Chapter 144

Looking at the somewhat absent-minded Lin Shusen, the old principal asked the question he cared about most:

"How much more length is there for 'Cultural Bitter Travel'?"

Li Heng replied: "There are about 35 chapters left by default."

The old principal was surprised, not expecting it to be so long, and said: "Your new book is written very well, very high level, keep it up, you can find the school if you need anything."

Before even entering school, the feeling of someone extending an olive branch was damn great. Li Heng responded: "I understand, thank you, Teacher."

Next, the two chatted for a long time. The old principal was most interested in his creative inspiration and writing journey.

Learning that he had read thousands of books from childhood to adulthood, learning that he had prepared more than 140 books and documents for the creation of the new book 'Cultural Bitter Travel', and learning that he had personally experienced more than half of China during the summer vacation for deep understanding and realization, the old principal was in awe, nodded with gratification and said: "This is the attitude of doing scholarship, very good."

After about 20 minutes, the dining car entered the sleeper carriage, and Li Heng invited the old principal, Lin Shusen, and the group to dinner.

Regarding Li Heng's writer identity, besides taking a long time to adapt, Mai Sui's mother and Sun Manning's mother didn't refuse and happily accepted the dinner.

After the meal, the old principal chatted with Li Heng about classics, history, and geography for a long time, until after 8 o'clock, when he returned to the sleeper compartment next door because of physical fatigue.

When leaving, the old principal also smiled and said to Li Heng: "Fortunately, Xiao Lin didn't buy a soft sleeper, otherwise he would have missed you. This is fate."

Lin Shusen slandered, the station sold out, sir, you couldn't make flowers even if you wanted to buy them, unless you wait until tomorrow, but this wave is really not a loss.

Li Heng smiled and personally sent him to the next door.

Returning to the carriage, seeing Sun's mother and Mai Sui's mother still looking at him with a strange look, Li Heng greeted enthusiastically:

"Aunt Mai, Aunt Sun, bored, let's play cards."

The status is different, and the appeal rises geometrically.

Sun Manning's mother sat over and sighed with a smile: "Hey, if my family knew you were 'December', they would definitely be so angry that they couldn't eat for a week. He argued for 2 months so diligently, but you didn't say a word."

Li Heng apologized with a smile: "My fault, I have to go to his house to apologize to the old man in person when I go back during the winter vacation."

Sun's mother grabbed cards while gossiping and asking: "I heard from your English teacher that you already have a partner?"

Some words are understood as soon as they are heard. He instantly understood why the English teacher went outside to say that he had a partner. It was probably because she was afraid of Liu Yejiang's rumors, worried that others would chew their tongues behind his back.

Li Heng nodded: "Hmm, talked about it relatively early, let the teacher's wife laugh."

Unexpectedly, Sun's mother said: "Writer, it's good to talk early. Experiencing emotions is good for your writing."

Listen! Listen! This is the influence brought by status, hi, making puppy love that teachers and parents hate become a beautiful story.

This is the same as someone saying Jack Ma is handsome in later generations.

Li Heng and Zhang Zhiyong were on one side, Sun's mother and Mai Sui's mother were on the other, playing 'Upgrade'.

While Mai Sui, Sun Manning, and Mai Dong were watching from the side, often happily pointing fingers, the group was chatting and laughing, the atmosphere was particularly good, and it didn't disperse until late at night.

With Mai Dong keeping watch at night, Li Heng didn't pretend, climbed onto the berth and slept, making up for sleep.

Mai's mother, who couldn't sleep, whispered to her daughter, "Is Li Heng really a great writer?"

Mai Sui couldn't laugh or cry, "Mom, why are you still doubting?"

Mai's mother carefully looked at the sleeping Li Heng and shook her head: "Not doubting, I as an outsider feel that this, this is too difficult! Too incredible! This Li Heng, I guess he sat in the literary warehouse."

In the rural areas of Shaodong, the literary warehouse often means the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

Thinking of her intense psychological fluctuation when she learned that Li Heng was a great writer, Mai Sui agreed with this.

Mai Dong on the side echoed: "Really didn't expect a great writer to be equal to the young Li Heng, and still a classmate of Sui Sui. I haven't recovered until now."

