Chapter 23: Reunion of Classmates

  Packing up and getting ready to head back home to pick up my parents and sister's family for a visit, it's their first time traveling so far, and I'm a bit worried about them. My brother-in-law and sister's English is also not great, it's like they're speaking a different language. After some thought, I decided to go pick them up myself, so they can get familiar with the place, and next time it'll be easier for them to come over. Also, this time when I head back, I'm going to bring a few Chinese rural dogs to continue promoting Chinese breeds in America. And I'll also raise some small local chickens to eat, these foreign roosters look big but taste like wax, completely flavorless. As for other things, I'll just add them later and see how it goes.

  Before leaving, Ju An instructed Thomas to buy another 2,000 head of cattle and sheep, which would be enough for the ranch's own consumption after a few months when they give birth. Additionally, he asked Thomas to acquire around ten more horses. These were also suggestions made by Old Thomas, who believed that such good pastures should not be wasted on just a few cows, with the utilization rate of the entire pasture being less than one-tenth. The horse stable, which could hold 45 horses, currently only had ten horses, and this time they would expand to half of its capacity. As for finding more manpower, Old Thomas also mentioned that his eldest son Andrew could come over, as his current ranch was not doing well and he wanted to move to Ju An's ranch. With this, the manpower issue would be basically resolved. After considering it, Ju An had a good impression of Thomas and Huan, who were both diligent people, so he estimated that Andrew should also be reliable and nodded in agreement.

  A few days ago, Ju An left a message on QQ, mentioning that he would return to China in two days. Some classmates from Jiangnan were preparing to have a small welcome dinner, using this as an excuse to gather together.

  After flying for over ten hours, I arrived in the capital. But instead of staying there, I bought a ticket and flew directly to Jiangnan. Originally, I had planned to spend some time sightseeing in the capital, but after getting off the plane, I felt it wasn't that interesting and my heart longed even more for my hometown.

  Arrived in Jiangnan and checked into a hotel, this time I chose the Jiangnan Hotel, which was a five-star hotel invested by overseas Chinese at the forefront of reform and opening up. At that time, it was a national sensation, but now it is hidden among the high-rise buildings around it and does not seem conspicuous. The newly built hotels in the surrounding areas are much taller than this former landmark of Jiangnan.

  Although the Jiangnan Hotel is no longer the tallest building in Jiangnan, many people choose five-star hotels and the Jiangnan Hotel is still one of the best options. When I was studying and working in Jiangnan before, I often thought that one day I would be able to stay here. At that time, I heard that a breakfast here cost several hundred yuan, which made me speechless.

  More than 2000 soft girls in one night, for now's Ju An, it's just a light drizzle.

  After settling down, I took a nap for a couple of hours to adjust to the time difference. When I woke up, I gave my university classmate Wu Ming a call to let him know that I had arrived.

  "Wu Ming heard Ju An's voice: 'Good kid, I've been waiting for your call. I'll notify everyone, let's make it tonight, just in time for Friday.'"

  "That's settled then," Ju An replied.

  Wu Ming paused and said: "Anzi, those two Qi Yan are also working in Jiangnan now. Are you okay with that? If you don't want to see her, we won't notify them."

  "Zhi Yan, it's been years since I've heard that name in this university that made me infatuated," he paused and said, "Let's notify everyone, we're all classmates, it wouldn't be right not to."

  "Alright, I'll inform them, you go sleep first." Wu Ming said simply before hanging up the phone.

  Jū ān put down the phone, Qí yán, this girl he deeply loved during his four years in college. They started dating from their sophomore year and lasted until graduation, with three years of daily quarrels but more sweetness, just like most college couples. When they graduated, Jū ān chose to stay in Jiangnan, thinking it was closer to home, while Qí yán chose the south, wanting to make a name for herself. At first, they talked on the phone every day, then once a week, and finally, after a month, they had a breakup call, and this relationship came to an end.

  Now it seems that this relationship may have had no outcome from the start. Jū'ān's personality is either stable or lacking in ambition, having stayed at a small foreign trade company for four years after graduation with hardly any salary increase. Qíyán has a stronger personality and is more adventurous, winning scholarships every year during her four years of university, while Jū'ān barely passed each course with 60 points. Although they have been dating for over three years, they haven't crossed the line, not because Jū'ān didn't want to, but because Qíyán was very conservative in this regard.

  Thinking of this, I suddenly smiled and said to myself, let bygones be bygones.

  At this moment, the phone on the bedside table suddenly rang, picked up the phone: "Hello, who is it?"

  A familiar voice came over the phone "Liu Zi, it's me, Wang Fan".

  "Ah, Old Three, I knew it was you," said Ju Anxin with a smile.

  Wang Fan asked: "You little guy, where are you now? I went to find you, and just received a call from Old Fourth, saying that you had arrived. Brother will go take a look at this American first."

  Let him know the room number and he can come up directly.

  Just after reporting the number, Wang Fan answered a sentence and arrived immediately, then hung up the phone.

  These years, Lao San's impatient temper hasn't changed. Before he even finished speaking, he hastily hung up the phone, shook his head and sat on the bed, turned on the TV and aimlessly pressed the remote control.

