Lu Feng dialed the number, but it wasn't answered for a long time. He dialed again, and the other end finally picked up. The person on the other end seemed quite busy. Zhang Fengxia answered the phone and asked in English, "Who is this?"
"It's me, Lu Feng!" Lu Feng could tell that she was in a good mood, and he felt relieved.
In a brightly lit villa in New York, the house was warm and cozy. A Christmas tree, used for Christmas, stood in the corner. Jiang Xiaoyan and Duoduo sat on the sofa. Zhang Fengxia glanced at the two of them and said into the phone, "Why did you suddenly decide to call me? I'm getting ready for the New Year."
“I’m just worried you won’t be doing well there. I went back to my hometown for Chinese New Year this year. How are you doing all by yourself? If your studies are too demanding, you shouldn’t continue.” Lu Feng asked with concern, “Is it still easy for you to get around?”
"My belly isn't that big, I'm only six months along. I'm doing fine here. Um..." Zhang Fengxia turned to look at Jiang Xiaoyan, who waved her hands repeatedly. Zhang Fengxia said into the phone, "I know a few classmates, and we're going to spend the New Year together. We're busy with that. It must be cold back in your hometown, right?"
“It’s really cold this year. We can’t make international calls from home. Everything’s fine over there. If you don’t want to stay anymore, just say so. The company board got me a private jet this year. After the New Year, have them apply for international routes so it’ll be convenient for you to come back. If you don’t want to stay in China anymore, you can always go back.” Lu Feng asked with concern, “Are you still paying? The cost of living is high there. I’ll transfer you some more money after the New Year. If you’re bored, go out for a walk. It’s chaotic there too. If all else fails, I’ll have the Thai security forces send a few people over.”
“No need for all that trouble, making it seem like I’m some big shot. Everything’s fine now, and you don’t need to send any money. If I miss you, I’ll let you know,” Zhang Fengxia said.
During the phone call, Zhang Fengxia also shared a lot about things happening in the United States. Some time ago, she attended a lecture by an economist about the world economy and the US dollar. The lecture mentioned an argument that small and medium-sized countries face the vulnerability of their financial defense systems in the face of a strong US dollar, which is the world's main currency.
In this lecture, the professor referred to the US dollar as a pirate in the modern financial system, and also mentioned the Asian financial crisis. He said that every time the US dollar was over-issued, it would cause prosperity in small and medium-sized countries around the world. However, as the Federal Reserve raised interest rates and reduced its balance sheet, the US dollar flowed back, and the assets of these small countries would shrink rapidly, their currencies would collapse, and then Wall Street would step in to buy up high-quality assets at low prices.
Zhang Fengxia reminded Lu Feng over the phone to be wary of the Asian financial crisis, to guard against currency devaluation, soaring raw material prices, and the chain reaction triggered by a sluggish consumer market. She warned that the larger the enterprise, the easier it would be to collapse in such a situation.
"Okay, take good care of yourself," Lu Feng said with concern.
"Okay, okay, I'm not a three-year-old. It must be cold over there, right? Let's hang up. You have a cell phone, don't you?" Zhang Fengxia suddenly remembered this.
"Do you think there will be any cell phone signal in the county?" Lu Feng asked, both amused and exasperated.
After hanging up the phone, Lu Feng stepped out of the phone booth and glanced at the place where the young couple had been. It was completely dark outside, and the two of them had already left.
Lu Feng drove home, looking slightly disappointed.
In the county, almost all entertainment activities close by 8 or 9 pm. If you want to go to karaoke bars or similar places, you have to go to the city.
Many people feel out of place when they return to their small hometowns because every day there is the same. You can walk down the street, grab anyone you like, and chat with a few people to build a connection.
Compared to the rapid changes in big cities, this place is like a stagnant pool.
Lu Feng went home, ate dinner (similar to yesterday), watched the news, watched an episode of a TV series, and then lay down on the kang (heated brick bed) and dozed off.
The next morning, a series of crackling firecrackers came from afar. Only during the Spring Festival would this place change. This is why many people were so happy during the Spring Festival when they were young. More than 20 years later, every day is changing and challenging people's threshold of desire.
Now, there's only one chance to vent once every ten months—to eat and dress to your heart's content, and to meet the person you've been waiting for.
The matchmaker arrived around 7 a.m. and sat in the side room chatting with Lu Feng's mother. The two seemed to be having a good time. Then, Lu Feng's father called him down.
"Oh my, congratulations!" The matchmaker looked Lu Feng up and down and said, "Yesterday, I chatted with the girl's mother. Her daughter isn't a high school student, she's a proper college student. Let me tell you, a college student this beautiful is something most people wouldn't even dare to dream of."
Lu Feng's mother smiled so much her eyes almost disappeared, and said happily, "Tell them to rest assured, as long as our daughter is good, the bride price is not a problem, and a college student is even better."
Lu Feng stood to the side, somewhat bewildered. Had they already gotten to the topic of betrothal gifts?
I have this feeling that once this year is over, I'll have to get married.
"College student? Which university? Which year? Hasn't she been assigned a job yet?" Lu Feng felt that this matter was a bit unreliable. He could tell that this matchmaker knew that his family was rich, but she didn't know how rich she was.
Not to mention the matchmaker, even Lu Feng's parents didn't know how rich Lu Feng was. Their knowledge of Lu Feng was still limited to Jiaming Foods, and they told others that their son owned a factory.
Even so, it's something that ordinary people in the area can't even imagine.
"Which university? I didn't even ask. Don't even think about job assignments. These days, college graduates aren't assigned jobs anymore. What you're saying is all ancient history. Your daughter is pretty, from a respectable family, and has an education. So many men are vying for her." The matchmaker looked at Lu Feng as if he were a country bumpkin and advised, "You're so rich, and you don't expect to marry her to make money? Your wife is a college graduate, how could your child be lacking?"
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