"Zhou Qiang, let me tell you, if you are late again for the pickup today, don’t even think about entering the house tonight," Xi Lijuan stood in the bustling airport, shouting into the public telephone at Zhou Qiang.
"Don’t keep telling me you’re busy with work, how are you even a father? Last time because of the passport issue, it caused both of us to miss our international trip, and now you’re saying you have a meeting and can’t make it back. Our son es back only once every two years, isn’t he more important than your subordinate’s useless licenses and drugs? Enough said, the delayed flight has arrived, you figure it out." Xi Lijuan, realizing several airport ground staff were staring at her, felt embarrassed and simply hung up the phone.
Zhou Ziang has been abroad for four full years now. During these four years, Xi Lijuan flew to the United States alone only once in the second year to see him, and the only contact with home has been through long-distance calls. It was also in the second year that Zhou Ziang sent back unspent the living expenses the family had provided for him, saying he had received scholarships and grants. Xi Lijuan rushed there in haste, saw Zhou Ziang busy every day in the library and working part-time at the research institute, and inevitably burst into tears.
In the third year, hearing that his son had graduated from undergraduate studies early and entered a large multinational pany’s research institution to continue his graduate studies, obtaining a green card. In the fourth year, graduate studies were pleted, and it was also this year that Zhou Qiang and Zhou Ziang had their longest father-son conversation to date, discussing whether Zhou Ziang would stay in the United States or return to China.
"If you e back to China, I can arrange a government job for you," being a returnee from a foreign institute, he would be highly sought after in any department. Xi Lijuan only heard her husband say that much, as for her son’s response, he said he would make a decision after returning to China this time.
Today the weather is not great. Several flights in Capital International Airport are delayed, including the direct flight from the United States, delayed by over an hour. Like countless others waiting for arrivals, Xi Lijuan eagerly hopes to see her son at the gate soon.
Regardless of which decision her son makes, Xi Lijuan plans to support him. pared to life in China, these four years abroad seem to have treated Zhou Ziang more fortably. A mother, after all, often understands her son’s thoughts better than a father.
"Mom," a tall figure appeared at the gate, the twenty-one-year-old Zhou Ziang, having shed the greenness he had four years ago when he first left Beijing, now appeared much more worldly-wise. Navigating through the crowd with grace and without haste.
"Ziang," Xi Lijuan could barely recognize Zhou Ziang. Four years ago, although Zhou Ziang was also tall, he was a thin, pale young man. But now, standing 1.82 meters tall, his well-fitted crew-neck wool sweater outlining his robust body, and a smile playing on his lips, gave a spring-like warmth in the midst of winter, "Your dad had something urgent at the office, couldn’t make it here, e let mom help with your luggage."
Facing her son who feels both familiar and strange, Xi Lijuan couldn’t quite react, only kept muttering about how busy Zhou Qiang has been since he became the director of the Beijing Industrial and mercial Administration.
"It’s okay, no rush, let dad be busy. I have a couple of months of vacation; it’s been a long time since I’ve been home. Beijing has changed a lot," Zhou Ziang hugged his mother, walking out from the airport together. The orderly taxis and neatly refurbished buildings took Zhou Ziang by surprise. The domestic changes were indeed significant, it seemed necessary for the pany to send him for a market prospect survey.
Although he said it was a vacation, it actually counted more as a business trip. After this year, Zhou Ziang would have pleted all his studies; with a strong remendation from Locke, getting a certificate as an outstanding master’s graduate was almost effortless. But now, several different choices lay before him.
After that overseas call with Zhou Qiang, Zhou Ziang was also considering whether to return to China. In terms of nationality, he didn’t really have a strong sense of patriarchy. But considering Zhou Qiang was a civil servant, relocating his parents to the United States would have to wait until Zhou Qiang’s retirement.
Another option was to return to China first. Another purpose of Zhou Ziang’s trip was to explore domestically if there were any suitable institutions that could provide the research environment he needed. If there were suitable institutions, he would stay in China. However, he hadn’t reported this matter to his business partner Locke and Mengshan pany.
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