Chapter 86: Visiting President Song, whose "past is too painful to look back on",
It’s the sixth day of the first lunar month, and it’s sunny.
My brother-in-law got on the bus and said, "Xicheng District, suburbs, take the ring road."
After leaving the city and getting on the ring road, the car sped up like lightning.
My brother-in-law counseled me, "Shanhong, if you want to gain a foothold in Wu Township, you must have an identity. Otherwise, how will people address you? Calling you Master Wan? That's obviously a joke. You're not a true master.
Calling him Master Wan? He's the same as calling him Master Carpenter, Master Bamboo Craftsman, or Master Blacksmith. In your line of work, the more educated you are, the more prestigious you are. Calling him Master lowers your status.
"Mr. Wan? You seem too young. Little Wan? It seems disrespectful to you."
So, you can become the secretary general of the Prose Association. In formal occasions, people will be able to address you by that name, and you will feel comfortable hearing it."
I said, "Brother-in-law, your analysis is thorough and thoughtful. Actually, I'm also troubled. Once, Mr. Deng hosted a dinner with some leaders present. At the table, he introduced everyone present to the leaders one by one.
When he introduced me, he paused. He usually jokingly called me Master Wan, or Shanhong…”
"And what did he introduce you as?"
"Master Hongyi's disciple. Even my name is omitted."
My brother-in-law laughed heartily, and then he said seriously:
"Unless you're incredibly famous, it's really hard to introduce yourself to a profession like yours. Therefore, during your formative years, you must have a formal title. That's why I asked you to join the Prose Society."
I sighed:
"Brother-in-law, I'm essentially a cultured person. I just failed the college entrance examination, so my talents have never been fully utilized. Besides, I don't even have the courage to repeat a grade. I'm naturally poor at English and math. Meeting you is like meeting my second master in life."
My brother-in-law was not modest. He continued:
"You should also slowly make friends with people of good taste. A person's five best friends, if their combined income is divided by five, equals his own income. The kind of people you hang out with shapes your taste. President Song is worth making friends with."
Then he introduced President Song to me, saying that his full name was Song Youzhi, and the "Youzhi" in "花开花落两由之" (flowers bloom and fall by each other) was the same name as the famous ophthalmologist Tang Youzhi.
I was knowledgeable and continued, "Yes, Tang Youzhi removed the cataract for the great man. His skills are superb."
My brother-in-law nodded and continued, "The president is proficient in everything from playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting to gardening and raising plants. It's just that the past is too hard to recall."
"The past is too painful to look back on?"
"Well, he was so handsome when he was young that there was a real platoon of women chasing him, but he could only choose one. So, to get him, some women never married, some women hanged themselves for him, and some women jumped into the river for him."
I finally understood what my brother-in-law meant when he said, "The past is too hard to look back on."
Step on the gas and see President Song as soon as possible!
"Women pay as much attention to appearance as men do." I sighed.
"You only found out today?"
"Haha, I knew it a long time ago, I was just sighing."
"Master didn't accept you just because you're handsome and have spiritual roots?"
"Thank you, brother-in-law, for your affirmation of my appearance."
"Hahahaha... You can be shameless, but don't be completely shameless... However, Shanhong, you look like both your father and your mother. This is a rare genetic opportunity. You've inherited all of their strengths while successfully avoiding their weaknesses..."
Having said this, he felt that he had spoken too fast and stopped talking about the word "shortcomings".
The two chatted and laughed and got off the ring road.
I asked, "Why does he live in the suburbs like us?"
My brother-in-law laughed and said: You think the suburbs are backward, but only rich people live in the western suburbs.
Less than ten minutes later, we were already on the outskirts of town. The houses grew sparser, and fields and hills stretched out in a continuous line. On a small hill, a house stood alone, its gate open. I pulled into the yard and saw an exquisite little villa.
As soon as the car stopped, a group of people came out and drove away.
President Song stood at the door and waved to the group.
My brother-in-law got out of the car first, and President Song shouted, "Gao Xu is here, come in quickly, come in quickly."
I parked the car and walked over, and my brother-in-law said, "My brother-in-law, Wan Shanhong, is an apprentice of Master Hongyi."
President Song kept saying, "Celebrity, celebrity."
I said, "The president is the celebrity."
