Chapter 165: Having a Meal with Da Yi Ge

After Ya Li heard me finish speaking, she used a tissue to wipe her tears,

Then she said, "Chairman, rest assured, I will absolutely not disappoint your expectations. You trust me so much, entrusting me with such an important matter, I will definitely safeguard the company's finances."

"The account password, and the U Shield fingerprint password, are set by you. Without your signature, no one can transfer this money, so rest assured."

Hearing Ya Li say that,

I could only nod, and said to Ya Li, "Alright, you may go out, prepare the cash for use at the evening party."

Ya Li then stood up and left.

Shi Yong quickly came in from outside,

"Brother, what did you and Ya Li talk about, and why did it take so long?"

I said, "Nothing much, just asking her if Qiao Jie has found her again for something."

"Qiao Jie really, the past is past, but I can't forget it. Sigh, Ya Li's charm is truly great, she doesn't let go of father or son, Qiao Jie will surely feel upset in her heart." Shi Yong sighed.

"Alright, Shi Yong, stop talking nonsense, I'm angry." I said while smoking.

"Brother, I was just joking with you. Don't take it seriously. Just now Xiao Fang called me and asked me to tell you, that Da Yi Ge has been invited, he will arrive at Zaocheng Grand Hotel tomorrow evening, and the performance is the day after tomorrow." Shi Yong said.

"Arriving tomorrow evening is great, I want to meet Da Yi Ge, are you willing to go?" I asked Shi Yong.

"Of course I want to, I'll ask him how to become a star. I'll learn some singing from him." Shi Yong said.

"You're a self-taught wildcat, nobody can teach you. Tomorrow evening we'll invite Da Yi Ge for a meal. Tell Xiao Fang to come as well, and also Director Chen, let's all go together." I said to Shi Yong.

"Okay, I'll go tell Xiao Fang right away." Shi Yong then left my office.

Time quickly came to the next evening,

I and Shi Yong arrived at Zaocheng Grand Hotel, Hou Laoban had already arranged a room for us.

Around seven o'clock, Da Yi Ge alone walked in from outside into the private room,

He is very tall, stout-built. His face is large. He wears a blue suit.

I hurriedly stood up and actively shook hands with Da Yi Ge,

"Hello, Da Yi Ge, I am Zhao Jianqiang, chairman of Da Heng Group, welcome you to Zaocheng."

Da Yi Ge, smiling, said, "Boss Zhao, thank you for the invitation. I'm just a singer, you don't need to be polite."

While shaking hands, I carefully felt Da Yi Ge's palm; his tiger's mouth indeed had calluses.

This shows he once held a trowel at a construction site.

No pretense.

I said, "Da Yi Ge, I am about the same age as you.

I heard you also worked at a construction site before, my background is similar to yours.

After you came to our Zaocheng, I was excited, I specially made time to accompany you for a meal. Please have a seat quickly."

Da Yi Ge laughed and said, "Yes, Boss Zhao, I used to work in Shangqiu. Someone like you, a big boss, I rarely get to see."

You are all top figures in society.

Being able to have a meal with you is also my honor."

"Don't be polite, please sit." I pointed to the main seat and said.

Da Yi Ge sat down in that seat.

At that moment, Shi Yong ran to Da Yi Ge's side,

"Da Yi Ge, hello, I'm Shi Yong, I especially like listening to your songs. We are both from the Qilu region, your hometown has mutton soup, and we also have mutton soup here.

I today want you to hear how my singing is,

Seeing you able to become a star, I also want to become one."

Da Yi Ge has a good temper,

At first glance he is an honest person,

He said to Shi Yong, "Teacher Shi, we should learn from each other; I also learned by following a recorder. You sing a song."

Shi Yong opened his mouth and began,

"Take away a fishing lamp, let it warm my eyes, leave a piece of true feeling, let it moor by the Feng Bridge, helpless me…."

Not a single line was in tune, I truly admire Shi Yong's daring to sing like that.

After Shi Yong finished singing,

Looking at Da Yi Ge, wanting to hear his critique.

