To his surprise, Lili rejected Zhang Lisheng's request without hesitation. "Of course not. Baby, your situation is special. It's too dangerous to go back to Western Sichuan. You can't go back, you can't …
Not only that, I'm planning to bring you to meet your grandpa and grandma this winter holiday. Your grandpa's 60th birthday is on the first Sunday next year. It's a big day for him, and it's the most suitable day to meet you … "
According to the Chinese Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches Calendar, 60 years was a cycle called Jiazi. To a Chinese descendant, the 60th birthday could be said to be the most important day in their life. However, although Zhang Lisheng did not know much about his grandfather, he knew that he was a senior judge in the New York State Court of Appeal.
In the US, it was impossible for a first-generation Chinese immigrant to be a judge in a state court of appeal with a high social status.
"It's my 60th birthday, would grandpa still care about this? He's not Chinese anyway …" Although Zhang Lisheng felt that his mother's mood was a little off and her words were a little incoherent, he still tried to fight for it.
"Baby, nationality doesn't represent the ownership of culture. Legally speaking, you're not Chinese now, are you?"
"I'm different, mom. I grew up in China, there's something in my blood …"
"I don't care if it's the same or not, I'll never allow you to go to China. Never!" Lili suddenly shouted with great agitation and determination.
Zhang Lisheng was stunned. After a moment of silence, he said carefully, "Don't be angry, mom. I won't go back to Western Sichuan if you don't want me to."
"Baby, it's not that I don't want you to go back, but … but China, especially the remote Western Sichuan is too dangerous for you. Don't think that it's your paradise just because you grew up there.
Actually, you have a lot of natural enemies there, a lot of very right natural enemies. Don't go back by yourself secretly, it's really dangerous there … "
Seeing that his mother's words were not without reason, a strange feeling rose in Zhang Lisheng's heart. However, since Lili was so agitated that she could not control herself, he did not ask much. All he did was to promise that he would never go back to China again.
Under the young man's comforting words, Lili gradually calmed down. At this time, Zhang Lisheng pretended to ask casually, "Mom, what do you mean by saying that there are many natural enemies of mine in Western Sichuan, China? I'm not a pest …"
"In the eyes of many terrible paranoid people, you're a pest." Upon hearing her son's question, Lili hesitated for a while. In order to completely dispel his thoughts of returning to China, she whispered with a serious expression, "Baby, you have the ability to communicate with animals, so you should know that you're born different from ordinary people.
How should I put it? In the eyes of some people in China who have superpowers, you're equivalent to the Jews in the eyes of the 'fanatics' of the medieval Christians who are born with 'original sin'.
They would treat you with hostility without any reason, hurt you, or even kill you. Not only would such behavior not be condemned by their companions, but it would also earn them respect and reputation.
You remember. Before I brought you back to New York, did you suddenly faint in Chengdu's Qingyang Palace? At that time, a girl with incredible power appeared, and she was filled with hostility towards you.
If it wasn't for the fact that I kept speaking English and caused him to misunderstand your origin, perhaps, perhaps the consequences would have been unimaginable. "
"There's such a thing? Mom, do you know where these people came from?" Zhang Lisheng asked thoughtfully.
"I don't know their origins, but most of them are dressed like Daoist priests or monks, but that might not be the case. …
Listen baby, I want you to tell me sincerely that you will never return to China ever again …
Oh, this is too difficult for you. After all, that is the hometown you grew up in. Even if you promise me now, you won't keep your promise in the future …
Alright, let's set the time for you to be 23 years old. No, 30 years old. Let's just say 30 years old. By then, you should look completely like an American and have a very high social status.
If you go back to China, no one will hurt you anymore. Promise me, okay, Lisheng? Promise me, you'll only go back when you're 30. "
"Of course, mom. Don't worry, I'll never return to China before I run for the US president," Looking at his mother's eager eyes, Zhang Lisheng nodded and replied jokingly.
Upon hearing this, Lili breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, the young man never mentioned about going back to Western Sichuan to visit again.
In the blink of an eye, Christmas came. On the night of Christmas Eve, Zhang Lisheng stayed at home and saw the eldest son of the Lavin family, Stephen Lavin, who rushed back to New York from California for the first time, as well as Randy and Riley who had not seen each other since they went to college.
As the starting quarterback of the UCLA football team, Stephen, who had blonde hair and a resolute face, had a strong body that was a head taller than his father. However, his character seemed to be the opposite of his appearance, appearing to be very gentle and amiable.
