"Today is Xiaonian, is everyone busy? Shall we find time to get together again?"
"Yeah, the last get-together was during National Day in '04, a year and a half has passed in a flash. Classmates, do you want to come out and hang out?"
"That's right, two and a half years have passed since we graduated. The last National Day gathering was a bit rushed, and many people didn't go home. How about we take advantage of the New Year to organize a big get-together this time?"
"Where's the class monitor? Class monitor, come out and organize it. You have high prestige."
Today was traditionally Xiaonian in the south.
While Tan Jincheng was having lunch with Gu Qingqing's family, his high school classmates in the class group, whether they were on holiday from studying or returning home from work, were all bored and wanted to organize a class reunion.
Two and a half years after graduation, those who went to college had settled in, and those who went straight to work were no longer the poor graduates they once were, having some money in their pockets.
Therefore, this gathering attracted many more responses than the last.
"Hey, I noticed how Tan Jincheng, who was called 'Little Bai Gu' back then, never speaks in the group? Didn't this kid say he came back from the sea? Why is he still missing?"
At this moment, someone in the group mentioned Tan Jincheng.
Tan Jincheng had good grades in class back then, was handsome and lively, never an inconspicuous figure, so everyone was quite concerned about his recent situation after graduation.
"That's right, he even got into Anhui University back then. Anhui University was about to become a 211 university. It would have been great if he hadn't missed it back then, what a pity."
"Ask Zhang Xupeng. At the last gathering, it was said he was going to do business with Zhang Xupeng. Everyone knows this, but only Zhang Xupeng probably knows where they went to do business."
"Not necessarily, doesn't he have an aunt in the group? @Chen Shuyi, do you know what Tan Jincheng is busy with now?"
With so much activity in the group, Zhang Xupeng, who was idly playing on his phone, naturally saw it and immediately replied:
"He's busy meeting his future father-in-law right now."
Chen Shuyi, who was @-ed, didn't know how to reply at the moment.
She had been following Tan Jincheng and knew that his business was quite successful now.
She also knew he was relatively low-key, otherwise it would be impossible for no one in the group to know about his achievements.
Seeing Zhang Xupeng's reply, she was startled and couldn't help but quickly reply:
"Tan Jincheng is dating? And meeting the parents? Aren't you guys back yet? @Zhang Xupeng"
"No, we're not back yet, but we're on our way. He just took the opportunity to meet his future father-in-law,"
Zhang Xupeng replied.
"Where is his girlfriend from? Why is he meeting his future father-in-law on the way back?"
"Holy cow, this kid started dating so early?"
"Awesome, Old Zhang, are you dating? By the way, where are you guys doing business? Why aren't you chatting in the group? Is business that busy?"
"Are Boss Zhang and Boss Tan getting rich? If you're getting rich, bring your brothers along."
Around 20 years old is a period of youthful restlessness, and upon hearing about dating, everyone gets more excited than anyone else.
In fact, many in the group were also dating, but everyone loves to hear gossip and wanted to know information about Tan Jincheng's girlfriend.
Especially Chen Shuyi, who couldn't help but send a private message to Tan Jincheng on QQ:
"I heard from Zhang Xupeng that you're dating?"
After waiting for a while and not seeing a reply, she remembered what Zhang Xupeng said, that he was currently having dinner with his girlfriend's family.
She couldn't help but ask Zhang Xupeng again:
"What does Tan Jincheng's girlfriend look like? Have you met her?"
"Yes, I've met her. We often ate together before. His girlfriend is a student at Yongcheng University, from Yiwu. This time she came to attend Xiao Tan's company's annual meeting, and then Xiao Tan gave her a ride home, taking the opportunity to meet her parents."
Zhang Xupeng clearly knew what the other party wanted to know, so he threw out all the answers to the questions in one go.
Chen Shuyi was speechless for a long time after hearing the answer.
After a while, she teased,
"I didn't expect him to find a college student. I thought something was going on between him and Liu Yifei."
"Huh? How did you know that? Did Xiao Tan tell you their company hired Liu Yifei as an endorser?"
"No, but I knew they hired Chun Ge as an endorser before. Fengchi and Shanchi have such similar names, so I looked them up and found out they are also products of their company. Oh, and these two models sell very well in Yicheng; I often see people riding them on the street."
"Really? I didn't know that. But their company's products have always been in short supply. They set up several warehouses, but they're often empty. I didn't expect you to care about him so much. You truly are his aunt!"
"What's wrong with caring about a classmate? By the way, are you free to attend the gathering organized in the group?"
"Why don't I ever see you care about me? As for the gathering, I have no problem, but I don't know about Xiao Tan. He should be quite busy, and even if he's not busy, I don't know if he'll attend. He's been working very hard these past six months."
"Hard? How so?"
"Of course it's hard. You only think his business is big and he can afford Liu Yifei as an endorser, but you haven't seen the hard work behind it. For a while, he slept in the office for over half a month, and often had to pull all-nighters to do planning. Not to mention business trips. It's even hard for me to see him now; I often can't find him."
