(The storyline is fictitious, the official must not sit in the opposite seat, the similarity is purely a coincidence)

Harry called early in the morning and asked if Jing was okay.

Jing Hao said: "I feel much better, if the weather is good, I think I can go out to the park today for a walk, I don't know if you have time." ”

Harry said, "Really? It's great to be able to go out! Uh——, that, my mother came to Oxford by train today, if your health permits, let's pick her up at the train station together, and then go back to my house, and the three of us cook and eat together, okay? ”

When Jing heard this, he immediately suppressed his throat, coughed dryly, and said, "I may not be able to walk so far, and it will take forty minutes to walk back and forth, right?" I'm sorry, and we can eat together, but can I suggest you go out for Italian dinner? I'm guessing your mom probably prefers Italian food. ”

She had a lingering palpitation - go to Harry's house again to cook and eat together? Last time, I swallowed twenty dumplings at one time, and I hiccuped, and it wasn't uncomfortable enough?

Of course, Harry had already said that he wanted to invite her to meet her mother, and she replied that it would not be good not to meet her.

In fact, Jing Hao also guessed that Harry hoped to use as many opportunities as possible to strengthen everyone's communication and understand each other more, he thought that only in that way, the two people gradually understood each other's living conditions, in order to avoid the previous "suspicious ingredients and food additives, going out in an ox cart, whether there is an Internet" Those strange conversations happened again. But many things in life often backfire.

Eating at the Italian restaurant, Jing Hao still has a calm and peaceful smile on her face, Harry's mother also has a very loving look, Harry is very thoughtful and attentive, and she orders food.

In fact, there has always been a string in Jing Hao's heart - for fear that suddenly, if he is not careful, he will be asked about some bad topic, and Harry is also quietly worried.

One dish of purple potato salmon per person is served as both a dish and a meal, one vegetable salad or fruit salad per person, one bowl of thin soup with tomato and beef cubes sprinkled with black pepper per person, a glass of cider per person, and a dessert after the meal, which is tiramisu, apple pie and strawberry cheesecake. This lunch was also quite delicious, and it was enough to last.

During the meal, Harry's mother said that she had recently checked a lot of news reports about Beijing and Shanghai, and saw a lot of economic data, so she realized that China's economy is developing rapidly, and the total amount has risen to the second place in the world. Jing smiled.

Harry's mother talked about Shanghai and Beijing, and then talked about Hong Kong, but she always said "our Hong Kong", and I don't know if she meant their British Hong Kong "our Hong Kong", or did she say that she and Jing Hao, Harry, the three of you here, our Hong Kong, or everyone's, everyone's, the world's people our Hong Kong? It's a little awkward to listen to. Because after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the British government likes to interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs, and there are many reports in this country.

Jing Hao was born in 1985, calculating the time, when she was 12 years old when Hong Kong returned to China, she was influenced by Chinese mainland education and news media, and naturally felt that it was a Chinese place, but the locals spoke the Cantonese dialect. Harry's mother, who is about to turn 76, was born in 1939. The idea of an Englishman approaching 80 years old may still be stuck in the posture of the empire on which the sun never sets, how can the two agree on this matter?

Harry could already feel a little discord in the air, and he looked up at the two of them quietly, then lowered his head to eat his dessert.

Harry deliberately diverted the subject and asked his mother, "Uh——, mother, is there anything special about you being so close to the last time you were in Oxford?" I was at school just now, and I didn't have time to ask you on the phone. ”

Mother said, "Oh, the last time I was in Oxford, I had a small lawn mower in that little appliance mall just around the corner from Corn Market Street, and it broke down. ”

Harry asked, "Broken?" It's only been a few days? Is there two weeks? Why is it broken? ”

The mother said, "Yes, it was said to be made in Singapore at the time, but it turned out that it was actually made in China, and it was an authorized brand in Singapore. If only I hadn't listened to the clerk and bought something made in Europe. The big one at home is our own product in Great Britain, produced in a Scottish factory, and it has been used for more than 20 years, and it has not broken once, I just think it is too big. ”

There was no malice or criticism in Harry's mother's tone, just a bland statement of the facts. But Jing Hao is a little unpleasant again.

