"Mr. Jiang, there is a girl outside looking for you." The clerk came to Jiang Xinyu's side and whispered.
Jiang Xinyu was confused, got up and walked out.
Outside the Zhejiang Guild Hall, Tong Tong walked back and forth in front of the door with his hands behind his back, glancing at the door from time to time.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Xinyu asked.
Tong Tong ran over, pulled Jiang Xinyu to the side, and said, "When will the sorority end?"
"What's wrong?"
"My father asked me to pay a visit to Station Master Qiao. I don't know where he lives, so I want you to accompany me."
"His home is not far from here, just keep going east..."
Tong Tong interrupted him and said, "It's useless what you said. I'm not a local and I don't know anyone anywhere."
Jiang Xinyu thought that it would be a good idea to take this opportunity to visit Qiao Mucai, so he said, "When do you plan to go?"
"Anytime is fine, are you free now?"
"wait for me a while."
"Where are you going?"
"Say hello inside and leave without saying goodbye..."
As he spoke, Jiang Xinyu turned around and entered the guild hall.
After a while, Jiang Xinyu left and returned. Xu Li quickly followed him out and said, "Mr. Jiang, this is my business card. Let's have a few drinks if we have the opportunity in the future."
"Absolutely." Jiang Xinyu said.
Seeing Tong Tong waiting outside, Xu Li's eyes flashed and he said with a smile: "I mean, why is Mr. Jiang leaving in such a hurry? It turns out that the beautiful lady has an appointment."
After exchanging a few jokes, the two of them said goodbye.
After getting in the car, Tong Tong asked: "What does that person do?"
"He is a teacher." Jiang Xinyu said.
"Where's the teacher?"
"It seems like she is from Yanjin Girls' High School..."
Jiang Xinyu glanced at her and said, "You just go to visit Station Master Qiao empty-handed?"
"Look what this is." Tong Tong opened his satchel and took out a small, delicate box.
"watch?"
"how do you know?"
"I know this trademark." Jiang Xinyu pointed to the English letters "Patek Philippe" on the box.
Tongtong opened the box and found a golden pocket watch inside.
"My dad said this is a gold-plated watch. It's very expensive. What's it called?"
"Patek Philippe."
"Yes, that seems to be the name."
On the way to Qiao Muchai's house, Jiang Xinyu asked, "How did you know I was at the Zhejiang Guild Hall?"
"Mina told me... Hey, don't tell her, I'm here to find you."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid she's too worried."
"If you're afraid that Mina will be overly concerned, you shouldn't let her see that photo."
"What photo...oh, are you talking about the group photo?"
Jiang Xinyu said nothing and concentrated on driving the car.
Tong Tong explained: "That day, Rong Rong used my wallet as a toy and accidentally saw the photo. Children are most willing to spread the word. I thought to myself, Mina will know sooner or later anyway, so I might as well tell her myself."
Jiang Xinyu said: "Being considerate of others is a good start. Keep it up."
Tong Tong fumbled in the bag for a while, took out two gold bars, waved them in front of Jiang Xinyu's eyes, and said, "Look, I've prepared them for you."
Jiang Xinyu glanced at the gold bar and said, "What do you mean?"
Tong Tong rolled his eyes at him and said, "Stupid! You said it's not good for me to go to visit Station Master Qiao empty-handed, so you can't go empty-handed too?"
Jiang Xinyu smiled and said, "I don't need to."
"He is your boss..."
"It's really not necessary."
Jiang Xinyu would prepare a generous gift and visit Qiao Muchai during every New Year and festival. On ordinary days, there was no need to give such an expensive gift.
Ten minutes later, the car slowly stopped on the side of the road.
"arrive."
"Which one is Stationmaster Qiao's house?"
"White House."
The two got out of the car and came to the courtyard gate. Jiang Xinyu reached out and rang the doorbell.
After a while, footsteps were heard in the yard. The servant opened the door and saw Jiang Xinyu coming, bowing slightly.
