Chapter 144 Regret
Xicheng District used to be the location of the concession, and there were many foreign restaurants.
Miao Jing brought Tao Nanfeng and a group of four to the Red Square Restaurant not far from the Xicheng Hotel. The unique Soviet-style architecture has thick walls, a tall main building, and wide and flat corridors, which appear solemn and beautiful under the light.
Tao Nanfeng and Tao Shouxin were quietly discussing the features of Soviet-style architecture. The eyes of the father and daughter were sparkling under the light of the street lamps. Miao Jing didn't dare to look at Tao Nanfeng wantonly, so he pricked up his ears and listened.
"Pillars, door heads, arches, plinths, three-section styles, dormer windows..." These were all professional terms that seemed unfamiliar to him, but when they came out of Tao Nanfeng's mouth, they had an indescribable beauty.
Miao Jing thought with some sadness, now that he had switched to work at the General Administration of Construction, did that mean he was closer to Tao Nanfeng?
Walking into the revolving door of the Red Square Restaurant, what comes into view is the bright yellow wood-grain floor that is so bright that you can see your reflection, the huge gold-inlaid columns, the dazzling crystal chandeliers, the huge colorful wall paintings, and the dark red velvet curtains.
The waitress was a tall, blonde beauty wearing an exquisite uniform. She greeted the five of them attentively and enthusiastically to their window seat.
The table is laid with beautiful and exquisite stainless steel knives and forks, crystal clear and elegant high-heeled glasses, and snow-white and clean tablecloths, which is luxurious and elegant.
As soon as Tao Nanfeng sat down, he looked at Zhu Hongxing and said, "I now understand how Granny Liu felt when she entered the Grand View Garden."
Zhu Hongxing laughed: "The Red Square Restaurant used to only receive Soviet experts, officials stationed in China, and intellectuals who returned from studying in the Soviet Union. I have known about it for 20 years in Kyoto, but I have never been in. Today, I am able to come in and sit down because of you. I am just like you, Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden."
He bowed to Miao Jing and said, "Thank you very much."
Miao Jing had a good impression of Zhu Hongxing and waved his hand casually: "Since you are Professor Tao's friend, you are also my Miao Jing's friend. If you have anything to say, just ask me."
Zhu Hongxing is a technical expert and is not interested in the bureaucracy. Facing Miao Jing, the leader of the department, he does not show any fear. He is strong because he has no desires.
He didn't feel flattered at all: "What usually gives me a headache is the quality of the project. You can't help with that, but Tao Nanfeng can."
The topic naturally turned to the technical details of the building restoration of the fertilizer plant and the steel plant. Although Miao Jing didn't quite understand what was being said, he listened with great interest.
While listening, Miao Jing waved to the waiter and ordered a bunch of food from the menu.
Tao Nanfeng was gesturing on the table with chopsticks, telling Zhu Hongxing about the condition of the steel plant's expert building after restoration, when he suddenly smelled a strange fragrance. I looked up and saw something! The waiter brought a lot of food.
Stewed beef in a can, cream-roasted salad, steak, foie gras, caviar, tuna salad, pickles, beetroot soup, cream of mushroom soup, and colorful, crystal clear cocktails.
Tao Nanfeng looked at Miao Jing: "Why did you order so much? We just had dinner, how can we eat more?"
Miao Jing's smile was gentle, completely different from the arrogance he had shown when facing Ruan Xuezhen just now.
"I haven't eaten yet, so I ordered a little more. You can try a little of each and experience the exotic flavors. If you like the cocktail, take a sip. If you don't like it, just leave it alone and let it stand as a decoration."
Tao Shouxin is a PhD who returned from studying in Country M and is familiar with Western dining etiquette. But looking around this Suzhou-style restaurant, everyone is very casual, some use knives and forks, some use chopsticks, and some use their hands, there is no need to be too particular. Including Miao Jing, he just placed the yellow napkin casually next to his hand and did not put it on his legs.
Tao Shouxin smiled, picked up the light blue cocktail in front of him and took a sip, raised his eyebrows and said: "Vodka, strong!"
Miao Jing asked Tao Nanfeng: "Can I drink?"
Tao Nanfeng shook his head.
"Then you can try the coffee here. If you find it too bitter, just add some sugar and milk." Miao Jing ordered a few more cups of coffee. The gold-rimmed bone china coffee cups had some small flowers sprinkled on the edges, exuding a simple and elegant feel.
Tao Nanfeng thought he was too polite: "Please don't order anything else. It's rare to see you in Kyoto, how are you doing recently?"
Miao Jing finally heard Tao Nanfeng turn his attention to him and ask about his recent situation, and he felt like his whole body was going to collapse.