  More than half an hour had passed when the sound of knocking on the door was heard. Ju An opened the door to take a look, and at the entrance stood a man in a floral shirt, but it wasn't Lao San Wang Fan.

  "Wow, kiddo, you've really made it big time! You're living in a luxurious hotel in Jiangnan!" Wang Fan immediately gave Ju An a big bear hug.

  "Hey, Lao San, can't you change your style? Every summer it's the same: floral shirt, jeans, and sunglasses. You look like those old foreigners who came to mainland China during the early days of reform and opening up."

  "Wow, this is your brother's taste, you country bumpkin can't understand today's fashion, do you know what retro means?" Wang Fan stretched out his hand to grab Ju An's butt.

  Take precautions against potential dangers while living in peace and security.

  After closing the door, the two brothers entered the room. Ju An took out a can of Coke from the refrigerator and threw it to Wang Fan, and he also opened one for himself.

  "Wow, it's really good, indeed a five-star one."

  "Stop it, you kid is a civil servant after all, with so much salary, and still mixed in the provincial station, how could he not have come here?" Ju An glanced at Wang Fan.

  "I've been here a few times, but never stayed overnight. My home is in Jiangnan City, no need to stay here." Wang Fan said with a smile: "However, I decided to stay tonight, let's have a good chat, you and me".

  "Welcome, welcome, anyway I'm bored alone," Ju An said with a smile.

  "By the way, Qi Yan and her husband are coming over tonight too. I'm annoyed with him, always smiling but not really smiling. What did you tell Lao Si?" Wang Fan asked.

  "Yeah, I told lao si, we're all classmates, don't make it so awkward." Ju An smiled and replied.

  Wang Fan poured himself a Coca-Cola: "If you're fine, I'm fine."

  The two brothers then dragged on for almost an hour before leaving the door.

  Sitting in Wang Fan's Audi A4, Ju An arrived at the meeting place, a South American barbecue buffet next to Zhonglou Square. When Ju An and Wang Fan arrived, Wu Ming, also known as Lao Si, was already there, along with their classmates Wang Jingjing and Li Yuanshan. There was also Qi Yan, who was sitting next to a slightly chubby man with a round face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes - not extremely handsome, but definitely somewhat good-looking, probably Qi Yan's husband.

  After waving hello, Wang Fan and Ju An pulled over a chair and sat down. At this time, Qi Yan introduced: "This is my husband, Chen Jianguo, these are my classmates, the rest of you have all met before, and this is Ju An".

  Ju An stretched out his hand and shook hands with Chen Jianguo.

  After waiting for about ten more minutes, Li Na and Qian Feng, the young couple, finally arrived. They were the only pair of university classmates who had persisted in their relationship until marriage, and they were still living a pretty good life.

  Now that everyone was present, they picked up their plates and each went to select dishes. After selecting the dishes, they started eating while chatting.

  Wang Fan noticed that Ju An had only picked some vegetables, with the most being cauliflower, which took up almost half of his plate. He asked: "You kid, I remember you used to love eating meat, why are you having all vegetarian dishes today? When having a buffet, one should eat the most expensive dishes, haven't you seen that everyone else is having shrimp and meat?"

  Everyone heard Wang Fan say this and curiously stared at Ju An's big plate of flower vegetables.

  "Actually, I've been eating beef and mutton all the time, it's a bit tired. There are tomatoes and everything, just not cauliflower, we don't grow much in our place, I just want to eat when I see it."

  Li Na smiled and said, "It's easy for you to go to the US every day to eat beef, poor us who are eating rice at home. By the way, I saw the photos in your space, were they all taken at your ranch?"

  "Mmm, all of these were taken on my ranch, just set it up, my own cattle and sheep can't eat yet, waiting for them to give birth, when they can eat, you guys come over and play, can't guarantee anything else, accompanying eating and chatting is a must, Qianfeng doesn't mind, I can even provide complete three accompaniments."

  Qian Feng smiled and said: "Get out, don't look for trouble."

  Wu Ming said with a smile: "I just heard Ji Qing say that the ticket is self-paid, when I'm free, I'll go to your place to play".

  "Wu Ming, when are you planning to go? Let us know in advance, I and Qian Feng's annual leave haven't been applied for yet. We can accompany each other then. The photos look really beautiful!" Li Na added.

  Wang Jing said dejectedly: "Alas, my annual leave is already used up. It seems I won't be able to go this year and can only go next year."

  "Come on, you didn't say it earlier. I just took a 10-day break last month and I won't be able to go today either. If I have to go, it'll have to be after New Year's Day." Li Yuanshan muttered while devouring a large chicken drumstick.

  "I know that American ranches are generally quite large, right? In recent years, many people from our place have gone to Australia to buy farms, several thousand yuan per mu of land, very cheap," Chen Jianguo asked.

  "It's actually quite cheap in the US, and agricultural taxes are generally very low in developed countries. I know some states in the US don't even collect state tax, and agricultural taxes are also very low. Like where I am now in Montana, there is no state tax and local taxes are only 3%. Investing in agriculture abroad is actually not bad at all."