Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Planning the graduation trip
In the spring of March, there was another piece of news in Meijiawan. Mei Jianzhong was going to follow his daughter and son-in-law to the capital. They didn't have anything to do on this trip, and they were going there just for fun.
Traveling is far from most people in their area and at this time of year, especially not for Mei Jianzhong's peers. Of course, they don't really care.
However, while they might not mind going to other places, the capital city is something they have heard about in songs, seen in movies, and heard about from various people with a sense of longing and yearning.
In terms of their simple emotions, the capital city is often abstract, so abstract that it is just a word that carries their many dreams and hopes. Sometimes, the capital city is very concrete, so concrete that it is the Tiananmen Gate glowing with radiance.
So when Mei Jianzhong came and went these past two days, his old friends would often stop him, load up on a few bags of cigarettes, sit together, look at the children playing nearby, and chat for a while. 'Jianzhong, among your old friends, you are the one who is blessed. We just never thought that Qiuping and Zhenchang would become so successful.'
'Yes, I remember, a few years ago, it was the second year after they built the house, they were so poor that they had to borrow cooking oil from Qiu Ping's family.'
'What's the point of talking about it? Those who suffer through hardship become outstanding people. Aren't they doing well now?' One of them, older than Mei Jianzhong and with grey hair, said something, then his eyes shone as he said, 'Capital City, remember to take a good look for me. Alas! Unfortunately, the old secretary Deng is no longer with us. Back then, when he and Marshal Liu led the troops through the mountains, I even showed him the way, and he shook my hand himself!'
Feng Yiping had heard this from him more than once.
As soon as he said this, there was a lot of jeering. 'You're bragging again. Back then, you could barely see the guards standing next to him.'
'What am I bragging about?' The old man tapped his tobacco pouch on the sole of his shoe, 'How could I mistake him?'
Hearing about the trip to the capital, these elderly people were not the only ones who were excited. Feng Zhenchang's eldest brother, who had been a soldier in the northwest for several years, was also very sorry that he had never been to the capital. This time, he volunteered to go with them and take care of Mei Jianzhong along the way. This happened to be just right, because Feng Yiping had originally said that he wanted to send a young person to help them take care of things on the road.
After Qingming, the weather is at its best for the year. Feng Zhenchang and Mei Qiuping, along with Mei Jianzhong and Mei Guosheng, first go to the provincial capital, staying overnight, and then take the train to the capital. As for the return journey, Feng Yiping suggests they fly.
After school on Saturday, Feng Yiping and Huang Jingping don't even eat lunch, but take a few loaves of bread with them and head off again for the county seat. This time, it's their last gathering before the college entrance exams.
Huang Jingping tore the bread into small pieces and passed it to him, 'Do you remember last year? It was almost the same time, wasn't it?'
'Yes,' Feng Yiping said with a smile.
Of course he remembered, it was also this time last year that he went to the county seat and then, because of Huang Jingping, got into a conflict with the nephew of the head of the health bureau. It was also that time that he first did not resist Huang Jingping's intentions. free𝑤ebnovel.com
'Eat more,' Huang Jingping was even happier to hear his affirmative answer.
'Forget it, save it for the good food.'
Xiao Zhijie and the others had really prepared a nice meal for them. As soon as Huang Jingping entered the door, she unexpectedly saw Zhang Qiuling chatting with Yu Lian. 'Why are you here too?'
'Why shouldn't I?' Zhang Qiuling took her hand, 'Let me see, let me see if Boss Feng, the famous Feng, has bullied you.' Needless to say, she must have watched Feng Yiping's interview too.
The two best friends hadn't seen each other for a long time, and they were so happy that they held hands. Huang Jingping said happily, 'I really didn't expect you to come.'
Zhang Qiuling glanced over at Xiao Zhijie, who was also beaming with joy, and said, "An old colleague of my father's is celebrating his birthday today, and he took my mother along. They won't be back until tomorrow.'
'Come over, let's eat and chat," Wang Changning said, carrying a stack of bowls out of the kitchen. Yu Lian held a pair of chopsticks and greeted the two of them.
The home was still as simple as when Feng Yiping first arrived at the beginning of the year. There were even six chairs, each of four different sizes. However, the food was plentiful: beer-braised duck, stewed chicken with chestnuts, fish head in chilli sauce, stir-fried pork, eggplant with sauce, sour and spicy cabbage, and a large plate of stir-fried snails. The small table was full.
