Running Into an Old Classmate
IntermediateCafe
Two former classmates unexpectedly meet at a quiet neighborhood cafe and catch up on how their careers and families have changed over the years.
L
LinW
WeiL
哎呀，这不是张伟吗？好多年没见了！
āiyā, zhè bùshì Zhāng Wěi ma? hǎoduō nián méi jiàn le!
Oh wow, isn't this Zhang Wei? We haven't seen each other in years!
W
真的是你啊，李娜！我差点没认出来，你一点都没变。
zhēn de shì nǐ a, Lǐ Nà! wǒ chàdiǎn méi rèn chūlái, nǐ yìdiǎn dōu méi biàn.
It really is you, Li Na! I almost didn't recognize you—you haven't changed a bit.
L
你嘴还是这么甜。快坐吧，我请你喝杯咖啡，你现在做什么工作呢？
nǐ zuǐ háishì zhème tián. kuài zuò ba, wǒ qǐng nǐ hē bēi kāfēi, nǐ xiànzài zuò shénme gōngzuò ne?
You're as sweet-talking as ever. Sit down, let me buy you a coffee—what kind of work do you do now?
W
我在一家科技公司当项目经理，虽然挺忙的，但还算稳定。你呢？
wǒ zài yì jiā kējì gōngsī dāng xiàngmù jīnglǐ, suīrán tǐng máng de, dàn hái suàn wěndìng. nǐ ne?
I'm a project manager at a tech company. Although it's pretty busy, it's fairly stable. How about you?
L
我毕业以后就当了老师，去年刚升成年级组长，压力挺大，但很有成就感。
wǒ bìyè yǐhòu jiù dāng le lǎoshī, qùnián gāng shēng chéng niánjí zǔzhǎng, yālì tǐng dà, dàn hěn yǒu chéngjiùgǎn.
After graduating I became a teacher, and last year I was just promoted to grade-level head. The pressure is high, but it's very rewarding.
W
当老师真不容易，不过你上学的时候就特别有耐心。对了，你结婚了吗？
dāng lǎoshī zhēn bù róngyì, bùguò nǐ shàngxué de shíhou jiù tèbié yǒu nàixīn. duì le, nǐ jiéhūn le ma?
Being a teacher really isn't easy, but you've been especially patient ever since our school days. By the way, are you married?
L
结了，孩子都三岁了。每天又要上班又要带孩子，忙得脚不沾地。
jié le, háizi dōu sān suì le. měitiān yòu yào shàngbān yòu yào dài háizi, máng de jiǎo bù zhān dì.
Yes, and my child is already three. Every day I have to work and take care of the kid—I'm so busy I can't catch my breath.
W
我太懂了，我家也有个两岁的女儿，晚上老哭，我们俩都睡不好。
wǒ tài dǒng le, wǒ jiā yě yǒu ge liǎng suì de nǚ'ér, wǎnshang lǎo kū, wǒmen liǎ dōu shuì bù hǎo.
I totally get it. I've got a two-year-old daughter too—she's always crying at night, and neither of us sleeps well.
L
养孩子是真累，不过一看到他们笑，就觉得一切都值了。你太太也上班吗？
yǎng háizi shì zhēn lèi, bùguò yí kàndào tāmen xiào, jiù juéde yíqiè dōu zhí le. nǐ tàitai yě shàngbān ma?
Raising kids is truly exhausting, but the moment you see them smile, you feel it's all worth it. Does your wife work too?
W
上，她在银行工作。我们俩轮流照顾孩子，还好有老人帮忙，不然真忙不过来。
shàng, tā zài yínháng gōngzuò. wǒmen liǎ lúnliú zhàogù háizi, hái hǎo yǒu lǎorén bāngmáng, bùrán zhēn máng bù guòlái.
She does—she works at a bank. The two of us take turns looking after the child. Luckily the grandparents help out, otherwise we really couldn't manage.
L
是啊，有家人搭把手就轻松多了。难得碰上你，咱们加个微信吧，改天带上家人一起聚聚。
shì a, yǒu jiārén dā bǎ shǒu jiù qīngsōng duō le. nándé pèngshàng nǐ, zánmen jiā ge wēixìn ba, gǎitiān dài shàng jiārén yìqǐ jùju.
Yeah, having family lend a hand makes it so much easier. It's rare to run into you—let's add each other on WeChat and get the families together sometime.
W
好主意！来，扫一下二维码。今天能碰上你，我真是太高兴了。
hǎo zhǔyi! lái, sǎo yíxià èrwéimǎ. jīntiān néng pèngshàng nǐ, wǒ zhēnshi tài gāoxìng le.
Great idea! Here, scan the QR code. I'm so glad I ran into you today.