People talk about things in your country, things that are not good, and, in a tone that seems to be taken for granted, as it should be, without any surprises, without any criticism - that is, it is ironclad that you are so bad, as if what was made in China should be broken within a month! Not surprising at all.

Although the small lawn mower was not produced by Jing Hao's family, it didn't even have anything to do with her. However, she still felt that it was very embarrassing to be looked down upon so much.

Harry was nervous, secretly regretting that he had brought up the topic in a daze, causing new trouble, and he quietly observed Jinghao's face.

Jing Hao's face pretended to be calm and peaceful. But the attentive Harry could see that she was embarrassed.

Harry smiled at his mother and said, "Mom, it's a coincidence, in fact, there are a lot of good things made in China, such as Huawei mobile phones, and many people queue up to buy them." ”

Mother said, "As it happens, it shouldn't be that everyone will buy it and break it so quickly." The small lawn mower I chose has a unique design, with a small bucket, that is, you can mow the grass in the yard while collecting the cut grass into the small bucket, you know, I'm older now, and I can't bend over a lot, so I thought the small bucket was very useful at the time. ”

Harry nodded, gave a thumbs up with his left hand, and quickly seized the opportunity to say to Jing Hao, "sure, this must be a perfect design!" Asians, especially Chinese, are very smart. Then he translated it again for his mother.

The mother spread her hands exaggeratedly, shrugged her shoulders and said, "Yes, of course it's a clever design, but the problem is, it's jumping!" ”

Harry was startled: "Jumped? ”

Jing Hao was also taken aback and looked up at them.

Harry's mother said, "yes, the third time I used it, the bucket suddenly jumped up from its original position, and almost hit me in the leg, oops, it's terrible!" ”

Harry looked at Jing Hao again, and Jing Hao still looked calm.

Harry said to his mother, "Why don't you just put it back on?" ”

Mother said, "I put it back on, I opened it again, I jumped higher, I almost hit my waist, it's really scary!" ”

Of course, Jing Hao could understand his mother's English completely, and she could hear it clearly, and she pretended to be calm, eating the piece of tiramisu in front of her one bite at a time, without saying a word.

Harry said, "That may have been an accident, you were so lucky." Why don't you just go back and change it? ”

My mother said, "I didn't change it, I called, and the store said it could be returned for me, but I didn't dare to use this Chinese-made thing anymore." As I said, the lawn mower I bought more than 20 years ago from our factory in Scotland is still fine, and there has not been a single accident or even a minor problem, although the machine is a little bulky......"

Quietly bury your head in a snack. Harry glanced quietly.

In any case, the meeting should end "decently".

Many British people pay attention to "decency" - the poor have the decency of the poor, and the rich have the decency of the rich. A Sven reader like Harry naturally needs to be more decent—and decent—and decent.

Harry picked up his glass and finished his speech: "Well——, it's a surprise that Mom came to Oxford again very suddenly. ”

Shizuho and Harry's mother both smiled. Harry's mother bowed slightly.

Harry continued: "Well——, Jing had a good cold, so thank you very much for being able to come and eat with me and my mother. ”

Jing Hao said: "You are too polite. ”

Harry said: "The three of us talked a lot today, obviously, my mother knows more and more about China, which is very surprising, my mother knows some things about Beijing and Shanghai, and understands that China's economy is developing rapidly." ”

Harry's mother nodded and smiled.

Harry said: "Well——, well, I hope that the three of us can reunite in our hometown next time, and I hope that Jing Hao can see the scenery and sheep of our Welsh hometown on a larger scale, and of course, taste your good craft, Mommy." The last time I went there was too much of a rush, and my mom didn't show all of her cooking skills. ”

Hearing "Mother's good craftsmanship", Harry's mother had a bright face, nodded her head constantly, and smiled at Jing, very proud.

Jing Hao thought to himself: he was like a cute child when he was innocent, but after a while, he became a warmonger.

Of course, Jing Hao also knew that she had to be decent, so she still smiled calmly on her face: "Thank you, and thank you very much for taking care of me in the past few days of my illness." I hope to have the opportunity to visit your mother in your hometown and enjoy the beautiful countryside there. I also wish Mrs. Brown a relaxing and enjoyable few days in Oxford. ”

Harry's surname is Brown, and her mother is naturally "Mrs. Brown", if she is not a feminist, she has to have her maiden name.