There was a hint of piety in his voice that he himself was not aware of: "When you were studying for your master's degree, I happened to be studying abroad for two years. After I came back, I was assigned to the Ministry of Construction. Whether it's Kyoto or Jiangcheng, there are more and more infrastructure projects across the country, and the Ministry of Construction needs manpower."
Tao Shouxin asked from the side: "Did you come up with this attempt at a bidding system?"
Miao Jing nodded: "Yes, now the construction fields of countries E and F are operating in this way. We also want to learn from foreign advanced experience. By introducing the competition mechanism, we hope to promote the healthy development of the construction market."
Tao Shouxin glanced at Miao Jing with appreciation: "Studying abroad really broadens your horizons."
He suddenly remembered something and asked, "Have you got married? You haven't written to us in the past two years, and we miss you a lot at home."
Miao Jing's eyes darkened, and he raised his hand to scratch his head: "I have been abroad for the past two years. It is inconvenient to contact people, and I can't meet other people. I haven't started a family yet."
Tao Shouxin frowned and showed a disapproving expression: "I once heard from your mother, Ms. Ai Li, that your family is very worried about your marriage. You are about the same age as Xiangbei, right? You are in your thirties now, it's time to consider starting a family."
Miao Jing didn't expect that Tao Shouxin would urge her to get married here. Although she didn't refute, she pursed her lips and lowered her head to pretend to cut the steak. The scene was a little awkward.
Fan Zhicheng looked at Miao Jing seriously with his peach blossom eyes. Being a sensitive person, he noticed some clues. His eyes dimmed slightly, and he muttered in his heart that Miao Jing looked like a good person, but was actually full of bad intentions, and he absolutely could not let him abduct Tao Nanfeng.
Thinking of this, Fan Zhicheng suddenly felt that the coffee was extremely bitter and he spat it out after just one sip.
Miao Jing saw his wrinkled face and looked disgusted, and immediately laughed: "It's bitter, right? I wasn't used to drinking this stuff at first, but later I drank it frequently abroad and gradually got used to it. Especially a cup of coffee in the morning, it makes me energetic all day long."
Fan Zhicheng curled his lips and said, "If I drink this at night, I won't be able to sleep. I won't drink it."
Zhu Hongxing put down the coffee cup in his hand, not daring to drink any more: "I can't get used to this foreign stuff, it's bitter and astringent, just like drinking Chinese medicine."
Miao Jing took out two sugar cubes and a box of creamer from the porcelain bottle on the table and poured them into the coffee. He then handed it to Tao Nanfeng and said, "Add some sugar and milk, and the taste will be okay. Try a sip, but don't drink too much."
Fan Zhicheng reached out and took the coffee in front of Tao Nanfeng, looking at Miao Jing provocatively: "Let me try it first."
Miao Jing met Fan Zhicheng's gaze and felt depressed. What does this surname Fan mean? He was quite active when I was asked to deal with Ruan Xuezhen just now. Now that I finally found an opportunity to show my affection, he came to make trouble.
Tao Nanfeng didn't notice the undercurrent between Miao Jing and Fan Zhicheng, and said, "I won't drink coffee anymore. I'm more used to drinking tea."
Miao Jing immediately responded, "Then... I'll treat you to a bowl of tea and Peking opera tomorrow."
Zhu Hongxing joked: "Don't compete with me. I invited Tao Nanfeng to Kyoto, so naturally I will be the host."
Miao Jing glanced at Zhu Hongxing from the side, unconsciously revealing the cynical temperament of a young man from a wealthy family. Zhu Hongxing immediately shut his mouth and said nothing more.
There was a large table of dishes, all of which I had never seen before. Tao Nanfeng thought it was interesting and picked up his chopsticks to eat a little bit of each. When he ate the pickled cucumber, he felt bad all over and didn't know whether he should spit out the cucumber.
Fan Zhicheng and Miao Jing simultaneously held out the empty plate to her: "Spit here!"
Miao Jing and Fan Zhicheng exchanged glances, and instantly the air was filled with a hint of gunpowder.
——How dare you snatch it from me!
--Pooh! Do you dare to show your courtesy to Tao Nanfeng in front of me and the teacher? Shameless!
Tao Nanfeng's teeth felt like they were about to fall out from the sour food. He swallowed the pickled cucumber despite the discomfort, put down his chopsticks and refused to eat another bite. He waved to Fan Zhicheng and Miao Jing, "Thank you very much, but you're welcome."
It was a noisy scene where we finished singing and then you came on stage. Zhu Hongxing felt like he was sitting in the audience watching a show.
Tao Shouxin glared at Fan Zhicheng, signaling him to restrain himself, then turned to talk to Miao Jing.
"Xiangbei opened a tobacco factory in Jiangcheng, and his parents moved here from the farm. The children will soon be two years old and are very cute. As an uncle, you should come to Jiangcheng when you have time. You and Xiangbei are comrades-in-arms and close friends. This kind of relationship is the most precious. Don't lose contact just because you are far away."
