Chapter 100
Meng Huaiqing handed his ID to Miao Sheng, who went to check in. He stood there and greeted Qin Xiang and the others. "I didn't expect to see you here again."
"Mr. Meng actually stays in a guesthouse like this." Qin Xiang looked at him suspiciously. "Are there no rooms available in those five-star hotels?"
This is simply a lie. A Hong Kong businessman like Meng Huaiqing would stay in a guesthouse? Wouldn't the things in the guesthouse be so picky from head to toe?
Meng Huaiqing didn't seem embarrassed by being exposed. He nodded helplessly, a hint of embarrassment on his gentle face. "Okay, I wanted to spend more time with you guys, so after thinking it over, I decided to come along."
He spoke frankly, so Qin Xiang couldn't press him any further. "Since Mr. Meng wants to experience life, we can't stop him. Let's go up first."
Meng Huaiqing nodded, "Okay."
When they reached the door of the room, Qin Yang said, "Xiangxiang, if you're interested in him, even though Third Brother doesn't agree, he won't stop you. If you're not interested, it's better to make it clear."
Qin Xiang felt a headache. "But he didn't say anything. What can I say? Didn't you hear him say he wanted to be friends with us? Do we have to refuse even that?"
It would be best for Qin Yang to refuse, but after thinking about it, he felt that this was not a good idea.
Not to mention that Meng Huaiqing has helped them time and time again, just because Meng Huaiqing is their landlord, they can't say no.
Qin Yang turned and went into the room, and Qin Xiang scratched his head and went in too.
After a while, there was a knock on the door. Qin Xiang thought it was Qin Yang, but unexpectedly, it was Meng Huaiqing standing at the door. He pointed to the next door and said, "I live next door. You can call me if you need anything."
Qin Xiang's expression was complicated, and he nodded, "Okay."
Fortunately, Meng Huaiqing didn't say anything else, otherwise Qin Xiang really wanted to confront Meng Huaiqing and ask him what he meant. It was fine to keep a distance before, why did he suddenly become so enthusiastic?
However, although Meng Huaiqing seemed a little more enthusiastic than before, he also maintained an appropriate distance, and his words and actions did not make people feel disgusted.
At noon, everyone had lunch. In the afternoon, Qin Xiang decided to go out to buy some things for school.
Jie Zong said, "Let's go together. I also need to buy some things."
Without waiting for Meng Huaiqing to speak, Qin Yang said, "Then you guys go ahead. Mr. Meng and I will rest in the guesthouse for a while."
Meng Huaiqing glanced at Qin Xiang with a gentle expression, "Do you need help carrying your bag?"
Qin Xiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "I'm not that delicate."
Meng Huaiqing didn't insist, "Okay, see you tomorrow morning then."
Qin Xiang nodded, "Okay, see you tomorrow morning."
After coming out of the guesthouse, Jie Zong looked at her as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. Qin Xiang asked, "Do you have anything to say?"
"No." Jie Zong closed his mouth tightly, still looking cold.
Jie Zong was confused, so Qin Xiang didn't ask any more questions. She found a store selling daily necessities nearby and went in to buy some.
Qin Xiang hadn't brought anything like a washbasin or towels, so she had to buy them. After asking around, she discovered the dormitory only had a bed frame and nothing else, so they bought a cool mat. As for bedding, Qin Xiang only brought a mattress and a thin blanket; she would have to buy a winter quilt after she settled in.
They bought a lot of odds and ends, and Jie Zong didn't say much, just carried them all together.
Qin Xiang couldn't refuse even if she wanted to.
When we were almost at the guesthouse, Jie Zong said, "Let's find time after school starts to sort out the materials together."
Qin Xiang had no objection and nodded, "Okay."
The next morning, everyone got up early. After breakfast in the restaurant, Meng Huaiqing said, "I've asked someone to prepare a car. Let's drive there. Otherwise, taking the bus would be a bit time-consuming. Besides, climbing the Great Wall is a physical activity, so it's better to save energy before going up."
They were already prepared, but they didn't expect Meng Huaiqing to drive himself this time. "There are many of us, so it's no problem if I drive."
He looked at Qin Xiang and said, "Qin Xiang, you sit in the passenger seat."
After saying that, he got into the driver's seat first.
Qin Yang had a dark face the whole time, so Qin Xiang comforted him, "Third brother, he can't stay in the capital all the time. It's okay, he's busy."
"I'm afraid the drunkard has other intentions." Qin Yang felt aggrieved, but this matter was Qin Xiang's business. As an older brother, he had said everything he needed to say and could not make any other decisions.
But Jie Zong’s mood was not so good. The more they interacted, the more clearly he saw the gap between them.
Last night at dinner, he unexpectedly ran into Meng Huaiqing, who was gentle and polite. During their conversation, he learned that he was a graduate of a world-renowned university, and his conversation and upbringing were not something that ordinary people could possess.
As for family background, it goes without saying that the other party's family is well-off.
