Not everyone can meet someone who can give up all their reserve and prudence, suppress the current difficulties, and even put themselves in a more difficult situation, crossing mountains and rivers just to see you.
And if you are lucky enough to meet him in this life, it would probably be a blessing in three lives.
I had never met Cheng Ran in my previous life.
But now it seems like there is such a person right beside me.
Perhaps one of the best things in the world is that the person you used your savings to travel across the ocean to meet is also willing to do the same to you.
After coming out of the restaurant, Li Yun's expression was calm, except that the tip of her nose was a little red and her eyes were a little bloodshot. However, she still regained her capable image, and actually held the decision-making power for major investment projects at home and abroad. She was regarded by many people as a Buddha that was difficult to worship and unattainable.
Some emotions may occasionally arise just because of past experiences, but in fact, a heart that has been through many hardships can calm down quickly.
This is not a remembrance of the past, but a mood that has existed in life, a resonance caused by an opportunity.
But in fact, I know very well that I am no longer the same person as I was yesterday. Once I have walked a certain path, there is no turning back.
However, there was still such a young couple in front of them. Li Yun looked at Cheng Ran and said, "The singing was good, not impetuous, and it was like telling a story. He is a very down-to-earth guy."
Jiang Hongshao said from the side, "Aunt, he is not that down-to-earth."
Li Yun glared at her, ignoring her girlish joke, and looked at Cheng Ran and said, "It's better to not think about the protection of your family and take the initiative to jump around. If you can start a business or find a direction you like, it will be a rare gain at your age, and you may even benefit from it for the rest of your life. I heard that you opened a comprehensive online city with someone in Rongcheng. It has a promising future. You can experience running a business and accumulate management experience. It doesn't matter. Everything starts from small things. The wind starts from the end of the green duckweed, and the waves form between the ripples. The streams also continue to flow one by one, and then they merge into big rivers. Keep this mindset of exploring and doing everything... You will achieve great things in the future."
Cheng Ran nodded, "Okay."
Jiang Hongshao and Li Yun were staying at a hotel a block ahead. Cheng Ran sent them there. The atmosphere in the air was difficult to understand. Li Yun saw it and said at the end, "I really have to go out to do something tomorrow, so I won't accompany you. You still have a lot of attractions to visit, so go and have fun by yourselves."
Cheng Ran looked very embarrassed, and in his heart he wanted to clap his hands to welcome her. But when he thought of Li Yun's habit of keeping her word, he quickly watched her carefully and reminded himself that this girl was unreliable.
When I returned to K Street at night, I felt that this day was really meaningful. Jiang Hongshao, who was sleeping in her room, also couldn't sleep for a long time.
The next day, when Cheng Ran saw Li Yun and Jiang Hongshao appear downstairs of the hotel at the same time, he almost wanted to say "fuck you".
Li Yun came with a box in her hand and said to the two of them, "Something happened suddenly. I have to fly over. I asked someone to accompany you. She may arrive in the afternoon. Her name is Sister Chen. She is my assistant in the United States."
As she spoke, Li Yun put the box in the trunk of her Lincoln, got in the car, gestured to the two of them, and drove away.
When Li Yun's car really drove away from the block, Cheng Ran looked at Jiang Hongshao. Jiang Hongshao looked at Cheng Ran with a smile, and then she said, "Thank you for your guidance today, Cheng Ran."
Cheng Ran stepped forward and took her hand. Not satisfied yet, he turned it over and hooked his five fingers through the gap, finally getting it straight and fair, "Student Jiang, same to you."
Holding Jiang Hongshao's hand, they walked for a while, past the low buildings, into the open square, and into the bright sunshine. Today, Jiang Hongshao changed into a light green shirt and a plaid jacket, with jeans and sneakers. Cheng Ran said, "Yesterday's clothes were actually pretty nice. Why do you change so often?"
Jiang Hongshao took his arm, half leaned against him, glanced over, and said, "If you want to change, change it. Don't say anything."
Today was a complete two-person space. Cheng Ran had a SLR camera hanging on his chest, and Jiang Hongshao accompanied him to finish visiting the Air and Space Museum that he had been longing for. There was the Wright brothers' first airplane, mankind's first rocket, the "Apollo" lunar module, the first generation of fighter jets to the space shuttle, as well as China's kites and rockets... After coming out, they went to visit the Capitol. Under those solemn and dignified buildings, Lao Jiang made movements and gestures in the camera viewfinder. She was not very skilled, and sometimes she needed Cheng Ran's instructions. At this time, she was a little clumsy, but she jumped and moved in front of the camera to adjust, and soon understood Cheng Ran's intention, smiled, and clicked.
I have to admit that the quality is so good. It doesn’t matter what the background is, it looks so good.
Cheng Ran took photos in various styles, satisfying his photography addiction. To be interested in photography, there is only one thing, which is to see that his own works are up to standard and beautiful enough. So Cheng Ran never gets tired of it.
