Chapter 108 B&B Worker
In the real world, Lin Ruoyan didn't have the luxury of a ten-day vacation. Back when she was in school, a week of budget travel was the limit; her finances and health couldn't sustain a longer trip. Back then, she'd eat a dollar's worth of flatbread a day, sleep on the night bus to save on accommodation, and so on—only when she was young could she endure it. Once she started working and had enough money, taking a long vacation was practically impossible. Only if she wanted to change jobs could she afford a spontaneous trip.
This time, Lin Ruoyan arranged a grand tour of Gansu and Qinghai provinces, visiting all the famous attractions in both provinces. The entire journey was about 2,700 kilometers, passing through Lanzhou, Xining, Qinghai Lake, Daxiadan, Menyuan, Dunhuang, Jig, Zhangye, etc.
There are more than 20 famous scenic spots, including Qinghai Lake, Ta'er Monastery, Chaka Salt Lake, Keluk Lake, Emerald Lake, Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Crescent Lake in Mingsha Mountain, Colorful Danxia, Qilian Prairie, etc., which include deserts, yardangs, Danxia, Gobi, grottoes, snow-capped mountains, lakes, grasslands, sea of flowers, temples, uninhabited areas, salt lakes, mountains... and many other landscapes.
This is a complete route without turning back, and it is a grand combination of the natural scenery of the Northwest and the cultural history of the Silk Road.
The world in the book is restored with reference to the description of reality. After traveling there in person, Lin Ruoyan sincerely felt that the mountains and rivers of the motherland were magnificent. There was no point in going abroad. She would never have enough fun playing with her children in China every winter and summer vacation.
However, she was keen on traveling abroad before because she knew that developed countries such as Europe and the United States were gradually declining. To put it bluntly, in ten or twenty years, the infrastructure of those countries would be even more outdated, and social security would become increasingly unstable. The people could only rely on themselves to protect themselves, and various sanctions would be imposed at every turn, which was really dangerous.
Over a decade later, China's massive infrastructure development has begun to bear fruit. Airports and high-speed rail stations in third-tier cities are now vastly more advanced than those in established developed countries. Traveling throughout China requires only a mobile phone, no wallet or credit card required. It's a truly cashless society, with express delivery arriving within half a day. Every village has electricity, and phone coverage is available in the deepest mountains and forests.
Compared to these modern, futuristic-looking cities in China, traveling abroad a decade or so later will only reveal dilapidated, decadent villages that seem decades behind the times. High-rise buildings are only found in the upper urban areas of a few coastal cities, while other cities are even worse than China's new rural towns. Those so-called cities, where normal people stay indoors after 8 p.m. and daytime is filled with violence and murder, public urination and defecation, and uncollected garbage, are utterly filthy and untidy, leaving one completely disappointed.
Lin Ruoyan took her son on a trip to the west this summer. Thanks to the careful arrangements of the travel agency and the protection of Chen Jun, they were very comfortable and happy. She was also very willing to spend money, treating her companions to the best meals and the most expensive hotels. Naturally, she was deeply loved.
Chen Jun was not brought with him when he went to Europe last time. He was very envious after hearing Hua Mengmeng talk about her experiences in Europe. After returning from this trip, Chen Jun had endless topics to talk about for days and nights. He would find Hua Mengmeng to chat with her from time to time, and there was light in each other's eyes.
Lin Ruoyan took her son on a trip, and everyone else in Siheyuan was on paid leave. During that time, chef Ge Qingping returned to her hometown, and Liu Yunxia was said to have been living in Siheyuan.
It turned out that her son Zhang Huanyu was also on summer vacation and came to work in the Siheyuan B&B.
As a finance student at a key Beijing university, Zhang Huanyu had plenty of options for part-time work. Although he only completed his freshman year and wasn't starting his sophomore until the semester began, he was a versatile person. Besides excelling in his major, he also minored in computer programming. He could have been a tutor or an intern in the information department of a real estate company. Instead, he took the initiative and went to the guesthouse, making coffee, preparing simple meals, serving dishes, and cleaning.
