Xiang Mingzhang was stunned. Isn’t it Chu Shichen
What does this nonsensical sentence mean
He pondered this sentence and found it strange. It did not sound like self-denial, but rather a denial from another person's perspective.
Xiang Mingzhang leaned closer and called out, "Chu Shichen?"
The face on the pillow was peaceful, his chest was rising and falling, and his long breaths carried a faint smell of alcohol. Chu Shichen was already fast asleep.
Xiang Mingzhang didn't get an answer. It was just an unconscious dream talk. Why bother thinking too much about it? He tucked the quilt for Chu Shichen and left the eye drops on the bedside table.
Returning to the executive suite opposite, Xiang Mingzhang held a video conference with the sales department and handled some official business remotely. After the meeting, he called Xu Liao.
No one called at home all day today. They were probably annoyed with him for being such an ungrateful person. When the call was connected, he said, "The old man is in the hospital. Go check what's going on."
Xu Liao, who was always taciturn, said, "I understand."
Before hanging up, Xiang Mingzhang suddenly said, "Also, help me with one more thing."
Beijing's autumn is bound to be full of strong winds. Chu Shichen was awakened by the sound of the wind in the middle of the night. The room was pitch black, making him unable to tell where he was for a short time.
I had several dreams during this sleep, all of which were about old times, as if I was afraid that he would forget them.
Chu Shichen couldn't sleep and was too lazy to move, so he lay in bed until dawn.
He got up, his shirt and trousers were wrinkled after a night of sleep, and he took a shower and changed into another set.
The meeting continued today and they met for breakfast at the cafe on the first floor of the hotel.
Chu Shichen was the last to arrive. He took a newspaper and pulled out a chair to sit next to Xiang Mingzhang. Meng Tao said, "Secretary Chu, I didn't order for you. Mr. Xiang said you like hot coffee and was afraid it would get cold."
"It's okay, I can do it myself." Chu Shichen opened the economic page and his eyes swept along the title from left to right, all the way to the seat next to him.
Xiang Mingzhang was wearing a black suit and a dark tweed tie, which made him look less dull. He said, "Have you rested enough?"
Chu Shichen replied: "Yeah."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Don't make yourself too tired."
The tiredness yesterday was not caused by fatigue. Chu Shichen covered it up by saying, "It's okay. It's just that the Maotai liquor was too strong."
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Since you broke your vow this time, will you drink again in the future?"
Chu Shichen decided to see the situation. Social occasions were inevitable. He turned over a page of the newspaper and when he looked up, he noticed two men pulling suitcases into the cafe.
One is Li Heng and the other should be his assistant.
Xiang Mingzhang also saw it and said while stirring his coffee, "He is also on a business trip to Beijing?"
This mobilization meeting has attracted much attention in the industry, and it is not uncommon to meet colleagues, but the meeting started yesterday, and there is no reason to miss the important content of the first day and join in the fun on the second day.
But coming to Beijing at this point was really a coincidence. After all, Beijing has mature corporate resources, and Duheng's scale is not enough to go to other people's territory to share a piece of the pie.
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Have you met recently?"
There was no need to explain it too clearly, Chu Shichen understood and said, "Everyone is busy, so meeting by chance is still considered a meeting."
Chu Shichen put down his coffee, left his chair and walked towards Li Heng. His appearance and figure were eye-catching, and Li Heng quickly saw him and exclaimed, "Yo".
Although they had a quarrel last time and even got physically involved, adults would not "break up" in a childish way. They would pretend to be nice. Chu Shichen said, "It looks like you. I was at the table over there just now."
Li Heng saw Xiang Mingzhang and said, "What a coincidence, are you on a business trip for the company?"
"I'm here for a meeting." Chu Shichen said generously, "I arrived yesterday and will leave tomorrow. How about you?"
Li Heng said generally: "I am also on a business trip."
Chu Shichen took the initiative to say: "It's convenient for us to stay in this hotel. Let's have dinner together if we are free in the evening."
Li Heng said: "Okay, no problem."
After saying hello, it was almost time to set off, and the hotel sent a special car to take them to the conference center.
The meeting lasted two days. The policy was initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and responded by the cultural and tourism bureaus and other departments of various provinces and cities. Representatives from each department participated, and they all had to speak on stage to some extent.
The core content of the project was discussed yesterday, so today's meeting was relatively relaxed.
The meeting room was kept quiet. The leader spoke slowly, taking a break after each sentence. He spoke for nearly an hour using three manuscripts. The echoes reflected off the walls, and it made my scalp tingle after listening for a long time.
Chu Shichen was focused, not because he had a strong will, but mainly because he had been listening to music with his father since he was a child. The hair on his head wasn't even completely gone yet, so how could he understand anything? Whenever he dozed off, he would be pinched on the face and flicked on the ears. When he got home, he would be punished to copy an article. This kind of patience was honed through hard work.
The phone was put on silent mode and the screen lit up.
Chu Shichen took a glance and saw that it was Xiang Yue's assistant, who had sent him more than a dozen messages in the past two days. He had no choice but to practice Tai Chi.
