A few days later, my grandfather returned to Beijing from another place, and Zhao Nanxiao and his mother went to see him.

My grandfather rested all night and looked very energetic. At almost noon, my mother went to the kitchen to help my aunt cook, and Zhao Nanxiao came to the study.

My grandfather is almost seventy, but the most common saying is "Live until he grows old". He started to learn to use computers to process drawings and documents more than ten years ago. Now, his proficiency is not inferior to Zhao Nanxiao.

He was sitting in front of the computer, reviewing an email from his assistant just sent him, pointing to the opened file and saying to his granddaughter: "Xiaonan, this is part of the information of this Dragon accident. After all, my grandfather will send you a copy. If you have time, you can take a look. Although this accident is an isolated case, it does not mean that it will not happen again in the future. It is also a rare learning opportunity for you."

Zhao Nanxiao stood aside and looked for a while, and whispered: "Grandpa, if I go abroad and study now, would you object?"

Grandpa smiled and said, "There is a saying that bridge building technology is about the United States in the 1940s and 1950s, Europe in the 1960s and 1970s, Japan in the 1980s and 1990s, and China in the 21st century. Our speed and technology in bridge construction have made great progress that has attracted worldwide attention. In many aspects, it is no exaggeration to say that it is an innovation and leading. However, learning is endless. It is also of great benefit for young people like you to go out and learn more about some foreign experiences and technologies. Grandpa supports you."

Zhao Nanxiao said: "Grandpa, it's not about reading this. It's about finance."

Grandpa stopped holding the mouse hand, looked up at her, pondered for a while, took off his glasses, pointed to the chair beside him, and asked, "Why did you suddenly have the idea of ​​changing career?"

Zhao Nanxiao sat down slowly.

"It's not sudden. The work experience over the past few years has gradually made me feel that my choice is different from what I originally thought. I didn't gain a sense of belonging and accomplishment from it. I feel confused. Grandpa, you have been engaged in this career all your life and have not stopped. Dad is the same, and he has even lost his life for it..."

"Grandpa, how do you and my father think of your career? Or, you have always loved the profession you are engaged in?"

Grandpa pondered for a while and said, "Xiao Nan, when grandpa was still young, grandpa's father told grandpa that we no longer have to blow up the bridge we built by ourselves like before. I believe that one day, we will definitely be able to build the most advanced and greatest bridge in the world. Grandpa still remembers the scene when he said this. This is also grandpa's wish. When encountering difficulties, look at the old photos and think about the bridge people of grandpa's father's generation back then. What can't be persisted with?"

He paused, his eyes fell to an old photo pressing under the glass of the desk.

Zhao Nanxiao looked at it.

The photo is a photo of my father and grandfather who were student on campus. The father in the photo is elegant and handsome, with a smile on his face and a pair of bright eyes.

"Xiao Nan, I don't know if your mother told you about your father's early years. In fact, he was a top student in the Department of Architecture at the beginning. At that time, the country urgently needed talents in the field of roads and bridges. He responded to the call of the country and resolutely transferred to the bridge, and then became a student of his grandfather. Many of his classmates came to see me some time ago, and now they have either become famous architects or real estate finance. But I believe that your father has never regretted the choice he made at the beginning. Indeed, people who really do this industry have to pay a lot. From a material point of view, this kind of effort and return are disproportionate. Xiao Nan, you now have new insights and ideas. Grandpa respects your choice, but if, at the same time, you can also understand the value of your father making this choice back then, grandpa will be very happy."

Grandpa looked at Zhao Nanxiao with a smile.

"Similarly, if you start your life plan again and realize your life value, grandpa will be very happy. Because this is Xiaonan, your own life, grandpa believes that you will make the choice you really want."

Zhao Nanxiao was silent.

"One generation has its own mission, and one generation has its own pursuit. Xiaonan, your era is different from grandpa and the era in which your father is living. Grandpa is happy that you chose this career before, but grandpa hopes that if you still regard the bridge as your lifelong career in the end, then this choice is entirely due to your love and recognition of this career, not because of other things, such as grandpa and your father."

Grandpa touched her hair lovingly: "Think slowly, no matter how Xiaonan decides in the end, grandpa will support you."