Jie Zong has grown up so big that he naturally has his own pride and backbone, but I didn't expect that he would understand that there is someone out there after just one contact.
In the car, Jie Zong was very silent, but Meng Huaiqing gave a brief introduction to the situation in the capital and some things about the Great Wall.
Qin Xiang asked, "Mr. Meng knows all these things very well. If he didn't know you were from Hong Kong, he would have thought you were from the capital."
"That's not the case. I learned it from some homework I did last night." Meng Huaiqing glanced at her and smiled, "But I can't learn the Beijing dialect."
Qin Xiang also laughed. The capital's accent was difficult for most people to learn, which made them instantly distinguishable from the locals. It was fine if they didn't speak, but once they did, they could tell.
Qin Xiang didn't say anything else, and Meng Huaiqing also stopped talking. The atmosphere in the car was stagnant.
When we arrived at the Great Wall, we found that there were quite a few people taking advantage of the last holiday to climb it. Many of them were young people in their twenties, and there were not many older people.
In such an environment, Meng Huaiqing, dressed in casual clothes, was still the focus of the crowd, and almost everyone couldn't help but look back wherever he walked.
Perhaps Qin Xiang was the only one who wanted to ask if it was hot wearing this.
Perhaps noticing her gaze, Meng Huaiqing raised his eyebrows to express his doubt.
Qin Xiang asked, Meng Huaiqing was stunned at first, then he rolled up his long-sleeved shirt, revealing a strong arm, but when he turned his arm, there was a long scar on it.
"It's for this."
Qin Xiang was silent, looking at the hideous scar, and after a while she said, "I'm sorry."
"Nothing, I just wear long sleeves to avoid unwanted attention." Meng Huaiqing slowly lowered his sleeves, seemingly unconcerned. He looked at Qin Xiang and smiled, "Are you scared?"
Qin Xiang shook her head, "That's not the case."
Jie Zong, watching the two of them talking back and forth, felt a little anxious, but he couldn't get a word in. Qin Yang, who was more knowledgeable, said, "Is that a knife wound?"
Meng Huaiqing did not hide it, "Indeed, it was a dagger wound. I blocked a fatal blow, so this scar is also a medal of salvation."
Qin Xiang glanced at him for a moment longer, unable to help but think of the internal struggles among the wealthy families in Hong Kong. On the surface, they were friendly, but inwardly, they were actually engaged in palace intrigue. From what she had previously learned, Meng Huaiqing took his mother's surname, so he must have had significant conflicts with his father.
At this time, Qin Yang said nonchalantly, "Then Hong Kong City must be in crisis as well. Mr. Meng should protect his family more."
Meng Huaiqing nodded, "Of course. Some things are enough once, so why should they happen a second time?"
This was also the first time that Qin Xiang saw a flash of mockery and disdain in Meng Huaiqing's eyes. But she knew that this mockery was not directed at her third brother, but at the person who had put him in trouble.
Qin Xiang and the other three followed the crowd and were shocked by the wisdom of the ancients.
If it were in later times, everyone would definitely hold up their mobile phones and take pictures randomly, but nowadays, cameras are rare. Most young people are really immersed in the beautiful rivers and mountains of the motherland to appreciate the civilization and wisdom of thousands of years.
Many people stood on the city wall facing the wind and shouted loudly into the distance, seeming to be very happy.
Qin Xiang looked at the three men and suddenly had a bad idea, "Let's shout too."
As she said this, she made a trumpet shape with her hands and screamed.
The voice echoed in the empty air. Qin Xiang looked at them with a smile, "I'm done shouting. It's your turn now. Don't hold back. Come one by one."
Aren’t you secretly competing with each other? Then come on.
Meng Huaiqing's face froze, then he nodded, "Okay."
He stood beside Qin Xiang, put his hand to his lips, turned his head and asked Qin Xiang, "Is that so?"
Qin Xiang corrected his movements, "Just like that."
Meng Huaiqing had never done anything so outrageous before. He opened his mouth but couldn't shout. Qin Xiang said, "Just open your mouth and shout. What are you afraid of? What's a real man to be afraid of?"
"Okay, I'll try again." Meng Huaiqing knew that Qin Xiang was looking at him again, so he opened his mouth and let out a sound, but the voice was very small.
Qin Xiang was dissatisfied, "Mr. Meng, you can't do it."
How could the man bear to hear this? Meng Huaiqing frowned and raised his voice. Although it was not as good as Qin Xiang's, it was still good. He said helplessly, "I can't do it anymore."
Qin Xiang went to see Jie Zong again. Jie Zong was so desperate that he let out a loud cry that echoed far away.
Meng Huaiqing sighed, "It's still good to be young. Mr. Xie is amazing."
These words sounded a little different to Jie Zong, as if the other party was saying that he was young.
Jie Zong said with a stern face, "That's right. Youth naturally has its advantages. Mr. Meng can't go back anyway."
He thought about it all night last night and felt that there was no need for him to rush to show anything. He had four years to deal with Qin Xiang in the next four years. Someone like Meng Huaiqing, who was said to have a big business, could he stay in the capital for a long time?