There must have been a lot of quarrels in the Xiang family. If Xiang Ruxu told his elders the truth, Xiang Mingzhang's crime would probably be even more serious.
Chu Shichen was worried and unbalanced at the same time. He could work hard and be willing to do so without complaint on official business, but he didn't like handling his boss's family affairs.
He is Xiang Yue's secretary, not Xiang Mingzhang's housekeeper.
As he thought about this, Chu Shichen glanced at the person beside him—Xiang Mingzhang, who was leaning lazily against the back of his chair, his right arm resting on the table, holding a pen and writing quickly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Chu Shichen listened attentively. The person on the stage was talking about the determination to promote regional integration, and he felt there was no need to take notes.
He looked around and saw Director Meng holding his chin without moving, and everyone else in the room was in a posture like a monk in meditation.
But Xiang Mingzhang's professionalism has always been reliable. Chu Shichen moved closer with an open mind. He lowered his eyes and saw that he had actually written a poem on the paper with his pen moving quickly.
Chu Shichen took the manuscript paper away, and it said "Praise to Subhuti" - All tricks are without beginning to understand emptiness, rain and flowers shake the earth to reveal the sharp edge. If you want to sit in silence, there is no place, walking alone in the vast universe.
This conference has driven people out of their Zen state.
Chu Shichen returned the manuscript to its original place and whispered, "Mr. Xiang, you are very free."
Xiang Mingzhang was not embarrassed at all. After finishing the poem, he drew a geometric shape in the blank space and began to design a new LOGO for Xiang Yue, saying, "Secretary Chu, I'm bored."
I already have excellent grades and have done sufficient preparatory work. I have mastered everything I should know at this stage. It seems like I am here just to get credits.
Chu Shichen thought of the poems by Xin Qiji in the company's calligraphy and painting exhibition hall and asked, "When was the painting "Pozhenzi" written?"
"Two years ago." Xiang Mingzhang stopped writing, "After the old man had a stroke."
Chu Shichen was quite surprised. The calligraphy was written with indignant strokes, as if the writer had a huge amount of resentment in his heart. But Xiang Xingzhao was sick, so why would Xiang Mingzhang have such emotions
Or is it that he lacks appreciation and has misunderstood
Chu Shichen was puzzled, and he thought he had no right to ask. If nothing unexpected happened, he would go back tomorrow. He said, "Old Xiang Yue has been sending messages. How are you going to deal with it when you go back?"
Xiang Mingzhang was very calm: "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Chu Shichen said: "Mr. Xiang knows that you lied about getting on the plane. If you confess, your family will be very angry."
Xiang Mingzhang knew clearly: "Are you worried about me?"
Chu Shichen's voice was hidden in the diffuse echo, secretive and pleasant: "Yes, I am worried about you."
Xiang Mingzhang suddenly paused his writing and put it on the white paper. Chu Shichen had been stubborn in such a romantic place like Wutong Path, but he admitted it in this hall where everyone was exhausted, which caught him off guard.
"Oh." Xiang Mingzhang pressed on, "How worried are you?"
Xiang Mingzhang was speechless: "What kind of measurement method is this? The button is so small that you can't even find it if it falls on the ground."
Mingming not only found it, but also kept it in the drawer and refused to throw it away. Chu Shichen did not expose Xiang Mingzhang, but pursed his lips and smiled helplessly.
After the meeting in the afternoon, Chu Shichen returned to the hotel and made an appointment with Li Heng in the evening.
The two met in the Chinese restaurant of the hotel. They started with family matters and then talked about Chu Shihui's internship in the company. Li Heng was not very clear about it because he had not had much contact with Chu Shihui recently.
The previous conflicts would have some impact to some extent. Feelings are private matters. Chu Shichen did not ask more questions and turned the topic to work.
"The meeting is over. We will go back tomorrow morning."
Li Heng said: "I have to stay for a few more days."
Chu Shichen picked up a vegetable and asked, "Are you busy with a new project?"
"I'm just busy doing nothing. I can't compare to your Xiang Yue." Li Heng laughed, "I came all the way here, so I might as well go shopping and buy some gifts for Xiao Hui and my aunt to bring back."
Chu Shichen said: "I haven't had time to buy it for her yet."
Li Heng joked, "Oh, then you'd better not buy it. What if you buy less than what I bought?"
The two of them pretended that their previous disagreement had never happened. Whether they were truly relieved or just pretending to be magnanimous, the atmosphere at the table was still pleasant.
After dinner, Chu Shichen took a stroll in the hotel lobby to digest his food. After going upstairs, he did not return to his room but rang the doorbell of the suite opposite.
Xiang Mingzhang had just finished talking with Meng Tao. There were several drafts scattered on the coffee table. He made a cup of hot tea and handed it to Chu Shichen, saying, "Have you met Li Heng?"
Chu Shichen said: "He is very tight-lipped and beats around the bush when it comes to official business."
If it was just an ordinary business trip, there would be no need to hide it. Xiang Mingzhang said: "In fact, even if it is related to this project, it doesn't matter. With so many companies competing, Du Heng can't even get a spot."
