daoxingyoustudent

Huang Tingjuan came back soon and took Cai Jingjing to toast at each table.

Halfway through the wedding banquet, the host had finished toasting and the atmosphere became more relaxed and warm.

Not long after Huang Tingjuan sat down, several of her old classmates took the opportunity to come over and toast her and pulled her away again.

After a few drinks, the old classmates at the table were in high spirits. Born around 1965, 1966, and 1967, the conversation had smoothly shifted from their children's marriages to something more personal: life after retirement.

"Everyone," Wang Hai, the former class sports committee member, now a bit overweight but still with a booming voice, tapped the rim of his glass, successfully attracting everyone's attention. "Our group has reached a critical juncture! Tingjuan, I think you were born in 1966, right? Isn't this the year to complete your retirement procedures?"

Huang Tingjuan smiled and nodded. "Yes, I just completed the formalities a few months ago. Suddenly I became a 'retired comrade'. I still need to get used to this change of identity."

"What's there to adapt to?" Li Li, sitting across from her, had short, dyed black hair and looked energetic. She used to work at a cultural center and her words always had an artistic air. "If you ask me, this is the beginning of good times! From now on, all my time is my own, I can do whatever I want! I retired last year and signed up for landscape painting and photography classes at the senior citizens' university. I feel even busier than when I was working! Now I have a new idea. I want to take a sketchbook with me when I travel and draw all the beautiful scenery I see. Of course, I can also take photos."

Someone asked her, "You've only studied landscape painting for a year and you can already do sketching? Can you draw well?"

Li Li's beaming face suddenly fell. "You're right, aren't you? I went out for a walk a few days ago. I didn't even dare to take out the sketchbook I was carrying. Haha... I was afraid people would laugh at me."

Everyone smiled kindly, and some even comforted her.

“It doesn’t matter if we can’t draw it. We can just take a picture of it.”

"That's right. Mobile phones are so powerful nowadays. You can take beautiful photos with just a snap and even upload them to Douyin."

Li Li suddenly became excited again: "For the next goal, my husband and I have planned it. We will first visit those places in China that we have never been to, such as XZ, XJ, and Inner Mongolia. We will walk slowly and take a closer look! If anyone of you is interested, we can form a group!" As she spoke, she took out her mobile phone and looked through the photos in the album to share with everyone. The people around her looked at them, their eyes full of longing and envy.

"Traveling is good, but you can't be on the road all the time." The person who took over was Zhao Jianguo, the "penman" of the former class. He wore reading glasses and had a calm temperament. "I was thinking that after retirement, I would have plenty of time, so I could organize the materials accumulated over the years and write something. I have always wanted to write about the stories of our fathers' generation and our own ups and downs in the past few decades. I dare not say that I will publish a book, but at least leave some memories for future generations." He adjusted his glasses and spoke in a serious tone.

"Publish a book? Lao Zhao, your idea is very good!" Wang Hai slapped his thigh and said in a loud voice, "But, I think just writing a book is not enough. What era is it now? We have to keep up with the trend! I have an idea. We old classmates have so many stories! Why don't we put some scripts together and make a web drama? Just show the youth, struggle and family of our generation. It will definitely be worth watching! I know a few young people who are engaged in self-media, you can ask them for advice." His bold proposal immediately attracted exclamations and laughter.

"Filming a web series? Lao Wang, you're really capable!"

"We're a bunch of old hands. What kind of web drama can we make? If we do make one, won't it make people laugh to death?"

"That's right. This is an era that values ​​youth and looks. If we were to make a web series, who would watch it?"

Wang Hai was anxious: "Why are you guys so stubborn? Who said we have to act in the web series ourselves? We can publish a script and turn our past stories into a screenplay. Let the kids act it out."

Zhao Jianguo also quickly chimed in: "That's right, let the children act, find young people to act."

Li Li also joined in the fun: "That's right, we can provide the funding, we can provide the script. There are so many young people who want to be stars nowadays, maybe we can even make one or two stars."

The others laughed too.

"Okay, okay! But web dramas can't all be about young people. There have to be characters of other ages too. For example, if there's a character like a mother or auntie who's both beautiful and intelligent, I can play one."

"Yeah, I can do that too!"

Huang Tingjuan couldn't help but laugh. She thought of Li Bo, Cai Jingjing, Fang Chen, and other classmates. They all had their own strengths. If they could work together, who knows what they could accomplish. A thought struck her. "But speaking of publishing books and web series, Li Bo mentioned a while ago that he wanted me to help write a series of popular aerospace science books. I was hesitant, partly because I felt like I was an outsider. Partly because I thought retirement was the right time to enjoy some leisure time. But after hearing what you said, I think this might be a good option. I can make use of my remaining energy."

"Look! Our Tingjuan is really amazing. She has even arranged her retirement life around a 'national-level space project'!" Li Li joked, drawing some good-natured laughter.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table grew increasingly harmonious. Then, a refined woman wearing thin-rimmed glasses approached, holding a glass of wine. This woman was Zhou Yun, Huang Tingjuan's former graduate school classmate and now a professor of classical literature at a university. She didn't rush to offer a toast, but instead surveyed Huang Tingjuan, her eyes gleaming with the brilliance of a professional connoisseur.

"Tingjuan," Zhou Yun adjusted her glasses, her tone filled with sincere admiration, "I didn't get a good look because there were so many people around just now, but this Hanfu you're wearing is just perfect! The crimson-purple material is well chosen, it's so dignified and elegant. The lotus pattern on the collar and cuffs is Suzhou embroidery, right? The stitching is delicate, and the artistic conception is profound. It's both traditional and unique. The overall silhouette retains the elegance and flow of Hanfu, while incorporating the slimming and neatness of a modern dress. It's wonderful!"

Huang Tingjuan felt a little embarrassed by the compliment from her old classmate. She stood up, turned slightly, letting her sleeves flutter. She smiled and said, "You, a talented woman from the Chinese department, have such a keen eye! I had this custom-made by a young designer. I wanted something like this to have a touch of our own culture, but not seem too awkward or old-fashioned."

Zhou Yun's words were like a key, instantly unlocking the conversations of the Chinese language graduates present. Most of them work in fields related to writing, education, and culture, and have a natural sensitivity and passion for such topics.