Thinking of this, the expression on Jie Zong's face relaxed a lot.
Meng Huaiqing agreed, "Mr. Xie is right. Youth is gone forever. I just hope I can live with a clear conscience for the time I've passed."
Youth is an eternal topic. At this moment, Qin Xiang truly felt that she was a young person, not an elder compared to them.
At noon, Miao Sheng and his companions, who had been elusive, appeared with folding tables and chairs, allowing them to experience the luxurious life of a big boss. They took a picnic on a flat area at the bottom of the mountain. The rich variety of food, including Chinese and Western cuisine, was truly an eye-opener for Qin Xiang and the others.
Therefore, when they went down the mountain, Jie Zong became even more silent. Instead, Qin Yang and Meng Huaiqing learned more about each other. Qin Yang took the opportunity to inquire about the development of the port city.
Finally, Qin Yang concluded, "This tiny country is far inferior to the mainland."
Meng Huaiqing was not annoyed, and smiled as he said, "Hong Kong is also a part of China. It will return to the motherland in the 1990s. Whether they are from Hong Kong or the mainland, they are all Chinese."
Yes, a joint declaration was signed at the end of last year, and Hong Kong will return to the motherland in 1997.
As someone who has experienced this, Qin Xiang naturally knows the grand occasion when Hong Kong City returned, but at this moment, people on the mainland cannot feel that sense of pride, and most people are still envious of the prosperous life in Hong Kong City.
In his previous life, Qin Xiang had also met some Hong Kong businessmen with Wang Junsheng. Most of the Hong Kong businessmen were arrogant, spoke in Cantonese, and looked down on the backwardness of the mainland, with a natural sense of superiority. But Meng Huaiqing was different. He spoke standard Mandarin, was humble and polite. If you didn't tell him, and didn't see his style when traveling, it would be hard to believe that he was a well-known businessman in Hong Kong. It would be easier to mistake him for a scholar from some university.
Qin Yang snorted, "Even so, the lifestyles of people in Hong Kong are very different from those in the mainland. It's hard for them to even eat from the same bowl. For example, Qin Xiang loves spicy food, but Mr. Meng can't stand spicy food."
"Appetite is not a problem." Meng Huaiqing put down his chopsticks, took a white handkerchief and slowly cleaned his fingers, his words still steady and gentle, "At most, the dishes on the table can be divided into spicy and light. Any problem that can be solved is not a problem."
Qin Yang: "Mr. Meng is indeed wealthy and powerful. He is different from the likes of us."
Meng Huaiqing smiled as he glanced at Qin Xiang and then at Qin Yang. "It's all the same. Food, sex, and everything else are the same. Material differences can be made up for, but what's rare is spiritual compatibility, which can't be blocked by geography."
Qin Yang was silent for a while, and then he said, "I'm uneducated and can't compare to Mr. Meng's eloquence."
"This has nothing to do with eloquence. I'm telling the truth." Meng Huaiqing looked at Qin Xiang with a smile, "Qin Xiang, am I right?"
Qin Xiang smiled wryly, "I think you are all free."
Everyone is busy now, who cares about these things?
Meng Huaiqing burst out laughing.
After going down the mountain, Meng Huaiqing was still driving. When they arrived at the guesthouse, they separated. However, Meng Huaiqing said goodbye to Qin Xiang, contrary to his usual behavior. "My schedule is limited, so I won't take you to school tomorrow. I'll come see you after I'm done."
Qin Xiang really wanted to say that it was not necessary, but when she met Meng Huaiqing's sincere eyes, she couldn't say it.
Forget it, the boss is the boss, he can come whenever he wants, maybe he is just being polite, can she take it seriously?
The next day is September 1st, and most universities choose this day to report for the start of school.
Qin Yang was worried that Qin Xiang would be nervous, so he decided to invite Qin Xiang and Jie Zong to dinner that evening, to give them a chance to spend time together.
Jie Zong was very grateful to Qin Yang for this, but Qin Xiang just wanted to go back to sleep.
But in the end, Qin Yang pulled him out of the door.
He even took them to a famous roast duck restaurant in the capital. Qin Xiang was surprised, "Third brother, you actually found this place."
Qin Yang was a little smug and pointed to his mouth. "There's a mouth under my nose. Just ask."
The three of them entered the restaurant and found that the roast duck restaurant was still very busy. Qin Yang ordered a roast duck, three dishes, and finally a bowl of duck bone soup. "I asked the old man at the door of the guesthouse, and this place has the best roast duck."
Qin Xiang thought, isn't this the best? This is a century-old store, and its reputation is there. Not to mention now, even in a few decades, it will be a place that everyone must check in when visiting the capital.
The food was delicious, and the three of them ate and chatted. Without Meng Huaiqing here, the atmosphere seemed much more relaxed. However, at this moment, someone suddenly shouted, "What a coincidence."
Qin Xiang looked back and thought: What a coincidence, Qiaoqiao is home.
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