"Teacher... Xiao Kan, does Professor Meng always get together with students whenever he has new ones?"
Zhuang Rui couldn't bring himself to call this girl, who was younger than him, "senior sister," but in the end, he followed Professor Meng's example and called her "Xiao Kan."
Kan Yuhan glanced at Zhuang Rui with a slight surprise, but did not object to the title. As the saying goes, there is no end to learning, and those who are accomplished are teachers. If she hadn't shown any skills, why should others call her "senior sister"?
After thinking for a moment, Kan Yuhan said, "We're all from out of town, so it's fate that we can become your students. Besides, there's a lot of academic exchange in archaeology, and we'll keep in touch often in the future. This mutual support will be very beneficial for everyone's work..."
"Oh, I see..."
Zhuang Rui nodded, finally understanding. It turned out this was about building connections.
Because archaeology is a relatively niche field, archaeological departments in various regions are usually run by professionals. Having classmates all over the country can indeed be a great help in the work.
Logically, one should have a broader perspective after obtaining a doctorate, but archaeology is different. If you want to do something else, there is absolutely nothing in common with this major. You can only stay in this field. Therefore, it is essential to maintain good relationships with classmates.
After collecting the books and course schedule, Kan Yuhan left Zhuang Rui at the museum and departed. She also had a research project to complete and hadn't had a moment's rest during the summer vacation, so she had even less time to spend with Zhuang Rui now.
Zhuang Rui was also happy to have some free time. After making a phone call home, he started reading the stack of books he had just received. There were many professional books, but also some on chemistry and history. Before he knew it, several hours had passed.
"Oh dear, it's almost six o'clock..."
Zhuang Rui glanced at his watch and suddenly remembered that the agreed time was 5:30. He quickly packed up his books, left the library, and took out his phone to dial the number Jiang Yi had left.
"Xiao Zhuang, didn't we agree to meet at 5:30? We don't have your phone, and we've been waiting at the school gate for ages..."
After the call connected, Jiang Yi heard Zhuang Rui's voice and immediately started complaining.
"Hey, I'm so sorry, I was reading in the library and lost track of time. Please wait a moment, I'll be right out. Um, it's on me today, as an apology..."
Zhuang Rui was on the phone while rushing towards the gate of Peking University. By the time he arrived at the school gate, it was already past six o'clock.
"Xiao Zhuang, get in the car, Xiao Jiang has booked a place..."
Seeing Zhuang Rui running out of the school covered in sweat, Jiang Yi snorted but didn't say anything. Ren Chunqiang smiled and waved for Zhuang Rui to get into his car.
Zhuang Rui glanced at them and saw that each of them owned a car, but the best one was Ren Chunqiang's Honda, which was worth about 270,000 to 280,000 yuan. As for the other three people's cars, they were all ordinary models worth more than 100,000 yuan.
Zhuang Rui had a good impression of Ren Chunqiang, but he didn't want to have to drive back home after dinner. So he said, "Senior Brother Ren, just tell me where it is. My car is parked over there. I can go there myself in a bit. I'm familiar with Beijing..."
When Ren Chunqiang heard that Zhuang Rui had a car, he said, "That's fine too. Come to Zuixianlou in the west of the city as soon as possible..."
Chapter 777 Aura
Although Zhuang Rui could not be considered a gourmet, he was a person who loved to eat. Whenever he was in Beijing, he would often drag Yue Jingxiong around the streets and alleys, and they ate a lot of the signature dishes of northern China.
However, like all major cities, Beijing offers more than just Northern cuisine. You can find dishes from all eight major Chinese cuisines, and with modern transportation, even the ingredients are air-freighted, ensuring their authenticity.
Zuixianlou is a Hunan restaurant. Zhuang Rui had brought Qin Xuanbing there before and still fondly remembered their Dong'an chicken, braised shark fin, and soup-soaked tripe. However, Hunan cuisine is quite spicy, and Qin Xuanbing couldn't eat too much, so Zhuang Rui didn't come back after that.
Zuixianlou has a large parking lot, which is a major factor in the success of a restaurant. No matter how good the food is, if there is no parking lot, the business will not be very good. Conversely, even if the food is average, if there are plenty of parking spaces, the business will generally not be too bad.
Although the restaurant is named "Lou" (楼), it is actually just a row of single-story buildings. The lobby has tables, and there are private rooms in the back. The rooms are exquisitely decorated and very popular. If you arrive late, you usually can't get a private room.