They visited the Capitol, took photos outside the FBI building which was not visible from the outside, bought popsicles at a street-side ice cream shop, held hands and walked together to eat egg rolls. Occasionally, Cheng Ran raised the camera, and Jiang Hongshao turned to face the camera, tilted her head, and playfully put her scissors hand between her cheek and eyes.
At noon, the two of them ate at an American hamburger restaurant. Lao Jiang and Cheng Ran were as brave as men, each holding a big hamburger. They didn't seem to be aware of their image because they ordered different flavors. She asked, "Is yours delicious?"
Cheng Ran handed her the half-eaten burger. She was stunned for a moment, still a little disgusted, but she found the best place to bite it.
Seeing Cheng Ran's gaze, Jiang Hongshao reached out to break off half of the burger in her hand, but Cheng Ran shook his head, "I won't eat food given out of pity."
Jiang Hongshao sighed and handed the burger over. Cheng Ran took a bite of it and smiled. His previous stubbornness instantly disappeared. Jiang Hongshao frowned and looked at the big gap. Her cheeks puffed up and her mouth pouted. But when she saw Cheng Ran's smug look, she couldn't help but smile again.
But after walking around for a whole day, perhaps because Lao Jiang's aura was too strong, Cheng Ran didn't have the chance to make a move like he did yesterday. However, the feeling was still somewhat intoxicating. As early as the eve of junior high school graduation, Cheng Ran had said in a private meeting with Yu Xiao that she had breasts and a butt, and predicted that the future would only get better. Now his words have come true.
Tired from walking around, I sat in front of the Lincoln Memorial in the afternoon, looking at the woman squatting on the green lawn not far away to feed the seagulls. The sun was bright in Washington, but the air was cool. Cheng Ran looked at this scene deeply and finally understood what it meant to hope that time would freeze and no longer flow, which was mentioned countless times in literary works.
The Washington Monument stood tall in the distance beyond the reflecting pool. Next to the Lincoln Memorial also stood a small memorial park, which he and Jiang Hongshao had just visited. The simple little inscription there was engraved with data from the war that the United States named the Korean War. It read: DEAD.
The noise of those wars has faded away, and it has been many years now.
However, this world is still not as peaceful as it seems.
Just as Cheng Ran was looking at the profile of Jiang Hongshao who was feeding the seagulls in the distance and wishing that time would stop at this moment, a person suddenly appeared next to the bench. The man named Liu Gao was wearing a dark blue suit that was tailored by a famous craftsman and had no wrinkles at all. He had his hands in his trouser pockets and was looking at him quietly.
The sunlight was a little dazzling. Cheng Ran squinted slightly before turning his head to look at him.
The man named Liu Gao, whom Jiang Hongshao called cousin, withdrew his gaze from Jiang Hongshao's direction. Old Jiang, who was feeding the pigeons over there, obviously also saw him and was slightly stunned.
Cheng Ran didn't move. He sat on the bench, Liu Gao put his hands in his trouser pockets, and looked down from above.
There was a calm look in his eyes, without any emotion. He was not angry, but his expression was solemn. "Jiang Hongshao's aunt has left. We have intercepted the people she arranged. I will take over this matter."
After a pause, Liu Gao's tone was as gloomy as reinforced concrete. "That's it. Jiang Hongshao's family and her mother know about her meeting with you. I'm taking her away. We'll talk about your matter later."
Cheng Ran looked up at him, "We are classmates and very good friends. I think it's normal for good friends and classmates to have contact. Who are you?"
The meaning is very clear, no matter who you are, you are not qualified to point fingers at Jiang Hongshao.
Liu Gao's eyes widened slightly, and it was obvious that he was trying to suppress the anger in his heart, but his two protruding cheekbones were still tightened like a knife, and his voice was grim, "Little brother, you are too naive."
"I know you and who your father is. Let me put it this way, when you first came here, as an old-fashioned merchant, we also reminded your father about some things... How to do it better here, and how to benefit everyone..."
Cheng Ran immediately thought of the scene when Cheng Feiyang was here, when the "Chang'an Economic and Trade Association" with a strong background came over to "give some advice".
It's a done deal.
Liu Gao in front of him was also a member of the Chang'an Association. He was even a high-ranking official who could get well-informed information and was aware of Fu Long's lobbying for economic and trade activities here.
But it is not difficult to understand. Jiang Hongshao's family has a special background, so it is not surprising that they have a comprador like this.
Because there are quite a few people like this.
"It's not easy for your father's Fulong Company to lobby and build relationships here... It's also crucial, right? If anything goes wrong, do you think it will have a major impact on his company and even the future?"
"As Hongshao's elder, I don't mind her normal social life. But I'm afraid that some people who pretend to be classmates but actually have ulterior motives will lead her astray."
"After all, as her cousin, I have to share some of the worries her mother sometimes has."