Alcohol was the best 'lubricant' for friends who met for the first time in China to get to know each other and build a friendship. It was a little ridiculous for a man like Zhang Lisheng to ask for a Coke.
However, the people at the table were Beijing Normal University's teachers and students who were more cultured compared to ordinary people. Not only that, they had more or less contact with the international students in the university in the past, so they had seen the young man's Western eating habits. For this reason, nobody tried to persuade him. However, the moment the toast was omitted, the harmonious atmosphere became a lot worse.
Fortunately, the dishes in the Friendship Restaurant were indeed good. They were affordable and tasty. As they ate and drank, they talked about the interesting things on campus, their heavy schoolwork, and their imagination of the future. The atmosphere gradually became lively again, but somehow, Zhang Lisheng's expression became worse.
"It'll be great if I can stay in school in the future. God knows how difficult it is to find a good job now."
"Lisheng, you're being overly modest. Do you still need to worry about not being able to find a good job with your ability? Drink as a punishment!"
"I won't drink as a punishment. I'm not being modest. What's the use of ability nowadays? How many influential people in the university can only earn four to five thousand yuan a month after graduating from the society?
Just look at our Senior Liu Tao, the president of the Student Union for the last three terms. Isn't he a living example? When I first entered the university, he had even made a speech at the opening ceremony. I'll remember that high-spirited look of his for the rest of my life. In the end, I heard that he went to the Kunlun World to open up a wasteland for the sake of his future. "
"You're still not satisfied with earning four to five thousand yuan a month? Dream on! I think you've never been out of the society before …" After three rounds of drinks and dishes, under the influence of alcohol, everyone's conversation became more and more trivial and real.
At this time, Chu Xiaohong, who had already drunk two bottles of beer with a flushed face, suddenly stood up and raised her glass to Zhang Lisheng. "Lisheng, everyone's so happy, so why are you pulling a long face?
Come, I'm Lulu's best friend. It's nice to meet you. Let's drink! You drink Coke and I'll drink beer. It's alright. "
"It's nice to meet you too, Miss Chu." Zhang Lisheng, who had a grave expression, forced a smile and clinked his glass with the girl before taking a sip of Coke.
"You can even drink Coke? You're a real man! Cheers!" Chu Xiaohong gulped down the orange beer in the goblet in one gulp and said in a slightly tipsy manner, "You and Lulu are really compatible. You usually look like nothing, but in fact, you're both quite arrogant. It's just that you're even more antisocial than her.
I guess you're either a programmer or a lab researcher in the US? "
In the US, it was very impolite to ask someone's occupation so straightforwardly. Zhang Lisheng was stunned for a moment before replying, "I did host a laboratory during my PhD, but to be exact, my main business should be business." Since he came to Hua nation as an entrepreneur, he instinctively emphasized his identity as a businessman in front of strangers.
"With a personality like yours, you can still run a business?" Chu Xiaohong's eyes widened in bewilderment as she shouted, "Wouldn't it be a huge loss …"
"Xiaohong, you're drunk. Drink some tea to suppress the alcohol." Her words were too rude. A short-haired young man sitting next to the girl, who still had a sense of capable temperament even after he was drunk, immediately stood up and pressed Chu Xiaohong to her seat while saying apologetically to Zhang Lisheng, "I'm sorry, Brother Zhang. She's drunk …"
"Lisheng, I'm not drunk. I'm not drunk. You've just become my boyfriend and you're not letting me talk even though we're having a meal?" Chu Xiaohong pointed at Zhang Lisheng and said in an unforgiving manner, "Does this mean that a 'lone' character is not suitable for business? Not suitable …"
It was common for a drunk person to make a fuss the more he tried to persuade her. When Li Sheng saw that he could not persuade Chu Xiaohong at all and had the opposite effect instead, he could only sit down with a wry smile speechlessly and let the other girls deal with his girlfriend. Right at this moment, Zhang Lisheng suddenly shrugged and pointed at the TV on the screen wall in the distance. "Miss Chu, I don't think there's anything wrong with my character.
I'm afraid it's contrary to your expectations. My business is very, very successful. "
After the meal began, the TV had been forgotten to be turned off. The program had long been changed from the US drama to the rebroadcast of the news. The noise could not be heard at all, but when everyone involuntarily looked in the direction of Zhang Lisheng's finger and shut their mouths, the anchor's broadcast became clear. "… Prime Minister Ma Xuan finally emphasized …"
The image changed. The female anchor with outstanding temperament on the TV screen turned into a spacious and gorgeous hall with Chinese cultural characteristics. A middle-aged man wearing a black suit leaned on the back of the sofa with a 'leader-like' smile on his face.
"The most important thing in the cooperation between China and the US is the cooperation in the field of economy and trade. It's the general trend to further deepen this cooperation. It's also an important way to achieve a 'win-win' in the exchange and development of the relationship between the two countries.
After the home visit of the Chinese enterprises to the US this time, the returning US entrepreneurs are very influential. Among them are old acquaintances and new friends … "The man in the news spoke with fervor and assurance. When he mentioned 'old acquaintances and new friends,' the camera changed again. For two to three seconds, the face of a young man with short black hair who maintained a calm smile was clearly revealed.
