1979: Literary Master, Starting from the Return of Educated Youth

Chapter 127: Trick the Daughter Queen
"We have this plan at the moment. Whether we can reach a cooperation agreement depends on your sincerity."

Seeing Pang Xianjian took the initiative to propose, Xu Yuexin no longer held back, "If your leader thinks it is necessary, we can meet and talk."

"Okay, are you going back to Beijing right away, or are you staying in Shanghai for a while?"

"Look, I haven't bought my ticket back yet."

Xu Yuexin said.

After leaving Shangrenmei, Xu Yuexin and Zhou Jieren found a restaurant outside and ate two trays of steamed dumplings.

Then, Xu Yuexin said goodbye to Zhou Jieren and found a hotel to stay in on the street.

Since the beginning of this year, accommodation policies in major cities have been relaxed to some extent, and some hotels have begun to receive out-of-town visitors without letters of introduction.

This is one of the supporting policies for reform and opening up: since business is encouraged, it is natural to provide merchants with a place to live.

Xu Yuexin found a guesthouse near Jing'an Temple and paid to stay there.

The room rate is two yuan per day, and there is an electric fan and hot water for showering, which is a very good condition at that time.

Xu Yuexin stayed in the guesthouse for a few days. Apart from waiting for news, he went out shopping.

It is a groundbreaking practice to share the profits from comic strips in the form of royalties based on the number of copies printed. It is normal that Shang Renmei cannot make up her mind in a short period of time.

Just wait.

As for the final result, Xu Yuexin felt that a 3% share was very good.

Comic books are much more expensive than books, and a 3% share of the profits means a considerable income.

During his spare time, Xu Yuexin bought a lot of things in the market, planning to give them to his family and the women around him when he returned to Beijing.

One day, Xu Yue wandered to Sichuan North Road and had dinner at a Cantonese restaurant.

In later generations, the status of Sichuan North Road in Shanghai has declined, but at present it is still the city's first-class business district.

Since many Cantonese people in Shanghai gather here, there are the most authentic Cantonese restaurants and Cantonese teahouses in Shanghai.

After finishing his meal, Xu Yuexin returned to the street and planned to find a teahouse to sit down.

At this time, he saw a familiar figure.

Zhu Chen is here.

Zhu Chen also saw Xu Yuexin, and there was surprise in his eyes.

"Why are you here?"

Zhu Chen walked over quickly and waved at him.

"I came here for business, so I just wanted to wander around when I had some free time."

"What about you, why are you here too?"

"The Institute of Health has a schistosomiasis and hepatitis A prevention and control survey. My colleagues and I usually visit households in the suburbs, and today we came to the city to relax."

Zhu Chen smiled slightly, met Xu Yuexin's gaze and said, "By the way, the amulet you gave me is really useful. I won't be afraid if I wear it when I sleep at night."

"I wanted to go to your house and give it back to you, but you weren't there. And I didn't bring it with me on this business trip."

"No need to return it, it's yours."

Xu Yuexin said, walking side by side with Zhu Chen on the street, "Let's find a place to sit down."

"Ok."

Zhu Chen nodded, feeling particularly happy.

The staff members who participated in the survey activities came from all over the world and were not familiar with each other.

Originally, Zhu Chen was walking alone on the bustling Sichuan North Road, feeling a little lonely and melancholy.

Now that he has met Xu Yuexin, Zhu Chen's mood has completely changed.

No wonder the ancients said that meeting an old friend in a foreign land is indeed a wonderful experience.

Xu Yuexin took Zhu Chen for a walk along North Sichuan Road and finally walked into a Cantonese-style teahouse.

After going upstairs, Xu Yuexin ordered two cups of tea. When he heard that Zhu Chen had not eaten lunch, he added a lot of snacks.

This teahouse is in a great location, overlooking the bustling entire street.

Perhaps because she was out of the familiar environment, Zhu Chen became more willing to talk about her inner thoughts when chatting with Xu Yuexin. Some of them were things she had never mentioned to anyone else, not even her parents.

"My parents are urging me to go on blind dates again recently."

Zhu Chen looked at the bustling crowd below the teahouse and said calmly, "So when the company sent me on a business trip, I didn't refuse."

"It's good to have some peace and quiet."

Xu Yuexin listened quietly, thinking about a question in his head.

Given the Queen's looks and family background, it was unexpected that she could remain unmarried until she was 27 years old in that era.

This in itself is somewhat abnormal.

The Queen is having a talk today. Can he seize this opportunity to find out the reason behind it so as to find out the right remedy and continue to develop his relationship with her?
Xu Yuexin pondered.

"Oh? It sounds like you don't want to go on a blind date or get married?"

Xu Yuexin pretended to ask casually, "Is there a reason behind this?"

"I……"

When asked about this, Zhu Chen hesitated for a moment, then mustered up the courage to look back and meet Xu Yuexin's eyes, "I don't want to have children."

I see……

The mystery in Xu Yuexin's mind was solved.

"Whether to have children or not is a free choice in life."

“It’s normal not to want children.”

Xu Yuexin expressed his support to Zhu Chen.

At this moment, he vaguely remembered that the Queen of Daughters had indeed never had children in her life.

Zhu Chen was very surprised by Xu Yuexin's response.

The reason why she buried the idea of ​​not wanting children deep in her heart and didn't even tell her family was because she was worried that she would not be understood after speaking out, or even be criticized.

Unexpectedly, she would be recognized by Xu Yuexin.

"Really? You really think so?"

Zhu Chen asked incredulously, "Don't you want a child either?"

"I didn't say I didn't want it, but I think everyone's choice should be respected."

"Because everyone's experiences, education and ideas are different, there is no need to force uniformity on fertility issues."