'To think that after a year, we are gathered together again. Let's drink to this reunion!' Among the group, Wang Changning, who was a year older than Feng Yiping and a month older than the other five, proposed:
'Yes, cheers!'
'Try this,' Zhang Qiuling put down her glass and then picked up a piece of beer duck and offered it to Huang Jingping, "I cooked it,'
'Wait," Feng Yiping also picked up a piece and offered it to Xiao Zhijie, "Since you cooked it, it should be your friend Xiao who eats it first." To be honest, he was a little skeptical about Zhang Qiuling's level.
'You don't believe in my cooking, do you?' Zhang Qiuling picked up a piece herself and said, "I've been cooking alone for most of the year, and this is my specialty.'
'Look at you, a girl, why are you so complicated?" Zhang Qiuling had seen through him, and Feng Yiping was not embarrassed at all.
'Then I'll eat this first,' Wang Changning picked up a piece of snail, sucked it hard, and said, 'Delicious!' Yu Lian, who was sitting next to him, gave him a little tap. There was no doubt about it, Yu Lian had definitely cooked it.
Feng Yiping also picked one up. It was really good, very tasty. 'This one's good, let's save this for after the wine.' The snails were very fresh, with the aroma of ginger and garlic, very delicious, but eating them with chopsticks was never quite right. He scooped up a small bowl and directly pinched them up with his hands, this way of eating was really good.
'How have the past two months been? What did your teachers say about you two?' The three girls chattered away, and so did they. They hadn't seen each other for a few months, and they had a lot to talk about.
'We should have no problem getting into a third-tier university. If we work hard, we can get into a second-tier university. If we do really well, we might even get into a first-tier university,' Wang Changning concluded.
'Then let's work hard, and we'll guarantee a place in a second-tier university, and aim for a first-tier one!'
'Sigh,' Xiao Zhijie sighed as he looked at Zhang Qiuling, who was smiling across the table, 'Come on, let's drink!'
If they didn't get into a first-tier university, then things between him and Zhang Qiuling would be much more difficult. However, they had really tried their best. For example, Xiao Zhijie, although Feng Yiping still called him Xiao Pannan, had lost a lot of weight compared to the New Year.
Feng Yiping is more optimistic than him. This is not a difficult matter. The key is still in Zhang Qiuling. As long as she is determined, Vice President Zhang cannot stop her. However, there is no rush to say this now. There are still more than two months left. It is good to give him a little more pressure and motivation.
'Do you still want to go to the capital?'
'Yes, I want to try hard.'
'So we're still not together?'
'It's convenient to be in a big city. It takes about the same amount of time to fly from the capital to the provincial capital as it does to drive from the city to the county.' Both of them want to go to the same university in the provincial capital.
'Yes, then we can also stop by the capital.'
'I propose that after the college entrance examination in July and after Qiu Ling's summer vacation, we treat ourselves and go on a trip together. We'll start in the province, head south to the beach, and then turn north to the capital.
'I agree!' Xiao Zhijie was the first to clap his hands on the table and raise his glass, "We've been working so hard these past few months, and no matter what the result is, we should reward ourselves once.'
Zhang Qiuling looked at Xiao Zhijie, who had lost weight, and raised her glass as well, "Yes!'
Wang Changning smiled and looked at Yu Lian across the table, and then raised his glass as well. Yu Lian hesitated for a moment, but then raised her glass as well.
'Then it's settled! In the time to come, we should all find time to look at a map and mark the places we want to go, and then we can plan the route together.'
Feng Yiping knew very well that, according to the current development, after going to university, he would only be busier, and by then, he would have even less time for a spur-of-the-moment trip. This summer before university might be the last time he could have a long, carefree vacation.
The place they rented was too small for three people, so they simply booked two standard rooms at a hotel for the night. Feng Yiping and the other two, after many years apart, had a sleepover in the same room again. On the other side, Yu Lian looked at Huang Jingping and Zhang Qiuling, who were enthusiastically marking the map, and could not hide the bitterness on her face.
Huang Jingping looked up occasionally and was taken aback by her expression. 'What's wrong?'