《来时的路》(中英文混合版） 4.2 亲爱的伙伴

4.2      亲爱的伙伴

程弈田的家，也就是她租住的40平米的一居室，在El Camino Real附近。这条街道据说是条“皇家”出行之道，“Real”在这里跟“Real Madrid - 皇家马德里足球队”的“Real”是一样的 意思”。在有101公路以前，可以一直通到洛杉矶。现在应该也可以，就是真正用这条道开车去洛杉矶的人肯定不会多。El Camino Real在Santa Clara市内的这一段相当繁华。不是大城市那种高楼林立的景象，倒是各种饭馆，超市和服务设施遍布，生活上是真方便。周末，尤其是礼拜五晚上，要不是早些到或者预先订座，好点的餐馆就得等上一两个小时才能坐下。

“Hey, how have you been Yitian?”站在Jung su Jung门外的Bernard给刚走出小白车的程弈田一个热情的拥抱。

“I am good! So good to see you, Bernard. How is every one?”两个月没见了，程弈田很是怀念大家。只有在公司里说话有些婉转，在朋友面前，她便是最耿直的那个 - 直接忽略了问Bernard是否好，一上来就是她的“大家”。

“Yitian, every one is good. Roy says hello.” Bernard越发地绅士，跟程弈田一起走回Jung su Jung，拉开门请弈田先进去。

“啊！”程弈田被一个人从背后抱住举起，原地打了一圈。弈田有点惊慌。望眼四周，都是来吃韩国烧烤的客人，一丝惊讶之余都朝着被抱起打转的程弈田友好地微笑。等等，刚才Bernard说Roy跟自己问好 - 是他！

“放我下来，大家看着呢！”尹伯文放下弈田，紧紧地抱了一下转过面来的弈田，亲了亲她的脸颊。不知道什么时候开始，尹伯文在普通朋友般亲完弈田脸颊之后还会轻轻地亲一下她的额头，“你瘦了，弈田。”

“你的中文进步了！”程弈田捶了一下尹伯文的胸膛，“You did not tell me that you were coming too!”

“你嘟嘴啦！”尹伯文指着程弈田的嘴，往后退了一步，开怀大笑。

程弈田收起撅起的嘴，跟尹伯文一样夸张地边笑边说：“wow，这个都会说了。上了两个月的中文班，长进还真不小！”

“Don't you like the surprise? I have missed you.”是呢，每天程弈田下班回来，第一件事就是打开电脑跟尹伯文聊聊当天发生的事情。尹伯文是个大忙人，有时候一个消息过去，要等好一会儿才会有回音。但是每隔几天，尹伯文总会抽出一两个小时，什么也不做，就专门跟她视频聊天。无非是今天在公司里学到了些什么，哪些供应商质量管理那边的工程师有耐心，又有哪些负责开订单的采购员比较保守。程弈田也问他movaback的事情，尹伯文会简单的说个大概，大部分时间尹伯文会花心思教弈田如何去争取有更多的学习机会来增加接触面，又如何去分析学到的东西以取精华去糟粕。每次，尹伯文都会强调如何让自己可以有发散性的思维，在获得那种思维能力之外，最重要的还是如何让公司的管理人员看到自己的这种能力。说实话，程弈田在跟尹伯文说话的时候，享受的是这个交流的过程，至于他一再强调的东西，她并没有太在意。说来好笑，程弈田还有点害怕当面见尹伯文呢，怕人家考自己，丢了丑。

“He just got some sponsorship from Prof. Little last night. This poor guy, he can't afford the admission fee to the largest orthopedic conference in San Francisco.”可能是跟顾客的Presentation做多了，Bernard喜欢一下子把结论和原因在最短的时间内同时给出。“And, he is going to stay in the same room with me tonight, and tomorrow!”

“Hey, Bernard, aren't you flattered to be sleeping with your CEO?”平常视频聊天的时候，尹伯文没有面对面说话时这么逗 -总是连说带做的，他说着还伸手去摸了摸Bernard那双硕大长满了金黄毛发的手。咦～鸡皮疙瘩掉满地了，Bernard也连忙收起手来，“Please, in separate bed! Please clarify it with the lady in front of us!”哈哈，程弈田也跟着尹伯文大笑起来。

“So, how are things with you Yitian? Happy?”Bernard问弈田，“I heard from Jean Jacque that you are in a rotating program? That must be fun! I am sorry that I haven't seen you earlier.”Bernard最近这一个月都在Santa Clara，但是工作太忙，又都是跟其他咨询员一起组队工作，一直到今天他才有空跟程弈田吃饭叙旧。

