Sitting at the table, one could sense the unusual atmosphere. Zhang Jing and Cheng Ran came in last, and people thought they were Zhang Jing's friends, but when they were in front of Li Jiaqian's family, who were also guests, they immediately felt a sense of bias.
You know, in the past, at the dinner table attended by the two families, joking about Zhang Jing and Li Jiaqian, a tall and graceful young man, was usually everyone's favorite topic, but now it is obviously not appropriate to do so.
Liu Yun immediately introduced Cheng Ran's background. He was Jingjing's classmate at the University of Science and Technology. He worked with Jingjing in the student union and came to have dinner on weekends. She also said that this is how it is for children to study abroad. Jingjing is happy to study in Nanzhou. Her family is close and she has a backer. She is not like Cheng Ran who came from another place to study and has to rely on her own training for everything. This statement mainly emphasizes that Cheng Ran and Jingjing work in the student union. But in fact, Zhang Jing told her about the club, but in her opinion, there is no difference.
So Yuan Yumei, who was sitting opposite, breathed a sigh of relief. When she saw this situation today, she was really shocked. She was different from Zhang Jing's family. Maybe Zhang Jing's family had guessed it at the beginning, but they gave their daughter as much space as possible and didn't ask. Yuan Yumei knew for sure that her son had dated Zhang Jing in high school, and how to get along with other girls. Yuan Yumei also gave her son some advice from time to time.
However, the two people's separation was partly the result of Yuan Yumei's persuasion.
Li Jiaqian went to Tsinghua University and Zhang Jing went to HKUST. In fact, the previous love affair that seemed like playing house should face reality to some extent. On the other hand, there was a storm involving Zhang Jing's father. At that time, Zhang Songnian made mistakes in his work. During that period, there were many ups and downs. Outsiders once thought that this deputy district chief would not last long, but he turned the crisis into safety and even took on the responsibility of developing the southern district. It is hard to say what level Zhang Jingjia will reach in the future, but it can be predicted that his career will be smooth in the future.
So when they learned that Cheng Ran was not the boyfriend that Zhang Jing brought home and that everyone agreed upon, they were relieved. Even if it was not that simple, at least it was not a foregone conclusion. With the old friendship between the two families and the little bits and pieces of the two children's past, maybe they would have the upper hand.
When Zhang Jing and Cheng Ran sat down, the dinner table was open and there was a lively scene. Zhang Jing had said to Cheng Ran before, "Don't worry about what everyone is talking about today, just eat! Just think of it as improving the food!"
Cheng Ran nodded seriously, "Okay, I'll feed myself first."
At the moment, Zhang Songnian at the table just glanced at Cheng Ran. It was obvious that his wife didn't know Cheng Ran's real situation at all from his introduction. Zhang Jing was the same. They both really thought that they came to him for school matters.
Zhang Songnian and Zhang Jing's uncle exchanged glances. Zhang Chenzu's expression was also very dull. He simply rolled his eyelids, meaning that he was also pretending to be deaf and dumb. It was obvious that Cheng Ran didn't want to steal the show except for them today.
Zhang Songnian was also disappointed and did not introduce Cheng Ran in a big way. If he were to go back, he would definitely speak loudly and might even proudly disclose the identity of this young man. At the moment, he was a little bit depressed, but he tacitly said to Cheng Ran, "Xiao Cheng, just treat it as home!"
After saying this, Zhang Songnian was still laughing. These words, which were calm but meaningful, were very refreshing to hear.
Cheng Ran smiled and nodded, stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of crispy soaked black fungus in front of him, and took a sip of the orange juice that Zhang Jing had poured in front of him. He had said a lot of things before, and his mouth was indeed dry and his stomach was rumbling, so he decided to start eating first.
In front of Zhang Jing's three aunts and seven aunts who were observing every detail, the impression was indeed different. In their opinion, Cheng Ran and Xiao Li had already met today, and the two boys would inevitably be privately judged and compared, upbringing, personality, conversation... Of course, it may not involve deeper family prospects, and it is not to this extent, but do you think the external impression is important? It is definitely important, because many times it is impossible to see a person's true heart over time, and most people believe that their life experience and experience can judge people carefully and observe people in detail.
