Zhang Ruo Nan fumbled behind her and pulled out a box.
She opened it, revealing a quartz watch.
A classic, affordable model with a kinetic movement, analog display, and calfskin strap.
It cost around a thousand yuan.
“I can’t let you pay for my meal. You’re going for your research tomorrow, so you need to look the part, so here’s a watch for you.”
Zhang Ruo Nan said as she observed Fang Tian’s expression.
He looked puzzled.
“What’s wrong, you don’t like it?” Zhang Ruo Nan’s voice rose.
“No, it’s just… ”
Fang Tian reached behind him and pulled out his gift for Zhang Ruo Nan.
A BABY-G series digital watch, light pink, kinetic movement, digital display. Stylish without being flashy, it matched Zhang Ruo Nan perfectly.
It also cost around a thousand yuan.
“Why did you spend money on this? With that money, we could have had two barbecue meals, wouldn’t that be better?”
“Didn’t you also spend money?”
“I spent money so you have to spend money?”
“Maybe we’re just on the same wavelength?”
“Psh! ”
On the way back to the dorm, Fang Tian looked at the watch in his hand. He loved it.
When it came to gifts, the worst thing was a mismatch.
He was just a student, and not someone who liked to show off. If someone gave him a million-dollar sports car, he’d feel uncomfortable.
If he casually gave someone tens of thousands of yuan, and the other person accepted it without any hesitation, maybe they were doing some kind of “special work” on the side.
But the gifts they gave each other were just right.
The feeling of being on the same wavelength as Nan Nan was amazing.
…
The next morning.
Fang Tian packed his things, said goodbye to his roommate, and left for Fengyangyi Village with Professor Song and his group.
Professor Song had rented a minivan.
Besides Professor Song, there were also his three graduate students: one male and two female.
The male was called Li Zichen, the female students were Fang Xiaoting and Wang Peipei.
This time it was very rare.
Because there was no ex-girlfriend Guan Xiaoxiao, and no familiar faces like Yao Di or Han Qiao.
Especially at the last party, when Fang Tian was filming videos all over the school, he was practically going crazy.
Anyone he caught, was a star from his previous life.
Some were famous, others were not.
There were also a bunch of internet celebrities...
It was too intense!
Everyone was young, and Professor Song was a humble person, so they all chatted and laughed on the way.
The most talked about topic was the song “The Wind Rises” that Fang Tian had sung two days ago.
It was about a one-hour drive, and at eleven o’clock in the morning, the group arrived at the agreed-upon hotel.
The person responsible for receiving them was a manager named Zhou from the tourism development company.
Manager Zhou was a woman in her thirties, always smiling when she spoke:
“Professor Song, welcome, welcome! You guys can go to the hotel and drop off your luggage, rest for a bit. Once the other two groups arrive, we’ll have dinner.”
“Other two groups?” Song Baoguo caught the key information.
Manager Zhou smiled apologetically, “The company is very focused on this project, so we’ve arranged for a few teams to come together.”
“Who are the other two teams?”
“One from Huaqing Management College, the other from Sun Yat-sen University.”
“Okay.” Song Baoguo felt a pang in his heart, but he still maintained a smile on his face.
Back in his room, Song Baoguo’s face darkened.
“This never happened before, where multiple teams would come to the scenic area for research at the same time.”
“Since it’s happening now, there’s nothing we can do. The other two teams are stronger than us.”
“If we don’t get this project, don’t blame anyone.”
“But we still need to put in our best effort, don’t lose face for the university.”
Everyone nodded.
After all, Jinling University is a 211 university, isn’t it?
Soon, Manager Zhou called Song Baoguo and his group to dinner.
As soon as they entered the banquet hall, they saw a man in his forties, not tall, with a cheerful smile, sitting in the main seat.
“This is Lin, the director of the Development Office,” Deputy Manager Zhou introduced.
Director Lin greeted Song Baoguo with a smile.
Sitting next to Director Lin were two middle-aged men.
One had a thin, dark face, the other was tall and broad.
“Li, from Huaqing, and Han, from Sun Yat-sen.” Zhou introduced them respectively.
The two professors stood up and exchanged pleasantries with Song Baoguo, both were very polite.
Scholars valued fame more than profit.
While the three professors were now exchanging pleasantries, they would be less polite and courteous when they actually sat down.
As a result, Song Baoguo was very embarrassed.
Director Lin was the leader, and also had a higher status, so he naturally sat in the main seat.