“Bernard, I am so glad to see you, no worries at all.”程弈田转过去，看着尹伯文说，“Of course, you too. I am so happy that it just happens we can meet together today. Everything is fine. Jean Jacque knows. Well, funny thing is that a colleague of mine wanted to hook me up with some guy he knows.”去Jung su Jung的路上，程弈田就在想是不是要告诉Bernard这个事情。她猜，跟Bernard说了，也许可以从他那里了解一下尹伯文对自己是不是真的有心思。毕竟是个女生，当面问了尹伯文并不好意思。如今，两人都在，说了更好，有个见证，也好当面直接跟尹伯文弄清楚。

"Cool, go meet him and let me know if that works out?"尹伯文好像很高兴！这是什么意思？他对程弈田一定是有意的，明眼人都能看出来，不然他的铁哥们Roy不可能一再撮合。他如今这么一拍手叫好，连Bernard这个旁人都看不清楚了。

“Yitian, are you going to meet that guy?”Bernard有点担心。

“Well, I don't know. It depends.”弈田不置可否，她原先是当欧阳师兄说了句笑话，现在她也不知道该如何是好。妈妈打电话的时候已经明确任务了：上半年，你找了个工作；下半年，你得找个男朋友！

“Depends on what?”尹伯文比程弈田都着急，“The more people you see, the more you know what you really need and want in your significant others!”要是妈妈听得懂这个话，她定是要花两个小时教育这个思想不正的年轻人。

“You know what, I think you are right, I am going to see him!”程弈田将了尹伯文一军。

Bernard听程弈田这样回答，更是着急，不能让两个明明心里有对方的人就这样各奔东西啊！“Jean Jacque, you know what you are talking about? You are encouraging her to see some other man?”

“Why not?"不要跟尹伯文辩论，你不会赢，即便是BCG的高级咨询师也不会赢。“She only experienced Tao, sorry, Yitian, I have to quote Tao here. Well, I know you are over him now, so, I felt ok to quote him. Ok, it's time to explore yourself and really determine who you like. You know what? This is the conclusion I drew when Tu left. I am so happy that she left, and now, I got tons of opportunity to know other girls!”好吧，要是妈妈知道程弈田在跟有这种想法的年轻人一起吃饭，再帅，再有钱，都会马上拉弈田回家。更何况，这个男生，在妈妈看来，除了有张还算俊朗的脸庞外，是又穷又酸。

“So, you have been seeing girls? No wonder MSN is not really an instant messenger between you and me.”说不出来心里是什么味道，是酸楚，是生气，还是佩服？程弈田很想反驳尹伯文的话，但是如果按照他的逻辑想下去，他的话不是没有道理。

“Nah, I am too busy. Even better, I think I met some one interesting.”

尹伯文指的是自己吗？是自己的话，为什么不干脆说出来？程弈田不想猜了。累了，猜了7年奚涛，不想落到一生都要不停揣测别人的境地。两个人的坦诚相待不是更容易？谁也不是谁心里的蛔虫！弈田仔细地看着尹伯文，问：“是我吗？是程弈田吗？”

“Jean Jacque, don't be silly!”Bernard听不懂程弈田的话，但凭他对弈田的了解，他知道弈田已经打开了天窗。Bernard的表情很严肃，就像跟他的顾客谈一个关系顾客生意生死攸关的问题，继续警醒着这个他非常在乎的顾客：“Be honest, don't hide. Be open, say what you think!”

“Yitian, 是。我admit.”真的！感觉这东西，尤其是女人的感觉，很准。她知道尹伯文在乎她。自己爱她吗？有过奚涛的教训了，不能再糊涂了！是喜欢，谈爱，说不上。至少，对尹伯文，程弈田还没有对奚涛的那种掏心掏肺。可是，如果不是爱，为什么自己要着急着知道？尹伯文没有错，连弈田自己都没有确切地清楚自己的感情，逼他承认有好处吗？再说了，尹伯文说的只是他觉得弈田有趣，说爱她了吗？没！

“Wow, I am flattered. 尹伯文,you are right, I need to meet more people!”这下子轮到Bernard想帮程弈田捋顺她的思维了：“Wait a moment, Yitian, I can see the smile on your face when you see him is so different than when you meet Roy or myself! You can't hide that! Don't lie to yourself!”

