Chapter 2 of 10
Chapter 2
20 min read4,895 words
Indulging in the luxury of a taxi ride, Wang Hao now found that the starting fare of 8 yuan for a taxi was something he could hardly afford. There was a bit of traffic on the Second Ring Road, with a dense cluster of vehicles blocking the road solidly. At the traffic lights, a group of people on motorcycles and electric scooters would pass by with a carefree air. He didn't know when it started, but almost every household seemed to have a car.
During the ride, he didn't have time to think about other issues; instead, he focused his gaze on the constantly jumping meter, watching the numbers rise one by one, his heart tightening with each increment. Fortunately, the apartment he rented wasn't too far from the company, or he would have been in agony. He took out 20 yuan to pay the fare and, carrying his cardboard box, dashed back to his small apartment in the drizzle.
The one-bedroom, one-living-room apartment looked a bit messy, typical of a bachelor's place. The rent of over a thousand yuan a month was considered cheap in the Second Ring Road area. He casually placed the box on the coffee table, shook his hair, and walked to the window to pull the curtains open, making the room a bit brighter.
Sitting silently on the simple sofa, he looked up at the ceiling, hugging a cushion to his chest, his mind replaying his job. He had been working for three years since graduation and had no regrets about his decision. Some things just couldn't be done, even if it meant losing his job. With his education and abilities, could he not find another job?
Speaking of which, his classmates were all doing quite well. One of them had even successfully passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, and just hanging that certificate in an accounting firm was enough to earn a good living.
There's always a way out, Wang Hao sighed, touching his flat stomach and muttering to himself, "I'll take a few days off, just to relax. It's a good opportunity to go out and see the world, and I'm not short of money for now."
After working for three years, he had saved a bit of money. He could afford to be unemployed for a month or two, as he didn't have a mortgage or car loan to worry about. The feeling of freedom was truly wonderful!
Life is about taking spontaneous trips, a phrase often repeated, but it fit Wang Hao perfectly. After some thought, he stood up, turned on the light, and took a can of beer from the fridge, gulping it down.
As he was drinking, the phone suddenly rang, playing a cheerful tune, "Kikujiro's Summer."
"Hello? Lao Liu?"
A deep male voice came from the other end: "Brother Hao, didn't we agree to meet for drinks today? We're all waiting for you. Where have you been? Are you with your wife?"
Liu Qiao, Wang Hao's college classmate and roommate, had a cheerful personality that made him widely popular. He was now a mid-level manager at the Construction Bank, one of the better-off among his classmates.
Their dorm had four people, three of whom were from Sichuan, so they naturally stayed in Chengdu after graduation. They would often gather, and their bond was strong.
Wang Hao slapped his head hard, finally remembering. He said apologetically, "Brother, I'll be right there. I had a lot on my mind today, but I'll be there soon." He had been a bit dazed after being fired, even forgetting their monthly get-together.
He grabbed his wallet and keys, slammed the door shut, and locked it. In such a gloomy mood, drinking to forget his troubles was a good choice.
On a rainy day, eating hotpot to warm up in the damp environment was the best option. Cooking and drinking at the same time was a heavenly experience.
"Brother Hao, did you take your wife home? How could you forget about us?" A man with glasses, looking rather refined, raised his glass. "According to the rules, you have to drink a few cups for being late."
In male friendships, especially in college, they generally called each other "Brother," "Boss," or "President." This man was another of Wang Hao's dorm mates, now thriving in a foreign trade company and the first among them to get married and have a child.
"Lin Hao, I know I should drink for being late, but do you have to use such a big glass?" Wang Hao widened his eyes. The glass could hold about four ounces of liquor, and drinking it would probably be enough.
Liu Qiao leaned in, grinning, and asked, "Why do you look so pale? Have you been overindulging? Young man, you need to take care of your health!"
Wang Hao pushed his hand away mercilessly, saying, "Get lost, you're the one overindulging! I'm still single, a bachelor, got it?"
The term "introverted and perverted" suited Lin Hao perfectly. Despite his refined appearance, he was the most introverted and perverted of the three. He grinned at Wang Hao, "Using too much lotion isn't good. You should find a girl. My wife was trying to set you up with someone new at her workplace."
Wang Hao, at his age, had met many women, but none of them sparked any interest. He picked up his chopsticks, fished a piece of beef from the boiling pot, dipped it in the sauce, and slowly swallowed it.
"Forget it, I don't want to go on a blind date, especially not now that I don't have a job." Ignoring the two, he picked up some duck intestines and put them in the pot.
Liu Qiao and Lin Hao exchanged glances and asked in unison, "What happened? You were doing fine before, why did you lose your job?"
"Don't rush to eat, what's going on?" Liu Qiao pressed down on Wang Hao's chopsticks, concerned. "Did you offend someone? Or did you quit because the salary was too low?"
Seeing their worried and flushed faces, Wang Hao felt a warmth in his heart. Good friends were those who stood by you no matter what. He put down his chopsticks, frowned, and said, "It's because I refused to help them cook the books. But it's for the best; I can try a new company and a new job."
Finding a job now was indeed difficult, but he had full confidence in his abilities. As long as he didn't rely on family connections, he should be fine.
Liu Qiao and Lin Hao, who knew him well, couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh. They understood the root of the problem, but they also knew Wang Hao's temperament. He wouldn't change his mind just because of a few words, so they just drank.
As they clinked glasses, the server added water to the hotpot several times. The three of them were quite drunk, walking unsteadily and supporting each other as they left.
"Brother Three, what are your plans now?"
Burping, Wang Hao shouted, "I plan to take a break, go on a trip, and then look for a new job! Damn it, you guys are the ones who lost out by not keeping me! I wouldn't stay there anyway!"
Staggering back to his apartment, Wang Hao rushed to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face to clear his head. After confiding in his good friends, he no longer felt so oppressed, and his heart felt much lighter.
Too lazy to shower, he collapsed on the bed, pulled the thin silk quilt over himself, and fell into a deep sleep.
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