Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Finally, Tong Wei sat at Yang Mingâs table with one other female classmate. It was almost 5:30 pm. Yang Ming looked around and all the classmates that he invited were here. As one of the organizers of the party, he stood up and said something enthusiastically. Although he did not study well as a student, he was a good speaker. With the experience of his job, he had greatly improved. He spoke a set of words with the character of a leader.
Wang Yao sighed. He did despise the affluent 2nd generation who built up the business with the help of his father, but he had to admit that there was something unique about them, which was their advantage.
Dishes of food were put on the table soon. They all looked so good and special since it was a big hotel. After that, Yang Ming raised the first cup of wine. The wine was good and most of them drank it all, but Wang Yao just drank water.
After that, everybody started to eat and they talked with each other. The atmosphere had been activated with just one cup of wine.
âWhy donât you drink wine?â Li Shugang next to Wang Yao asked him.
âI drove here and also I donât like wine,â He said with a smile. He had painful memories of wine and he knew the torture of when he was drunk. He improved his body quality by drinking ancient spring and exercising his Qi from Natural Classics, but he still hated drinking wine.
âWhy donât you drink a little bit in the gathering?â Another classmate, Wu Maosen, suggested.
âNo. I will have an upset stomach if I drink wine,â Wang Yao said.
âOh, forget it.â
After Yang Ming, He Hai also raised his cup. With the help of two cups of wine, they became relaxed and the conversation became more lively.
âHow about your company?â
âStill the same thing. The profits of the company are good, but I still only earn a basic salary.â
âI heard that you have a good business, Yonggang?â
âHey, nonsense!â
âYou are a manager!â
Yang Ming also talked with He Hai.
âDude, when will you have a further promotion?â
âIt would be impossible in these two years since I have to lay a foundation in the basis. Hey, Baojun will come back two days from now.â
âYeah? I heard that he was admitted by the taxing system of Lu Island.â
âYes. He passed the exam.â
A classmate gathering was just this, asking about the businesses of classmates and talking about their own business as well as leaving contact information. Those who could work with each other would have further talks and drank much more. Wang Yao talked with the nearby classmates. Twenty minutes later, they left their seats to talk to some other friends.
âWhat do you do for a living?â He Hai came to Wang Yao and patted his shoulder.
âIâm a farmer at home,â Wang Yao said with a smile.
âA farmer? It canât be!â
âYes. I contracted a hill.â
âYeah, so you are going to be a money bag then!â He joked. âHow about leaving your number? I donât think I have it!â
âOkay.â
They left the contacts to each other.
âHow about drinking a cup of wine?â He Hai poured out a cup.
âI cannot drink.â Wang Yao pointed at his abdomen.
âOkay then, maybe another time. I will come back at the end of the year!â He Hai said with a smile.
âOkay. Iâll keep in touch.â
The people in their class could be judged by the success they gained within the three years after graduation. Someone entered the system and got a secure job, like Yang Ming. Someone had an official position, such as He Hai. However, most of them entered enterprises. They really did it for housing, vehicles and money. The market and economy were going down, so enterprises would be faced with risks or even bankruptcy.
At the other table, Yang Ming raised his cup and talked with his classmates with a smile. He seemed to be very happy.
âTong Wei, how about the dishes tonight?â
He came to Tong Wei with a cup and asked. The room was very hot, so the beauty was as red as the clouds at sunrise and sunset. She was much more beautiful at this moment.
Such a beauty like her should marry him, so he could experience her beauty all the time, Wang Ming thought when he looked at Tong Wei. The thought didnât last long, however.
âThey are tasty,â Tong Wei said with a smile.
âSo, you should eat more. Come on, letâs have a drink. I wish you a wonderful life, andââ
âFind a good husband!â One classmate joked.
âYes!â The people at the table chimed in.
âWho would be a perfect match for our beautiful Tong Wei...how about me?!â Yang Ming said with a smile.
âOh! Yeah!â Others started to cheer.
Wang Yao raised his head and looked at Yang Ming and Tong Wei next to him. One was handsome and the other was beautifulâthey were a perfect match indeed, but...
Tong Wei smiled without agreement or rejection. Instead, she sipped at the wine in her hand.
The cheering gradually grew louder.
Having been in the room for a long time, there was a lot of smoke. The mixed smell of smoke, food, and wine was too much for Wang Yao so he stood up and went out to take a breather.
The air in the corridor was better.
âWang Yao.â He heard his name after he stood there for a while. He turned around and met an acquaintance.
âHey, itâs you!â The one who called his name was Tian Yuantu. âWhy are you here?â
âClassmate gathering, you?â Wang Yao pointed at the room.
âHaving dinner with friends,â Tian Yuantu responded.
When they were talking, a middle-aged man came out from a nearby room. He was short and slim with a suit.
âI was wondering why you were out for so long?â that man came to him and said with a smile.
âOh. There was a friend here so I was talking with him for a while,â Tian Yuantu said.
âWhoâs this?â the man asked.
âOh, I forgot to introduce to you. This is Wang Yao, my good friend.â Tian Yuantu pointed at Wang Yao. âThis is the local magistrate of Lianshan, Deputy Magistrate Dai.â
Deputy Magistrate?! Wang Yao was shocked. It was so surprising that the common middle-aged man was a rare figure with real power in Lianshan County.