“Bernard, you know what, I think I am getting molded by your CEO. The more I talk to him, the more I agree with him, on a lot, or, most of the things. He is right on this one, again, as usual. I need to see more guys!”程弈田说服了自己。

“I pushed you to the West, I encouraged you to stand even firmly on your feet. It’s all because I think highly of you. You deserve a brand new chance to make a wise decision. Don’t rush into things. Don’t be a traditional Chinese – they are just eager to check the to do list: go to good school at 18, go to grad school at 22, get a job at 24, find a man at 25, get married at 26, and have kid at 27. All done, then, next.”尹伯文右手装作拿笔状，在左手上边说边打勾，然后对程弈田确定地点点头。“And you, 程弈田, you are unique enough to be different!”尹伯文放下双手，“And, you got my gift? Well, our gift?”当然，gmail，按程弈田的经验，还没有出过差错。刚看到那张没有日期的圣荷西去波士顿直飞机票的时候，弈田心里满满的，翻开日历，是感恩节回去好呢，还是圣诞节？现在，好像她更了解尹伯文的用心: 机票一直在，弈田可以随时回去找他，但是，他希望是弈田真正成熟了的那一天。

“Ok, enough talking about us. So, Bernard, anything new with Movaback?”理清了心绪，程弈田浑身轻松起来，说：“Your CEO is so secretive about his baby company, and he doesn’t like to share too much about it with me. And, you Bernard, my dear boss, how are things? How is the follow up of that 49er football star? Is he willing to try your product?”

“Thank you Yitian for reminding me of that, Jean Jacque, you are going to see him tomorrow, right?” 说起这个美式足球运动员的事情，两个礼拜前尹伯文跟弈田提起过一句。他当时非常兴奋，还使劲表扬了Mike一下，说他是运动员的楷模，接受先进事物的先锋。总之，在公司成立差不多两年的时候，终于可以有人愿意接受人体实验。

“Yes, thank you Benard for connecting me with him. It’s an extremely nice opportunity. But, no, I don’t think we are going to have him as our first customer yet, we need to pick and choose our customer.”尹伯文怕Bernard不理解，继续说，“Bernard, I reviewed all his medical history and decide that he can’t be an ideal patient. He received two major back surgeries already, his L2 and L3 and L5 and S1 are totally fused. It’s not a very good condition to receive disc implantation between L3 and L4. You know that, his body already lost bit flexibility, and the scar tissue around his lower back is not going to do any good to this condition. Plus his age and weight. I have to pass it this time.”为了证明他的判断的正确性，他也跟Roy讨论过，“I called up Roy yesterday and he pretty much agreed with me. Yes, I will visit him tomorrow, thank him and deliver the news to him. He will be a good candidate for our second or third clinical trial runs.”

这么多考虑！好不容易找到一个开明人士，还不能用！好替他们难过。难怪尹伯文说他做的事情风险很大，也难怪他并不想让程弈田过多参与和担心。程弈田目前要做的，在尹伯文看来，是铺好路，成为一个她想成为的运营公司方面的能手。他，其实也有私心，他希望有朝一日，弈田可以去他的公司帮他，成为他可以依靠的左膀右臂。

“But, guys, don't worry, I am going to work on Total's CEO. It's coming soon, I am flying over to France in 2 months' time, and remember? I am going to be landing as an angel beside him!”还真是个CEO，经过他这么一撩拨，刚刚弱下去的火苗又活了起来，生机盎然，越窜越高。“I got my connection through Polytechnic Alumni club. Maximum, the guy who was 2 years senior is now on his advisory team. He confirmed that guy never went through any surgery, and he is desperately looking for a solution. I am going to get him try our product, and he is going to invest big time in Movaback!”

“I really like the angel story!”程弈田再次叫好，“Tape it and show it on Movaback facebook!”

“Sure, my sister is going to be there with me！”太好了，成功就在拐角处！这，大概就是尹伯文很多次提及的煽动力。没有发生的事情，经过他的一番描述好像正在发生，而且你身临其境。

“Jean Jacque，”Bernard也跟程弈田 一样热血沸腾，“It just sounds so promising! By the way, why don't you want to establish your company in France instead?”这也是程弈田一直困惑的问题。这顿饭吃得值，很多问题都快有答案了。

“I am glad you asked the question. You know what, I've been waiting for this question from you for a whole year!”尹伯文自然有他的答案，“It's a technology initially developed in this country, to be more specific, Boston University. I can't just take it anywhere at will without paying for a huge loyalty fee. If I did, I would be violating the law.”

