Half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and the year came to 2003.
Wang Yang got married to Li Ping, the fat girl in the movie who was good at cooking. After that, he never interfered in the business activities of "New Dream".
Meng Xiaojun is similar. He travels all day long to second-tier cities such as Shenyang, Chongqing, and Wuhan to provide help to those who want to open English schools.
Cheng Dongqing started the days of "monopoly" until one day, EES in the United States sued "New Dream". The other party's view was that "New Dream" had pirated some TOEFL test materials from EES.
Or, "New Dream" will be suspended and the two parties will engage in a protracted legal battle. Or, he could go to the United States and have a head-to-head fight with EES to see if a consensus acceptable to both sides could be reached.
It's almost like what happened in the movie. When Cheng Dongqing felt helpless, Meng Xiaojun came back and Wang Yang came back too.
Meng Xiaojun is here to help Cheng Dongqing tide over the difficulties, because the "new dream" was created by them. If they are hit by this incident and cannot recover, it will not only cause financial losses, but also a heavy blow to their lives.
As for Wang Yang, Wang Yang said something similar, but Cheng Dongqing always felt that he didn't mean what he said. It could also be said that the drunkard's intention was not in drinking.
Contradictions, confrontation, incomprehension... these things are not important compared to the difficulties at hand.
This time, in order to face the problems from the outside world, the three people chose to face them together.
…
A few days later.
New York, USA.
As the "godfather of studying abroad", President Cheng set foot on the United States for the first time in more than 40 years. When he looked at the high-rise buildings and the torrent of steel outside the window, he couldn't help feeling emotional and confused.
Meng Xiaojun is quite familiar with this city, especially the neighborhood where the car is currently located.
"Wang Yang, where are you taking us?"
“A place to eat.”
Meng Xiaojun frowned when he heard this. He talked with the people from EES all morning, but there was no progress. If he had to use one word to describe the meeting process, it would be "talking like a chicken and a duck". The Americans insisted that "New Dream" stole EES's The test questions were used to give students from China an unfair advantage in the TOEFL exam. Not to mention the stolen test questions, the three people could not accept the argument that the stolen test questions were used to help Chinese students gain an unfair advantage. Moreover, the amount of compensation demanded by EES was too high.
$15 million, which is more than what New Dreams could gain from those test questions.
When Meng Xiaojun was struggling with how to negotiate in the afternoon, the car stopped on the side of the road. Wang Yang said: "We're here", opened the door and walked out. He put aside the thoughts in his mind, followed Cheng Dongqing and got out of the car, looking up at the restaurant in front of him. At this time, the whole person was stunned.
"Hey, Wang Yang, can't you eat Western food? You know I can't get used to this."
"How can you eat Chinese food in the United States, unless you want to eat cloyingly sweet tomato scrambled eggs."
Meng Xiaojun was indifferent to the conversation between the two people and stared blankly at the Western restaurant opposite.
Yes, this was the restaurant where he worked as a handyman when he was poor. Why would Wang Yang bring them here to eat? To humiliate him?
"Meng Xiaojun, didn't you say you were almost hungry? Why are you standing there in a daze?"
"Wang Yang, why did you bring us to this restaurant?"
"It looks very low-grade, doesn't it?" Wang Yang said, "Actually... someone recommended it."
"Who recommended it?"
"An alumnus." He gave a very vague answer, opened the door and walked in.
Seeing this, Meng Xiaojun could only calm down and walked into the restaurant with Cheng Dongqing.
The woman who deducted his tip back then was still working in the store and didn't seem to recognize his identity. She very enthusiastically asked them to sit down by the window and asked them what they wanted to eat while holding a small notebook.
Meng Xiaojun ordered the pastrami and rye burger that he used to love.
Wang Yang's attention was not focused on eating at all. He kept looking into the counter, which aroused Cheng Dongqing's suspicion. After turning his head and looking at it for a while, his expression changed. He got up from the chair and pointed at the computer opposite. The blond woman who clicked said: "She...she...she is..."
"What's wrong?" Meng Xiaojun followed his gaze and his expression became more and more exciting.
He finally knew why Wang Yang brought them here, because the blond woman was none other than Wang Yang's girlfriend in college, the American journalist LUCY.
But why is LUCY here? And judging from the current situation, it seems that she is the proprietress of a Western restaurant.