Xu Yuexin spoke slowly and steadily, always maintaining eye contact with Zhu Chen.

Zhu Chen's ideas may seem shocking at the time, but they are very normal in later times.

In Xu Yuexin's view, this is completely understandable.

When Zhu Chen heard Xu Yuexin's words, he nodded happily and admiringly.

In her opinion, Xu Yuexin's remarks were very well-spoken.

"Oh, if only everyone could think like you."

Zhu Chen sighed.

"Then if you stay with me, the problem will be solved. I support you if you don't want to have children."

Xu Yuexin raised his eyebrows slightly towards Zhu Chen and said with the corners of his mouth raised.

Zhu Chen's face turned red because of his words and actions, and he quickly looked away.

"Stop it. If you continue to make trouble, I will go back and tell Qiaoqiao." Zhu Chen tried to look dignified and warned Xu Yuexin, "How old are you and how old am I?"

"You're 27 and I'm 21. This isn't a good fit."

"Don't talk nonsense, where is the right place."

Zhu Chen deliberately spoke in a stern tone, trying to scare Xu Yuexin away.

However, her actions betrayed everything.

At this moment, she didn't even dare to look Xu Yuexin in the eye.

Zhu Chen's embarrassment was not relieved until tea and snacks were served.

The dim sum in this teahouse is delicious, especially the Cantonese mooncakes, which have made great innovations in fillings, including red bean paste and winter melon.

"You should also try the mooncakes, they taste really good."

Zhu Chen took a few bites of mooncake and urged Xu Yuexin when he saw that he didn't move.

"I've eaten. You can eat alone."

Xu Yuexin shook his head and was thinking about how to trick the Queen of the Kingdom of Daughters.

When leaving the teahouse, Xu Yuexin paid 1.5 yuan for the tea and snacks.

So expensive.

Zhu Chen was slightly surprised and said that this was equivalent to the cost of two meals in an ordinary restaurant.

At the same time, she felt embarrassed because Xu Yuexin had to pay for it.

After walking onto the street, Zhu Chen took out one dollar and fifty cents from his pocket and wanted Xu Yuexin to accept it.

"No, that's too formal."

Seeing the Queen's actions, Xu Yuexin suddenly had an idea, "You are so sorry, just buy me something later."

"Okay, tell me if you like any of them."

Zhu Chen agreed without thinking twice.

Seeing that the Queen of Daughters readily agreed, Xu Yuexin was happy.

Choose to walk into his routine...

Then don’t even think about it.

The two were walking along Sichuan North Road, and soon Xu Yuexin stopped in front of a state-owned clothing store.

"Why, you want to buy clothes?"

"Well, let's go in and have a look."

Xu Yuexin took Zhu Chen into a clothing store and chose a belt.

I asked the salesperson and was told the price was RMB 1.6, which was about the same as the previous tea fee.

Xu Yuexin picked up the belt and Zhu Chen immediately paid for it for him.

"If anyone asks me about it in the future, I will say that you gave it to me."

As he walked out of the store, Xu Yuexin patted the brand new belt around his waist and said intentionally or unintentionally.

Zhu Chen's mind was at a standstill.

She was so eager to repay Xu Yuexin that she forgot that women should not give men belts easily.

Because generally speaking, it can only be given between couples.

"Don't tell anyone else."

Zhu Chen thought Xu Yuexin really didn't understand, and quickly reminded him, "Otherwise it's easy to cause misunderstandings."

"Oh? Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?"

"you……"

Zhu Chen's face turned red from the question and he didn't know how to respond.

Does he really not understand?

Zhu Chen wondered puzzledly, and the question stayed with her until she finished strolling along North Sichuan Road and returned to the downstairs of the guesthouse where Xu Yuexin was staying.

"I have something that I was planning to give you when I returned to the capital."

"It seems that it is not necessary now. I will give it to you directly today."

"Thank you. Please give the gift to your wife."

"Only you can use this."

"It's a waste if you don't want it."

"..."

Zhu Chen remained silent, feeling very strange.

What is it that only she can use but Chen Qiaoqiao can't?

After following Xu Yuexin upstairs into the room, Zhu Chen saw him open the suitcase and take out a large gift box from it.

"This is……"

Zhu Chen stared at the exquisite satin box and realized that the gift was worth a lot of money.

"open to take a look."

Xu Yuexin encouraged.

Zhu Chen took the box and guessed, then opened it with a "click".

Inside the shiny box was a framed oil painting with a dazzling silver-white frame.

"Sunflowers" by Van Gogh.

"What a nice view."

Zhu Chen exclaimed in admiration, "It must have cost a lot of money, right?"

As a young woman who loves literature and art, nothing can impress her more than an exquisite oil painting.

"If you like it, why bother asking the price?"

Xu Yuexin gently stroked Zhu Chen's delicate hand and said, "Take it home and hang it up. Remember to take good care of it, otherwise the silver will turn black over time."

The frame is actually made of silver?
After hearing this, Zhu Chen was speechless for a moment.

Xu Yuexin's gift is really precious.

"Just tell me how much it is?"

Despite being surprised, Zhu Chen still stuck to his bottom line.

"Pick it up."

Xu Yuexin smiled slightly, took the big gift box containing the oil painting from Zhu Chen's hand, opened his arms and hugged her in his arms.

Zhu Chen didn't dare to look Xu Yuexin in the eye, he turned away and pushed him with his hand: "No, this is really inappropriate for us."

"Why did you give me a belt if it's not suitable?"

Xu Yuexin leaned close to Zhu Chen's ear and asked in a magnetic voice.

Zhu Chen was startled: So he understood everything...

"It's obviously you... wuu ...

Before Zhu Chen could finish his words, Xu Yuexin had already kissed him.

(End of this chapter)