这些，是程弈田了解的，还有什么更基本的原因吗？“True, what else? Why don't you do something like Tao is longing to do, like, going to the mother country to develop something new, and that will benefit your home country a lot?”说起奚涛来，没有了压力，没有了负担，平静得就像谈论一个熟识的朋友。此时的程弈田，只想知道尹伯文的想法。

“Tao has Nobel thoughts. ”尹伯文停下，吸了口水，竖起拇指，说：“A good guy. Well, may not be for you, Yitian, but I do admire him.”程弈田对此不作评论。尹伯文接着说：“ I am not as gentle as him, I guess. Or, I'd say, I am more practical. Or, I am just very lucky, since I started with the project that I had passion for, and for Tao, I knew he was passionate for Alzheimer.”

对面的程弈田继续听着，点着头，“And?”

“And, my home country is on vacation the whole summer, and goes to the Alps from December to January. Things just happen too slowly over there. I don't feel I get the support I need from people there. On the opposite, however, people in the United States are usually workaholic. They tend to move fast, and faster! Regulations are there, yes, sometimes too complicated for me, but they are clearly out there. All I need to do is to turn myself into a lawyer as well, and bite each every paragraph of those super dry documents. See, you can see a through path, and you do see the light at the end of the long, necessarily dark tunnel!”长篇大论之后，尹伯文问弈田:“Do I make sense?”

“Yes, it does. What else？”真是快要打破沙锅了。

“What else? Yitian, you are getting so GREEDY!”尹伯文撇了撇嘴，仍旧灿烂地笑。

“Sure, I am. Don't I get trained by you, Jean Jacque?”久违的耍赖。

“You know what; I did ask myself the same question as you did just now. When I first knew about Ying Yu Tang, I was shocked, absolutely amazing! You must have experienced the same feeling. You can relate to it much more than I do, right? That very house came from your mother town! See, how well this culture embraces the world. It's a big mixing pot, and yet, you are still able to maintain your own identity. Believe it or now, I came to this conclusion - when it's in the U.S., you think its international; and when it's in France, you think it's only Europe. Do you see the difference?”

是“美漂”吗？程弈田来硅谷之后，她给自己取了个名字，“美漂。”她给媛媛的解释是：在合肥，你看到的是安徽；只有在北京，你才会觉得放眼中国。有点意思，尹伯文的想法居然跟自己的如此相像。

“Also, the actual business practice procedures, beyond the legislation part, are much simpler in the US than in the Europe. Investors are much more willing to invest in American startups, both on east and west coast in particular.”他端起大麦茶，大吸了一口，看来真是口干舌燥了：“I am very confident that I will be able to persuade one of the most powerful CEO's in the world, but, the following FDA procedures I need to go through are really pain in the butt!”哈哈，看来他屁股疼的不轻，眼睛都被脸部肌肉挤没了。

“Hmm, the steak is really well marinated, not bad, Yitian, your cooking skills are really not bad!”尹伯文永远是那样正面，不过，这个赞点得着实有些夸张 - 这牛肉都是人家调好了味，腌制了一天一夜的，程弈田做的就是把它铺在烤炉上，肉变色了就吃，哪有什么烹调手艺的事？

“Of course, the controlling of cooking time and temperature is a piece of art!”心知肚明不是自己功劳的事，也可以揽成是自己的事，而且还能说出道道来。程弈田，看来已经得了尹伯文的真传！

在Jung su jung门外，Bernard 不忘西方人的礼节，继续赞美晚餐，“Yitian, it's really juicy, it's one of the best Korean BBQ place I have been to, thank you for the nice pick!很好！”咦？Bernard，看起来古板，学起新东西，一点也不含糊那，这两个字发音一点不比一半中国血统的尹伯文差！

“I-M-P-R-E-S-S-I-V-E，Bernard！That just sounded very nice!”三个人都在，永远都是尹伯文和Roy互相打打闹闹，Bernard只有在必要的时候帮帮其中的弱势一方。现在被尹伯文这么一说，有点不好意思，抗议起来，“Jean Jacque, you know what, one day, I am going to reach your sister’s level, and you are F-A-R left behind!”

“I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E! I am advancing every day too, poor Bernard!”说着点起脚来，尹伯文摸了一下Bernard的光头，“See, just like this, I can reach higher and higher, and even to the sky!”

晚安，亲爱的伙伴们。