Chapter 450 Matching Tables
Seeing that his wife was a little unhappy, Meng Qingshan knew that she was worried about her brother-in-law again, so he didn't disturb her, but simply put his arm around her shoulder.
Meng Qingshan had never met his brother-in-law Zhou Zhengping before. He could only piece together a vague image of him from his wife's occasional words. He thought Zhou Zhengping should be more lively than he was now, but he couldn't imagine what he was like.
Over the years, Meng Qingshan has found his brother-in-law to be more and more worry-free.
He always delivered gifts on time for holidays and never interfered in their family affairs. Even when Anping wanted to help her relatives, Zhou Zhengping stopped her, saying, "No need."
His business was booming, and the news coming from the south was more and more astonishing, but Zhou Zhengping never showed off in front of his family.
Once, Meng Qingshan heard that Zhou Zhengping's company had obtained the first batch of import and export quotas in the special economic zone. When he went back to ask Anping, she was completely unaware of it.
The only thing that made Zhou Zhengping feel somewhat distant was that excessive aloofness. They were clearly family, yet it always felt like there was a transparent glass wall between them.
On New Year's Eve last year, Zhou Zhengping sat in the corner of the sofa, not saying a word, as if the festivities belonged to others.
But then I thought, everyone has their own way of living.
Meng Qingshan himself came from a military family and knew best what it meant to "not show one's emotions."
It's normal for Zhou Zhengping to be a bit shrewd after navigating the ups and downs of the business world.
As long as it's good for Anping and genuine for the children, nothing else matters.
Meng Qingshan had also considered going into business a couple of years ago.
Unfortunately, he had barely begun to show promise at home when he was berated by his father and older brother. The old man even slammed his pistol on the desk, saying, "The Meng family has been in the military for generations. If you take off this uniform, I'll shoot you first..."
......
Meng Qingshan's little spark was extinguished before it could even ignite.
He diligently continued to work with battle maps and sand tables, and last year he was promoted to deputy division commander, with a star added to his shoulder insignia.
But I still secretly miss her...
Meng Qingshan said casually, "Anping, I'll see my brother-in-law during the New Year and want to ask him about the situation in the South."
"Don't get your hopes up too high. I don't really like talking about these things these days."
"I know, we're just chatting casually."
Zhou Anping saw through his thoughts and said, "Qingshan, things are fine as they are."
Meng Qingshan knew what she was talking about.
Wearing the military uniform was both an honor and a shackle. The sea of neon lights described in the letters from his comrades who had ventured into the special economic zone ultimately did not belong to him.
Thousands of miles away in the south, Zhou Zhengping stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of his office. From the 23rd floor, neon lights painted the night sky with flowing rainbows.
In the distance, the warning lights on the construction site tower cranes flashed rhythmically, like the pulse of the city.
Zhou Zhengping recalled meeting Gu Yan at the Canton Fair last year. Gu Yan was wearing an Italian suit, arm in arm with Chen Anna, and talking to foreign businessmen about export quotas in English.
As they passed each other, Gu Yan nodded to him, as if to any business partner.
Gu Yan's garment factory gets its fabrics from him, and his electronics factory needs Gu Yan's Hong Kong business connections.
Business cooperation went smoothly, but they would never again go out drinking together in private.
They met at a chamber of commerce event a while ago, clinked glasses politely, chatted about import and export tariffs, and Gu Yan casually mentioned that he would be holding his wedding in Jian'an during the Spring Festival.
At that time, he patted Gu Yan on the shoulder and offered a simple congratulation. Gu Yan was then called away by several acquaintances before he could say anything more.
Those are all in the past.
Zhou Zhengping turned around and pressed the internal phone: "Amin, come in."
The young assistant pushed open the door and entered, carrying a notebook.
Zhou Zhengping didn't turn around; his voice reflected back through the glass, slightly distorted: "Gu Sheng is getting married during the Spring Festival. Go find some suitable wedding gifts tomorrow."
"Mr. Gu Yan?" Amin quickly took notes. "What's the approximate budget and direction?"
"No upper limit."
Zhou Zhengping finally turned around. Only one desk lamp was on in the office, and half of his face was hidden in shadow.
"Something valuable. Something that can be passed down through generations."
"clear."
Amin closed his notebook. "I'll go to Chung Ying Street tomorrow to check out the new models in Hong Kong. Should I use the company name or..."
"Personal. Let me review the gift list once it's ready."
"Yes, boss."
Amin left, and the office door closed gently.
Zhou Zhengping picked up the phone, then put it down again.
I wanted to call Gu Yan again in person, but what should I say? Congratulations would be too polite, and reminiscing about the past would be too sentimental.
In the end, he only sent an internal message to the secretary's office: "Remind me tomorrow to personally select the correct watch."
Rolex or Patek Philippe?
Gu Yan is wearing the former now.
Then let's go with Patek Philippe, the one with a rose gold dial, to match the skin tone of his Hong Kong businesswoman fiancée.
Zhou Zhengping wrote it down on a sticky note, his handwriting sharp and forceful.
As the night deepened, the neon lights shone ever brighter. The city never slept, and neither could he.
Tomorrow there are negotiations with Hong Kong businessmen, and the day after tomorrow I'm flying to Haishi to look at land plots.
The world is changing too fast, so fast that he has to run at full speed to avoid being left behind.
Only occasionally, in the dead of night when no one can see him, would he allow himself to pause for a moment.
The photo shows a large group of people. In the center are the younger sister and Meng Qingshan. Slightly to the side, Nan Zhiyi is talking to the person next to her, her eyes and brows soft and affectionate.
He stood on the other edge of the photo, with three or four people between them, as if separated by an entire youth that could never be returned to.
He gave a self-deprecating smile.
Even for a group photo, they have to borrow the spotlight from their sister's wedding, and they only dare to choose a side profile in a crowd.
There was indeed a solo photo of her at the very back of the drawer, taken many years ago at the Jian'an Nan family's old house. She was sitting under a crabapple tree, holding a book, with sunlight dappling her shoulders.
My sister is right, he's a coward, he deserves it.
Time changed everything, including him.
With a light touch of my fingertip, the picture frame fell face down onto the table again, making a dull thud.
The negotiations continued until 3 p.m. the following day.
After seeing the Hong Kong businessman off, Zhou Zhengping glanced at his watch and said to his other assistant, Ah Jie, who was waiting, "Go to Central."
They spent forty minutes in the VIP room of King's Watch Company.
Zhou Zhengping ultimately chose Patek Philippe's Golden Ellipse series, with a rose gold dial and alligator leather strap.
"Do you want the dial engraved?" the manager asked softly.
Zhou Zhengping refused, saying, "No need, just wrap it up."
He didn't even blink when he swiped his card for a nearly six-figure sum.
Ah Jie followed behind him, carrying a dark blue watch box, as they passed through the dazzling array of shop windows in the mall.
As Zhou Zhengping passed a wedding dress shop, he paused slightly. In the window, a mannequin was wearing an ivory satin dress with a veil trailing on the ground.
“Zhou Sheng,” A-Jie whispered a reminder, “you have a tea party with the director of the development zone at 4:30.”
He looked away and said, "I understand."
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