After squinting for about an hour, Li Heng was shaken awake by Zhang Zhiyong: "Master Heng! Wake up! Wake up! Shanghai is here!"

At this time, the sky outside was already bright, and the attendant was notifying the sleeper compartments one by one:

"Ahead is the old North Station of Shanghai, which is also the terminal of this train. Please passengers pack your luggage and prepare to get off. Those with children..."

The attendant lady of this era was very responsible, looking at each berth along the way, and if she saw passengers who hadn't woken up, she would kindly wake them up.

Li Heng didn't have much luggage, just two bags. When the train slowed down and stopped, he followed the crowd off the train and slowly moved toward the exit.

"Is this Shanghai? There are really many people, but why is it not as rich as I imagined?" On the platform, after Sun Manning looked around, she said such a sentence with some disappointment.

Li Heng comforted, "This is the station, naturally a bit dilapidated. It will be much better when we get to the city center."

Sun Manning asked: "Then is Fudan University in the city center?"

"Uh..."

This life is also the second time Li Heng has come to Shanghai, but fortunately, he did his homework in advance: "Fudan is located at 220 Handan Road, Yang Pu District. Although it is in the city, it is not the core area in the traditional sense."

Anyone who finds an old Shanghainese on the street knows that the real city center of Shanghai usually refers to Huangpu District, Jing'an District, etc. These places are the commercial and administrative centers of Shanghai.

Of course, there is another saying that there are 7 central urban areas. Including Huangpu District, Jing'an District, Xu Hui District, Changning District, Yang Pu District, Hongkou District, and Putuo District.

As for the incomparably dazzling Pudong New Area in later generations, it is still a piece of farmland now.

Even the Wujiaochang next to Fudan University is just a prosperous place that has just taken shape now.

Just arriving near the exit, Li Heng saw the editor Zou Ping in the crowd at a glance. The latter held a cardboard sign with the four big characters 'Li Heng! Li Heng!' written on it.

Later, Zhang Zhiyong also saw it and shouted excitedly: "Old Heng, someone is here to pick you up."

With this shout, the group looked over together.

Zou Ping was not tall, 172 at most. Li Heng felt that the other party's real height was closer to 170, but he was a very good person. When he saw him, he waved loudly:

"Old Li, Li Heng, Li Heng, here, here."

Zou Ping originally wanted to call him 'Teacher Li' habitually, but was afraid of leaking information, so he called his name directly with difficulty.

Li Heng walked over and asked curiously: "Editor Zou, how did you know which train I was on?"

Zou Ping helped him share a bag and explained: "I called Teacher Wang yesterday, and she told me."

Li Heng tilted his head and asked Sun Manning, "Does the English teacher know the train ticket?"

"Yes, she specifically asked about this when she was eating at our house the day before yesterday." Sun Manning said so.

So that's it, just said, I didn't notify the other party before leaving. Didn't expect Zou Ping to be too enthusiastic and actually volunteered to come.

After greeting each other for a few sentences, Zou Ping greeted: "I drove here, everyone follow me."

Li Heng asked with concern: "We have 7 people, can we sit down?"

Zou Ping expressed without pressure: "I drove the largest van from the magazine office, which can seat 9 people."

When passing through the station square, Li Heng saw three long queues at the entrance, with old men wearing red armbands maintaining order, full of Shanghai dialect, with rough voices, particularly arrogant.

But having said that, although Shanghainese were very arrogant in the 80s, their living environment was mocked by the people of the whole country. Not to mention the small room area, the light was also not good. Many houses were about the same as pigeon cages.

Later, it was not right. Real estate privatization, followed by a skyrocketing price, people from all over the country rushed to Shanghai, renting pigeon cages and thinking they had come to heaven, while cursing this heaven at the same time.

Although the van had 9 seats, it was still packed with luggage, but this did not affect everyone's interest in Shanghai.

When the car started, the group, including Li Heng, rolled down the car windows and watched the street scene outside the car.