Perhaps because their gazes were too hot, LUCY felt something and looked over at the three of them. When she noticed Wang Yang's face, her expression gradually solidified, but she quickly reacted and pushed open the door leading to the counter and the back. He walked through the waist door of the kitchen and walked up to the three of them.
"Wang Yang? Is it really you?"
It was obvious that she was very happy to meet him here.
"It's me, are you okay?"
"I am fine, and you."
"I am fine too."
After a short period of happiness, it became awkward.
Cheng Dongqing was very sensible and winked at Meng Xiaojun, and the two of them changed tables.
LUCY told the waiter to serve two cups of coffee first.
"How did you know I was here?"
Wang Yang said: "I didn't know you were here, but someone recommended this restaurant to me, saying that if I have a chance to come to the United States, I must come here to sit here, otherwise I will regret it."
"who's that person?"
"A netizen."
LUCY was silent for a while, then turned and walked back to the bar, took out a business card from the drawer and handed it to Wang Yang.
"I remember you said that Chinese people like to give gifts in return."
Wang Yang took the business card in his hand and flipped it back and forth: "Chinatown, Tiansheng Law Firm?"
"What's this?"
"If you encounter difficulties in the United States, you can go here to find help."
The riddle-like exchange between the two made Meng Xiaojun speechless. He couldn't help but stand up and ask: "LUCY, aren't you a reporter? How come you came to be the owner of this Western restaurant?"
LUCY said: "I quit my job as a reporter when I came back from China. It wasn't until the year of my divorce that someone gave it to me as a birthday gift."
"Who is so generous?"
"a friend."
It's obvious that LUCY doesn't want to talk.
"Let's go." Wang Yang stood up.
"Let's go, don't want to eat?" Cheng Dongqing didn't understand that he was crazy, so it was fine if he was not allowed to eat. He has been thinking about LUCY all these years, and now that we are destined to see each other again, he doesn't want to stay for a while longer, but stands up and leaves. Does he want to Is this to express loyalty to Li Ping?
"Just leave if I tell you to. There is so much nonsense."
Seeing that Wang Yang was anxious, Cheng Dongqing could only reluctantly eat less than a third of the bacon and egg burger, and walked out of the restaurant with Meng Xiaojun.
"Wang Yang, something is wrong with you."
The three of them returned to the car, and Cheng Dongqing looked at the face in the rearview mirror with a puzzled expression.
Wang Yang handed over the business card that LUCY had just given him.
Cheng Dongqing was confused: "What do you mean?"
"Aren't we going to file a lawsuit with EES? Don't you think it's a coincidence that LUCY gave me such a business card as soon as we met?" Wang Yang explained to the two of them as he drove the car why he didn't chat more with his old lover. In other words, the reason why I left in a hurry without even bothering to eat.
"Maybe...even though she returned to the United States, she has been paying attention to the 'New Dream', or your affairs."
"Cheng Dongqing, you are so good at making connections."
At this time, Meng Xiaojun, who had been silent in the back seat, spoke.
"Do you know what the Western restaurant I just went to has to do with me?"
Cheng Dongqing looked over with confusion, and Wang Yang also took a deep look at him through the rearview mirror.
"The Western restaurant I just went to is the one where I worked as a handyman."
This simple sentence brought overwhelming feelings to Cheng Dongqing and Wang Yang.
"No..." Cheng Dongqing asked Wang Yang, "Who is your schoolmate?"
"Just a girl who chased me in college."
…
Soon, the three came to Chinatown.
Compared with other neighborhoods, the majority of faces here are yellow, with various light boxes and signboards hanging left and right, Taste Kitchen, Guangzeng Restaurant, Hongpeng Optical Shop, Lili Beauty Center, Xiyunlai Teahouse...
Following the guidance of the business card, the three of them arrived in front of a two-story building called Huatu Law Firm. In addition to the phone number and business scope, the plaque also specifically stated the words "free legal consultation for Chinese people".
Stepping into the house, there were several Chinese people sitting in the spacious and bright hall, and staff in black suits were serving tea to them.
There was a sweet-looking girl standing behind the simple and elegant bar. She was lowering her head to organize documents, but noticed that the three of them raised their heads after entering the door, and said with a smile: "Gentlemen, how can I help you? "
Wang Yang looked at the layout of the front hall, walked up to the girl, and handed over the business card in his hand.
