Chapter 73 – Drinking
Gao He is a typical Shandong guy. His height is 1.95 meters. He is the main center of the Computing Department Basketball Team. He is straightforward and generous, and has a good temper and is easy to get along with. He looks a little mature, it can be said that he looks like an uncle. Gao He sleeps in the lower bunk of Lu Chen.
On the way to the dormitory building, Lu Chen asked, “What about sister-in-law? Did she come back?”
Gao He’s girlfriend, Wang Xiaoling, is from the same Chinese Department. She is small and delicate. They are often called “Beauty and Beast” when they are together. They’ve been together since they were freshman.
Gao He, however, looked gloomy and said, “We split up.”
Lu Chen was shocked. “What happened?”
One of the reasons Wang Xiaoling and Gao He became a couple is that Lu Chen has played as a half matchmaker between the two. He knows that the relationship between the two has always been good.
Although in college, graduation season is the breakup season, but Lu Chen thought they can continue.
Gao He said with a bitter smile, “I got a job in Jinan. Wang Xiaoling wants to stay in Hangzhou. You know the house price in Hangzhou now, the money to buy a bathroom is enough for me to buy an apartment at home. My parents also need me to take care of them.”
Lu Chen was silent.
Hangzhou’s rapid economic development in the past decade has not only brought prosperity, but also brought high prices. Especially housing prices, it continued to rise, which have always been in the forefront of the country.
An average wage earner wanting to buy an apartment here, basically belong to extravagant hope.
Gao He not only belong to an ordinary family, but he is also the only son in the family. After all, love in the university cannot match reality.
He could only pat Gao He on the shoulder as a sign of comfort.
On the contrary, Gao He was very open-minded and said, “I’m fine. I’ve been prepared for it a long time ago. Old Third, how are you doing in the Capital? Did you find a new girlfriend?”
Lu Chen smiled and said, “Not bad. I was lucky enough to make some money. As for a girlfriend, I don’t want to find one for the time being.”
Gao He knew the situation of Lu Chen’s family and was happy for him, “Are you planning to develop in the Capital for a long time?”
Lu Chen nodded, “Yes, come to the capital to see me when you have time. Jinan City is very close to the Capital.”
Gao He smiled and said, “When you become a local tyrant, then I will certainly lead the team to play against local tyrants!”
Lu Chen, “Hahaha.”
As they chatted, they arrived to the university dormitory.
The door of room 405 was half close. Gao He guessed, “It must be that Old K and Old Four came back!”
He pushed open the door and yelled, “Police inspections!”
There are already two people in the dormitory, one is lying in bed playing mobile phones, the other sitting at the table playing computer games.
The two men were startled by the wild shout of Gao He.
Lu Chen followed in: “This is a robbery, please hand over your bank card, transportation card, meal card……”
The one playing with the mobile phone is Old K, whose real name is Wan Hongzhi, from the Northern Hunan. He ranked second among the four roommates, but he could not accept the name “Old Two” at all, so he changed it to Old K – which means the second highest in a playing card. (TN: King).
The one playing computer games is a native of Hangzhou. He is thin and small. After being frightened, he wanted to cry but he have no tears, “Boss! The BOSS is furious, it became furious!” (TN: The first “boss” was referring to Gao He, the second one is a BOSS in game.)
He was starting a group fight against a BOSS. He just missed and failed to control the rhythm. He instantly put the BOSS into a state of rage.
Then his group was defeated.
Gao He, Lu Chen and Wan Hongzhi: “Hahaha.”
Zhou Rui was scolded by his teammate. He could only vent his resentment to his three friends, “Just you wait!”
Lu Chen was just about to speak when his cell phone in his pocket rang.
He answered it and listened. It was Cao Xiuzhu who called, “Lu Chen, have you returned to school yet?”
Lu Chen smiled and said, “just got back. What instructions does the class leader have?”
Cao Xiuzhu said, “Just come back. Are you ready for your program? Tomorrow evening’s graduation party has been arranged, don’t drop the chain1 for me!”
Lu Chen said, “You can rest assured that I’m going to handle it properly. Nobody can pit our class leader.”
Cao Xiuzhu smiled and said, “Then that’s good.”2
After he hung up the phone, Gao He asked curiously, “Why is the class leader looking for you?”
Lu Chen explained, “He wants me to perform a show on stage at tomorrow evening’s graduation party.”
Wan Hongzhi said with emotion, “It used to be a New Year’s party, but now it’s a graduation party. How time flies!”
