Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Setting off again
They had a big drink in the evening. It was not really big, as each person on average had just a little over three bottles. The two drivers certainly didn't drink much in front of the boss. Feng Yiping and the others talked, but some of what they said they didn't understand, and some they found childish. They didn't have much in common, and after dinner, they left the private room early.
With no outsiders around, they felt more unrestrained in their conversation. 'We're college students now!' Wang Changning raised his glass.
'Yes,' Feng Yiping raised his glass and clinked it with him.
Xiao Zhijie also raised his glass, "We're college students now!'
When they said this, they thought of their parents" expectations, of all the days and nights of early mornings and late nights of hard work, of the exams that made them want to vomit, of the nervousness and trepidation before each exam, and the disappointment or joy after the exam.
Now, all this has finally come to fruition. Although they don't know, as the first year of the merger and expansion of university admissions, many people say that starting from this year, a university degree is worthless and not as valuable as it once was, at this time, for them, having a university student in the family is a source of pride for the whole family.
As long as their parents have a sense of pride, all that has happened before has meaning.
Yes, they studied. Apart from a few like Feng Yiping who had a clear goal, most teenagers had a whole host of reasons for studying. But honestly, how many of them understood the significance of studying?
For their own future, which is a very vague reason, is still relatively far away. To be more realistic, many of them still did it to make their parents proud.
Many people may not understand this argument, although later they will understand that ultimately, studying is for oneself. But in the past, it was indeed for their parents.
Feng Yiping knew very well that more than ten years later, in their town, there were still very few university students, despite the popularity of higher education. There were hardware reasons for this: their county still only had one high school, and the number of students admitted to the middle school entrance exam each year was still limited. Of course, the proportion of students from the one high school going to university was definitely higher than it is now.
However, at that time, no parents would let their children repeat the junior high school exam for the senior high school exam, let alone let their children repeat for one or two years after failing the college entrance exam, just to get into university.
Back then, universities were not as attractive to parents and many students as they are now. Tuition fees were rising, and long ago, they were no longer guaranteed a job after graduation, let alone a direct entry into a government department or organisation with the status of a cadre.
Back then, parents and children were more concerned about the construction bosses who had made their way up from the village, who had taken on a project, who had opened a shop outside, who had returned with a Chery for the New Year's Eve celebrations, who had returned with a Honda, and who had returned with an Audi. As for whether they had studied at university, did it really matter? Making money is the bottom line.
But now, they have been admitted to university, which is something that will make their parents happier than earning 100,000 yuan for the family. 100,000 yuan is a lot, but it doesn't guarantee a bright future for their children, but going to university is different.
Wang Changning and Xiao Zhijie felt the same way. At this time, they also felt that a bright future was beckoning to them, and a golden path was spreading out at their feet. The past few years of hard work had paid off. They were so excited that they felt like gulping down beer like water, cup after cup, and the girls tried in vain to stop them.
'Okay, this isn't at home, and if you get drunk, there's no way I can help you get back to the hotel. We have to get up early to catch the road tomorrow, so drink less!'
Xiao Zhijie and the others still chose to go back with the car. The train was very slow these days, and it was better to drive themselves than to take the train, and with two drivers taking turns to drive, they would be able to return to the provincial capital tonight.
There was not much left to say, as they had said most of what needed to be said last night. The economic situations of the three families were not what they had been before. Whether they took the train or the plane, it was very convenient to travel between the capital and the provincial capital, so there was no sense of melancholy about parting.
The three of them were chatting about the other person's embarrassing behaviour the previous day when they got drunk, while the three girls were feeling a little sentimental on the other side.
Huang Jingping and Zhang Qiuling, two close girlfriends, were holding hands and talking with red eyes. Xiao Zhijie looked over there and said, 'Women, they're all the same.'
'Dare you say that out loud?' Wang Changning asked with a smile.
Xiao Zhijie shrunk his neck in shame.
The girls finally parted, and Zhang Qiuling came over to Feng Yiping and said, 'You are the pride of our class, and I hope that you will continue to be so when you arrive in the capital.'
'I'll try my best, but in the future, you can tell me this in private, not in front of Zhijie, or he'll get jealous.'
Zhang Qiuling gave Xiao Zhijie a look, meaning, 'How dare he have a problem with that?
'How could I? This is what I want to say too. You must continue to be so awesome.'
'Let's encourage each other!'
'Be careful on the road!' Huang Jingping rolled down the window and shouted over to them, "Have a safe journey," as the four people packed into the back waved back. The two cars, one heading west and one north, drove off towards the start of their new lives.
Feng Yiping's journey was not an easy one. He had to pass through three provinces and cover nearly 1,400 kilometres before reaching the capital. Fortunately, there was still plenty of time, so he didn't need to rush. To be on the safe side, he drove for a maximum of eight hours a day. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Huang Jingping was as cheerful and lively as ever after learning that he had successfully achieved his first wish. In particular, after passing through northern Jiangsu, what they saw along the way was very different from before, and it felt very fresh. She chattered all the way, and Feng Yiping was never able to fall asleep while driving.
Halfway through, apart from eating and staying in hotels, they only went to Baotu Spring once, mainly influenced by the textbook. In this way, two days later, they arrived in the capital city, exhausted and dusty.
At Shibalidian Bridge, he met Jin Ling, who had come to pick him up. It was still the same Z3, and the capital city had not yet restricted the entry of vehicles from other places.
Jin Ling was still dressed fashionably and exquisitely, but her aura was stronger. It looked like she had been having a good time at work these days.
She saw a young and pretty girl sitting in the passenger seat. 'Your classmate? No, even if she is your classmate, she is so pretty, and now she is in Beijing with you, she must be more than just a classmate, she is your girlfriend, right? You are amazing! You can study, run a company, and fall in love at the same time, without missing a beat. You can really be called a new generation that spans the century.' She extended her hand to Huang Jingping, 'Hello, I am Jin Ling.'
'Hello, I'm Huang Jingping. I was a classmate of Yiping's.' Huang Jingping shook Jin Ling's hand. She had met everyone else, but this was the first time she had seen Jin Ling. "You're so pretty, Ms Jin!'
Flattery will get you everywhere, especially with pretty girls. "Come, let's take my car. That way, he'll follow us obediently.'
'Great!' Huang Jingping went over without even taking her bag, as if she still quite missed the feeling of sitting in a convertible and feeling the wind in her face.
'By the way, you haven't decided on a place to live yet, so why don't you stay at my place for a few days? I'm alone anyway, so it's no problem!' Jin Ling asked Feng Yiping.
'Sure,' staying at home is always more convenient than staying at a hotel, and it's also free. Besides, there's a lot of work for him to deal with in the first few days after arriving.