"Is Stationmaster Qiao at home?" Jiang Xinyu asked.
"At home." the servant replied.
Before he could reach the door, Qiao Mu came out dressed in casual clothes with a smile on his face and said: "Early this morning, I heard the magpies chirping non-stop. I thought to myself that there must be a distinguished guest coming to the door, and it really came true.
Welcome, Miss Tong."
Hearing the last sentence, Tong Tong realized that she was actually the "distinguished guest" in Qiao Mucai's words. She said in a panic: "Uncle Qiao, don't say that, I am not a distinguished guest, he is just the same..."
While talking, Tong Tong secretly pointed at Jiang Xinyu.
Qiao Mucai smiled and said: "You two are distinguished guests, please come in quickly."
Entering the living room, the servant brought tea, along with various fruit snacks, and placed them on the coffee table one by one.
Qiao Mu waved his hand and motioned for the servant to go out first.
The servant bowed and left.
Jiang Xinyu asked: "Stationmaster, why is it so quiet at home?"
Qiao Mucai said: "Oh, your wife went to Shanghai and just left yesterday."
Jiang Xinyu knew that Qiao Mucai had three children. The eldest son worked in the Shanghai Education Bureau, and the other son and daughter went to the United States two years ago.
Qiao Mu turned around and said to Tong Tong, "Miss Tong, are you okay, your father?"
Tong Tong said: "It's good, people say that his old tree is blooming and will become a spirit." Tong Tong said.
Qiao Mucai was stunned and said, "How do you say this?"
"Third and fifth aunts are pregnant. My father is already so old. Isn't the old tree blooming?" Tong Tong said without hesitation. She didn't think a girl's family should say such things.
Qiao Mucai laughed and said, "Mr. Tong is getting stronger and stronger. I'm very happy and congratulated."
Tong Tong opened his satchel, took out the box containing the pocket watch, placed it gently on the coffee table, and said, "Uncle Qiao, this is my father's wish. Please don't refuse."
Qiao Mu is a connoisseur of goods. One look at the quality and workmanship of the pocket watch and he knew it was worth a lot.
Moreover, with Tong Wanqi's status, the gifts sent from all the way cannot be cheap.
"Your father and I are indistinguishable from each other, so I will accept this watch." Qiao Muchai was not polite and put the watch box aside.
Qiao Mucai knew very well that Tong Wanqi knew his daughter's character and was very afraid that Tong Tong would get into trouble in Yanjin, so he wanted to ask him to take more care of her.
Qiao Mucai looked at Tong Tong, then at Jiang Xinyu, and said: "At the beginning, I thought that you two were a perfect match, so I tried my best to bring them together. Alas, it's a pity that a combination of circumstances made it difficult for lovers to get married.
!”
Tong Tong's face turned red and he was a little restless. He said, "Uncle Qiao, can I visit your home?"
Jiang Xinyu hurriedly said: "Tongtong, the stationmaster has no one at home, so don't walk around..."
Qiao Mucai said: "Xinyu, it doesn't matter. Many houses are empty. Miss Tong can look at them as she likes."
Even after saying this, Qiao Mucai still asked his servant to accompany Tong Tong to visit upstairs and downstairs.
When Tong Tong went upstairs, Jiang Xinyu asked: "Stationmaster, why is the house so empty?"
Qiao Mu put down his tea bowl and did not answer Jiang Xinyu directly. He thought for a while and said, "Xinyu, what do you think of the current situation?"
Jiang Xinyu thought for a while and said: "The national army has been so powerful recently that they even captured Yan'an, the home base for supplying supplies to the Philippines. I think that within a year, the situation will basically be clear."
Qiao Mucai shook his head and said: "Although Yan'an was occupied, they were not injured. Instead, the national army was ambushed in Qinghua Bianlong. In my opinion, this is not a good sign."
"Webmaster, are you too pessimistic?"
"No, this is definitely not pessimistic. More than 200,000 troops are chasing the Communist army in the mountains and valleys. Is it possible to find the main force of the Communist army with such a big target?"