Only then did I take a closer look at Chairman Song. He was under fifty, and indeed had a refined demeanor and a distinguished appearance. He had large eyes, a high nose bridge, and a square face. His lower eyelids, in particular, were thick and full. Those with these eye bags, whether male or female, are inherently attractive to the opposite sex.
When we arrived at a large living room, President Song extended his hand and invited us to take a seat.
At this time, a person walked down from the stairwell of the duplex building. I looked up and saw that it was a graceful woman. Needless to say, she should be the platoon leader of the reinforced platoon.
She came down the stairs and said with a smile, "Oh, Gao Xu, you brought a distinguished guest with you."
My brother-in-law and I were about to stand up when the president pointed his hand downward, signaling a relaxed attitude. He introduced us as "Teacher Chen." Then he said, "Gao Xu's brother-in-law, a disciple of Master Hongyi."
Teacher Chen smiled sweetly: "Oh, that's a distinguished guest."
She brought the tea and said softly:
“This is specially made by me.”
When I looked at it, there was not a single tea leaf in the tea.
Teacher Chen smiled faintly: "You don't understand, right? Use scented tea, wolfberry, and black sesame seeds and mash them together. It nourishes the skin, removes spots, and refreshes the mind."
After listening to her introduction and looking at the interior decoration, I realized that this couple lived a very refined life.
President Song introduced her to me: "She plays the piano, dances, and teaches students. I collect antiques, write, paint, and grow flowers."
I said enviously, "The lady plays the zither and occasionally dances in colorful costumes. The gentleman writes poetry and occasionally plants flowers in the courtyard. They live like gods, and everyone envies them."
President Song said to my brother-in-law, "Your brother-in-law is quite good and speaks eloquently."
My brother-in-law smiled and said, "We are all outsiders. We hope the president can give us more support."
President Song waved his hand. "It's not really about promotion. I'm a laid-back person. If you're a good friend, we'll visit each other often. In the summer breeze, we'll sit in the courtyard. In the winter solstice, we'll roast new wine in red clay."
I don't know where his wine jug is, but after saying this, he actually bent down and pulled out a jug of wine from under the coffee table. Teacher Chen immediately placed it in three wine glasses, a pile of peanuts, and several piles of braised vegetables. The president's gesture of filtering the wine was also somewhat ancient, a line of wine pouring into the cup, not too much, not too little, without splashing or spilling.
We slowly savored the wine and chatted.
President Song said to me:
"Your brother-in-law has explained your situation to me. I'll give you a number. After the New Year, go to Secretary-General Xi Ruoqin to get a form. Fill it out and join the association first.
Then, in March of this year, we'll hold a re-election for the society. We plan to appoint Xi Ruoqin as vice president and then appoint you as secretary-general.
I quickly raised my glass and said, "I'd like to offer a toast to the president."
He clinked his lips with mine, still taking only a small sip, and continued:
"In the province's prose community, our city's prose society is the most prosperous. Everyone writes articles and organizes activities. Birds of a feather flock together, and having a team gives you a sense of belonging.
For example, last year, we organized a poetry festival in May. Dozens of people took two boats and sailed down the river. A yangqin was placed on the bow of the boat. They sang, danced, and composed poems.
The Mid-Autumn Night Talk in September was held in Cicun Square. We lit a bonfire, roasted lamb for a picnic, recited each other's articles, and then danced hand in hand around the bonfire. It was very interesting.
He had ignited the romantic fire in my heart. I loved this kind of life, but I couldn't act too eager. I just smiled at him and waited for him to continue.
He looked at me seriously and continued:
"This kind of team is very nurturing. After joining the society, some young people who were originally just ordinary cadres were discovered to be talented through writing articles. Some of them were transferred to better positions, and some were promoted to become league cadres.
I said, “I really like this kind of team life.”
President Song said, "People live not just to have enough food and clothing, but also to have a place for their souls to rest and a place for their hearts to return to."
I laughed and said, "The president is the one who can really speak eloquently."
At this time, President Song suddenly changed the subject:
"Shanhong, I've heard your brother-in-law tell me many times that you're quite good at fortune-telling. I have something to ask you privately, is that okay?"
My brother-in-law secretly winked at me, meaning that I must agree.
I nodded and said, "Okay."
President Song stood up and took me upstairs...
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