"Brother Ren, why aren't you going in?"
As soon as Zhuang Rui entered the restaurant, he saw Ren Chunqiang and the other three standing at the bill-paying area. Jiang Yi was talking to a man who looked like a manager, and none of them looked too happy.
Ren Chunqiang glanced at Zhuang Rui and whispered, "Xiao Zhuang, we're a little late. The private rooms are all taken. Business is good right now, and we won't be able to find a room for a while..."
Zhuang Rui, the senior disciple, was quite kind and didn't say much, only offering an explanation to Zhuang Rui.
The reason we're late today is because of Zhuang Rui. Jiang Yi booked a time of 6 o'clock, but we left school after 6 o'clock, and now it's almost 7 o'clock, so it's understandable that the restaurant didn't reserve a private room.
"Manager Zhang, we're only a little late, and there aren't any private rooms left. That's really unfair! We're regular customers, could you please arrange another private room for us..."
Jiang Yi is from Hunan and loves Hunan cuisine. He has been a regular customer of this restaurant since it opened and is quite familiar with the manager.
Actually, if it were just Zhuang Rui, it wouldn't matter if they ate in the main hall. But today, Kan Yuhan has been invited, and the lack of a private room makes Dr. Jiang feel particularly embarrassed.
“Little Jiang, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but… well, as you can see, the main hall is almost full, and the private rooms have been booked for ages. I even reserved the Yuelu Hall for 6:30, but you didn’t arrive until 7:00. There’s really no other way. How about we eat in the main hall tonight? I’ll bring you a couple of dishes later…”
Every restaurant manager is a shrewd and diplomatic person. Actually, Jiang Yi hadn't arrived by 6:05, and the private room had already been given up. However, Manager Zhang was very polite and gave him plenty of face, leaving Jiang Yi speechless and embarrassed to change restaurants.
"Where we eat doesn't matter," Zhuang Rui said, seeing an empty table nearby. "Let's eat in the lobby. Manager, one serving each of Dong'an Chicken, Goldfish Playing with Lotus, Yongzhou Blood Duck, Steamed Assorted Cured Meats, Sister, Ningxiang Spicy Snake, and Yueyang Ginger Spicy Snake... Oh, and one more serving of Braised Shark Fin. I never get tired of this dish. Hmm, and two bottles of Moutai. Miss Kan, would you like alcohol or soft drinks?"
Zhuang Rui had delayed everyone's mealtime today. He had originally planned to treat them to this meal, but seeing that Jiang Yi was still trying to haggle with the manager, he became a little impatient and simply ordered both food and drinks for them.
Kan Yuhan was getting annoyed at this stop; being stared at by everyone was making her uncomfortable. She said, "I'll just have a drink. You guys should drink less too; you still have to drive back..."
"Alright, let's do it this way then. Please take your seats, senior brothers and sisters..."
Zhuang Rui waved his hand at the manager and said, "Do you have any 1982 Moutai?"
"1982 Moutai? No, that kind of Moutai is very rare..."
Manager Zhang was taken aback by Zhuang Rui's words. He knew that 1982 Moutai was over 20 years old and rarely seen on the market. It was usually a collector's item, and if you wanted to buy it, it would cost at least 30,000 yuan.
"Oh, then let's get two bottles of 1995 Moutai, I don't like the new Moutai..."
Zhuang Rui wasn't showing off; he mainly didn't know the price of 1982 Moutai. However, Ouyang Jun had taken five or six bottles last time, and they tasted good. After drinking new Moutai, he always felt the taste was off, so he casually asked.
"Sir, we do have 1995 Moutai, but it's a bit pricey..."
Manager Zhang didn't look down on Zhuang Rui, but this had to be agreed upon beforehand. Otherwise, if the wine cost more than the food after the meal, and the other party didn't honor the agreement, wouldn't that be causing trouble?
"How much?"
Zhuang Rui asked casually. He wasn't the type to put on a show of wealth; even if he had a lot of money, he wouldn't let himself be ripped off.
Manager Zhang thought for a moment and said, "A bottle of 1995 Moutai is 2,300 yuan. If you want two bottles, I'll give you a discount, 4,500 yuan..."
"Okay, let's start with two bottles. We can ask for more if we need more later..."
Zhuang Rui nodded and casually dismissed Manager Zhang, a perfectly natural thing in his eyes, but it left several of his doctoral fellow students dumbfounded.