That night, when I got home, Zhao Nanxiao sat at the desk in the study, looking at the stack of old notebooks in front of me.

This is a log left by my father for many years of work.

She took out one of them, page by page, and slowly read the words left by her father, which seemed to be warm.

"... Today is a memorable and meaningful day. After three years of hard construction, it was finally completed. In this place that has been isolated from the mountains and canyons since ancient times, the train passed the bridge connecting the valley. The straight rails came from outside the mountain and extended to the depths of the mountain. At the celebration banquet, many local people sent home-brewed wine. The head of the autonomous region was drunk excitedly and was carried back. I was almost drunk. When I lay down, I thought of Man and Xiaonan. I felt guilty and didn't go home last year's Spring Festival. But I was soon able to go back to see them, and I was so excited that I couldn't fall asleep. I was very lucky to have their unconditional support and contributions."

Zhao Nanxiao's eyes were hot and he closed his notebook, and the shadow under the lamp remained motionless.

Shen Xiaoman came in with a bowl of dessert and placed it on the table.

"Xiao Nan, it's all on vacation. Why are you sitting here for the middle of the night? It's getting late, go to bed after eating!"

Zhao Nanxiao turned around and looked at her and said softly: "Mom, I decided to accept what I said at the meeting in the courtyard that day and will reply to the courtyard tomorrow. I will continue to do it for two more years. When this project is finished, if I still can't find any feelings, I will listen to you, go to finance or do something else."

Zhao Nanxiao was originally a little worried that his decision would make his mother unacceptable.

"Eat it. Go to sleep after eating!"

Unexpectedly, she did not blame her or expressed any other intention. After saying that, she turned around and left the study room.

Zhao Nanxiao looked at her back and felt a little sorry for her, guilty, but she breathed a little relieved.

Let's try it again, she thought to herself this night before going to bed.

I gave up like this, but I was still unwilling to give up. After all, how much she loved her. At most, in two or three years, if she was still worried about gains and losses, then there was no need to hesitate. She was not suitable for this profession, so I said goodbye.

The week's vacation passed quickly. On Tuesday morning, Zhao Nanxiao came to the design institute as usual. As soon as he entered, he felt that the atmosphere was wrong. The colleagues he met in the corridor looked at him and greeted him, as if they were a little different from usual.

At first she felt that she was too attentive, and when she waited to enter the office, the feeling became even stronger.

Director Gao has arrived and is talking to a colleague in the big office where she is. When he turned around and saw her coming in, he nodded with a smile: "Xiao Zhao, you have rested and are you back? Director Hu said, if you ask you to come over, go to his place."

It’s not that the director is usually arrogant. On the contrary, the director usually pays great attention to getting along with his subordinates while maintaining authority, and often has a smile on his face, especially when arranging work, his smile is even more friendly. But Zhao Nanxiao still sees it back when he is "kind to nothing" like now.

She responded, and went to her seat with her colleagues around her, put down her things, and went to the dean's office. At the corner of the corridor, she heard someone calling her behind her.

"Ms. Zhao!"

She turned her head and saw Lin Yang chasing her.

Suddenly hearing him call him that, the feeling of being wrong in his heart became even stronger.

It seems that he called himself that only when she first entered the design institute.

"Mr. Lin, are you in trouble?" she asked politely and coldly.

Lin Yang walked quickly and stopped in front of her.

"Ms. Zhao, I respect your grandfather, Academician Chen, and admire him very much. I have read all his papers and works, and I have benefited a lot from it. I have always wanted to visit Mr. Shen, but I am afraid that he will be too busy and take the liberty to disturb him. Can Miss Zhao help me and greet Mr. Shen on my behalf, and ask Mr. Shen, when will he be convenient and can I allow me to visit him?"

He had a smile on his face and a sincere tone.

Zhao Nanxiao was extremely surprised.

"Miss Zhao, I really hope to visit Mr. Shen, sincerely..."

"How do you know my relationship with my grandfather?" she interrupted him and asked.

Lin Yang hesitated for a moment: "Don't you know? Your mother came to the yard yesterday to find Dean Hu..."

In the flash of lightning, Zhao Nanxiao understood immediately, his heart skipped a beat and he turned around immediately.

