Yunding Ranch

Chapter 291 Presenting Paintings

"Actually, I was a little surprised by your reaction." Lu Li picked up the wine and took a sip. He couldn't tell the difference in the details of the taste, but it was indeed not as good as Romanee-Conti.

Lu Li believed that the riverside restaurant must have the best wines, even Romanée-Conti.But Evelyn didn't order the highest quality wine. After all, they just met by chance. Not to mention whether it was Lu Li's treat, even if it was Evelyn herself, she didn't choose the highest quality wine. In the final analysis, it was still not very polite.

Evelyn raised her head and cast a puzzled look.

Lu Li considered his words, "I mean, your attitude towards your grandfather's gossip. I thought you wouldn't like unfounded speculation. After all, it's not fair to your grandmother."

Lu Li knew that this was spying on Evelyn's privacy and her family situation, which was very rude.However, the conversation just now made the two of them a little more familiar, and a common topic emerged, so he couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked.

Evelyn was stunned for a moment, and then the corners of her mouth curled up, but she didn't answer immediately, but lowered her head, her smile gradually dissipated, she seemed to be lost in thought, and let out a light breath, just when Lu Li thought he had to When it was time to answer, Evelyn said, "Actually, Hans is not my real grandfather."

"Huh?" Lu Li didn't turn the corner for a while with this bull-headed answer - the jump was really too big, and the dog's blood seemed to hit him directly, the impact was a bit too strong.

Seeing Lu Li's simple and honest appearance, Evelyn laughed softly, "I mean, my father is not my grandmother and Hans' child." Evelyn's shoulders shook slightly, obviously because of Lu Li He was overjoyed by the stunned reaction, "My grandmother and grandfather didn't get married because of love. My grandmother was pregnant before they got married."

Lu Li needs to digest it carefully, the amount of information is a bit heavy.

"It was a turbulent time. An unmarried and pregnant woman was in a very difficult situation. Not to mention things like work and life, her life might even be in danger. So, my grandmother needed a husband who could keep her safe. " Evelyn paused for a moment, picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and felt the taste of alcohol carefully, with a smile still on her face, but a little lonely.

"It's the same with my grandfather." Evelyn continued, "At that time, if the officer was not married, it would be very embarrassing, and it might even cause unnecessary trouble." Sensing Lu Li's puzzled eyes, Evelyn Simply explaining, "It's not the kind of face-to-face, but it will affect the promotion of military ranks and work arrangements. Because the society at that time believed that the life of an unmarried man was unstable."

Lu Li suddenly realized, and spread his hands, "I'm from Asia, and we are the ones who have the most say on the traditional concept of marriage."

Evelyn's eyes widened, a little surprised, "Are you serious?"

Lu Li nodded with a smile. When he was in school, he told other friends about the view of marriage in China, and they were also surprised.In fact, whether it is Eastern culture or Western culture, the sense of belonging to the family is relatively obvious.

In the United States, the conservative Republican Party has been advocating the traditional family concept, believing that a life without marriage is incomplete, and similarly, a family without children is also incomplete.This point is very similar to the views on marriage in the three East Asian countries.

But the biggest difference between the two countries is that domestic social pressure is ubiquitous, and parents’ urging and persecution are even more serious; in comparison, American society is a matter of discussion, but in the final analysis it still respects individual choices.

"So, the two of them got together?" Lu Li changed the subject again and continued to ask.

"Yes. My grandfather accepted my grandmother's request, and the two got married. My grandfather became the father of the child in my grandmother's womb." Evelyn nodded and said, "Actually, there is no relationship between the two of them. The feeling that my grandmother has towards my grandfather, It's more thanks. Because of my grandfather, my grandmother's life was stabilized, and when my grandfather passed away, she didn't remarry."

"Where's the child's father? I mean, your father's biological father. Could it be that your grandmother didn't try to find him?" Lu Li asked his own question.

"Dead. It was a time of war, and the least valuable thing was life." Evelyn said flatly.

In that war, almost all the younger generations in Germany were involved. At that time, even children were sent to specialized military schools to prepare for the next war, and all the people were soldiers.

Evelyn didn't regret too much, and continued, "Grandma's life is very happy, at least in my opinion. She likes handmade products, and also likes to make clothes by herself. Thanks to the help of her grandfather's connections, she started She opened a dry cleaning shop and was taken care of by the military. The business was very good. After the war, she gradually gained a foothold. That’s why I had the opportunity to study art, and I also had the opportunity to become the manager of a gallery.”