To say that this person has an aura, or that his delicate body trembles and he exudes an aura of dominance, is pure nonsense. If you let someone who has never seen the president of the country and doesn't even know what the president of the country is meet with him alone, he definitely won't feel any aura. He'll just be a well-maintained old man.
The so-called aura is mainly manifested in one's speech. When people interact and converse, the confidence that is naturally revealed and can infect the other person is called aura.
Zhuang Rui's casual way of ordering food and drinks just now, in the eyes of his fellow doctoral students, gave off a certain air of authority.
At least in the conversation between Zhuang Rui and the manager, the east wind definitely prevailed over the west wind. Manager Zhang always acted very humble, while Zhuang Rui was natural, as if it were the way it should be.
After they sat down, Ren Chunqiang said to Zhuang Rui, "Xiao Zhuang, we'll be spending a lot of time together in the future, no need to be so extravagant. A bottle costs several thousand yuan, that's too expensive. Although none of you are married, you don't have jobs either, so it's better to be frugal..."
Ren Chunqiang meant well. From what his mentor had said earlier, he could tell that Zhuang Rui seemed to be running a small business. However, judging from Zhuang Rui's young age and the fact that he didn't have the habits of those spoiled brats, his business probably wasn't very big. Spending several thousand on a single meal made Ren Chunqiang feel rather embarrassed.
Among Professor Meng's doctoral students, only Ren Chunqiang got married and bought a house in Beijing last year. Although he had been pursuing his master's and doctoral degrees with his teacher and had worked on research projects for four or five years and had saved some money, he had invested all of it in a house. Therefore, he was quite frugal with his money and felt a little insecure in front of his junior classmates.
"Senior Brother Ren, you're mistaken. I'm a married woman, and in a few months, I'll be pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl..."
The moment this was mentioned, Zhuang Rui's face lit up with joy. Regardless of how well he knew the others, he happily shared his son and daughter with them.
"Oh? Congratulations then, Xiao Zhuang. But life in Beijing is stressful, so you should still be careful with your money..."
The group was taken aback. Although it's not unusual for undergraduates to get married these days, and many people work after marriage and then pursue a master's degree, it's rare for them to study full-time. Most people work while studying, which reduces the pressure.
"Hehe, this little bit of money is nothing. I was late today, so this meal is on me as an apology..."
Zhuang Rui laughed. This senior brother Ren was quite interesting, with the demeanor of a senior brother. However, Zhuang Rui rarely paid for meals when he ate out, so it didn't matter if he occasionally spent tens of thousands of yuan on a meal.
"An apology is fine, but Xiao Zhuang, you still need to develop the habit of being punctual. Teachers don't like people who aren't punctual. If you keep doing this, we won't be able to speak up for you... Besides, some professors at Peking University have very strange tempers. If you're late for class, you can forget about getting your credits. Xiao Zhuang, you'd better be more careful in the future..."
No sooner had Zhuang Rui finished speaking than Jiang Yi's voice rang out, his words carrying a clear intention to lecture Zhuang Rui. He had been on tenterhooks the whole time, and the reason he hadn't dared to speak was because he was afraid that if he picked up the conversation, he would have to pay for the meal.
You should know that although following Professor Meng, one can do two or three projects a year and earn one or two hundred thousand yuan, Jiang Yi has only been pursuing his doctorate for a little over a year, and that little bit of money has already been used to buy a car to save face.
Jiang Yi only had ten or twenty thousand yuan left and no other income. He only had a few hundred yuan for living expenses each month. Dr. Jiang was reluctant to spend five or six thousand yuan on a single meal, so he only became lively after Zhuang Rui offered to treat him.
However, his words were rather tactless, causing Zhuang Rui to frown slightly.
Ren Chunqiang called himself Xiao Zhuang because he was older than Zhuang Rui, but Jiang Yi was at least two years younger than Zhuang Rui. His old-fashioned way of calling himself Xiao Zhuang made Zhuang Rui very uncomfortable.
One should not be arrogant, but one cannot lack integrity. Besides, Zhuang Rui's words have been of the highest quality for the past two years, and there is an unspoken confidence in his speech. With this frown, the atmosphere at the table suddenly became somewhat dull.
"Hehe, gentlemen, I'm pursuing a master's degree under Professor Meng simply to learn some basic theoretical knowledge. Whether I get a diploma or not isn't that important to me..."
Zhuang Rui realized that his tense expression had created an awkward silence, so he quickly smiled and explained, "I've been working for so many years, why should I argue with a student who hasn't even graduated yet?"