"Miss Zhao! Are you free at night? I have two very nervous tickets to the original opera "The Lady of Camellia", which is an Italian country..."

Zhao Nanxiao left Lin Yang behind him and quickly walked to the dean's office.

"Mr. Zhao, are you here?"

When Secretary Zhang saw her, he stood up enthusiastically, pointed to it and said, "The Dean is inside, and there is no one."

Zhao Nanxiao walked in and shouted.

President Hu was looking at the documents and looked up to see her coming in, with a smile on his face: "Xiao Zhao, are you here? Sit down."

Zhao Nanxiao didn't sit down and said, "Dean, I don't know that my mother came to you yesterday. I'm sorry, I hope I didn't disturb you."

President Hu smiled and said, "How can I say disturbing me? When Ms. Chen came yesterday, Mr. Qin was there, and they knew each other, and it was just right to reminisce about the past, which is quite good."

Zhao Nanxiao resisted the urge to go back to find his mother immediately and said, "I don't know what my mother has said to the dean, but no matter what she says, her words cannot replace my decision."

The smile on Dean Hu's face disappeared, showing a look of embarrassment.

He stood up, walked to the water dispenser and poured her a glass of water, and brought it over and said, "Xiao Zhao, don't be excited, drink a sip of water first. That's right, the yard has reconsidered, this project is long, the place is remote, and the conditions are difficult, and it is really not suitable for a young girl like you. Otherwise, you don't have to go this time? There are more important tasks in the yard that need you to take on. What do you think?"

Zhao Nanxiao said: "I have confirmed with the Dean, you have decided to participate in this project. If Dean, you exclude me because of my ability, I accept it. But if it is because of my mother's objection, I promise to convince her. I apologize to you for the trouble this incident caused to you."

President Hu looked at her, pondered for a moment, and nodded: "Okay! As long as Ms. Chen no longer talks to me to express her objection, I will have no problem here."

"Thank you, Dean, then I'll go first."

Zhao Nanxiao left the office, but didn't call, and went home immediately. When he entered the door, Chen Xiaoman was sitting in her studio and painting. Hearing the sound of the door pushing, he didn't look back and said, "Xiao Nan, I've already talked to Lao Hu and Lao Qin and the others. You don't have to go."

Zhao Nanxiao said: "I'm sorry, mom, I'm going."

Chen Xiaoman's hand holding the brush stopped in the air, and did not move for a while. He suddenly threw the pen and stood up and turned around.

"What the hell is that? Ravine! Deep valley! Cliff! Cliff! Even if it is safe, go to a man to live in a prefabricated house every day to boil water and take a bath? Xiaonan, I tell you, don't talk to me about feelings! Anyway, I won't let you go this time no matter what!"

Zhao Nanxiao said: "Mom, don't be excited, I won't argue with you. Grandpa supports me. If Grandpa asks me not to go, I will listen to you. Sorry, mom, I'm going to pack up."

She turned to her room.

Chen Xiaoman was so angry that she wanted to put pressure on the past. She also knew that this daughter seemed well-behaved since she was a child, but in fact she was very stubborn.

She stood there for a moment, took off her work clothes, held her breath and went out, came to where her father lived, rang the doorbell, and the aunt came out to open the door.

"Auntie Li, is my dad at home?" Chen Xiaoman asked.

"The professor is at home. A young man is also here, saying that he is here to come to see the professor." The aunt said with a smile.

"Who?"

"The surname is Xu, and the name is Xu Shu."

Chen Xiaoman was stunned and thought.

Xu Zhenzhong's son.

After my daughter's marriage with the Ye family broke down, I remember that he went abroad soon. It took several years to go back, and I don't know when he would come back.

Chen Xiaoman went in and came to the entrance of the study.

The study door was not closed, and she saw her father sitting on an old rattan chair by the window. Opposite was a young man with a flat head in his mouth. A pot of tea on the table was steaming with a warm air. One old and one young, he talked happily.

She paused and recognized that it was really the son of the Xu family.

The Xu family's son looked completely different from what he did when he was in college.

I remember that at that time, he either went to various motorcycle events or rock games all day long, and seemed to have formed a band with people. The changes are really big now. She didn't recognize it at first glance.

"Xiaoman, are you here?" My father saw her and called out.
To be continued...