I'm back in 1990

Chapter 1165: Reunion

After finishing her report, Zhang Sui handed the report materials to her secretary and then stood up.

Huang Xiaochuan also stood up and stretched his body: "Let's have lunch together. Wu Duo happens to be in Shanghai these days. I've already spoken to him. Old Zhang and Old Chen will also be there."

Zhang Sui was taken aback: "Wu Duo? Isn't he in Yanjing?"

"They came for a meeting. They arrived the day before yesterday, and they said they had time at noon today, so we could go together."

Zhang Sui smiled and nodded. Back when they were studying at MIT, they took care of each other and forged a deep friendship, so she was naturally very happy to learn that Wu Duo would be coming at noon.

The two returned to Huang Xiaochuan's office.

After sitting down, Huang Xiaochuan asked, "Where do you plan to spend the New Year?"

Zhang Sui replied, "Of course I'll come back. I've made all the arrangements. We'll celebrate the Spring Festival at home."

Huang Xiaochuan then offered a suggestion: "I think you might as well spend the Spring Festival in Shanghai. It's not like you don't have a place to stay. You can bring your family over in advance, and it would be great to have a lively family gathering."

At this moment, the water boiled, and Huang Xiaochuan picked up the teapot and steadily poured the water into the gaiwan. The steam rose and then quickly dissipated.

"Okay, I'll do as you say," Zhang Sui agreed with a smile.

There was a knock on the office door, and a female employee pushed it open and brought in a cup of coffee, placing it in front of Zhang Sui.

Zhang Sui picked up her cup and took a sip. Suddenly, she remembered something. She called and had a picture frame delivered. It wasn't big, only about 40 by 40 centimeters in size.

After receiving it, she handed it to Huang Xiaochuan, saying, "I almost forgot, this is for you."

Huang Xiaochuan took it, glanced at it, and asked, "What is this?"

"This is a gift from my daughter; it's a painting she made."

Huang Xiaochuan peeled off the wrapping paper, revealing an oil painting of a pond, which was quite nice.

He looked at it carefully for a while and gave his opinion: "It's very well painted. I'll keep it safe. When your daughter becomes a great painter in the future, this painting will be valuable."

Zhang Sui laughed: "Forget about being a famous painter, as long as you like it, that's fine."

When it was almost time, Gao Song came to remind the two that they could set off.

The two then ended their casual conversation and headed together to the main branch of Huahong Hotel.

When they arrived, Zhang Gaolei and Chen Zhe were already there, but Wu Duo was not yet there.

Before Huang Xiaochuan could ask, Zhang Gaolei said, "I called Lao Wu, and he's already on his way."

He then greeted Zhang Sui warmly: "Long time no see."

Zhang Sui shook hands with him: "Yes, it's been a long time. Old Zhang, you've become quite famous. You've really changed a lot in just a few days."

Zhang Gaolei waved his hand modestly: "Don't be so modest. It depends on who you compare me to. Compared to you, I'm far inferior. But compared to Xiao Chuan, I'm nowhere near as good."

Just as the group was exchanging pleasantries, Wu Duo was led inside by a waiter.

"What grandma?"

"Wow, isn't this Boss Wu?!" Zhang Gaolei exclaimed excitedly as he rushed forward and hugged Wu Duo.

"You're in your fifties, can you please not get so excited?" Wu Duo was finding Zhang Gaolei's enthusiasm a bit overwhelming.

Huang Xiaochuan, Chen Zhe, and Zhang Sui watched the spectacle with smiles on their faces.

After the two had finished being affectionate, they went up to each other to shake hands and greet each other.

Wu Duo held Zhang Sui's hand and stared at her for a long time, making Zhang Sui a little confused.

"What's wrong? Is there writing on my face?"

Wu Duo shook his head and sighed, "Sister Sui, it's been so long! You've changed so much!"

"I'm almost fifty, how can I not get old! Flowers don't bloom for a hundred days, don't you know that!" Zhang Sui said dismissively.

After everyone was seated, the waiter began to pour tea for them.

Zhang Gaolei sat close to Wu Duo, and he couldn't help but tease Wu Duo: "Old Wu, the higher your official rank goes, the better you look."

Wu Duo had seemingly abandoned his airs of being a government employee and even joked with his classmates: "When it comes to good complexion, who can compare to you, Old Zhang? At your age, you've still managed to have a son with your sister-in-law. I'm truly impressed."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaolei said smugly, "Absolutely! While I'm still strong and healthy, I need to help my Zhang family have more descendants."

Huang Xiaochuan watched the two bickering while holding his teacup. Now that they were all scattered in different places, it was difficult for them to get together, so they all cherished this time together.

It's a pity Ding Yi isn't here today, otherwise everyone would be here.

Chen Zhe asked from the side, "Old Zhang, how much money did Huaxin burn through last year?"

Zhang Gaolei extended one finger from each of his left and right hands.

"How much is this?"

"One billion dollars."

Zhang Gaolei then said helplessly, "Chip manufacturing is a bottomless pit; you have to keep pouring money in to fill it. Luckily, I have Xiao Chuan; otherwise, how could I have survived until now!"

Huang Xiaochuan put down his teacup and said with a smile, "That's an investment for me. It will pay off sooner or later. You're doing very well now. Keep it up and let me recoup my investment sooner."

"Absolutely, I guarantee you'll count money until your hands cramp."

At this point, Wu Duo said, "Come on, I don't know when you'll make Xiao Chuan count money until his hands cramp, but I do know that Xiao Chuan made you count money until your hands cramped back in the day!"

Wu Duo recalled the time when they were dealing in stamps and counting money in their dormitory. At that time, it was the first time Zhang Gaolei had so much money of his own. He excitedly spread the money all over his bed and counted it all night long, until his hands cramped up.

So when Wu Duo said this, all four of them burst into laughter, except for Zhang Sui, who didn't know much about the inside story.

After everyone had laughed, Zhang Gaolei said with emotion, "To be honest, when I came to Shanghai with only a quilt and a straw mat, who would have thought that we would get to where we are today?"

Huang Xiaochuan then said, "Alright, alright, when you're old, you'll have plenty of time to write your memoirs. Don't get sentimental here now."

As they chatted and laughed, the dishes were served. Since Wu Duo and Chen Zhe had work in the afternoon, they didn't drink alcohol and substituted tea for wine.

The group ate and chatted, reminiscing about the fun they had while drinking.

Huang Xiaochuan began, "Old Wu, do you remember that time you and Old Zhang got drunk and started causing a ruckus on the playground?"

Zhang Gaolei shook his head: "As the saying goes, it's not that you're afraid of blacking out from drinking too much, it's that you're afraid of someone helping you remember afterwards. That's so true."

Wu Duo laughed and said, "It's alright, let him make it up, let's see how he does it!"

Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaochuan decided to expose their past: "I made it up? Back then, those two heroes each wrote two thousand-word self-criticisms to settle things?"

Wu Duo exclaimed in surprise, "Where did you get so many? There are only a thousand words, okay? Old Zhang is a good writer; he wrote five thousand words."

Zhang Gaolei was furious: "Damn it, Lao Wu, you've finally told the truth today. Back then you told me you wrote a 10,000-word self-criticism, you liar!"

Everyone was having a great time, and the atmosphere was very lively.