"Why did you wear a mask today?" Liang Jing asked Chen Ying. At this time, they were taking the subway together to the Oriental Plaza in Wangfujing, where the American real estate show was held. It was not close to the university, and the two girls hurried off after breakfast, both wearing suits under their down jackets, and the collar of their white shirts was well wrapped in scarves. Hot air blows in the subway, blocking the cold outside. Although the rush hour has not yet arrived, queues have been automatically formed at each upper and lower entrance of the platform.

"It's a little uncomfortable." Chen Ying whispered.

"You don't have a cold, do you? If you're really uncomfortable, don't go. Liang Jing suggested with concern.

"It's fine."

"Have you contacted Wang Yi?" Liang Jing asked, "He won't forget today's events, will he?" ”

He said that he had to set up the venue, so he went early. Maybe we'll see him later. ”

"Oh."

They came out of the Wangfujing subway and walked along Chang'an Avenue into Oriental Plaza. The wide streets are still quiet. The ten lanes side by side are only occasionally passing. The wide asphalt road is paved very smoothly, and the white lane lines are clearly visible. Chen Ying remembers the gravel roads she walked on in Europe, many of which had only two lanes of traffic and many lanes that were only one-way. She knew these things when she was a child, and she knew it all when she participated in the National Day parade when she was in school. However, many things are like this, and when you leave, you can feel lost; After the reunion, you can appreciate the heaviness of the past.

Walking in the wind and walking through clean avenues. The neon signs on both sides have long since gone out, and many shops have not yet opened. The northwest wind swept around with colorful advertisements that I found out of nowhere. This is the state of the city's bustling commercial street that has not yet been woken up by the alarm clock. When they finally found Block C and pushed the door in, the clock standing on the corner of the street showed exactly seven o'clock.

"Do you know which way to go?" Liang Jing asked.

"I think we should go down the carpet and find the elevator and go straight to the third floor." Chen Ying said as she browsed through the meeting materials.

After arriving at the venue, Chen Ying realized that they were far from the earlier ones. Many student interpreters arrived early and were helping to set up desks, chairs and posters. Each exhibitor is separated by white partitions that are more than one person high, forming their own separate areas. Many exhibitors are very careful to bring the company's logo or brochure, and hang it in as obvious a position as possible to attract buyers. Chen Ying quickly found the corresponding booth according to the assigned list. It is a private company that has just been established and the main employees are a middle-aged couple. The company is not large, but they have worked very hard, so they have the opportunity to participate in this exhibition. Both of them were very enthusiastic and introduced the company and family life in the United States to Chen Ying. In particular, the president of the United States lived next to them.

"You see, this is a picture of me and Barack having a family reunion." The gentleman named Edgar proudly pointed to the photo. He deliberately put the handshake photo very large and hung it in the most conspicuous position on the platform.

"Yes." His wife, Emma, added, "Michelle came with Sasha and Maria. ”

"A year before he ran for president, we went to Hawaii together." Edgar said gleefully.

"Would you ever run into him again?" Chen Ying asked.

"Occasionally, when he goes back to Chicago, he comes home and sits down. But we don't call him Barack anymore. Emma said with a smile.

"We'll call him 'Mr. President'!" Edgar waved his hands in the air in excitement, and his wife laughed at him. The people in the booth next to them looked curiously through the gap in the partition.

"Have you ever been to Chicago?" Emma took turns looking at Chen Ying and Liang Jing. The two girls shook their heads in unison. Chen Ying suddenly felt that it would be unseemly to show excessive yearning for the other side of the ocean at this time, but young people are always curious about many things, especially those places that they have seen in books, which doubles this sense of mystery.

"I've only seen it mentioned in novels." Chen Ying said.

"Which novel?" Edgar asked.

"Very old novels." Chen Ying was a little embarrassed, "Sherlock Holmes - have you heard of it?" ”

"Of course." Emma laughed again. The wrinkles on her slightly flushed face were huddled together, and her short blonde hair trembled slightly at the back of her head. Her appearance reminded Chen Ying of Yona, who also had such a thin face, gray-blue eyes hiding behind gold-rimmed glasses. It's just that she's younger and a little shorter than Yona. Edgar and John bear no resemblance at all. He was shorter than his wife, with a beer belly that Europeans particularly despised, and a face the color of Irish carpaccio. His personality is typical of American, direct, easily excited, and high-pitched about what interests him. Emma clearly admired her husband's personality, smiling and nodding her head whenever he spoke.

"You're talking about the Uncanny Valley one, right?" Emma said, "That story portrays our city a little too dark. Political corruption, including gangsters, undercover, assassinations, and even senators, all of this adds up to something terrible. But Chicago is actually a city full of sunshine, with some of the best art and design schools in the country, a bustling city and beautiful country life. Some suburbs are even doing traditional farming, growing corn and so on. If you have a chance, you must take a look, it's not the same as described in the novel! ”

Edgar held her shoulders as she said this, constantly approving. They chatted and set up their stalls, and before half-past eight they tidied up. Emma graciously made coffee for everyone, and the four of them drank it around the table, each trying to be careful not to leave watermarks or stains on the snow-white table.