"The boss lady of RUSS&DAUGHTERS CAFE gave me a business card and said that you can help us."
The girl took the business card and looked at it: "Sir, what's your surname?"
"My surname is Wang, and my given name has the character Yang."
"Mr. Wang, please wait a moment."
The girl took the business card and went up to the second floor. In just half a minute, she left and came back, followed by a woman with a very oppressive face.
Cheng Dongqing's eyes widened, because she was none other than the person who had troubled her for more than twenty years, Su Mei.
It had been four years since we last saw each other, and I didn't expect to meet her here.
"Su Mei, is that you?"
Wang Yang shouted in surprise and muttered in a low voice: "I knew it wasn't that simple."
"I thought you were going to delay it for a while, come on up."
Everyone thought that Su Mei would yell at Meng Xiaojun when she saw her, or even kick them out directly, but things turned out better than expected. Just like before, she just glanced at the extremely ugly-faced person very coldly and led them upstairs. go.
"You guys go up, I'll smoke a cigarette outside."
Su Mei is Lin Yue's woman. Since she opens a law firm here, where is Lin Yue? Can it be far away?
Now that "New Dream" is not on the market and has been sued by EES, plus the previous reporting activities, Meng Xiaojun is certainly embarrassed to go upstairs.
"good."
Cheng Dongqing could understand his thoughts, nodded, and followed Wang Yang up.
"Sit down, what should you drink? Coffee or tea?"
Su Mei was not surprised by Meng Xiaojun's withdrawal. She asked the two of them to sit down in a separate living room and turned around to make drinks.
"Tea." Cheng Dongqing looked at her back with a slightly complicated expression.
"A friend who came back from China gave me some Xinyang Maojian before. Let's try it." She placed two cups of tea in front of Cheng Dongqing and Wang Yang, pulled up a chair and sat down: "I know about you. , how are the negotiations going?"
Cheng Dongqing said: "EES demands 15 million US dollars in compensation."
"Ha, as expected." She rummaged under the coffee table, took out a folder and pushed it in front of Cheng Dongqing: "This is the relevant information I collected. It will be useful if we file a lawsuit."
Wang Yang said: "You already knew about this?"
Su Mei said: "Did Lin Yue ask me to prepare in advance?"
"If I hadn't come here, I would have forgotten that you are a master of law." Cheng Dongqing had mixed feelings. It seemed that every time he and Wang Yang encountered difficulties, that person would appear in front of them on time and give them a hard push.
"What about him?"
"I took Liangqin and Xiaoqin back to China. It's been a week since I left." Su Mei put her hands flat on her knees: "There is an important agreement to sign recently."
"In that case, we arrived at an unfortunate time."
"You can say that."
Wang Yang whispered: "This guy didn't even say a word when he returned home."
Su Mei said, "Don't you understand his character yet?"
Also, if he wants to hide from one person, it will be difficult to find any clues even if he turns over the whole world.
"What's going on at RUSS&DAUGHTERS CAFE?"
"You guessed it right, that restaurant was his divorce gift to LUCY, so that when you come to the United States, you will have a place to eat and chat."
Cheng Dongqing smiled: "Does it look like it?"
Wang Yang was puzzled: "What does it look like?"
"Does it look like the pamphlet full of jokes he left me when he left Yanjing in 1988? And this one." He patted the folder on the table again.
Wang Yang thought for a moment and understood what he meant.
That guy always seems to figure everything out and make arrangements in advance.
Jingle bell bell~
As the phone rang, Cheng Dongqing took out her phone and took a look at it, then looked at the dial on her watch: "The afternoon hearing is about to begin."
Wang Yang stood up and said, "Su Mei, now that we know you are opening a law firm here, we feel at ease. In this way, Cheng Dongqing and I will deal with those people from EES first, and we will get together later."
"Okay, remember to call me when you're done."
Su Mei got up and sent her downstairs.
five minutes later.
Cheng Dongqing's words were astonishing.
"I felt it was time to push 'New Dream' onto the market."
Meng Xiaojun was looking at the scenery outside the window, but he was stunned when he heard this and thought he was hallucinating.
Wang Yang looked over in astonishment: "Why?"
He didn't understand why Cheng Dongqing suddenly changed his mind.
