Chapter 2693
We Need to Strengthen Cooperation
Chapter 2693 We Need to Strengthen Cooperation
West Garden.
Old Qing sat in a chair, chatting and laughing with three elderly people.
Of the three, two were men and one was a woman, and they often laughed during their conversation.
Tang Mingyue sat quietly to the side, occasionally refilling the tea for the three of them, while listening to them talk about their youth, making notes in her mind to prepare material for her future 'memoirs'.
Speaking of the memoir, this matter was brought up unintentionally by my eldest sister.
The reason is that many of her "old sisters" and "old brothers" are writing "memoirs," and the eldest sister feels that it is necessary for future generations to know about that period of time.
It is necessary to leave some records.
However, the eldest sister is usually busy with work and taking care of her children, so her memoir is only just beginning.
So Tang Mingyue thought she should collect more information so she could help her older sister supplement it later.
“Thuram, I know foie gras is delicious.”
Old Qing smiled at an elderly man with a thick beard and said, "But you need to control your belly a bit."
Thuram shook his head hastily, "Oh, no, no, you have no idea how tempting delicious foie gras is."
"I'm a grandfather now, what can stop my stomach?"
Old Qing shook his head. He and the man in front of him were classmates and had even lived together when they were in school.
The two had a close relationship at one time, but after he returned to China, their contact decreased.
However, after 1949, they would occasionally send a letter from the other side.
Qing Lao understood the other party's meaning and did not reject them, but maintained a good relationship.
"Hao, I think there's still someone who can keep him in check."
The only woman among the three spoke with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Qing Lao immediately laughed and said, "Shuya, tell me quickly, who can handle this bearded man?"
The woman chuckled and poked the man's belly with her finger, then whispered, "Of course, it's his most beloved baby, little Deli."
"Oh my god, Shuya, why did you have to say that?"
Thuram immediately raised his hands, looking speechless, and then slapped his thigh hard. "Hao, you know, I like children, especially very cute ones."
"I couldn't refuse their request."
Thuram tried to explain, and even habitually stroked his beard.
Qing Lao knew that whenever the other person made this gesture in the past, it meant that he was very nervous.
"Hao, do you know whose daughter Little Deli is?"
At this moment, the last person spoke up with a smile.
Old Qing also became interested, "Krish, whose is it?"
The man wore black-rimmed glasses and appeared quite thin compared to Thuram, but he seemed to be in good spirits.
"Krish, I think you'd better not say it."
Thuram crossed his arms and threatened in a very serious manner.
But Krish completely ignored him and said directly, "Little Deli's full name is Julie Peggy Provence Deli!"
After Krish finished speaking, the smile on Qing Lao's face suddenly froze, and he immediately asked, as if he had thought of something, "Peggy?"
"Could she be Peggy's granddaughter?"
Krish did not react, but instead looked at Thuram beside him.
"Aren't you going to explain yourself yet?"
Thuram glared at Krish again, then rolled his eyes at Shuya, who had just started the conversation, before meeting Qing Lao's gaze. His expression hardened, and he said helplessly, "Um, Hao, do you remember Peggy from Mary's Bar?"
"Yes, it's that passionate French girl who confessed her feelings to you back then."
After Thuram finished speaking, an image of a vibrant, youthful girl appeared in Qing Lao's mind.
At that time, he had just arrived in France. Although he received financial assistance from his home country, in the extravagant and decadent France, only by working and studying could he afford to support himself.
Back then, he was quite the dashing and debonair man.
This is Mary's Bar, where he used to work, and Peggy is the bar owner's daughter.
Every summer vacation, Peggy would come back to help out at the bar, and the two became acquainted over time.
But later
He returned to China, and the two lost contact.
As the memories faded, Qing Lao gradually came to his senses, then chuckled and joked, "Thuram, this must be little Deli's grandmother."
Thuram immediately nodded, "Of course, it has to be."
“Back then, we worked together at a bar. I knew she had feelings for you, but I felt that I was more suitable.”
"So after you left, I boldly pursued her."
"Later we got married and then had children."
"only."
At this point, Thuram's expression turned sorrowful, and Krish continued, "But then war broke out."
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Tang Mingyue, who was standing to the side, was fidgeting with the hem of her clothes. She had heard everything clearly just now and was conflicted about whether or not to tell her older sister about it.
Should I keep it? Or should I keep it?
"she"
When Qing Lao saw the three people in front of him, he was already prepared.
Thuram took a deep breath and clasped his hands tightly together. "I went to the front lines, and then we failed."
"So I joined the guerrillas and continued the resistance."
"She was brutally murdered by the Germans in an attempt to save her child."
Sensing Thuram's immense grief, Elder Qing reached out and patted the other man's shoulder.
"Peggy is a good girl, she is very kind."
As Qing Lao spoke, tears streamed down Thuram's face.
"Yes, she was so gentle and kind. In the spring, she often went to the daffodils on the hillside. The golden flowers everywhere were like a paradise in a fairy tale, and she was my princess."
Thuram covered his face with his hands, "Krish, you damned bastard, why did you have to bring her up?"