Even though the weather at the end of August was still dry and hot, even though everyone had experienced the bumps of a long-distance train for a day and two nights. But the beautiful ladies on the street and the black silk stockings, the young Chinese guys holding the arms of a blonde and blue-eyed foreign horse, all kinds of shops, and dazzling goods, the group was dazzled and novel.

Seeing that everyone was full of desire to explore, Zou Ping acted as a tour guide while driving:

"This is the church, this is the gymnasium, this is the bus station, this is the Shiku Sect, this is the crematorium..."

"What? Crematorium?" Zhang Zhiyong saw this thing for the first time and instantly poked his head out: "Is it that everyone has to be sent here when they die?"

"Of course, no matter how big an official they were before they died, or celebrities, intellectuals, they all have to come here for a turn after death." Zou Ping said.

However, Zhang Zhiyong's next sentence almost made everyone vomit blood: "How long does it take for a person to turn into ashes after death? If it takes a long time to burn, is one crematorium enough? If it can't burn in time, will they all turn into vengeful ghosts at night?"

Li Heng's forehead twisted into a black line, and he slapped the blockhead on the back of the head: "Hey, can you speak properly? If you can't speak, eat something, shut your mouth."

Mai Dong interjected at this time: "Don't talk about big cities like Shanghai, one crematorium in Shaodong is not enough.

I have a friend who works in the crematorium. When drinking and chatting once, the other party said: Shaodong has a large population base and is full every day."

Zou Ping nodded after listening, "Indeed. People get old in batches, as if it was 40 yesterday, and in the blink of an eye, they are 70 or 80. When the time comes, they have to go, no one can escape. As far as I know, there are more than 4 crematoriums in Shanghai."

With Zou Ping, a local, accompanying them to chat, the group constantly refreshed their new understanding of Shanghai, and they didn't feel tired all the way, but rather spirited.

After more than an hour, the van drove into Yang Pu District. Only then did Zou Ping, who was excited about chatting, realize to ask:

"Li, Li Heng, are you hungry? Do you want to eat first?"

Zou Ping still felt very awkward calling 'Li Heng', but didn't know the situation of the people in the car, so he could only bite the bullet and call.

Li Heng sensed the other party's unusual emotions and said thoughtfully: "Old Zou, you can call me Old Li in the future, but I emphasize, Little Li is not okay, you can only call me Old Li."

"Yes, Comrade Old Li." Feeling Li Heng's recognition of him for the first time, Zou Ping was full of joy.

Li Heng discussed with Mai Dong and others and said: "School doesn't officially start until tomorrow. Please take us to find a hotel closer to Fudan University first. We have to stay for one night tonight."

"Okay."

In order to entertain Li Heng well, Zou Ping obviously made sufficient preparations in advance. Almost without taking any detours, he pulled everyone to the best hotel in Wujiaochang next door.

They asked for four rooms. After Li Heng and the others finished taking a bath and changed clothes, Zou Ping took them to the Blue Sky Hotel again and introduced:

"The chef of the Blue Sky Hotel is a chef specifically for pilots in the military air service. The stir-fried dishes and braised dishes are all excellent in color, fragrance, and taste, and the steamed buns and snacks are even more unique. Since this hotel opened, the once-popular Songhu Hotel has declined.

Old Li, if you get tired of the food in the school cafeteria in the future, you can come here to improve your food. Braised chicken feet and meat buns are a must-order. The fist-sized meat buns only cost two cents. Because they use military-supplied flour, they are white and fine. Every morning, there is a long queue at the door..."

People coming and going, there were indeed a lot of people in the hotel. Li Heng asked casually: "What is the turnover of this hotel?"

Zou Ping shook his head: "I don't know what the turnover is. It is managed by the military and is not public, but I once heard Chief Editor Liao mention it, it seems that the annual profit handed over exceeds 300,000..."

"Eh, Editor Zou?"

Just as Li Heng and Zou Ping were walking to the hotel while chatting, two people came from behind, specifically a man and a woman.

Li Heng was still familiar with the man, Chief Editor Liao.

The woman, hmm, theoretically also knew her, having seen her photos, but the other party didn't know him, Huang Zhaoyi.

It was really a narrow road for enemies. Didn't expect to meet the other party here.