"Haha, I don't understand all that. Tell me how he and his girlfriend met."
"Initially, Xiao Tan and I opened a Taobao store, I don't know if you know it, it's called Jinshang Yidu. You can search for it. At first, his girlfriend was a part-time model for that Taobao store. Later, through interaction, Xiao Tan also asked his girlfriend to help with some translation work, and then they became familiar. As for how they started dating, I'm not clear on that."
Jinshang Yidu, Chen Shuyi knew it very well.
That was the first Taobao store she knew about, and at the time she thought Tan Jincheng only ran a Taobao shop.
Oh, and she remembered asking him where he found the models for the clothes; even though she couldn't see their faces, judging by their figures, they must have been quite pretty.
"So it was her. I can't believe she's a college student. 'The pavilion nearest the water enjoys the moonlight first'?"
Chen Shuyi exclaimed.
"Kind of. His girlfriend is very smart, she learns things quickly. Now Xiao Tan has handed the Taobao store over to her to operate. I even have to ask her when I don't understand something."
"That's great, it helps his career. Have you two separated professionally now?"
"I guess you could say we've separated. Xiao Tan no longer has the energy to manage the company we co-founded; he's too busy with his own ventures. To be honest, I'm very grateful to him. Without his guidance, I wouldn't have had the opportunity or the ability to manage a company."
—
Tan Jincheng had no idea that he was being discussed in the group.
In reality, he rarely had time to chat on QQ anymore.
When he was apart from Gu Qingqing, he would mostly call to express his longing, partly due to his mindset and time constraints.
On the other hand, although he had already changed two phones, Tan Jincheng was still somewhat unaccustomed to 2G networks.
From his first smartphone until 2023 before his rebirth, Tan Jincheng had used smartphones for over a decade, so his operating habits and way of thinking were truly difficult to change quickly.
Since he wasn't used to it, he used it less.
Gu Qingqing had discussed it with him more than once, noting how clumsy he was with his phone, yet for some reason, he spoke eloquently and accurately about phone trends.
In Gu Qingqing's view, this was a magical ability, but what she didn't know was that it was related to Tan Jincheng's rich memories.
Men, after all, rarely dislike electronic products.
Tan Jincheng, who had some money in his previous life, was also a player who bought a new phone every year.
When the Android system first came out, he also had a lot of fun flashing custom ROMs.
Around 1 PM, Tan Jincheng's first dinner with Gu Qingqing's family ended.
It takes about six hours to drive from Yiwu to Yicheng, and he would arrive home in the evening, so Tan Jincheng didn't dare to stay long and had to leave in a hurry.
"Uncle and Auntie, I apologize for my rudeness today. I'll visit you again when I have time, and thank you for your hospitality."
At the restaurant entrance, Tan Jincheng bowed slightly to Gu Hongshun and Li Jinzhen.
"It's alright, leave early to get home early, and be sure to drive safely,"
Li Jinzhen said understandingly.
"With your wealth, why don't you hire a private driver?"
Gu Hongshun asked somewhat puzzled.
He had just learned some specific details about Shanchi Technology at the dinner table and was quite shocked.
Achieving such results at the age of 20, with endless marketing strategies, while also seizing opportunities perfectly by entering the electric vehicle industry during its rapid development, and skillfully cultivating good relationships with the local government, leveraging their power to accelerate the company's growth.
Most importantly, during this process, he managed to avoid losses and firmly held control of the company's equity in his own hands.
This is a business genius.
"Then I'll be leaving now. Happy New Year to Uncle and Auntie in advance,"
Tan Jincheng said, looking at Gu Qingqing.
"Mm, go. They're still waiting for you, don't delay too long,"
Gu Qingqing said softly.
Tan Jincheng really wanted to give her a hug, but after glancing at Old Gu, he decided against it.
Waving his hand, Tan Jincheng headed towards where he parked his car, incidentally notifying Zhang Xupeng and others that they could depart.
After Tan Jincheng had walked away, Li Jinzhen looked at Gu Hongshun beside her and playfully asked,
"Old Gu, what do you think of this kid?"
She had seen Old Gu giving Tan Jincheng a cold shoulder at first.
Gu Hongshun said with a stern face,
"He's alright. His looks are pretty much like mine back then, and his capabilities are similar. Qingqing has some taste, but I still don't like him. How old is my daughter?"
"Haha, just argue all you want. He's much more handsome than you were back then. As for capabilities, how dare you say that? He built his career from scratch, while you're just a nouveau riche from demolition."
Immediately after, Li Jinzhen looked at Gu Qingqing, who was standing beside her, and sighed,
"A grown daughter is not bound by her father's will."
At this moment, Gu Qingqing's gaze was still following the direction Tan Jincheng had left.
Seeing this, Gu Hongshun became even more furious.
"Stop looking, let's go home."
(End of chapter)