Da Yi Ge stood there stunned, not knowing what to say, holding it in for a long while,

Then he said, "Teacher Shi, your voice is really loud."

Shi Yong happily said, "I haven't even used my strength yet. Tell me, how is it, can I participate in the big star competition?"

Da Yi Ge, hehe laughing,

"Teacher Shi, that's not for me to decide."

"Then you tell me, how should I sing to be able to go to the big star?" Shi Yong kept asking.

"This, this." Da Yi Ge stammered a bit.

I said to Shi Yong, "Alright, Shi Yong, what kind of star are you pretending to be? Hurry up and contact Xiao Fang, ask her and Director Chen what time they'll arrive, we can't wait long, Da Yi Ge is almost hungry."

"Boss Zhao, not hungry, not hungry, I just ate a bowl of instant noodles in the room." Da Yi Ge said.

This Da Yi Ge is too genuine.

I really like this genuine nature of Da Yi Ge.

Shi Yong then took out his phone to contact Xiao Fang,

Just as the call got through, Xiao Fang was already at the doorway,

"Chief Shi, save the phone bill, we're at the door. Director Chen, hurry up and take a seat."

Director Chen followed Xiao Fang into the house; he glanced at Da Yi Ge sitting in the seat of honor, and he became a little unhappy.

I could clearly see from Director Chen's eyes a hostile gaze; this Director Chen truly looks down on Da Yi Ge.

I hurriedly stood up, pointing to another secondary seat and said: 「Director Chen, come sit; let me introduce you, this is Da Yi Ge.

"Da Yi Ge, this is our evening's director, invited from the capital, a famous director who specializes in shooting big movies."

Da Yi Ge hurriedly stood up, extending his hand,

"Hello, Director Chen."

Director Chen merely shook hands with Da Yi Ge politely,

then sat down beside me.

I had Shi Yong arrange for the service to quickly serve dishes and drinks.

Da Yi Ge doesn't drink baijiu, only beer.

I, Shi Yong, Director Chen, and Xiao Fang — four of us — drank baijiu.

I first raised my glass and said: "Everyone has worked hard; tomorrow's evening show is about to begin; I hope our performance succeeds and our Da Heng Group's real estate project sells well. Thank you for your efforts; I'll drink first as a sign of respect."

After I finished drinking, Director Chen said: "Chairman Zhao, you're being too polite. Tomorrow's performance is fully ready; other stars are also arriving from out of town one after another; I believe our performance will definitely succeed."

"Chairman Zhao, being able to invite so many stars this time is mainly thanks to Director Chen's efforts; he knows many famous singers in the circle." Xiao Fang said from the side.

I looked at Xiao Fang and smiled, saying: "If back then you had hosted an entertainment program on the provincial TV station, you might also have known many stars."

"Chairman Zhao, you're teasing me again. Actually, among these stars, the hardest to invite is Teacher Da Yi Ge; we spent great effort to secure the appointment. Teacher Da Yi Ge, welcome you to Zaocheng." Xiao Fang then said to Da Yi Ge.

"Hello, Teacher Xiao Fang; I used to watch your hosted program, it was very good. These past few days I haven't wanted to go out mainly because the corn at home needs to be harvested. So I don't want to take on work. After the corn is harvested I'll come out to sing."

"I'm really sorry, Teacher Xiao Fang has put you in a difficult position."

After hearing Da Yi Ge's words, I hurriedly applauded,

"I greatly admire Da Yi Ge; after becoming famous, he can still farm. Not forgetting his roots — many people, once famous, wish they could change their background."

"Actually, the little land Da Yi Ge has earns money that isn't even one-tenth of a single performance's income, yet Da Yi Ge insists on farming."

"This shows Da Yi Ge's deep affection for the countryside." Xiao Fang also continued speaking.

"Everyone, teachers, don't praise me; I'm just a farmer who likes to sing, became famous by chance — this is thanks to the country, the government, and today's society."

"Even if I don't sing in the future, I still have land to farm." Da Yi Ge said.