Although Hua Mengmeng knew that this was Liu Yunxia's son, she did not show any favoritism. Since he came here as a temporary worker, everything had to be done according to the store's employee manual.
Zhang Huanyu is very serious about his job and when he has spare time, he will carefully learn about the operation of a B&B. In terms of academic qualifications, Zhang Huanyu is undoubtedly the most educated in the B&B business, and Hua Mengmeng also intends to focus on training him.
Lin Ruoyan returned from her trip. Seeing that July was only a few days away and the weather was scorching, she decided to stay home instead of going to work. After finishing the documents she needed to approve on her computer at home, she called Hua Mengmeng from the B&B to her study to find out what was going on. "Mrs. Liu's son, Zhang Huanyu, is working there. How's he doing?"
Hua Mengmeng said, "He's smart and hardworking, so he'll have no problem being a store manager. He's already figured out how to run a B&B after being here for just over ten days."
Lin Ruoyan asked again: "Then what do you think he can do?"
Hua Mengmeng thought for a moment and said, "He's a finance major and good at computers. He helped me make the B&B's website much smoother and even added a forum. I think he'll have a big career after graduation. Theoretically, it's unlikely he'll run a B&B."
Lin Ruoyan had read the original book and naturally knew that Zhang Huanyu was an investment genius and it was impossible for him to be stuck in just one small project. But at this moment, he was still studying and came to experience life in the B&B. What was his purpose?
Anyone who studies finance and invests understands the importance of time. Working in a B&B primarily involves manual labor, and the best future prospects are becoming a store manager and managing a chain. This doesn't seem to fit Zhang Huanyu's vision.
Lin Ruoyan decided to talk to Zhang Huanyu in person and ask him about his plans.
Liu Yunxia discovered that her son Zhang Huanyu had been invited by President Lin to dine with her tonight at the restaurant in the second courtyard of the quadrangle. He had gone directly through the small door between the second and third courtyards. This door was usually closed, but only used when President Lin visited the B&B or when he called Hua Mengmeng over to ask questions.
However, in the main house of the courtyard, there will be fewer people when there are no reception tasks. When it is time for dinner, Lin Ruoyan will call all the family members to eat together.
There is a long table for eight people in the dining room of the second courtyard. Lin Ruoyan and Lin Mengxi sit opposite each other, and the two female maids of the family sit opposite each other. Chen Jun is also called to sit at the table, as if they are a happy family.
But Liu Yunxia saw that her son, sitting across from Chen Jun, was a bit reserved. Being invited to dinner tonight surprised them, leaving them feeling overwhelmed. They ate together nervously, with Lin Ruoyan asking only a few questions about family matters before resuming their private meeting later.
Liu Yunxia privately warned her son, "The benefits at the Lin Group and the real estate company are quite good. Since you're working here at the B&B, if you're asked about your future career aspirations, you need to know how to answer them so they don't offend you."
Zhang Huanyu said, "Don't worry, Mom. I know what to say."
Liu Yunxia was still worried and said, "Don't be so foolish as to say you want to work for a large foreign company."
Zhang Huanyu smiled and nodded. He and his mother didn't really have much in common. She had raised him since childhood, spending a great deal of time and energy trying to make a living. She had essentially stopped paying attention to his studies since middle school. Now, aside from some social etiquette advice, she had no way of understanding his thoughts.
But his mother's reminder was right. Mr. Lin had tea and chatted with him alone today, and it was definitely not just a casual chat. He would probably ask about his ambitions. How should he answer?
Lin Ruoyan let her son go to the study to read by himself, and she and Zhang Huanyu sat outside the study to drink tea. The atmosphere was more relaxed, and it was not like an interview in the company's reception room. It was more like a small gathering among relatives.
Lin Ruoyan knew Zhang Huanyu's story from the original book, but the lives and careers of those she'd previously followed had changed, and she wasn't sure Zhang Huanyu's future would be what she'd imagined. However, limiting Zhang Huanyu's talents to the B&B business was clearly a waste of his talent.
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