Evelyn's words were very simple, with almost no embellishments, but Lu Li could hear the hardships in the words.In that turbulent era, behind a single sentence may represent countless pain and difficulties.

"Compared to my grandmother, my grandfather's life was shattered by the war. He supported my grandmother with a safe haven, but he died in a foreign land in the end." Evelyn gently turned the wine glass in her hand, watching The mellow liquor was spinning, "Now I know, grandpa is also happy, at least he sticks to it to the end in order to protect the one he loves deeply. I want to believe that he is also happy."

Lu Li was dumbfounded.

"Can you tell me more about Albert?" Evelyn put the wine glass on the table, her expression soaring again, "In exchange, I will tell you more about my grandfather, I don't know much, You don't know much, which I guess is fair."

Lu Li smiled and nodded, "I agree with this deal."

The dining time in Michelin three-star restaurants is really long, which is a custom inherited from France, because the conversation between two people is as important as the food during the meal.It is not uncommon for a dinner to last for four hours.I originally thought that three hours would be enough for tonight's dinner, but I didn't expect that the last two people lasted until 11:30, and then all the meals ended.

Watching the waiter take away the dessert plate, Evelyn asked for the bill.

Lu Li insisted on paying, but Evelyn was unwilling.The dinner was invited by her, and the restaurant by the river was also proposed by her. A dinner for two people cost a thousand pounds, which is not something ordinary people can afford.

Lu Li had no way to convince Evelyn, he couldn't say it, because of the existence of the ring space, he had to express his gratitude.It's just a dinner, not worth mentioning at all.But thinking about it carefully, indeed, compared to the value of the ring, this dinner was too insignificant, so Lu Li took a step back.

Two people each pay half.

Evelyn agreed.

After leaving the restaurant by the river, Lu Li and Evelyn walked along the Thames towards the parking lot. From a distance, Lu Li could see that his car was already waiting, "May I have this car?" It's an honor to escort you back?"

Evelyn originally planned to refuse, because this is not a date, and Lu Li has no need to escort her.But after thinking about it, she nodded and agreed, "It's my honor."

She knew she would be drinking tonight, so she didn't drive over.However, there are countless people who come here to enjoy the food every day, so taxis are also very convenient, and she is not worried at all.But now, Lu Li sent out an invitation, so she didn't show any pretense, and just nodded in agreement.

"If you want, next time you come to the bar, I'll buy you a drink as a thank you." Evelyn said with a smile.

"I was just about to ask you, what's the name of that bar?" Lu Li opened the car door for Evelyn, invited her to get in the car, and then got in himself, "What's the address you're going to?"

Evelyn said to the driver, "Please come to Notting Hill, thank you." Then she turned her head to look at Lu Li, "The bar, that's called 'the bar'."

Lu Li opened his mouth and couldn't help being a little dazed. Then he came to his senses and chuckled, "Indeed, there is no more suitable name than this. No wonder, I couldn't find its signboard no matter how hard I searched. Obviously, it has no name at all. unnecessary."

At midnight, the busy and congested traffic in London also eased, the roads were very smooth, and the gentle slope of Notting Hill soon appeared in sight.Lu Li and Evelyn had a great conversation and arrived at their destination without even realizing the passage of time.

"Thank you. Thank you tonight." Evelyn tried to say something more, but all the words finally turned into a "thank you."

Lu Li stood by the car door and said with a smile, "Shouldn't I be the one to say this? However, I don't think we need to continue the cycle. Otherwise, there is probably no way to end tonight. .”

Evelyn nodded in agreement, "That's it, that's it for tonight."

"Evelyn." Looking at her back as she turned and left, Lu Li raised his voice and stopped her, then opened the car door, took out the long tube, and quickly chased after her, "I think this painting is still made by It's more appropriate for you to keep it."

"What?" Evelyn was stunned, and then waved her hands again and again, "No, it can't be like this. This painting was given to you by your family, and it also has important commemorative significance for you. I can see this painting , that's enough."

"Believe me, I'm serious." Lu Li said with a smile, "This is called returning things to their original owners. I always feel that, somewhere, it guided me to London, where I met Anna, and finally found you. So I think it should go back to its original owner."

The space ring, Lu Li is not that generous, so he can't return it to the other party; but at least, this Chrysler Building can still find its owner along the original track.

Lu Li suddenly felt that maybe this result was doomed if he hadn't sold the painting in the first place.

Evelyn looked at Lu Li seriously, caught the sincerity and firmness in those eyes, finally nodded and took the long tube, "Thank you." After she finished speaking, she smiled brightly and added, " the last time."

(End of this chapter)