Cheng Dongqing said: "Don't you find it strange? For so many years, he has always been waiting for us in front. Xiaojun is right. The three of us have been living in his shadow. Today I want to make a decision by myself. "
Wang Yang: "..."
Cheng Dongqing continued: "And don't you think this hearing can just make American investors pay attention to the 'New Dream'?"
Meng Xiaojun said: "Cheng Dongqing, you finally figured it out."
"Let's go and conquer the United States."
Cheng Dongqing looked out the window, but what answered him was the sound of car horns one after another. It turned out that the light was red when he spoke just now. Wang Yang was surprised by his decision. He did not pay attention to the traffic signal pole and failed to pass in time, causing a traffic jam behind him. There is a long list, it would be strange if others don't follow them.
"SORRY~"
Wang Yang said sorry and stepped on the accelerator to accelerate. As a result, the engine stalled because he was not familiar with the clutch stroke.
Beep~beep~
beep...
The horns of vehicles behind were blaring.
Meng Xiaojun said: "Did you do it on purpose?"
Wang Yang made an innocent face: "Really not."
The next process was similar to that in the movie, with Cheng Dongqing making a speech at the hearing.
Meng Xiaojun was really surprised by the bravery of the country turtle. The people at EES were also confused because they did not expect that this Chinese country turtle who set foot in the United States for the first time would actually think of using EES to sue "New Dream" to list the US stock market. Build momentum.
There is no doubt that the larger the amount advocated by EES, the more profitable the "New Dream" will be. How could Wall Street capital let go of this good opportunity to make a profit.
…
half year later.
Yenching University.
The wind blows the fallen leaves, raising the smell of late autumn. Students on campus hold textbooks in their arms, walking in a hurry or traveling together, talking about topics that interest them.
Near the office building, students came from all directions and walked quickly into the hall, as if they were going to participate in some activity, fearing that they would be late and not have their own seats.
An old man in a dark blue Chinese tunic suit took out empty cans and mineral water bottles from the trash can and put them into a sack next to them. There was a tricycle parked not far away.
"Hey, old man, do you want this?"
Wang Yang handed over the plastic bottle of Master Kong’s iced black tea that he had just drank.
"Yes, yes." The old man held the sack and motioned for him to throw it inside.
"It's you?"
Although twenty years have passed and everything here has changed a lot, the wrinkled face across from him still overlaps with the face of the person who threatened to kill him twenty years ago.
"Nie Weiming?"
The old man raised his face and looked at the three people standing opposite with a puzzled expression, as if to say: "Do I know you?"
"See, I don't recognize them." Wang Yang glanced at Meng Xiaojun and Cheng Dongqing, and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if you don't recognize me. I've never forgotten the person on the bulletin board in front of me."
He was referring to the poster posted on the bulletin board at the entrance of the office building, which had a photo of the translator who was giving a speech at the second venue this afternoon.
That was someone Nie Weiming could never forget in his life, because it was that person who sent him to prison and lost his job at Yenching University.
"Let's go." Wang Yang gave Nie Weiming a look that was more pitiful than mocking, and asked the two of them to move on.
"Twenty years ago, Yenching University kicked him out of the school, and twenty years later, invited him back to the campus. Is there anything funnier than this?"
When passing the bulletin board under the office building, Wang Yang looked at the face above and felt inspired.
Cheng Dongqing said: "Isn't it the same for you?"
"I'm different from him." Wang Yang said: "My money can make all the difference, but he..."
A building under construction at Yenching University is named after Wang Yang. After "New Dream" went public, Cheng Dongqing and him reduced their holdings of a certain share of the stock and donated the money gained from the cash out to the School of Foreign Languages at Yenching University.
In Cheng Dongqing’s words, it was written into the school history 20 years ago, and we will write it again today.
Where is Lin Yue...
His achievements cannot be compared with a teaching building.
Wang Yang could imagine the embarrassment the president of Yenching University felt when he asked him to come back to school to give a speech, but that might not be the case. After all, denying his predecessor's wrong actions would enhance his authority and reputation.
While talking, the three people walked into the second venue.
The seats in front were packed, and there were many students crowded in the aisles.
The three of them came at the end of the speech, and the person on the podium was answering questions from the students in the audience, looking like an old professor with ease.
Thanks to the moldy star for the 1,500 starting coins, the book friend with the last number 6567, and the book friend with the last number 4704 for the 100 starting coins.
(End of chapter)