The years are ruthless, the days in the ivory tower always pass quickly, a lot of beauty can only be left in the memory.
Room 405 fell into a brief silence.
Gao He asked, “Old K, Old Four, what are your plans after graduation?”
Wan Hongzhi said, “I know a brother who runs an IT company in Shanghai. He asked me to go over there to help. I want to learn more there. Then, if I have the chance, I may emigrate.”
Among the four, Wan Hongzhi has the best academic performance. It has always been his ideal to emigrate abroad through skilled immigration.
As for Zhou Rui: “After graduation, I will go to the Game Department of Feiteng Company. I have already signed a contract with them.”
Although he wanted to speak calmly, he could not hide the triumphant flavor.
Gao He hit him, “Damn, Feiteng Company!”
Lu Chen smiled and said, “Congratulations!”
Feiteng Company is one of the top three Internet companies in China. The famous Yibao and Yifubao are under its control. Its game departments are very strong. There have created many popular online games.
The key is that Feiteng Company is a local company in Hangzhou, and the treatment has always been one of the best in the industry.
Zhou Rui is from Hangzhou. it is certainly worth celebrating that he was able to work in Feiteng Company.
Wan Hongzhi called out, “You must treat us at night!”
Zhou Rui hummed, “I have no problem treating you guys, but the first one who is unable to drink anymore later will be the one to pay!”
Gao He patted his chest, “We will not return until all of us are drunk!”
Lu Chen stood up and said, “Let’s go to the old pub!”
The old pub is a long-established pub. It is separated from Jianghai University by a public square. It is said that it has a history of over a hundred years and is known for its cheap and good dishes. Many students like to go there to have sumptuous meal.
Due to the excellent business of the old pub, if anyone who goes there late will definitely not get a place. The four people in dormitory 405 rushed there before meal time and finally occupied a table by the window.
They ordered a few specialties, and then beer. A box of two yuan a bottle of Jiangchao beer was placed on the ground.
They didn’t need any glasses. When they open the lid, they directly drink from the bottle.
After drinking two bottles, they began to slow down. They chatted about life and then chatted about their youth days.
Lu Chen drank bottles after bottles. He drank more and talked less. Most of the time, he listened to his roommates talking about the girls in the next class, about the new counselors and teachers, about the girls who they couldn’t win over, and about expectations for the future.
The alcohol drowns his body a little bit, but it makes his mood more relaxed than ever before.
Unfortunately, there is no banquet that never ends.
After graduation, everyone will go their separate ways, and then their next reunion may be at someone’s wedding.
At that time, they will recall this period of time, but it will no longer have the same mood.
There were 12 bottles of beer in a box. The four people in dormitory 405 finished four cases. They drunk from 5:00 to 8:00. Zhou Rui and Wan Hongzhi went to the bathroom to vomit twice. Unable to drink anymore, Zhou Rui struggled to pay the bill, and was helped out of the old pub by Gao He.
Lu Chen and Wan Hongzhi can barely walk on their own, and they can’t even walk straight anymore.
So, they supported each other and the four people walked into the public square.
Although it’s not a weekend, the public square is still very lively. There are uncles and aunties dancing in the square. There are children playing roller skates, and couples loitering in pairs.
In the wind of summer night, who is singing sad love songs?
The pedestrians in twos and threes are gather around a street singer, listening to him play and old song from the past.
“Damn!”
Gao He scolded, “The singing is too bad, it is not as good as Old Three. Old Three, you go and show him what’s good!”
He was the best drinker. From the four cases of beer, he has finished one and a half case. Yet, he was only a little drunk.
Zhou Rui shouted, “Sing, you must sing! Sing two more bottles!”
Lu Chen, who’s a little tipsy, said, “Okay, I’ll sing!”
He cast off Wan Hongzhi and strode forward and asked the street singer, “Friend, can I borrow your guitar and venue? I’ll sing a song to my brothers!”
The street singer readily handed the guitar to Lu Chen: “No problem.”
“Thanks!”
Lu Chen took over the guitar and skillfully plucked the strings to test the sound.
The guitar is a very ordinary guitar. It is pitched accurately, with a self-powered speaker connected to a microphone.
A very standard street singing equipment.
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TN: Drop chain – One won’t be able to perform well during the key moments or during important moments.1
TN: I remove a line here. The complete line is “You went to the Capital to study poverty, then that’s good.” I don’t know what “study poverty” means and I didn’t get any result from my research. Here’s the raw: 你去京城学贫了. If anyone knows, please write it in the comment section. Thanks.2