327: Lively Friendship Hall

"I still won't drink, I haven't learned how," Wei Junyi said, shaking his head.

"Alright, then I'll drink a beverage with you," Hong Tongtong said with a smile.

"How much longer until we arrive?" Wei Junyi had lost interest in the flying car, so he felt the travel time today was a bit long.

"We'll be there in half an hour, don't worry," Hong Tongtong said after looking at the navigation.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

"Xiaolin must be getting impatient," Hong Tongtong said as she picked up the phone, adding, "It's him indeed."

After pressing the answer button, Hong Tongtong said crisply, "Xiaolin, we'll be there in half an hour."

"Okay, we've already arrived at Kunhe Hotel. We're drinking tea and waiting for you. Don't rush, drive slowly, it's still early."

"Are my Dad and Mom here too?" Hong Tongtong asked.

"Yes, there are quite a few people today. Our family of four, five experts, plus General Manager Lai and the two Production Ministers from Langfang Fine Carving, twelve people in total," Liu Xiaolin counted.

"Mm-hmm, got it," Hong Tongtong nodded and said, "There are quite a few people."

"They're all old acquaintances. Alright, I won't talk to you anymore, focus on driving," Liu Xiaolin said before hanging up.

Thirty minutes later, Hong Tongtong arrived in front of Kunhe Hotel and saw Liu Xiaolin waiting at the entrance.

"Professor Wei, you're finally here! Long time no see. Welcome, welcome," Liu Xiaolin greeted Wei Junyi warmly.

"It has been a long time since we last met, I've missed you quite a bit," Wei Junyi said, holding Liu Xiaolin's hand.

"Let's hurry inside, everyone is waiting," Liu Xiaolin led the two into the Friendship Hall on the second floor.

"Everyone, our Professor Wei is here," Liu Xiaolin walked in and announced loudly.

"Professor Wei, long time no see," Li Zhaolong and the other four experts stood up and said.

"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is a very important expert in our lithography machine research and development - Wei Junyi," Liu Xiaolin introduced to those who hadn't met Wei Junyi. "He is a professor at Longguo University. I invited him to participate in the lithography machine R&D. After achieving success, he retired and went back to teaching."

"Professor Wei, these two are Tongtong's Dad and Mom, this is General Manager Lai Junying from Langfang Fine Carving, who is cooperating with us, and these are Production Ministers Sang Yiyun and Ai Xinren."

After the introductions were complete, Wei Junyi shook hands with everyone one by one. Compared to how he used to walk around campus eating two steamed buns, he was like a completely different person.

Li Zhaolong asked with great surprise, "Professor Wei, who changed you? You are so different from how you were back then."

"It was the two months spent developing the lithography machine with us that changed him, haha," Hong Tongtong interjected from the side.

"Yes, thank you for changing me," Wei Junyi said with a smile.

"Don't stand, please take a seat, please take a seat," General Manager Lai quickly urged everyone to sit down.

There were three empty seats next to Tong Mingzhu, clearly reserved for the three people who had just entered.

Hong Tongtong sat next to her Mom, Liu Xiaolin sat next to Hong Tongtong, and Wei Junyi sat next to Liu Xiaolin. On his other side sat Li Zhaolong.

"Everyone is here, start serving the dishes," Lai Junying said softly to the waiting waiter beside him.

On this side, the experts, reunited after a long time, started chatting familiarly.

"Professor Wei, long time no see, are you busy lately?" Li Zhaolong asked with a smile.

"It's alright. The recent courses aren't too intense, and the students are very diligent, which saves a lot of worry," Wei Junyi said honestly.

"I heard you've won several math awards recently? Congratulations," Yang Zhenzhi said.

"Thank you, it's nothing to speak of, nothing to speak of," Wei Junyi became even more humble.

"Professor Wei, don't be modest. Your ability is widely recognized," Lu Yifan said from the side, tentatively looking at Wei Junyi.

"You are all excellent experts as well," Wei Junyi had actually learned to say polite words!

"Haha, Professor Wei understands a lot about social etiquette now," Liu Xiaolin said with a laugh from the side.

"Exactly. We were chatting on the way, and he's much more eloquent than before," Hong Tongtong also said with a smile. "Dad, Mom, you don't know, our Professor Wei wasn't this eloquent before. He couldn't even say ten sentences a day back then, he only knew how to focus on research and overcoming challenges."

"Professor Wei is young and promising, not an ordinary person," Hong Youli said, looking at Wei Junyi.

"I wouldn't dare, I'm just an ordinary teacher," Wei Junyi quickly replied.

"Tongtong said she wants to apply to be your graduate student. We hope you can accept her," Tong Mingzhu also said with a smile.

"Okay, as long as she passes the score line, I will accept her as a student," Wei Junyi said readily.

While everyone was happily chatting with the people next to them, the waiters filed in and began serving the dishes. Soon, the table was filled with various dishes.

"Everyone, thank you for giving me this great honor by gathering here," Lai Junying started with polite words. "To welcome everyone's arrival, I'd like to propose a toast."

"General Manager Lai is too kind. We should thank General Manager Lai for giving us this opportunity to gather together," everyone said, raising their glasses.

Hong Tongtong and Wei Junyi both had beverages in their cups. The two raised their beverage cups and smiled at each other.

"For the second toast, I, along with Minister Sang, would like to toast General Manager Hong and General Manager Tong. We thank Deli Air Conditioning for their trust in Langfang Fine Carving, which led to today's contract signing," Lai Junying continued, proposing a toast.

"It's mainly because you have the capability. Without capability, our Deli Air Conditioning wouldn't consider it," Hong Youli said, raising his glass. "I toast General Manager Lai and Minister Sang. I hope you maintain good quality control, and we can cooperate long-term in the future."

"Don't worry, we guarantee we'll do a beautiful job," Sang Yiyun said with a rather loud voice.

Tong Mingzhu raised her glass and said with a smile, "Thank you, General Manager Lai, thank you, Minister Sang."

After finishing the polite remarks, the several people drained the wine in their cups.

"Now, I propose the third toast. I, along with Minister Ai, would like to toast our five experts!" Lai Junying said after pouring himself a glass of wine. "The five experts are all highly renowned industry elites. In the future, our Langfang Fine Carving's Chip Production Workshop will need your continued support."

"Yes, we toast the five experts. We will inevitably need to trouble you in the future," Ai Xinren said with a smile.

"General Manager Lai is too kind, Minister Ai is too kind, this is all what we should do," Li Zhaolong said, raising his glass.

The other four experts also nodded repeatedly, "Yes, it's all what we should do."

Lai Junying drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, "I'll drink first as a mark of respect."

The five experts took a small sip and said, "We aren't very good at drinking, this is just a gesture."

You provided God Wu Ji's Rise of Heavy Industry: Building the Light of National Products.