Chapter 400: No Success

Zhang Qingwan was, after all, still a young girl, and she felt embarrassed by what was said. She had only been thinking about the relationship between Zhang Ping'an and this General Manager Zhang, and had absolutely no thoughts of that nature.

"Let me tell you..." Zhang Qingwan recounted the story of her grandfather meeting Zhang Ping'an, though naturally, she did not mention the money.

"What a coincidence, you say your Grandpa Zhang looks like General Manager Zhang?"

"Yes, at least four or five parts similar."

"Fate, it's definitely fate. Just think, if your grandfather and this General Manager Zhang's grandfather knew each other, your families have been close for generations. Who knows, they might have even arranged a marriage for you," Zhang Qingwan's best friend teased.

"Go on, go on. You're already a married woman, you should read fewer romance novels."

"Besides, it's just me who thinks they look alike. Perhaps they have no blood relation and just happen to look similar."

"Pfft, you also said 'perhaps.' Maybe, just maybe, you really do have a marriage contract."

"You're asking for a beating..." The two chased and played, running deep into the school.

Zhang Weiping's mouth twitched slightly. He had practiced martial arts since he was a child and had sharp ears and eyes. Although he hadn't heard their conversation very clearly, he had caught the gist of it.

He truly hadn't known that his father, Zhang Ping'an, had come to Lu Province, nor that he was an old acquaintance of the grandfather of a teacher here.

"General Manager Zhang?"

"Oh, where were we? Let's continue."

"We were at..."

This was the village primary school in Zhang Weizi. Zhang Weiping had been inspecting his way to Lu Province and, upon arriving here, had expressed his desire to donate, quickly receiving the attention of the local education department.

With the gradual progress of the Zhang Weiping Charitable Foundation, the Oriental Group also became gradually well-known. Many of the schools he donated to had an "Oriental Teaching Building," and there were also Oriental Hope Primary Schools that he had established himself.

Eating in the cafeteria at noon, Zhang Weiping heard those two female voices again.

"Hurry, hurry, your true love is being surrounded by people like stars around the moon. Let's go show our faces too."

"I'm not going. If you want to go, you go."

Zhang Qingwan was afraid that this neurotic best friend would blurt out some earth-shattering remark, and she wouldn't be able to explain herself even if she had a thousand mouths, so she refused decisively.

"Alright then, I'll go scout for information for you."

"..."

Before long, a peeking female teacher appeared in Zhang Weiping's line of sight. As the two made eye contact, Zhang Qingwan's best friend looked as if she had done something guilty and gave an awkward smile.

Zhang Weiping didn't pay it any mind and continued discussing the school's planning with the relevant leaders nearby.

Zhang Weiping stayed in Quanzhou for over a week and prepared to leave after resting for two days.

"Everyone rest for two days. We'll head to the next city the day after tomorrow."

"Understood, General Manager Zhang."

Early the next morning, after finishing his workout and stretches in the school dormitory, Zhang Weiping took his camera and left the campus on his Bicycle.

This was also his habit; every time he arrived at a place, when Zhang Weiping was resting from work, he would snap photos of the city's beautiful scenery. Photography could be considered one of his hobbies.

Zhang Weiping checked in at attractions one by one, such as Baotu Spring, Wulong Pool, and Daming Lake. When it got dark, he would find a Reception House to stay in and continue touring the next day. Naturally, there was security following him in secret.

"Grandpa, let me tell you, I..."

Suddenly, a female voice with a familiar yet slightly strange accent reached his ears. Zhang Weiping turned his head to look; it must have been the other female teacher who had been discussing him that day.

Zhang Weiping was startled. He hadn't expected this teacher to be quite good-looking, though the Lu Province dialect was very off-putting.

Zhang Qingwan also hadn't expected to run into Zhang Weiping at her own doorstep. Thinking of her best friend's words, could it be that her grandfather really did have a marriage contract with his family?

Zhang Qingwan watched Zhang Weiping walking closer and felt her heart rate accelerate. Who knew that Zhang Weiping would just give a slight nod and brush past her.

