone through many hardships and has just opened its eyes to the world, to the outside world. It is also a stranger with the same clan and ethnicity but completely different culture and thinking. Seven days is just a cursory look. If you want to understand it in depth, you can only find a suitable opportunity next time.
On the eighth day of coming to Mingzhu, Xu Ting finally had the day off to go out, and they made an appointment at a famous snack bar on Sunning Road in Causeway Bay. Wen Liang, Xu Yao, and Chang Cheng went to the appointment, while Ji Su stayed in the hotel to watch TV and rest. Ning Xiaoning pestered Ning Xi to go to the seventeenth floor, where she came into close contact with the cruelty and beauty of the financial world for the first time.
When they arrived at Causeway Bay, Xu Ting was stuck in traffic and arrived a step late. Wen Liang and the others had found seats, but Xu Yao was still a little nervous and kept looking outside the door, as if she was going to meet someone else instead of the brother she grew up with.
Wen Liang sensed Xu Yao's emotions, poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her, smiling, "Trust me, don't worry."
"Yeah!" Xu Yao nodded, put her hands around the water cup, lowered her head and took a sip, letting her mood slowly calm down. Wen Liang's words were still valid. Since he said it was okay, then it must be okay.
Twenty minutes later, Xu Ting opened the door and strode in. After not seeing him for more than a year, time seemed to have left some traces of vicissitudes on his face. He was no longer as high-spirited as before, but had a hint of tranquility and solemnity. Xu Yao stood up, his hands hanging in the air, his fingers unconsciously bent and stretched, looking at his brother and not knowing what to say.
Xu Ting came closer, a gentle smile appeared on his chiseled face, he stretched out his hands to hold Xu Yao in his arms, and after separating them, he compared her head and said, "You've grown taller..."
Xu Yao tilted her head up slightly, tears instantly welling up in her bright eyes, and said, "Brother!"
Xu Ting smiled at her, then turned to look at Wen Liang with a complicated look in his eyes. After a moment, he finally calmed down, extended his hand, and said kindly: "Hello, President Wen, welcome to Mingzhu."
It seems that although Xu Ting is far away in Mingzhu, he is not completely ignorant of what happened in Qingzhou. However, just from the name, we can tell that maybe the two of them don't have to fight as soon as they meet, but they still have a long way to go before they can put aside their past grudges and become friends.
Wen Liang shook his hand gently and said, "I heard from Xu Yao that Brother Xu got a promotion. I wanted to come over to congratulate him a long time ago, but I was busy with trivial matters and couldn't find the time. Please forgive me."
"That's too much!"
Xu Yao was standing nearby. The moment when Xu Ting and Wen Liang looked at each other seemed as long as several hours to her. Her heart was so nervous that it almost jumped out of her throat, for fear that the scene of their first meeting would be repeated.
It was not until the two shook hands and made peace that I finally put my mind at ease. Although the way Mr. Wen and Brother Xu addressed each other might not be very familiar, it was moving in a good direction after all, wasn't it
Xu Ting shook hands with Wen Liang and then separated. Xu Ting turned around and punched Chang Cheng on the shoulder, saying with a smile, "Hu Zi, how are you?"
"Boss!" Chang Cheng stood at attention and saluted. He knew Wen Liang's character and heart very well, and knew that Wen Liang would not be suspicious of him just because he was close to Xu Ting, so he did not hide his excitement.
"We've all been transferred to civilian jobs, so you don't need to salute me, and don't call me Boss. Just call me by my name or Brother Ting."
Xu Ting had learned from Ning Xi's elder brother Ning Hai that Chang Cheng was now working with Wen Liang, so he was not surprised that he was here. After saying hello, the four of them sat down separately. As the host, Xu Ting ordered several signature dishes, such as apricot juice pork lung soup, glutinous rice chicken wings, seafood steamed egg, abalone sauce chicken, radish cake and shrimp dumplings, etc. The taste was light, which was very different from Jiangdong cuisine, but it tasted unique and quite good.
During the meal, Xu Ting left the table and went to the bathroom. When he came out, he was washing his hands when Chang Cheng came in. Xu Ting washed his face, put his hands on the sink, looked at his wet face in the mirror, and said, "You didn't feel wronged following him, did you?"