Chu Shichen thought of this, but Li Heng did not attend the two-day meeting. He said, "I went to the front desk to ask, and Li Heng used the hotel's special car during the day and went to Zhongguancun. What is that place?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Many technology companies are in Zhongguancun. It is normal for him to go there if he wants to do business or discuss business."
Chu Shichen pondered for a moment and asked, "Is Zhitian Innovation also here?"
Xiang Mingzhang said, "Yes."
The two people's eyes met under the light, shining brightly. At this point, no one continued to delve into the hypothesis. After all, there was not enough evidence, but they already had a rough idea of everything that might happen.
Chu Shichen finished the cup of tea, which moistened his dryness over the past two days, and said, "Nothing else, I'll go back to my room."
Xiang Mingzhang stood up and asked, "What time do we leave tomorrow morning?"
"Leave for the airport at 8 o'clock." Chu Shichen said, "Everything is arranged. Go to bed early. Good night."
Xiang Mingzhang didn't think he was very considerate, but he sensed that something was not right with Chu Shichen's trip to Beijing. He seemed vague and calm, as if he had something on his mind, or to put it superficially, as if he was unhappy.
He walked her to the door and asked tentatively, "You were reluctant to leave Nanjing, so why don't you want to go shopping in Beijing?"
The old memories were embarrassing. Chu Shichen didn't have a strong yearning, but he only yearned for one place. Unfortunately, it was too late, so he said, "Forget it, let's talk about it later when we have a chance."
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Where do you want to go?"
Chu Shichen answered almost word by word: "Tiananmen."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "That's not difficult. As long as you can get up, I can accompany you to watch the flag-raising ceremony tomorrow morning."
Chu Shichen's eyes lit up: "Really?"
Xiang Mingzhang thought it was not a big deal, and said with a smile: "Since we are doing a tourism project, it is reasonable to take a walk around."
Chu Shichen returned to his room, unable to sleep due to anticipation. He had read a lot of records about Tiananmen Square in newspapers and on the Internet, and finally he had the chance to see it with his own eyes.
At three o'clock in the morning, Chu Shichen had packed everything. There was a strong wind in the middle of the night and the temperature dropped by seven or eight degrees. He put on the coat that Aunt Tang brought him.
The corridor was quiet. Chu Shichen and Xiang Mingzhang went out together and called a taxi. The driver chattered all the way in Beijing dialect.
Jianguomen, Chang'an Avenue.
Chu Shichen muttered it three or four times over and got off the car at the destination. He felt like he was making a fool of himself, like a not very clever animal going down the mountain for the first time and getting lost on the colorful and vast road.
Fortunately, someone was accompanying him. Xiang Mingzhang said, "Follow me."
Chu Shichen followed obediently all the way, down the stairs, through security check, and through a long underground passage. When he stepped onto the ground again, the autumn wind was blowing hard, and he was already standing on Tiananmen Square.
There were a lot of people gathered in front, and Chu Shichen quickly caught up and stuck to the outside of the crowd. He was tall enough to see clearly that there was a tall flagpole standing right in front of him.
Xiang Mingzhang stopped beside him and whispered, "Get ready to raise the flag."
Everyone's eyes were focused on one place, but Chu Shichen raised his head and looked across the long street at Tiananmen Square.
The photo in the middle was so lifelike that Chu Shichen didn't dare to blink. He stood there, unable to move, with his heart in turmoil.
Suddenly, the national anthem played.
Chu Shichen's mind was buzzing with thoughts. What Director Qiu? What no way to appeal? What humiliation and threats...
The red flag was thrown high into the sky! The dirty things of the dark times and the endless regrets of the troubled times were thrown away along with it!
When the wind blew violently, the whistling sound was deafening, just like the shouts in the streets, ports, homes, battlefields and fortresses in the past!
The flags fluttered, reflecting a bloody color in Chu Shichen's eyes, burning him and making him tremble.
His eyes started to hurt again, and no eye drops could relieve the pain at the moment, so he subconsciously looked for a savior to give him eye drops.
Xiang Mingzhang was also serious and solemn. Suddenly, his arm was pulled. He turned around and saw Chu Shichen's eyes were red and his eye sockets were wet with tears.
Xiang Mingzhang asked in a low voice: "Are you excited?"
Chu Shichen nodded and said in a sonorous voice, "Yes, I am very excited."
Xiang Mingzhang asked again: "Do you want to cry?"
Dawn had arrived, and a ray of autumn light appeared over Tiananmen Square. Chu Shichen tried his best to control himself, but still choked up a little: "Crying here, crying at this time, is not considered inappropriate."
He is above board.
As he spoke, a tear flowed from the corner of his eye, burning hot, and fell onto the ground.
He stood in a daze in the autumn wind, refusing to leave even as the crowd dispersed.
Xiang Mingzhang called him: "Chu Shichen?"
No, he answered in his heart, Chang'an Avenue, under the red flag, the heaven and earth can see it, the morning sun can be heard -
My name is Shen Ruozhen.
(End of this chapter)