Zhang Weiping followed Zhang Qingwan's gaze toward Zhang Weiping and saw a young man whose side profile looked very much like Zhang Ping'an, and he was immediately taken aback.

"Ping'an? No, young man, are you from Sijiucheng?"

"Grandpa, I am indeed from Sijiucheng. What a coincidence, Teacher."

"Oh? Young man, do you know my granddaughter Qingwan?"

"I've heard of her, er, I've seen her."

"Grandpa, he is the General Manager Zhang who donated to our school," Zhang Qingwan whispered in Zhang Weiping's ear.

"Oh, young man, I think you look very much like a friend of mine from the past. May I ask, do you know Zhang Ping'an?"

"Hmm... I do. My father is also named Zhang Ping'an."

"Hahaha, it really is Brother Zhang's son! I am Uncle Zhang."

Zhang Weiping was secretly shocked. When Zhang Ping'an had been drinking with him before, he had said his business was doing very well and told him to rest assured and accept the ten thousand yuan. He hadn't expected it to be true; he had thought Zhang Ping'an was just saying comforting words to make him accept the money.

Zhang Weiping looked at the old face of Zhang Weiping, which was wrinkled like a chrysanthemum—it could rival his grandfather's. Compared to his father, the appearance was at least thirty or forty years apart, so it was no wonder Zhang Qingwan had complained to her best friend earlier.

"Er, it's normal that you don't know me. I met your father around '51. He was only sixteen or seventeen then, and you weren't even born yet."

As if seeing Zhang Weiping's confusion, Zhang Weiping added another sentence.

The two chatted for a while longer about Zhang Ping'an, and both sides confirmed each other's identities.

"Uncle Zhang."

"Hahaha, good! Come, we're already at Uncle Zhang's doorstep, we must have lunch before you go."

"This... alright." Zhang Weiping was truly too enthusiastic; he really couldn't refuse.

"But Uncle Zhang, please wait for me a moment. I'll go to the Reception House to get my Bicycle."

Zhang Weiping had originally only planned to take photos near the Reception House and capture some street life, but he hadn't expected to meet his father's friend. However, it was a good opportunity to buy some things to bring along while he went to get his bike.

"Good, good, good. Go ahead, Uncle will wait for you right here."

"Alright."

Once Zhang Weiping had walked far away, Zhang Qingwan couldn't wait to speak.

"Grandpa, what I was just about to tell you was this..."

"Hahaha, Qingwan, this is fate."

"Grandpa, what are you saying? I'm not talking to you anymore!" Zhang Qingwan ran home with a blushing face.

"???"

Zhang Weiping was completely bewildered; he said he had a connection with Brother Zhang, so why did she run away?

"How inexplicable."

Weiping soon rode his bike back, with two bags of fruit hanging from the handlebars.

"You child, why buy anything when visiting your uncle's house?"

Although Zhang Weiping said this, he was very satisfied in his heart; this child had a good upbringing and understood etiquette, truly worthy of being Brother Zhang's son.

"Zhang Shu, this is my first time visiting; how could I come empty-handed when calling on an elder?"

"Hahaha, this child, let's go. By the way, child, I still don't know your name."

"Look at me, I completely forgot. Zhang Shu, my name is Weiping."

"Weiping? Haha, your name is somewhat similar to your uncle's; I am called Zhang Weiping."

"Ah, this..." Weiping felt a bit awkward; having a name similar to an elder's was ultimately a bit improper.

"Hahaha, it's fine, there are plenty of people with the same name, and besides, ours aren't even the same."

"Zhang Shu, actually this is my nickname; my formal name is Zhang Yida."

Zhang Yida was the name Zhang Weiping had changed to while in Xiangjiang, as the others were respectively Yizhi, Yishu, Yida, and Yili...

"Yida? A good name, then I will call you Yida."

"Alright."

Zhang Qingwan went back and told her grandmother everything that had just happened, and her grandmother added three more dishes on the spot.