"It's a pleasure to see you in China, Edgar." The man, who wore the manager's name tag on his chest, sat down and said, "Think about it, how many years ago was the last time we met?" Ten years or twelve years? I don't remember. ”

"Twelve years, Jacob." Edgar smiled and took the champagne from the waiter and said, "In front of Grand Central Terminal." That time you were in a hurry to come home to see your mother, as if she was sick. ”

"yes, yes." The manager looked a little sad, as if a hand had wiped a handful on his face, and most of the smile just now had been wiped off. He muttered to himself, "Unfortunately, it's too late." ”

The people sitting in a circle fell silent, except for the two children still playing. The boy always tried to snatch the toy from his sister's hand, but because the girl was a little taller, he couldn't reach it with all his might, and finally he couldn't help but scream. Their actions succeeded in attracting the attention of others, and the conversation naturally led to them.

"This is Lily - the same name as my mom." Jacob pointed to his daughter and said, "I'm six years old. ”

"Hello." The little girl greeted them in English, she had the same green eyes as her father, and her hair was black and shiny. As soon as she said hello, the boy rushed up and snatched the toy. She was so angry that she wanted to teach him a lesson, but her father stopped her. The manager sat his son on his lap and faced him, telling him that he should not use this method to ask for goods. He then placed his son in front of his daughter and ordered him to return the toy. The boy was extremely reluctant, but he complied. At this time, a tall Chinese woman squatted down and patted him on the head, hugged him and sat down on the sofa. She had short hair with dyed yellow at the ends. She took off her sleek gray coat with a fur collar and placed it on the armrest of the sofa. The boy sat quietly on her lap, clutching her neck. She was careful not to get caught on the necklace and nodded softly to those around her.

"This is Qingqing, my wife." Jacob generously introduced. This took the other four adults by surprise, but they quickly returned to normal, and after briefly getting to know each other, they returned to the topic of why Jacob had decided to come to China to work.

"When you're young, there's always an urge to travel far away." Jacob recalled, "I didn't have a plan at all, I thought I could leave Evanston and go anywhere. He smiled, "Later in college in Chicago — with Edgar." ”

"I remember you went to Miami after college." Edgar said.

"yes—I don't even remember if you don't say so." Jacob continued, "Because I studied hotel management, there were only more job opportunities in Florida and Hawaii at the time, so I weighed it up and went to Miami. I was there for two years – or three years – I can't remember exactly, but then when I had the opportunity to go to the UK, I signed up. Two years in London, then two years in Paris, and then in Florence – the longest time in Italy, maybe seven years. I also changed hotels in the middle. Later, I wanted to go back to the United States, and I wanted to go back after wandering outside for a long time. There were no suitable jobs in Chicago though, so I went to New Orleans. There is a lot of tourism there and there are a lot of high-end hotels. Plus I learned a little French in Paris, and they were happy to let me go. ”

"You've been to so many places over the years!" Emma lamented, "Edgar and I have been in Illinois and have only been to Los Angeles twice and New York once. ”

"On the face of it, it's something to be proud of." Jacob made no secret of the smug smile on his face, but it was soon replaced by a slightly pained look, "It sounds like a long trip – and a solo journey." Sometimes I feel like a pilgrim, wandering around the world, from city to city, from one religion to another. On the surface, it sounds cool and fascinating, but the reality is that the rucksack is constantly being unpacked and refilled, constantly chasing the next train, plane or bus. Meet different people every day, solve different problems, and be patient and smile no matter what. At the end of the day's hospitality, I returned to my residence but there was no one to serve me tea and water. You need to constantly learn to adapt to the situation around you – language, cultural customs, communication styles...... This kind of life forces you to improve your judgment because there is always someone who tells you what to do and what not to do. On my days off, I travel around the city like the backpackers – but not for tourism, but to study the way of life of the locals – wondering why there are such famous artists in the places where "Orphans of the Fog", "Les Miserables" and "Decameron" were born, and how their children and grandchildren are living now. It's different from enjoying the view, and the more you know, the more you discover your ignorance, shallowness, and then the more lonely you feel. ”

"Chen Ying has also been to Europe, and she just came back from there." Liang Jing interjected.

"Oh, is it? Where do you go? Jacob leaned forward and asked with interest.

"Denmark, and later to some other places in Central and Western Europe." Chen Ying replied simply.

"Is it a person?"

Chen Ying glanced at Liang Jing. In the goblet in Liang Jing's hand, bubbles were still slowly emerging from the golden champagne. She held the cup carefully as if she were holding an ear of wheat, her eyes unblinking.

"Yes." Chen Ying said.

"Then you must have learned a lot." Jacob smiled with satisfaction and said, "There is nothing more tempering than living alone in a foreign country for a long time." Living in a foreign country, although the surroundings are all strange, no one bothers you, you can have the opportunity to see yourself clearly and choose the path of the future. After he finished speaking, he took his wife to his side, and his little daughter also leaned over with a toy, "When I came to China, I felt that I should have a home." This is what makes me enjoy life better. Of course, I'm sure Edgar and Emma are happy too, and I feel like you're like you were when you got married – that's amazing enough. ”

"Jacob was my best man when I got married." Edgar said with a little pride.

Before Chen Ying and Liang Jing left, they had been discussing Chinese culture and customs. Jacob's Chinese wife sat quietly and did not say a word until the last two children, who were very sleepy, leaned close to her husband and whispered a few words in her ear. She walked into the box elevator with her child, smiled and nodded at everyone before the elevator closed, and finally disappeared into the golden elevator.