Chapter 778 Director Xie (Part 1)
“Xiao Zhuang, you can’t say that. Having a good job is still very important these days. Our mentor has a very high reputation in the archaeology field in China. Even if he just introduces you to a big museum, that’s much better than doing small business…”
Just because someone has a high IQ doesn't necessarily mean they have a high EQ. Zhuang Rui had already made his point very clearly, but Dr. Jiang still didn't understand and started lecturing Zhuang Rui again, relying on his seniority.
After graduating with a degree in archaeology, there are generally two career paths. The first is naturally to work in an archaeology department that matches your major. However, since there is a lot of overlap with museum studies, working in a museum is also a viable option.
With a doctorate, as long as your relevant major is decent and you have some connections, it's not impossible to get a job at a large museum.
You know, these days, no matter what industry you're in, some people are getting rich quick and others are starving, and museums are no exception.
For example, the Palace Museum earns tens of millions of yuan a day just from ticket sales, and hundreds of millions a year. If you could become a minor leader there, life would be incredibly comfortable.
However, those little-known local museums may only earn a few hundred or a few thousand yuan a day from ticket sales. These are government-funded institutions with little to no profit, where people can only earn a fixed salary.
Jiang Yi planned to stay in Beijing. Even if he couldn't get into those big museums, he wanted to stay at the archaeological institute. After all, the institute had a considerable annual budget, and the bonuses for each completed project were very generous.
However, the institute has a limited number of openings, and Ren Chunqiang has basically secured a position as a lecturer at Peking University. He will definitely stay at the institute after graduating this year. There is only one opening left, so only a few people will be competing for it.
Jiang Yi had inquired and learned that Wu Zhao had a good job before pursuing his doctorate and would return to his original workplace after graduation. As for Kan Yuhan, she was from Beijing and posed a significant threat to him. However, Jiang Yi was currently pursuing Kan Yuhan, and if he succeeded, he would keep her within the company and not let outsiders benefit from her.
However, Zhuang Rui's arrival today, and Professor Meng and Kan Yuhan's attitude towards Zhuang Rui, made Dr. Jiang feel a sense of threat. Hearing Zhuang Rui say that he got married just now, he finally got rid of the label of love rival. However, because of the matter of staying at the school, there is still a thorn in Jiang Yi's heart.
Another point is that scholars tend to belittle each other. Jiang Yi earned his doctorate, which means he has spent his entire life in school from elementary school to now, and everything has gone smoothly for him.
Jiang Yi originally thought that he would be valued by his supervisor after entering the research institute, but he did not expect that Zhuang Rui, a master's student, would be treated by Professor Meng with several times better treatment than him. This made Dr. Jiang jealous.
However, little did Jiang Yi know that after Zhuang Rui resigned from the pawnshop, he had no intention of working for someone else for the rest of his life. He was too lazy to manage his own business and wanted Zhuang Rui to make money for others.
Moreover, Zhuang Rui and Professor Meng's relationship is not just that of teacher and student; there is also a sense of friendship between them despite their age difference. Professor Meng often relies on Zhuang Rui to appraise some items for him. So, how can Professor Meng keep a straight face?
“I didn’t go to school to find a job, and I already have a job now…”
Zhuang Rui didn't want to argue with a student, so he gave a nonchalant reply. Just then, the waiter came to serve the food, and Zhuang Rui quickly said, "Come on, everyone, eat up. Consider this my apology to you all. Please take care of me in the future. Peking University is just too big; I get disoriented as soon as I enter..."
Zhuang Rui's words made everyone laugh. Since there was no conflict of interest with him, Jiang Yi's words were no longer so harsh, and the atmosphere at the table became very pleasant. After a few drinks, the relationship immediately became warm.
However, Zhuang Rui raised his glass to Ren Chunqiang and Wu Zhao to toast, because they had just exchanged ages at the table. Ren Chunqiang was the oldest, at 31 years old, Zhuang Rui was 27, and he was second, followed by Jiang Yi and Kan Yuhan, while Wu Zhao was the youngest.
Despite being the youngest, Wu Zhao is very adept at handling situations. After learning that Zhuang Rui was older than him, he started calling him "Brother Zhuang" all the time. Kan Yuhan also stopped calling him "Little Zhuang" and started calling him by his name directly. Only Jiang Yi wasn't quite in tune with the situation and kept calling him "Little Zhuang," unwilling to let go of his sense of superiority as a doctoral student.