Before going to Jiang Hongshao's house for dinner, Luo Wei called him and asked about things about the game, mainly about the strategy for Age of Empires. Cheng Ran told him about the solutions to some of Shu Jiexi's fierce tricks.
"Wahahaha... In the end, there's not much of a trick. After all, Age of Empires is different from Warcraft and StarCraft. The latter two still require tactics, while Age of Empires focuses more on strategic accumulation and the careful deployment of resources. So I can't beat Shu Jiexi because he is more careful than me?"
Cheng Ran said, "That's about it. There are no invincible tactics, only invincible economy. With economy, you can use any tactics. It doesn't matter. Age of Empires is different from Warcraft and StarCraft. Age of Empires requires layout and accumulation with as few mistakes as possible in each period. In fact, there is a big imbalance in the types of troops, but the combination of multiple types of troops can make up for this imbalance. Strategy is the focus of this game. So if you want to rely on operations to let a unit defeat a country, don't even think about it for the masters. In the end, it still depends on the layout."
"It's really a great overview... Speaking of which, you seem to have a lot of experience, as if you've been playing for a long time, since you can talk like this."
"No way... Think more while playing, accumulate knowledge slowly, it's essentially an intellectual game..."
"That's too much." Luo Wei said, hesitating for a moment, "Jiang Hongshao's family is inviting us to dinner tomorrow. She's invited you too, right? I just found out that there are many people coming this time. Does Luo Kang, the president of West Coast Company, know about this? His grandson Luo Qin is back from Australia and said he will come tomorrow. There is also Gao Lin who is at the University of Mannheim in Germany. His father is Gao Xiuxian, the chairman of the Rongcheng Municipal Committee of the Zhi Gong Party, and he has a good relationship with Hongshao's family. There is also a person my mother has been talking about with me since I was a child. His name is Wei Weiqing. He is a few years older than us. Su Hongdou and the others all know him. His father is in the political and legal system. He was famous in the past. He was once one of the top students in No. 27 Middle School. Now he is studying at Jiaotong University. He is only a junior, but he has already participated in the school's scientific research projects and won scientific research awards..."
"Although there are many things to learn from meeting excellent people... But aren't there too many of these strong people who came here..."
After a pause, Luo Wei said, "Cheng Ran, we heard a rumor before, but the source is not certain, and it seems unlikely, so everyone tends not to believe it."
"Um?"
"But I think it's better to mention it. Jiang Hongshao was originally living well with her father in Shanhai. Her mother was most likely to go to the southern region that year, but at the last minute, she was transferred to Sichuan Province... Then Hongshao decided to study at Rongcheng No. 10 Middle School. We were very happy, as friends who usually see each other once or twice a year, and now we are in the same school, of course it's great... But I heard that her mother was transferred here for her, and she wanted her to stay in Rongcheng and be with her personally. Because Hongshao seemed to be involved in something over in Shanhai..."
At this point, Luo Wei's voice came, "It is said that she almost encountered danger. A troop stationed near Shanhai, which is affiliated with the General Assembly, mobilized manpower and material resources... Later, we returned to Shanhai with her and met you... Of course, Jiang Ge didn't tell us what happened to you back then, and we didn't intend to ask. Anyway, for her, big things will only avoid her... But, maybe... Jiang Hongshao's mother still has a grudge about that incident."
Luo Wei's words fell here.
But Cheng Ran knew that Luo Wei's family was very close to Jiang Hongshao's family. Because of the relationship between the two families, the Luo family was taken care of. And the special situation of his family made it easier to sniff out some clues.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it. It's just a meal... Anyway, see you tomorrow."
Hang up the phone.
Cheng Ran looked at the phone. Luo Wei's call was actually a disguised reminder to him. When the Shanhai 62 case broke out, facing the murderous Liu Zhiguo gang, Cheng Ran and Jiang Hongshao went over mountains and over ridges to track them down. Because Jiang Hongshao was involved, the commotion was actually huge. It turned out that in addition to what was seen on the surface, there was actually a lot of commotion underneath.
Luo Wei may not be very clear about the ins and outs of this matter, but Jiang Hongshao's family must know it very well, and a person like him must be no stranger to Jiang Hongshao's family.
In fact, it is understandable. If you put yourself in their shoes, not to mention that your own child is being implicated and put in danger, in reality, if someone becomes friends with someone who has poor grades, their family will be worried and intervene appropriately.
Cheng Ran could imagine that Jiang Hongshao's mother and family members did not have a good impression of him.
Jiang's mother supported Cheng Bin's investigation into the Lei Wei incident. This was a public matter. She made her voice heard in response to the threat of disrupting the normal economic order of Chengdu and becoming a social cancer in Chengdu. She promoted the implementation of the Lei Wei case and cracked down on the evil forces entrenched in Chengdu.
She supports the Cheng family in this matter, but this does not represent her personal attitude towards Cheng Ran.
And maybe at tomorrow's party, given Jiang's mother's strong character, she will use this family dinner to show her attitude towards Cheng Ran.
The true intention of the Hongmen Banquet was fully exposed.
…
"The chef from Ginkgo Restaurant who came to cook today, the food there costs tens of thousands of dollars, but it's only worth the price after it's cooked by him." Chen Huiyan smiled and brought out a basin of freshly washed fruit and placed it on the table.
Mother Jiang reached out and took a grape, saying, "We can do it ourselves, so why bother others to help us?"
"Come on, just your and Jingping's cooking skills, tsk tsk... I'm thinking about the guests who came today. How can they make a good meal? It requires a little talent, some nervousness and panic, and then calmness, and also the caution of adding ingredients, floating oil smoke and a heart that wants to make good things. Without emotion, it's like life. The food you make is soulless and tasteless."
Chen Huiyan smiled, "What else? Are you afraid of what people say about you? Don't worry, Chef Zhao is my old friend. He is on vacation today and is not on duty. Besides, he would not come here on weekdays no matter how much money he is offered. He doesn't care who you are. He won't bow down to the rich and powerful. Anyway, whoever goes to Ginkgo to eat his dishes is a well-known figure. Chef Zhao came here today just for my sake... just for a friend."
"You are so proud of yourself!" Jiang's mother smiled. "Are you more likely to say that you have convinced me and I am at your feet?"
Chen Huiyan pretended to be surprised, "It's a normal incident. Is it strange?"
Some guests had already arrived. Li Jingping was sitting with others in the small courtyard outside facing the river, basking in the sun, drinking tea and chatting in front of a garden table surrounded by low bushes. From time to time, there were sounds of laughter.
Chen Huiyan looked back at Jiang Yueqin, a hint of mischief in her eyes, "Speaking of which, Lao Luo, Lao Gao, and Wei Zhonghong are all old friends. But why were you so proactive in calling the kids over this time?"
Chen Huiyan looked at Jiang's mother, whose expression remained calm as she peeled the grapes in front of her. Her movements were very graceful and gentle, but she peeled the grapes with great care and strength, without any sloppiness. She peeled the grapes with just the right amount of force, without a single piece of skin breaking. Soon, an almost transparent grape was peeled out, and she put it in her mouth. "They are all good kids. Let Hongshao and the others get along with each other, see the advantages and strengths of others, make friends with excellent people, and reflect on themselves."
Chen Huiyan stared at Jiang's mother and laughed, "Come on, Old Jiang... Based on my decades of understanding of you, this is not the real reason."
"The real reason... is just like the student union president in our university who claimed to be extraordinary but was beaten to such a low point by you that he avoided you whenever he saw you..."
"I think you want to... break his edge and sharpness."