sinovels Chapter 663: 1. Definitely brought to
Chapter 663: 1. Definitely brought to
A week later, with Huang Xiaochuan's assistance, Zhai Xi and her family of three obtained visas to travel to the United States. Zhang Gaolei helped book their plane tickets, which were in first class on Air China. Medical staff would also accompany them. Once they arrived in the United States, doctors from the Mayo Clinic would take over their care, and the medical staff would then travel back to Shanghai on the same plane the following day.
When seeing them off, Zhang Gaolei specifically told Zhai Xi and Yan An, "Xiao Chuan has arranged everything for you at the hospital in the United States. I've also arranged for a translator to pick you up there. Her name is Zhang Fanyan. She will stay with you during your time in the United States. If you need anything, just tell her, or you can call me, Huang Xiaochuan, or Ding Yi directly."
Zhai Xi said gratefully, "Thank you so much! Please also tell Xiao Chuan and Ding Yi how much you thank me!"
At this moment, Yan An chimed in, "Yes! Please thank Xiao Chuan and Ding Yi for us."
Zhang Gaolei laughed and said, "Don't worry! I will definitely pass on the message."
Only Zhang Gaolei came to see them off today. Ding Yi went on a business trip to Yanjing, and Huang Xiaochuan went to Singapore to attend an important academic conference, so neither of them came to see them off today.
At that moment, Ding Yi was with Wu Duo.
Wu Duo learned about Zhai Xi's situation from Ding Yi and looked on with a sigh.
He scolded Ding Yi and the other two: "You guys! You should at least have called me!"
Ding Yi put his arm around Wu Duo's shoulder and laughed, "Alright, alright, you don't need to get involved in such a small matter. We'll handle it in no time. Besides, even if I told you, you wouldn't be able to help in that situation!"
He then asked Wu Duo, "It's usually so difficult to see you! I've been to Beijing on business trips several times, and this is the only time I've managed to see you."
Wu Duo said apologetically, "Hey! Don't mention it. I had no choice in the matter! As you know, I'm currently doing a job serving the leaders, and I don't have any personal time at all. I'm busy with the leaders from morning till night every day. This time, the leaders went abroad for a visit, so I didn't have to go with them, which is why I had time to meet you."
Ding Yi patted Wu Duo on the shoulder: "I understand! Back then, my old man's secretary was just like you, working day and night with my old man. The two of them spent more time together than I, his own son."
Suddenly, Ding Yi remembered something: "By the way, I've come all this way to see you, what are you planning to treat me to for dinner tonight?"
Wu Duo grinned mischievously, "If I'm treating you, it has to be a specialty of Yanjing. I'll treat you to braised pork and soy milk, I guarantee they'll be authentic, and I guarantee you'll eat them all without saying a word."
Ding Yi stared at him with horrified eyes: "What the heck? You're planning to treat me to pig offal and spoiled soy milk?"
Ding Yi had tried both of these things. After all, they were very famous, so Ding Yi was naturally curious. Who would have thought that after taking a bite of the braised food, the flavor was so strong that it took him a full half minute to swallow it. However, he never took a second bite. The filthy smell was too strong, and he simply couldn't stand it.
The fermented mung bean juice was even worse; he couldn't even swallow it and spat it out immediately.
He was even mocked by an old man sitting next to him: "Man, this isn't something just anyone can enjoy; you have to practice!"
Ding Yi almost threw up his dinner from last night. Practice? I'll practice my ass! What the hell is this stuff? It's all spoiled, yet these people from Yanjing are drinking it with such relish.
So when Wu Duo said he would treat him to these two things, Ding Yi knew that Wu Duo had no good intentions.
When Wu Duo saw Ding Yi's expression, he naturally guessed that Ding Yi must have tried it, otherwise he would not have such an expression. He couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"You've tried it?"
Ding Yi nodded with lingering fear, "I thought it was something delicious. I almost threw up my dinner from the night before."
Wu Duo laughed and said, "One's character is shaped by the environment. At first, I wasn't used to Shanghai cuisine either! It was so sweet, but I got used to it later. You! If you stay in Beijing for ten or eight years, I guarantee you'll get used to it."
Ding kept waving his hand: "Please spare me, I don't have that kind of luck. You Beijing people should enjoy this delicacy! I still think our Nanxiang steamed buns and pan-fried buns are better."
Wu Duo laughed and gave Ding Yi a push: "Come on, come on, I was just kidding. This season is perfect for hot pot. Let's go get some lamb. I know a place that has authentic Sunite lamb."
Upon hearing that they were going to have hot pot with mutton, Ding Yi's small eyes immediately narrowed into slits with a smile: "That's good, I like that."
Wu Duo, carrying a bag, led Ding Yi to a restaurant located in a three-courtyard house. A plaque hung above the entrance, bearing the words "Shiyiju".
Wu Duo led Ding Yi inside with practiced ease, and the people inside greeted them warmly, "Please come in, both of you."
Wu Duo asked, "Are there any private rooms left?"
"What a coincidence, there's only one private room left."
Wu Duo asked, "Are there any private rooms left?"
"What a coincidence, there's only one private room left."
Wu Duo smiled and clapped his hands, saying, "Alright, that's it. Take us there."
The so-called "private booth" is just a small private room with four-person booths. The space is acceptable, and it's quite spacious for two people.
Ordering hot pot is simple. The basics are various cuts of mutton, tripe, cabbage, and tofu, along with some pickled garlic, sesame seed cakes, and so on. Before long, the private room was filled with steam, and Wu Duo took out two bottles of Moutai from his bag.
"That's it for tonight. Whether you can finish it or not, these are the two bottles. To tell you the truth, I haven't touched alcohol in half a year. You should drink more tonight."
After filling the glass, Wu Duo raised his glass and said, "Come on, let's have a toast! Welcome to our great capital!"
Although Ding Yi was a little hesitant about the two-ounce cup, he gritted his teeth and downed it in one gulp.
Wu Duo laughed and urged, "Eat meat, eat meat!"
After a few bites of mutton, Ding Yi concluded, "I must say, this Moutai goes quite well with this hot pot mutton."
Wu Duo smiled and raised his glass again, saying, "I remember when we were in college, Huang Xiaochuan would make hot pot for us in the dorm. It tasted better than this."
Ding Yi also raised his glass and clinked it with Wu Duo's: "The whole room smells like hot pot. I had to open the window to air it out in the middle of the night, and I almost caught a cold."
"I still miss those days! There was no pressure, and Huang Xiaochuan even helped us make so much money. It's unbelievable to think about it now," Wu Duo said, taking a sip of his drink before continuing to reminisce.
"It's no use reminiscing now, we can never go back." Ding Yi also took a big gulp, but this time neither of them drank it all in one go.
As they chatted, Wu Duo asked, "What has Xiao Chuan been busy with lately?"
"Oh, he went to Singapore to attend an economic academic forum."
Wu Duo nodded to indicate that he understood: "The Hong Kong Economic Research Institute he runs published a paper some time ago about predicting the potential impact of e-commerce on the economy. The content was very insightful, and I recommended it to my superiors. They thought it was very forward-looking and asked me to continue to pay attention to this matter. When you see him, please let him know. I won't call him separately. Anyway, it's not something urgent."
"Okay, I'll definitely pass on your message." Ding Yi clinked glasses with Wu Duo and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.