Volume 1 Rebirth - The Eve of High School Chapter 22: Another Family Dinner

  Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Zi Qing returned to Yang City. First, she went to a bookstore to buy all the textbooks for each subject in high school. Although she had worked hard to review and become the top scorer in the middle school entrance examination, it had been over ten years since she graduated from high school, and she didn't dare to exaggerate her abilities. Even current university students wouldn't claim that they could thoroughly understand their high school textbooks, let alone her, a reincarnated person with average grades and an average school background? So, entering the prestigious No. 1 Middle School, which was full of talented students, she didn't think she would stand out much. After all, during the middle school entrance examination, she had only relied on knowing the question types in advance.

  After buying the book, Zi Qing went to the mall and picked out an ordinary mobile phone. After completing the formalities, she first called Ma Yu Xi, then called Wang Ming Tang of Long Feng Xiang. Wang Ming Tang told Zi Qing that her jewelry would be ready for pickup in a week, and it would be best to go directly to the Long Feng Xiang flagship store. Zi Qing knew that Wang Ming Tang wouldn't have the free time to meet with her again just to deliver the jewelry, after all, to him, she was still just an ordinary student worthy of his appreciation.

  After returning home, the car was again stored in the garage of a neighboring company, which led to speculation within the company about who the owner of the car was. Female employees were particularly concerned and wondered if they could catch a glimpse of the mysterious owner, who might be a potential husband. However, Ai Zi Qing, who was busy studying, knew nothing about these things.

  In early August, the weather was fine and sunny. Zi Qing sat on the sofa in a daze, watching her parents change clothes as they came and went, rubbing her forehead with some helplessness. Some time ago, the family received a phone call, and yesterday her parents called these relatives one by one to inform them that today they would be invited to Su Xiang Garden to celebrate Zi Qing's advancement in school.

  This was the first time in years that Zi Qing's family had invited guests to a high-end restaurant, and Jiang Qin was so excited that she dragged Ai Guohua left and right to change clothes, her busy hands and feet didn't know where to put them, although she looked like a petty bourgeois, but they were all very happy.

  Zi Qing looked at it with a tinge of heartache, her own money had been transferred to Ma Yu Xi in batches and invested in the company, but there were things about the company that she couldn't tell her parents for now.

  The company's affairs were entrusted to Ma Yuk-hi for handling. First, a floor of office space was rented on the seventh floor of the New Rite Building in the city center, which was used for setting up various departments including sales, publicity, finance, research and development, production, etc. The first store was also about to be established on the commercial street in the city center. In addition, a 500-square-meter factory was rented nearby, specifically for storing goods and processing and polishing by workers.

  The jewelry company was named 'Jade Pavilion', specializing in various jade, which was proposed by Zi Qing. The focus is on quality rather than quantity. This approach helps to quickly open up the market. Now, most jewelry companies operate a wide range of jade, gems and diamonds, with many types, while Jade Pavilion's specialization in jade makes it easier for people to remember, establishing a brand concept and style.

  At four o'clock in the afternoon, a family came to the entrance of Su Xiang Garden. The restaurant was magnificent and grand, with green coconut trees everywhere. The tables were separated by green rattan fences, and inside the restaurant, there was a small bridge over flowing water, surrounded by a lush garden landscape.

  Although her appearance is considered above average, there are too many beautiful girls around. If she doesn't dress up intentionally, she won't attract attention in daily life and is actually quite ordinary. Although people who have interacted with her will be drawn to her unique temperament, the waitress in this high-end restaurant apparently doesn't think so.

  The leading waiter saw Jiang Qin looking around in surprise and admiration, with a somewhat proud smile, and said lightly, "Our Su Xiang Garden is a national five-star luxury hotel, where city leaders often entertain guests."

  "Yes, I've also heard that eating a table here is quite expensive?" Jiang Qin asked with some concern.

  "Of course, our restaurant's service and ingredients are all high-end, every guest is a leader or entrepreneur! The leaders who come to Su Xiang Garden for a meal, I estimate it's enough for you to work hard from dawn till dusk for a year." This remark has some meaning, unexpectedly directly setting himself apart from the ordinary crowd?

  In later generations, the phenomenon of "shop bullying customers" still occurs from time to time. Some people are like this, having seen a few worlds, they remove themselves from ordinary people and get used to looking at others through the gap in the door.

  Looking at Jiang Qin's somewhat constrained face, Zi Qing didn't bat an eyelid, slightly raised the corner of her eyes and smiled, "If you say that the high standard of a restaurant is your kind of quality, then in my opinion, Su Xiangyuan is nothing special either."

  Listening to Zi Qing's soft and gentle words, the waiter's face turned bright red, wanting to retort but having nothing to say. Just a moment ago, he had indeed looked down on this family with their unsophisticated appearance, so he had sarcastically made a few remarks. But now, he didn't dare to really quarrel with the customer, after all, if things escalated and his leader found out, his job would be at risk.

  So she turned her head away and let out a disdainful 'humph', then said nothing more.