As soon as he entered the house, this tall and strong young man shouted, "Brother Stephen! Brother Stephen! You're back!" and threw himself at Michelle, Harry, and Gill who were hugging him. After distributing the gifts in his arms, he immediately said to Zhang Lisheng who was standing by the side with a smile, "Hey, young man! You must be Lisheng! Can you come and hug the brother you're meeting for the first time?"
"Of course!" Zhang Lisheng smiled and hugged Stephen warmly. "Hello, Stephen!"
"Hello, Lisheng!
Oh, that's right! This is the gift I bought for you, "Stephen said as he stuffed a box in his hand to Zhang Lisheng." See if you like it? "
Inside the box was a set of Blu-ray high-definition discs called 'Our Planet's Precious Animals' released by the National Geographic Channel. It was a good gift to give to an introverted bookworm who was a sophomore in high school who was passionate about biological research.
"I like it very much, thank you," Zhang Lisheng took the DVD out of the box and looked at it before replying politely.
"Dear Brother Lisheng, I originally had a gift for you too. It's a razor for shaving pigs, but unfortunately, I left it on the train," Randy, who was by the side, chimed in with a smile.
After successfully entering UCLA and spending half a year of college life with his brother on the school's football team again, this slightly mischievous young man did not change much.
"Shut up, Randy! Your living expenses and scholarship must have all been used to get a girlfriend. Even if you really want to prank and buy a razor for shaving pigs for Lisheng, you can't afford it at all.
How sad! Get out of my way if you don't have a gift, "Riley said as she pushed Randy aside and began to give her brothers and sisters gifts.
For this reason, Zhang Lisheng received an Indian-style monkey wood carving. According to Riley, who had just entered the University of Virginia, when she saw this monkey in the flea market near the university, she suddenly felt that the style was similar to the toad statue that Zhang Lisheng carried around all day. For this reason, she bought it for him as a Christmas gift.
Such a reason for choosing a gift made one speechless. However, the young man took the wooden monkey and said politely again, "Thank you, I like it very much." Every time such a moment came, he would become like a guest in this family. No matter how hard he tried to blend in, he would not succeed.
Just like that, Christmas Eve passed by calmly in Zhang Lisheng's eyes even though it was a joyous day in other people's eyes.
On Christmas Day after Christmas Eve, the temperature in New York suddenly plummeted. The cold wave lasted until New Year's Day before it finally dissipated. On the day when the temperature began to rise slowly, Zhang Lisheng woke up early in the morning and drove to pick up Tina, who was going back to school early to complete the sorority's admission task that the Harvard Sisters' Association's senior sisters drew lots to arrange. Then, he rushed to the airport.
Of course, the Douglin family had a professional chauffeur for Tina to order around. However, the young man braved the cold wind and appeared outside the iron gate of one of the few remaining English style mansions in Manhattan before seven o 'clock and rang the doorbell in high spirits. The meaning of this was completely different.
After the doorbell rang a few times, an old voice suddenly resonated from the monitor speaker on the iron gate. "Hello, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Hello, I'm Zhang Lisheng. I'm here to pick up Miss Tina Douglin to the airport."
"Please, please wait for a moment."
Not long after, a skinny, tall, straight, naked old man wearing a tuxedo with silver hair combed all over his head drove a golf cart from the garage of the mansion in the distance. He drove along the tree-lined avenue to the iron gate.
"Welcome to the Douglin family, Mr. Zhang Lisheng." He got off the golf cart and opened the iron gate before bowing politely to the young man. "Please get in the car. I'll bring you to the living room. Mr. Dolby is waiting for you."
"Oh, sir. I'm just here to pick up Tina …"
"Miss is washing up now. I'm afraid she'll have to wait for a while before she can see you. Before that, Mr. Dolby hopes to talk to you."
Of course, Zhang Lisheng could not reject Tina's father's summon. After pondering about it, he pointed at his car and found an excuse. "I think it's very inappropriate for my car to be parked here …"
"Someone will park your car, young man. If I'm at your age and I'm dating a beautiful girl, I won't let her father wait for long if he wants to see me."
"Oh, you're right, sir. Then what are we waiting for?" Upon hearing the old man's words, Zhang Lisheng was stunned for a moment. Realizing that he could not avoid it, he ran into the iron gate quickly and hopped onto the golf cart. At this time, he did not forget to inquire about the news and asked, "Do you know why Dolby wants to see me?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang. I'm the butler of the Douglin family, not a messenger. However, as an old man who watched Miss Tina grow up and wishes for her to be happy, I'll give you a piece of advice.
The two words' polite 'and' calm 'are always the most powerful weapons of a gentleman. " The old man drove the golf cart and drove the young man to the old mansion that was covered with ivy, giving off a dark and heavy feeling as he said with a smile.
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