The people at the dining table were obviously stunned. In a very short period of time, they looked at the young man on the TV and looked at Zhang Lisheng with a dumbfounded and shocked expression. It was Song Jingshen, who studied marketing, who snapped back to reality first and stood up excitedly. "Oh my, Brother Zhang! Y-You're really good at hiding your strength!
The Central Committee's Standing Committee and the Deputy Premier of the Government Affairs Council have all personally received you! Just how great of a career have you done in the US? T-This is bringing glory to the country! You're the pride of all the Chinese! No, I must serve you one … "
As Song Jingshen was speaking, he poured a full glass of white wine for himself. Holding the glass, he jogged a few steps to Zhang Lisheng and placed his own white wine on the table first. Respectfully, he picked up the young man's Coke can and brought it to his mouth. "You don't drink, so you'll drink Coke with wine. Just do as you please …"
Although Zhang Lisheng was not used to this unique way of showing respect on the Chinese table, he still accepted it helplessly. Upon seeing him drink the Coke, Song Jingshen immediately picked up his own glass from the table and drank the full glass of white wine in one gulp.
"Brother Jingshen, don't drink so quickly. It's not good for your health. Hurry and eat your food." Li Yujuan, who was by the side, saw the uncomfortable expression that flashed across Song Jingshen's face, so she said with heartache.
"Don't persuade me. It's my honor to know Brother Zhang. I'm happy, so I won't get drunk no matter what." Song Jingshen said with a flushed face, "Brother Zhang, what business are you doing in the US? Please take care of me in the future."
"I run a slaughterhouse in America. I hope we can have a chance to cooperate." He signaled Tao Lulu with his eyes and stood up, "I'm sorry, I still have something to do in the afternoon. I'll be leaving first. Goodbye." "That's right, Tao Lulu.
"Lisheng, wait a minute. I have something to do in the afternoon too. Let's go together.
I'm sorry, everyone. I'll make a move first too. " Tao Lulu also stood up knowingly. Before the crowd could react, the two of them left the room as though they were escaping.
After leaving the restaurant, the girl saw the young man breathing a long sigh of relief. Without warning, she asked, "Lisheng, do you feel that my friends and classmates are very unscrupulous and realistic? Do you feel uncomfortable eating with them?"
Zhang Lisheng became silent for a while and did not answer the girl's question directly. Instead, he smiled wryly and said, "Little Sister Tao, do you know that I've been entrusted by the alien fleet and the US government to collect information in the Shrimp World No. 2 for the convenience of the Atlanteans in ranking it? In the end, I've encountered too many accidents and inconceivable things.
The winter riots, the resurrection of the ancient gods in the foreign world and the destruction of the alien's light energy warship, the Atlantean general's sophistry about the subtle invasion of Earth … These accidents and inconceivable things made me feel pressured. Not only that, the US people could not understand the White House's political strategy of compromise, so the endless demonstrations and strikes have made the federal situation increasingly chaotic.
In such a situation, I returned to China, wanting to know if the motherland can maintain stability and prosperity under the leadership of power politics. In the end, in just a few days, I suddenly found out that the answer is perfect and far beyond my expectations … "
"What do you mean, Lisheng?" Upon seeing the young man's smile becoming more and more bitter, the girl asked.
Zhang Lisheng sighed and said, "The intransigence of the US people will make the country's strength weaken day by day under the oppression of the powerful alien civilization.
The Chinese people's almost indifferent reaction to the 'winter riots,' on the other hand, will make them unable to generate the motivation and courage to resist the Atlanteans. There are no demonstrations here, no denunciations and attacks against aliens. Your friends can already be considered as Chinese intellectuals, but they still act as if nothing has happened … "
"You're wrong, Lisheng. The fierce resistance of our compatriots during the winter riots is not any weaker than the Westerners."
"What about now? Why are they so forgetful?"
Upon hearing Zhang Lisheng's question, Tao Lulu was stunned and became speechless.
The two of them walked out of the alley silently. The young man gradually calmed down and said, "I'm sorry, Little Sister Tao. Maybe I've thought too much and subconsciously, the pressure is too great and I'm too neurotic, so I've been nitpicking …"
"It's alright, Lisheng. I can understand that you're afraid of 'boiling a frog in warm water' but because you've been to the US since you were young, you actually don't have a deep understanding of Chinese society, so your judgment is not accurate. Not only that, there are many secret people and things that you don't know.
The 'bones' of our Chinese people are not that weak, "The girl interrupted Zhang Lisheng's words and said solemnly.
"Is that so? I'm relieved to hear you say so." The young man, who felt that his emotions were getting bigger and that he should deliberately restrain himself in the future, did not care about Tao Lulu's hidden comfort and casually said, "I'm not full at all. What about you?"
"I'm full, but I can accompany you to eat some more. Let's go, there's a Yunnan rice noodle in the alley in front. It's numb and spicy, I'll bring you there."
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