Chang Cheng knew the knot between Xu Ting and Wen Liang, and he couldn't escape responsibility, so he said, "I'm not wronged... Boss, there are some things I don't have the right to say, but I feel guilty. I'm not sorry for you, but also for the boss. If it weren't for me, things might not have come to this. In fact, after all this time, I've come to know the boss, he's really not a bad person..."
Xu Ting raised his hand to stop Chang Cheng from speaking. Chang Cheng said anxiously, "Boss, I'm not speaking for the boss just because I'm working for him..."
"I know, Huzi," Xu Ting wiped his hands and face, and said seriously, "I have thought a lot during this period, and I have understood many truths. I don't care about the past. I am a married man, and I shouldn't be wishful thinking. I will not interfere with Yaoyao's relationship with him. I believe that they are so smart that they should be able to handle it themselves. As for you, Wen Liang was able to help you when you were in trouble. As your brother, I am grateful to him from the bottom of my heart."
"But that's all. We don't have to be enemies, but we don't have to be friends either. For Yaoyao and your sake, we can sit down and have a meal, drink a cup of tea, and chat casually. I don't want to hear anything else, and you don't have to say more." Xu Ting patted Chang Cheng's shoulder and said, "They must be waiting anxiously, go back."
Chang Cheng knew that once Xu Ting made up his mind, even if Ning Hai came, it would be useless, so he had to keep silent and followed him back to the room. After the two of them sat down, Wen Liang stood up, poured a glass of wine for Xu Ting, and said with a smile: "Brother Xu, this glass of wine congratulates you on your promotion."
Xu Ting sat there without moving. He took the cup and clinked it with his. He raised his head and drank it all in one gulp. He said calmly, "I am just a small battalion commander. I don't deserve such praise from President Wen."
The garrison in Mingzhu City is a mixed army, navy and air force organization, at the army level, with one army infantry brigade, one navy ship brigade and one air force aviation regiment under its jurisdiction. Under the infantry brigade, there is only one mechanized infantry battalion. Xu Ting is able to surpass all the others and become the commander of a battalion at this age. It is conceivable that after completing his service in Mingzhu and being transferred back to the mainland, his future in the army will be limitless, and he will be more than just an ordinary battalion commander.
Wen Liang poured another glass of wine and said, "This glass is to apologize to you for what happened in the past. I was young and ignorant, and my words were offensive. I hope that Brother Xu will be tolerant and not hold it against me."
Xu Ting was stunned for a moment. He had dealt with Wen Liang several times and had heard a lot of rumors about him recently. He knew that this man was very cunning and scheming. In Qingzhou and even in Jiangdong, he could attract many people's attention with just a stomp of his feet. However, he was so humble that he poured himself a glass of wine and admitted his mistake. It was really beyond his expectation.
When Xu Ting saw the desire and pleading in Xu Yao's eyes, and thought of his good sister who was fearless but was now paying attention to his expression as cautiously as a frightened bird, this iron man suddenly softened his heart.
The past is like the wind. Now that it has passed, it can never go back to the past. What's the point of worrying about it in vain and being crazy? Xu Ting sighed secretly. Not for anything else, just for the light in his sister's eyes to no longer be so dim, there is no need to continue this grudge. He stood up and said, "Mr. Wen, you are too serious. I have done something wrong in the past. Please don't take it to heart."
After finishing this glass, Xu Ting picked up the bottle and poured a glass of wine for Wen Liang. Without saying anything, the two clinked their glasses, smiled at the same time, and drank it in one gulp.
Brothers are there after going through all the hardships, and all grudges are forgotten with a smile.
Neither an enemy nor a friend,
Strangers on the left and right, each going his own way,
That’s enough!
After leaving the restaurant, Wen Liang and Chang Cheng got into the car first, while Xu Ting and Xu Yao lagged behind. Xu Yao held Xu Ting's hand and said, "Brother, are you not angry with me anymore?"
"Silly girl, how can a brother be angry with his sister?" Xu Ting rubbed her head and said, "Smile, be happy. My sister is a clever little princess. If you look sad all day long, be careful not to become ugly."
"Um!"
Xu Yao nodded vigorously. The midday sun shone on her cheeks, which were crystal clear and as white as jade. She was more beautiful than ever before! (To be continued)