From the beginning, the child of the Li family stood up straight, wore a high-necked sweater, had a lively look in his eyes, and was familiar with everyone. He greeted everyone and could respond to any conversation. When it came to the start of the meal, he was not in a hurry and discussed a difficult physics problem about the friction between a train and an object with Zhang Han who was asking for advice.
When his mother reminded him to eat, he picked up the chopsticks, rolled up his sleeves, revealing an exquisite watch on his arm, and with his knuckles as smooth as bamboo, he bent his arm and carefully picked up the ribs, chewing in small bites and speaking without showing his teeth.
A gentleman, always paying attention to his image, he would sit upright and talk to anyone who spoke to him. You could see that he was actually a little nervous and a little reserved, but in the eyes of the Zhang family, this reserve was actually a plus. It meant that you knew you were facing others as an object of scrutiny, and you wanted to maintain a good impression.
Cheng Ran didn't care. He just ate. There was a table full of delicious food. He would just pick up the dishes in front of him and eat his fill first. There was no such thing as being gentle, polite, courteous and modest. Of course, he was not exaggerating. He was just concentrating on eating normally.
It is not an exaggeration, but compared with Li Jiaqian's elegant conversation, it is two different things.
No one would have any negative comments about this young man surnamed Cheng, at most he looked honest. Li Jiaqian naturally belonged to another species. At least everyone privately judged that Li Jiaqian was a Tsinghua student, and with his good manners, he would definitely have a bright future. Cheng Ran, from the University of Science and Technology, was probably more suitable for hard work in scientific research. In a 20-year race, Cheng Ran would probably still be working diligently at his post, while Li Jiaqian would most likely have already set foot on the brocade blueprint. It seemed that Li Jiaqian was better at seizing various opportunities.
You can tell a person’s future at the age of three and his old age at the age of seven. In the dinner table culture, people often like to make predictions and judgements about people in this way.
The atmosphere at the dinner became heated and everyone was talking about everything. Only then did Li Jiaqian, who had taken care of Zhang Jing's entire family at the table, start communicating with Zhang Jing. Strategically, this is called first local and then central, first laying the foundation and then expanding territory.
You may not have thought about it this way before, but you did it naturally.
The atmosphere was just right at this time, and I could chat with Zhang Jing and feel more relaxed.
"I still remember the flowerbed downstairs in your previous home. You buried the rain flower stones you picked up when traveling in the soil, saying that this would help grow stones. But later on, you searched for them and found that one of them was missing. You cried at that time..."
"In our second year of high school, we went out to play on Christmas. You and Chen Yanyun went to the gift street to buy things. We met some hooligans, so a group of us boys approached them. If they hadn't walked fast, we would have definitely beaten them up..."
This is a memory killer! No matter what the two of them had, Li Jiaqian said that it was hard for Zhang Jing not to think of those years. After all, they were the things they had experienced together. He had waited for her downstairs of her house, they had taken the bus together, someone had walked with her on the cold night during evening self-study, a group of friends were talking and laughing beside them, the quiet moon, some memories were there, the memories were chilly, but the heart was immersed in them.
Everyone could see what was behind Li Jiaqian's words to Zhang Jing. If it was a normal gathering, it might not matter, but looking at Cheng Ran sitting next to Zhang Jing at this time, everyone felt awkward from any angle.
Yuan Yumei is very satisfied with her son. After all, a top university is a place that trains people. His emotional intelligence is high in all aspects, so there is no need for her to remind him of some things.
Zhang Han and Zhang Qiao both cast a look at Cheng Ran, which probably meant that Cheng Ge, it was not Zhan's fault! It was really unreasonable to follow the first come first served rule.
Zhang Songnian and Uncle Zhang Jing, who had seen through the situation, looked at Cheng Ran and found it funny. However, they were also happy to see the situation develop. They wanted to see how Cheng Ran would respond and maybe learn more about his attitude towards his daughter Zhang Jing. So the two old foxes turned a blind eye and did not intend to lend a helping hand.