Krish scratched his head, then looked at the woman beside him. "Didn't you start this conversation?"
"Alright, stop making a fool of yourself here."
The woman poked Thuram's stomach again with her finger. Thuram rubbed his face vigorously with both hands, but his eyes were still bloodshot.
Old Qing offered some words of comfort, and then they continued chatting about the past.
The meeting lasted for more than an hour before the three of them got up to say goodbye.
Although the conversation consisted of topics unrelated to work, Qing Lao understood that it was all for the sake of 'cooperation'.
However, seeing his old friend again still made him feel very gratified.
After seeing the three off, Qing Lao turned around and saw Chen Lao holding a child waiting at the door.
"Old Chen, when did you arrive?"
Meanwhile, the three got into a car and, led by the driver, headed towards their residence.
"Hao, still the same!" the woman said from the passenger seat.
Thuram and Krishnamurti sat in the back row, both with serious expressions.
"Yes, he's still as wise as ever."
Thuram spoke earnestly, without the sadness he had shown earlier.
At this moment, he seems more like a politician.
Do you think we'll succeed this time?
Krish suddenly asked.
Thuram licked his lips, then shook his head. "I don't know."
"The Hao I know is not a selfish person."
"Maybe, possibly, it will succeed."
Krish didn't say anything, but Shuya in the passenger seat nodded, "I think it should be okay."
"We need each other, and they need us too."
"Especially now, between the United States and the Union, we need to strengthen cooperation even more."
"Whether it's economic, political, or military."
"Cooperation is beneficial to both of us."
After Shuya finished speaking, the two nodded, but at the same time, they felt a sense of powerlessness.
In the past, who had France ever been afraid of?
If you don't agree, do it.
Who is afraid of whom?
As a result, after two wars, their entire fortune was wiped out.
It even killed a generation, almost extinguishing their ability to reproduce.
Its international standing almost became a joke.
The image of those raised hands is still talked about with great interest around the world.
It's fair to say that the situation in France right now is not very good.
Domestic forces are rising and falling, and the political environment is not stable.
In particular, the resignation of someone adored with praise, the end of their political career, made the environment even worse.
Furthermore, the recent successful moon landing by the United States has stirred up a great deal of excitement in France.
Then came the Alliance's lunar landing program, followed by China's own lunar landing. This continuous stimulation fueled the desire of this freedom-loving region to soar freely into space.
That's the internal situation; they have no way to solve it.
So they thought of starting from the outside to divert domestic attention.
China was one of their chosen targets.
In recent years, China has continuously amazed the world and France.
In the very beginning, it was China's mushroom egg, which caused a sensation.
But by then, France already had it, so they were only slightly shocked.
But then, the other side actually developed a hydrogen bomb before them, which made them very uncomfortable.
Originally one of the world's top four, France has now been pushed down and is now ranked behind China. How can the free and powerful France bear this?
Then, the critical hits came one after another.
They smashed calculators, satellites, and telephones, leaving them completely bewildered.
That's not all; the other party is far ahead in the field of pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
It's important to understand that population issues have always been a challenge for France.
Too many men have died, and if the population is to grow, French men need to be more romantic.
But romance can be tough on your back.
Thus, the Imperial Jade Liquor from China became a 'great contributor' to the French revival.
The Imperial Jade Liquor was one of the targets of their cooperation during their visit to China.
The three of them fell silent and looked out of the car.
"This place is developing so fast!"
in the office.
Old Chen handed the report to Old Qing and then waited quietly to the side.
After a while, Qing Lao finally finished reading the report.
Then he crossed his hands together and rotated his thumbs up and down.
"Old Chen, do you think it's necessary to elaborate?"
After a while, Elder Qing asked a question.
Without hesitation, Old Chen shook his head. "In my personal opinion, it's best to maintain the status quo and not to make any rash moves."
"Tell me the reason!"
Mr. Chen then briefly recounted the content of his conversation with Yang Xiaotao.
“These things can be done by the Ninth Division, but it would be very difficult for other divisions to do them.”
"It could even backfire and cause trouble."
"Overall, we are still developing rapidly, and we cannot let this momentum falter."
"As for the Nine Departments, if they have the ability to solve this problem, then let them do it. We don't need to interfere too much."
After Mr. Chen explained things clearly, Mr. Qing nodded silently.
This is pretty much what he was thinking.
The country needs a stable and sustainable development environment. If things go wrong now, all the efforts of the past few years may be wasted.
"I agree with you."
"We'll do it your way."
Qing Lao offered his opinion, then, as if remembering something, added, "You should pay attention to this matter!"
Old Chen nodded, "Don't worry, I know."
Then he asked, "What were those three people doing just now?"
Qing Lao smiled and said, "He's a friend of mine from when I was studying in France!"
"They've come here this time to cooperate with us."
"Cooperation? Haven't we been cooperating all along?"
Old Chen was curious; the last calculator he made had its patent sold to them, so they'd had quite a few collaborations.
Old Qing got up and stretched, then smiled and said, "They came this time to strengthen cooperation."
After saying that, I saw the older woman holding a child standing at the door.
In an instant, Qing Lao seemed to remember something.