Manager Zhou sat as the secondary host, Li and Han, the two professors, sat on either side.
Poor Song Baoguo didn’t even get a seat in the top three.
Li and Han, the two professors, each brought only one student.
Song Baoguo had brought four.
It made Song Baoguo seem both incompetent and pretentious.
Song Baoguo’s face turned red.
“Ugh,” Song Baoguo sighed, feeling like the chair beneath him was a hot iron.
If he knew this would happen, he wouldn’t have come to suffer this humiliation!
Fang Tian and his three friends sat at the entrance, near the serving area, not saying a word.
After everyone was seated, the servers began to serve the dishes.
There were eleven people in total, with six cold dishes and eight hot dishes. There was no alcohol, no extravagance.
During the meal, Director Lin chatted happily with the professors.
“To be honest, I studied tourism as well.”
The professor from Sun Yat-sen University, surnamed Han, lit up, “Oh? Where did Director Lin graduate from? Who was your teacher?”
In academia, lineage was very important. When talking to others, you usually mentioned your teacher first.
“Peking University, my teacher is Hu Anguo.”
Everyone was stunned.
He was a giant in the field of tourism, he actually came from such a prestigious background!
“Hahaha, I had the honor of meeting Professor Hu at the last tourism summit. He’s actually my senior brother, if you will.” The professor from Sun Yat-sen University said with a smile.
The professor from Huaqing, Li, quickly chimed in, “We’re closer to Peking University, so we interact with Professor Hu quite often.”
Song Baoguo was not very good at schmoozing.
He basically couldn’t get a word in.
He got his bachelor’s degree from a second-rate university, and only went to Jinling University for his masters.
What a humiliating start!
This meal was tasteless for Song Baoguo.
As the meal was coming to an end, Director Lin suddenly stood up and said:
“We’ve invited experts to do publicity and planning before, but the effect wasn’t ideal. I believe the experts here today won’t disappoint. So this time, I’m going to personally participate.”
“?” Everyone was taken aback.
Didn’t they say Director Lin was just going to oversee things?
Why was he going to follow them tomorrow too?
Manager Zhou quickly tried to smooth things over:
“It seems like our Director Lin has met some experts, and wants to experience it firsthand.”
Ugh…
Song Baoguo’s heart sank.
With Director Lin participating, he was even less likely to get this project.
During the meal.
Everyone exchanged polite greetings with Song Baoguo, but they didn’t say much else.
Director Lin said with a smile:
“Let’s not discuss anything in a hurry. I mean, we can all take a walk around the scenic area tomorrow, and then each of us can go back and make a preliminary planning outline. Focus on studying what makes Fengyangyi Village unique, what aspects to focus on in promoting it, and what kind of image we want to leave on tourists.”
“Let’s have a good rest tonight, and then meet up tomorrow morning. How about that?”
“You guys are all experts, you should be able to come up with a plan within a day.”
Director Lin was a pro at speaking and doing things, he had the professors all trapped with a few words.
Li and Han, the two professors, confidently said that it was no problem.
Song Baoguo could only grit his teeth and say that he would try his best.
Back in the hotel room, Song Baoguo sighed wearily.
“You all need to have a good look around the scenic area tomorrow. Although we’re probably out of the running, don’t embarrass ourselves. Try to get the plan done tomorrow.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
The night passed uneventfully.
Early the next morning, Song Baoguo and his group, including Fang Tian, walked to Fengyangyi Village Scenic Area.
They strolled around, seeing most of the scenic area.
Fang Tian was paying attention to the whole scenic area.
The scenic area covers over a hundred acres, and construction was almost complete.
There were a few antique-style commercial streets, including the Concubine’s Tomb, and several attractions like the Yellow Mountain Palace.
In the center of the scenic area was a large square.
It was used for theatrical performances.
Theatrical performances were a common way for scenic areas to attract tourists.
As they were walking, Fang Tian’s eyes got brighter and brighter, and he exclaimed:
“This ancient path really has its own unique character.”
Wasn’t this exactly the same as the location where “The Wind Rises” was filmed on Earth?
Immortal Sister Liu Yifei rode a horse here.
Song Baoguo smiled when he heard this,
“This is the Fengyangyi Tea Horse Road of Yunmiao Village, passing through the heart of the village.”
After walking another two hundred steps, Fang Tian stopped, his eyes fixed on the small courtyard in front of him.
There was a wooden sign in front of the courtyard, it read:
The Wind Courtyard.
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