"Zhou Qiang, I am telling you, if you are late to pick up from the airport today, don’t even think about coming home tonight," Xi Lijuan stood amidst the bustling airport, yelling into the public telephone at Zhou Qiang.
"Don’t always tell me you are busy with work. How can you be a father ? Last time, because of passport issues, it prevented both me and you from going abroad, and now you are saying there is a meeting at the bureau and you can’t make it back. Our son comes back once every two years, isn’t he more important than whatever lousy medication or permit you have under you. Enough said, the late airplane has arrived, figure it out yourself." Xi Lijuan noticed several airport staff nearby staring at her, and feeling embarrassed, she simply hung up the phone.
Zhou Ziang has been abroad for a full four years now. During these four years, except when Xi Lijuan flew to the United States alone to see him once in the second year, the only way they kept in touch was through overseas phone calls. Also in the second year, Zhou Ziang returned the living expenses prepared by his family, claiming that he had received scholarships and grants.
Xi Lijuan hurried over, and when she saw her son busy between the library and research, she couldn’t help but burst into tears.
In the third year, her son told her that he had graduated from his undergraduate studies early and joined a large multinational research institution to continue his graduate studies, and got his green card.
In the fourth year, after graduating from his postgraduate studies, it was this year when Zhou Qiang and Zhou Ziang had their longest father-son conversation ever, about whether Zhou Ziang should stay in the United States or return to China.
"If you come back, I can arrange a job for you in the government," being a returnee from an international research institute is highly sought after in any department.
Xi Lijuan only heard her husband say that, as for her son’s reply, he said he would decide after returning to China this time.
The weather today is not great, several flights at the Capital International Airport were delayed, and the direct flight from the United States was also delayed by more than an hour. Like countless others waiting to pick up, Xi Lijuan eagerly hoped to see her son at the exit sooner.
No matter which decision her son makes, Xi Lijuan plans to support him. Compared to being at home, Zhou Ziang seemed to have a more comfortable life abroad during these four years. A mother always understands her son’s thoughts better than the father.
"Mom," a tall figure appeared at the exit, the twenty-one-year-old Zhou Ziang, who had shed the immaturity he had when he first left Beijing four years ago, now looked much more worldly-wise. As he made his way through the crowd, he courteously made way, unhurried.
"Ziang," Xi Lijuan could hardly recognize Zhou Ziang. Four years ago, although Zhou Ziang was quite tall, he was still a skinny, pale young man, but now Zhou Ziang...
At a height of one meter eight-two, even through a fitting casual woolen pullover, his robust body outline was visible, with a smile on his lips, it felt like a breath of spring in the winter, "Your dad had things to handle at work today, couldn’t make it, come, let your mom take a good look at you."
Looking at her son, both familiar yet unfamiliar, Xi Lijuan was momentarily at a loss, complaining about how Zhou Qiang, ever since he became the director of the National Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, has been constantly busy, neglecting even his son.
"It’s okay, no rush, let dad be busy, I still have a month or two of vacation left, haven’t been back in a long time, the changes in Beijing are really big," Zhou Ziang looped his arm around his mother, walking out of the airport together. The neatly organized taxis and well-maintained variety of buildings surprisingly pleased Zhou Ziang.
The changes in the country are really big, it’s correct to come back and take a look, then make future plans.
This time it’s said to be a vacation, but it’s more of a business trip.
After this year, all of Zhou Ziang’s studies would be completed, with strong recommendations from Locke, getting a certificate as an outstanding master’s graduate would be a breeze, but several different choices lay ahead of him.
After that overseas call with Zhou Qiang, Zhou Ziang was also considering whether to return to China, regarding the country or rather, nationality, he didn’t really have a specific notion of nationality. But considering Zhou Qiang is a civil servant, calling his parents to immigrate to the United States would have to wait until Zhou Qiang retires.
So, another choice is to return to his home country first.
Another purpose for Zhou Ziang’s return this trip is to look for possible institutions in China that could provide the research environment he needs. If there is a suitable institution, he would stay in China. However, he had not reported this to his partner Locke and Mengshan Company.