Huang Zhaoyi was about 30 years old, wearing a yellow spotted floral dress, stepping on transparent high-heeled sandals, with long hair fluttering. The tips of her hair should have been done, slightly curled, wearing a pair of sunglasses, extremely fashionable, and walked over saying:

"It's really you, Editor Zou. You look a bit like you from the side. I didn't dare to recognize you just now."

Zou Ping, who was very active before, was respectful as soon as he saw Huang Zhaoyi: "Teacher Huang, you are here too."

Li Heng didn't want to be too eye-catching, retreated a step without a trace, and moved to Mai Sui's side. Then his eyes met Chief Editor Liao secretly, and the two smiled tacitly, neither of them speaking to the other party.

After exchanging pleasantries with Zou Ping, Huang Zhaoyi began to size up Li Heng and the others.

I saw her gaze quickly sweep over Zhang Zhiyong, Sun's mother, and Mai's mother, then stayed on Mai Sui for two seconds, then stayed on Li Heng for two seconds, and finally looked at Mai Dong.

Mai Dong was confused by the look. Fortunately, after Huang Zhaoyi nodded slightly to him, she moved her gaze away at the right time.

Later, Huang Zhaoyi issued an invitation to Zou Ping: "Editor Zou, Chief Editor Liao and I are planning to eat Chinese food. Would you like to come over with your friends? It's lively with more people."

Zou Ping looked at Li Heng subconsciously. Seeing that Li Heng didn't react, he politely refused:

"Thank you, Teacher Huang, but my friends and I have something to do today. I'll treat you another day."

Huang Zhaoyi looked at Li Heng again following Zou Ping's gaze, and then smiled and said: "Okay, then you accompany your friends well, let's gather next time."

After speaking, Huang Zhaoyi and Chief Editor Liao entered the Blue Sky Hotel first.

Staring straight at Huang Zhaoyi's back, Sun Manning said with envy: "So elegant, women in big cities are different."

Then she took Mai Sui's arm and said: "But still not as beautiful as our Mai Sui."

Mai Sui smiled softly: "How can it be? I felt a literary atmosphere similar to Li Heng from the other party, very rich. Could it be that the other party is also a writer?"

Seeing everyone looking at him, Zou Ping said: "Miss Mai guessed half right, but Teacher Huang is not a writer, but a literary critic, and also a professor at the Shanghai Opera Academy and a Peking Opera performing artist."

"Wow, so many titles, which one is the main business?" Sun Manning asked.

Zou Ping said: "The main business is Peking Opera performance, which is very famous in the circle."

The group muttered and entered the hotel, but Li Heng didn't speak.

Mai's mother also didn't speak.

She suddenly felt a sense of danger. Just now, this stranger looked at her husband the longest, which made her most uncomfortable.

Mai Dong patted his wife's arm thoughtfully and whispered: "I came to Shanghai for the first time and don't know the other party."

Hearing this, Mai's mother breathed a sigh of relief and said half-truthfully: "You are not allowed to come to Shanghai for the next 5 years."

This wife was hard-won, and Mai Dong cherished it very much. How could he not follow: "Okay, listen to you."

Mai Sui, who was walking at the end, heard her parents' conversation, quietly pulled Li Heng's sleeve, deliberately fell behind a few steps, lowered her voice and asked:

"Li Heng, do you know this Teacher Huang?"

Li Heng didn't deny it: "Comrade Mai Sui, you react quite quickly. I know her, she doesn't know me."

Mai Sui smiled a little embarrassedly: "Something abnormal must have a demon. The other party won't pay attention to us for no reason. My parents and Manning's mother and daughter have never been to Shanghai and have no intersection with the other party.

And you and Chief Editor Liao over there smiled at each other, obviously knowing each other, but didn't greet directly. I think there is another hidden feeling.

You are so famous for writing books, only you have the ability to provoke people. Teacher Huang should be coming for you."

"Truly amazing! I'm afraid of you. Can you not be so smart next time? Is it okay to pretend to be confused about my affairs?" Li Heng joked.

Mai Sui smiled softly, "Okay."

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(End of chapter)