  Arriving at the hall by the window, I found that except for Grandpa and Grandma who didn't come, and my little aunt's family had something to do with it, everyone else was already there. This time, Aunt Xu Juan didn't say anything cold, she just sat there without making a sound. It seemed like no one expected that Zi Qing not only got into the number one school but also took first place. I didn't fulfill my promise of treating them to dinner, instead, let Zi Qing's family treat us here, isn't this slapping myself in the face?

  On the contrary, Dai Bo laughed and said "Guohua, brother and sister come sit down quickly, Ziqing is our family's pride, actually got the middle school exam champion!" After finishing, he also poured a cup of wine for Ai Guohua, and the two took a sip.

  Third Uncle also followed Hehe's lead, but Third Aunt Wang Mei looked at her own daughter Ai Jia with a somewhat awkward expression. She didn't feel good in her heart and sourly said "Couldn't you see it before? Zi Qing's grades have always been average, right? How come the difference is so big this time?"

  Everyone felt that there was something wrong with this, and it implied that the results were suspicious of cheating. However, everyone knew that it was impossible for the middle school entrance examination to leak questions. Even if the questions were leaked, it wasn't something that they could have accessed at their level. Moreover, not to mention being in the same exam room as Zi Qing, even if they were from the same school, there wouldn't be a second person who got first place in the whole province, so it was completely impossible for her to have cheated.

  Third Uncle smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "Don't listen to your aunt's nonsense, she has a sharp tongue but a soft heart!"

  Ziying smiled and agreed. After all, they were all family as younger generations, so there was no need to be awkward with each other in the future.

  Dàgē ài Píng looked at Zǐ Qíng's expression with some complexity, his usual disdain for his younger cousin suddenly surpassed him, making him feel a little proud and unable to accept it.

  Everyone's expression, Zi Qing secretly saw in her eyes, sighed slightly in her heart, and didn't want to talk much.

  It was Jiang Qin's face that showed pride, and she had been smiling all the way through dinner, making Xu Juan look even more ill at ease.

  When the bill came, a meal cost over 3,000 yuan, but Ai Guohua didn't mind at all. He was pulled by his uncle San to boast after drinking two more cups. At this time, a group of people walked down from the second floor of the restaurant. San and Ai Guo quietly pointed at one of them and said, "Do you see? That's Liu Chao, the head of the municipal bureau. Last time I accompanied Director Wang for dinner and saw him greet them. The one next to him is even more impressive, Su Wentao, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee, who often gives speeches on TV."

  Ziying heard San Shu's words and just wanted to lift her head when she heard a voice saying "Ziying?"

  Turning around, I saw Liu Fei and Su Xi saying something to their parents, then quickly walking over. Su Xi smiled and said "Coming to eat?"

  "Hmm, came with family, how are you guys also here?" He looked up and glanced at Su Xi and Liu Fei.

  "We're just here to have dinner with your parents, right? Uncle and aunt, hello. I'm a friend of Zi Qing's. We bumped into each other so I came over to say hi." The two of them greeted Zi Qing's family politely one after another.

  This really scared them, the secretary of the discipline inspection committee and the director's son came over to greet them? They hastily stood up and modestly returned the courtesy, with their dads on the other side, they didn't dare to be arrogant.

  At this time, Su Wentao and Liu Chao came one after another. Su Wentao smiled and said, "So this is Ai Zi Qing, I've long admired your great name! Your essay has been repeatedly studied by a large group of old guys in the financial sector over the past two days, causing a big stir! I heard they even held a special meeting to discuss it and slammed their fists on the table! Hahaha!" After finishing speaking, he burst into loud laughter.

  As soon as this was said, everyone was stunned. Zi Qing's composition? Causing financial experts to quarrel? And even slapping the table? This is a bit too unbelievable.

  Everyone's eyes turned to Zi Qing, even Liu Fei and Su Xi had never heard their father mention this matter.

  Ziying smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Uncle Su is overpraising me, it's just some small ideas." She then turned to her parents and explained, "It was an essay I wrote during the middle school entrance exams. Through this year's financial crisis, I wrote down some thoughts." Ziying only gave a vague explanation, but how could she tell her parents that in this essay, not only did she write about her own thoughts on the financial crisis, but also made some predictions based on specific data and future situations, hoping to draw attention from the country and have a preventive effect?

  Su Wentao knew that Ai Ziqing was being modest and didn't point it out, but nodded his head in approval. He had read the article, which was well-reasoned and analyzed the problem deeply. If it weren't for the fact that he was facing it himself, no one would have thought that such an article could come from a girl who was about to enter high school. Otherwise, with his identity, how could he possibly take the initiative to greet his son's little classmate?

  Before Su Wentao and others left, Zi Qing noticed that Su He's mother, Zhao Ya, had a slightly narrowed eyes, with some disdain and some vigilance looking at herself, which made Zi Qing somewhat puzzled!

  Zhao Ya was indeed a bit wary of Ai Zi Qing, after all, her own son was the only one she truly understood. If she didn't have a good impression of this girl, why would he come to greet her in front of so many people? Seeing the respectful attitude of the girl and her family made Zhao Ya even more disdainful, and she was convinced that Zi Qing must be the kind of girl who was taught by her family to cling to wealth and status.