The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 420 Asking for blessings
Sha Zhu laughed and said, "Don't worry, it won't affect you. They'll go straight to the VIP room to eat and won't run into you."

"Why? Are there different classes of private rooms?"

Sha Zhu nodded: "Of course there are different levels. I don't let anyone else into his private room except him. He can come and eat anytime he wants, no reservation needed."

"Chef He, you're really looking down on people."

Sha Zhu didn't mind being scolded; that was his wife, Han Yufeng, a straightforward person who always remembered Liu Hua's kindness.

"I already told you, you can't compare to his status." Han Yufeng said sarcastically, "That person is Professor Liu Hua, who is now an academician of the country and is in charge of major national projects. His business is many times bigger than yours."

These days, those who build missiles are not as well off as those who sell tea eggs; the teaching profession is currently experiencing a low point.

"He's just a schoolteacher, what's so great about him?"

Han Yufeng waved her hand: "It's nothing special. My husband has cooked for the leaders of the Ministry of Industry. That person was at the table with us. Have you ever met a leader of the Ministry of Industry? Not just any section chief, but the highest-ranking one."

That's scary enough. The cooks who prepare meals for leaders are no ordinary cooks, let alone those who sit at the same table with them.

Han Yufeng continued, "The factory they own produces is directly exported."

"Aren't the products in my factory also exported?"

The small business owner finally regained some confidence and quickly chimed in, "It's just exporting, right? It's not like nobody's never exported before."

How do you sell your products?

The small business owner said proudly, "I recently signed a service trade deal worth two million US dollars."

Han Yufeng had met many business people before, so she naturally knew what a service trade order meant. She smiled and said, "Their product is sold by the kilogram, costing hundreds of US dollars per kilogram."

"What the hell?"

The shop owner was terrified, thinking he was selling flour.

"That's high technology, it's called fiber."

Sha Zhu interjected, "It's called carbon fiber. I think it's used in aerospace, like airplanes, cars, and rockets."

The small business owner was already pale; he couldn't compare, he simply couldn't compare.

Sha Zhu concluded, "We're like brothers. He introduced my wife to me, and he can come and eat whenever he wants."

The small business owner was speechless. In the end, it came down to relationships. You two knew each other, you were acquaintances, that's why you gave him so much preferential treatment, not because he was so powerful.

But then he thought, that guy was so arrogant, and this chef knew him so well, so it was better not to offend him. Wasn't this chef just showing off his skills to him?

The bonuses given to the students the next day were so generous that, apart from Liu Hua, no other graduate supervisor in the entire Tsinghua University laboratory was as generous. As a result, many students wanted to apply for Liu Hua's graduate program, but Liu Hua was too strict in his admissions, only accepting two or three students each year, leaving most people to only look on with envy.

Liu Guodong returned on New Year's Day. He hadn't come back this summer, saying he couldn't let go of the things in the rice paddies.

When he came back, his mother was heartbroken. He was so tanned; you'd think he was from Africa. "Son," she said, "how did you get so tanned while you were studying for your master's degree and doing research?"

“I studied agronomy, so I’ll definitely be doing my research in the fields,” Liu Guodong said matter-of-factly. “My senior is even darker than me, and look at my teacher, he’s not fair-skinned either.”

Liu Feifei doted on her son and kept cooking delicious food for him. Guan Zhilin happened to be home these days as well. Although she wasn't much older than Liu Guodong, she really liked this nephew.

"Sister, don't worry. If he goes to my beauty salon for half a month, I guarantee he'll become fair-skinned immediately, and it won't affect his ability to find a wife."

Rosamund Kwan's words were like opening Pandora's box. Before, Liu Feifei was just feeling sorry for her son, but Rosamund Kwan's words were a wake-up call.

Yes, my son is old enough to date and get married.

"Son, you have a master's degree now, do you have a girlfriend yet?"

Liu Guodong hadn't realized the seriousness of the problem and casually replied, "How could I have that kind of time? I'm either in the lab or in the fields all day long. There aren't many young women at our base, so who am I supposed to date?"

Liu Hua, who was watching the commotion from the side, patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "Son, good luck to you!"

Liu Guodong was still not fully awake and asked blankly, "May you have good fortune? What fortune?"

Liu Feifei has already started pressuring her son to get married. She grabbed his ear and said, "How come you haven't even dated yet? You're already in your twenties, you'll be thirty in no time, and you still aren't dating? When are you planning to get married?"

Liu Guodong blinked, feeling that something was wrong. He had just been concerned about him, and now his father was suddenly urging him to get married. In addition, his father had just told him to pray for good luck.

Liu Guodong's heart sank: Oh no, I've stirred up a hornet's nest. My seven-day New Year's holiday is probably going to be anything but peaceful.

Liu Feifei was already sharpening her knives, anxiously saying, "It seems unlikely that you can find a girlfriend and get married on your own. Let me ask my old girlfriends if there are any suitable girls you can go on blind dates with."

Liu Guodong looked at his father with pleading eyes: Dad, aren't you going to help mediate? Otherwise, I won't be able to get through these seven days.

Liu Hua shook his head, conveying his meaning with his eyes: Your dad is fifty years old now, and I also want you to get married and have children. I also want to hold my grandson.

Liu Guodong's eyes turned helpless: What do you mean? Are you going to kick me when I'm down?
Liu Hua shook his head: There's nothing I can do. I went through the same thing back then. You just have to adapt.

That afternoon, Liu Guodong was urged by his mother to take a shower and get a haircut, and to put on the designer suit that his aunt had bought for him.

Although he was a bit tanned, he looked very energetic and was still a pretty handsome young man.

Liu Feifei nodded: "Although you're a bit dark-skinned, it's a minor flaw. I've already asked my friends to inquire about blind dates for you, and I'll try to arrange a few during your vacation."

Liu Guodong gasped. His mother had acted swiftly enough. He knew he had to save himself.

Liu Guodong's eyes lit up, and an idea came to him: "Mom, don't worry about me for now. Worry about Auntie first. She's getting old, isn't she married yet?"

“Your aunt doesn’t need my help.” Liu Feifei shook her head: “She has her own opinions and she’s very opinionated. I can’t make decisions for her.”

"But I'm all grown up now," Liu Guodong said helplessly. "I have my own ideas, can't you let me walk by myself?"

(End of this chapter)