Chapter 1022

Just as they were chatting, the television screen changed, and Zhou Andong's figure appeared, standing on stage holding a microphone.

At this moment, there was a commotion in the cafeteria; some people started shouting to turn up the TV volume, and those in the back even carried their lunch boxes and ran to the front.

"I have to go cheer for my big brother." Zhou Li lowered her head, took a mouthful of rice, and then ran to the front carrying her lunch box.

Whether it was the Yangcheng Daily or the Evening News, their circulation was very large.

But it would never have the same influence as television, especially for a speech.

Reading text cannot convey the atmosphere of the scene or the charm of the language.

A middle-aged woman wearing an apron ran out of the kitchen and turned the TV volume to the maximum.

As time passed, enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted in the cafeteria from time to time.

And the same situation was playing out in many places across Guangdong Province.

………………

Haizhu Grand Theatre is the oldest theatre in Yangcheng, located on Changti Main Road. Its predecessor was called Tongqing Theatre, and it is also the only remaining professional theatre in Yangcheng.

Founded in 1902, it was renamed Haizhu Theatre in the 30th year of the Guangxu reign (1904). Later, after many renovations, the famous Lingnan school painter Mr. Guan Shanyue inscribed the five characters "Haizhu Grand Theatre," using the theme of rigid and soft calligraphy to further highlight the extraordinary momentum of the old brand.

Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu returned from the research institute, rested for a while at the hotel, and after finishing dinner, they ran to the Haizhu Grand Theatre to watch authentic Cantonese opera.

By the time the performance ended and they came out, it was already past nine o'clock. The two were in no hurry to return to the hotel, holding hands as they strolled along the Pearl River in the night.

The Pearl River in the night was calm and unrestrained, flowing freely through Yangcheng with a mindset almost like that of a carefree crane in the clouds, soaking the entire city in a rich, tender, and honeyed charm, turning this southern city—which is extremely charming in both its geographical and human environment—into the most distinctive place.

The October night in Yangcheng was also very cool. Zhou Andong stood by the Pearl River, took out a cigarette and lit it, then pointed to the brightly lit opposite bank of the river.

"Do you know what place that is?"

Jian Qiu tucked back a strand of hair blown messy by the night breeze and looked up: "Fangcun Pier. With so many people, they must all be eating Manji Boat Congee."

Zhou Andong nodded: "It is said that Manji Boat Congee has a very long history. In the beginning, it was a large wooden boat; you had to get on the boat to eat the congee because eating congee while looking at the river view was the most authentic way.

Later, in the thirties and forties, the river water became severely polluted, and the Tanka people who poled the boats moved to land. The scenery of cooking congee with river water and eating it on the boat was never seen again."

"I've eaten it." Jian Qiu looked at the opposite side: "They open for business every evening and don't close until the early hours of the morning. Business is always booming every day."

Zhou Andong had heard of it but had never eaten it: "Is it delicious?"

Jian Qiu's eyes curved into crescent moons: "It's very delicious. They use fish bones to boil the congee base, and place raw fish slices, barbecued pork slices, shredded squid, and jellyfish at the bottom of the bowl. Then they pour in the boiling congee; the ingredients in the bowl that are easy to cook, half-cooked, or fully cooked are instantly cooked by the scalding heat. Finally, they sprinkle on a handful of fragrant and crispy fried peanuts, green onions, and shredded fried dough sticks. It's so fragrant."

"Let's go!" Zhou Andong took Jian Qiu's hand and started walking: "Hearing you say that, I'm hungry. Let's go eat a bowl."

The two crossed the river and arrived at the pier. There were indeed quite a lot of people, and two small sedans were parked nearby, which showed how popular this Boat Congee was.

Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu found a seat and sat down. A very young girl walked over, asked the two what they wanted to eat, and then turned and left.

Very quickly, the girl brought the congee up.

Zhou Andong couldn't wait to take a sip, then nodded vigorously: "Delicious!"

"It's delicious, right?" Jian Qiu used a spoon to scoop a mouthful and put it in her mouth, then slightly narrowed her eyes, looking very satisfied.

Zhou Andong laughed: "Looking at you, that's so exaggerated."

Jian Qiu also laughed: "I just think it's delicious."

The two chatted and ate; one bowl of congee took them over an hour to finish.

By the time they paid the bill and took a taxi back to the hotel, it was already past twelve o'clock.

But the two had no sleepiness at all; after showering, they began to research the next generation of smart products.

And at this time, Zhou Anlei was also holding Si Wei, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking like a man with a beauty in his arms and the world in his hands.

Si Wei lay lazily in Zhou Anlei's arms: "I have already made an appointment with Mr. Zhuo for ten o'clock tomorrow morning."

Zhou Anlei said: "Today Zhou Andong found me again and asked me to sign the contract as soon as possible. I hope I can talk to that man surnamed Zhuo smoothly tomorrow, because I can't drag this out for too long."

"There won't be any problems." Si Wei said confidently: "I chatted with Mr. Zhuo today; he is very interested in that piece of land. Adding twenty million on top of the price Zhou Andong gave is absolutely no problem."

"Twenty million?" Zhou Anlei sneered: "Then you might as well tell that Mr. Zhuo not to meet tomorrow."

Si Wei was stunned: "Why?"

Zhou Anlei said in a mocking tone: "I, Zhao Liangping, am indeed short of money right now, but do you think it's worth it to ruin my own reputation and offend Zhou Andong for twenty million?"

Si Wei's expression changed, but it returned to normal in an instant: "That was just my guess. Let's talk when we meet tomorrow; if we don't talk, how will we know how much he can give?"

"Fine!" Zhou Anlei nodded helplessly: "It's only because you said so; otherwise, I would absolutely never risk offending Zhou Andong to contact another buyer."

Si Wei kissed Zhou Anlei gently on the lips: "I'm doing this for your own good. If you can earn more money, why refuse?"

Zhou Anlei pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray on the nightstand.

"Let's sleep!"

Si Wei said: "I have to go back to my own room to sleep."

Zhou Anlei frowned, looking very displeased: "Just sleep here. Why go back to your own room?"

Si Wei rolled her eyes at him: "If someone bumps into us when we get up in the morning, what then? You're a man, it doesn't matter, but I'm a woman and I still need to save face."

"That's true!" Zhou Anlei nodded: "Alright, go back and sleep."

Si Wei got out of bed and got dressed. Seeing that Zhou Anlei still didn't seem very happy, she hugged him and kissed him.

"Alright, alright, when this period of being busy is over, I'll go home with you and accompany you every day. That's fine, right?"

"That's more like it." Zhou Anlei reached out and hugged Si Wei, gnawing on her for a full minute before letting her go. "Go!"

"I'm leaving!"

Si Wei turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her, and immediately wiped her mouth fiercely with her sleeve.

By the time she returned to her room, she showered for two hours; it was almost dawn.

Back in bed, she seemed to have just fallen asleep when she was startled awake by heavy knocking on the door.

Shaking her groggy head, she went to open the door with half-open eyes; it was Zhuo Qihua.

"Where did you go last night? I came to knock on the door at eleven o'clock and you weren't here."

Zhuo Qihua's expression wasn't very good, and he questioned Si Wei in a very dissatisfied tone.