Miao Jing raised his eyes and met Tao Shouxin's gaze.
Facing Tao Shouxin's wise eyes that seemed to see through everything, Miao Jing felt sour and uncomfortable in his heart. He lowered his eyes and looked at the table of almost untouched food and wine in silence for a second.
In fact, Miao Jing has always known about Xiangbei's situation.
Xiangbei is a considerate person. Every Spring Festival, he visits Ai Li in Kyoto to express his gratitude. After all, Xiufeng cigarettes entered the Kyoto market with the help of Ai Li's family. After hearing from Xiangbei that Tao Nanfeng had given birth to two daughters and a son in one breath, Ai Li was extremely jealous and called Miao Jing across the ocean to scold him: Look at your comrade-in-arms, he already has three kids, when are you willing to get married and have children?
Miao Jing was nothing but envious.
Xiangbei and Nanfeng knew each other when they were little. They supported each other on the farm, building roads, houses, building a primary school, digging phosphate mines, and opening a tobacco factory. Now they have finally reaped the rewards of their hard work and have a son and a daughter. We should wish them the best.
Thinking of this, he raised his head and looked at Tao Shouxin, his eyes becoming clear.
"Okay, I was abroad for a while and couldn't come back. Now I'm finally back. When I have time, I will definitely go to Jiangcheng to see my nephew and niece."
Tao Shouxin felt relieved when he saw Miao Jing's attitude become calm.
He had previously seen Miao Jing being gentle and considerate to Tao Nanfeng and trying to please him in every way, which made him suspicious. When he saw Miao Jing competing with Fan Zhicheng, the feeling of men staking their claim to territory made alarm bells go off in his mind.
If his daughter was not married, Tao Shouxin would not object to having another suitor.
But Tao Nanfeng is already married to Xiang Bei and they are raising three children together. It would not be a good thing for any romantic scandal to happen at this time.
What's more, Xiangbei loves, respects and supports Nanfeng. Tao Shouxin is very satisfied with his son-in-law and does not want to create any more trouble and cause family conflicts. Therefore, Tao Shouxin deliberately nodded, hoping that Miao Jing would give up when he saw difficulty.
Fortunately, Miao Jing is also a smart man and understands it immediately.
They all went through this when they were young. When Tao Shouxin saw Miao Jing's eyes gradually dimming, he felt a little reluctant and said something more.
"When Nanfeng and Xiangbei were struggling on the farm, without your help the phosphate mine and tobacco factory could not be opened, and the farm would not have developed so well. We are all grateful for your kindness."
Tao Shouxin raised the wine glass in his hand, stood up and looked at Miao Jing.
"Nanfeng suffered so much on the farm, and as a father, I couldn't help. But you... did so much. I thank you on behalf of Nanfeng and Xiangbei. Thank you, Miao Jing."
Miao Jing was not worthy of Tao Shouxin's toast and thanks, so he quickly stood up, held the cup with both hands, with the rim of his cup lower than the rim of Tao Shouxin's glass, and his attitude was respectful and sincere.
"Uncle Tao, you are a scholar. Scholars are not willing to ask for help. I understand. My life was saved by Xiangbei, so I will do my best to help him. It's a pity that I met Nanfeng a little late, otherwise..."
His voice suddenly choked, and after a long while he managed to utter one sentence: "If I had known her earlier, I could have helped her beat up that director and supervisor and helped her vent her anger with my own hands."
Tao Nanfeng seemed to have heard something, and his bright eyes fell on Miao Jing.
This young man from Kyoto, whom she disliked at first sight, gradually lost his arrogance and became more flexible after years of experience in officialdom.
Thinking back on the past, Tao Nanfeng finally understood Miao Jing's thoughts.
Tao Nanfeng stood up slowly, placed his hands on the white tablecloth, and said in a generous manner: "Miao Jing, thank you."
Miao Jing's smile was a little forced: "Why thank me? I didn't do anything."
Tao Nanfeng smiled but said nothing. Thank you for your kindness, thank you for your restraint, thank you for your polite avoidance, and thank you for your help and support to Xiangbei all the time.
Just keep these words in your heart, why say them out loud?
Tao Shouxin said: "The market economy will bring about great changes in the construction industry. Today, the five of us are all working on infrastructure, so we should seize this opportunity to build our careers. As for the rest... forget it!"
Zhu Hongxing slammed the table, grabbed the fancy cocktail in front of him and drank it all in one gulp: "I like what Professor Tao said, it's generous and magnanimous! You have ideals!"
He didn't expect that the wine, which looked harmless, was actually very strong. He choked and started coughing.
Everyone smiled at each other and raised their glasses at the same time: "Make great achievements!"
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