In the eyes of others, it was no less than facing an execution scene, but on this kind of battlefield, the winners always have sweetness and the losers are heartbroken. Even some kind-hearted aunt Zhang Jing felt that Cheng Ran must be feeling the cold wind and the cold water all over his body at this moment.
Later, when Cheng Ran got up and went to the toilet, he looked like he had abandoned his weapons and fled in defeat.
The momentum is here. A person's conversation and manners, this kind of external expression is also a kind of strength. If this is an interview in a multinational company, Li Jiaqian will definitely be in a comfortable and pleasant state chatting with the interviewer, and Cheng Ran will definitely suffer a one-sided defeat.
After leaving the private room, Cheng Ran walked out of the restaurant because it was very big and the toilet was quite far away. He had to walk around two corners. On the way, he replied to a few text messages on his mobile phone. He then made a call outside to Li Mingshi, saying that he and Zhang Songnian from the South District were already having dinner and that he could help him ask about the industrial park issues later.
After hanging up the phone, Cheng Ran walked into the room.
The atmosphere inside was warm and there was constant laughter.
When they walked in, Li Jiaqian was the focus, and everyone was listening to what he was saying attentively. Cheng Ran came in and interrupted the atmosphere. Zhang Jing's uncle and aunt glanced at Cheng Ran, and exchanged glances with the women present. Zhang Jing's mother Liu Yun felt that this young man who had left after staying outside for half a day on the pretext of leaving must be depressed and looked a little pitiful.
Zhang Jing's cousins were listening attentively to Li Jiaqian, while Zhang Jing looked at Cheng Ran who had returned from the bathroom, with an incomprehensible smile curving at the corner of her mouth.
Cheng Ran sat back down. It was the time when Li Jiaqian stopped talking. Zhang Songnian and other men had strange expressions. They looked at each other. Uncle Zhang Jing smiled and said, "You are right... Tsinghua students are different. The way you cultivate international perspectives... is very special."
This is an affirmative tone.
Li Jiaqian's father was obviously being modest. "Hey, your stuff is so abstruse that I don't understand it." At this time, his wife glared at him and said, "You are an old antique! What young people are exposed to now is outdated..."
Zhang Songnian nodded, "You are the pillars of the country. It is feasible to fully learn from foreign advantages, give full play to your own strengths, and improve your competitiveness. But you should pay attention to the fact that a gentleman is a friend but not a party. It is precisely because you are in the best university in the country and you want to do things and have a lot of resources to do things. I believe you can also accomplish a lot of things, so you must be more realistic. In the future, you will all be outstanding talents scattered in various industries, but you must adjust yourself first, be down-to-earth, and do your part well. As for national contribution, in fact, working for the country for 50 years in good health is the best contribution."
This is a profound statement. Zhang Songnian probably thinks it is a high evaluation of a younger generation.
So what are they talking about
It was his cousin Zhang Han who couldn't wait any longer. He turned around and spoke to Cheng Ran, who had missed the conversation, with a look of "you definitely don't know" on his face, "Brother Cheng, do you know the Rothschild family? Do you know the Bretton Woods system..."
"Brother Li and his friends at Tsinghua University are planning to set up an elite society modeled after the European and American elite societies. Alumni from Silicon Valley have responded to the idea and the society is called Tsinghua Tianxing Society. It's amazing..."
Eh…
Why does it sound so familiar
Cheng Ran finally understood where Zhang Jing's elusive smile came from when she entered the room.
Li Jiaqian met his gaze and nodded in greeting, looking reserved and noble.
Cheng Ran: “…”
Then he smiled and nodded to Li Jiaqian, "Come on, I believe you are qualified to compete for the rotating president."
No one understood what Cheng Ran was talking about.
Li Jiaqian was stunned for a moment, uncertain but tentatively asked, "How do you know the system we adopt internally?" This was actually the content he would expand on if anyone wanted to ask.
He frowned slightly, "Have you asked around, or do you have any friends in Tsinghua?"
Zhang Jing, who had been quietly looking at him and listening to his endless talk, finally spoke.
"because… "
“That’s our rudder.”